PedalPCB 1981 Inventions DRV 2026 - White powder Coated

This pedal is a clone of the 1981 Inventions DRV, a pedal that has earned a strong reputation for delivering everything from tight overdrive to downright filthy distortion. This particular build came together well and has proven to be a very usable, versatile dirt pedal with an interesting voice of its own.

This circuit gets a lot of praise on the PPCB forums, and after spending time with it, I can see why. It isn't as overpowered or compressed as some high-gain builds I've done, and it retains a nice amount of headroom while still being capable of serious grit when pushed.

Tone Notes

• Tight, focused gain structure thanks to the pair of 1N914 clipping diodes
• Can cover low-to-medium gain sounds but really shines when you lean into the dirt
• The CUT control is especially useful and sets this pedal apart
• • Around 9 o'clock is where I personally like it—it keeps the top end present while smoothing things out
  • Turning it toward 3 o'clock progressively rolls off highs and darkens the overall sound, making it easy to tame bright rigs or dial in thicker tones

To my ears, the overall character lands somewhere in the neighborhood of a Greer Black Mountain Crunch / PPCB Precipice, though the dual 1N914 arrangement gives this DRV-style circuit a slightly tighter feel. For comparison, the Greer uses a BAT41 paired with a 1N914.

Build Details

• Matte white enclosure
• Traditional waterslide graphics under clear coat
• Color-matched knobs inspired by the original aesthetic
• Switchcraft jacks
• Soft-click footswitch
• Top-jack faceplate configuration
• No modifications to the circuit

Condition

Hand-built and fully tested. Functions as intended.

If you're looking for a versatile dirt pedal that can go from crunchy to nasty while offering a genuinely useful tone-shaping control, this DRV-inspired build is worth a look.

Feel free to message me with any questions or if you'd like additional photos.