The SubDecay Liquid Sunshine is a low-gain overdrive pedal introduced by Subdecay in 20041. It is built around an all-jFET design with no hard clipping, which Subdecay says produces no "sharp edges" in the signal1. The pedal is discontinued: the original was marked out of production by 2016, and the updated MKIII now sits in Subdecay's discontinued category21.
Subdecay positions it as "an overdrive for guitarists needing their amp to sound great at any volume"2. Users of the original often described its character as "tweedy" or "voxy," though Subdecay notes the MKIII is not meant to be an "amp in a can" device2. The all-jFET design stacks well with other overdrives, both pushing them and being pushed by them2.
The controls: two drive knobs, then an emphasis knob
The original Liquid Sunshine carried two drive knobs stacked one above the other. The top drive knob pushes the full frequency range, while the bottom drive knob pushes the midrange and treble1. Subdecay is upfront about the character of the lower control: it "will always sound a little scratchy. It is not defective, it's simply the way the circuit" works1.
The MKIII changes this layout. The emphasis control replaces the second drive knob, and Subdecay describes it as similar to a tone control that also adds a little gain2.
| Control | Version | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Top drive knob | Original | Pushes the full frequency range1 |
| Bottom drive knob | Original | Pushes midrange and treble; always a little scratchy by design1 |
| Emphasis | MKIII | Replaces the second drive knob; works like a tone control but also adds a little gain2 |
The original had no dedicated tone control at all. Subdecay's explanation was simple: the maker "found The Liquid Sunshine did not need a dedicated tone control"1.
What it does to your sound
Subdecay describes a range of behavior across the drive settings. At low gain the pedal renders tube power amp like compression; a bit more drive rides the line between almost clean and a hint of breakup; with both drives near maximum it produces what the maker calls a classy sustaining rock overdrive1.
Premier Guitar reviewed the pedal and found it transparent in a specific sense3:
"The Liquid Sunshine made my amp sound like my amp, simply cranked up louder than it actually was, all while adding"
The reviewer found it added usable thickness to the lower mids, with sustain on par with a dimed tube-amp tone at factory settings3.
Power
Both versions run on a 9V battery or a regulated 9VDC to 18VDC adapter with a negative center 2.1mm barrel style plug21. On the original, 18VDC operation applied only to units manufactured after March 20091. Current draw is less than 10mA, which makes it easy on a pedalboard power supply21. No power supply is included with the MKIII2.
If you power the MKIII from a daisy chain supply, all other pedals on that chain must be negative ground, according to Subdecay2.
History and versions
The Liquid Sunshine was introduced in 2004 as what Subdecay called its award-winning Class A Overdrive1. The original ran until it was marked out of production1.
The MKIII is the updated version. Subdecay says it "pays tribute to its roots with a remarkably similar character and better control"2. It keeps the die-cast metal enclosure of the original and the true bypass 3PDT switching, and it is hand made in Oregon21.
Subdecay also sold blemished B-stock MKIII units, described as fully functional and covered by the standard three-year warranty, at $1294. Those were listed as out of stock4.
Where it fits
The Liquid Sunshine sits among Subdecay's other drive pedals, including the SuperNova Drive, the Blackstar w/ Girth, the Gain Theory GT1, and the Variac Overdrive. Its low-gain, no-hard-clipping character distinguishes it from distortion and fuzz pedals: Subdecay says the all-jFET design does not produce hard clipping, and the pedal is aimed at players who want their amp's character pushed rather than replaced21.
Videos
Subdecay
Brett Kingman
Prymaxe
Questions
Is the SubDecay Liquid Sunshine discontinued?
Yes. Subdecay lists the Liquid Sunshine MKIII in its discontinued category, and the original Liquid Sunshine was already marked out of production on the maker's earlier product page. B-stock MKIII units were offered at $129 in 2022 but were out of stock, so finding one now means the used market.
Is the Liquid Sunshine true bypass?
Yes. Both the original and the MKIII use 3PDT switches for true bypass switching, according to Subdecay's product pages. The MKIII also carries a red LED indicator to show when the effect is engaged.
Does the Liquid Sunshine have a tone control?
The original had no dedicated tone control; Subdecay said the pedal did not need one. The MKIII replaces the original's second drive knob with an emphasis control, which works like a tone control but also adds a little gain.
Where is the SubDecay Liquid Sunshine made?
Subdecay states that the Liquid Sunshine is hand made in Oregon. The MKIII uses a die-cast metal enclosure for durability and carries a three-year limited warranty.
Sources (4)
- Liquid Sunshine, Subdecay, 2016-11-05
- Liquid Sunshine MKIII Overdrive, Subdecay, 2024-11-27
- Subdecay Noise Box and Liquid Sunshine Pedal Reviews, Premier Guitar, 2007-09-10
- Liquid Sunshine MKIII Overdrive (b-stock), Subdecay, 2022-09-20
