Pedal Tree Retro1

The Pedal Tree Retro1 is an overdrive pedal from Pedal Tree, a peculiar-looking pedal based on the classic Electra Distortion circuit. Where the original design is a single-stage build, the Retro1 adds an extra gain stage to the original circuit, so it pushes harder than the bare design would¹. If you are weighing it against other dirt boxes, it sits in the territory covered by Overdrive Pedals and Distortion Pedals.

What it does

Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio describes the Retro1 as delivering "the organic crunch of vintage tweed amps, perfect for blues, rock, and anything that demands warm, dynamic breakup"¹. In plain terms, that is the kind of soft, touch-sensitive clipping a small tweed-style amp gives when it is pushed, rather than the harder edge of a high-gain distortion.

The Electra Distortion circuit it is based on is a simple, long-standing design, and the Retro1's added gain stage is the maker's main departure from it¹.

The Retro1 is an overdrive that, as Delicious Audio put it, "adds an extra gain stage to the original circuit"¹. The publication describes its sound as delivering "the organic crunch of vintage tweed amps, perfect for blues, rock, and anything that demands warm, dynamic breakup"¹. It is housed in a rugged enclosure with handcrafted hardwood side panels in maple, beech, or cherry, and limited quantities are available, each one hand-built in Germany and unique¹.

Build and availability

Each Retro1 is hand-built in Germany and unique, housed in a rugged enclosure with handcrafted hardwood side panels in maple, beech, or cherry¹.