The HTJ-WORKS Ventura Overdrive is an overdrive pedal from HTJ-WORKS, a builder from Japan. It is based on the TS808 circuit, the design behind the Ibanez Tube Screamer, but it is not a straight copy: internal dipswitches let you select from four circuit modifications, so one pedal covers the familiar Tube Screamer voicing plus three alternatives. Pedal of the Day, which featured it on 29 October 2022, described the result as "a classy drive sound that has plenty of gain, but doesn't get buried in the mix."1
Controls and modes
The pedal carries the three controls Tube Screamer players will expect, Volume, Tone and Gain, with the Tone control shaping the tone along with Volume and Gain. Beyond those, the boost trimpots are where the Ventura departs from the stock circuit1.
| Control | Location | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | External | Output level, part of the tonal shaping1 |
| Tone | External | Shapes the tone along with Volume and Gain1 |
| Gain | External | Drive amount, part of the tonal shaping1 |
| Bass Boost trimpot | External | Bass boost adjustment1 |
| High Boost trimpot | Internal | High boost adjustment1 |
Mode changes are made with two internal dipswitches. Pedal of the Day explains that these "allow you to easily select from several types of circuit modifications: Ventura, TS808 and 2 asymmetrical options." Because the switches are inside the enclosure, changing voicings means opening the pedal rather than reaching for a knob, and the same goes for the internal High Boost trimpot. The external Bass Boost trimpot, by contrast, can be adjusted from outside1.
The mode dipswitches and the High Boost trimpot are both inside the enclosure. If you plan to switch between the Ventura and TS808 voicings on stage, you will need access to the pedal's back plate.
Sound and circuit
The Ventura uses "high-quality operational amplifiers that are highly evaluated in the audio industry," according to Pedal of the Day's review, and the site frames the pedal as bringing vintage and modern overdrive together1. Players who know the Tube Screamer family can compare it with the stock voicing in Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, or see where it sits among other overdrive pedals. HTJ-WORKS also makes the HTJ Works HIDE&SEEK Dual Overdrive.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the appearance "simple and classy, and is a product that can be recommended for all guitar players"1. A month later, featuring the builder's Bright Horse Boost Overdrive, the same site looked back on the Ventura in favorable terms2:
"The Ventura Overdrive from HTJ-WORKS was one of the best pedals we saw last month"2
Pedal of the Day, 26 November 20222
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Iga Massardi
Okamoto's Gear
Questions
Is the HTJ-WORKS Ventura based on a Tube Screamer?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review states that the Ventura Overdrive is based on the TS808 circuit, the Ibanez Tube Screamer design. One of the pedal's four selectable circuit modifications is the stock TS808 voicing itself, alongside the Ventura voicing and two asymmetrical options, so the Tube Screamer character is one setting among several.
How do you change modes on the Ventura Overdrive?
Modes are changed with two internal dipswitches. According to Pedal of the Day, these let you select from several types of circuit modifications: Ventura, TS808 and two asymmetrical options. Because the switches sit inside the pedal, changing voicings means taking off the back plate rather than turning a knob.
Where are the Ventura's boost trimpots?
There are two boost trimpots. The High Boost trimpot is internal, inside the enclosure, while the Bass Boost trimpot is external, so it can be adjusted from outside the pedal. Pedal of the Day describes these as part of the tonal seasoning alongside the Volume, Tone and Gain controls.
What does the Ventura Overdrive sound like?
Pedal of the Day describes it as a classy drive sound that has plenty of gain but does not get buried in the mix. The review also notes that it uses high-quality operational amplifiers that are highly evaluated in the audio industry, and that it brings together vintage and modern overdrive approaches.
Sources (2)
- HTJ-WORKS Ventura Overdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2022-10-29
- HTJ-WORKS Bright Horse Boost Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2022-11-26
