Music Hardware - Danelectro "Wasabi" Overdrive Pedal

[Seth]

Welcome to another "Music Hardware" article, this time we're delving into the realm of guitar effects. These little beasts are made by various companies, and handle various different effects. In this article, we're going to look at the Danelectro "Wasabi" Overdrive pedal.

What is it?

Overdrive is a function on all amplifiers that allows you to crank the signal up so much that your amplifier's output is a bit distorted and very heavy. This can be done through the internal circuitry of your amp, usually requiring you to press a little button in next to the overdrive dial, or if you've got a more expensive and feature-packed amp you may be able to connect a footswitch to change between the clean and overdriven channels.

The pedal accomplishes exactly the same thing as your amps overdrive circuit does, it boosts your signal and gives you that crunchy output you're used to hearing in rock and metal. The pedal just makes things easier, as now you can get this effect by just smacking the pedal with your foot instead of having to press something in on your amp.

Pedal Features

The pedal comes with quite a vast array of controls. First up there's the Level control. Basically, this is volume output for your amp. The higher this dial goes, the higher the output from your pedal to your amp. Next up, we have the Tone control which works in the same way as the EQ on your amp and selects how much of the higher and lower frequencies you want to be output. The pedal also has the expected Drive control, which alters how much overdrive is applied to your signal.

As well as these features, the Wasabi Overdrive also has 4 preset EQ settings which work independantly of the tone control. This means you can switch between the 4 presets for different songs, so you don't have to fiddle with all the controls on your pedal which can take up playing time at gigs. On top of this, there's the Mix dial that will let you alter the signal/effect ratio to your liking.

What makes this pedal stand out?

The Wasabi Overdrive has something over other simple overdrive pedals such as the Boss OD-2. This is the built-in Boost pedal. Simply stamp your foot down on that pedal and your signal is boosted an extra 5dB or 10dB depending on the setting of the 2-way switch on the back of the pedal. This gets some serious use from me for solos and when I need that extra bit of volume. Also, the output of the pedal can be tailored for the type of pickup you're using. If you're using a single-coil pickup, you can boost the output to compensate for the lower pickup output, or you can lower the output if you're using a humbucker. There's always the option to turn this off and have a balance of the two.

So, should I buy one?

In my opinion, if you're after an overdrive pedal the Danelectro Wasabi range offers a cracking little pedal for a competitive price. The pedal does everything you'd expect from it, and it's got a preamp and other functions as well so you can get a lot more punch for fewer pounds.