Last summer, we reviewed a truly unique phaser pedal from a company that (at the time) was unfamiliar to us here at Pedal of the Day. The company is called Infanem (Instruments For A New Electric Music), and the pedal was the Compact Faye Sing Phaser. As we looked into their line of gear further, things started to get very interesting, as they are known for producing some very interesting and sonically incredible pedals. Today’s review focuses on one of their more “normal” pedals, if you can call it that: the Driving Notion Overdrive.

There are 2 versions of this particular pedal, and today’s is the 3-knob version (as opposed to the 5-knob), the one with a few less options in the control section of the drive. As opposed to most other overdrive pedals, the Driving Notion contains no Gain control, making you have to use the other knobs (Output, High and Low) to figure out how this pedal works. Turning the High and Low knob controls individually adjust the drive and character of those particular frequencies, and the amount of volume output this baby puts out will rock and potentially shatter any eardrums and/or windows that happen to get in its way. Since it lacks a main drive adjustment, the Driving Notion is a blast to sit down with and attempt to dial in, with a bunch of differing frequency-laden options in a neat and tidy package.

With only the 3 knobs to control this pedal, the Driving Notion is one of Infanem‘s easier-to-navigate pedals, for sure, but works wonders sonically, without sacrificing any tone of gusto, as far as a great overdrive is concerned. These guys continue to take pedal building into uncharted and exciting new places, most not yet explored by their contemporaries, and always leaving their uses wanting more. Stay tuned for more reviews of their gear in the near future: we love what they’re doing, and can’t wait to see what they unleash next.

Specs:
True bypass switching.
1590B Hammond enclosure (4.4″ x 2.4″), screen printed in-house.
Double sided, through-hole plated PCBs produced in Mulino, OR and assembled in-house. The Driving Notion uses an entirely discrete signal path designed by Infanem.

Submitted by Mike B, Website

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