The MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive is an overdrive pedal from Origin Effects that combines a true pitch-modulating vibrato with a smooth, clear overdrive tone1. It is an amp-in-a-box pedal: Origin Effects recreated the classic Magnatone 200 Series amplifiers at circuit level, using all-analog components, complete with the pitch-shifting vibrato those amps are known for2. The pedal was announced in November 2020 and is available now3.
Where most vibrato pedals only do modulation, the MAGMA57 puts both halves of the original amps in one box. The right bypass footswitch engages the overdrive circuit, and the left footswitch adds the vibrato on top, so the two effects can be used together or independently4.
Pitch-modulating vibrato with overdrive
The MAGMA57's effect is a true pitch-modulating vibrato paired with overdrive, which Pedal of the Day says "conjures up classic tones of past decades"2. The vibrato effect is taken from the Magnatone 260, according to Origin Effects' own product spotlight6. The range runs wide: in Pedal of the Day's words, "this beast ranges from warm and jazzy to swirling psychedelia, and anything you can think of in between"2.
The pedal is not locked into one style of use. Origin Effects says it "can work as a clean platform or be pushed into full overdrive, which, when paired with the vibrato, can give" psychedelic rock and blues tones7. That means a player can run it clean with vibrato only, use the drive alone, or stack both.
The overdrive side is built on an analog circuit inspired by the Magnatone 213 "Troubadour," according to Delicious Audio8.
The controls: Vibrato knob, Blend switch and Post-Drive EQ
The control set covers both effects plus output shaping9:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Output | Sets the pedal's output level |
| Tone | Shapes the overdrive's tonal character |
| Drive | Sets the amount of overdrive |
| Intensity | Sets the vibrato depth |
| Speed | Sets the vibrato rate |
| Blend switch | Three-way switch selecting the modulation mode |
| Multi switch | Selects tempo division for the vibrato |
| Post Drive EQ switch | Engages the Post-Drive EQ section |
| Post Drive EQ adjust | Sets the Post-Drive EQ |
The Blend switch is the key to the modulation side. A three-way Blend switch combines the vibrato's wet and dry signals in different ways to deliver three distinct modulation modes: pure Magnatone pitch modulation, UniVibe-style phasing, and a unique chorus effect2. In practice that gives the player three pedals in one on the modulation side, from the original amp's sound to a phaser-like sweep to a chorus.
The Post-Drive EQ is the other differentiator. Origin Effects describes it as a comprehensive section that "tailors the MAGMA57 to your amp's clean tone"1. Pedal of the Day found it goes further than amp matching: the Post-Drive EQ section shapes the pedal's tones for a guitar amp, a flat-response power amp, a mixer, or a recording interface2. That flexibility is what lets the MAGMA57 work as a direct recording tool rather than only a front-of-amp pedal.
From Magnatone 200 Series amps to the RevivalDRIVE platform
The MAGMA57's circuit is based on Magnatone amps designed in the '60s, amps Origin Effects describes as having "an identity of their own, with a raspy drive character and a thick, pitch-shifting" vibrato7. Pedal of the Day describes the pedal as compiling the best aspects of the classic Magnatone 200 Series amplifiers into one pedal2.
The pedal also shares its DNA with Origin Effects' amp-recreation line. It uses a complete valve amp-style signal path, built on the same platform as the RevivalDRIVE2. Origin Effects describes the MAGMA57 as compiling the best aspects of the classic Magnatone 200 Series amplifiers into one pedal2.
What reviewers said
Published reviews were positive. Guitar.com's review awarded the MAGMA57 9/10, with the overall verdict "come for the multi-mode vibrato, fall in love with the chunky overdrive"4.
"this beast ranges from warm and jazzy to swirling psychedelia, and anything you can think of in between"
Origin Effects describes the MAGMA57's sound as ranging from warm and jazzy to swirling psychedelia, and anything in between2.
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Questions
Is the Origin Effects MAGMA57 analog or digital?
It is all-analog. Origin Effects built the MAGMA57 with analog components recreating the Magnatone 200 Series amplifiers at circuit level, and Guitar World describes it as part of Origin Effects' series of all-analog amp-in-a-box pedals. The overdrive circuit is inspired by the Magnatone 213 Troubadour.
Does the MAGMA57 have true bypass?
No. The MAGMA57 uses a high-impedance buffered bypass with silent switching, which Origin Effects fits as standard. Pedal of the Day's review also describes it as having high-quality buffered bypass circuitry rather than true bypass.
What does the Blend switch do on the MAGMA57?
The three-way Blend switch combines the vibrato's wet and dry signals in different ways to deliver three distinct modulation modes: pure Magnatone pitch modulation, UniVibe-style phasing, and a unique chorus effect. It lets one pedal cover several classic modulation sounds.
Can you use the MAGMA57 as a vibrato without overdrive?
Yes. Origin Effects says the MAGMA57 can work as a clean platform or be pushed into full overdrive, so the vibrato can be used on a clean tone. The two footswitches work independently: the right one engages the overdrive circuit and the left adds the vibrato on top.
Can the MAGMA57 go straight into a mixer or audio interface?
Yes. The pedal's Post-Drive EQ section shapes its tones for use with a guitar amp, a flat-response power amp, a mixer, or a recording interface, according to Pedal of the Day's review of the pedal.
Sources (9)
- MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive, Origin Effects, 2026
- Origin Effects MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive, Pedal of the Day, 2021-01-27
- Origin Effects captures the legendary Magnatone 200 amp sound in a pedal with its new MAGMA57, MusicRadar, 2020-11-17
- Review: Origin Effects Magma57 & RevivalTrem, Guitar.com, 2020-12-23
- Origin Effects recreates the sound of late-'50s Magnatone amps in a pedal with the MAGMA57, Guitar World, 2020-11-17
- Product Spotlight, Origin Effects, 2024-02-02
- 2026 - Our Guitar Amp Recreation Line Up - Origin Effects, Origin Effects, 2026-08-18
- Origin Effects Magma57 Amp Vibrato And Drive, Delicious Audio, 2023-04-26
- Origin Effects MAGMA57 & RevivalTREM review, Guitar World, 2021-04-30
