The Rodenberg Daphne High Voltage Overdrive is an overdrive pedal from Rodenberg amplification, a German maker whose pedals are handcrafted in small quantities. Its defining idea is in the name: instead of running its circuit from the usual low pedal voltages, the Daphne carries an internal high-voltage circuit operating at approximately 280 V, built around three FET amplifier stages. Rodenberg's pitch is "Sounds like a Tube Amp. Works like a Pedal."1
What it does to your sound
Rodenberg describes the Daphne as combining the dynamics, touch response and harmonic distortion of a tube amplifier with the flexibility of a pedal1.
"Sounds like a Tube Amp. Works like a Pedal."
The pedal's controls are few and amp-like in intent:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| GAIN switch | Selects between LOW GAIN and HIGH GAIN, covering everything from dynamic crunch to powerful, singing overdrive without changing the pedal's basic character1 |
| AMP VOICING: CLEAN position | Adds an open, brilliant and especially lively character, with added upper frequencies for clarity and presence in front of a clean amp1 |
| Footswitch | Mechanical true bypass, switched almost click-free by a specially developed mute circuit1 |
| Status LED | Blue, shows when the pedal is engaged1 |
For players weighing an amp-style overdrive against more conventional circuits, the overdrive pedals type page sets out the wider field, and comparisons such as Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer show how the classic low-voltage designs differ in approach.
Power and connections: 300 mA minimum
The high-voltage design has one practical consequence for your board: the Daphne needs a serious power supply. Rodenberg specifies a supply with at least 300 mA, delivered over a 2.1 mm barrel plug with minus inside polarity1. There is no battery operation1.
At a required 300 mA minimum, the Daphne draws far more than a typical overdrive pedal. Do not power it from a low-current daisy-chain output; give it a dedicated supply output rated for at least 300 mA1.
Other connections and indicators are straightforward: a 1 MΩ input impedance, which suits passive guitar pickups, and a blue status LED to show when the pedal is engaged1.
Build and switching
The Daphne sits in a black powder-coated aluminum enclosure. Its physical specifications:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Enclosure | Aluminum, black, powder-coated1 |
| Dimensions (w/d/h) | 94 x 119 x 34 mm1 |
| Weight | 0.50 kg1 |
| Bypass | Mechanical true bypass with mute circuit1 |
| Warranty | 3 years1 |
Rodenberg says the specially developed mute circuit switches the true bypass footswitch almost click-free, so there is almost no switching noise when you stomp it1.
Where it comes from
Rodenberg amplification builds the Daphne in Germany, handcrafted in small quantities, and covers it with a 3-year warranty1. The Daphne sits alongside Rodenberg's other overdrive designs, such as the Rodenberg SL-OD DLX DRIVE and the Rodenberg LUKE Overdrive MK II, though the high-voltage internal circuit sets the Daphne apart within that range1.
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Questions
Does the Rodenberg Daphne run on a battery?
No. Rodenberg states the Daphne has no battery operation. It is powered from an external supply with a 2.1 mm barrel plug, minus inside, and the maker specifies a power supply with at least 300 mA. Because of that current draw, a standard daisy-chain supply shared with other pedals is not the right choice; give the Daphne its own output.
Is the Rodenberg Daphne true bypass?
Yes. The Daphne uses a mechanical true bypass footswitch, and Rodenberg says a specially developed mute circuit switches it almost click-free, so the pedal changes state with almost no switching noise.
Is the Daphne dangerous with 280 volts inside?
The internal operating voltage is approximately 280 V, which is how the pedal reaches its tube-like headroom, but that high voltage lives inside the sealed aluminium enclosure. You never come into contact with it in normal use; you only connect the standard 2.1 mm, minus-inside power plug on the outside.
Where is the Rodenberg Daphne made?
The Daphne is made in Germany, handcrafted in small quantities by Rodenberg amplification. The maker backs it with a 3-year warranty.
Sources (2)
- Daphne High Voltage Overdrive, RODENBERG amplification
- DAPHNE - HIGH VOLTAGE OVERDRIVE - RODENBERG amplification, Rodenberg amplification
