The Keeley Sweet Spot Johnny Hiland Super Drive Overdrive is a limited-edition overdrive pedal from Keeley Electronics, designed in collaboration with country guitarist Johnny Hiland and announced in December 2019. It is a simple three-knob design aimed at players who want an organic, amp-like tone, and Guitar World described it as a pedal designed for country players, one that pairs naturally with a Telecaster12.
Only 100 were made worldwide, priced at $179, and the run sold out quickly12.
The Sweet Spot Johnny Hiland Super Drive was a limited run of 100 pedals and is no longer available. Guitar.com reported it was already sold out in December 201931.
The controls: Drive, Tone, Level and the gain toggle
The control set is deliberately simple: three knobs for drive, tone and level, plus a two-way gain mini-toggle switch on the faceplate123.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of overdrive3 |
| Tone | Filters some of the highs back into the signal3 |
| Level | Sets the output volume3 |
| Gain toggle (left) | Light amount of crunch, well-suited to country rock3 |
| Gain toggle (right) | Bumps up the gain for more power amp saturation3 |
The gain toggle is the pedal's second voice. Guitar World described the two positions in terms of playing style: the left side is aimed at "Tele-style guys who rip country to rock," while flipping the switch to the right continues upward in gain1. Gearnews summed up the switch's range as running from light pre-amp clipping to searing power-tube breakup2.
The tone shaping follows the pedal's name. 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 to avoid harshness3. Delicious Audio described the target sound as a blend between clean warm tones and overdrive that gives singing sustain4.
Inside the circuit: JFET input and asymmetrical clipping
Two circuit choices define the Sweet Spot's character. First, it uses a JFET discrete transistor input, which Guitar.com says is there for tube amp-like dynamics123. A JFET (junction gate field-effect transistor) input stage responds to picking dynamics in a way players often compare to the input of a tube amplifier.
Second, the clipping is asymmetrical. The op-amp diodes were carefully selected to provide asymmetrical clipping, which Guitar.com says is intended to mimic a tube amp being pushed into overdrive3. Delicious Audio made the same point about the design intent:
"Diode selection around the op-amp is designed to give you an asymmetrical clipping that again, sounds like a tube amp4!"
Delicious Audio, on the Sweet Spot Super Drive4
Asymmetrical clipping, where the top and bottom halves of the waveform are clipped differently, is a common approach for overdrives that aim for a tube amp's uneven breakup rather than the harder, more symmetrical clipping associated with distortion pedals. Keeley's stated aim for the pedal as a whole was to provide an organic, amp-like tone throughout2.
Where it came from and where to find one
The Sweet Spot was developed by Keeley as the signature overdrive of Johnny Hiland, a country-blues guitarist, and announced in mid-December 2019234. It launched as a limited edition of 100 pedals worldwide at $17912. Gearnews hoped it would become a permanent fixture in the Keeley lineup, but it was sold as a limited run, and Guitar.com reported it was already sold out23.
Players looking for a current Keeley overdrive can compare the company's other drive pedals, such as the Keeley Noble Screamer, the Keeley Manis, the Keeley Blues Disorder and the Keeley Muse Driver, or the tube-based Keeley Tube Drive.
Videos
Keeley Electronics
Mike Hermans
Alberto Barrero
Questions
How many Keeley Sweet Spot Super Drive pedals were made?
The Sweet Spot Johnny Hiland Super Drive was a limited edition, built in a run of only 100 pedals worldwide. It was announced in December 2019 and sold out quickly, with Guitar.com noting it was already sold out by the time of its coverage.
What does the toggle switch on the Keeley Sweet Spot do?
The two-way gain mini-toggle selects 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, taking the pedal from light pre-amp clipping to power-tube style breakup.
How much did the Keeley Johnny Hiland Super Drive cost?
It was priced at $179 when it launched in December 2019. That price applied to the limited run of 100 pedals.
Is the Keeley Sweet Spot Super Drive still available?
No. It was a limited edition of 100 pedals and Guitar.com reported it was already sold out in December 2019. Gearnews hoped it would become a permanent fixture in the Keeley lineup, but it was announced as a limited run.
Sources (4)
- Keeley Electronics hits the sweet spot with new Johnny Hiland Super Drive Overdrive, Guitar World, 2019-12-13
- Keeley launches the Sweet Spot Johnny Hiland Super Drive Overdrive, gearnews.com, 2019-12-16
- Keeley Electronics releases the new Sweet Spot Johnny Hiland Super Drive, Guitar.com, 2019-12-16
- Keeley Electronics Sweet Spot Super Drive, Delicious Audio, 2019-12-12
