Xotic SL Drive

The Xotic SL Drive is a compact analog overdrive/distortion pedal from Xotic, first released in 2013¹. It is voiced after vintage British Super Lead and Super Bass amplifiers, the amps Xotic describes as delivering "one of the all-time classic sounds" and the type of tone players like Jimmy Page and Paul Kossoff relied on for their signature sound²³. Xotic says it "has recreated this vintage masterpiece in a rugged small enclosure"²³.

Built in the mini style, with offset input and output sockets to save pedalboard space, it measures 3.5" x 1.5" x 1.5" (89mm x 38mm x 38mm) and weighs 0.57 lbs (260g)². Xotic says the pedal "offers very amp-like response and cleans up nicely with a roll of your guitar's volume knob"²³.

Controls and the internal DIP switches

On the outside, the SL Drive keeps it simple: three knobs for Drive, Tone and Volume, which Pedal of the Day's Mike B called "standard overdrive controls"⁴. The real voicing work happens inside.

Xotic says "the internal dip switches allow you to choose the sound characteristics of both 1959 models"²³, referring to the Super Lead and Super Bass amps the pedal is modeled on. Aion FX's trace found four DIP switch settings in total, covering the two amp modes "as well as a few other parameters"¹.

Super Lead versus Super Bass mode

The two amp modes are the pedal's main personality split. Xotic's own description of the difference⁵³⁴:

MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen heard the same divide in practice: the Super Lead settings "offer abundant top-end crunch," while "setting the DIP switches for the Super Bass gives you low-end grunt and a more subdued top end"⁶. He also noted the pedal cleans up nicely with the guitar's volume²³. For bass players, the Super Bass mode's low-end emphasis makes the pedal a natural fit alongside bass pedals.

Power: 9V with an internal voltage doubler

The SL Drive runs on a 9VDC supply with a 5mA current draw², and it accepts an optional regulated adapter from 9VDC to 18VDC with a negative tip⁵². A single 9V (006P) battery also works².

Inside, Xotic uses a step-up converter it calls the "Voltage Doubler," which "takes 9 volts DC and boosts it to an output voltage of 15 or 18 VDC (max current draw 80mA)"⁵. For the player, this means the internal circuit sees a higher supply voltage than what you feed the pedal, which gives the op-amp more headroom than a plain 9V design.

Inside the circuit: an original design with RAT-like hard clipping

Aion FX traced the SL Drive circuit in 2023¹ and published its findings alongside its own Silvanus Amp Overdrive project¹. Its conclusion on the pedigree question:

Aion FX found the design "looks a bit RAT-ish, particularly the hard clipping and tone control," but considered it different enough that it was uncertain the RAT Distortion was even referenced⁷. A later summary put it the other way round: the circuit has "enough similarities to the RAT Distortion that they probably referenced that circuit" during the design process¹. Either way, both analyses agree it is not a clone: the hard clipping stage and tone control resemble a RAT, but the rest of the circuit is Xotic's own.

One detail from the trace: the main IC in the pedal is sanded down so its type cannot be read, but based on current draw analysis and Xotic's usage patterns, Aion FX concluded "we'd say it's probably a JRC4558"⁷.

What reviewers said

MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen found the pedal delivers on its premise: "If it's that late-60s/early 70s Marshall sound you want, the SL Drive will deliver"⁶. He described a flexible range of Marshall tones, with the internal DIP switches opening up more options, and called it an excellent overdrive with Marshall flavor in a tiny footprint⁶. His one listed complaint was practical: "Volume control is tiny!"⁶

Pedal of the Day's Mike B, reviewing it in 2015, took a similar view of the sound: "if you really want that classic rock and roll sound, but your amp happens to have a different name on it," the SL Drive is the answer⁴. He credited the internals rather than the knobs: "it's the internal wiring and design here that really make this pedal shine, and will do the same for just about any amplifier"⁴. He also noted the true bypass "makes it play well with your other pedals, as well as remaining nice and silent when in bypass mode"⁴.

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