Let’s face it: boutique overdrive are fun to play. With higher quality parts inside, and hand-made the majority of the time, it’s pretty hard to find one in the bunch that’s a real dud. A prime example of this is the Hermosa Drive from Reiter Brothers Effects, a mid-gain overdrive that looks like a throwback version of some 1970s muscle car, with all the power and prestige that came with those vehicles as well.
While the Gain, Tone and Volume controls are nothing too fancy or new, they obviously make up the guts and glory of this pedal, and feature a big range in each one. Starting off nice and transparent, the Hermosa adds just a hint of sparkle and shine to your tone, without coloring it in any way, exuding just a subtle hint of overdrive. As the Gain and Tone are cranked up, the power of this orange beauty really starts to show it’s teeth. Even though yo’re not going to achieve any metal sounds from this pedal, you’ve got an excellent palette to work from, and enough grit and grime to make any guitar tone stand out in a crowd, or any amp blow down the house.
One of the things I enjoy about companies like Reiter Brothers is their commitment to the community – 10% of their sales go toward feedONE, which provides meals to kids in 3rd world countries. The generosity and selflessness that acts like this show is something we all should strive to follow and emulate, seeking to help those less fortunate in any way we can. That said, the Hermosa Drive is not only a great little overdrive pedal, but you’ll feel good about giving your money to a stand-up company as well. Thanks to RB Effects for letting us check out the Hermosa, looking forward to what comes next from these guys!
Submitted by Mike B, Website
Demo Rock pedalboard by West Coast Pedalboard
