2023 Best New Boost & Overdrive Pedals of the Year

External Controls - SAVAGE } Out, Tone, Gain, Clipping : Vintage Ge / Modern Si, Left Footswitch; EGO DRIVER } Mode : Hi Mids / Lo Mids, Out, Tone, Gain, Right Footswitch

Interior Controls - SAVAGE VOICING } T - Treble Focus / M - Mids Focus, EGO DRIVER VOICING } Clipping : 1N914 Diodes / LEDs, Hi Mids Highs, Lo Mids Bass.

Anasounds' Savage Klone and Ego Driver Screamer were already brilliant takes on this two legendary pedals. Here we get the full fat versions together - with all the mods - in one box. This has been on the board since is came out in June - and I've had no reason to dislodge it!

Controls - Volume, Honey (Gain), Taste (Tone).

My favourite Beetronics Babee series to date - although I don't understand why they've ditched their clever double-tap footswitch mode switching as on precious editions. Slightly annoying to have to bend down to flip mode. That said - both Tweed Amp adjacent Drive and Fuzz voicings are very decent - bring back the double-click!

For sure my prettiest pedal of the year too!

Controls - Bass, Middle, Treble, Volume, Presence, Gain, Bass Boost Switch (Up for JTM45, Down for Super Lead), Bright Boost Switch (Up for JTM45, Down for Super Lead).

A cool fairly minor but significant update to the pedal's output gain and EQ - which now can deliver a very decent EVH voicing - where the previous model couldn't quite reach that level.

Controls - Level, Mode : RE / NAT / Ce, Gain, On Rear - Buffer : STD (Always on), VTG (Warmer, only on when active).

Another genius move from Boss - taking the preamp voicings from two of its most legendary history pedals - the RE-201 Space Echo Preamp, and CE-1 Chorus Ensemble Preamp - and then throwing a further third Clean Boost on top. Great sounding pedal for sure - while I would have liked an additional EQ knob just to be able to refine the output a touch further!

Controls - Level, Tone, Drive, Buffer : On/Off.

Another fantastic Mr Wu genre take - massively expands the range of the Klon / Klone and delivers somewhat 3D Dimensionality - somehow magically more immersive

Controls -  Gain, Gain Structure : ↑ Distortion / Overdrive ↓, Volume, Bass, Mids (Active), Treble.

I've just had this for a few days now - and it totally meets every expectation. I was hoping for a more granular and extended range Blues Driver - with all my favourite tones onboard and a little more. In fact it delivers quite a lot more. There's still something wholly magical about my Keeley Freak Fuzz Modded BD-2 - while the Aquatone takes that circuit into all kinds of new territories - it's amazing why no one has through to do this before. A fantastic overdrive / distortion - could well end up as one of my all-time favourites - but it's still a little too early to give a definite verdict - so good so far though!

Controls - Dual Gain (MOSFET 1 + 2 Bias), Volume (Output + Low End in Circuit + Gain).

My very favourite overdrive of the year - simply sounds immense - is easy to dial in, has an incredible degree of versatility via just those 2 controls, has superb guitar volume gain cleanup - and is super loud - just how I like it. Really brilliant every which way - and I love the look of the one that Joe Halliday made for me - currently vying for status as my favourite overdrive of all time!

Controls - HIWATT SIDE } Master, Amp Voicing : 103 (High Headroom & Dynamic Response) / 504 (Higher Gain & More Compressed), Presence, Input Channel : Bright / Linked (Both) / Normal, Volume, Bass, Treble, Middle, Hiwatt Footswitch, POWER BOOST SIDE } Master, Voicing : PWR (18V) / ODR (9V), Volume, Treble, Bass, Power Boost Footswitch.

Just recently reviewed - a grand confection of two Gilmourish classics - the HiWatt Amplifier (DR103) and Colorsound Power Boost. Christos loads up the pedal with exactly the right complement of controls for maximum range and utility - fantastic concept - brilliantly executed!

Controls - 2 x Gain, Level, Tone, Mode : I (Crunch) / II (Overdrive) / III (Distortion) / F (Forbidden Fuzz Mode), Bass Boost : On/Off, Clipping : Stock Silicon / LED / NOS Germanium, Footswitch per Channel.

Same formula as the Golden Royale - double up on the killer mini pedal and add more features. And so the Reverend becomes the Reverend XX - with external bass boost per channel and 3-way clipping selector. A truly magnificent Expandora - at its best in the 'Redverend' edition as pictured above!

Controls - Bass, Treble, Gain Structure : 50W / 100W, Mids, Gain, Comp : Some / None / Lots, Modeling (Presence), Volume.

One of my favourite all-time MIAB pedals - just instant satisfaction and killer tones every which way. I would have preferred a vertical orientation enclosure - but this one sounds so good I can totally live with it as it is.

Controls - Gain, Tone, Volume, Speed, Depth, Gain Modulator, Tone Modulator, Volume Modulator, Preset LED’s 1-3, Bypass / Alt Footswitch, Tap / Hold Footswitch, Press Both Footswitches to scroll Presets, Mini Midi In and Out on rear of pedal.

An ingenious analog overdrive with optical modulation of gain, tone and volume. Certainly a highly intriguing pedal - where the nearest sort of equivalent to this is Josh Smith's Poly Flat V - but not wholly. I would definitely like to get my hands on one of these some day!

Controls - Tone ±, Tone Stack Switch : OD (Spectrum) / TS (LPF), Drive ±, Drive Clipping : OD (Hard) / TS (Soft).

One of those ingenious 'why did no one think of this sooner' pedals - being able to alternate 2 complementary circuits and their tone stacks - sounds really impressive too. While I feel I already have some of the best ODR-1 and TS808 types - so possibly limited mileage for me overall - still want one though!

Controls - Level, Tone, Drive, Mode : AT / Phat.

Another great take on the BD-2, while I probably still prefer my original Keeley Freak Fuzz Modded variety - and the above Electric Love Aquatone does a lot more. All are valid though, and I'm delighted to own all three.

Controls - Preamp (Gain), Volume, Boost (JFET Boost Level), Clipping : JFET+MOSFET > LED, 2-Band EQ : Top, Bottom, Overdrive Footswitch, Boost Footswitch.

A very uniquely voiced classic British 60's and 90's pop voiced overdrive with a psychedelic edge - and exceptional note clarity. Really superb nuanced breakup quality with pretty extensive range up to a sort of smooth vintage style fuzz. I named several pertinent sound references in my recent review - could do with a little more output volume for me - but every-way superb - and distinct!

Controls - Volume, Treble, Gain, Shamrock Mod : -/+ (+4dB).

Undoubtedly one of if not the success stories of the year - something like 20,000 sold in just a few weeks - those are proper Boss numbers! Great concept, superbly executed. Nice to have for me rather than essential - but would still quite like one - when the the fuss calms down a little!

Controls - Output, Ground Lift Switch (for DI Output), Treble, Gain, Clipping : 1N270 / 1N695 / 1N34A / D9B / D9E / Red LEDs, Clipping On Footswitch, OA10 On Footswitch.

Superb ultimate Klone with all the mojo Germanium Diodes selectable in the one device - with an additional LED clipping option 2. Sounds superb - kind of like a high quality wine tasting session - my favourites being the OA10 and 1N270.

Controls - Level, Drive, Bass, Treble.

Superb silky smooth overdrive heavily reminiscent of the Carlos Santana 'Europa' sound. The combination of superior components and hi-fidelity audio output transformer delivers superior results!

Controls - Drive, Level, Germanium Drive Control (Ge > Silicon Clipping mix), Bass, Mid, Treble.

Another one of my all-time favourite overdrives - I really love both the flagship Nordland pedals - and this one has super harmonic breakup to match its extensive range.

Controls - Level, Gain, Blend, Bass, Boost, Treble, Drive Footswitch / Hold for Clipping Options, Boost Footswitch / Hold for Boost Order.
 
Clipping Options - [Blue] Ge Klon / [Yellow] Schottky Silicon / [Red] Silicon / [Aqua] MOSFET.
 
Boost Options - [Yellow] Pre Overdrive / [Red] Post Overdrive.

A really smart take on a Klone, doesn't have one of those magical Diodes, but sounds pretty superb regardless. One of the most extended range Klones out there with really clever switching functions via dual footswitches.

Controls : F2 Push Button } Long Press toggles bettered Preset and Gain Modes; In Preset Mode - short press toggles between total II or III Presets; For Gain Step Mode - short press lets you select dB Gain Increments / Intervals of 1-24, F1 Push Button } Preset long press sets MIDI Channel 0-16; Gain Step short press sets Slew / Transition Rate of 0-99; Gain Step long press Saves Slew Rate; F1 + Bypass toggles between Joint and Separate Boosts; when Separate boosts are selected - F1 then toggles between Blue (Ring Channel) or Red (Tip Channel), Left Footswitch } Preset short press selects Preset; long press Saves Preset; Gain Step short press Ups Increments / Gain Factor; long press decreases them by same interval, Right Footswitch } Bypassed Both Channels; when pressed in tandem with F1 toggles between Joint and Separate Boosts.

Ingenious digitally-controlled twin clean boost with multiple routing and deployment options, including split mode stereo action, auto-swell, and step-up boost, excellent value too - and definitely on the wishlist.

Controls - Level, Adaptive (Mids) : 0 | II | I, Drive, Dry (Blend) Voice : KLN / MOD, Tone.

Another Cool Adaptive Origin Effects circuit - this time based on the Klon Centaur. Allows you to control the Mids by turning back your guitar volume, and comes with a smoother and rounder alternative Mod voicing. Another one for the wishlist!

Touch Controls - Presets / Banks [Hold], Signature Ident : Toggle  B-Sides / Activate VU Mode / Activate Battery Mode / Save Preset [Hold], HPF / High Q, Volume / Sense. Gain / Speed, LPF / Low Q [Tap header to toggle btw Primary & Secondary Params], Diodes : Schottky / Germanium / Silicon / LED, Waveshape / Blend : Sine, Triangle, Square, Envelope Follower, A > B / B > A Channel Order, Footswitch A / Previous Preset [Hold], Footswitch B / Next Preset [Hold].

Really smart and innovative touch-screen 2-Channel multi-drive with cool modulation function. Can glitch out on occasion, and sometimes looses it's touch-sensitivity - while it's brilliant when it's all cooking. I feel it's better suited to table-top operation than on-the floor. A really cool Reverb has very recently come out in the same format - with less screen contrast - I'm still considering how essential that is for me. The Poly Flat V has been solidly on the board pretty much uninterrupted for the whole year!

Controls - Boost Level / Degree, Tilt EQ, Drive : Drive / Boost, Tight : Top Shelve / Full Boost / Top Boost + Low Cut.

A really clever extraction and enhancement of the killer Tilt Boost side from the Signature Shawn Tubbs Tilt Overdrive - works as a smart overdrive in its own right too - been on the wishlist for a while, although not necessarily a priority.

Controls - Volume, IN-Z (Impedance) : Lo / Hi, Trim (Gain / Saturation), Bass, Dynamics (Compander) : On/Off, Treble.

Clever expanded range tape saturator emulator / preamp - which covers you for all manner of smart gain applications up from Boost though to Overdrive and Distortion - with really precisely calibrated 2-band eq too.

Controls - Level, Boost, Boost typed : High Capacity (Ge Diodes) / Danish Pete (Original Smooth Dane Boost), Gain, Tone, Lows.

Fantastic evolution of the Thorpy Dane - shrunk down to compact size with both sides of the Heavy Water Boost onboard - and the exact same drive circuit as the original larger edition. Works well for all pickup types - while obviously specially honed for Telecasters!

Controls - Slash (EQ), Push (Gain 1 Feed / Mix), Volume, Riff (Gain 1), Clipping / Diodes : Symmetric Silicon / Asymmetric Germanium, Raff (Gain 2).
 
Alternatively - Bass > Treble EQ, Boost, Output, Overdrive, Clipping, Distortion.
 
Or even - EQ Blend, Intensity, Level, Texture, Character, Body.

Super smart 3-Gain-Stage pedal featuring Treble Booster / Range Master at the start - with 2 further gain stages which deliver the full gamut of Boost, Overdrive, Distortion and Fuzz - certainly not an Expandora - but can sort of cover similar territory - albeit a different sound-signature. I really really like this one - and it's been on the board a lot this year!

Controls - Master Volume (Gain), Boost, Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble, Boost Footswitch, Bypass Footswitch.

My very first Tubesteader single 12AX7 Tube-powered pedal - and in Goldilocks fashion - everything is right about this variant - obviously the tonez - but also the size of the pedal, the 350mA 12V power supply requirement and the price tag! I was hoping more of this format would follow on - while the very next pedal made was again one of those larger 2 x Tube editions with 12V 500mA requirement and higher price tag. I hope Olly makes more of the compact format - and soon! As I'm properly onboard for that!

Controls - Volume A, Gain A, Volume B, Gain B, Treble, Bass, 385 / 385+ Boost Switch, Bypass Footswitch, A/B Channel Footswitch.

The previous one of these had been on the wishlist for quite a while - in fact so long - that they launched a newer better version before I managed to acquire it! The new version is all-round better - with 2 channels essentially - and indeed is better looking - this is a very likely acquisition early in the new year!