The Lawrence Petross Design Seventy 4 is a handcrafted all-analog overdrive pedal based on classic Seventies-era British amps, which the maker describes as delivering "Authentic 70s British Overdrive Tones"1. It was announced in April 2019 at a street price of $199.99 and was reported as available the following month12. Guitar.com described it, under the name Seventy 4 Preamp, as "an overdrive pedal aimed at capturing 70s British amp sounds"3.
What it does
The Seventy 4 is built around the circuit character of British amplifiers from the 1970s. Its maker, Lawrence Petross Design, describes it as "a handcrafted all-analog overdrive pedal based on classic 70s British amps"2. It sits in the overdrive family, alongside the maker's earlier Sixty 8 Deluxe.
The controls: a full tone stack with Presence
What sets the Seventy 4 apart from many overdrives is its full tone stack. Rather than a single tone knob, it carries a High, Mid and Low EQ section along with Level, Presence and Gain controls1. Guitar.com's report on the pedal, speaking with Daniel Ong, described the same layout as "a three-band EQ, level, gain and presence knobs"3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of overdrive3 |
| Level | Sets the pedal's output volume3 |
| High, Mid, Low | Three-band EQ section for shaping bass, mids and treble1 |
| Presence | Adjusts the level of "sparkle" in the mix; more sparkle helps the tone cut through, less helps the pedal blend with an amp3 |
The Presence control is the one Guitar.com explained in most detail: "The latter adjusts the level of 'sparkle' in your mix, according to the brand. Increasing sparkle enables your tone to cut through the mix, while reducing it aids a better blend between the pedal and an amp"3.
Power, bypass and size
The Seventy 4 runs on a 9V supply with a low current draw of 2mA, according to Guitar World2. It has no battery option1, and it uses true bypass switching1.
The Seventy 4 has no battery compartment, so it needs a 9V DC power supply. At a 2mA draw it is very light on a power supply, but it cannot run from a battery.
The enclosure is described as "a conveniently sized 4 3/8"L x 2 3/4"W x 2"H pedal"1, compact enough for a crowded board.
Reception
At launch, the press release reported that the Seventy 4 was "already receiving rave reviews from industry greats such as Phillip McKnight, R.J. Ronquillo, and Keven Eknes"1.
Videos
Shawn Tubbs
R.J. Ronquillo
Keven Eknes
Questions
Does the Lawrence Petross Seventy 4 take a battery?
No. The Seventy 4 is powered from a 9V DC supply and has no battery option, according to the press release announcing the pedal. Because it draws only 2mA, it is easy on a pedalboard power supply, though a dedicated 9V output is still the way to power it.
Is the Seventy 4 true bypass?
Yes. Lawrence Petross Design specifies true bypass switching on the Seventy 4, so the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path entirely when it is switched off.
How much current does the Seventy 4 draw?
Guitar World lists the Seventy 4 at a 9V low current draw of 2mA, which is very light by pedal standards and well within what any standard 9V power supply output can deliver.
Where is the Lawrence Petross Seventy 4 made?
The Seventy 4 is handcrafted one at a time in the USA, according to the Premier Guitar press release. Designer Lawrence Petross drew on more than ten years of experience building amps and pedals when designing the circuit.
Sources (3)
- Lawrence Petross Launches Seventy 4 Overdrive Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2019-04-25
- Lawrence Petross Design Unveils New Seventy 4 Overdrive, Guitar World, 2019-05-01
- Lawrence Petross Design recalls the 70s with Seventy 4 Preamp pedal, Guitar.com, 2019-05-07
