Controls
The Privateer keeps its control layout to two knobs and a toggle:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Paints what the review calls "broad sonic strokes" across the tone, from a low growl to a searing, amp-like overdrive1 |
| Volume | Offers a ton of overall output1 |
| Toggle switch | Selects between Bright and Dark modes, acting as a simple EQ1 |
The Bright/Dark toggle is the only voicing control, but the review found the layout goes further than it looks. As Mike B put it: "even though there aren't a ton of options, the range of these controls, plus a lone toggle, make the Privateer versatile"1. That makes it a straightforward pedal to dial in: set the gain character with the Gain knob, match level with the Volume, and use the toggle to lean the voicing brighter or darker to sit with your amp.
Where it came from
Pedal of the Day notes the Privateer was SFG Music Supply's third effect offering1. The maker's earlier overdrive, the SFG Music Supply Howlerr, and a related version, the SFG Music Supply Howlerr Classic, also appear in the maker's range, with the Privateer's symmetrical silicon clipping marking a different clipping choice within the same small lineup2.
At the time of the 2016 review, the Privateer was for sale through the maker's Reverb shop1. If you are weighing it against other drive pedals, the Overdrive Pedals page covers the wider field, and the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison looks at two well-known silicon-clipped overdrives.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What does the Bright and Dark switch do on the Privateer Overdrive?
The toggle switch on the Privateer Overdrive selects between Bright and Dark modes. Pedal of the Day's review describes it as acting as a simple EQ, giving the player two voicing options on top of the Gain and Volume knobs. It is a quick way to shape the pedal's top end without a full set of tone controls.
What kind of clipping does the SFG Privateer use?
The Privateer Overdrive uses symmetrical clipping from silicon diodes, according to Pedal of the Day's 2016 review. Symmetrical silicon clipping is a common approach in overdrive circuits and shapes the way the signal is compressed and saturated as the Gain knob is turned up.
Who makes the Privateer Overdrive?
The Privateer Overdrive is made by SFG Music Supply, a builder based in British Columbia. Pedal of the Day notes the Privateer was the company's third effect offering, following the Howlerr overdrive, and that the pedals were sold through the maker's Reverb shop.
Sources (2)
- SFG Music Supply Privateer Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2016-03-11
- New Pedals: SFG Music Supply's Howlerr, Delicious Audio, 2015-10-29
