The Pete Cornish Deluxe BD-1 is an overdrive pedal designed for bass guitar, built with Germanium components and a two-band active tone section. Pete Cornish says the design delivers heavy overdrive with full bottom-end retention, staying flat down to below the bottom B on five-string basses, and that it has also proved popular with baritone and dropped-tuned guitars1. It is the Deluxe Series version of the earlier Pete Cornish BD-1, released in 20142.
Aion FX, which traced the BD-1 circuit in 2026, calls it "the only Cornish effect designed specifically for bass"32. Each unit is hand built, wired, and tested by Pete, Lynda, and Mingus Cornish4.
What it does to your sound
Pete Cornish describes the BD-1 as a bass driver with heavy overdrive and active EQ, using Germanium components "for added musicality"21. The maker says the low end is fully retained, flat down to below the bottom B on five-string basses, so the pedal can push an amp hard without thinning the fundamental1.
The circuit also carries the maker's established Class A input buffer and radio frequency suppressor, and the output buffer impedance is low enough to drive long cables or other loads without loss of signal or tone4. Maximum signal output with Volume at 100% is +10dBm(V), 2.5V RMS, or 6V peak to peak at the clip point4.
The controls: gain, volume, bass and treble
The Deluxe BD-1 has four controls: Gain, Volume, Bass, and Treble. The tone controls are active, meaning they cut and boost rather than only cut, with the zero or neutral point at 12 o'clock. The two bands are completely independent, with no interaction between Bass and Treble4.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of overdrive |
| Volume | Output master volume, for matching bypassed and overdriven, EQ'd signal levels1 |
| Bass | Active boost and cut, +16/-13dB at 30Hz4 |
| Treble | Active boost and cut, +12/-18dB at 3kHz4 |
The tone controls are powerful: the maker quotes a combined range of 34dB at maximum settings4. With Bass and Treble at the 50% neutral point, overall boost with Gain and Volume both at 100% is +55dB, referenced to an input of -52dBm(V) and an output of +3dBm(V)4. The same page also gives +19dB with Gain at 0% and Volume at 100%, referenced to an input of -16dBm(V) and an output of +3dBm, so the two figures describe different gain settings rather than conflicting measurements4.
An output Master Volume is included so the bypassed, overdriven, and EQ'd signal levels can be matched exactly1.
Power and connections
The Deluxe BD-1 runs on 9V DC. Pete Cornish specifies an adapter that is noise free, fully stabilized at 9V DC, and capable of supplying 20mA, with a 5.5/2.1mm coax connector and a negative center pin4. For powering multiple pedals the maker recommends the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus, and for a single unit the BOSS PSA series4.
The pedal also takes an internal 9V battery in a removable drawer, so the battery can be changed without opening the case. The battery is switched on when a plug is inserted into the IN/PWR ON jack, and the preferred type is MN16044.
The pedal is housed in a rugged die-cast box with lined control knobs, and uses a heavy duty custom-made all-metal footswitch with a large cap, protection ring, and Hi-Brite LED4.
Where the circuit came from
Pete Cornish describes the BD-1 as a new design built around Germanium components "for added musicality," with full bottom-end retention for bass1. The circuit keeps the company's well established Class A input buffer and radio frequency suppressor, and its low-impedance output buffer is designed to drive long cables or other loads without loss of signal or tone4.
Aion FX's 2026 trace of the circuit tells a more detailed story. Its analysis found that the front half of the circuit was adapted from the MXR Distortion+ and the back half from the Cornish ST-2, with the gain increased and some capacitor values changed to make it more suitable for bass2. Aion FX also notes the bass control is centered at 30Hz, matching the maker's own specification2.
"The gain has been increased, and some capacitor values were changed to make it more suitable for bass, but the topology is the same."
Who builds it, and the warranty
Each unit is hand built, wired, and tested by Pete, Lynda, and Mingus Cornish4. Aion FX notes that Cornish pedals are known for being extremely expensive, attributed to build quality and reliability, the obscured circuit, and a client list that includes David Gilmour, Brian May, and Pete Townshend5.
The Deluxe BD-1 carries a twelve-month warranty from date of purchase. Any original manufacturing fault is repaired, with the unit returned post paid to the maker's address. The warranty is voided if the guarantee labels are damaged or removed, and excludes normal wear, misuse, unauthorized modifications, and accidental damage4. The earlier Gray Series BD-1 carried a two-year warranty on the same terms, and was not transferable3.
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Questions
Does the Pete Cornish BD-1 run on a battery?
Yes. The Deluxe BD-1 takes an internal 9V battery in a removable drawer, so it can be swapped without opening the case. The battery is switched on when a plug is inserted into the IN/PWR ON jack, and Pete Cornish recommends an MN1604 type. A 9V DC adapter with a 5.5/2.1mm center negative plug can also be used.
What polarity does the BD-1 power supply need?
The adapter input uses a 5.5/2.1mm coax connector with a negative center pin. Pete Cornish specifies an adapter that is noise free, fully stabilized at 9V DC, and capable of supplying 20mA. For powering several pedals, the maker recommends the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus; for a single unit, the BOSS PSA series.
Is the Pete Cornish BD-1 based on another overdrive circuit?
Pete Cornish describes the BD-1 as not a variant of any existing product but a completely new and original design. However, Aion FX, which traced the circuit in 2026, found the front half adapted from the MXR Distortion+ and the back half from the Cornish ST-2, with higher gain and changed capacitor values to suit bass.
Who builds Pete Cornish pedals?
Each Pete Cornish unit is hand built, wired, and tested by Pete, Lynda, and Mingus Cornish in the maker's own workshop. The company is known for build quality and for clients including David Gilmour, Brian May, and Pete Townshend, and its pedals carry premium prices as a result.
How much warranty does the BD-1 have?
The Deluxe BD-1 carries a twelve-month warranty from date of purchase covering repairs of any original manufacturing fault, with return shipping post paid to the maker. The warranty is voided if the guarantee labels are damaged or removed, and excludes normal wear, misuse, unauthorized modifications, and accidental damage.
Sources (5)
- Pete Cornish BD-1, Pete Cornish, 2014
- Tracing Journal: Cornish BD-1 Bass Drive, Aion FX, 2026-07-03
- Pete Cornish BD-1, Pete Cornish, 2014
- Pete Cornish Deluxe BD-1, Pete Cornish, 2017
- Perseid Bass Drive / Cornish BD-1, Aion FX, 2026-07-03
