The Rosa Overdrive is a drive pedal from Lusithand Devices built around a specific idea: a pedal that emulates playing through a tube amp being pushed. The maker describes its range as going from fairly clean to well saturated, almost fuzz like, across the Drive knob, with a big bottom end. It sits in the overdrive family, alongside related drives such as the Beetronics Fatbee Overdrive "Rosa Shock"1.
Lusithand also says it focused on the feel of the pedal, aiming for an effortless playing feel whether you are playing softly with fingers at lower gain or digging in with a plectrum at higher gain.1
Controls
The Rosa has three knobs and three switches, each with a distinct job.1
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| DRIVE | Goes from slightly saturated to overly saturated; the signal compresses more as it gets dirtier while maintaining some dynamics |
| EQZ | Tilt equalizer for compensating for different sounding instruments; flat at 12 |
| VOL | Controls the overall volume of the pedal |
| CL switch | Inserts a good amount of the clean signal into the mix |
| HI switch | Extends the higher frequencies for the driven signal |
| HOT switch | Changes the voicing of the Drive channel; down for cleaner, up for hotter and thicker |
The EQZ tilt equalizer
The EQZ knob is a Tilt Equalizer, which Lusithand describes as a way to gently and musically compensate for different sounding instruments. At 12 it sits flat with no coloring. Turned clockwise, it boosts frequencies above the tilt point and attenuates those below; turned anti-clockwise, it boosts those below and attenuates those above. That makes it a single-knob way to favor either the top end or the bottom end of your tone without a full set of EQ bands.1
The three switches
The CL switch is the clean blend: it inserts a good amount of the clean signal into the mix, which the maker calls essential for a cleaner sound at low gain settings or for adding definition and an amp-like tone at higher gain. The HI switch extends the higher frequencies of the driven signal. The HOT switch changes the voicing of the Drive channel, down for cleaner and up for hotter and thicker.1
Power
The Rosa runs on 9vDC to 18vDC operation with a center negative supply, so it works with a standard 9V pedalboard supply and can also be run at higher voltages where a supply offers them.1
Warranty
Lusithand Devices covers its products with a warranty: any of its products will be replaced or fixed with all expenses covered once it has been verified that the problem is not the result of bad handling or negligence. Damage from negligence voids the warranty, and repair costs may occur with shipping not covered.1
Videos
Paul Del Bello
the wetter bass
BASSED. and LusitHand Devices
Questions
What voltage does the Lusithand Rosa Overdrive take?
The Rosa Overdrive runs on 9vDC to 18vDC with a center negative power supply, according to Lusithand Devices. That range means it can sit on a pedalboard with a standard 9V supply or be run at a higher voltage where a supply offers it. The maker's product page lists this specification directly.
What does the CL switch do on the Rosa Overdrive?
The CL switch inserts a good amount of the clean signal into the mix. Lusithand Devices describes this as essential for a cleaner sound at lower gain settings, or for adding definition and an amp-like tone at higher gain settings.
What does the HOT switch change?
The HOT switch changes the voicing of the Drive channel. Set down, it gives a cleaner voicing; set up, it gives a hotter and thicker one. It works alongside the Drive knob and the CL and HI switches to shape the pedal's overall character.
What is the EQZ tilt equalizer on the Rosa?
EQZ is a Tilt Equalizer that gently compensates for different sounding instruments. At 12 it sits flat with no colouring. Turned clockwise it boosts frequencies above the tilt point and attenuates those below; turned anti-clockwise it boosts those below and attenuates those above.
Does the Rosa Overdrive have a warranty?
Yes. Lusithand Devices states that any of its products will be replaced or fixed with all expenses covered once the problem is verified as not resulting from bad handling or negligence. Damage from negligence voids the warranty, and repair costs may occur with shipping not covered.
Sources (1)
- Rosa Overdrive, Lusithand Devices
