The Oneder Effects Onederbolt is a distortion pedal built around two toggle switches that give it four distinct gain characters. The maker describes its clipping as heavy, hairy op-amp clipping paired with a unique silicon/LED hybrid diode clipping configuration, and says the pedal can be used as a mid-heavy boost at its tamest or a fuzzy distortion with unparalleled note clarity at its most extreme1. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, reviewing it in March 2024, called it "a beautifully textured distortion with 4 gears of operation"2.
Guitar Pedal X reported in March 2024 that the original all-black Onederbolts were sold out on the Oneder Effects webstore and that the reviewer had "read somewhere that the Onederbolt may already be discontinued"2. After checkout on the B's Music Shop webstore failed for him overseas, Stefan Karlsson bought a pristine second-hand example on eBay, which is how he came to own the pedal he reviewed2.
Four gears from two switches
The Onederbolt's central idea is that its two toggles work as a pair. Each switch has two positions, and the four combinations give four different pedals in one box, which Guitar Pedal X described as 4 gears of operation2. The maker's own description of the circuit points to the same design: switchable op-amp clipping and a silicon/LED hybrid diode clipping configuration1.
The pedal is also tied to the rest of the Oneder line. Oneder Effects describes it as essentially the Oneder Drive MKII3, and the company later reintroduced the Oneder Drive as the Oneder Drive V23.
The controls
The knob layout is deliberately simple: three knobs and two toggles2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Output volume2 |
| Drive | Gain amount2 |
| Highs | Top end2 |
| Diode Clipping: -/+ | '-' compresses lows and focuses mids; '+' gives full-frequency output2 |
| Voicing: MKI / MKII | MKI is smoother; MKII adds top end, gain and sustain2 |
The clipping switch is where the pedal's two textures live. Oneder Effects says it "toggles between heavy, hairy op-amp clipping and a unique silicon/LED hybrid diode clipping configuration that compresses the low end, sizzle, and gain in a vintage way"1. The voicing switch then sets how much gain and top end sit on top: "Right MKI is smoother, while MKII adds top end, gain and sustain"2.
What reviewers heard
Guitar Pedal X's verdict placed the Onederbolt among familiar distortion touchstones. With the left switch on '+' and the right switch on MKII, the reviewer found "this wonderfully richly textured Distortion sits somewhere between a Keeley-modded DS-1, a Rat, and a Big Muff"2. He summed up the character this way:
"The Onederbolt has a little more edge and bite than all of those and a very unique breakup texture."
He also heard a connection to an older Boss design, writing "It reminds me a little of the long discontinued Boss PW-2 Power Driver"2. For players comparing distortion options, the Red Ryder is Oneder Effects' take on the Rat family of circuits, featured by Delicious Audio in 2023 among RAT clones and variants4, while the Onederbolt occupies its own territory between those circuits. More broadly, the pedal belongs to the wider field of distortion pedals2.
Demo videos
There are no official video demos of the original Onederbolt. Guitar Pedal X noted in March 2024 that "there don't seem to be any official video demos for the original Onederbolt, but there are a couple of demo" videos for the Onedercat edition2. Oneder Effects does publish a combined drive pedal manual covering the Onederbolt on its site1.
Questions
What does the Diode Clipping switch do on the Onederbolt?
The left toggle switch selects between two clipping arrangements. In the '+' position the pedal gives full-frequency output. In the '-' position it compresses the low end and focuses the mids, which Oneder Effects describes as compressing lows, sizzle and gain in a vintage way. The pedal's clipping comes from heavy, hairy op-amp clipping and a silicon/LED hybrid diode clipping configuration, switchable between the two positions.
What is the difference between MKI and MKII on the Onederbolt?
The right toggle switch is the voicing control. MKI is the smoother of the two voicings, while MKII adds top end, gain and sustain. Combined with the two positions of the Diode Clipping switch, the two voicings give the pedal its four combinations, which Guitar Pedal X described as 4 gears of operation.
Is the Oneder Effects Onederbolt discontinued?
Possibly. Writing in March 2024, Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson said he had read somewhere that the Onederbolt may already be discontinued, and noted that the original all-black Onederbolts were sold out on the Oneder Effects webstore. He bought a pristine second-hand example on eBay after checkout on the B's Music Shop webstore failed for him overseas.
How much did the original Onederbolt cost?
The original black edition and the B's Music Shop Custom Edition Apple-Green Onedercat edition both retailed for $179, according to Guitar Pedal X's March 2024 review.
What does the Onederbolt sound like compared to a Rat or Big Muff?
Guitar Pedal X's reviewer found that with the left switch on '+' and the right switch on MKII, the pedal sits somewhere between a Keeley-modded DS-1, a Rat and a Big Muff, with more edge and bite than all of those and a very unique breakup texture. He also noted it reminded him a little of the long discontinued Boss PW-2 Power Driver.
Are there demo videos of the Onederbolt?
Not for the original pedal. Guitar Pedal X noted in March 2024 that there did not seem to be any official video demos of the original Onederbolt, though a couple of demo videos exist for the Onedercat edition.
Sources (4)
- Onederbolt Distortion, Oneder Effects (www.onedereffects.com)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-03-06
- Onederwall, Oneder Effects
- Oneder Effects Red Ryder Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2023-09-18
