The Seafoam Pedals Trident Overdrive is an overdrive pedal with a three-band equalizer built into it. Instead of one drive circuit feeding a tone stack, it holds three separate overdrive circuits, each filtered to its own frequency band: bass, mids and treble. You can set the volume and drive of each band independently, so it works as a drive and an EQ at the same time1.
What it does to your sound
Premier Guitar's press release describes the Trident's gain as "smooth tube-like gain" that "introduces a special depth and texture to each frequency band," placing its character between clean and thick distortion with a classic TS flavor1. Because each band is driven separately, you can push the mids while keeping the bass and treble cleaner, or add grit to the top end without thickening the low strings. That is the core idea that separates it from a conventional overdrive with a tone knob.
Controls
Each of the three columns, labeled bass, mids and treble, carries the same set of controls1:
| Control (one per band) | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the output level of that band, with a generous amount of boost on tap1 |
| Drive | Adds crunch to that band's circuit3 |
| Frequency switch | Selects the frequency range that column's circuit is pegged to1 |
There is also a bright white LED to indicate the pedal is on1.
The Tube Screamer connection
The Trident's drive circuits are Tube Screamer-based. Guitar.com reported that "each column controls an individual TS circuit, which is pegged to either bass, middle or treble frequencies"2, and gearnews.com's reviewer Jef wrote that "as far as I am aware the overdrive circuits are based on a TS (Tube Screamer) overdrive"3. The Tube Screamer itself is, as Guitar World put it, "easily one of the most popular and heavily copied circuits in the overdrive pedal industry"4, and independent kit maker Aion FX calls it "the quintessential mid-hump overdrive pedal made famous by Stevie Ray Vaughan"5. Guitar.com noted that the Trident, while based on the Tube Screamer, "is nothing at all like the classic unit"2: splitting one circuit into three filtered copies is what makes it a different animal.
Reception
gearnews.com's reviewer was positive about the concept: "I am impressed by the thought that's gone into this as a new take on an overdrive/EQ pedal"3. Premier Guitar framed it as "a surprising combination of two very familiar pedals, a 3-band equalizer and a TS-style drive"1.
Availability and status
The Trident was announced on 9 July 2018 and was a new release at that time12. It could be purchased directly from the Seafoam Pedals online store at www.seafoampedals.com1.
The Trident runs at 18V internally from a standard 9V DC plug1. Check your power supply's specifications before adding it to a daisy chain, since 18V operation is not what every supply delivers.
Videos
Pete Thorn
Premier Guitar
Seafoam Pedals
Questions
Is the Seafoam Trident Overdrive true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's press release describes the Trident as having a soft-touch true bypass switch, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the overdrive circuits in the way. The soft-touch switching means the footswitch works quietly rather than with a mechanical click.
Where is the Seafoam Trident Overdrive made?
The Trident Overdrive is hand-made in the USA by Seafoam Pedals. At launch in July 2018 it was available directly from the Seafoam Pedals online store at www.seafoampedals.com.
How much does the Seafoam Trident Overdrive cost?
The Trident Overdrive carried a street price of $250 when it was announced in July 2018, a figure reported by both Premier Guitar and Guitar.com.
Is the Seafoam Trident based on a Tube Screamer?
Yes. Guitar.com reported that each of the Trident's three columns controls an individual Tube Screamer circuit, one pegged to bass, one to middle and one to treble frequencies. gearnews.com's reviewer wrote that, as far as he was aware, the overdrive circuits are based on a TS (Tube Screamer) overdrive.
Sources (5)
- Seafoam Pedals Unveils the Trident Overdrive, Premier Guitar, 2018-07-09
- Seafoam’s new pedal mashes up a Tube Screamer and EQ, Guitar.com, 2018-07-10
- Seafoam Pedals Trident Overdrive: A new take on the drive/EQ pedal?, gearnews.com, 2018-07-10
- Review: EarthQuaker Devices' Plumes will make even the industry's best Screamer clones green with envy, Guitar World, 2019-12-04
- Stratus Classic Overdrive / Ibanez® Tube Screamer, Aion FX, 2018-09-22
