The Summer School Electronics Gladys Overdrive is a low/mid gain transparent overdrive pedal, hand built in Syracuse, NY, by working musicians with attention to detail. It was the second release from Summer School Electronics, and it keeps things simple: three knobs and one toggle switch. Pedal of the Day called it "a no-frills overdrive unit" and found it "easy to dial in, a perfect starting spot in any pedalboard and ready to go right out of the box."1
What it does to your sound
The toggle switch is the heart of the pedal. With the toggle in the Up position, the Gladys functions as a soft-clipping boost/drive. When the switch is Down, compression is added, focusing the bite of the pedal and sounding crisper and more direct.1
Pedal of the Day describes the Gladys as perfect for blues, country, rock and everything in between, which follows from its transparent, low to mid gain character: it shapes and pushes your amp's breakup rather than replacing it.1
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level |
| Drive | Sets the amount of drive |
| Tone | Shapes the treble response |
| Toggle (Up) | Soft-clipping boost/drive mode |
| Toggle (Down) | Adds compression, focusing the bite for a crisper, more direct sound |
Gladys runs on a standard 9-volt, negative center power supply, the same format as most compact pedals.1
The Gladys V2
In September 2023, Summer School Electronics released an updated version, the Gladys Overdrive V2. Pedal of the Day describes it as "an updated version of Summer School's Low/ Mid-gain transparent overdrive pedal," with new features including increased headroom, more available gain, a 2-band EQ, silent switching and updated artwork.2
The V2's toggle works differently from the original's. In the Up position, the toggle switch gives you a classic transparent breaker style circuit. When in the Down position, it adds more compression and volume, making it a more focused, modern sound.2
The reviewer was positive on the changes: "We're really digging the 2-band EQ section, for dialing in the exact sound you need with your amp/rig." On the overall character, Pedal of the Day wrote that the V2 rolls "easily from boost to slight breakup to crunchy as can be, there's a lot to explore in this little silver box."2
Where it sits on a pedalboard
The Gladys sits in the low/mid gain territory covered on the Overdrive Pedals type page. Guitar Player's reviewer called it "Easy to dial in, a perfect starting spot in any pedalboard and ready to go right out of the box", and summed it up as "there's a lot to explore in this little silver box".123
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Questions
What does the toggle switch do on the Gladys Overdrive?
With the toggle in the Up position, the Gladys functions as a soft-clipping boost/drive. When the switch is Down, compression is added, focusing the bite of the pedal and sounding crisper and more direct. On the V2, the Up position gives a classic transparent breaker style circuit, while the Down position adds more compression and volume for a more focused, modern sound.
Does the Gladys Overdrive use a 9V adapter?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review states that Gladys runs on a standard 9-volt, negative center power supply, so it works with a typical pedalboard power supply or one-spot style adapter.
What is the difference between the Gladys Overdrive and the V2?
The Gladys V2 is an updated version of Summer School's low/mid gain transparent overdrive pedal. New features on the V2 include increased headroom, more available gain, a 2-band EQ, silent switching and updated artwork. The V2 also reshapes the toggle's two modes, with a transparent breaker style circuit in the Up position and a more compressed, modern sound in the Down position.
Where is the Gladys Overdrive made?
The Gladys Overdrive is hand built in Syracuse, NY, by working musicians with attention to detail, according to Pedal of the Day's 2022 review.
What styles of music suit the Gladys Overdrive?
Pedal of the Day describes the Gladys as perfect for blues, country, rock and everything in between, which fits its low to mid gain, transparent character that rolls from boost to slight breakup.
Sources (3)
- Summer School Electronics Gladys Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2022-03-21
- Summer School Electronics Gladys Overdrive V2, Pedal of the Day, 2023-09-15
- Summer School Electronics Trash Panda Overdrive Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2022-09-21