The Lovepedal Hi-Volt Custom 1 is a mid-to-high gain overdrive pedal built around cascaded JFET stages. Its defining feature is an internal charge pump that boosts the supply voltage up to 16V, which the maker's design uses to give the circuit far more headroom than a standard 9V pedal. Pedal of the Day's reviewer summed it up as having "a great active 3-band EQ and enough gain to blow the house down"1.
How it works
The circuit is a cascaded JFET design, meaning the gain comes from JFET transistor stages in series rather than from op-amp clipping, an approach often associated with amp-like touch response. The headroom comes from the voltage: the pedal internally boosts its supply up to 16V, which Pedal of the Day's reviewer said provides "more headroom than you can imagine"1. Higher internal voltage gives the JFET stages more room before they clip, which is why a 9V pedal can stay clean at higher signal levels.
Controls and power
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of gain |
| Three-band active EQ | Active bass, mid and treble controls for dialing in the EQ mix1 |
Power is straightforward: a 9VDC center negative adapter or a 9V battery, drawing 20mA1. The 16V internal charge pump is handled by the pedal itself, so no special supply is needed.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day (Mike B, 2014) praised the build and flexibility, noting the "sturdy enclosure, true bypass and it's versatile enough to shine with both single-coils and humbuckers"1. On the clean boost question, his verdict was blunt:
"If you'd like this pedal to double as a clean boost, you're going to be pretty disappointed. This guy is for the guitari"
In other words, this is a pedal for players who want gain, not a transparent volume lift. Players looking for a low-gain or transparent option would look at a dedicated boost pedal instead1.
Context in the Lovepedal range
The Hi-Volt Custom 1 sits in Lovepedal's line of dirt pedals, and the company describes it as having a "Sturdy enclosure, true bypass and it's versatile enough to shine with both single-coils and humbuckers"1. That versatility makes it a pedal that can move between different guitars without needing to be re-voiced, which is worth knowing if your board carries more than one instrument.
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Questions
Does the Lovepedal Hi-Volt Custom 1 run on a 9V battery?
Yes. Along with a 9VDC center negative adapter, the pedal can be powered by a 9V battery, and Pedal of the Day lists a current draw of 20mA. Note that the pedal internally boosts its supply up to 16V to give the JFET stages more headroom, but the external power requirement stays at 9V.
Is the Lovepedal Hi-Volt Custom 1 true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the pedal as having true bypass switching, which keeps your signal unaltered when the effect is switched off.
Can the Hi-Volt Custom 1 be used as a clean boost?
Pedal of the Day's reviewer says no. In his view the pedal is aimed at guitarists who want to rock, and he wrote that anyone hoping for it to double as a clean boost would be pretty disappointed. It is a mid-to-high gain overdrive, not a low-gain boost.
How much current does the Lovepedal Hi-Volt Custom 1 draw?
The listed current draw is 20mA, with power supplied by a 9VDC center negative adapter or a 9V battery.
Where is the Lovepedal Hi-Volt Custom 1 made?
The pedal is made in the USA.
Sources (1)
- Lovepedal Hi-Volt Custom 1 Overdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2014-05-31