The Crook V5 is a high-gain analog overdrive from Poison Noises, the pedal the reviewer at Pedal of the Day called the one that put the maker on the effects map. It is the fifth version of the circuit, and the big change in this version is a new active EQ: more high end, scoopable lows, and a mids control focused around 800 Hz. RockBoard's PedalPedia says that with the active EQ, the pedal "can easily disguise itself as whatever drive sound is needed to seamlessly blend into" a board, so it can be set to fill whatever drive slot a rig has open.12
RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the pedal as boasting "tons of available gain and a variety of different breakup sounds," and classifies it as both an overdrive and an equalizer.1 For players comparing drive types, it sits in the high-gain end of the overdrive territory rather than the lower-gain range of pedals like the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Clipping knob | Dials in the headroom; RockBoard's PedalPedia says it lets you set headroom "as precisely as a professional safe cracker"1 |
| Active EQ | Adds more high end and scoopable lows compared with earlier versions2 |
| Mids control | Focused around 800 Hz2 |
The active EQ is the heart of the V5. Because it is active rather than passive, the EQ sections can cut as well as boost, which is what makes the scoopable lows and the 800 Hz-centered mids control possible. Pedal of the Day, which reviewed the pedal from Version 3 onward, found that the V5 keeps "the sound of the original criminal" while adding those new EQ options, so players who knew earlier versions get the same core drive with more tone shaping on top.2
Power
The maker's listing gives the standard supply as 9V DC, center negative.1 Pedal of the Day adds that the V5 "still operates anywhere between 9 and 18 volts," so it can be run at 18 volts on a supply that offers it.2
The two sources give the supply differently: the maker's listing states 9V DC, center negative, while the review states the pedal operates anywhere between 9 and 18 volts. The 9V figure is the standard supply; the wider range comes from the reviewer.
Versions and availability
Pedal of the Day covered the circuit starting with Version 3 and described the V5, released in May 2023, as the latest version, noting they had "loved to see the progression of this circuit over the last couple of years."2 At release, the pedal was available from the Poison Noises shop, and it is also listed on the RockBoard PedalPedia reference.2 Poison Noises also makes other drives, including the Knuckle Sandwich Overdrive V3.
Videos
Poison Noises
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What changed between The Crook V3, V4 and V5?
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal starting with Version 3 and followed the circuit's progress, calling the V5 the latest version of the pedal that put Poison Noises on the effects map. The headline change in the V5 is the new active EQ, which adds more high end, scoopable lows and a mids control focused around 800 Hz, while keeping the sound of the original circuit.
Can The Crook V5 run at 18 volts?
Yes. Pedal of the Day states that the V5 still operates anywhere between 9 and 18 volts, so it can run at 18 volts where a higher supply is available. The maker's product listing gives the standard supply as 9V DC, center negative.
What does the clipping knob on The Crook do?
The clipping knob sets the headroom of the pedal. Poison Noises says it will help you dial in your headroom as precisely as a professional safe cracker, which in practice means shaping how the pedal breaks up, from cleaner to more compressed and saturated.
Where can I buy The Crook V5?
At its release in May 2023, Pedal of the Day reported that the Crook V5 was available from the Poison Noises shop. The pedal is also listed on the RockBoard PedalPedia reference site.
Sources (2)
- The Crook V5 by Poison Noises, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Poison Noises The Crook Overdrive V5, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2023-05-19
