The Pettyjohn GOLD is an overdrive pedal from Pettyjohn Electronics, a maker the company itself describes as "a definite go-to overdrive for almost anyone playing an electric guitar"1. It sits in the amp-in-a-box corner of the overdrive world: Pettyjohn's own write-up says "From cleaner bluesy tones to mid-bumped high gain British amp distortion, the GOLD does it all"1.
Controls and features
The GOLD carries a three band EQ with an adjustable mid bell curve, plus Gain and Output controls1. Inside, a mini toggle selects between two high filter capacitor options: an Auri-Cap audiophile capacitor, described as the stock setting and super transparent, or a more vintage sounding Orange Drop1. The v1 also features what the maker calls a "High Fidelity Auri-cap for the ultimate in transparency"4.
Where the gold finish came from
The pedal's gold powder coating finish was not a marketing decision so much as a happy accident. Stephen Pettyjohn explained its origin in a company interview: "it came from a color swatch from the powder coating company that we use for our enclosures"5.
Versions: v1, MKII and V3
The GOLD's controls have stayed at the heart of the pedal across its life: a 3 band EQ with an adjustable mid bell curve, plus Gain and Output1. Inside, a mini toggle selects between two high filter capacitor options, an Auri-Cap audiophile capacitor that Pettyjohn describes as super transparent on the stock setting, or a more vintage sounding Orange Drop1. The pedal runs on anywhere from 9-18v of DC power1.
The internal capacitor toggle changes the pedal's high filter character: the stock Auri-Cap is described as super transparent, while the Orange Drop option is described as more vintage sounding1.
On the board
The pedal runs on anywhere from 9 to 18 volts of DC power1, so it works with a standard pedalboard supply and can also take a higher voltage if a player wants it. The maker's own reviewer described first playing one picked up directly from Stephen Pettyjohn while working for a local store in Bend, Oregon1.
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Questions
What kind of pedal is the Pettyjohn GOLD?
It is an overdrive pedal for electric guitar, made by Pettyjohn Electronics. The maker describes it as covering everything from cleaner bluesy tones to mid-bumped high gain British amp distortion, and it carries a three band EQ with an adjustable mid bell curve along with Gain and Output controls.
What power does the Pettyjohn GOLD need?
The pedal runs on anywhere from 9 to 18 volts of DC power, according to Pettyjohn Electronics, which gives players some headroom over a standard nine volt supply.
Sources (5)
- MIAB GOLD Rush, Pettyjohn Electronics, 2018-12-06
- GOLD MKII by Pettyjohn, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- GOLD3 | Pettyjohn Elec, Pettyjohn Electronics
- A Drive For All Occasions, Pettyjohn Electronics, 2018-12-13
- The Inspiration Behind The Gold Overdrive By Pettyjohn Electronics, Pettyjohn Electronics, 2018-05-14
