The Mojo Hand FX Magpie is a compact overdrive pedal the maker describes as a "classic British style overdrive designed for the player that wants that little something extra while still maintaining the character of their guitar and amp." Mojo Hand FX bills it elsewhere on its site as its "lower gain Magpie" and as the "Magpie - Transparent British Overdrive," placing it on the cleaner, more open end of the company's drive range123. It lists for $149.00 USD1.
Controls and the three-way clipping switch
The front panel is familiar: Gain, Tone and Volume knobs, as Delicious Audio's review put it, plus a three-way toggle switch that changes the clipping and, with it, the character of the drive14. Mojo Hand FX says "The Magpie features a 3-way toggle for different clipping options," and each position behaves differently1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive4 |
| Tone | Shapes the treble response4 |
| Volume | Sets the output level1 |
| Toggle, down | "Overdrive": low gain sweetness with just a touch of edge1 |
| Toggle, middle | "Boost": very transparent, no perceptible bite4 |
| Toggle, up | "Crunch": more compression and a dirtier overall tone1 |
Delicious Audio's 2014 review, by Paolo De Gregorio and Nathan Smith, described the toggle as working with the gain control to "dial up three different flavors of boost," and summed up each position this way4:
- Overdrive (down): adds a warm color to your tone with only a bit of gain, much less aggressive than Crunch; with Tone all the way up it can brighten a dark amp4
- Boost (middle): a very transparent boost with no perceptible bite, good for driving a tube amp into natural breakup4
- Crunch (up): adds a fair amount of compression and dirt to your signal; with the Gain all the way up it has some bite, suited to low to medium gain sounds14
What reviewers said
Delicious Audio covered the Magpie when it was new in 2014 and came away favorably. Reviewer Nathan Smith wrote: "If you are looking for a tasteful and versatile vintage-style overdrive, the MojoHand Magpie is a great new option." The same review reached for a reference point for the sound: "The sound is about equal with Exile on Main Street at its most loose"4.
Power, size and where it sits
The Magpie runs on a standard center negative 9V DC supply or a 9V battery, and Mojo Hand FX notes that neither is included, so plan to bring your own adapter. Current draw is about 15mA, light enough for nearly any pedalboard power supply1.
The 9V battery and DC adapter are not included with the pedal; the maker supplies neither1.
At 4.8" L x 2.62" W x 1.55" H, it is a small enclosure that leaves room on a board1. Within the Mojo Hand FX line it sits below the company's higher gain drives as the "lower gain" option, and the maker has since built on the same territory with pedals like the Mojo Hand FX Odessa and the Mojo Hand FX Rock City dual overdrive2. For a wider view of the category, see the site's guide to Overdrive Pedals.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
Lance Seymour
Corey Witt
Questions
Is the Mojo Hand FX Magpie true bypass?
Yes. Mojo Hand FX lists the Magpie as true bypass, meaning the pedal takes itself completely out of the signal path when switched off, so your guitar's signal reaches the amp unaltered. Power comes from a standard center negative 9V DC supply or a 9V battery, with a current draw of around 15mA.
Does the Magpie take a battery?
It does. The Magpie runs on a standard center negative 9V DC supply or a 9V battery, but Mojo Hand FX includes neither in the box, so you will need to supply your own adapter or battery. Current draw is about 15mA, which is light enough for most pedalboard power supplies.
How much does the Mojo Hand Magpie cost?
The Magpie lists for $149.00 USD on the Mojo Hand FX website as of October 2026.
What is the difference between Crunch, Boost and Overdrive on the Magpie?
The three-way toggle changes the clipping. Down is Overdrive: low gain sweetness with a touch of edge, a warm color with only a bit of gain. The middle position is Boost: very transparent with no perceptible bite, good for pushing a tube amp into natural breakup. Up is Crunch: more compression and a dirtier overall tone, suited to low and medium gain sounds.
How big is the Magpie pedal?
Mojo Hand FX gives the Magpie's dimensions as 4.8 inches long by 2.62 inches wide by 1.55 inches high, a compact enclosure that fits easily on a crowded pedalboard.
Sources (4)
- Magpie - MojoHandFX, MojoHandFX
- Odessa - MojoHandFX, MojoHandFX
- MojoHandFX, MojoHandFX
- An Overview Of The MojoHand Magpie Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2014-09-29
