The Pete Cornish SS-3 is a Pete Cornish overdrive pedal, currently around $899. Close alternatives include the MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive and the Ibanez Tube Screamer. It pairs well with the Marshall Bluesbreaker and the Orange Matamp.
Pete Cornish SS-3
Pete Cornish · pedal
The Pete Cornish SS-3 is a hand-built overdrive designed to sound like an overdriven vintage valve amp rather than a typical stompbox circuit, prized for exceptional low-end retention alongside a sweet, transparent midrange that preserves the guitar's own tonal character. Paired with a clean amp, it moves progressively from subtle, barely-there breakup through crunchy rhythm tones to a thick, bluesy lead sound, staying dynamic and touch-responsive even at maximum gain. HI-CUT and LO-CUT controls fine-tune the frequency response to taste. It is used by David Gilmour, Noel Gallagher, and Lou Reed, prized for its subtlety and its ability to add power and sustain without masking the guitar's identity.
- responsive
- cut
- warm
- overdrive
- dynamic
- touch
- responsiveness
- warmth
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Pete Cornish SS-3 is commonly used in
- Blues
- Alternative Rock
- Rock
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. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Pete Cornish SS-3
Marshall Bluesbreaker
Marshall
36% matchRun Marshall Bluesbreaker after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm — also used together by 1 artist
Orange Matamp
Orange
32% matchOrange Matamp leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Ampeg V-4
Ampeg
tonal matchStack Ampeg V-4 on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward mid-forward
Ampeg V4-B Head
Ampeg
tonal matchAmpeg V4-B Head leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
tonal matchDumble Steel String Singer's smooth balances out the bright tone
Park P45H
Park
tonal matchRun Park P45H after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
tonal matchRun Fender Prosonic after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Gibson GA-50
Gibson
tonal matchGibson GA-50 leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Pedals that stack with the Pete Cornish SS-3
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff
Electro-Harmonix
16% matchElectro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Xotic BB Preamp
Xotic
16% matchXotic BB Preamp's smooth balances out the bright tone
Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator
pedal
15% matchRun Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator after Pete Cornish SS-3 in the signal chain, clear of Pete Cornish SS-3's own gain stage
Ashdown Velvet Compressor
Ashdown
13% matchPete Cornish SS-3's dynamic character and Ashdown Velvet Compressor's compressed voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other
Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Boss
9% matchKeep Boss DD-3 Digital Delay after Pete Cornish SS-3 in the signal chain, clear of Pete Cornish SS-3's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
9% matchKeep Pete Cornish SS-3's dynamic voice out front: Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte goes after Pete Cornish SS-3 in the signal chain so its pristine voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Dunlop
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Dunlop Echoplex Preamp answers back smooth
Orange - Vintage Distortion
Orange
tonal matchOrange - Vintage Distortion leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Cheaper alternatives
ThorpyFX Electric Lightning
ThorpyFX
72% similarityShared character: tone_shaping, boost, touch
Fulltone Full Drive 2 10th Anniversary Mosfet Edition
pedal
72% similarityShared character: tone_control, boost, touch
Boss BD-2W Blues Driver Waza Craft
Boss
71% similarityShared character: touch, bright, subtle
Vox VFZ-1
Vox
71% similarityShared character: 8_impedance, touch, guitar
Greer Lightspeed Organic Overdrive
Greer
70% similarityShared character: sweet, guitar, subtle
Maxon OD808
Maxon
70% similarityShared character: power_tubes, touch, guitar
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive
MXR
71% similarityShared character: tone_control, subtle, alternative
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
71% similarityShared character: power_tubes, touch, warm
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
71% similarityShared character: sweet, touch, thickness
Kalavera FX Valient Overdrive
Kalavera Fx
69% similarityShared character: tone_control, touch, transparent
Ibanez TS808HWV2 Handwired
Ibanez
67% similarityShared character: hand_wired_construction, subtle, warm
Silktone Overdrive Plus
Silktone
96% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Pete Cornish SS-3 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Pete Cornish SS-3?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive, the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the Strymon Riverside. Budget picks: ThorpyFX Electric Lightning, Fulltone Full Drive 2 10th Anniversary Mosfet Edition, Boss BD-2W Blues Driver Waza Craft.
What pairs well with the Pete Cornish SS-3?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Bluesbreaker, Orange Matamp, Ampeg V-4 — Run Marshall Bluesbreaker after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm — also used together by 1 artist.
How much does the Pete Cornish SS-3 cost?+
Around $899 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).