The Volta 1987 V2 is a two-channel overdrive pedal designed to sound like a Plexi hot-rod pushed to the max, hand-made in Italy by a company that recently changed its name from Nabla to Volta Custom1. It belongs to the family of amp-in-a-box overdrives, pedals that aim to recreate the character of a specific amplifier rather than simply add gain, and it sits alongside other Plexi-style drives in our guide to Overdrive Pedals.
Where it came from
The circuit first appeared as the Nabla 1987 v2, a two-channel amp-in-a-box pedal from the Italian boutique builder Nabla, based on the "Hot Rod" mod done to Marshall Plexi amps like the JTM45 or the 1989 Super Lead to make them sound more aggressive2. Delicious Audio added it to its list of Best Plexi-Style Overdrives when it launched in 20202, and the pedal has stayed on the site's roundup of Plexi pedals since2.
Delicious Audio's buying guide describes the 1987 as "A tweakable, hand-made overdrive with a foot-switchable boost whose gain can be controlled through a separate knob"3.
Controls
The pedal carries a regular set of Drive, Tone and Level knobs for the main overdrive channel, plus an Eleven knob that controls the gain of the boost1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Regular overdrive drive control1 |
| Tone | Tone control for the overdrive channel1 |
| Level | Level control for the overdrive channel1 |
| Eleven | Gain control for the boost1 |
| Mids knob | Mids level control, interacting with the Mids toggle1 |
| Mids toggle | Three positions: more pronounced hump up, scoop down, flat mids in the center1 |
| Tight toggle | Three positions shaping grain and definition on both channels2 |
On the original Nabla 1987 v2, the Level and Eleven knobs independently control the volume of the two channels, for an always controllable effect: when 11 is off the level is set by the Level knob, and when 11 is on the level is set by the Eleven knob2.
The Mids and Tight toggles
The two three-way toggles are where the pedal's voicing is set.
Mids toggle. The Mids toggle interacts with the Mids knob to deliver more or less pronounced mids, with a more pronounced hump in the up position, a scoop in the down position, and flat mids in the center1. On the earlier Nabla version, the up position gives humped mids like the 1987 V1, the center gives flat mids for a more neutral tone, and the down position gives lightly scooped mids to match mid-heavy cabinets or amps, or to enter metal territory2.
Tight toggle. The Tight toggle delivers fatter tones on both overdrive and boost in the down position, brighter and more defined ones on both in the center position, and in the up position bright and defined tones when the overdrive is on, fatter when the 11 footswitch is hit1. On the Nabla version, this toggle interacts with the Tone knob and sets the grain and definition of the pedal, allowing fine-tuning for single coils or humbuckers2.
Versions
Delicious Audio's Plexi pedal guide notes that a Pro version of the 1987 adds presets, a knob for Mids, a 3-way Presence switch, and Exp In3.
The maker recently changed its name from Nabla to Volta Custom, so the same design appears under both names: the earlier units as the Nabla 1987 v2 and the current ones as the Volta 1987 V21.
Videos
Pete Thorn
R.J. Ronquillo
Jack JD
Questions
What does the Eleven knob do on the Volta 1987 V2?
The Eleven knob controls the gain of the boost channel, the one engaged by the footswitch called 11. Together with the Level knob, it lets you set the volume of the two channels independently, so the boost can sit above or below the main overdrive at will.
What do the Tight and Mids toggles do on the Volta 1987 V2?
The Mids toggle interacts with the Mids knob to shape midrange: a more pronounced hump in the up position, a scoop in the down position, and flat mids in the center. The Tight toggle sets grain and definition: fatter tones in the down position, brighter and more defined ones in the center, and a split character in the up position.
Where is the Volta 1987 V2 made?
The Volta 1987 V2 is hand-made in Italy by Volta Custom, a company that recently changed its name from Nabla.
Does the Volta 1987 V2 have a footswitchable boost?
Yes. The pedal has a foot-switchable boost called 11, and the gain of that boost is set with the Eleven knob.
Sources (3)
- Volta 1987 V2 Dual Plexi Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2022-09-09
- Nabla 1987 V2 Dual Channel Hot Rodded Plexi Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2020-11-13
- 2024 Best Plexi Pedals & Marshall-Style Distortions: A Buyer's Guide, Delicious Audio, 2024-09-16
