Solodallas CD65 CompanDrive Pedal - Legendary Studio Warmth

Solodallas has once again tapped into the world of analog sound with the release of the new CD65 Compand Drive. First sampled at the 2026 NAMM show, the CD65, much like their popular Solodallas Storm, brings spaciousness, sparkle, and harmonics, making any rig feel more lively and responsive. While it shares a compression/expansion architecture similar to the Storm, the CD65 draws from a 1960s studio console pairing for its distinctive character. It also includes the legendary LM308 op amp—best known as the heart of the Rat pedal. But the CD65 is not a distortion pedal: It’s a sonic enhancement capable of being placed before other gain stages to drive them with greater dynamics and detail, or after them to add its unique touch without increasing overdrive or distortion.

We found that placing the CD65 first in our gain stage improved the sound of every pedal that followed. Even without a significant volume boost, our downstream pedals gained additional texture, spaciousness, and detail. While the CD65 can push other pedals harder, its impact isn't solely about increasing loudness—it's about enhancing clarity and richness.

How does it compare to their Storm? Both pedals utilize similar technology, but the CD65 is more understated. In contrast, the Storm emphasizes both low and high frequencies more prominently, acting more as a pronounced "effect." The CD65, on the other hand, noticeably enhances your core tone without overpowering it.

If you're happy with your current rig but feel there's always room for improvement, the Solodallas CD65 is like a shot of B12 for your amp and pedalboard.

In the words of Solodallas:

The CompanDrive 65 is a faithful recreation of the legendary companding circuit found on virtually every studio tape recording since the introduction of the first Dolby noise reduction process in 1965. This all-analog SoloDallas design captures the elusive studio magic heard on countless classic recordings.

At its core, the signal path is carefully recreated and optimized: the guitar first passes through the Vintage Console Gain Circuit which utilizes the famed LM308 op-amp, then into the 65 Compressor, followed by the 65 Expander, and finally through our Vintage OpAmp Boost. Together, these perfectly balanced stages comprise a secret recipe of warmth, harmonics and dynamics, producing that immediately familiar je ne sais quoi from the golden era of recording.

From the moment you click it on, the CompanDrive 65 reveals itself as a missing link—unlocking a wide range of inspiring, mix-ready studio guitar tones with depth, clarity, and musical feel.

Signal Path Breakdown

Vintage Console Gain Circuit (VCGC)
Produces rich, hi-fi overdrive with abundant harmonics while subtly shaping frequencies to add fullness, presence, and clarity in the mix.

65 Compressor
Delivers a smooth, blooming soft-knee attack that enhances note separation and adds musical harmonic clipping without choking dynamics.

65 Expander
Restores overall signal amplitude, removing unwanted “pump and squish” while further emphasizing the harmonics generated by the VCGC and compressor stages.

Vintage OpAmp Boost
A classic op-amp design that preserves delicate frequencies and maintains clarity as output level is increased, making the CompanDrive 65 equally at home on a pedalboard or in the studio.