The Subdecay SuperNova Drive is a compact overdrive pedal, hand made in Oregon, that Subdecay described as "a little overdrive pedal with lots of punch that makes your guitar honk, bark and scream." Its gain range runs from early 60s flavored grit, suited to early rock and roll licks or blues riffs with the drive dialed back, up to full-on distortion or fuzz territory with the drive at maximum. At high gain settings, Subdecay says it easily covers hard rock, retro metal and stoner rock tones, and the pedal is described as loved equally by guitar and bass players alike1.
The SuperNova Drive has been retired from the Subdecay lineup. Remaining units were sold as B-Stock, and may have black knobs instead of white1.
What it does to your sound
Subdecay describes the gain range as huge but smooth and refined. With the drive dialed back, the pedal has a bit of an early 60s flavor and handles early rock and roll licks or blues riffs. As the drive is turned toward full, it approaches full-on distortion or fuzz, which puts its top end of the range closer to distortion pedals and fuzz pedals than a typical overdrive. At low gain settings, the maker says it has great dynamic response and note definition1.
The controls
The SuperNova Drive gives you three tone-shaping knobs alongside the drive control:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mids | Contours the body of your tone, and acts a bit differently depending on drive settings |
| Treble | Adds some bite, or can be rolled back to smooth things out a bit |
| Bass | Finds the sweet spot for your guitar and amplifier; roll it back a bit if running the amplifier at "on the edge" levels |
Subdecay's advice on the bass control is worth noting for players who push their amp into breakup: the maker suggests rolling it back a bit at "on the edge" amplifier settings1.
Power and practical details
The pedal runs on a 9 volt battery or a 9 to 18VDC adaptor with a negative center, using a 2.1mm barrel style plug. Current draw is less than 10mA, so it is an easy load on any supply. A power supply is not included1.
When using a "daisy chain" power supply, all other pedals must be negative ground1.
The pedal uses 3PDT switches for true bypass switching, and its die cast metal enclosure is described by Subdecay as built for durability. It measures 4.375 × 2.375 × 2.25 inches, weighs 12 oz, and carries a three-year limited warranty1.
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Questions
Is the Subdecay SuperNova Drive discontinued?
Yes. Subdecay states that the SuperNova Drive has been retired from the Subdecay lineup. Subdecay also noted that remaining units may have black knobs instead of white, so late examples can differ cosmetically from the standard version.
Does the SuperNova Drive work on bass?
Subdecay describes the SuperNova Drive as loved equally by guitar and bass players alike. At high gain settings the maker says it easily covers hard rock, retro metal and stoner rock tones, while low gain settings have great dynamic response and note definition, which is what keeps it useful on bass as well as guitar.
Can the SuperNova Drive run on a battery?
Yes. The SuperNova Drive can be powered by a 9 volt battery or by a 9 to 18VDC adaptor with a negative center. Current draw is less than 10mA, so even a battery or a modest supply can run it. Note that when using a daisy chain power supply, all other pedals must be negative ground.
Is the SuperNova Drive true bypass?
Yes. Subdecay specifies 3PDT switches for true bypass switching, so the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path when it is off.
Where is the Subdecay SuperNova Drive made?
Subdecay states that the SuperNova Drive is hand made in Oregon. The pedal uses die cast metal enclosures for durability and carries a three-year limited warranty.
Sources (1)
- Supernova Drive, Subdecay, 2023-11-21
