The Banshee Boost/Overdrive is a boost/overdrive pedal from ScreaminFX, a boutique pedal builder based in Austin, Texas. It is an all-analog design aimed at players who want a treble-centric overdrive that works equally well as a clean boost or as a main overdrive, and it is designed to be run in front of an amplifier to achieve maximum fullness1.
What it does to your sound
The Banshee's character comes from its circuit choices. ScreaminFX achieves the treble-centric overdrive using FET transistors instead of the usual clipping diodes, the approach most overdrive pedals take. FETs, or field-effect transistors, clip the signal in a way many players associate with a softer, more amp-like breakup than diode clipping1.
The other distinguishing element is what Delicious Audio calls "the passive circuitry that adds just the right amount of girth to your sound while enhancing it." In their view, this is the pedal's defining feature: "What sets this pedal apart from other similar boosts is the passive circuitry"1.
"The treble-centric overdrive is achieved using FET transistors instead of the usual clipping diodes"
That choice of parts is what sets the Banshee apart from the usual overdrive circuit: rather than clipping diodes shaping the distortion, FET transistors do the work, which ScreaminFX describes as giving the pedal its treble-centric character1.
Because the pedal is designed to be run in front of an amplifier, it is positioned as a tone-shaping front end rather than an effect placed deep in a chain. Players comparing it with other options in the category can see how it sits alongside similar designs on the Boost Pedals and Overdrive Pedals pages.
Build, size and power
Delicious Audio tried the Banshee at the Summer NAMM Stompbox Exhibit in July 2015, where it was featured as a pedal of the week, and their reviewer found "the pedal is extremely well-made and durable"1.
- All metal enclosure
- Small footprint
- Top-mounted jacks, which keep the pedal narrow on a board
- True bypass switching
- Powered by a 9V battery or adapter1
How it compares
Most boost and overdrive pedals in this territory use clipping diodes; the Banshee uses FET transistors instead, and adds passive circuitry intended to add girth while enhancing the sound. That combination is what Delicious Audio singled out as setting it apart from other similar boosts1. For a wider look at how boost designs differ, see Boost Pedals.
Videos
Tim Calloway
ScreaminFX
Questions
Is the ScreaminFX Banshee true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio, which tried the pedal at the Summer NAMM Stompbox Exhibit, lists true bypass among its features, alongside an all metal enclosure, a small footprint and top-mounted jacks. True bypass means the pedal is removed from your signal chain entirely when switched off, so it will not load down your tone when it is not in use.
Is the Banshee Boost/Overdrive analog or digital?
The Banshee is all analog. Delicious Audio notes that the all analog design is equally at home as a boost or as a main overdrive. There is no digital conversion in the circuit, which is typical of simple boost and overdrive pedals of this kind.
Does the Banshee use clipping diodes?
No. ScreaminFX achieves the Banshee's treble-centric overdrive using FET transistors instead of the usual clipping diodes, according to Delicious Audio. FET-based clipping is generally associated with a softer, more amp-like response than the harder clipping that diodes provide.
Where do the jacks sit on the Banshee?
The Banshee has top-mounted jacks, as reported by Delicious Audio after trying the pedal at the Summer NAMM Stompbox Exhibit. Top-mounted jacks keep the pedal's footprint narrow, which makes it easier to fit the Banshee onto a crowded pedalboard.
Sources (1)
- Featured Pedals: ScreaminFXs Banshee Boost/Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2015-07-28