The Amalgam Smooth Overdrive is an overdrive pedal from TCJ Effects, the pedal company run by T. Jauernig Electronics. Announced in May 2013, it was described by the company as very touch sensitive and smooth, working in the mild to moderate gain range, sitting between a clean boost and a heavier drive in character1. For players browsing overdrive pedals, it is a small-batch design rather than a mass-produced line item.
What it does
The pedal's core controls are a Gain knob and a Tone knob, which the company describes as offering fine tuning to each rig1. Alongside them sits a gain range toggle that lets the player choose between two distinct gain ranges, effectively giving the pedal two personalities depending on where the switch is set1.
A notable feature is how the pedal responds to the guitar's volume knob. TCJ Effects states that if the pedal is left on all the time, it will affect the gain from clean to mild, to thick and creamy, all from the guitar's volume control1. That makes it a candidate for players who set a drive pedal and then ride their guitar's volume for expression, rather than stomping the pedal on and off for each section of a song.
Limited run and price
The Amalgam was announced as newly finalized in May 2013, with only 100 units made in assorted colors1. The launch price was $100 including delivery1. Because of the limited production run, availability was always going to be short, and the pedal is best understood as a small-batch release rather than an ongoing product line.
Only 100 units of the Amalgam Smooth Overdrive were made, in assorted colors, at a launch price of $100 including delivery1.
Sources (1)
- New Pedals: TCJ Effects' Amalgam Smooth Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2013-05-22