The Kenny B Pedals Double Double is an overdrive pedal hand-built in Winnipeg, Canada, by Kenny B Pedals. It was inspired by the classic Timmy pedal, a design known for adding gain without reshaping your amp's core tone, and it is built around an LM1458N IC, a dual op-amp chip of the kind found in many overdrive circuits1.
The range it covers is wide for a single box: Pedal of the Day described it as giving you anything from a boost to a strong overdrive, and the builder's own framing of the pedal is that it delivers "your amp just more", without changing the overall character or architecture of your favorite amp's tone1.
The controls and the three-way clipping switch
The Double Double keeps its control set simple. There are four knobs for Volume, Bass, Gain and Treble, plus a three-way clipping switch that covers a range of styles1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the output level |
| Bass | Shapes the low end |
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive, from boost to strong overdrive |
| Treble | Shapes the high end |
| Clipping switch (3-way) | Selects between three clipping patterns |
The four-knob layout with separate Bass and Treble controls follows the Timmy tradition the pedal draws on: rather than a single tone knob, you get independent control over both ends of the frequency spectrum, which lets you dial the drive into a range of amps and guitars without losing definition at either extreme1.
What the clipping switch does
The three-way switch is where the Double Double offers more than a straight Timmy-style build. It offers three clipping patterns: two symmetrical (switch middle, switch top) and one asymmetrical (switch bottom)1.
For a player, the difference is practical. Symmetrical clipping, where both halves of the waveform are clipped equally, tends toward a smoother, more even overdrive sound. Asymmetrical clipping, where one half is clipped differently from the other, adds more odd-order content and can sound more open, textured, or amp-like. Having both on a switch means one pedal can cover several overdrive characters without touching the rest of the controls.
Where it came from and how it is built
The Double Double is inspired by the classic Timmy pedal, the transparent overdrive design originally associated with builder Paul Cochrane. Pedal of the Day's review notes the inspiration directly, along with the LM1458N IC at the circuit's heart1.
The pedal is true bypass and hand-built in Winnipeg, Canada1. Kenny B Pedals is a small Canadian builder, and by the time of the October 2021 review Pedal of the Day had already looked at three other effects from the builder, including the Kenny B Pedals Sunn Model T Overdrive and a Klone Boost Overdrive1.
What Pedal of the Day said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Double Double on 29 October 2021, calling it the fourth Kenny B effect the outlet had covered1. The review's verdict:
"the Double Double is an excellent addition to any pedalboard, as a boost, light drive or something a bit heavier"
The reviewer pointed to the pedal's build and versatility as the reasons it earns its board space, with the gain range and the clipping switch letting it fill several roles at once1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Kenny B Double Double true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review describes the Double Double as true bypass, and the same review notes it is hand-built in Winnipeg, Canada. True bypass means the signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off, with no buffering or coloration in the bypassed state.
What is the Kenny B Double Double based on?
According to Pedal of the Day's review, the Double Double was inspired by the classic Timmy pedal. The Timmy is a well-known transparent overdrive design, and the Double Double builds on that foundation with its own control set and a three-way clipping switch.
What does the clipping switch do on the Double Double?
The three-way switch selects between three clipping patterns: two symmetrical patterns at the switch middle and switch top positions, and one asymmetrical pattern at the switch bottom position. Symmetrical clipping tends toward a smoother, more even overdrive, while asymmetrical clipping can sound more open and textured.
Where are Kenny B pedals made?
The Double Double is hand-built in Winnipeg, Canada, per Pedal of the Day's 2021 review. Kenny B Pedals is a small builder, and the review outlet had covered three other Kenny B effects before it, including the Sunn Model T Overdrive and the Klone Boost Overdrive.
Which chip does the Kenny B Double Double use?
The Double Double is built around an LM1458N IC, according to Pedal of the Day's review. That is a dual op-amp chip, the kind commonly found in overdrive circuits, and it is the same family of chip used in many classic overdrive designs.
Sources (1)
- Kenny B Pedals Double Double Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2021-10-29
