Boy, I never realized it, but there are a LOT of options to choose from when it comes to an overdrive pedal…just kidding, I knew that years ago, as did you, but they’re still fun to play and review, regardless of how many there may be to choose from! We’ve review a couple of drives from Pedal Monsters (the Mad Hatter, the Bright Lights) and they’ve been really nice pedals, so we thought we’d check out the newest in the lineup, the new-and-improved version two White Lightning Overdrive.
Level, Gain and Tone are the three main (unlabeled, as are all of Pedal Monsters’ offspring, for some reason) control components here, each with it’s own unique flavor and affect on the sound coming out of the White Lightning. The Gain feels big and beefy, probably due to the fact that for this version, PM cranked the amps up to 18v, giving a ton of headroom to work with, and a big load of gain on tap as well. Plenty of volume, of course, with that kind of power, and the Tone will give you any desired amount of low or high end you need in a flash.
The bright red knob is the real story here, as it is an output voltage adjust control, ranging from 1v to 18v. This unique control allows for a multitude of sonic ranges, and the cut voltage makes your sound even more tweakable and inviting. Being that this pedal is emulated after the old Supro amps, this voltage control lets you get a sweet sag sound, which leads to some very interesting distorted tones, almost fuzzy in some cases, and will have you wanting to experiment more and more.
Coming up with intriguing and new options for overdrive pedals is really becoming a necessity, based on the over-saturation of the pedal market these days, but when you come up with a function like the voltage adjustment knob on this White Lightning Overdrive, you’re sure to have more tricks up your sleeve for the future. Nice job, Pedal Monsters, we’re all looking forward to the next new creation to come screaming down the pipeline.
Submitted by Mike B, Website
Demo Rock pedalboard by West Coast Pedalboard
