The Colorsound Overdriver is an overdrive pedal. Close alternatives include the Demon FX Full BB Preamp and the Tru-Fi Colordriver 18V Version. It pairs well with the Marshall Plexi 1959SLP and the Marshall Bluesbreaker.
Colorsound Overdriver
Unknown brand · pedal
The Colorsound Overdriver, released around 1970 by British company Sola Sound, was one of the first true overdrive pedals ever made, originally built as the Power Boost before being rehoused as the Overdriver for the American market. Built around germanium transistors, it ranges from a transparent, dynamic, super clean boost through amp-like drive to near-Fuzz-Face-style saturation, with bass and treble controls offering a wide tonal range including a full treble-boost setting. It is closely associated with David Gilmour's tone on Pink Floyd's Shine On You Crazy Diamond, and was also used by Jeff Beck, Joe Perry, and Marc Bolan.
- transparent
- british
- boost
- treble
- drive
- driven
- clean boost
- plexi amp tone
Genres the Colorsound Overdriver is commonly used in
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Colorsound Overdriver
Marshall Plexi 1959SLP
amplifier
41% matchThe Colorsound is voiced to sit in front of a Plexi already — it adds treble bite without smothering the amp's own breakup.
Marshall Bluesbreaker
Marshall
40% matchThe Bluesbreaker's natural compression gives the Colorsound's transparent British boost a dynamic amp voice to push into.
Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-115 Combo Bass Amp
Ampeg
39% matchThe Overdriver's transparent, plexi-voiced boost pushes the Rocket Bass's own warm preamp further without smothering its broad tone.
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
39% matchThe JTM45's clean, warm British voice gives the Colorsound's transparent boost real vintage breakup to push into.
Divided by 13 FTR 37
Divided By 13
36% matchThe Overdriver's transparent British boost pushes the FTR 37's own breakup harder without smothering its boutique reverb and tremolo.
Blackstar Unity 250
Blackstar
35% matchPush the Unity 250's gritty, stage-ready preamp drive with the Overdriver's transparent treble boost and it opens up without choking.
DV Mark Raw Dawg EG
Dv Mark
32% matchThe Raw Dawg EG's raw, reliable clean voice gives the Overdriver's transparent British treble boost a genuinely honest front end to push into.
Blackstar St. James 100
Blackstar
32% matchPush the St. James' versatile, gigging-ready headroom with the Overdriver's transparent treble boost and it opens up without choking.
Pedals that stack with the Colorsound Overdriver
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
29% matchThe Screamer's mid-forward boost stacks with the Colorsound's own transparent, British-voiced boost.
Beetronics Overhive
Beetronics
28% matchThe Colorsound's transparent British boost stacks with the Overhive's own transparent medium-gain drive.
Orange - Vintage Distortion
Orange
26% matchColorsound Overdriver's bright balances out the warm tone
Beetronics Overhive Medium Gain Overdrive
Beetronics
26% matchColorsound Overdriver leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Pigtronix Fat Drive
Pigtronix
25% matchColorsound Overdriver's bright balances out the warm tone
Mad Professor MP-Aod
Mad Professor
25% matchRun Colorsound Overdriver after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Dophix Nettuno
Dophix
24% matchColorsound Overdriver leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Dunlop JIM Dunlop JH-M8 Jimi Hendrix Gypsy
Dunlop
24% matchRun Colorsound Overdriver after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
See all 37 pedals that pair with the Colorsound Overdriver →
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Demon FX Full BB Preamp
Demon Fx
72% similarityShared character: overdrive, boost, treble
Tru-Fi Colordriver 18V Version
Tru Fi
70% similarity“inspired by the vintage Colorsound Power Boost and Overdriver”
Black Arts Toneworks Forest
Black Arts Toneworks
70% similarity“The Black Arts Toneworks Black Forest is an overdrive and fuzz pedal inspired by the classic Colorsound Overdriver circuit”
Friedman Plexi-Drive Mini Overdrive
Friedman
70% similarityShared character: plexi_tone, treble, bass
Paul Cochrane Timmy
Paul Cochrane
70% similarityShared character: overdrive, boost, treble
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
69% similarityShared character: overdrive, boost, treble
Xotic RC Booster
Xotic
69% similarityShared character: overdrive, boost, treble
Analog Man King of Tone
Analog Man
68% similarityShared character: overdrive, boost, treble
Wampler Plexi Drive
Wampler
68% similarityShared character: overdrive, plexi_tone, boost
Mad Professor Mad-Eou
Mad Professor
66% similarityShared character: boost, overdrive
Carl Martin CM0026 PlexiRanger Overdrive
Carl Martin
66% similarityShared character: natural, overdrive
One Control Purple Plexifier
One Control
62% similaritySimilar voicing: transparent, crunchy
See all alternatives to the Colorsound Overdriver (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Colorsound Overdriver?+
The closest matches in character are the Demon FX Full BB Preamp, the Tru-Fi Colordriver 18V Version, the Black Arts Toneworks Forest.
What pairs well with the Colorsound Overdriver?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Plexi 1959SLP, Marshall Bluesbreaker, Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-115 Combo Bass Amp — The Colorsound is voiced to sit in front of a Plexi already — it adds treble bite without smothering the amp's own breakup..