The Teletronix Mulholland Drive MKII is an analog low-gain overdrive and boost pedal. Teletronix designed it to be transparent, adding gain without significantly coloring the sound of the guitar or amplifier, which puts it in the same territory as a clean boost or a light overdrive used to push an amp rather than reshape it.1
What it does to your sound
The MKII's whole purpose is gain without color. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the pedal as transparent, adding gain without significantly coloring the sound of the guitar or amplifier, so the amp's own voice stays in front while the pedal supplies the push.1
The earlier Script version of the Mulholland Drive was reviewed in the same terms. Mike B, writing at Pedal of the Day in August 2015, described its goal as acting as "a brilliant boost or low-gain overdrive, all while preserving the tone of your guitar," and called it "a simple but powerful tone enhancer, a wonderful clean boost and a slightly gritty and complex overdrive all wrapped into one."2
Controls and versions
The Mulholland Drive keeps a small control set. The Script version reviewed by Pedal of the Day carries Gain, Treble and Output knobs, which the reviewer said made getting a good sound easily achieved within a minute.2
| Version | What distinguishes it |
|---|---|
| Original limited edition (2010) | The circuit the MKII is based on1 |
| Script | Internal arrangement differs slightly from the original; re-released in August 2015 in a new batch with two new graphic designs after selling out2 |
| MKII | Smoother output pot and updated internal layout for easier battery changes1 |
The Script version had been sold out and hard to find before Teletronix re-released it in a new batch in August 2015.2
Power and battery
The MKII runs on 9V DC, center negative, the standard for pedalboard power supplies. It also supports an internal battery, and the MKII's updated internal layout makes battery changes easier than on the original 2010 version.1
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's 2015 review of the Script version concluded that the hype was worth it, finding that the tone of the guitar is enhanced with clear, sharp notes and chords coming through the overall sound. The same review noted that Teletronix based the design on both the preamp sections of vintage amps and what the reviewer called some of the tastiest overdrive pedals ever made.2
Videos
Pete Thorn
Prymaxe
Curtis Kent
Questions
Does the Teletronix Mulholland Drive MKII run on a battery?
Yes. The MKII keeps battery power as an option, and Teletronix updated the internal layout specifically to make battery changes easier than on the original 2010 version. It also runs on a 9V DC, center negative power supply, so you can use either depending on how your board is set up.
What power supply does the Mulholland Drive MKII need?
The pedal runs on 9V DC with a center negative plug, the standard arrangement used by most pedalboard power supplies. It can also run on an internal battery, and the MKII's updated internal layout makes battery changes easier than on the original.
Is the Mulholland Drive MKII analog?
Yes. The circuit is analog, which suits its purpose as a transparent low-gain overdrive and boost designed to add gain without significantly coloring the sound of the guitar or amplifier.
What is different between the Mulholland Drive MKII and the original?
The MKII is based on the original limited edition version from 2010 and carries updates such as a smoother output pot and an updated internal layout that makes battery changes easier. The circuit concept itself, a transparent low-gain overdrive and boost, carries over.
Does the Mulholland Drive change the tone of my amp?
Teletronix designed the pedal to be transparent, adding gain without significantly coloring the sound of the guitar or amplifier. Reviewers of the earlier Script version described it as preserving the tone of the guitar, acting as a clean boost or low-gain overdrive.
What is the Mulholland Drive Script version?
The Script is an earlier version of the Mulholland Drive. Its internal arrangement differs slightly from the original, and in August 2015 Teletronix re-released it in a new batch with two new graphic designs after the pedal had sold out and become hard to find.
Sources (2)
- Mulholland Drive MKII by Teletronix, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Teletronix Effects Mulholland Drive™ (Script), Pedal of the Day, 2015-08-26