The Big Cannoli is an overdrive pedal from JColoccia Guitars, introduced for 2015 as the maker's first entry in the medium to high gain overdrive market1. It sits in the overdrive camp rather than distortion or fuzz, with a Gain and Volume control, a Bass/Treble EQ, and a three-way voicing toggle that JColoccia describes as offering versatility in a wide range of live and studio settings1.
Controls
The knob layout is straightforward. Guitar World's reviewer listed the knobs as Gain, Volume, Treble and Bass, and called the volume and gain knobs standard overdrive fare with the bass and treble knobs self-explanatory23. The Bass/Treble EQ is there, in JColoccia's words, for versatility across live and studio settings1.
The control that sets the pedal apart is the three-way toggle that sits between the EQ knobs, marked Tight, Cut and Fat3. Premier Guitar's review described how the voicing positions behave:
"While the volume and gain knobs are standard overdrive fare, and the bass and treble knobs are self-explanatory, the three-position toggle’s function is less obvious."2
On the Tight position in particular, Guitar World's reviewer said: "To my ears, Tight offers a creamy, compressed sound"3. The same reviewer noted that the range of the EQ controls can seem narrow at times, but that they provide an easy-to-navigate canvas with few high-end spikes2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Amount of overdrive3 |
| Volume | Output level3 |
| Treble | Treble EQ31 |
| Bass | Bass EQ31 |
| Toggle (Tight / Cut / Fat) | Three voicing positions between the EQ knobs3 |
Power: 9V or 18V
The pedal runs on a 9-volt battery or a 9V-18V DC jack1. Guitar World adds that the battery is supplied but a power supply is not included3. Inside the pedal there is an internal DIP switch that JColoccia describes as providing an additional output boost, and it is only for 18V operation1. Guitar World's reviewer put it plainly: "There's an internal switch to bump up the voltage"3.
The internal DIP switch is only for 18V operation1. If you run the pedal at 9 volts, that switch is not the setting to use.
Build and where it is made
The box is a sturdy aluminum Hammond enclosure, measuring 3.75 inches wide by 4.5 inches long, with true bypass switching and Switchcraft jacks3. Premier Guitar's announcement says every Big Cannoli is built by hand, inspected and tested in JColoccia's shop in Connecticut1, and Guitar World's review agrees that each pedal is hand built in the U.S.3.
Price and availability
JColoccia introduced the Big Cannoli for 20151. Guitar World's August 2015 review listed the price at $1493.
Videos
Shawn Tubbs
gearmanndude
Jimmy Burkard
Questions
Is the Big Cannoli true bypass?
Yes. Both the Premier Guitar press release and Guitar World's review describe the Big Cannoli as true bypass switching. Guitar World also notes that the jacks are Switchcraft, which is the kind of hardware detail players usually look for on a hand-built pedal.
How do you switch the Big Cannoli to 18 volts?
There is an internal DIP switch inside the pedal. JColoccia describes it as an internal switch for additional output boost, and it is only for 18V operation. Guitar World's reviewer put it simply: "There's an internal switch to bump up the voltage." You power the pedal from a 9V-18V DC jack and set the switch accordingly.
Does the Big Cannoli come with a battery?
Yes. Guitar World's review states the pedal is powered either by a nine-volt battery, which is supplied, or a nine- or 18-volt power supply, which is not included. The Premier Guitar announcement also lists a 9-volt battery or 9V-18V DC jack as the power options.
Where is the JColoccia Big Cannoli made?
In the United States. Guitar World reports that each pedal is hand built in the U.S., and Premier Guitar's announcement says every Big Cannoli is built by hand, inspected and tested in JColoccia's shop in Connecticut.
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
