The McGregor Pedals Crunch Plus Overdrive is a medium-gain overdrive pedal for guitar and bass from McGregor Pedals. The pedal is available directly from the McGregor Pedals online store via mcgregorpedals.com1.
What it does to your sound
The Crunch Plus uses hard clipping, and its Gain control sets the amount of gain driving the pedal's hard clipping1. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley placed it in the transparent overdrive camp, writing that the pedal adds "a little more sparkle and hot crunch, mother's milk to blues-rock players"2. Premier Guitar's release described the pedal's character across its gain range: "Beginning with the gain at minimum, the Crunch Plus pedal is similar to the Crunch Transparent Overdrive on 3/4 gain with a bit of an edge," an edge the pedal never loses as gain is brought up, while maintaining transparency1.
The maker's press release also cites "high grade components picked for their superior sound and response," and MusicRadar notes the pedals are hand-soldered throughout12.
Controls
The pedal comes in a light blue enclosure with three controls2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Controls the amount of gain driving the pedal's hard clipping1 |
| Tone | Adjusts your mids2 |
| Volume | Sets how much of the amplified and clipped signal comes through2 |
There is also a fourth, unmarked adjustment: a trimpot on the side of the pedal controls the LED brightness, adjustable from dark stage to bright sun with a jeweler's screwdriver1. MusicRadar likewise notes "you can also set the brightness of the LED via a trimpot"2.
Power and bypass
The Crunch Plus takes a 9V DC power supply2. It is true bypass with a soft-click switch12.
Where it came from
McGregor Pedals released its debut pedal, the Crunch Transparent Overdrive, a single-channel low-gain overdrive for guitar and bass, in December 20191. The Crunch Plus followed on 15 December 2020 as the company's second pedal, designed and built by Garth Heslop1. MusicRadar announced it on 17 December 2020, available to order direct from the McGregor Pedals online store via mcgregorpedals.com at a sale price of $210, with an RRP of $24512.
How it compares
Against its stablemate, the difference is gain structure: the same circuit lineage, but with a third gain stage and a second clipping stage added, so the Crunch Plus sits above the low-gain Crunch Transparent Overdrive while keeping the transparent character1. For players weighing it against the wider field of drives, the transparent overdrive category it belongs to is distinct from the mid-humped character of designs like the Tube Screamer, covered in the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 comparison, and from the heavier clipping of distortion and fuzz pedals.
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Questions
Is the McGregor Crunch Plus true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's press release describes the Crunch Plus as true bypass with a soft-click switch, and MusicRadar notes that McGregor's pedals are hand-soldered throughout, true bypass and have a soft-click switch. The soft-click switching is intended to keep the footswitch quiet in use.
What power supply does the McGregor Crunch Plus use?
The Crunch Plus Overdrive takes a 9V DC power supply, as reported by MusicRadar at launch. No battery option or current draw figure was given in the launch coverage, so a standard 9V DC center-negative supply is what the pedal was described as using.
Who designed the McGregor Crunch Plus?
The Crunch Plus was designed and built by Garth Heslop. Both MusicRadar and Premier Guitar name Heslop as the designer and builder behind McGregor Pedals' pedals, and the Crunch Plus was the company's second pedal.
How is the Crunch Plus different from the original Crunch?
The Crunch Plus builds on the same circuit as the Crunch Transparent Overdrive, adding a third gain stage and a second clipping stage. Premier Guitar describes it as similar to the original on 3/4 gain with a bit of an edge, an edge it keeps as gain is brought up while maintaining transparency.
Can you adjust the LED brightness on the Crunch Plus?
Yes. An unmarked trimpot on the side of the pedal controls the LED brightness, adjustable with a jeweler's screwdriver. Premier Guitar describes the range as running from dark stage to bright sun, and MusicRadar also notes that you can set the brightness of the LED via a trimpot.
How much does the McGregor Crunch Plus cost?
At launch in December 2020, MusicRadar reported the Crunch Plus available to order direct from McGregor Pedals at a sale price of $210, with an RRP of $245. Premier Guitar's release coverage the same week listed the pedal at $210.
Sources (2)
- McGregor Pedals Releases the Crunch Plus Overdrive, Premier Guitar, 2020-12-15
- McGregor Pedals adds another sweet drive option for your pedalboard with the Crunch Plus Overdrive, MusicRadar, 2020-12-17
