Magnetic Effects Sändare

The Magnetic Effects Sändare is a dynamic, low-to-medium gain overdrive and booster pedal, first released on May 17, 2017 by the London-based builder Magnetic Effects¹. Magnetic Effects describes it as "a dynamic, low-to-medium gain overdrive and booster that retains the tonal characteristics of your guitar," a natural sounding pedal that leaves the core tone of your guitar and amp largely intact while adding gain or level¹.

The pedal has a family history. Gearnews reports that the Sändare circuit is derived from Magnetic's earlier Satellite pedal, which the company revamped, renamed and relaunched under the Sändare name². An updated version, the Sändare V2, followed on October 30, 2018, priced at $165 US plus shipping³.

What it does and how it sounds

The Sändare sits at the gentler end of the gain spectrum. It is built for low-to-medium gain drive rather than heavy distortion, and Magnetic Effects says it retains the tonal characteristics of your guitar and amp rather than replacing them with its own voice¹. The company also says the pedal responds well to variation in pick attack and to the settings of your guitar's volume control, so you can clean it up or push it from the instrument itself³.

Gearnews characterized the V2 as "a nice touch-sensitive, dynamic drive pedal," one that could easily serve as a boost or deliver enough subtle gain and grit for lighter drive duties². Guitar.com likewise noted that the V2 retains two original features: a dynamic, low-to-medium overdrive and a transparent booster that preserves your tone⁴.

Controls

The original Sändare carried Volume and Gain controls plus what Magnetic Effects called "well balanced and flexible high and low controls," giving it a two-band EQ rather than the single tone knob common on simpler overdrives¹. The V2 keeps all four and adds a fifth.

The Voice control is the V2's headline addition. Guitar World lists it among the pedal's five controls⁵, and Guitar.com describes it as "a voice control knob that can dial in an overall EQ response"⁴. Gearnews explains it in practical terms: a global EQ setting that gives you more control over how the pedal reacts with your guitar and amp setup².

Power: 9V in, 18V inside

The Sändare runs on a 9V DC center negative adapter¹³. Inside, an internal voltage doubling circuit converts that power up to 18V for increased headroom¹. The V2 carries the same doubler, which Gearnews reported also comes with an improved signal path².

For a player, the doubled voltage matters at the boost end of the pedal's range: extra headroom means the booster can push your amp harder before the pedal itself starts to compress or clip the signal.

Bypass and signal path

Both versions use true bypass switching, so the pedal drops out of the signal chain completely when off¹³. The V2 pairs that with a high impedance input and a low output impedance setup², which lets it interact predictably with a wide range of guitars and downstream pedals.

What changed with the V2

Released October 30, 2018, the Sändare V2 is an updated version of the original overdrive/booster³. The changes, as reported at launch:

• A new Voice control for global EQ, on top of the existing Volume, Gain, High and Low knobs²⁴
• An internal voltage doubler taking the circuit to 18V, with an improved signal path²
• The same true bypass switching and low-to-medium gain overdrive and booster character³⁴

Guitar.com summed up the V2 as retaining the two original features, the dynamic low-to-medium overdrive and the transparent booster, while adding the Voice knob⁴.

Where it is made and what it costs

The Sändare is designed and manufactured in London, England by Magnetic Effects². Guitar World described the company as London-based at the V2's release⁵.

At launch the V2 was offered at $165 US plus shipping³, a figure Guitar World also reported⁵. In the UK, Gearnews listed the RRP as GBP 115 plus shipping².

What reviewers said

Gearnews reviewed the V2 favorably at launch:

Jef, Gearnews²

The reviewer also praised the practical layout, noting a preference for the top mounted jack plugs because they make for a tidier pedalboard². Later that November, Gearnews mentioned that the Sändare V2 "has won the admiration of Tone Report"⁶.

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