Most guitarists at some point or another want to sound like they’re playing a big, fat, Marshall stack, even if they don’t own one and won’t have the means to for quite some time. With all the overdrive pedals out on the market today, it can be tricky finding the precise one for you and your style, as there are a TON of options to choose from. However, if you really want that classic rock and roll sound, but your amp happens to have a different name on it, you have got to grab an SL Drive from Xotic Effects.
“That pedal is too small to really crank out any powerful tones” you might say to yourself upon first glance, but you would be 100% incorrect. The SL features a couple of easily-accessible on-board control knobs, as well as some hidden tricks up it’s sleeve on the inside. Drive, Tone and Volume are all standard overdrive controls, but it’s the internal wiring and design here that really make this pedal shine, and will do the same for just about any amplifier, too! Internal dip switches let you select how you want the pedal to sound, either using the Super Lead (a little grittier, with more high end) or Super Bass (nice, beefy low end) settings. Playing around with these modes while using the control knobs opens up the possibilities here, with lots and lots of sounds to be discovered.
As you can see from the size, the SL will fit nicely onto any pedalboard, any will most certainly be a topic of conversation during setbreak at your shows. True bypass makes it play well with your other pedals, as well as remaining nice and silent when in bypass mode, as all pedals should. Another great little pedal from Xotic Effects, the SL Drive is compact physically but expansive sonically. If you’re looking to rock, but don’t want to spend a ton of cash or carry around a ton of equipment, look no further than this pint-sized gem of an overdrive.
Submitted by Mike B, Website
Demo Rock pedalboard by West Coast Pedalboard
