If you’re looking to bring some added bite to your tube amp (and really, who isn’t?) there’s an enormous range of overdrive pedals available, from transparent boosts to searing drive units. Some of the most popular pedals of all time were designed to bring extra heat to Marshall stacks or inspire your inner SRV through large combo amps.
But what exists for those contemporary players who want to add overdrive to their small combos, without pumping too much gain into their single speaker?
EarthQuaker Devices have developed the Westwood Translucent Drive Manipulator specifically for low-wattage combo amps. The brand new pedal is a light- to medium-gain drive that can get add edge-of-breakup character to your playing, or, when pushed, some saturated-yet-articulate lead tones.
As Andy demonstrates in the video above, the Westwood includes an EQ section that can add or cut up to 20dB from the 80Hz bass and 2kHz treble ranges, allowing for a thicker low-end or more singing highs. The wide tonal options compliment both humbucking and single-coil pickups.
At all settings, the pedal is responsive to the player’s intensity, helping to reveal nuances in a player’s touch and attack. The pedal also works well with a bass guitar, adding heft to the low-mids and punch to the high-mids.
Be sure to check out our demo and click above to get your Westwood Translucent Drive Manipulator now.