The Big Cannoli is an overdrive pedal from JColoccia Guitars, introduced for 2015 as the company's first entry in the medium to high gain overdrive market1. It is an op amp-driven design that Premier Guitar's reviewer placed "primarily on the bolder end of the spectrum"2. The pedal is hand built in the United States, with every unit built by hand, inspected and tested in JColoccia's shop in Connecticut1, and each one carries a transferable, no nonsense lifetime warranty1.
Controls
The Big Cannoli keeps its layout simple: four knobs and one toggle. Guitar World's review lists the knobs as Gain, Volume, Treble and Bass3, and Premier Guitar's reviewer called the volume and gain knobs "standard overdrive fare" with the bass and treble knobs "self-explanatory"2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of overdrive |
| Volume | Sets output level |
| Bass | Bass EQ |
| Treble | Treble EQ |
| Fat-Tight-Cut toggle | Three-position voicing switch: tight, cut and fat settings2 |
The Fat-Tight-Cut toggle is the pedal's distinguishing control. JColoccia describes the Bass/Treble EQ and Fat-Tight-Cut voicing controls as offering "versatility in a wide range of live and studio settings"1. Guitar World found that Tight mode "added a little compression to the middle pickup position on a Les Paul"3.
Power
The pedal runs on a 9-volt battery or a 9V to 18V DC jack1. Guitar World adds that the battery was supplied with the pedal while the power supply was not included3. The 9 to 18V range means it works with standard pedalboard supplies and can also run at 18V where a supply offers it.
Stacking and use with other pedals
JColoccia says the Big Cannoli "stacks very well with other drives and fuzzes, or as a boost for your amp"1, which puts it in company with the drives compared in Overdrive Pedals and in the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison. JColoccia also describes its voicing this way: "A beautifully voiced midrange firmly stakes out your territory in the mix, without the harshness and ear fatigue often associated this style of overdrive"1.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's 2015 review noted the build: "The box is a sturdy aluminum Hammond enclosure" and "The switching is true bypass and the jacks are Switchcraft"3. Premier Guitar's later review summed up its verdict in three lines: "Glorious crunch tones. Smooth lead tones. Never sounds over-compressed."2
Videos
Shawn Tubbs
gearmanndude
Jimmy Burkard
Questions
Is the JColoccia Big Cannoli true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's 2015 press release lists True Bypass switching, and Guitar World's review confirms it, noting that the switching is true bypass and the jacks are Switchcraft. That means the pedal's circuit is completely out of the signal path when it is off, so it will not load down or color your clean tone when bypassed.
Can the Big Cannoli run on a battery?
Yes. The pedal runs on a 9-volt battery, which Guitar World reported as supplied with the pedal, or on a 9V to 18V DC power supply, which was not included. The wide 9 to 18V range means it can share a standard pedalboard supply or run at a higher voltage if your supply offers it.
Does the Big Cannoli stack well with other drive pedals?
JColoccia says it does: the company describes the Big Cannoli as stacking very well with other drives and fuzzes, or working as a boost for your amp. Its medium to high gain character and Fat-Tight-Cut voicing toggle give you options for how it sits in front of another overdrive or fuzz.
Where is the Big Cannoli made?
In the United States. Premier Guitar's press release says every Big Cannoli is built by hand, inspected and tested in JColoccia's shop in the woods of Connecticut, and Guitar World's review likewise reports each pedal is hand built in the U.S.
What warranty does JColoccia give on the Big Cannoli?
A transferable lifetime warranty. Premier Guitar's 2015 press release states that every Big Cannoli comes with a transferable, no nonsense lifetime warranty, which means coverage stays with the pedal even if you sell it to another player.
Sources (3)
- JColoccia Guitars Introduces the Big Cannoli Overdrive, Premier Guitar, 2015-03-16
- JColoccia Big Cannoli Overdrive Review, Premier Guitar, 2015-10-25
- Gear Review: JColoccia Guitars Big Cannoli Overdrive Pedal, Guitar World, 2015-08-04
