The Oddfellow Effects Caveman V2 is a dual-channel overdrive pedal, announced on January 5, 2015, at a MAP price of $249 in the United States. Oddfellow describes it as intended to be the only overdrive a guitar player would need for touring or studio use, and the pedal is handmade in California with a durable powder-coat finish1. It sits in the same family as the original Oddfellow Caveman Drive, one of the many designs covered on the site's Overdrive Pedals page.
What the Caveman V2 does
The Caveman V2 is a two-channel stompbox built around an overdrive circuit, with a wide range of tone-shaping options according to the announcement1. Oddfellow positioned it as a single-pedal solution: one box that covers a player's overdrive needs on stage and in the studio, rather than a pedal that fills one narrow slot on a board1.
The dual-channel layout carried over from the earlier Caveman Overdrive, which Pedal of the Day's reviewers described as "a dual-channel drive"3. That review also noted practical touches players look for on a working pedal, including super bright LED lights for clear visibility on a dark stage2.
Power
The Caveman V2 runs on a 9v battery or a 9v AC adapter, per Premier Guitar's announcement1. The earlier Caveman Overdrive was reviewed as taking a standard 9v DC power supply2, and the original Caveman Drive was likewise described as running on 9 volts4.
From the Caveman Drive to the V2
The Caveman line began with the Caveman Drive, the first pedal offering from Oddfellow Effects. The Guitar FX Layouts technical write-up called it "an extremely transparent overdrive that has an amazingly versatile range of sounds!"5, and noted it was reasonably priced at the start, at about $1405.
"The Caveman Drive is an extremely transparent overdrive that has an amazingly versatile range of sounds!"
The V2 arrived about a year later. Premier Guitar's announcement described it as "a distinct step up from the already widely acclaimed Caveman V1," saying the V2 "takes and improves everything guitar players lov[e]" about the original1. Oddfellow implemented a number of improvements after what the announcement calls a solid year of road testing and industry professional feedback1. Guitar FX Layouts also noted around that time that a new Caveman Drive with adjustable boost and order switching was being released5.
The rest of the Oddfellow line
Oddfellow continued building pedals after the Caveman V2. Players comparing the Caveman against other drives may also find the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison useful background on the two overdrive approaches the Caveman family draws on.
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Questions
How much does the Oddfellow Caveman V2 cost?
When Oddfellow Effects announced the Caveman V2 in January 2015, it carried a MAP price of $249 in the United States. The original Caveman Drive had launched at about $140, according to the Guitar FX Layouts technical write-up, so the V2 arrived at a higher list price than the pedal it replaced.
Can the Caveman V2 run on a 9V battery?
Yes. Premier Guitar's January 2015 announcement lists 9v battery or AC adapter compatibility, so the Caveman V2 can run either from a 9v battery or from a 9v DC adapter. Earlier Caveman pedals were also reviewed running on standard 9v DC power.
Where is the Oddfellow Caveman V2 made?
The Caveman V2 is handmade in California, USA, according to the Premier Guitar announcement. Pedal of the Day's earlier review of the Caveman Overdrive likewise noted it was hand made in California.
How many channels does the Caveman V2 have?
The Caveman V2 is a dual-channel overdrive. Premier Guitar described it as a dual channel stompbox intended to be the only overdrive a guitar player would need for touring or studio use, and Pedal of the Day's review of the earlier Caveman Overdrive also described it as a dual-channel drive.
What changed between the Caveman V1 and the V2?
Premier Guitar's announcement called the V2 a distinct step up from the widely acclaimed Caveman V1, saying it takes and improves everything players loved about the original. Oddfellow implemented a number of improvements after a solid year of road testing and industry professional feedback, and the V2 adds a wide range of tone-shaping options.
Sources (5)
- Oddfellow Effects Unveils the Caveman V2, Premier Guitar, 2015-01-05
- Oddfellow Effects Caveman Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2014-09-21
- Oddfellow Effects The Bishop Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2016-06-15
- Oddfellow Caveman Drive, Pedal of the Day, 2014-04-21
- Guitar FX Layouts: Oddfellow Effects Caveman Drive, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2014-06-20
