Top 10 Dual Overdrive Pedals for Guitarists (2025)
Dual overdrive pedals pack two distinct drive circuits into one unit, offering amazing versatility for shaping your guitar tone. Below we highlight ten of the best dual overdrive pedals currently available new (no discontinued unicorns here) – each with unique features, tonal flavor, and design philosophy to help you find the perfect match for your sound and style.
1. Browne Amplification Protein Dual Overdrive
Image: Browne Amplification “Protein” dual overdrive pedal (Green V3 edition)
The Browne Protein is a two-in-one overdrive born from a collaboration between Browne Amplification’s David Brown and session guitarist Adam Sniegowski. Their design philosophy was to create a dual OD that “would sound great with any backline amp”:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}. The Protein combines two beloved circuits: on the left (“Blue” side) a take on the classic Marshall Bluesbreaker overdrive (famously used by John Mayer on Continuum) but tuned for more output and clarity:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}; and on the right (“Green” side) an homage to the Nobels ODR-1, a legendary Nashville overdrive, tweaked for usable gain range and tightened low-end:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}. Browne addressed the quirks of the originals (e.g. low output or scooped mids) to deliver a pedal that retains the soul of those circuits while fixing their shortcomings:contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}. An internal routing places the Green side (ODR-1) before the Blue (Bluesbreaker), yielding a “secret third channel” when stacked – a richer, gainier tone without mushiness:contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}. With top-mounted jacks and soft switching, the Protein is built for pro pedalboards.
Tone: The Protein’s Blue side is a transparent, responsive overdrive – great for blues and “edge of breakup” clarity. The Green side adds a warm, mid-boosted drive that excels at country and rock rhythms. Stacked, they produce a full, beefy lead tone that remains articulate:contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}. From clean boost to thick crunch, the Protein covers blues, country, worship, and rock genres with ease. It’s loved for its amp-like dynamics and ability to “play nice” with virtually any amp.
Price: $299.00 USD – View on Browne Amplification
2. KingTone The Duellist Dual Overdrive
Image: KingTone “The Duellist” dual overdrive (Black panel edition)
The KingTone Duellist has earned a reputation as one of the ultimate dual overdrives. Designed by Jesse Davey (KingTone), it was built to deliver “massive, open, uncompromised” drive tones for serious blues and rock players:contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}. Side A of the Duellist is dubbed the “String-Singer” and is essentially the ultimate Tube Screamer-style circuit – voiced for Stevie Ray Vaughan-inspired tones (midrange push, tight bass). Side B, the “Heavy-Hand,” is a Bluesbreaker-style overdrive that takes the classic Marshall Bluesbreaker tone to a new level of fatness and sustain:contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}:contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}. Each channel has independent Volume, Tone, and Drive controls plus a 3-way toggle (“Fat/Stock/Glass”) to adjust its character – offering a range from stock vintage tone to beefier or glassier highs. Uniquely, the Duellist features a channel order switch (A→B or B→A) and even TRS jacks that allow you to split the pedal into two separate pedals for flexible routing on complex boards:contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}:contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}. The enclosure is custom CNC-machined and roadworthy. Overall, the design philosophy is to pack two pinnacle overdrives in one box, with tweakable options, while maintaining pure tone.
Tone: Side A yields classic Texas blues drive – creamy mids and smooth clipping ideal for blues leads and crunchy chords (think SRV or John Mayer). Side B produces harmonically rich “breaker” drive – more open, dynamic, and perfect for classic rock and rhythm blues. Thanks to toggles, you can voice each side for fatness or clarity as needed. Combining the two sides unlocks everything from searing lead sustain to huge stacked rhythm tones. The Duellist easily covers blues, rock, and even fusion genres – it’s often praised as a King of Tone alternative (Tube Screamer + Bluesbreaker) with far more tonal options:contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}. This pedal truly shines for players who need touch-sensitive low/medium gain and the ability to stack drives for solos.
Price: $349.99 USD – View on KingTone (The Duellist)
3. JHS Double Barrel V4
Image: JHS Pedals “Double Barrel V4” dual overdrive (Moonshine V2 and Morning Glory V4 circuits)
The JHS Double Barrel V4 is a workhorse dual overdrive aimed at covering “everything low-to-medium gain” in one pedal:contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}. JHS Pedals combined two of their most popular circuits: the right side is the Moonshine V2, JHS’s heavily tweaked take on the Tube Screamer (with more gain, volume, and even a clean blend knob for added clarity):contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}. The left side is the Morning Glory V4, a beloved transparent overdrive based on the Marshall Bluesbreaker circuit, now with a high-gain mode toggle (remote-switchable) for extra punch:contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}. The V4 edition of the Double Barrel added an order toggle switch, so you can choose which side feeds the other – a huge plus for stacking flexibility:contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}. Unique features like the Moonshine’s clean blend and the Morning Glory’s “Red Remote” gain toggle mean this pedal packs five distinct overdrive flavors at your feet:contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}. The design philosophy here is versatility and stackability: it’s for the player who wants a light drive and a mid-gain drive in one unit, with the option to stack them for thicker tones. As JHS puts it, you won’t find extreme distortion, but you’ll get “transparent overdrive at medium and light gain levels” that can cover almost any tonal need:contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}.
Tone: The Double Barrel V4 delivers classic mid-hump drive on one side and pristine boost/overdrive on the other. The Moonshine (right side) gives you that familiar Tube Screamer-style midrange grind – great for blues, rock, and pushing amps – but with more output and range than a stock TS808:contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}. The Morning Glory (left) provides an open, amp-like overdrive that preserves your guitar’s character – perfect as a always-on “transparent” boost or mild breakup for country, indie, and blues. Stack them (in either order) and you get a richer drive: e.g. TS into Morning Glory for a fat lead tone, or vice versa for a boosted mid-focused crunch. In terms of genres, the Double Barrel excels at blues, classic rock, country, and worship music – anywhere you need superb low-mid gain tone with stacking options. It truly is an “everything from clean boost to vintage crunch” pedal.
Price: $345.00 USD – View on JHS Pedals
4. Keeley D&M Drive (Boost + Overdrive)
Image: Keeley Electronics “D&M Drive” dual boost/overdrive (Dan & Mick signature pedal)
The Keeley D&M Drive is a dual pedal that pairs an independent boost with an overdrive – essentially two pedals in one, designed for the hosts of That Pedal Show (Dan & Mick). Robert Keeley’s design gives Dan’s side a high-headroom, high-voltage clean boost and Mick’s side a versatile overdrive, and you can stack them in either order via a toggle switch:contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}:contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}. The boost side is based on Keeley’s Katana boost (clean, but can drive into slight grit) and is tuned to “impart the perfect tone on any amp that needs to be pushed”:contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}. As you turn it up, it morphs from pure clean boost into a “smoothly saturated midrange voice” – perfect for singing leads:contentReference[oaicite:28]{index=28}. The drive side delivers everything from flat, transparent overdrive for chord work up to searing, sustaining lead distortion:contentReference[oaicite:29]{index=29}. Essentially, it’s voiced to cover both low-gain and higher-gain needs in one circuit. Keeley also implemented advanced switching – you can select which side comes first when stacking, and even integrate the D&M into loop switchers (each side has separate in/out capability for pros):contentReference[oaicite:30]{index=30}. The design philosophy was to make a pedal that could serve as the “perfect storm of drive and boost,” giving players maximum tonal flexibility and studio-quality sound in one box.
Tone: The D&M Drive’s boost side is exceptionally clean and powerful – great for pushing a tube amp into its natural overdrive or for boosting another pedal. It can act as a fat clean boost for country or funk, and when cranked it adds a tasty midrange grit (somewhere between a Keeley Katana and a treble booster):contentReference[oaicite:31]{index=31}:contentReference[oaicite:32]{index=32}. The drive side can go from transparent overdrive (ideal for chords and edge-of-breakup blues tones) to hot, saturated lead (almost distortion territory, with tons of sustain):contentReference[oaicite:33]{index=33}. It’s voiced to be very amp-like, responding well to picking dynamics. Stack the boost into the drive and you’ve got an “out-of-this-world” lead tone with huge, singing sustain:contentReference[oaicite:34]{index=34}. This pedal is well-suited to rock and blues (think classic rock leads, crunch rhythms), yet also excels in genres like country or worship where you might use the boost alone for clean volume lift and the drive for mild breakup. Dan & Mick themselves cover Brit-rock to ambient swells with it. In short, the D&M offers two very usable channels that together cover a massive range from clean boost to high-gain overdrive.
Price: $229.00 USD – View on Keeley Electronics
5. BOSS JB-2 Angry Driver
Image: BOSS “JB-2 Angry Driver” (JHS + BOSS collaboration dual overdrive)
The BOSS JB-2 Angry Driver is a unique collaboration between Boss and JHS Pedals, combining two iconic pedals in one compact enclosure. To celebrate Boss’s 40th anniversary, they teamed up with JHS to merge the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver (a low/mid-gain classic) with the JHS Angry Charlie (a revered high-gain Marshall-style overdrive):contentReference[oaicite:36]{index=36}:contentReference[oaicite:37]{index=37}. Each circuit remains independent inside, with its own Drive, Tone, and Level controls accessible via dual-concentric knobs:contentReference[oaicite:38]{index=38}. A 6-position rotary mode selector lets you choose how the two sides are used: you can run just the Blues Driver alone, just the Angry Charlie alone, or combine them in series (in either order) or parallel:contentReference[oaicite:39]{index=39}. This effectively gives you a Swiss-army knife of drive tones. In one mode, the JB-2 behaves like a stock BD-2; in another, like a stock Angry Charlie; and in the combined modes, you unlock stacked drive textures not possible with either pedal alone. Despite packing two circuits, Boss managed to keep it in their single pedal format. The pedal also supports remote on/off for each side (via an external footswitch) if desired. The design philosophy was clearly “unmatched range and versatility from a single overdrive pedal”:contentReference[oaicite:40]{index=40} – covering sweet Blues Driver crunch through to high-gain riffage, all in one stompbox that’s built like a tank in typical Boss fashion.
Tone: In Blues Driver mode, the JB-2 delivers expressive low-to-mid gain drive – perfect for blues, indie, and crunchy rhythm tones. It’s dynamic and warm, reacting well to picking nuance. In Angry Charlie mode, it serves up aggressive British amp distortion – essentially a JCM800-in-a-box, great for rock and even modern worship leads (the Angry Charlie side has ample gain and midrange). The magic happens in the combo modes: you can stack the BD-2 into the Angry Charlie for a thick, saturated lead tone with boosted mids, or run Angry Charlie into BD-2 for a compressed high-gain sound with smooth top-end. There’s even a parallel mode, blending both circuits side by side, yielding a huge, layered drive tone that retains clarity (imagine crunchy and high-gain tones mixed). This flexibility means the JB-2 can cover blues, country (using the BD-2 alone), classic rock, hard rock, and beyond. Whether you need SRV-style blues grit, ’80s rock chunk, or a stacked modern lead, the Angry Driver can do it – making it a go-to for players who want a lot of tones without multiple pedals.
Price: ~$199.99 USD – View on BOSS (JB-2 Angry Driver)
6. Strymon Sunset Dual Overdrive
Image: Strymon “Sunset” dual overdrive pedal (digital dual-circuit overdrive)
The Strymon Sunset is a dual overdrive that takes a modern hybrid approach, using digital technology to emulate six of the most classic overdrive types and letting you mix-and-match them in one pedal. Strymon equipped the Sunset with two channels (A and B), each selectable between three circuit models, for a total of six drive flavors:contentReference[oaicite:42]{index=42}:contentReference[oaicite:43]{index=43}. These include voices inspired by: a germanium diode fuzz/OD (Ge), a mid-bump overdrive (“Texas” – think Tube Screamer), a treble boost, a 2-stage hard/soft clipping drive, a high-gain hard clipper, and a JFET clean boost:contentReference[oaicite:44]{index=44}. Essentially, Sunset covers a huge range of analog drive behaviors – from smooth fuzz-like sustain to midrange blues drive to transparent boost. What’s powerful is you can use either channel alone or stack them (A into B, B into A, or parallel) with the flip of a toggle switch:contentReference[oaicite:45]{index=45}. The pedal’s analog JFET input/output ensure it feels and responds like a real overdrive, while the SHARC DSP inside handles the complex clipping emulations with “detailed complexity and responsiveness”:contentReference[oaicite:46]{index=46}. There’s also optional noise reduction and bright switches to fine-tune it. The design philosophy here is maximum versatility – Sunset is like having a shelf of overdrive pedals in one unit, with recallable combinations. It’s also MIDI-capable for those with advanced rigs. Despite the digital brain, Strymon made the interface intuitive (standard knobs for Level, Drive, Tone on each channel). If you want one pedal to cover nearly any overdrive need, the Sunset is intended to be that solution.
Tone: In terms of sound, the Sunset is incredibly flexible. For example, Channel A’s Ge mode gives you vintage fuzz/OD warmth, great for singing leads or thick garage rock distortion. The “Texas” mode delivers a classic Tube Screamer-style mid hump, superb for blues and country solos. Channel B’s options range from crunchy mid-gain (2-stage mode, reminiscent of something like a Boss SD-1 or OCD) to tight high-gain (Hard mode, for heavier rock/alternative) to pristine boost (JFET mode, which fattens tone with no clipping). You can dial each in with its own tone control, so you can, say, have one side darker for rhythm and the other brighter for leads. Stacking adds even more flavors – e.g. run the Treble boost into the Hard distortion for a cutting solo tone, or the Texas into 2-stage for a rich, saturated blues-rock lead. Parallel mode is also interesting: blending two drives can yield a big, textured tone that retains clarity. The genres Sunset can cover are virtually limitless: blues, rock, country, worship (it’s popular in praise rigs for its versatility), and even light metal or fusion. It gives you the best of analog feel and digital range – truly an all-in-one tone palette for overdrive.
Price: $299.00 USD – View on Strymon
7. Wampler Gearbox (Andy Wood Signature Dual Overdrive)
Image: Wampler “Gearbox” Andy Wood Signature dual overdrive (two-channel pedal with EQ and gate)
The Wampler Gearbox is a signature dual overdrive/distortion created with guitarist Andy Wood, and it packs a one–two punch of Wampler’s best circuits. Inside, Channel 1 is based on the Wampler Tumnus (a revered Klon-style overdrive), and Channel 2 is based on the Wampler Pinnacle (a high-gain “Brown Sound” distortion):contentReference[oaicite:48]{index=48}:contentReference[oaicite:49]{index=49}. This means one side gives you that great mid-boosted transparent drive/boost, and the other side gives you screaming ’80s Marshall tones. Andy Wood’s goal was a single pedal that could cover his range of styles – from bluegrass-infused country to hard rock/fusion – and the Gearbox delivers. It features an order switch on top, so you can run Tumnus -> Pinnacle or Pinnacle -> Tumnus at the flick of a switch:contentReference[oaicite:50]{index=50}. Notably, Wampler also incorporated a noise gate on Channel 2 (to tame high-gain hiss) which keeps high-gain riffs tight and noiseless:contentReference[oaicite:51]{index=51}. Both channels have independent controls, and Channel 2 even has a full 3-band EQ (Bass/Mids/Treble) for fine-tuning your lead tone:contentReference[oaicite:52]{index=52}. There are dual inputs/outputs for flexibility – you can use it as two separate pedals in a switcher if desired:contentReference[oaicite:53]{index=53}. The design philosophy was to make “the single pedal solution that delivers” for drive tones – effectively two of Brian Wampler’s most popular pedals combined, with extra features for modern gigging:contentReference[oaicite:54]{index=54}:contentReference[oaicite:55]{index=55}. The pedal’s name “Gearbox” reflects it being the driving engine of your tone.
Tone: Channel 1 (Tumnus side) provides Klon-like clean boost and overdrive – it can act as a transparent boost to fatten your sound or push an amp, or as a stand-alone overdrive adding midrange and sparkle. It’s great for country leads, bluesy crunch, or boosting Channel 2. Channel 2 (Pinnacle side) is all about that hot-rodded British amp distortion – rich harmonics, plenty of gain on tap, and with the EQ, you can scoop or boost mids as needed. With gain lowered, Channel 2 can do classic rock crunch; cranked up, it’s a saturated lead monster (perfect for ’80s rock, modern rock, or even heavier styles). Andy Wood uses it for everything from rock fusion solos to heavy rhythm parts, so it’s quite versatile. Stacking Channel 1 into Channel 2 yields “tonal bliss” – a warm yet aggressive drive where the Tumnus side adds body and sustain to the Pinnacle’s roar:contentReference[oaicite:56]{index=56}:contentReference[oaicite:57]{index=57}. This combo can cover soaring violin-like lead tones (with the mid boost from Ch1) or tighten up high-gain riffing. Overall, the Gearbox is ideal for players who need both low-gain and high-gain tones: for instance, country or funk rhythm on Channel 1, hard rock/metal on Channel 2, and a stacked lead for solos. Genres span country, rock, prog/shred, and metal – it’s extremely adaptable, which is exactly what Andy Wood, a genre-blurring guitarist, required.
Price: $269.97 USD – View on Wampler Pedals
8. Jackson Audio The Optimist (Cory Wong Signature)
Image: Jackson Audio “The Optimist” Cory Wong Signature dual overdrive + EQ (Blue edition)
The Optimist by Jackson Audio (designed with funk guitarist Cory Wong) is a three-in-one pedal: it’s a dual overdrive plus an active EQ. Jackson Audio set out to create “the most versatile overdrive pedal” Cory had ever used, to cover his needs from punchy clean rhythms to soaring leads:contentReference[oaicite:59]{index=59}:contentReference[oaicite:60]{index=60}. The Optimist’s OD1 is based on the mythical Klon Centaur circuit (with genuine germanium diodes – humorously “washed in unicorn tears” for authenticity, as Jackson jokes):contentReference[oaicite:61]{index=61}:contentReference[oaicite:62]{index=62}. This gives a wonderfully dynamic, mid-humped overdrive/boost that’s legendary for its feel. OD2 is a transparent overdrive with a flat EQ response (inspired by the Timmy pedal, according to Jackson’s announcements):contentReference[oaicite:63]{index=63}:contentReference[oaicite:64]{index=64} – it’s designed to contrast OD1 by not adding midrange, perfect for rhythm guitar or stacking as a cleanish gain. Each overdrive has its own Volume, Gain, and Tone knobs, allowing you to dial them independently. But that’s not all – The Optimist also includes a built-in 3-band EQ (Bass, Mids, Treble) that can be activated by pressing both footswitches together, effectively giving you a post-drive EQ or standalone tone-shaping tool:contentReference[oaicite:65]{index=65}:contentReference[oaicite:66]{index=66}. The EQ is a Baxandall-style active EQ with ±12dB boost/cut, which is highly useful for tailoring your tone to different guitars or amps. For example, you can add sparkle to a dark amp or fatten up single-coils easily. The pedal is also fully MIDI controllable for engaging/disengaging each section – a nod to modern players with complex rigs:contentReference[oaicite:67]{index=67}. The design philosophy of The Optimist is flexibility and simplicity in use: provide two stellar overdrive flavors that cover most bases (mid-forward Klon and flat transparent OD), let them stack well, and add an EQ for ultimate tone control. The result is a pedal that can replace multiple others – hence the optimistic outlook!
Tone: OD1 (Klon side) offers rich, dynamic overdrive with a mid bump. It excels as a clean boost (low gain, high volume yields that famous Klon clean boost that fattens and adds sparkle) or as an overdrive that cuts through the mix with its midrange (great for blues leads, funk rhythm when you want presence, and rock solos). It’s very “natural” sounding and preserves picking nuances:contentReference[oaicite:68]{index=68}. OD2 is very transparent and open – when used alone, it won’t color your tone much, just adds grit and compression. This is perfect for rhythm playing where you want your guitar’s character to shine (Cory Wong uses it for punchy funk rhythm with just a touch of breakup). Stacked, OD2 can act as a booster to OD1, adding gain without altering OD1’s EQ – so you get a more saturated Klon-type lead tone that still feels articulate:contentReference[oaicite:69]{index=69}. Engaging the EQ opens up even more possibilities: you can, for instance, boost the treble and cut mids for a jangly tone on a neck pickup, or boost mids for a solo, etc. Notably, the EQ is post-overdrive, so it’s like adjusting the amp’s EQ after your drives – very handy to fine-tune your output. Genres: The Optimist is incredibly versatile (Cory Wong uses it for funk, clean boost, and rock solos). It’s great for funk and R&B (using the EQ to shape cleans, OD2 for slight break-up), blues and rock (OD1 covers those mid-gain needs beautifully), country (it can be a clean boost or light OD for chicken pickin’), and pop/rock worship settings (the two drives plus EQ easily adapt to many songs). It might not venture into metal territory (it’s not a high-gain distortion), but for anything up to classic rock gain levels, The Optimist lives up to its name as a do-it-all overdrive.
Price: $349.00 USD – View on Jackson Audio
9. Mythos Pedals Herculean Deluxe Overdrive
Image: Mythos Pedals “Herculean Deluxe” dual overdrive (burgundy enclosure)
The Mythos Herculean Deluxe is a boutique dual overdrive that combines two of Mythos’ own circuits into one flexible unit. On one side you have the Herculean overdrive – which is Mythos’ Dumble-inspired “D-Style” overdrive (smooth, dynamic, amp-like):contentReference[oaicite:71]{index=71}. On the other side is the Runestone overdrive – essentially a heavily tweaked Blues Breaker style circuit with more gain on tap:contentReference[oaicite:72]{index=72}. This pairing means the pedal can deliver fat, blooming “Dumble” lead tones as well as crunchy, mid-gain British blues tones. The Herculean Deluxe’s design philosophy was to pack “the most useful dirt box” Mythos could create by giving players two responsive drives that cover a huge range:contentReference[oaicite:73]{index=73}. It includes an order toggle on the face (to choose which circuit feeds the other):contentReference[oaicite:74]{index=74} and an internal 4-way DIP switch for customizing clipping types on each side:contentReference[oaicite:75]{index=75}. Those internal switches allow selection between different diode clipping styles – e.g. silicon vs. MOSFET vs. no diode – effectively letting you alter the compression and texture of each overdrive to your taste:contentReference[oaicite:76]{index=76}:contentReference[oaicite:77]{index=77}. Despite this tweakability, the control layout remains straightforward (each side has Level and Drive knobs, and there are global mini knobs for “Clarity” on the Herculean side and “Voice” – a tone/bass trim – on the Runestone side). With its rich feature set, the Herculean Deluxe can be tailored from a clean boost all the way to thick, “amp-on-the-edge” distortion. The design intention is right in the tagline: “From clean boost to thick amp-like gain,” this pedal has you covered:contentReference[oaicite:78]{index=78}.
Tone: The Herculean side delivers sweet, singing D-style overdrive – known for blooming mids, a bit of compression, and a dynamic response to picking. Think Robben Ford or Larry Carlton style leads: smooth sustain that still cleans up with the guitar volume. It also has a “Clarity” knob (mini toggle) to dial in top-end definition, so it can work as a robust clean boost or low-gain “touch of hair” drive for chords. The Runestone side is more raw and crunchy, reminiscent of a classic Marshall Bluesbreaker pedal but voiced by Mythos for more versatility. It can do gritty blues rhythm or classic rock crunch easily. It also features a “Voice” switch (mini) controlling bass, so you can tighten it up for humbuckers or fatten it for single-coils as needed. Stacking the two sides yields a formidable lead tone: running the Bluesbreaker (Runestone) into the D-style (Herculean) can create a thick, sustaining lead that feels like an overdriven amp pushed by an extra gain stage – great for rock and fusion solos. Or flip the order for a big pushed “Dumble” tone with some British bite on top. Thanks to the clipping options, you can also shape whether the drives are smooth or aggressive. Genres: The Herculean Deluxe excels at blues, classic and modern rock, and fusion. With the right clipping choices, it can venture into heavier rock (e.g. diode lift for louder output into an amp). It’s also well-suited for worship guitarists who want that transparent low gain on one side and a thick lead tone on the other. Essentially, if you need a range from Tube Screamer/Bluesbreaker style crunch to Zen Drive-style sing, this pedal covers it. It’s remarkably adaptable – as Mythos proudly notes, probably the most versatile OD they’ve made.
Price: $299.00 USD – View on Mythos Pedals
10. Friedman BE-OD Deluxe
The Friedman BE-OD Deluxe is a dual-channel overdrive/distortion that brings the famous Friedman BE-100 “Brown Eye” amplifier tone to your pedalboard:contentReference[oaicite:79]{index=79}. Friedman’s original single-channel BE-OD pedal captured high-gain British amp tones and became a hit; this Deluxe version expands it by offering two independent channels of that BE-OD circuit:contentReference[oaicite:80]{index=80}. Essentially, you get a two-channel distortion pedal much like a two-channel amp: Channel 1 is voiced identical to the original BE-OD (high gain, tight, aggressive) and Channel 2 is voiced with slightly less gain and a bit smoother for rhythm work:contentReference[oaicite:81]{index=81}. Each channel has its own Gain and Volume controls, and they share a comprehensive EQ: Bass, Middle, Treble, Presence, plus a 3-position Tight switch per channel to control low-end response:contentReference[oaicite:82]{index=82}:contentReference[oaicite:83]{index=83}. This means you can dial in, for example, a chunky lower-gain crunch on one channel and a searing lead on the other, then switch between them with a footswitch. The BE-OD Deluxe is true bypass and built to take 18V (for increased headroom) if desired. The design philosophy is straightforward: give guitarists the “brown sound” versatility of a Friedman amp in a pedal, with all the tone-shaping needed to suit different guitars and amps. It’s essentially a distortion preamp in a box, capable of very amp-like overdrive tones. Dave Friedman is known for high-end amps, and this pedal was designed to satisfy tone enthusiasts who want that flavor without hauling an amp.
Tone: Simply put, the BE-OD Deluxe offers authentic hot-rodded British amp distortion, from overdriven Plexi-style tones to fully saturated modern rock/metal. Channel 1 (the higher gain channel) can deliver “straight up gain nirvana,” as Friedman puts it:contentReference[oaicite:84]{index=84} – it’s thick, with a rich midrange and a prominent but controlled high end, ideal for soaring leads or heavy chugging riffs. Channel 2, with its slightly lower gain voicing, excels at meaty classic rock rhythms or crunch tones that need a bit more openness. With the EQ knobs, you have exceptional control: you can scoop the mids for metal, or push them up for a vocal lead tone; add Presence for cut or reduce it for warmth. The Tight switches are very handy – for example, if you play a down-tuned guitar, you can tighten the bass to keep the sound from flubbing out, or if you want a huge roar, set it more open. Despite the high gain capability, the BE-OD Deluxe can be dialed back to surprisingly mild overdrive as well:contentReference[oaicite:85]{index=85} – it covers a broad range from bluesy crunch (gain low, volume up) to full throttle distortion. It particularly shines for hard rock, classic metal, and any scenario where you want that cranked Marshall stack tone. Think Van Halen, ’80s hair metal, modern rock like Foo Fighters – those are squarely in its wheelhouse. With gain down, you can even get AC/DC-like crunch or edge-of-breakup sounds, albeit the pedal really wants to rock. If you’re a high-gain player or play in a cover band needing everything from ZZ Top grit to Metallica grind, the BE-OD Deluxe has you covered. It essentially turns a clean pedal platform amp into a fire-breathing Friedman amp at the stomp of a switch.
Price: $269.99 USD – View on Friedman Amplification
Choosing the Right Dual Overdrive
When selecting a dual overdrive, consider the types of tones you need and how you plan to use the pedal. If you crave classic blues/rock combos, pedals like the Protein, Duellist, or Double Barrel (which pair mid-hump and transparent drives) are fantastic choices. For maximum versatility to cover many genres or session work, the Sunset or Optimist provide a wide palette. If you’re a high-gain rocker, something like the Gearbox or BE-OD Deluxe – essentially combining boost and distortion – will serve you better. Also think about features: Do you need an order toggle (for stacking flexibility), separate EQ controls, or MIDI integration? Each of the pedals above brings its own flavor: from analog warmth to digital flexibility, from vintage-amp style breakups to modern high-gain saturation. The good news is these dual drives are all excellently engineered – there’s no wrong choice, just the best one to ignite your signature sound. Happy tone hunting!