The Electric is an analog drive and compression pedal from Recovery Effects, listed by the maker as covering overdrive, compression and boost duties. Its whole range sits at the low-gain end: the maker describes it as "gorgeous and transparent drive/compression" that "does it all from a slight boost/compression to a nice, warm, and light overdrive," and calls it "perfect for a first-stage overdrive or boost pedal."1 In practice that makes it a pedal you put early in the chain to add a touch of push and sustain in front of an amp or other drives, rather than a distortion source of its own. Players comparing it with other low-gain options can see how it sits against the wider fields of overdrive pedals, boost pedals and compressor pedals.
Controls and the transistor switch
The Electric keeps its control layout to two knobs and a toggle. Pedal of the Day's review describes the pedal as "using Volume and Gain knobs to set those respective parameters," with the Gain range covering the pedal's full sweep of character: the reviewer found that mixing Gain with the right amount of volume "yields everything from clean boost to transparent, low-gain drive to a warmer, tube-driven sound throughout the full turn of the knob."3
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level3 |
| Gain | Sets the gain, from clean boost through transparent low-gain drive to a warmer, tube-driven sound3 |
| Toggle switch | Selects between two modes, moving between modern and vintage tones3 |
The toggle works with the pedal's transistor choice. RockBoard's PedalPedia says "switchable transistors allow you to move back and forth between modern and vintage tones, using a BC547 and oil-can style BC108."2 Pedal of the Day adds that these transistors are "hand-picked NOS," meaning new old stock parts selected by hand, and that the toggle "adds a little bit of flavor to the options portion of the Electric, giving you two different modes to choose from."3
The Electric can be run at 9 or 18V. Pedal of the Day notes that 18V produces more headroom, which matters if you want the pedal to stay clean as a boost with hotter input signals.3
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Electric on 6 October 2017 and came away broadly positive. The reviewer called it "an excellent all-around pedal that would fit on boards whose players are into country, classic rock, pop, industrial, death metal and more," and found that the two modes give "distinctively varying sounds from each side, allowing for superb dialing in of whatever type of drive sound you're out to achieve with ease."3 On the build, the same review notes that "the rest of the pedal is made up of high quality parts, made in the USA wherever available."3 The review's summary of the design was that "today's delightfully simple sonic recipe has only a couple of ingredients, but speaks volumes in terms of tone and value."3
Questions
Is the Recovery Effects Electric analog?
Yes. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the Electric's circuit type as analog. It is a discrete transistor-based design built around switchable BC547 and oil-can style BC108 transistors, which the maker says let you move between modern and vintage tones. Pedal of the Day's review adds that the transistors are hand-picked NOS (new old stock) parts.
What transistors does the Electric use?
The Electric uses two switchable transistors: a BC547 and an oil-can style BC108. The maker describes the switching as a way to move back and forth between modern and vintage tones, and Pedal of the Day notes that the transistors are hand-picked NOS parts.
What does the toggle switch do on the Electric?
The toggle switch selects between two different modes, which Pedal of the Day describes as moving between modern and vintage tones and adding a little flavor to the pedal's options. It works together with the switchable BC547 and BC108 transistors that give the same modern-versus-vintage choice.
Is the Electric a boost or an overdrive?
Both, depending on where you set it. The maker describes it as a transparent drive and compression pedal that goes from a slight boost and compression to a nice, warm, light overdrive, and calls it perfect for a first-stage overdrive or boost pedal. Pedal of the Day found the Gain range yields everything from clean boost to transparent, low-gain drive.
Sources (3)
- ELECTRIC PEDAL (Transparent Drive / Compression), Recovery Effects and Devices
- Electric by Recovery Effects, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Recovery Effects Electric Overdrive Compressor, Pedal of the Day, 2017-10-06