The Revv G4 V2 Canadian Edition is a high-gain distortion pedal from Revv Amplification, the Canadian builder best known for its Generator series amplifiers. Revv describes it as an organic "amp-in-a-box" pedal based on the Red channel of the G120 amp, and the company says it can turn any amp into what it calls "a destructive wall of sound by patching the G4 into the FX Loop Return"12. In other words, it works both as a distortion pedal in front of an amp and as a preamp feeding an amp's effects loop.
The Canadian Edition is a limited-edition version of the G4 V2, carrying the same V2 circuit revision in a Canada-themed finish. Like the rest of Revv's pedal line, it is manufactured in Canada2.
An amp-in-a-box built on the G120 Red channel
The G4's story starts with Revv's amplifiers. When the original Revv G4 launched in 2019, Guitar.com described it as "an amp-in-a-box unit that serves up a wide variety of drive sounds" and "the stompbox-sized version of the red channel 4 featured on Revv's acclaimed Generator 120 MKII amplifier"5. Premier Guitar likewise notes that the circuit is "based upon the red channel of the company's Generator 120"6, and Delicious Audio calls the G4 "the pedal version of the red channel of the company's 120 Generator tube amplifier"3.
Within Revv's pedal range, the G4 sits at the thick, sustaining end of the high-gain lineup. Guitar Pedal X characterizes the G4 as "the fatter / thicker more vintage leaning take on Revv's Generator Amp's 4th Channel" compared with the tighter Revv G37. A Sweetwater demo from 2019 put it more bluntly: "the Revv G4 isn't an updated G3, it's the polar opposite"89.
Revv positions the G4 V2 as usable in two ways:
- In front of a normal amp input, as a high-gain distortion pedal
- Patched into an amp's FX Loop Return, where it acts as the preamp and, in Revv's words, turns the amp into "a destructive wall of sound"2
The controls
The control layout follows the familiar Revv format: Volume, Gain, a 3-band EQ, and the 3-position Aggression toggle210. Guitar Pedal X lists the same layout on the Anniversary edition, naming the EQ bands Low, Mid and Hi11.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the output level of the pedal2 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion2 |
| 3-band EQ | Bass, middle and treble shaping12 |
| Aggression toggle | 3-position voicing and saturation switch1 |
The Aggression switch
The Aggression toggle is the G4's signature control. Revv describes it as a "3 Position aggression switch for different voicing and saturation"1, and Premier Guitar calls it a way of offering "gain variation with its 3-position aggression switch"6. The three positions are off, blue and red. In his demo video, Pete Thorn walks through the switch: "you got a three-way switch labeled aggression" with off, blue and red settings8. Performer Mag's reviewer Chris Devine described it as "the 3-way Aggression mini toggle that offers the user a few interesting options, blue or red modes or off"12.
V2 circuit revision and the Canadian Edition
The V2 is the current circuit revision of the G4. Revv says the V2 revision "adds additional versatility in lower gain ranges as well as a more clear & cutting midrange"1. That tracks with the broader V2 update across Revv's gain pedals: on the Revv G3 V2, Delicious Audio reported that the circuit updates "make it sound more open and amp-like, allowing it to have a wider tone range"13.
The Canadian Edition is a limited edition of the G4 V21. It is not the first special version of the pedal: a 2024 Anniversary Edition of the G4 was identical in circuit to the standard G4 but carried floral graphics3, and Guitar Pedal X notes that the Anniversary G3 and G4 "retain the V2 circuit and familiar Bass, Middle, Treble, Volume, Aggression and Gain layout"10.
The G4 V2 runs on a 9V center negative external supply only, with no battery operation2. At 14mA it is light on a pedalboard power supply1.
What reviewers have said
"I must say I'm somewhat disappointed by the G4 - I had high hopes for it - but it doesn't seem to have the same degree of satisfaction as its predecessor"14
Guitar Pedal X, Stefan Karlsson11
In a follow-up comparison, Karlsson added that the V2-era G4 "now definitely sounds inferior to its G3 sibling - and is wholly outmuscled" in the output department11. Players who want Revv's tighter, more modern high-gain voicing may find the G3 V2 the closer match, while the G4 V2 leans toward the thicker, more vintage side of the Generator's Red channel7.
Videos
Revv Amps
R.J. Ronquillo
Alberto Barrero
Questions
Is the Revv G4 V2 Canadian Edition true bypass?
Yes. Revv lists the G4 V2 Canadian Edition as analog with true bypass switching, so with the pedal off your signal passes through without active circuitry in the way.
Is the Revv G4 V2 analog or digital?
It is fully analog. Revv describes the G4 V2 as an analog circuit, and the Canadian Edition carries the same analog design with true bypass.
What does the aggression switch do on the Revv G4 V2?
The Aggression toggle is a 3-position voicing switch with off, blue and red settings. Revv describes it as offering different voicing and saturation, and Premier Guitar calls it a way of varying the gain character of the circuit.
What power does the Revv G4 V2 Canadian Edition need?
It runs on 9V DC, drawing 14mA, with a center negative external supply only. There is no battery option, so you need a pedalboard power supply or a dedicated adapter.
How is the V2 different from the original Revv G4?
According to Revv, the V2 circuit revision adds versatility in lower gain ranges and a more clear and cutting midrange. The original G4, launched in 2019, was a stompbox version of the Generator 120 MKII's red channel 4.
What warranty comes with the Revv G4 V2 Canadian Edition?
Revv covers the pedal with a 2 year limited warranty upon registration. The pedal is manufactured in Canada.
Sources (14)
- Revv Amps G4 V2, Revv Amplification
- Revv Amps G4 V2, Revv Amplification
- REVV G4 Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2024-11-21
- Get a taste of Revv's G3 and G4, two high-gain distortion pedals par excellence, in Cooking with Sound, Guitar World, 2020-02-25
- NAMM 2019: Revv unleashes G4 pedal, Guitar.com, 2019-01-17
- High-Gain Pedals: Transform Your Tone with Fire, Premier Guitar, 2024-12-24
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-06-19
- MODERN HI GAIN SATURATION! REVV G4 demo by Pete Thorn, Pete Thorn (YouTube channel), 2019-02-16
- Revv G4 Preamp / Distortion Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2019-01-01
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-09-19
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-12-05
- REVIEW: Revv Amplification G4 Pedal, Performer Mag, 2019-06-11
- Updated Pedal: REVV G3 Distortion V2, Delicious Audio, 2025-05-28
- Guitar Pedal X - GPX Blog - 2025 Full Metal Racket - 32 of the Best Compact High Gain and Heavy Metal Pedals, Guitar Pedal X
