One Control Strawberry Red Overdrive RC

The One Control Strawberry Red Overdrive RC is an overdrive pedal in the company's 4K (four knob) mini enclosure, and One Control describes it as a new modified version of its classic SROD overdrive, tweaked again by designer Björn Juhl¹. Where the original SROD was a general-purpose overdrive, the RC has a specific aim: One Control says it has been "specially tuned for humbucker-equipped guitars and heavy tones"¹.

The maker positions it as a pedal that can cover both ends of the style spectrum, built "to do the classic sound as well as some new modern tones with heightened articulation and note definition"¹. As of late October 2026 it is listed as sold out on One Control's product page at a regular price of $154.99 USD¹.

Controls and what they do

The RC uses One Control's 4K arrangement, meaning four knobs in the mini enclosure¹. One Control's page for the RC names the VOLUME knob, which adjusts the volume¹. The closely related Strawberry Red Overdrive 4K spells out the full control set for the same 4K layout, and its controls give a good picture of what the RC's four knobs cover²:

Reviewing the original Strawberry Red Overdrive for MusicRadar, Total Guitar highlighted the treble control in particular, describing "a treble knob that can deliver cut or boost in the crucial top-end frequencies to really complement your amp"³.

Power and headroom

The RC operates between 9V and 18V, and One Control says the wider range is there "for higher headroom operation and a bit more focused tone with wider dynamics"¹. For a player, that means a standard 9V supply works, but an 18V supply gives the circuit more room before it compresses.

The Strawberry Red Overdrive 4K shares the same 9V to 18V drive voltage, and One Control notes that even in the small enclosure it "can still power our pedals with a 9v battery if you desire"². The 4K's published specifications also list an input impedance of 390K, an output impedance of 50K, and an S/N ratio of -90dB².

Versions of the Strawberry Red Overdrive

The Strawberry Red Overdrive line has gone through several editions, all tracing back to the same original circuit developed by Björn Juhl and One Control⁴.

The DLX adds its own control detail: its DRIVE knob adjusts the overdrive gain, increasing clockwise, and its DC input accepts a standard center-minus 9V or 18V adapter or a 9V battery, with the LED turning off when the battery needs replacing⁵. Delicious Audio notes the DLX is part of the BJFE series designed by Björn Juhl⁵.

Where it came from

One Control is a Japanese company that, beyond pedals, makes a range of pedalboard accessories including switching units and power supplies³. Its overdrive line carries fruit and berry names, and the Strawberry Red Overdrive sits among pedals like the Strawberry Overdrive, the Cranberry Over Drive, the Lingonberry Overdrive and the Golden Acorn Overdrive Special.

The design credit belongs to Björn Juhl, the Swedish designer behind the BJFE pedals. One Control says of the 4K that 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 pedal as possible². MusicRadar made the same connection in its review of the original, noting One Control's good fortune "if they can tempt the likes of Bjorn Juhl (BJF) to design a range of pedals for them"³.

What reviewers said

MusicRadar's review of the original Strawberry Red Overdrive (credited to Total Guitar) found it "delivers the sort of overdriven tones you'd get from a cooking valve amp"³. The review's overall verdict was short and positive:

That versatility echoes One Control's own description of the 4K version: "It's a muscle overdrive, but at the same time it can produce old sounds, and it's really versatile"². The RC takes that same family of circuits and points it at humbucker-equipped guitars and heavier tones¹.

Videos

Click to load

Click to load

Questions