The Positive Overdrive Distortion is a compact overdrive and distortion pedal from Montreal Assembly, a builder Pedal of the Day described as "an elusive entity in today's modern world." The pedal is discontinued: the same 2018 review opens by noting that "we get to check out one of their now-discontinued creations today"1. It sits in the same territory as other overdrive pedals and distortion pedals, covering everything from a light push to a heavy crunch.
What it does
The control layout is deliberately simple, with three controls:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the output level1 |
| Gain | Adjusts the amount of distortion in the signal path1 |
| Tone toggle (unlabeled) | One position is a flat EQ, the other gives a scooped-mids sound1 |
Pedal of the Day found the Gain control wide-ranging: "The Gain features a nice range, going from slightly overdriven to heavy and mean"1. The pedal is described as "a driving force of gritty tone and crunchy distortion," placing it on the grittier side of the drive family1.
A related pedal from the same builder, the MTL Assembly Too Positive, was covered by Delicious Audio in 2022. Paolo De Gregorio wrote that "The two overdrives are identical, and deliver sounds ranging from a colored boost to a full overdrive," which gives a picture of the sound family the Positive Overdrive Distortion belongs to2.
The Positive Overdrive Distortion is discontinued. The later Too Positive from the same builder delivers a similar range, from a colored boost to a full overdrive, according to Delicious Audio2.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
The Wind Cries
Questions
Is the Montreal Assembly Positive Overdrive Distortion still available?
No. Pedal of the Day, reviewing the pedal in July 2018, described it as one of Montreal Assembly's now-discontinued creations. The company is described as an elusive entity, and the pedal has not been part of its lineup since. Players looking for a similar drive may find one secondhand, but it is no longer in production.
What circuit is the Positive Overdrive Distortion based on?
Pedal of the Day reports that the pedal is inspired by the vintage Hotcake circuit, a drive design known for its simple control layout. The Positive Overdrive Distortion follows that approach with a Volume knob, a Gain knob, and a single unlabeled Tone toggle switch.
Sources (2)
- Montreal Assembly Positive Overdrive Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2018-07-18
- New Pedal: MTL Assembly Too Positive Stereo Drive, Delicious Audio, 2022-06-17
