The Maccheroni Bros Mk2 is a dual-channel overdrive pedal from Tefi Vintage Lab, an American-voiced design built around two distinct circuits. The maker describes it as "designed to create a wide variety of modern versatile new sounds", and the two channels are named Fred and Mike, after what Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio calls "Italo-American bricklayers with very different personalities"1. Pre-orders opened on 29 July 2020 through Reverb at a discounted price of 233 euros, with the price set to rise to 262 euros from 4 July1.
The two channels: Fred and Mike
Fred is the cleaner of the two. Tefi Vintage Lab bases it on its proprietary PCN circuit, finely calibrated for the role, and describes it as giving "a creamy sound and dynamic overdrive with sweet midrange sustain that favors a Legato technique"1. Pedal of the Day's review found it would "easily go from quasi-clean boost to creamy, sustained and dynamic overdrive", with the crunch adjustable by turning down the guitar's volume control2.
Mike is the aggressive side. Its circuit is built on a J-Fet stage combined with other circuitry, and the maker says it produces the kind of distortion tube amps deliver at high gain, with sustain, more presence and attack1. Pedal of the Day calls it "a bit brighter and angrier than his counterpart, here you get more saturation and sustain, without losing dynamics", and points it at hard rock sounds2.
The MKII version brought changes over the original: enhancements to the Mike circuit's mid-high response while keeping its aggressiveness, and the ability to run at 12VDC1.
Controls and switching
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fred Volume and Gain | Separate level and drive for the Fred channel12 |
| Mike Volume and Gain | Separate level and drive for the Mike channel12 |
| Contour | Shared knob affecting the overall EQ of the pedal1 |
| Right footswitch | Alternates between the two channels when pushed1 |
Each channel has its own Volume and Gain knobs, so the two sides can be set independently, and the right-hand footswitch selects between them2. The Contour knob is shared: it shapes the tone of whichever side is active, working on the pedal's overall EQ rather than one channel alone12.
Delicious Audio also mentions a version of the pedal in black with just two pasta bowls on it, alongside the standard graphics1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the MKII in October 2020 and came away broadly positive, framing it as a pedal that could cover a player's drive needs on its own2:
"Fitting onto the boards of both beginners and professionals alike, this one could be your one-stop-shop for all your overdrive needs."
The same review describes it as "a dual channel dirt pedal" that "will cover a LOT of your needs with ease", and as designed to give players a wide variety of modern American-type overdrive sounds2.
Where it sits
As a dual overdrive, the Maccheroni Bros Mk2 covers ground that single-drive pedals split between them: one side for lower-gain, touch-sensitive work, the other for saturated high-gain tones. Players comparing it with single-channel drives such as those in the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison are essentially choosing between one voice and two. Tefi Vintage Lab also makes the TEFI Vintage Lab GainOver, another dual-gain design from the same maker12.
Videos
The GasTube
Guitar Tube
Demos In The Dark
Questions
What is the difference between the Fred and Mike channels?
Fred is the cleaner side, based on Tefi Vintage Lab's proprietary PCN circuit, giving a creamy, dynamic overdrive with sweet midrange sustain that suits legato playing. Mike is the angrier side, built around a J-Fet stage, producing the kind of distortion tube amps make at high gain, with more saturation, presence and attack. Pedal of the Day found Mike a bit brighter and angrier than Fred, without losing dynamics.
How do you switch channels on the Maccheroni Bros Mk2?
The right-hand footswitch selects between the two channels. Delicious Audio describes it as alternating the Fred and Mike channels each time it is pushed, and Pedal of the Day likewise notes the two channels are selectable by the right-hand footswitch. Each channel keeps its own Volume and Gain settings, so you can set them up independently and jump between them.
Can the Maccheroni Bros Mk2 run on 12V?
Yes. According to Delicious Audio, the MKII version of the pedal can work at 12VDC as well as at lower standard voltages. That was one of the changes introduced in the MKII, alongside enhancements to the Mike circuit's mid-high response.
What does the Contour knob do?
The Contour knob is shared between the two channels and affects the overall EQ of the pedal. Because both Fred and Mike pass through it, it helps to shape the tone of whichever side is active, letting you tailor the whole pedal's voice rather than adjusting each channel's tone separately.
How much did the Maccheroni Bros Mk2 cost at pre-order?
Pre-orders opened on 29 July 2020 through Reverb at a discounted price of 233 euros. Delicious Audio noted that from 4 July the price would rise to 262 euros, so the pre-order window offered a saving over the later price.
Sources (2)
- Tefi Vintage Lab Maccheroni Bros Mk2 Dual Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2022-03-08
- TEFI Vintage Lab Maccheroni Bros MKII Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2020-10-07
