The Mezzabarba Even Drive is an all-tube preamp overdrive pedal made in Italy. Instead of diodes or transistors doing the clipping, it uses two 12AX7 tubes, the same preamp tube type found in most guitar amps, and it is built to faithfully reproduce the sound of the company's own MZero tube amp1. It sits at the high end of the overdrive pedal market: Delicious Audio describes it as a pedal for "the electric guitar elite looking to drop close to a grand on an overdrive," putting it at approximately $1,0001.
Two voicings: Overdrive and Distortion
A toggle switch gives the Even Drive two voicing options, and the difference between them is the core of what the pedal does1:
| Mode | Character | Suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Mode 1: Overdrive | A more focused tone with improved dynamics and sustain, thanks to natural tube compression | Pop, blues and classic rock1 |
| Mode 2: Distortion | A more edgy, aggressive and therefore compressed sound, described as a tight distortion dripping in harmonics | Modern, aggressive rock genres including metal1 |
In practice, Mode 1 behaves like a preamp pedal voiced for touch-sensitive drive, while Mode 2 pushes toward distortion pedal territory for heavier styles. Because the compression comes from the tubes themselves rather than a separate circuit, Mezzabarba presents both modes as keeping the dynamics of the player's attack1.
Controls and bypass
The control layout is deliberately simple. Delicious Audio notes that "the controls are extremely straightforward with Level, Tone and Gain knobs," so the voicing toggle and the tubes carry most of the character1.
- Gain: sets the amount of drive from the tube stages
- Tone: shapes the treble response
- Level: sets the pedal's output volume
- Voicing toggle: selects between the Overdrive and Distortion modes1
For bypass, the pedal uses what Delicious Audio calls "an innovative true bypass switching system based on gold plated relays, to preserve all the frequencies when in bypass"1. Relay-based true bypass means the footswitch triggers an electronic relay rather than a mechanical switch, keeping the bypass path short and clean.
As a tube pedal, the Even Drive is a different proposition from a typical solid-state overdrive: it carries real 12AX7 tubes in the circuit, so it belongs with amp-style power and handling rather than a standard low-current pedal supply setup. Check the maker's power requirements before adding it to a daisy chain.
Where it comes from
Mezzabarba is an Italian builder, and the Even Drive is explicitly tied to the company's amp line: it was designed to faithfully reproduce the sound of Mezzabarba's own MZero tube amp1. That puts it in the camp of amp-in-a-box pedals that trace their circuit philosophy to a specific amplifier, rather than a generic overdrive voicing. For players comparing it against more conventional tube-style overdrives, the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison covers the classic solid-state alternatives.
Videos
Mezzabarba/Masotti Amps
The Studio Rats
Giacomo Pasquali
Questions
Is the Mezzabarba Even Drive true bypass?
Yes. The Even Drive uses a true bypass switching system based on gold plated relays, which Mezzabarba describes as a way to preserve all the frequencies when the pedal is in bypass. Relay switching is an electronic alternative to a simple mechanical footswitch, and the gold plated contacts are there to keep the signal path clean when the effect is out of the chain.
Where is the Mezzabarba Even Drive made?
The Even Drive is made in Italy. Delicious Audio's profile of the pedal notes that it comes from Italy, describing it as a country that specializes in spending temptations. Mezzabarba is an Italian builder whose pedals draw on the company's own amp designs, and the Even Drive is built to reproduce the sound of the company's MZero tube amp.
Is the Even Drive an analog pedal?
Yes. The Even Drive is an analog, tube-based design rather than a digital circuit. It is described as an all-tube preamp that uses two 12AX7 tubes, the same preamp tube type found in most guitar amplifiers. That means it needs the same kind of care as an amp, including proper heater and plate voltage, rather than running from a standard low-current digital pedal supply.
How much does the Mezzabarba Even Drive cost?
The Even Drive sits at the top of the overdrive price range. Delicious Audio's 2024 profile describes it as a pedal for players looking to drop close to a grand on an overdrive, which puts it at approximately $1,000. That is a boutique, hand-built tube pedal price, well above typical solid-state overdrives.
What is the difference between Overdrive and Distortion mode on the Even Drive?
A toggle switch selects between two voicings. Mode 1, Overdrive, offers a more focused tone with improved dynamics and sustain thanks to natural tube compression, described as suiting pop, blues and classic rock. Mode 2, Distortion, is a more edgy, aggressive and therefore compressed sound for modern aggressive rock genres including metal, described as a tight distortion dripping in harmonics.
Sources (1)
- Mezzabarba Even Drive, Delicious Audio, 2024-11-05
