The Overdrive No. 30 is an overdrive pedal from Midnight 30 Music, a small builder. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in March 2014, summed it up as "A warm, full-bodied overdrive in a smaller enclosure"1. It is a straightforward three-knob pedal with one extra trick: a toggle switch that brings in a set of germanium clipping diodes, letting you change the character of the breakup without touching a knob.
Controls
The control set is deliberately simple. As the reviewer put it, "The knobs are basic: Volume, Gain and Tone"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level |
| Gain | Sets the amount of overdrive |
| Tone | Shapes the treble response |
| Middle toggle switch | Engages a set of germanium clipping diodes1 |
The germanium clipping toggle is the pedal's distinguishing feature. Clipping diodes are what turn a boost circuit into an overdrive, and the diode type shapes how soft or hard the breakup feels. The toggle switch in the middle engages a set of germanium clipping diodes, so you can flip between two flavors of drive on the fly1.
How reviewers heard it
Pedal of the Day's Mike B. came away positive in March 2014, writing: "Not too over-the-top, not too wussy, the No. 30 is a perfect addition to any player's pedalboard."1 In other words, he heard it as sitting in the middle ground between a light blues drive and a heavier distortion, without leaning too far either way.
An owner comment on the same site from July 2015 adds a second use for it: "In it's boost mod it is super transparent with a crazy amount of hair and volume you can add to your 1st stage tone."1 That positions the No. 30 as a pedal that can do double duty, working as a drive in its own right or pushed into a boost-style role ahead of another stage of gain.
Custom artwork and the maker
Midnight 30 Music is a small operation, and the review reflects that. The reviewer closed with: "Extra special thanks to Joshua for doing the special graphic for me, great communication from a great little company."1 The custom graphic option is worth knowing about if you care how your board looks, and it is the kind of direct, person-to-person service small builders can offer.
If you are comparing this kind of pedal with others, the Overdrive Pedals page covers the wider field, and the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison looks at two well-known drives that occupy similar territory.
Videos
Lance Seymour
Joshua Eiler (midnight30music)
Joshua Eiler (midnight30music)
Questions
What do the diodes do on the Midnight 30 Music Overdrive No. 30?
The toggle switch in the middle of the pedal engages a set of germanium clipping diodes. Clipping diodes shape how the overdrive compresses and breaks up, and germanium diodes are a choice players associate with a softer, more vintage-flavored edge than other diode types. On the No. 30, the toggle lets you switch that clipping character in and out rather than committing to it all the time.
Does the Overdrive No. 30 have a boost mode?
Yes. A Pedal of the Day owner comment from July 2015 describes using it in boost mode, saying it is super transparent in that role with a lot of hair and volume on tap to add to a first stage tone. So alongside its overdrive duties, the pedal can be run as a clean-ish boost into an already driven amp or another drive pedal.
Who makes the Overdrive No. 30?
The Overdrive No. 30 is made by Midnight 30 Music, a small pedal company. Pedal of the Day, which reviewed the pedal in March 2014, described it as coming from a great little company.
Can the Overdrive No. 30 have custom artwork?
Yes. The Pedal of the Day reviewer thanked Joshua for doing a special graphic on his unit, which shows the company offered a custom graphic option. That is worth knowing if you like a pedalboard with some personality, since small builders like this one can often tailor the look of a pedal to the player.
Sources (1)
- Midnight 30 Music Overdrive No. 30, Pedal of the Day, 2014-03-30