The Hog Overdrive is a two-channel drive pedal from Tallon Electric, built around both overdrive and distortion. Pedal of the Day described it as "blending drive and distortion into a glorious sonic stew," and found it "can move effortlessly from breakup to crunch to powerful dirt box in mere seconds"1. The pedal came out of a collaboration with Johnny Franck of Bilmuri: Tallon Electric partnered with Franck to recreate his guitar tone, and RockBoard's PedalPedia sums up the brief as a "quest" to "package the band's famous guitar sound into a device that can be safely engaged with a human foot"2.
Controls
The Hog puts its two channels and tone shaping under five controls1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Crank | Adjusts the gain of the distortion channel |
| Optimize | Sets the balance between the distortion channel and the crunch channel |
| Beef (toggle) | Goes between a fat or tight low end on the distortion channel |
| Clarity | Controls the treble content at the output |
| Load | Sets the output volume |
The Optimize knob is the heart of the two-channel design: it decides how much of the distortion channel sits against the crunch channel, so the pedal can lean toward one circuit or the other rather than simply stacking them. The Beef toggle then shapes the distortion channel's low end, and Clarity and Load trim the treble and level going out1.
Power and layout
The Hog runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 19mA, per RockBoard's PedalPedia listing2. That current draw is modest enough for most pedalboard power supplies, but as with any center-negative pedal it needs a regulated, isolated output rather than a battery or an AC adapter.
The power and audio jacks are top-mounted, which helps the pedal fit in a tight row on a pedalboard without cables sticking out of the sides1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's review, published on 14 January 2023, was enthusiastic about the range the two channels cover: "this thing sounds incredible," with the reviewer pointing to a wide range of tones and the pedal's amp-driving prowess overall1. The same review credited the soft touch true bypass switching and the top-mounted jacks as practical touches alongside the sound1.
Videos
Tallon Electric
J Cruz Project | Guitar Content Creator
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Tallon Electric Hog true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review notes the Hog uses soft touch true bypass switching, so when the pedal is off your guitar's signal passes to the amp without going through the drive circuit. The soft touch footswitch is a quieter, gentler action than a conventional click switch.
What power supply does the Tallon Electric Hog need?
The Hog runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 19mA according to RockBoard's PedalPedia listing. That is within reach of most standard pedalboard power supplies, though as with any center-negative pedal it should not be run from a battery adapter of the wrong polarity or an unregulated supply.
Is the Tallon Electric Hog analog?
Yes. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the Hog's circuit type as analog, meaning the drive and distortion are produced by analog gain stages rather than digital modeling.
What does the Beef switch do on the Hog?
The Beef toggle switch works on the distortion channel, going between a fat low end and a tight low end. It lets you thicken the bottom of the distortion for heavier rhythms or tighten it up for faster, more defined playing.
Who co-developed the Tallon Electric Hog Overdrive?
Tallon Electric partnered with Johnny Franck of Bilmuri to recreate his guitar tone in a pedal. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the goal as packaging the band's famous guitar sound into a device that can be safely engaged with a human foot.
Sources (2)
- Tallon Electric The Hog Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2023-01-14
- The Hog by Tallon Electric, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026