The Broker is a dual overdrive pedal from Matthews Effects, a maker whose other pedals include the Architect V4, the Cartographer and the Klone. Instead of putting two overdrive circuits in two boxes, Matthews built both into one compact, single-footprint enclosure, so a player gets two independent overdrives that can be stacked and reordered while taking up the board space of one pedal1. As of the maker's product page in October 2026, the pedal is listed as sold out1.
The two channels
The Broker's two channels take on two of the most familiar overdrive lineages in pedal history, and each is voiced differently. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio, writing in November 2021, described the split this way2:
- Black Channel: Matthews' take on a classic soft clipping overdrive, in the style of the 808 Tubescreamer. Players who know that circuit from pedals like the Tube Screamer family covered in Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer will recognize the approach.
- Silver Channel: a hot rodded version of the classic "Blues Breaker" circuit, with germanium hard clipping diodes and a new output stage added by Matthews2.
The two channels do not sound alike. De Gregorio noted that the Silver channel produces a thicker distortion than the Black channel, and that running both at once opens new sonic scenarios2. The Silver channel also has a blue LED to show when it is engaged2.
The controls
Each channel carries its own set of three knobs, so the two overdrives are set up independently1.
| Control | Channel | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Black | Increase or decrease your volume2 |
| Tone | Black | An active treble control to dial in tone no matter the amount of gain2 |
| Gain | Black | Dials in the drive amount2 |
| Volume | Silver | Increase or decrease your volume2 |
| Tone | Silver | A passive treble control giving perfect control over tone2 |
| Gain | Silver | Dials in your tone from a dirty boost to a thick heavy overdrive, with a wide range of dynamic sounds2 |
The difference between the two Tone controls is worth noting for players comparing the channels: the Black channel's Tone is active, the Silver channel's is passive2.
Stacking and order switching
The feature that sets The Broker apart from running two separate overdrive pedals is the ability to toggle the order of the overdrives1. With two distinct circuits on board, the order matters: Silver into Black stacks a thicker Bluesbreaker-style drive into the 808-style channel, while Black into Silver puts the softer clipping first. Matthews describes the pedal, with its order toggling and wide range of tones, as a great solution for larger boards where space is at a premium1.
For a broader look at where this pedal sits, see Overdrive Pedals.
Documentation, origin and warranty
Matthews Effects makes a Users Guide and a MIDI Manual available for The Broker on its product page1. The pedal is built in the USA, per Delicious Audio's writeup2, and it includes the Matthews Effects limited lifetime warranty2.
The maker's product page listed The Broker as sold out as of 26 October 20261. The listed sale price was £154.00 GBP as stated by the maker1.
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Questions
Can you change the order of the two overdrives on The Broker?
Yes. Matthews Effects states that The Broker has the ability to toggle the order of the overdrives, so you can run the Silver channel into the Black channel or the other way around. Since the two channels have different circuits and clipping styles, the order changes how they stack and interact.
Does Matthews Effects The Broker have MIDI?
Matthews Effects publishes a MIDI Manual for The Broker alongside its Users Guide on the product page, which indicates the pedal has MIDI functionality that the maker documents separately. The maker's product page is the place to find that manual for the specifics of MIDI control.
Where is The Broker made?
Delicious Audio's writeup of The Broker notes built in USA quality construction, so the pedal is made in the United States.
What warranty does Matthews Effects give on The Broker?
According to Delicious Audio's product writeup, The Broker includes the Matthews Effects limited lifetime warranty.
Sources (2)
- The Broker Dual Overdrive, Matthews Effects
- Matthews Effects The Broker Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2021-11-08
