01 BOUTIQUE FOR A BARGAIN?

So-called boutique overdrives are an increasingly broad set of drive pedals that offer something a little different to the mass-produced pedals on the market. With the rise of online pedal forums and gear videos, there’s never been a larger contingent of cork-sniffing guitarists than there is now, all seeking that perfect tone. For many, that can be found only through often rare, often expensive boutique overdrive pedals.

It would be easy to wax lyrical about what a boutique overdrive is, its mythical qualities and what circuit trickery sprinkles the magic dust, but more often than not, economics drive a reputation as much as tone. An excellent but scarce drive becomes expensive; players have to save and wait to get their hands on one, and then the placebo effect turns a great drive into a drive worthy of exultation.

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