Vox, Fender, Marshall – it seems you find names like these across the globe, in every rig, on any stage, around every corner. The relevance these timeless names have today is no accident, the legendary tones speak for themselves. Today, the team at Origin Effects delivers an authentic amplifier experience in a compact pedal and it’s one that must be seen to be believed.
Amplified Artistry
The Buckingham, England-based Origin Effects is assembled from a crew of musical masterminds who bring effect pedals to a new standard of science. These no-nonsense, all-business pedals are technically outfitted to a new level for the absolute best in modern-day tone crafting. To come across pedals like these is to strike the tonal motherload – case in point, the Origin Effects RevivalDRIVE Compact. Amplification is an art. For every timeless tone summoned from a tube amplifier, there’s countless pedals created to capture that same magic. Origin Effects has spared no expense in their own quest and the proof is in the proverbial pudding. The RevivalDRIVE Compact is one for the books.
The RevivalDRIVE Compact is a slimmed down version of the Origin Effects RevivalDRIVE. With this version, Origin Effects compressed a similar experience into a pedalboard-friendly package. The RevivalDRIVE Compact features original, all-analog circuit design to take on any vintage amplification challenge. Its class-A preamp, valve amp-style signal path, and long-tailed pair phase inverter combine for an authentic amplification baseline ready for action. With its unique electronic design and construction, the RevivalDRIVE Compact rolls out.
An Overdriven Dream
There’s little that’s as satisfying as hearing the sweet tones of natural tube overdrive from a vintage amplifier. Luckily for amp fanatics around the world, the RevivalDRIVE is here and your clean amp has never seen so much potential. Starting out, the RevivalDRIVE Compact features a quick, intuitive interface to get you down your own tonal path easily. Overdrive is the name of the game for this pedal, so expect things to get heated pretty quickly. The RevivalDRIVE Compact is designed with easy and responsive Output and Gain knobs to dial in basic settings and match your amplifier in volume as you see fit. Already, the Output and Gain controls set up an awesome baseline to take off from, but there is so much more to explore.
The Highs and Lows controls poise the RevivalDRIVE Compact to get more interactive with your unique tone. Sculpting your overdriven amp sound comes down to the smallest of details with the pedal’s pinpoint precise knobs that include unique Blend and Presence controls. The RevivalDRIVE Compact makes way for your own sound with its dry signal knob accessible via the Blend control. Rolling between full wet and full dry, the RevivalDRIVE Compact allows for a richer spectrum of sounds with more nuance as provided by your dry signal and playing. The RevivalDRIVE Compact can be reeled in and tamed to keep from overwhelming your signal, should you choose to keep the overdrive tight.
Along with a dry signal blend control, the Presence control of the RevivalDRIVE Compact initiates even more interaction with the player and signal at hand. Fully counterclockwise, the Presence control allows for easier and earlier breakup the way a pushed Vox amplifier may sound. Clockwise, the Presence control keeps your signal a little more solid and thick, where getting some heated, broken-up overdrive requires some more push from playing the way a Fender or Marshall may sound. Both extremes produce great broken-up kick for your amplifier and the in-betweens you can craft are to write home about. The Presence control adds another layer of tonal nuance to your setup that will be difficult to go on without.
Playing Matchmaker
In the example using a Vox, Fender, or Marshall amp, the RevivalDRIVE Compact excels at recreating vintage-style tones but is also exceptional in helping you fashion your own unique tones. Those three vintage-style amplifiers work as points of reference to leap off from and dive deeply into the RevivalDRIVE Compact’s tonal depths. All the controls for your overdrive are highly responsive when adjusted and are not as cut and dry as other overdrive pedals might be. The RevivalDRIVE Compact’s interface makes for a fine assortment of controls to mix and meld your overdrive in many ways, resulting in many different organic overdriven amp tones. Push Drive, Blend, and Highs all the way for a massive overdriven signal for heavy metal chugs or roll back Presence, Gain, and Lows to let your chiming rhythm guitar character shine through. Whether you want to accurately tinker with your tone or let the pedal take the wheel entirely, the RevivalDRIVE Compact acts as a great companion to turn the corner and strike your own overdriven chord.
The RevivalDRIVE Compact works wonderfully as a pedal alone, but also works great in conjunction with your amp to complement its own style. The unique Post-Drive EQ section of the pedal works to ensure that its awesome tonal character is compatible with your amplifier. A three-position toggle switch lets you match your amplifier with the pedal to bring the best out of both. For bright-sounding amplifiers, use EQ1, for dark, EQ2. The additional ADJ control adjusts the high frequency response of your amplifier to tack on those last remaining touches to the full setup – guitar to pedal to amp. This Post-Drive EQ can also be used to match up with a cab simulator for the absolute best in tone for any musical scenario.
Origin Effects RevivalDRIVE Compact Final Thoughts
The RevivalDRIVE Compact is the “amp-in-a-box" formula fully realized. What amp you may ask? Try for yourself. Vintage amplification recreation is not an untamed trail, though it has never been done like this. Real circuit topography and all-analog construction come together for an experience unlike any other. This pedal is a dream for any vintage amp fan who is looking for authentic amplified overdrive in the most compact casing possible. It plays nicely with clean or dirty amplifiers and thanks to its extensive EQ controls, there is little tonal ground this pedal cannot cover. The RevivalDRIVE Compact actively redefines the concept of the “amp-in-a-box" pedal. Travel through classic Vox, Fender, and Marshall tones or blaze your own trail – this pedal is up for the challenge. With the Origin Effects RevivalDRIVE, the modern amplifier has never played with such a vintage voice.