The Skreddy Skunk Drive Model 1606 is an overdrive pedal from Skreddy, built by Marc Ahlfs. Premier Guitar describes it as a simple, straight-ahead stomp designed to add vintage small-Supro sounds and dynamics to a player's crayon box, and says it nails a sound, feel, and responsiveness that strongly evokes Supros and other low-wattage classics1. If you have been looking at overdrive pedals for that small-amp breakup character, this is the corner of the market the Skunk aims at.
Where the circuit comes from
The Skunk is, at least in part, another product of Ahlfs' affinity for Jimmy Page, specifically Page's use of a Supro and probably a Solo Tone Bender on Led Zeppelin I1. That lineage explains the brief: capture the sound of a small Supro pushed hard, rather than a big amp's clean headroom. Players comparing amp-in-a-box style drives, from boost pedals to distortion pedals, will find this one sits on the vintage small-combo side of that family.
How it behaves on a board
Premier Guitar's reviewer found the Skunk's ability to transform the sound and feel of an amp like a Vibrolux without sounding or feeling like you splashed paint over the direct tone was the standout: the pedal felt seamlessly integrated with the amplifier's transformation and dynamics1.
It also cleans up properly. The review found that it retains responsiveness to guitar volume attenuation and can essentially approximate the clean bypassed sound of the amp with the instrument's volume rolled down1. For players who control gain from the guitar, that is the behavior that matters most in an overdrive.
"It retains responsiveness to guitar volume attenuation and can essentially approximate the clean bypassed sound of the amp."
Inside, the circuit is made up of a fairly modest number of components, but they are arranged on a through-hole board with plenty of space between them1. The pedal is fitted into a pretty gold-finished 1590B enclosure, which Premier Guitar called a tidy piece of pedal manufacturing1.
Warranty
Skreddy will repair any pedal that malfunctions due to defects for three years1.
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Questions
Who designed the Skreddy Skunk Drive?
The Skunk Drive Model 1606 was built by Marc Ahlfs of Skreddy Pedals. Premier Guitar notes that the circuit is, at least in part, another product of Ahlfs' affinity for Jimmy Page, specifically Page's use of a Supro, and probably a Solo Tone Bender, on Led Zeppelin I.
What does the Skreddy Skunk Drive sound like?
Premier Guitar describes it as a simple, straight-ahead stomp designed to add vintage small-Supro sounds and dynamics to a player's crayon box, and says it nails a sound, feel, and responsiveness that strongly evokes Supros and other low-wattage classics. The reviewer found it transformed the sound and feel of a high-headroom amp without sounding like paint over the direct tone.
Does the Skunk Drive respond to guitar volume changes?
Yes. Premier Guitar found that it retains responsiveness to guitar volume attenuation and can essentially approximate the clean bypassed sound of the amp with the instrument's volume rolled down, so it behaves like a low-wattage amp rather than a fixed layer of gain.
What size enclosure does the Skreddy Skunk Drive use?
The Skunk Drive is fitted into a gold-finished 1590B enclosure, the standard compact stompbox size. Premier Guitar called it a tidy piece of pedal manufacturing, and noted the through-hole board has plenty of space between a fairly modest number of components.
What is the warranty on Skreddy pedals?
Skreddy will repair any pedal that malfunctions due to defects for three years, according to Premier Guitar's review of the Skunk Drive.
Sources (1)
- Skreddy Skunk Drive Model 1606 Review, Premier Guitar, 2024-01-04
