The XTS Precision Multi-Drive is an overdrive pedal from Xact Tone Solutions, built to take what the maker calls classic overdrive tones further by adding controls that vary the pedal's tonal response and gain structure. It sits in the same family as the XTS Precision Overdrive: the two are built on the exact same platform, and the Multi-Drive simply adds two controls, one for bass contour and one for pedal dynamics1. The maker describes it as designed to react and feel like a real tube amp, responding to your guitar's volume knob as it goes from clean to overdriven2.
What the controls do
The Multi-Drive's added controls are the point of the pedal. The Fat control is a low-end contour that lets you slim the bass response of an archtop, make a bridge pickup fatter, or go fatter still for the fullest bass response possible2. The Dynamics control fine tunes the pedal's response and feel, with three settings: Punch for an open response, Edge for a slower attack, and Soft for an easy to play feel2.
Alongside those, two toggle switches shape the tonal response and gain structure. Xact Tone Solutions says the switches can set the pedal for a traditional mid-range emphasis, a softer sound with a bit more top end, or a bold and fat character producing tones more like the west coast overdrive style3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fat | Low-end contour: slims an archtop's bass, fattens a bridge pickup, or goes fatter for the fullest bass response2 |
| Dynamics | Punch for an open response, Edge for slower attack, Soft for an easy to play feel2 |
| Two toggle switches | Traditional mid-range emphasis, softer with more top end, or bold and fat west coast style overdrive3 |
How it compares to the Precision Overdrive
If you already know the Precision Overdrive, the Multi-Drive is the same circuit with more flexibility. The maker's support article puts it plainly: "The PMD simply has two additional controls to control bass contour and pedal dynamics"1. A Pedal of the Day reviewer described it in 2015 as "similar to the XTS Precision Overdrive but with switches for more flexibility and control"4. For a player, the choice comes down to whether you want that extra voicing range or the simpler two-knob approach of the original.
Clean boost and stacking
At low Gain settings, XTS says the Multi-Drive is also a superior clean boost2, which widens its use on a board: it can push an amp or another drive as well as work as the drive itself. The Pedal of the Day reviewer found it stacks well with other pedals, saying: "I tend to use this as a bit higher gain and it stacks really well with other pedals. The overdrive is smooth and rich"4.
Power, size and build
The pedal runs on 9 VDC through a 5.5 x 2.1mm center-negative plug, the standard connector for most pedalboard power supplies3. It is true bypass, so the circuit is out of the signal path when off3. XTS describes the enclosure as a rugged, road-ready package2. It measures 2.4" x 4.5" x 1.9" and weighs 0.8 lbs3.
The Multi-Drive is made in the USA3, and XAct Tone Solutions is based out of Nashville, Tennessee, according to Pedal of the Day4.
For where the Multi-Drive sits among drive pedals generally, see the site's pages on Overdrive Pedals, Distortion Pedals and Boost Pedals, or the comparison of the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer for two of the classic drives this kind of pedal builds on.
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Questions
Is the XTS Precision Multi-Drive true bypass?
Yes. Xact Tone Solutions lists the Precision Multi-Drive as true bypass, so when the pedal is off, your guitar signal passes through without the overdrive circuit loading it. That matters on a pedalboard where several pedals in a row can dull the top end if they are not true bypass.
Can the XTS Precision Multi-Drive be used as a clean boost?
Yes. According to XTS Custom Pedals, at low Gain settings the Multi-Drive works as a clean boost. That makes it usable as a volume or push pedal in front of an amp, in addition to its role as an overdrive with adjustable voicing.
What power supply does the XTS Precision Multi-Drive need?
The pedal runs on 9 VDC through a 5.5 x 2.1mm plug with center negative polarity, which is the standard center-negative supply used by most pedalboard power supplies. The maker's product page lists this as the power requirement.
Where is the XTS Precision Multi-Drive made?
The Precision Multi-Drive is made in the USA, as listed on the Xact Tone Solutions product page. The company behind it, XAct Tone Solutions, is based out of Nashville, Tennessee, according to a Pedal of the Day review.
Sources (4)
- Frequently Asked Questions |, xacttone.com
- pmd_one_sheet, XTS Custom Pedals, 2026
- Precision Multi-Drive, Xact Tone Solutions
- XAct Tone Solutions Precision Multi-Drive, Pedal of the Day, 2015-02-11
