The Soldano Super Lead Overdrive is an analog overdrive and distortion pedal that puts the signature sound of Soldano's SLO-100 amp on a pedalboard. Soldano says the pedal uses the same cascading gain stages as its flagship amplifier, the 100-watt tube head Mike Soldano created in 198712. Turning the Gain knob up takes you into the same territory as the amp's Drive channel, with fat, saturated lead tones2.
The pedal launched in late 2022 at $229.993, and Guitar World's review lists a UK price of £2292. It is made in the USA2.
An SLO-100 amp's drive channel in a pedal
The SLO-100 is famous for being one of the most detailed-sounding high-gain guitar amplifiers of all time, and until the pedal, it had been challenging to capture the amp's nuanced character in pedal format4. The SLO amps have a Clean and an Overdrive channel5, and this pedal focuses on the overdrive side: MusicRadar reported at launch that the amp has remained a benchmark because of its fantastic drive and bluesy crunch channels, and that the legendary SLO amp was now available in pedal form3.
In Sweetwater's demo video, presenter Don Carr explained the design brief:
"capturing that sound and putting it in a pedal was tough but Mike Soldano did it"
He also notes the pedal has the same cascading gain stages as the amps6, which matches Soldano's own claim reported by Guitar World2. Guitar Pedal X called it a great take on the legendary SLO-100 amp7.
The controls
The pedal carries six knobs plus a Deep switch and a bypass footswitch27:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the drive amount; from zero with Volume above midway it works as a boost just beyond clean, and turning it up brings the amp's Drive channel territory2 |
| Volume | Sets the output level2 |
| Presence | Adds crispness and prominence to the top end as it is turned up2 |
| Treble | Part of the three-band EQ, providing tonal shading2 |
| Middle | Part of the three-band EQ, providing tonal shading2 |
| Bass | Part of the three-band EQ, providing tonal shading2 |
| Deep switch | On/off switch; pushed in gives a real increase of robust low-end heft with more of a 4x12 cab vibe2 |
| Bypass footswitch | Switches the pedal in and out2 |
Guitar World's reviewer found the Presence knob offers the most influence on the top end, and that the three-band EQ provides some very effective tonal shading2.
Power
The pedal runs on a 9V DC supply, center negative, drawing 32mA4. Guitar World notes the 9V DC adaptor is not supplied2.
The 32mA draw is modest, but the pedal uses a 9V DC adaptor rather than a battery, so plan on a pedalboard power supply or a wall wart.
The SLO pedal and the SLO Plus
In December 2024 Soldano followed this pedal with the SLO Plus, which adds the amp's Normal channel alongside the Overdrive channel, each with its own Preamp (gain) and Master controls, plus shared EQ, Presence, a side-mounted Deep switch and channel footswitching89. Guitar Pedal X described it as a neat extension to the original SLO Overdrive that gives you the full two-channel action of the original amp8. The Plus also draws more power, at 140mA against the original's 32mA410. Vintage Guitar's review of the Plus judged it a realistic alternative to the SLO-100 amp itself9.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's Trevor Curwen found the pedal brilliantly responsive to touch, feeling right as well as sounding as you would hope, and concluded that anyone looking for a responsive pedal for quality higher gain, harmonically rich overdrive and distortion sounds would find it here2. Guitar Pedal X, in a 2024 compact high-gain round-up, called it probably the finest example of that genre out there in a compact enclosure format, while noting it is not quite as high gain as expected overall7.
Sweetwater's demo video walks through the pedal's controls and its shared lineage with the amp6:
Videos
Michael Nielsen - Big Hairy Guitars
Mike Hermans
Questions
Is the Soldano SLO pedal true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World's review lists true bypass among the pedal's features, along with a bypass footswitch for switching it in and out of the signal chain. When the pedal is off, your guitar signal passes through without coloring the tone.
What does the Deep switch do on the Soldano SLO pedal?
Pushing the Deep switch in gives a real increase in robust low-end heft, with more of a 4x12 cabinet vibe, according to Guitar World's review. It is a simple on/off switch that bolsters the bottom end of the sound when engaged.
Who designed the Soldano SLO pedal?
Mike Soldano, who also created the original SLO-100 100-watt tube head in 1987. In Sweetwater's demo video, presenter Don Carr notes that capturing the amp's sound in a pedal was tough, but Mike Soldano did it.
What is the difference between the SLO pedal and the SLO Plus?
The original SLO pedal captures the amp's Overdrive channel. The SLO Plus, released in December 2024, adds the amp's Normal channel alongside it, with dedicated Preamp and Master controls per channel, shared EQ, and channel footswitching. It also draws more current, at 140mA versus 32mA.
How much gain does the Soldano SLO pedal have?
Guitar Pedal X found it not quite as high gain as expected overall, but judged it probably the finest example of the genre in a compact enclosure. Guitar World describes it as a responsive pedal for quality higher gain, harmonically rich overdrive and distortion sounds, with the Gain knob moving from clean boost territory into the amp's Drive channel territory.
Sources (10)
- SLO Pedal, soldano.com
- Soldano Super Lead Overdrive Pedal review, Guitar World, 2023-03-09
- The legendary Soldano SLO amp is now available in pedal form!, MusicRadar, 2022-11-01
- Super Lead Overdrive by Soldano, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Soldano SLO Pedal High Gain Drive, Delicious Audio, 2024-03-26
- Soldano Super Lead Overdrive Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2022-11-01
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-06-19
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-17
- Soldano SLO Plus Super Lead Overdive, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2025-11-14
- Super Lead Overdrive Plus by Soldano, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
