The Keeley Electronics Sweet Spot Super Drive is an overdrive pedal with a JFET discrete transistor input stage, which Keeley describes as creating a tube-like response1. The company says it adds a slight amount of compression so that playing is effortless and smooth, with a full strength output enough to fill any amplifier to full saturation1.
The pedal is built around a JFET discrete transistor input stage, which Keeley Electronics says creates a tube-like response1. The aim, according to the maker, is an organic, amp-like tone throughout, with clean, warm tones available from boost all the way to overdrive12.
A JFET-input overdrive with tube-style response
The Sweet Spot Super Drive's input stage uses a JFET discrete transistor, a circuit choice Keeley Electronics uses to create a tube-like response at the front of the pedal1. Guitar World and gearnews.com both highlighted this JFET discrete transistor-based circuit as a defining feature of the design32.
Beyond the input stage, the pedal uses the classic 4558 amplifier chip4. The diodes around the op-amp are selected to give asymmetrical clipping, which the maker designed to sound like a tube amp being pushed into overdrive1. Guitar.com described the same design choice: the op-amp diodes were carefully selected to provide asymmetrical clipping that mimics a tube amp being pushed into overdrive4.
Keeley also voiced the pedal with a slight amount of compression, so that playing feels effortless and smooth, and with a full-strength output the maker says is enough to fill any amplifier to full saturation1.
"The aim here, Keeley says, is to provide an organic, amp-like tone throughout."
The controls: drive, level, tone and gain switch
The faceplate keeps things simple with a three-knob design: drive, level and tone24.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of overdrive24 |
| Level | Sets the output volume24 |
| Tone | Shapes the frequency response24 |
| Gain toggle | Two-way mini-toggle switching between two gain structures4 |
The gain toggle is where the pedal's range lives. It is a two-way mini-toggle switch that lets you switch between two different gain structures4. With it, you can get anything from light pre-amp clipping to organic, searing power tube breakup1.
- Left position: a light amount of crunch, well-suited to country rock4
- Right position: bumps up the gain for more power amp saturation4
The Johnny Hiland collaboration and limited edition
The Sweet Spot Super Drive was designed in collaboration with Johnny Hiland, a country guitarist that Delicious Audio called a country-blues legend14. Gearnews framed it as Hiland's signature overdrive pedal, developed by Keeley, and suggested it was a pedal perfect to pair up with your Telecaster2.
Guitar World noted the pedal was designed for country playing3, which lines up with the left toggle position's light crunch voiced for country rock4.
The pedal launched as a limited edition, in a limited run of 100 pedals worldwide32. Guitar.com reported it was already sold out at the time of its coverage in December 20194.
The Sweet Spot Super Drive was a limited edition of 100 pedals worldwide, and press coverage from December 2019 reported it as sold out. Gearnews noted the hope that it would become a permanent fixture in the lineup, but the initial run was capped at 100 units24.
What is the Sweet Spot?
The name refers to the pedal's voicing. According to Guitar.com, the pedal achieves a tonal "sweet spot" by cutting a little bass, boosting the midrange a touch and rolling off some of the highs4. That EQ shaping, combined with the JFET input and the asymmetrical clipping around the 4558 op-amp, is what gives the pedal its tube-like character4.
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Questions
Who designed the Keeley Sweet Spot Super Drive?
It was designed by Keeley Electronics in collaboration with country guitarist Johnny Hiland, as his signature overdrive pedal. Hiland is described in press coverage as a country-blues player, and the pedal was voiced with country playing in mind, including a light crunch setting suited to country rock.
What does the gain switch do on the Sweet Spot Super Drive?
The two-way mini-toggle on the faceplate switches between two gain structures. The left position gives a light amount of crunch suited to country rock, while the right position bumps up the gain for more power amp saturation, moving from pre-amp style clipping toward power-tube breakup.
What op-amp does the Sweet Spot Super Drive use?
It uses the classic 4558 amplifier chip, the same op-amp family found in many vintage overdrive designs. The diodes around the op-amp are selected to give asymmetrical clipping, which Keeley designed to mimic a tube amp being pushed into overdrive.
Is the Keeley Sweet Spot Super Drive a limited edition?
Yes. It launched in a limited run of 100 pedals worldwide, and press coverage from December 2019 reported it was already sold out. Gearnews noted the hope that it would become a permanent fixture in the lineup, but the initial run was limited to 100 units.
What is the Sweet Spot in the Sweet Spot Super Drive?
According to Guitar.com, the pedal achieves its tonal sweet spot by cutting a little bass, boosting the midrange a touch and rolling off some of the highs. This EQ shaping, combined with the JFET input and asymmetrical clipping, is what gives the pedal its tube-like character.
Sources (4)
- Keeley Electronics Sweet Spot Super Drive, Delicious Audio, 2019-12-12
- Keeley launches the Sweet Spot Johnny Hiland Super Drive Overdrive, gearnews.com, 2019-12-16
- Keeley Electronics hits the sweet spot with new Johnny Hiland Super Drive Overdrive, Guitar World, 2019-12-13
- Keeley Electronics releases the new Sweet Spot Johnny Hiland Super Drive, Guitar.com, 2019-12-16
