Description
Housing an unabridged valve amp-style signal path recreated in analogue electronics, the RevivalDRIVE accurately delivers a wide range of British and American amp tones, from clean to fully cranked.
With valve and silicon rectifier channels, a built-in mid boost and unique controls that will tailor its output to the amp you’re using, this may be the last overdrive pedal you will ever need.
When it comes to overdrive, nothing comes close to the sound of a vintage non-master-volume valve amp. So when we set out to design the RevivalDRIVE, we began by looking not at other pedals but at amps.
We listened to and analysed countless classic amps to figure what made them sound so good. Then we figured out how to reproduce not just one but all of those sounds in a pedal, with controls that would allow the player to precisely dial in each one – or to mix and match different elements to create something new.
Real Amp Tones From Real Amp Circuit Behaviour
With the Cali76 compressor, we took the sound and response of the legendary Urei 1176 studio compressor and reproduced it in a pedal, following the same analogue circuit topology but adapting the components to work in pedal format. We’ve applied exactly the same approach to the RevivalDRIVE.
Using all-analogue components and replacing the valves with discrete transistor-based circuitry, we’re recreated every stage of the signal path you’d find inside a vintage valve amp. This includes not only the preamp, phase inverter, power amp and rectifier stages, but also a synthesised mains power signal and a speaker-emulating reactive load.
Design Your Dream Overdriven Amp Tone
Accurately emulating valve amp circuit behaviour is just the start. The RevivalDRIVE’s intuitive controls let you play around with different elements of this circuit, effectively redesigning the amp as you go.
Change the preamp voicing and “bright capacitor” values to explore a range of British and American amp flavours. Rein in the low end for a lean and defined overdrive or push the bass into brutal distortion. Fine-tune the overdrive’s response to your picking dynamics. Goose up your tone with a mid boost, adjusted to just the right frequency, or blend your dry and overdriven signals together.
One pedal, many amps, your tone!
Accurately emulating valve amp circuit behaviour is just the start. The RevivalDRIVE’s intuitive controls let you play around with different elements of this circuit, effectively redesigning the amp as you go.
Change the preamp voicing and “bright capacitor” values to explore a range of British and American amp flavours. Rein in the low end for a lean and defined overdrive or push the bass into brutal distortion. Fine-tune the overdrive’s response to your picking dynamics. Goose up your tone with a mid boost, adjusted to just the right frequency, or blend your dry and overdriven signals together.
One pedal, many amps, your tone!
True Amp-Like Playing Feel
Thanks to its unique design, the RevivalDRIVE is able to recreate aspects of real valve amp behaviour never previously captured in a pedal.
Valve and silicon rectifier channels let you experiment with different flavours of power amp sag, while the variable Ghost control recreates the “double tone” or “ghost note” effect encountered when cranking certain vintage amps, subtly thickening up solos.
Dual Class-A preamp stages offer realistic gain-staging and natural-sounding clipping, while the phase inverter and push-pull power amp stages provide a realistic tonal response, symmetrical harmonics, subtle crossover distortion and touch-sensitive drive characteristics.
Using a built-in reactive load, the pedal also models the interaction between a real valve output stage and a speaker cabinet, delivering amp-like feel and realistic harmonics.
The Ultimate Fly-Rig Overdrive
We’ve built a range of EQ compensation features into the RevivalDRIVE to make sure it will sound great with whatever amp you’re using – even a flat-response power amp.
With most overdrives, the designers have voiced the pedal to work with their own favourite amp. If you happen to use something different, then you’re out of luck. You’re left with a sound that’s either too harsh or too muddy. Worse still, you can end up sacrificing the clean amp settings you want to use in order to accommodate the overdrive pedal.
With the RevivalDRIVE, there are no compromises.
*The optional front-panel filter controls take fine-tuning the pedal to the next level, with variable shelf and cut frequency controls and a fully adjustable secondary boost/cut EQ.
Unrivalled Features, Amazing Flexibility
The RevivalDRIVE is packed with ingenious features and subtle touches designed to aid the player and increase flexibility.
A set of DIP switches at the rear allow you to turn the Valve Rectifier channel into a second Silicon Rectifier channel and toggle the simulated mains power supply between US and GB frequencies, altering the character of the ghost tones produced. When plugging into a flat-response power amp or PA, you can choose to make use of the RevivalDRIVE’s preamp-style tone-shaping even when the overdrive effect is bypassed.
Adding the optional footswitch (sold separately) lets you remotely trigger the fully variable mid boost to punch through the mix or override the Dry/O.D. blend control, instantly switching from a lower gain tone to full throttle.
In response to customer feedback, we have designed an affordable, add-on product to extend support to remote switching systems, whilst also expanding control to include the pedal’s onboard footswitch functions. For those using remote switching systems, you will need a specific accessory depending on the number of functions you intend to switch.
Players Have Been Praising the RevivalDRIVE
This thing is not a pedal… no no… it’s a mini amp!! it’s one of the most amazing products I ever saw and touched and definitely kicks every pedal I had/have. Including Pete Cornish. Bravo 👏!!!
Ron Gabay
I had to drop you a note to say I got my Revival Drive last week, and it is just mind-blowingly amazing. Read more
I’ve been wanting to write you about my RevivalDrive Custom that I got a week ago today, but I’ve just been too busy playing with it, really.
Just to provide some context, I have an original 1955 Tweed Fender Deluxe 5D3 that I’ve always loved but had trouble controlling how loud it is once you get the tone right. So, I set out to get something similar but controllable out of the RevivalDrive. Read more
I’ve never had a pedal that sound so amp like. it takes fuzzes incredibly well. It’s another that will never leave my board. The RevivalDRIVE is perfect.
It goes beyond expectation, I just assumed you couldn’t get a pedal to do this, and that the only way to get these sounds was at volume with valves, so I never hoped that this would happen, and to go from not knowing about it 4 days ago to having one I’m just blown away! So its a dream I never had come true, truly musical! Read more
You guys are SICK! I’m blown away!
I gave up smoking several months ago, but I had to have a cigarette today! Read more
I don’t remember having dreams about a piece of equipment in a long time.
Last week I started tweaking some knobs and switches of this, that is probably the best overdrive pedal ever made. I’m in awe!!Read more
I recently took delivery of a RevivalDrive, and I am just contacting you to say how chuffed I am with it. Every time I change the settings, it’s like ‘Oh, that’s an [insert name of amp]’. Read more
I’m stunned by the beauty of the tones from the RevivalDRIVE! Amazing woman tone, and note projection, even without mid boost. Ghost tone and more/pres controls…wow! Read more
I got my “Revival Drive” today! I’m more than chuffed! It’s incredible. Cheers guys! It does everything I hoped it would and more! The sounds & tone I’m getting are not like any pedal I’ve ever used but like an amp. Read more
I just got the RevivalDRIVE from Origin Effects and am totally blown away! This is guitar pedal history – it’s in a league of its own.
I’ve never heard an overdrive pedal sound this good, so dynamic, so transparent and the possibilities you get with this overdrive are outrageous. Read more
Philipp Gräsel –
WOW !!! I mean WOW!!! WOW WOW WOW
This is the first OD Pedal after 40 years of playing giving the tone, feel, dynamics, sag, ghosting and whats ‘o ever of a cranked class A amplifier at every level you want. Incredible!!! And I really know what I´m talking ´bout owning a nice JMP50. Just by coincidence I stumbled over the Revival Drive. Then sucking all the videos on the net. Yes, Pete, Lance and all the others were right: it´s KILLING!!!!
It´s not cheap, but be sure it´s definitely worth every single cent. Think of the many pedal/amp combinations you tried! This one gives everything you need, no matter playing a real tube or a power amp. Dial in the basic sound by ear matching your rig and go ahead. It´s so easy and satisfying. And last but not least: with the additional footswitch you have tons of options for classic British or US style amp sounds.
Beside my Cali76 TX this will never leave my rig. 3 (three) thumbs up ;-))), you guys nailed it!!!!
Ron Gabay –
This thing is not a pedal… no no… its a mini amp!! it’s one of the most amazing products I ever saw and touched and definitely kicks every pedal I had/have. Including Pete Cornish.
Bravo 👏!!!
Paul Angle –
I’ve been wanting something like this for ages. Tired of trying to deal with modeling and programming more than playing. This puppy reinvents the wheel! Overdrive sure but it’s more like a preamp but even more like amp guts in a box that does it all.
There are just no bad tones on this pedal despite the rather vast array of options and switching mods. I freakin’ love this thing!
Has made every other drive I have or have owed a mere toy.
Does such an array of amp sounds and feel with this amazing quality of tone containing everything that makes a great amp sound great. Mind boggling really.
Once you understand the various option switches it is really not complex to tweak in. I am constantly discovering new cool tones which not only sound and feel like an amp but I really never had a guitar amp that was this good.
I use mine on a power amp rig and just could not be more pleased with the results, bloody amazing!
Simon you’re a genius, and thanks to the crew at Origin for this hand wired beauty of analog goodness.
The amp characteristics of this pedal are just beyond anything I imagined, from clean to outright Billy Gibbons Tweed dirt amp, all things Marshall and everything really. The way the low control wraps hair around the notes is something else. I’ve heard some complain about not clean enough but really learn the EQ options, vol and output and roll off the low control, it’s all there. God what a design jewel this is!
Costly yes, but some things are worth the bucks compared to the countless other drives and amp mimic pedals out there. I thought I had the best and hand picked stuff, this wonder has just floored me. Get one, you will never regret it nor will you ever have anything that can compete with it!
origineffects –
Hey, Paul.
All of us at OE are very proud to have helped players such as yourself find the tone they have been chasing for years.
Amp overdrive is undeniably part of our musical heritage and after achieving that tone its easy to see why.
I’m glad that you found different levels of drive other than just the fully cranked tone; treat it just like an amp and turn down the VOLUME control and you can get beautiful Fender and Vox cleans.
Thanks for your comment.
OE
J Francis Olson –
I have just been floored. It rocks right out of the box.
I have the expanded custom eq and decided to putchase the recival footswitch. Its essentially multiple drives in one.
Switxhability alone we have at our toe tips tube rectifier tone with or without mid boost. Or smack your chops on silicon recto side with or without midboost. And viola, hit the blend switch. Customizable extra eq was well worth the extra dough. Couple of finer points: extrnal
Control with exp pedal of parameters and assignable switches for exp pedal would put this thing in outer space… And a midi configurable version would be really slick… i play a variety of live music so i like to avoid pedal tweaks mid set. Midi changes would be amazaballs!