The Reverend Drivetrain Overdrive is an overdrive pedal made by Reverend Musical Instruments, designed by Bob Weil and Joe Naylor for Reverend Guitars in 20001. It is a four-knob overdrive: drive, treble, bass and volume, with separate bass and treble controls rather than a single tone knob12. Vintage Guitar reviewed it in May 2001, priced at $269 with a one-year warranty2.
The controls: drive, treble, bass and volume
The pedal's feature set is simple. Vintage Guitar's review lists "pots for drive, treble, bass, and volume (no dip switches here)", alongside a metal housing and AC/DC operation2. The separate bass and treble controls are the design's distinguishing feature, carried over when Truetone later reintroduced the circuit in its GarageTone line1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of overdrive1 |
| Treble | Treble control, separate from the bass side1 |
| Bass | Bass control, separate from the treble side1 |
| Volume | Sets output level1 |
The pedal weighs, in Vintage Guitar's words, "a mere pound or so"2.
What reviewers said
Vintage Guitar's May 2001 review found a wide range of usable sounds. The reviewer described the pedal's crunch as authentic and flexible across styles2:
"Even the slightest crunch is an authentic, in-your-face sound that mirrors an early Deluxe at 8, and further increments of drive and tone bring a whole spectrum of sound, from AC/DC fat rock to slink, subtle Ry Cooder…very flexible."
The pedal shipped with an information sheet that included not only sample settings, ranging from blues through rock, but helpful suggestions for bass players and for overdriven amp use2.
Designed by Bob Weil for Reverend
Truetone's product page for the later GarageTone version states the circuit was "Designed by Bob Weil and Joe Naylor for Reverend Guitars in 2000"1. When Truetone reintroduced it in the GarageTone line, the company says it kept exactly what made it great1. The current version of the circuit is covered on the Truetone GarageTone Drivetrain Overdrive page.
The Reverend Drivetrain Overdrive reviewed here is the original 2000 Reverend version. Truetone later reintroduced the same circuit in its GarageTone line as the GarageTone Drivetrain Overdrive1.
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Questions
Does the Reverend Drivetrain Overdrive run on a battery?
Yes. Vintage Guitar's 2001 review notes that operation is by 9-volt battery or an approved adapter, so the pedal can be run without a power supply. It also lists AC/DC operation and a metal housing among the pedal's features.
Who designed the Reverend Drivetrain?
Truetone, which later reintroduced the circuit in its GarageTone line, credits the design to Bob Weil and Joe Naylor, made for Reverend Guitars in 2000.
What finishes does the Drivetrain Overdrive come in?
Vintage Guitar's review mentions a variety of finishes: the reviewer's test unit was glossy black, and the reviewer noted the aluminum brushed finish is quite nice.
Can bass players use the Reverend Drivetrain Overdrive?
The pedal shipped with an information sheet that included sample settings ranging from blues through rock, along with helpful suggestions for bass players and for overdriven amp use, according to Vintage Guitar's 2001 review.
How much did the Reverend Drivetrain Overdrive cost?
Vintage Guitar's May 2001 review lists the price at $269, with a one-year warranty.
Sources (2)
- GarageTone Drivetrain Overdrive, Truetone, 2026
- Reverend Drivetrain Overdrive, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2001-07-18
