2025 Best New Boost and Overdrive Pedals of the Year

audiostorm.uk/product/tone-lord-2/

Controls - Tone Boost (Level), HN03 (Crispness / Bite), Gain Boost (Overall Gain Intensity), OXY2 (Brightness / Air / Clarity), Tone Era Frequency Enhancer : Off / 60’s - More Bass, 70’s - More Treble, 80’s - A Lot More Treble, 90’s - More Mids, 00’s - A Lot More Bass, NOVA (Saturation Boost).

A killer tone-enhancing Boost / Shaper which improves everything it comes into contact with. Use the Tone Lord to re-balance and accentuate certain frequencies, add articulation and saturation.

www.blammoelectronics.com

Controls - OVERDRIVE } Volume, EQ, Drive, Overdrive-2 Footswitch; CLEAN BOOST } Output, Input, Color, Clean-1 Footswitch; UNIVERSAL } Order : 2>1 | 1>2.

The Blammo enhanced compact take on the JHS Notadümblë - with some input from the Cosmodio Instruments modifications - but its own variant of 6th control. Significantly improves on the JHS version - and delivers more in a smaller form factor - not necessarily the greatest sounding Dumble Drive - but still ver decent, and very versatile. I really like both my models of this - but of course somewhat prefer the Blammo take!

brelliott.com

Controls - Filter (LPF), REC (Recovery / Make-up Gain) : +6dB / 0 / +12dB, BST (Low Frequency Boost) : Bypass / 200Hz / 80Hz, LOAD (Load on Tube) : 47K (Hot) / 220K (Cold) / 100K (Medium), CUT (HPF) : Bypass / 200Hz, Level, Clipping / Distortion : Germanium / Silicon / LED / 2 x Anti-Blocking Diodes / 4 x Anti-Blocking Diodes / N (No Anti-Blocking Diodes).

Such a killer concept and execution of a modular Tube Overdrive pedal - where you can swap in alternative modules for both the Core 'Tube' element, as well as the main Distortion / Clipping Diodes daughter board. You have several available options for both of those - to significantly change up the tone and colour of his pedal. Really super smart engineering. I would like to see the EQ made similarly modular - and hopefully get Dual Channel versions of this eventually - where you can mix up both sides of the pedal. This is such a great Tube Overdrive - pretty much neck and neck with the Tubesteader Gainlord - while the gives you 3 Channels of playback - which makes it slightly more versatile and potent in a live playback context. An exceptional pedal - where I'm definitely getting a second copy - as there are so many fantastic options available - and I want to easily run that pedal in 2 distinct ways!

reverb.com/uk/item/91582678

Controls : Level, Tone, Drive, Stage : Up is High Velocity / Down is Southerly Harmonics - and adds a hard-clipping gain stage into the mix.

An exceptional 2-in-1 Drive pedal which covers the best of Greer Amps in the one pedal. Possibly a little too derivative to be in the awards - but every way excellent sounding - brilliantly covers you both for Lightspeed and Southland flavours. I'm surprised Charlie didn't contact me for his follow-up 4558 pedal? I'm sure that one is pretty exceptional too - something for next year per chance! There's still no demo for the Outbreak yet - so one for the Southland will need to suffice!

www.chasebliss.eu/brothers-am

Controls - Gain 2, Volume 2, Gain 1, Tone 2 [+Presence], Volume 1, Tone 1 [+Presence], CH 1 Mode : Boost / OD / Dist, Treble Boost (Beano) : Full / Off / Lite, CH 2 Mode : Dist / OD / Boost, Presets : 1 / Panel / 2 (+Bank 2 via Dip), Engage Channel 1 Footswitch, Engage Channel 2 Footswitch - Footswitch + Tone = Presence, 16 Dip-Switches.

An excellent collaboration which tackles the King of Tone with slightly more available components, and adds in the Beano Treble Booster as an options - alongside 2 Channels of Boost, Overdrive, and Distortion. It doesn't hit exactly the same as the King of Tone - which is slightly softer and gooier - while the Brothers AM is a touch more vibrant - and still in the same tonal ballpark. There are overlaps for sure - but each is somewhat its own thing. There are clear differences in timbre and character - while at times it gets really very close.

crazytubecircuits.com/venus

Controls - Volume, Bias, Drive, Tight : On/Off, Hi, Mid, Lo, Line Driver (Volume Boost).

A really superb execution - a warm and articulate Tube overdrive - beautifully balanced. I struggled to get hold of one of these initially based on a series of misunderstandings. The wait was well worth it though as this pedal turned out to totally match its promise. The unusual choice of tube here really pays off - as it seems perfect for this purpose. The finest compact take on the Butler Tube Driver to date - every way superb!

drno-effects.com

Controls - Drive, Tone, Volume, Booster, Fat Switch : ↑ On / ↓ Off, Clipping : ↑ Asymmetrical / ↓ Symmetrical.

A gift for me from the Doctor - which included an exceptional accompanying letter - which I have widely shared. With the Asymmetrical Clipping on the Power Driver sounds beautifully vibrant and richly textured. The Boost really does its own thing too - while the core overdrive voicing is the main attraction - it sounds really expceitonal and distinct.

drunk-beaver.rocks

Controls - Bass, Mid, Treble, Level, Drive.

One of my favourite Drunk Beaver overdrives to date - this one sounds really well balanced - one of those instantly good sounding and well balanced one - really easy to dial in too. A wonderful daily driver!

drunk-beaver.rocks

Controls - Bass, Treble, Gain, Master, EQ : ISS4 (More Bite)/ ISS6 (Softer), Input Gain : Normal / Low.

Such a vibrant garage rock style drive - a little brash and full on - but sounds so good. A massive improvement over the original - this one is especially fun to pay - has a proper rock 'n' roll delivery to it - makes you sound 'dangerous'!

flattleyguitarpedals.com

Controls - ACE TONE BOOST } Volume, Tone, Left Footswitch; PLEXI DRIVE } Volume, Tone, Gain, Right Footswitch; Order Switch } Up = Boost First / Down = Plexi First.

I really love Paul's new one - it has fairly simple controls - but is so well balanced as default. And comes with that amazing tone-enhancing Ace Tone Boost - which sounds exceptional with pretty much every pedal - and of course alogised a really poised Plexi Drive side. Every way excellent - and Paul's best looking pedal to date. The Tubesteader Gainlord is a little more shapeable and versatile - while you can't really fault the Outlaw - it really shines - every which way!

www.gigaheartsfx.com/products/january

Controls - Tops, Push, Output, Lows (Trunks!), Clip : Asymmetrical Schottky diodes - Twangy! / 2 Pairs of Symmetrical Silicon Diodes - Least Compressed, 1 Pair of Symmetrical Silicon Diodes - Moderately Compressed, Gain.

A superb 'Single Coil' drive which wholly enhances and adds body to Single Coil Guitars - Strats and Teles in particular. It's a little on the bassy site for Humbuckers - while you can still dial in a really usable tone - with the Bass knob turned fully counter-clockwise. This is great for the Single Coil format - a dive that is totally fit for that purpose!

www.hangmanfx.com

Controls - Output Level, 3-way Voicing Switch : Tone Bypass / Stock / Schottky Clipping, 3-way Mids Switch : Mid Boost / Scooped / Max Boost, Overdrive Gain Level (Gain 1) [Starting Gain], 3-way Auto DAGG'R Switch : O.D. / Off / Fuzz, Fuzz Gain Level [Starting Gain] (Gain 2), Black Mini Ramping Controls } Sensitivity [Trigger Threshold], Smooth [Speed / Choppiness of Ramping Transition / Offset], Max Gain : Upper Target Gain Value for Ramping (Gain 3), Limit : Volume Limiter for Max Gain Peak output levels, Bypass / Engage Left Footswitch, Max Gain Manual Trigger Right Footswitch.

Really clever Gain-Ramping pedal which really follows your playing style and pick attack for a fantastic interactive performance. A little complex in how some of the gain settings bleed into each other - where you just need to dial in by ear - and not think to hard on what the various knobs and controls are doing - if it sounds right - it sounds right - and this one sounds superb - where you can play soft for the longest while, and then all of sudden instantly ramp things up. Partly controllable too with the guitar volume control. Brilliant Overdrive and Fuzz voiced pedal - where at times it feels like it's morphing bemteeen the two - but that's really just the nature of the pedal's gain structure - and how those different elements feed into each other. A really great innovation for further dynamic playback!

www.hangmanfx.com

Controls - GERMANIUM SIDE } Output, Gain, Tone (Hi-Cut), Voicing : [L]ow / [H]igh / [V]intage, Germanium Drive Footwitch; JFET SIDE (Fetzer Valve+) } Output, Gain, Presence : Twangy / Thick & Bold, JFET Drive Footswitch; ORDER : GERMANIUM <> JFET.

A great Dual Drive - which mixes up Germanium and JFET flavours - the sound fantastic individually, and even better combine - beautifully textured overdrive - one of the best of that ilk! Not as innovative as the DAGG'R though!

A one-off!

Similar - hellosailoreffects.com

Controls - SILICON } Boost, Range : Hi / Mid, Gain; GERMANIUM } Boost, Range : Hi / Mid, Gain, Footswitch per Channel.

2-sided Silicon + Germanium RangeMaster  which combine superbly for a sort of photo Fuzz voicing - really excellent Treble Booster. Could do with a touch more volume to be perfect for me - but sounds pretty fine as is!

One of 3 : Sold Out!

Controls - Level, Transformer.

Great sounding Transformer-augmented Brian May style Treble Booster - can sound really immense and intense - a great tone-enhancer!

jhspedals.info/products

Controls - Volume (Master), Gain 2 (2nd Stage Gain), Gain 1 (Input Gain), Bass, Treble.

JHS takes on Mk.gee's signature TASCAM 424 Portastudio - one of several solutions available currently. The dearest of the options, but also the one most widely available! Does those LoFi sounds particularly well!

jhspedals.info

Controls - Volume, Gain, Tone, Bass-Cut / Flat, G1 Clipping Switch, G2 Clipping Switch (Crunch > Overdrive > Distortion > Forbidden Fuzz).

I wasn't the biggest fan of the former V2 model - I found it overly dark, dank and dense. The new version is improved in every way - for a fantastic multi-gain pedal. It's not quite as good as the Decibelics Reverend - but it comes pretty close. This is a really great take on the Expandora - which is a much more attractive proposition in this new modified and improved format - a fantastic upgrade!

lichtlaermaudio.com/shop/aquaria

Controls : MAIN } Tone, Dynamics (Compression), Gain, Level, Blend, Bypass Footswitch; EQ + BOOST } Boost, Bass, Lo-Mid, Hi-Mid, High, EQ Footswitch.

A superb extended range take on the Klon - this one almost got a SILVER award too - but I felt I had already selected the maximum - in another year this would definitely have been a runner-up. With its 4-Band EQ you can really shape its output, and it has a tonne of gain and volume onboard too. I much prefer this Klone take to the Keeley Manis. The Aquaria features relatively high here, while the Manis fails to make the selection! I really like the Phat mode on the Manis, but not the Germanium Transistor mode - there are significantly better Klones out there than the Manis - indeed - like this excellent Lichtlaerm Aquaria!

mpamp.com

Controls - Level (Output), Sensitivity (Gain & Compression), Contour (Tone, Unity at Noon), Accent (Brightness / Edge).

An improved brighter and louder version that the original - which I still have a soft spot for. The Simble was my very first Dumble Drive - and It's night perfect in its output, but I prefer the Kondo Shifuku, and the Tanabe Zenkudo in particular - those are my elite Dumble Drives - while the Simble is sill really decent. I'm still not sure if I prefer the new one over the old - I definitely like the added headroom and volume - I really like the original though - and overall this is a fairly subtle upgrade - as here wasn't much wrong with the original!

www.jimdunlop.com

Controls - Gain Mode : Clean 2 / Clean 1 / Edge / Distortion, Volume (Master), Input Gain / Compression, Chorus : Off/On, Internal Mono > Stereo Output Switch (via TRS Cable), CTRL - Remote Gain Mode Switch - e.g. MXR Tap.

A really decent take on Tom Sholz's headphone amp - great overdrive / distortion voicing, and decent chorus, but not quite perfect. Could do with a little more output volume, and a little less noise floor. Decent enough for sure - but not quite good enough to get an award!

origineffects.com/product/deluxe55/

Controls - Level, Preamp Tube (Emulation) : 12AY7 : Brighter/Cleaner / 12AX7 : Darker/Gainier, Drive, Post Gain EQ, Post EQ Mode / Profile : I Fended Black Panel / II Marshall style / III Flat, Tone (Dark>Bright).

A pretty decent take on the classic Fender Tweed Amps - with dual valve emulation for brighter or darker tones. Quite a vibrant take on the Tweed - with plenty of bite. Doesn't have the really rich breakup texture of the ThorpyFX 'The ' but still sounds really decent - as to all Origin pedals to be fair!

www.humbuckermusic.com

Controls - Clip : Most Compression / Least Compression / More Compression, Cut : High Cut & Low Cut : -3dB @ 2.75kHz & -3dB @ 120Hz / Flat / High Cut : -3dB @ 2.75kHz, Active Bass, Active Mid, Passive Treble, Gain, Volume.

For me the Zafram is the superior Paul Cochrane pedal - it has more flavour and wider range than the Timmy. It's a much more textured and mids-leaning overdrive - which I much prefer to the very neutral / transparent Timmy. This pedal is pretty much only available from Humbucker Music which limits its appeal a little. Well worth checking out but alas too much in the shadow of its more famous predecessor sibling!

reeveselectro.co.uk

Controls - Volume, Tone (< More Bass | Less Bass > maintains top end throughout), Gain.

A decent Tweed take for sure with simple controls, but plenty of volume. All my Tweeds hit slightly differently - and there are 3 different ones in this listing, including this Leo, the Origin Effects 55 Deluxe, and the ThorpyFX 'The J'. Of those 3 this one has quite a lot of verve, but not quite the same bite as the Deluxe 55, and not the complex rich breakup texture of 'The J'.

revvamplification.com

Controls - Bass, Middle, Treble, Volume, Drive Mode : Blue (more saturation) / Off / Red (most saturation), Gain.

For sure the best of the V2 G-Series Editions. The Crisp and Crunchy G2 has plenty of gain and volume onboard - in fact really high headroom if required - but crisps up pretty fast. Its G3 and G4 siblings could really do with a little more volume and gain - while this G2 is pretty perfect for BluesBreaker / JTM45 / Plexi tones. The most appealing of the updated editions!

rhpfelectronics.com

Controls - Drive (Boost > Drive > Distortion), Focus (a sort of EQ - Full Bodied > Dynamic Clarity), Level (Output), Heart (Adds Warmth & Richness), Heart Options : Deep Resonant Lows / Punchy + Aggressive Mids, Bite (Adds Edge & Articulation), Bite Options : More Cut-Thru, Most Cut-Thru!

Probably the most appealing of the RhPf pedals - certainly the most instantly satisfying - a very easy dial-in for this harmonic overdrive. Everyone who seems to have encountered it really loves it including me. It came within a whisker of getting an award, while I felt that there were others in the selection even more deserving. In another year this one would certainly have been included in the runners-up - there was just so much quality this year - and impossible to give them all an award - really great overdrive any which way!

rhpfelectronics.com

Controls - IGF-1 Low Band Gain (Centre-Frequency @ c. 200Hz), Mini Low Band Gain Level, GH Mid Band Gain (Centre-Frequency @ c. 632Hz), Mini Mid Band Gain Level, ACTH High Band Gain (Centre-Frequency @ c. 4kHz), Mini High Band Gain Level.

RhPf's most versatile Overdrive / Distortion / Fuzz - capable of the best tones, but can be a little tricky to dial in. This means that overall the Mosferatwo is quite a bit more instantly satisfying, and tends to be preferred - even though this one is cable of even greater tones. The nature of this effect involves balancing 3 different Multi-Band distortions - which proves to be a little too complicated for some. My own favourite sounding of the RhPf Drives - while I concur that the Mosferatwo is the more instantly appealing - in part also because of how easy it is to dial in!

Rogue Rehosuing

Controls - Volume, Drive, Hi-Cut : Up, Tone, Bypass Footswitch, Channel Footswitch +Boost.

My Rogue Rehousing JHS Morning Glory is a total thing of beauty. Somewhat pricey alas - as there is so much work involved in the modifications. It' costs more than twice the value of the source pedal - but is still kind of worth it - particularly in this Gold-accent 'Gucci' edition. The Morning Glory definitely warrants its popularity - it's an exceptional sounding warm and beautifully textured BluesBreaker style overdrive. I really love this - and it totally makes sense to own it in the Rogue Rehousing Edition - which is every way superior to he original! And more versatile in use too!

www.soundladliverpool.co.uk-sleaze

www.soundladliverpool.co.uk-britpop

Controls - Thick : Bass Input, Gain 1 : Preamp + Screamer Gain ('00' Mode) [with Thick FCCW, and Gain 1 @ Max you get Treble Booster tones for ythe '90' Mode], Gain 2 : Output Gain (More Lows and Mids typically / Hair, Warmth, and Sizzle], Tone : Custom Inductor which simulates High Frequency roll-off [CCW], MODE : ↑ Up is '00' Indie Sleaze / ↓ Down is Britpop, and Volume is Output Level (with plenty on-tap!).

Exceptional sounding and super versatile two-voice overdrive - which has you fully covered for 90's Britpop tones - this is sometimes knows as the Oasis pedal, and on the other voicing you have the perfect Indie Sleeze tones to replicate that fresh sound introduced by the Strokes in the 2000's. Beautifully engineered pedal and exceptionally well priced - a sure fire award-winner here. Totally meets its aims and objectives. And if you're into those 2 music genres - then this is the perfect vehicle for those tones!

www.suprlunr.com

Controls - Q1 Gain, Blue Button Fuzz / Distortion, White Button Fixed High Pass Filter, Volume, A] Attenuate Input, C] Q2 Bias, F] First Order Low Pass Filter.

The most recently featured pedal - which is a definite target for me, but I found my way to it too late - and will look to add to the collection early next year/ This is a discrete Transistor Boost and Overdrive - which delivers Distoriton and Fuzz sounds when the Blue button is pushed in. This is a full-rage classic multi-gain pedal with some really smart controls to shape its output. I love the look of this device as well as its output, and will look to properly connect with Superluna early in January next year! A fantastic first attempt seemingly with a real distinct aesthetic!

thorpyfx.com

Controls - Output (Master Volume), Response (Presence), Supply (Voltage Attenuation), Normal Channel Gain, Voicing / Gain Structure : Hi - 12AX7 / Lo - 12AY7, Tone, Bright Channel Gain. On/Off Footswitch. Channel Selector Footswitch : Normal / Bright.

Thorpy has set the new standard for the Tweed Drive. The richness and complexity of the breakup is quite extraordinary and several degrees above any other Tweed type. There's definitely some magic insides those pedals which yields those superior harmonics. This pedal sounds incredible - and quickly becomes my favourite Thorpy Overdrive pedal. This one really is very special. You might thing you don't need another Tweed - but you ain't heard anything yet. This 'The J' is a cut above!

Retired / Sold Out

Controls - Gain (Low Gain > Saggy Blooming Overdrive > Overblown Amp Distortion at Max!), Treble, Level, Presence, Bass. 

Thorpy's other killer overdrive for the year - a Germanium Diodes Lower Gain variant of Peace Keeper with more flavourful texture, and a cool overblown voicing when you crank up the gain. The original Peace Keeper was already a favourite - while this one has an even more enhanced output. Fantastic sounding - but still not quite as impressive as 'The J'!

totallywyckedaudio.com

Controls - Bite (Clipping Style : Symmetrical > Asymmetrical), Level, Drive, Tone.

You probably don't think you need another Tube Screamer - but this is he new one by the original engineer of the TS808 Screamer - one Susumu Tamura. And he has reinvented and evolved his original circuit to new levels of dynamics and texture. The new smart Bite Control allows you to slowly morph between symmetrical and asymmetrical clipping - which means you can cover the original progenitor - the OD-1, and it's follow up SD-1 also, alongside the best sounding TS808 flavour I have heard out of such a pedal. Just an every way better tube screamer with more range and versatility - really excellent! For another year this one would be in the awards too - while there are even better pedals in this selection - such is the high standard of quality!

tubesteader.com/products/gainlord

Controls - Lower Blue Plexi Style Channel 1 } Volume, Treble, Mid, Bass, Bright Switch, Gain; Upper Red JCM800 Channel 2 } Volume, Treble, Mid, Bass, Bright Switch, Gain; Tone Bypass for Direct Out on side of pedal.

And so to this year's champion Overdrive Pedal - the Gainlord - which is the best tube preamp distillation of Plexi and JCM800 tones to date as far as I'm concerned - it truly sounds magnificent. And it has the perfect complement of controls for maximum impact - and then underlines all hat with a 3-Channel experience courtesy of the additional remote Footswitch. Everything about this pedal is superb, my only tiny niggle is its size - where it is easily the largest pedal in this year's selection - but because of how good it sounds and how well if functions - I was happy to rearrange the board so that it could accommodate this. Definitely the best of this years releases - while the other runners-up in this selection really run it close - but can't match its. live playability!

www.walrusaudio.com

Controls - Volume A, Gain A, Volume B, Gain B, Treble, Bass, 385 / 385+ Boost Switch, Bypass Footswitch, A/B Channel Footswitch.

I'm a little late with his one - which was initially release in October 2023, but I only landed it this year - in the run up to the Walrus Capsule Collection. I had always intended to get this one in in a timely manner - but other stuff often gets in the way. This is a fantastic dual channel update of the original 385 film projector amp. This one sounds really great - and hits hard. A definite improvement over the original!

www.walrusaudio.com

Controls - Volume, Tone, Gain, Mid ±, Mid Freq. Focus : 350Hz / 550Hz / 2kHz, MODE : I. GE 1N34A / II. GE 1N34A + Bass Boost / III. Symmetric SI / IV. Asymmetric SI / V. Asymmetric SI + Bass Boost, Bypass Footswitch, Mid Footswitch.

Another extended range Klone - while I, as with a number of those kinds of pedals - prefer the Mid Boost permanently assigned. This is an excellent sounding Klone - almost as good as the Lichtlaerm Aquaria - while that one is a little more shapeable. I prefer both over and beyond the Keeley Manis - which misses out on this occasion This was acquired just in time for my Klone Capsule collection project! It's a really decent variant of the type!

xotic.us/effects/acbv2/

Controls - Gain, Boost, Treble, Volume, Bass.
 
Dip-Switches - 1 : Compression, 2 On is Classic - 2 off is Modern, 3 is Lo Mid Boost, and 4 is Hi Mid Boost.

I own all 4 of Xotic's Boost Series in enhanced editions - the AC Booster V2, AH Allen Hinds Booster, BB Preamp Custom, and RC Booster V2. The AC V2 is the most potent and versatile of the 4 - where these are all smooth-ish overdrives really rather than boosts - all distantly evolved beyond the Tube Screamer as far as I understand. Each of those accentuates different frequencies, saturation and compression - where each sounds distinct - even though there was a common stem there originally. In any other year this would be up for an award - while 2025 was a particularly grand and high quality year!