The Warlord Overdrive is an effects pedal from M.D. Effects, a small builder whose lineup it joined as the third pedal. Pedal of the Day reviewed it in June 2018 as an overdrive pedal with boost, describing it as a basic three-in-one dirt pedal whose internal circuitry was designed to work over numerous musical ideas1. The pedal is also referred to as the Warlord Overdrive Boost, and both names point to the same unit2.
What it does
The Warlord covers three jobs from one box: clean boost, straightforward overdrive, and a higher-gain voice. Pedal of the Day summed up the design this way1:
"The internal circuitry has been designed for this pedal to work over numerous musical ideas, and is your basic 3-in-1 dirt pedal1."
Pedal of the Day, 4 June 20181
Controls
The pedal keeps things simple with three knobs1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level; used with Tone for clean-boost duty1 |
| Tone | Shapes the treble of the boosted or driven signal1 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive; all the way back gives clean boost1 |
Pedal of the Day noted that these three parameter knobs "represent all that you need to worry about with the Warlord"1.
Clean boost and gain range
With the Gain knob set all the way back, the Warlord works as a clean boost, with the Volume and Tone controls used to sculpt the boosted signal1. Push the Gain up and the pedal moves into its overdrive and multi-stage gain territory. That range is the result of a revision: the Warlord started out as a low-gain pedal and was later improved into a multi-stage gain design1.
How it fits a rig
The reviewer found the Warlord easy to place on a board, writing that it "plays nicely with other pedals, too, making it a perfect fit for any setup or rig"1. For players comparing it with other dirt options, it sits in the territory covered by overdrive pedals and boost pedals. M.D. Effects also makes The Timber, which sits at the lower-gain end of the builder's range.
Videos
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Pedal of the Day
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Questions
Can the Warlord Overdrive work as a clean boost?
Yes. According to Pedal of the Day, with the Gain knob set all the way back the Warlord works as a clean boost, and you can use the Volume and Tone controls to shape the boosted signal. That makes it a two-in-one tool for players who want a straight volume lift into their amp as well as dirt.
What does the Gain knob do on the Warlord Overdrive?
Gain is one of the pedal's three controls, alongside Volume and Tone. Pedal of the Day describes these three knobs as all you need to worry about with the Warlord. Turned back fully, the pedal acts as a clean boost; pushed up, it delivers the multi-stage gain the design was revised to produce.
Is the Warlord Overdrive the same as the Warlord Overdrive Boost?
Pedal of the Day refers to the pedal both as the Warlord Overdrive and as the Warlord Overdrive Boost, treating them as the same unit. The review describes it as an overdrive pedal with boost, so the two names point to one three-in-one dirt pedal from M.D. Effects.
Does the Warlord Overdrive work well with other pedals?
Pedal of the Day's reviewer found that it does, writing that the Warlord plays nicely with other pedals and calling it a perfect fit for any setup or rig. That matters if you plan to run it alongside your existing drive, fuzz or boost pedals on a board.
Sources (2)
- M.D. Effects Warlord Overdrive Boost, Pedal of the Day, 2018-06-04
- M.D. Effects Warlord Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2018-06-03
