Matt Hoopes' 1981 Inventions finally has a second pedal - the LVL Low Gain Boost and Overdrive

So circa five years after the debut of the White-Face Rat-derived DRV Overdrive Matt Hoopes adds a second pedal to the range. Most know the story of how the DRV was derived from Matt’s favourite White-Face ProCo Rat. Where he collaborated with Bondi Effects’ Jon Ashley for 4 years to perfect that circuit.

The process was much the same the second time around - approximately 4 years development time, this time around with John Snyder of Electronic Audio Experiments as the key collaboration partner.

The simplicity of both pedals really suits the brand’s minimalist aesthetics - and the new pedal is even more streamlined than its predecessor with just 2 controls LVL (Gain) and VOL (Output). The LVL also benefits from a compact enclosure form factor - with all the same brand markers as its predecessor - same high quality enclosure and components - down to seemingly the same style of knobs - albeit in a different colour. The only tiny negative here (for some) is the lack of top-mounted jacks - which is almost industry standard nowadays with compact enclosures - only a few brands (including JHS and Keeley) are still sticking to side-mounted jacks.

The LVL has been honed really for ’gain stacking’ as far as I gather - to be used as an always on base-level tone-enhancer or a more subtle step up in gain when combined with other overdrives and distortions. In fact it pairs very nicely with its DRV sibling.

I wasn’t quite in the first wave of DRV owners - although I still managed to snag one of the most iconic early silver editions - which is partly why that’s the above referenced version.

To coincide with the ’Tuxedo’ colourway of the LVL. Matt is offering up the DRV currently too in that same Black and White colourway. Both are available for orders currently on the 1981 Inventions Webstore - with the DRV still at $250, and the LVL at a slightly more wallet-friendly $229.

For lots of players the DRV is their all-time favourite overdrive, and I’m sure the LVL will do well with an already pretty massive audience of 1981 fans. I’ve just added a number of boosts and overdrives to the reference collection recently - so this will have to wait its turn. I won’t be in the first wave of adopters - while I do trust in the quality of Matt + John Snyder - so it’s likely on the cards some day soon enough.

Perhaps I will wait until there is a matching silver colourway to pair with my DRV!

I know a number of you readers are big fans of the DRV - how many of you are considering adding this version of LVL also? Or are you waiting for a different colourway edition like me!