The Xvive Golden Brownie is a compact distortion pedal described by Xvive as a "Marshall JCM800 in a box"1. It aims to put the high-gain character of that British amp head into a pedal that takes up minimal room on a pedalboard, and it sits in the distortion corner of the market alongside Xvive's other compact drives like the Xvive DynaRock T2.
What it does to your sound
The Golden Brownie is aimed at 1980s-style high-gain hard rock tones. MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen found it "providing plenty of rich distortion with loads of sustain for pinched harmonics, legato playing and EVH-style tapping"1. On the metal question, his verdict was direct: "You'll have no trouble finding a screaming lead tone for rock and metal here."1
Controls
The pedal's tone shaping centers on two EQ knobs, Tone and Presence. According to MusicRadar's review, the two complement each other, cutting or boosting the upper frequencies in slightly different ranges, which lets you dial in a sweet spot with the correct amount of brightness1.
Having two upper-frequency controls rather than one gives a player finer control over where the brightness sits, which matters when dialing a JCM800-style voice into a particular amp and guitar1.
Where it came from
Published coverage of the Golden Brownie's origins is thin. Premier Guitar's reviewer, summing up the pedal, wrote: "- - Very little to mention."1
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's review is short and favourable. Its reasons to buy are summed up as "Small but mighty", and its reasons to avoid as "Very little to mention"1. On pedalboard practicality, Curwen's conclusion was:
"This pedal will save valuable real estate on your 'board, while also providing plenty of rich distortion with loads of sustain for pinched harmonics, legato playing and EVH-style tapping."
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Questions
What does the Xvive Golden Brownie sound like?
Xvive describes it as a "Marshall JCM800 in a box". MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen found it provides plenty of rich distortion with loads of sustain, suited to pinched harmonics, legato playing and EVH-style tapping, and said you will have no trouble finding a screaming lead tone for rock and metal with it.
What controls does the Golden Brownie have?
The pedal carries Tone and Presence EQ knobs. MusicRadar's review notes the two complement each other, cutting or boosting the upper frequencies in slightly different ranges, so you can dial in a sweet spot with the correct amount of brightness.
Where is the Xvive Golden Brownie made?
According to MusicRadar, Xvive pedals are US-designed and Chinese-built, so the Golden Brownie is made in China to a US design.
Is the Golden Brownie part of the Xvive Micro pedal range?
Yes. MusicRadar places it in Xvive's Analog series Micro pedals, a range of compact pedals that includes two designs developed with German guitarist Thomas Blug.
Is the Golden Brownie good for metal?
MusicRadar's reviewer thought so: "You'll have no trouble finding a screaming lead tone for rock and metal here." The pedal's rich distortion and sustain make it suited to high-gain rock and metal lead playing.
Sources (1)
- Xvive Golden Brownie review, MusicRadar, 2015-10-15
