The One Control Strawberry Red Overdrive DLX Japonism Edition is a limited-artwork version of the Strawberry Red Overdrive DLX, a six-knob analog overdrive pedal from the Japanese company One Control. It is the newest edition of the classic Strawberry Red Overdrive (SROD), a circuit developed by Björn Juhl and One Control, and RockBoard's PedalPedia describes it as an overdrive, booster and equalizer in one box1.
What sets the DLX apart from the original is its control layout. RockBoard's PedalPedia says the six-knob model "gives you more control over your tones with finely tuned precision," and the centerpiece is a four-band tone stack, BASS, MIDDLE, TREBLE and PRESENCE, that One Control likens to the tone circuits of classic UK amplifiers1. Delicious Audio's write-up adds that the pedal "recreates the sound of high-end amplifiers, their pleasing compression and EQ character that enhance the performance's dynamic without depriving it of its nuances"2.
A six-knob overdrive with a UK-style tone stack
The DLX keeps the classic original SROD circuit rather than cloning an existing design, and expands it with the four-band tone stack. RockBoard's PedalPedia says the DRIVE circuit alone "can produce overdrive ranging from low bluesy tones to a hard and powerful overdrive" as well as heavier distortions at the far-right side of the dial1. Delicious Audio notes that with DRIVE set to minimum, the DLX "can be used as a clean or treble booster style pedal," which makes it flexible as a light-touch EQ and boost even when you are not pushing it into overdrive2.
The tone stack is the reason to choose the DLX over the simpler versions of the pedal. Where the original SROD and the four-knob models offer DRIVE and VOLUME plus a basic tone control, the DLX gives you the same BASS, MIDDLE, TREBLE and PRESENCE arrangement found on classic UK amp front panels, so you can shape the pedal around whatever amp and speaker you are playing through. RockBoard's PedalPedia says it was designed "to be able to interface with a wide variety of amplifiers and speakers"1.
The controls
The six knobs divide into two pairs from the classic circuit and four tone controls. The DRIVE and VOLUME functions are documented on the DLX itself, and the PRESENCE control is described by Delicious Audio as adjusting the level of 4 to 7kHz, the range where a guitar's bite and edge live2.
| Knob | What it does |
|---|---|
| DRIVE | Adjusts the overdrive gain; gain increases clockwise2 |
| VOLUME | Adjusts the output volume2 |
| BASS | Part of the four-band UK-amp-style tone stack1 |
| MIDDLE | Part of the four-band tone stack1 |
| TREBLE | Part of the four-band tone stack1 |
| PRESENCE | Adjusts the level of 4 to 7kHz2 |
For comparison, the four-knob Strawberry Red Overdrive 4K carries the same DRIVE and VOLUME controls, with DRIVE adjusting the strength of distortion and VOLUME adjusting the volume, but no four-band stack3.
Power and current draw
The DLX runs from a standard center-negative 9V to 18V DC adapter, and it can also be driven by a 9V battery. When battery powered, the input jack doubles as the power switch, and the LED turns off when the battery needs replacing2. The Japonism edition is listed at 9V DC center negative with a current draw of 12mA1, a modest figure well within what a typical isolated pedal power supply can deliver.
One Control says its 9V to 18V range (documented on the SROD RC) exists "for higher headroom operation and a bit more focused tone with wider dynamics," so running the DLX at 18V is an option if you want more clean headroom before the pedal breaks up4.
Versions: from the SROD to the Japonism edition
The Strawberry Red Overdrive family has grown from the original SROD into several editions, all built around Björn Juhl's circuit21:
- Strawberry Red Overdrive (SROD): the classic original, described by One Control as their founder's favorite overdrive pedal3.
- Strawberry Red Overdrive 4K: a four-knob arrangement, also offered as a special limited art "Japonism" edition3.
- Strawberry Red Overdrive RC: a modified version of the classic SROD, tweaked again by Björn Juhl4.
- Strawberry Red Overdrive DLX: the six-knob version with the four-band tone stack, available with standard and limited edition "Japonism" artwork2.
- DLX Japonism Edition: the limited-artwork DLX covered on this page2.
The Japonism edition is the same DLX circuit and control set, distinguished by its limited artwork. One Control has applied the same Japonism treatment to the 4K, so the artwork identifies a limited run rather than a different circuit3.
Who designed it
The original circuit was developed by Björn Juhl and One Control1. Juhl, also known as BJF, is the Swedish designer behind the BJFE series of pedals, of which the DLX is part2. MusicRadar's review of the original SROD notes that One Control, a Japanese company that also makes switching units and power supplies, brought in "the likes of Bjorn Juhl (BJF) to design a range of pedals for them"5. One Control says Juhl "has designed some of the world's most desirable tube amplifiers and he has done his best to include as many" of those qualities in the pedal3.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's review of the original Strawberry Red Overdrive found it "delivers the sort of overdriven tones you'd get from a cooking valve amp, predominantly with a US boutique flavour"5. That character comes from the base circuit the DLX builds on; the DLX adds the four-band tone stack on top of it.
"The Strawberry Red Overdrive delivers the sort of overdriven tones you'd get from a cooking valve amp, predominantly with a US boutique flavour"
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Questions
What is the difference between the Strawberry Red Overdrive and the DLX?
The original Strawberry Red Overdrive (SROD) is the classic circuit. The DLX is the newest edition, keeping that original circuit but expanding it to six knobs, with a four-band tone stack of BASS, MIDDLE, TREBLE and PRESENCE modeled on classic UK amplifiers. With DRIVE at minimum it also works as a clean or treble booster style pedal.
What is the Japonism edition?
The Japonism edition is a limited-edition version of the Strawberry Red Overdrive DLX carrying special artwork. One Control has also offered a special limited art Japonism edition of the Strawberry Red Overdrive 4K, so the artwork treatment spans more than one pedal in the range.
What power does the Strawberry Red Overdrive DLX need?
The DLX runs on a standard center-negative 9V to 18V DC adapter, and it can also be driven by a 9V battery. When battery powered, the input jack doubles as the power switch, and the LED turns off when the battery needs replacing. Higher voltage gives more headroom.
How much current does the Strawberry Red Overdrive DLX draw?
The DLX draws about 11.7mA, and the Japonism edition is listed at 12mA. That is low enough to share an isolated power supply output or run from a battery without draining it quickly.
Is the Strawberry Red Overdrive DLX analog?
Yes. One Control lists the DLX Japonism Edition's circuit type as analog, and the DLX retains the classic original analog circuit developed by Björn Juhl and One Control rather than cloning an existing design.
Who designed the Strawberry Red Overdrive?
The original circuit was developed by Björn Juhl, the Swedish designer also known as BJF, together with One Control. Juhl has designed some of the world's most desirable tube amplifiers, and the SROD is described by One Control as their founder's favorite overdrive pedal.
Sources (5)
- STRAWBERRY RED OVERDRIVE DLX Japonism Edition by One Control, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- One Control Strawberry Red Overdrive DLX, Delicious Audio, 2022-01-17
- STRAWBERRY RED OVERDRIVE 4K (OC-SROD4Kn), One Control USA
- STRAWBERRY RED OVERDRIVE RC (OC-SRODRCn), One Control USA
- One Control Strawberry Red Overdrive review, MusicRadar, 2015-09-18
