Thorpy FX Peacekeeper Low Gain Overdrive
ThorpyFX returns to the channel — this time with the Peacekeeper Low Gain Overdrive, their benchmark low-gain dirt pedal. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the ThorpyFX Peacekeeper Low Gain Overdrive takes center stage — featuring the Kauer Guitars Super Chief with Lollar Firebird Neck and Lollar Mini-Humbucker Bridge, into the Benson Amps Vincent 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The Effectrode Tube Vibe joins from 07:21.
Get a ThorpyFX Peacekeeper: https://thorpyfx.com/en-us/collections/thorpyfx-pedals Follow ThorpyFX: https://www.instagram.com/thorpyfx/
Adrian Thorpe designed the Peacekeeper with one specific architectural insight that separates it from most low-gain overdrives: the Presence/Mids control sits before the gain stage, not after it. This changes what the control actually does. On a conventional overdrive, an EQ control after the drive stage shapes the tone of the overdriven signal. The Peacekeeper's pre-gain Presence control shapes what frequency content gets driven in the first place — turn it up and the mids get amplified before hitting the gain stage, producing a mid-humped, vocal, Dumble-adjacent character. Turn it down and the mids are scooped before the drive, producing a smoother, glassier, more open gain texture. The character of the overdrive itself changes, not just its tonal balance.
Post-gain, active Treble and Bass controls then shape the overdriven signal — wide-ranging, interactive with each other, and explored in depth from 03:49 and 05:35. The combination of pre-gain Presence shaping and post-gain active Treble/Bass gives the Peacekeeper a genuinely wide tonal range for a low-gain overdrive. Five controls total: Volume, Gain, Presence, Treble, Bass.
Premium components throughout: 1% metal film resistors, Wima and Panasonic capacitors, Burr-Brown op-amp, gold-plated PCB, Neutrik jacks, dust-sealed Alpha potentiometers. Stainless steel laser-etched centre console in Adrian Thorpe's signature enclosure. Top-mounted jacks. Recessed knobs. Built like a tank. 9V DC centre negative.
🎛️ ThorpyFX Peacekeeper: https://thorpyfx.com/en-us/collections/thorpyfx-pedals 🎸 Kauer Guitars Super Chief: https://www.kauerguitars.com/instruments/super-chief 🎸 Lollar Firebird + Mini-Humbucker: https://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-pickups 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
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🎸 Kauer Guitars Super Chief | Lollar Firebird (Neck) + Lollar Mini-Humbucker (Bridge) | 15.5" Semi-Hollow 🎛️ ThorpyFX Peacekeeper Low Gain Overdrive | Pre-Gain Presence | Post-Gain Active Treble + Bass | Burr-Brown Opamp | Wima + Panasonic Caps 🎛️ Also: Effectrode Tube Vibe 🔊 Benson Amps Vincent 2x12" | Boss Waza TAE
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12
