Z-Drive Overdrive Pedal Review

1 switch short of greatness

Great pedal. Great tones. I love having three ranges of color in one pedal. My complaint is that they should have made this a three button pedal so that it works cohesively with pit musicians who are reading complex charts while following a conductor, and require a range of sounds. We want to be able to hit one button for bypass, another for mid-drive, another for high drive.… read more If we have to take our eyes off the music or the conductor to check which mode for the drive pedal, this creates a problem for the player. 3 sounds = 3 buttons. Since I can't comfortably use this pedal in a live pit situation I have to keep the rating at 2.5 stars. Which is a shame because the pedal sounds great. It is my hope that Dr Z understands our position and will offer the same pedal with three buttons in the future.

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Great range of tones!

The Z-Drive has a really useable range from light grit to heavy metal. The choice to use either the Mosfet or Germanium channel offers a wide palette to choose from, and each channel produces uniquely different sounds and feel. I use the Germanium channel with the 'Drive' set low, at about 9 o'clock, to add just a touch of grit when striking the strings hard. Turning up the 'Drive'… read more brings in more snarl and gets into some open, hard rock, territory. The Mosfet channel is more compressed and can also go from 'just a taste' to all out heavy metal with the Drive turned up. It's a really fun pedal because it can reproduce so many kinds of overdrive, not just the distorted fuzzy sounds that so many other pedals produce.

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Dr. Z Z-drive Overdrive Pedal

I bought this pedal from Sweetwater a few weeks ago and I completely love it. I use the RED side for crunch rhythm or a bluesy solo with a little hair. The green side is great for creamy thick solos or dial it back for your liking. This is how I use it but others do the exact opposite and it sounds great. If you are a Brad Paisley fan this pedal will take you there. The EQ works… read more very similar to most DR. Z amps. Up to 12 o'clock each control works as expected but past twelve O'clock and they start to boost the circuit which is another facet of versatility. You can set the channel volumes for rhythm-lead boost with one tap of the foot. The channel "cuts" work very well but I love the full-on tone of each channel so season to your liking. There are a number of good Youtube videos of this pedal. Give them a listen because this pedal does not discriminate. It loves all amps. Pull the trigger and enjoy your new tone. You will be glad you did.

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