Anasounds combines a full-fat MKI Savage with Ego Driver in its potent new Sandman Dual Overdrive
Not too long ago I did a feature on Anasounds’ Savage ’Klon’ Overdrives with 3 different Format / Enclosure Sizes - and touched on a further limited edition 4-knob compact Extended Savage. At the time I asked Anasounds’ Alex if there was ever a chance that the Extended Savage might be reissued - and he replied that he had something even better in mind!
And that even better pedal was evidently to combine the formerly limited edition MKI Savage - including all all the extras - with the complete version of the Ego Drive in series - for that classic Screamer / Klon combination.
We get a more pedalboard-friendly vertical orientation enclosure with most of the controls on the pedal’s facia / exterior, while some of the individual formerly external controls have had to be internalised as trim-pots and slider-switches. So we have internal fine-tune / Voicing controls for both the Savage and Ego Driver halves of the overall circuit.
The format is of course in some ways reminiscent of the recent Standard Full story - and you’re really getting the best of both worlds here.
Controls - SAVAGE } Out, Tone, Gain, Clipping : Vintage Ge / Modern Si, Left Footswitch; EGO DRIVER } Mode : Hi Mids / Lo Mids, Out, Tone, Gain, Right Footswitch
Internals - SAVAGE VOICING } T - Treble Focus / M - Mids Focus, EGO DRIVER VOICING } Clipping : 1N914 Diodes / LEDs, Hi Mids Highs, Lo Mids Bass.
It's all pretty straightforward really - as you essentially have an extended range brilliantly voiced Tube Screamer going into an extended range brilliantly voiced Klon. Both the source pedals sounded superb - and here you get their combined might in a super handy and beautifully stylised format. The etched artwork here is especially attractive.
The only mystery really is why it's called 'The Sandman' - while I was able to have some proper fun with the visual aspect of that. Part of me still wants the Compact edition Extended Savage - but I also really want this.
My own circumstances have changed recently and so I will be needing to cut back on pedal acquisitions significantly for a while. Will be nice to get this one in the collection at some stage though - while I wouldn't imagine it would happen any time soon!
The Sandman will be initially available for pre-orders from 18:00 CET today until 23:59 CET on June 16th for an introductory price of €299 - on the Anasounds Webstore. 1 to 3 months after the pre-order period has passed - the pedal will appear at dealers in limited quantities for €369. So you need to be relatively quick if you wish to secure one at the more attractive price. I'm not sure how that play into my own situation - I guess we shall see!
Demos
12 Degrees of Saturation 2023 Compact Edition
