The ThorpyFX Peacekeeper is a low-gain overdrive pedal designed by engineer Adrian Thorpe and made in the UK. ThorpyFX describes it as "our take on a low gain overdrive designed to suit all guitars and all amps whilst delivering the sweetest on the edge to crunch tones you have ever heard," and says it can be used as a subtle boost into your amp, Klon style, or as an "on the Edge" overdrive12.
It is not a straight Klon copy. Delicious Audio notes that "the sound and specs of the Klon Centaur were certainly in engineer Adrian Thorpe's mind when he designed this low-gain overdrive," while stopping short of calling it a clone3. Guitar.com quoted Thorpe on the pedal's origins: "The Peacekeeper is my response to people requesting I do a Klon clone, or something like the Analog Man King Of Tone, or the Paul Cochrane Timmy," designed to cover that ground from one box4.
What it does and how it sounds
The Peacekeeper sits in the low-gain corner of the overdrive world: edge-of-breakup and crunch tones rather than high-gain distortion. ThorpyFX positions it as a pedal that works with all guitars and all amps, either pushing an already-driven amp as a boost or providing the drive itself12.
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, writing in 2025, called it a versatile all-rounder: "The Peackeeper has long been one of my favourite all-rounder overdrives," noting that it "works beautifully in front and downstream from another gain pedal and stacks beautifully"6. In Guitar.com's 2016 group review of Klon-style pedals, reviewer Chris Vinnicombe found the Peacekeeper earned its place on gain character: "our choice for mid-gain rhythm sounds would be the Peacekeeper"4.
The controls
The pedal has five knobs: Volume, Gain, Treble, Bass and Presence4. That is two more than the Klon Centaur's three controls, which Gearnews hoped for at the pedal's announcement: "hopefully it will follow this trend and go beyond the Klon pedal's original three controls"5.
The circuit splits its tone shaping around the gain stage:
| Control | Position in circuit | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Output level | Sets overall output |
| Gain | Drive stage | Sets the amount of overdrive |
| Treble | Post-gain, active | Adapts the gain stage's tonality |
| Bass | Post-gain, active | Adapts the gain stage's tonality |
| Presence | Pre-gain mids | Moves from smooth mid-scooped gain to pronounced mid-humped gain |
ThorpyFX explains the design: "by combining a post gain active Treble and Bass circuit with a pre-gain Mids/presence control you are able to tailor the" overdrive character and tonality to the amp and guitar in use12. The pre-gain mids control is the distinctive one, letting a player shift the pedal's mid character from scooped to humped before the gain stage rather than only EQ-ing the output.
Clipping and construction
The enclosure is a custom-engineered design: "the PEACEKEEPER uses a combination of a beautiful laser engraved anodised aluminium console wrapped in a tough baseplate"1. It also carries practical features such as recessed knobs and top mounted jacks1. It is a long stompbox rather than a mini pedal; Delicious Audio observed of ThorpyFX that "they like their stompboxes kind of long"7.
Power and bypass
The current pedal runs on 9V DC, center negative, drawing 25mA12. The original version could also run on a battery, according to Guitar.com's 2016 review4, but Delicious Audio reports that the V2 is smaller and "can only be powered via 9V power supply"3. It is true bypass4.
If you are buying a V2 or later Peacekeeper, plan on a 9V DC center-negative supply: battery power is not an option on that version3.
History and versions
The pedal has since been revised:
- Original (2016): Released February 2016, battery or 9V supply45
- V2: Smaller enclosure, 9V power supply only, same 25mA draw and dimensions of (W)65mm x (L)125mm x (H)53mm23
- MKIIB (2025): Released to celebrate ThorpyFX's tenth year in business, with refreshed artwork and the same tones13
ThorpyFX's own page puts it simply: "To celebrate our 10th year in business, the Peacekeeper has had a makeover. The same tones you love, with refreshed artwork"1. A Thorpy Barefoot Button is available as an extra, with the color chosen by message when ordering1.
What reviewers said
Published reviewers have been positive about the Peacekeeper since launch.
"The Peackeeper has long been one of my favourite all-rounder overdrives"
Karlsson highlighted its stacking and versatility, working both in front of and after another gain pedal6. In Guitar.com's 2016 comparison against the J. Rockett Archer Ikon and Wampler Tumnus, Chris Vinnicombe made the Peacekeeper his pick for mid-gain rhythm sounds4. Earlier, Guitar Pedal X's 2020 roundup of compact overdrives listed the Peacekeeper at £1958, against the current UK price of £224.991.
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Questions
Is the ThorpyFX Peacekeeper a Klon clone?
Not exactly. Delicious Audio reports that the sound and specs of the Klon Centaur were in designer Adrian Thorpe's mind when he designed it, and Gearnews called it a Klon-style low gain boost/drive, but it is its own circuit with five controls rather than the Klon's three. Thorpe has described it as his response to requests for a Klon clone or an Analog Man King Of Tone.
Is the Peacekeeper true bypass?
Yes. Guitar.com's review of the pedal, published in May 2016, states that it is true bypass. The V2 version is an analog circuit, according to the maker's RockBoard PedalPedia listing.
Does the ThorpyFX Peacekeeper take a battery?
The original version could be powered by a 9V center-negative power supply or a battery, according to Guitar.com's 2016 review. Delicious Audio reports that the V2 is smaller and can only be powered via a 9V power supply, so battery power is not an option on that version.
What clipping diodes does the Peacekeeper use?
Guitar Pedal X reports that the standard version of the circuit uses 1N4148 silicon diodes or similar. A separate limited variant, the Peace2Keeper released in July 2025, uses dual germanium OA90 diodes for a lower gain, grittier character.
What changed in the Peacekeeper MKIIB?
The MKIIB, released to celebrate ThorpyFX's tenth year in business, keeps the same tones but adds refreshed artwork. The pedal also carries physical features such as recessed knobs and top mounted jacks, and a Thorpy Barefoot Button is available as an extra.
Sources (8)
- PEACEKEEPER, ThorpyFX
- Peacekeeper V2 by ThorpyFX, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Updated Pedal: ThorpyFX Peacekeeper MKIIB Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2025-08-04
- J Rockett Archer Ikon, ThorpyFX Peacekeeper & Wampler Tumnus, Guitar.com, 2016-05-12
- The Warthog and The Peacekeeper: new boutique pedals from ThorpyFX for 2016, gearnews.com, 2015-12-29
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-07-30
- ThorpyFX Peacekeeper Low-Gain Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2017-10-24
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2020-03-29
Mikey Demus
