The ToneTuga FX Clockwork MultiDriver is a dirt pedal designed to cover boost, distortion and fuzz from a single set of three knobs. The builder says it can deliver, with only those three knobs, anything "from a crisp treble boost to a crunchy distortion," and beyond into fuzz tones, all in a rugged, pedal board friendly enclosure1. It was unveiled and made available in May 2019 at a retail price of $16523.
One pedal, three jobs
The MultiDriver name comes from how the pedal behaves at different points on the Gain knob. The builder explains: "I called this a 'Multi Driver' because at low gain settings it acts like a treble booster." From there, the settings fan out across the dirt spectrum1:
- Low gain: acts like a treble booster, which is where the Multi Driver name comes from1
- Mid gain, high volume: a sweet crunchy distortion1
- High gain, high volume: a low gain fuzz face lead tone1
That range is why the pedal sits between a straight boost, an overdrive-style dirt box and a fuzz, rather than being any one of them1.
The controls and how they respond
The Clockwork has three knobs: Volume, Tone and Gain12. What sets the design apart, according to the builder, is that they were voiced to interact rather than to be set independently: "I wanted something that didn't feel like it was three independent knobs, but rather three knobs that all work together." Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described the pedal as "Clock like" because all of the knobs could be set pretty much anywhere and still sound incredible, with no single sweet spot to hunt for1.
Hardware-wise, the pedal pairs those knobs with an ultra bright LED, a rugged foot switch and easy to grab, unobtrusive knobs1.
The secret setting depends on your guitar's volume control, not just the pedal's knobs. It is most prominent when the Clockwork MultiDriver is first in the signal chain1.
The secret setting
Alongside the three knob ranges, the pedal hides an extreme mode the builder calls "Bit Crush-Factory of Fuzz-ish Atom Smashing." The recipe: Gain set to max, then roll the guitar's volume control around maximum (9 to 10) or minimum (1 to 2) for what the builder calls absolute destruction. Because it responds to the guitar's volume knob, cleaning up or digging in becomes part of the performance, and the effect is most prominent with the pedal first in the signal chain1.
Power, build and price
The Clockwork MultiDriver uses a 9VDC standard polarity power supply3. It is handmade in Charlotte, NC1, in the rugged, pedal board friendly enclosure noted above1. The retail price at release was $1653, and Guitar World reported the pedal as available at that price when it was unveiled2.
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Questions
Where is the ToneTuga FX Clockwork MultiDriver made?
The Clockwork MultiDriver is handmade by ToneTuga FX in Charlotte, North Carolina. The builder describes the pedal as coming in a rugged, pedal board friendly enclosure with an ultra bright LED, a rugged foot switch and easy to grab, unobtrusive knobs.
What power supply does the Clockwork MultiDriver use?
The pedal uses a 9VDC standard polarity power supply, according to the press release announcing its release. ToneTuga does not list a current draw figure, so a standard 9V center negative supply is the expected match for a pedalboard setup.
How much is the Clockwork MultiDriver?
The Clockwork MultiDriver carries a retail price of $165, as announced when ToneTuga FX released the pedal. Guitar World reported the pedal as available at that price when it was unveiled.
What is the secret setting on the Clockwork MultiDriver?
The secret setting is called Bit Crush-Factory of Fuzz-ish Atom Smashing. Set the Gain knob to maximum, then roll your guitar's volume control around maximum (9 to 10) or minimum (1 to 2) for what the builder calls absolute destruction. The effect is most prominent when the pedal is first in the signal chain.
Can the Clockwork MultiDriver work as a treble booster?
Yes. The builder says that at low gain settings the pedal acts like a treble booster, which is part of why it was named a Multi Driver. Raising the gain and volume moves it into crunchy distortion and then low-gain fuzz territory.
Sources (3)
- ToneTuga FX Clockwork MultiDriver, Delicious Audio, 2021-04-22
- Tonetuga FX Unveils New Clockwork MultiDriver, Guitar World, 2019-05-02
- ToneTuga FX Releases the Clockwork MultiDriver, Premier Guitar, 2019-05-03