The Keisman Pedals Midnight Drive is a limited edition effects pedal that puts two of the maker's earlier pedals in one box: the Juggy Boost and the Velvet Drive. Pedal of the Day, which featured it on Friday, September 30, 2016, described it as instantly becoming a space-saver for your board12. It is a boost-and-overdrive combination: a one-knob clean boost on one side and a take on the classic 808 drive circuit on the other1.
The controls
The pedal is effectively two circuits, each with its own job.
Juggy Boost side. A simple, one-knob clean boost that will even get a little gritty as you keep turning it up, according to Pedal of the Day, who called it perfect for adding that sparkle and shine to the front end of a tube amp. The same review found that this boost also plays really well with other pedals, either in front of or behind, for varying sonic results in both loudness and saturation1.
Velvet Drive side. This is Keisman's take on the classic 808 drive circuit, the circuit family behind pedals like the Tube Screamer (see our Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison for how that family differs). Pedal of the Day reported that some changes to the internal components, character of the clipping and sweep of the knobs result in a whole new flavor of overdrive, and that this version features less mid-hump than other 808 models, providing a smoother overall sound in any mix1.
The Velvet Drive side also carries an added Bass Boost toggle switch, essential for beefing up and fattening your tone when needed1.
| Side | Circuit | Controls | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juggy Boost | Clean boost | One knob | Clean, gritty when turned up1 |
| Velvet Drive | 808-style overdrive | Drive and level knobs, Bass Boost toggle | Less mid-hump than other 808 models1 |
History and versions
Keisman Pedals released the Midnight Drive as a Limited Edition, and Pedal of the Day featured it on Friday, September 30, 20162. On the Velvet Drive side, the circuit is Keisman's take on the classic 808 drive circuit1.
The Midnight Drive was a limited edition release. As a small-builder pedal from 2016, it turns up on the used market rather than as a current production item.
How it compares
The two-sides-in-one-box idea shows up elsewhere in the overdrive field, and the Midnight Drive's approach of running its boost and drive together rather than switching between them is one way of handling it. How other makers arrange the same idea varies from pedal to pedal, and the differences come down to whether the two stages can be selected separately or only used as a pair.
Videos
Curtis Kent
ROD
ROD
Questions
Can the boost and drive on the Midnight Drive be used together?
Yes. The pedal combines two of Keisman's existing pedals, the Juggy Boost and the Velvet Drive, in one enclosure, so the two sides work as a boost-into-overdrive pair. Pedal of the Day noted that the boost side also plays well with other pedals, in front of or behind them, for varying results in loudness and saturation.
Is the Velvet Drive side a Tube Screamer clone?
It is Keisman's take on the classic 808 drive circuit, the same family of circuit as the Tube Screamer. Pedal of the Day described this version as having less mid-hump than other 808 models, giving a smoother overall sound in a mix, along with internal changes to components, clipping character and knob sweep.
Does the Midnight Drive boost side get dirty when turned up?
A little. Pedal of the Day called the Juggy Boost side a simple, one-knob clean boost that will even get a little gritty as you keep turning it up, and described it as perfect for adding sparkle and shine to the front end of a tube amp.
What does the Bass Boost switch do on the Midnight Drive?
The Velvet Drive side carries an added Bass Boost toggle switch, which Pedal of the Day described as essential for beefing up and fattening your tone when needed. It adds low-end weight to the overdrive side of the pedal.
Sources (2)
- Keisman Pedals Midnight Drive (Limited Edition), Pedal of the Day, 2016-10-10
- Keisman Pedals Midnight Drive (Limited Edition), Pedal of the Day, 2016-09-30
