The Rude Tech Falcondrive! is a two-in-one overdrive and distortion pedal made in the USA, built as a signature pedal for Ian Fowles, the guitarist of The Aquabats! better known as Eaglebones Falconhawk. It is a partnership between Fowles and Jesse Rhew, founder of Tennessee boutique pedal builder Rude Tech, and Guitar.com notes it is the first ever Aquabats guitar product1.
The idea behind the pedal is simple: put two of Fowles' most trusted pedals in one box, the venerable Boss SD-1 and DS-1, though both circuits are heavily tweaked and modded1. A single blend knob sweeps between the two gain sounds, so a player can carry an overdrive and a distortion on one spot on the board.
A two-in-one overdrive and distortion pedal
The Falcondrive! combines blendable dual effects of distortion and overdrive2. Guitar World describes the goal as offering "two stalwart gain sounds in one unit"3, and the pedal "boldly promises a vast array of blues, pop, indie, punk and metal sounds"3.
The heart of it is the blend control. Guitar.com's reviewer explains how it works123:
"Twist that blend all the way to the left and you get the reassuringly punchy overdrive of the modded SD-1, while to the right things get noticeably more metallic as we switch to the DS-1; all points along the sweep give you varying levels of each."1
Turned fully counterclockwise, the pedal promises the tones of Fowles' own modded overdrive pedal3, the modded SD-1 side of the circuit1.
Fowles' mods are what separate the Falcondrive! from a stock SD-1 or DS-1. Guitar.com's reviewer found "there's a more rounded and full bottom end to the EQ, making for a meatier tone"1. The tone of the pedal was inspired by pedals from Fowles' own collection and his experience teaching guitar2.
Controls and switching
The control set is deliberately minimal: a single bypass footswitch and four knobs3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets output level, "functions as you'd expect"3 |
| Tone | Shapes the EQ3 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive3 |
| Blend | Sweeps from the modded SD-1 overdrive (fully left) to the DS-1 (fully right), with mixes in between1 |
The pedal is true bypass and runs on a nine-volt battery or power supply1.
A signature pedal from Ian Fowles and Rude Tech
Ian Fowles plays guitar in The Aquabats! as Eaglebones Falconhawk, and he teamed up with Rude Tech pedals to create the signature two-in-one overdrive/distortion pedal3. The design draws on pedals from his own collection and his experience teaching guitar2.
Fowles described the design goal in plain terms:
"I wanted it to be a professional-grade pedal built with even the beginner in mind3."
Guitar World characterizes it as a professional-grade pedalboard unit catering to both beginners and pros3.
Visually, the pedal is unmistakable. It comes in a sparkly powder-coated enclosure with livery from noted skateboard deck artist Thomas Fernandez adorning the top, plus a pink LED and pink or orange knobs1.
The fundraiser and what comes with it
Pedals bought through the fundraiser differ from the standard version: fundraiser buyers received a Falcondrive with limited-edition pink control knobs3.
All fundraiser pedals arrive with:
- A bagged crystal to "center your inner rock spirit"3
- A satin pedal pouch3
- A glow-in-the-dark guitar pick3
What reviewers said
Guitar.com reviewed the Falcondrive! in April 2022 and rated it 8, concluding:
"A versatile and likeable take on two classic dirt sounds with a captivating extra low-end punch, you won't want to turn it off1."
The reviewer credited Fowles' mods with adding the more rounded and full bottom end to the EQ, a meatier tone than the stock circuits would give1.
A separate pedal shares part of the name: the PCE-FX Aluminum Falcon Drive, reviewed by Pedal of the Day in 2015. It is a different product from a different maker, with only Gain, Treble and Output controls, and Pedal of the Day called it "an excellent choice for boost or overdrive, right up the alley of any player who has always wanted to experience the holy grail of boost tones"4. Players comparing the two should note they are unrelated circuits.
Videos
The Aquabats!
60 Cycle Hum
The Aquabats!
Questions
Who designed the Rude Tech Falcondrive?
The Falcondrive! is a partnership between Ian Fowles, guitarist of The Aquabats! also known as Eaglebones Falconhawk, and Jesse Rhew, founder of Tennessee boutique pedal builder Rude Tech. Fowles designed it around pedals from his own collection and his experience teaching guitar.
How much does the Rude Tech Falcondrive cost?
The Falcondrive! is priced at $199. It was offered for preorder at that price beginning March 14, 2022, through The Aquabats' Mystery Machine fundraiser, which needed 150 orders by April 15 for the pedals to be built.
Who is Eaglebones Falconhawk?
Eaglebones Falconhawk is the stage name of Ian Fowles, guitarist of The Aquabats!. He teamed up with Rude Tech pedals to create the Falcondrive!, a signature two-in-one overdrive and distortion pedal, the first ever Aquabats guitar product.
What does the fully counterclockwise setting do on the Falcondrive?
With the blend knob turned fully counterclockwise, the pedal delivers the tones of Fowles' own modded overdrive pedal, which Guitar.com identifies as a modded Boss SD-1. Turning the blend fully clockwise gives the DS-1 side, and points in between mix the two.
What comes with the Falcondrive fundraiser pedal?
Pedals bought through the fundraiser come with limited-edition pink control knobs, a bagged crystal to center your inner rock spirit, a satin pedal pouch, and a glow-in-the-dark guitar pick.
Is the Falcondrive made for beginners?
Yes, by design. Fowles said he wanted it to be a professional-grade pedal built with even the beginner in mind, a pedalboard unit catering to both beginners and pros, with a simple control set of volume, tone, gain and blend.
Sources (4)
- Rude Tech Falcondrive! review: All your gain stacking needs in one super-rad box, Guitar.com, 2022-04-26
- New Pedal: Rude Tech Falcondrive!, Delicious Audio, 2022-03-14
- The Aquabats debut Eaglebones Falconhawk's two-in-one signature pedal, The Falcondrive, Guitar World, 2022-03-14
- PCE-FX Aluminum Falcon Drive, Pedal of the Day, 2015-09-12
