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Electro-Harmonix Operation Overlord Allied Overdrive Pedal

Overdrive Effects Pedal with Stereo I/O, Input Level Control, Independent Variable Boost, and Dry Signal Blend
$167.80

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Electro-Harmonix Operation Overlord Allied Overdrive Pedal
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FET-based Overdrive for Guitar, Bass, and Keys

The Electro-Harmonix Operation Overlord overdrive effects pedal originated from the idea of giving keys players a way to add great-sounding grit to their sounds. But the guitarists at EHX quickly realized that the Overlord's FET-based overdrive delivered the tube amp-like tone and feel that guitarists clamor for. So the company went about adding even more guitarist-friendly features, such as an independently footswitchable boot, a dry blend, and more. No matter how you intend to run your EHX Overlord, it's sure to deliver the warm and gritty tones you're after.

Great for any electric instrument

The original inspiration for the Electro-Harmonix Operation Overlord was to allow keys players to access the gritty, tube-style overdrive that guitarists have enjoyed for decades. But when plugged into a standard guitar rig, the Overlord sings with an amp-in-a-box type of tone that will make it the centerpiece of any guitarist's setup. A powerful onboard 3-band EQ shapes the tone, while the huge-sounding bass knob makes the pedal a great option for bass players as well.

Tube-like overdrive and response

The EHX Overlord utilizes a FET-based overdrive circuit to offer grit that goes from jangly breakup to all-out fuzz. Because of its design, the pedal responds extremely well to your playing dynamics and volume knob manipulations. It's much like putting your favorite tube amp right on your pedalboard. And Sweetwater players immediately noticed that the bass control is especially helpful for giving your open-back combos the huge low-end punch of a sealed 4 x 12" cabinet.

More features than meets the eye

EHX is famous for cramming a huge amount of tone-shaping options into unassuming pedal designs, and the Overlord overdrive is no different. Along with the pedal's 3-band EQ and dirty tones come an independently footswitchable boost. This boost is placed before the overdrive circuit to push your tone into fuzzy territory that remains touch responsive. Stereo I/O will be a huge benefit to keys players and musicians who run stereo rigs. And the pedal's Dry control allows you to blend your unaffected signal back in for added clarity.

Electro-Harmonix Operation Overlord Overdrive Pedal Features:

  • FET-based overdrive that works equally well on keyboard, bass, and guitar
  • FET overdrive offers a tube amp-like tone and feel
  • Independently footswitchable boost is 100% variable
  • Dry control allows you to blend in your unaffected tone
  • Input level switch optimizes the pedal to your instrument
  • Stereo inputs and outputs are fantastic for use with keyboards
  • 3-band EQ for dialing in your tone

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Tech Specs

  • Pedal Type: Stereo Multi Overdrives
  • Inputs: 2 x 1/4"
  • Outputs: 2 x 1/4"
  • Bypass Switching: Buffered
  • Power Source: 9V DC power supply required (included)
  • Power Usage: 90mA
  • Height: 2.1"
  • Width: 2.75"
  • Depth: 4.5"
  • Manufacturer Part Number: OVERLORD

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Wow… not just for keys

Bought this for keyboards due to the stereo ins/outs, blend knob, boost option for solos, and headroom switch. It does that well enough to justify the price for sure… dialing in the blend knob in particular lets you keep the character of your keyboard tone while adding grit. But then I plugged my guitar into this thing and wow, it sounds just amazing! I've got way more guitar-centric dual-od pedals that have been benched by this thing. EHX is an incredible bang-for-buck pedal maker.
Music background: Keyboards and guitar
Rated 5/5

FOR GUITARIST

I was looking for a pedal that would give me a slight bit of OD without coloring the sound of my guitar or amp. After hearing a ton of positive reviews on Youtube about the Boss/JHS Angry Charlie I bought one.
That purchase confirmed for me that I don't like anything with a lot of knobs or switches. The other thing it confirmed was that there was absolutely no bottom end to be had with that pedal. I knew immediately that I'd wind up just fooling with it and would never be happy so I took it back for an exchange.

Everyone swears up and down that the Tube Screamer is the best OD to fit my needs and prefaces the statement by adding "Stevie Ray Vaughn used one." So, traded the Angry Charlie for an AnalogMan modded TS. It was a piece of sh-crap. On one side it was muddy as he-ck. On the other end it was brittle as a windowpane stuck in an icecap. There was no in-between.

I only need one more piece of this puzzle to complete my quest for the heavenly sound. ONE MORE PIECE!!! So, I call up another store that specializes in pedals and they suggest the Way Huge Pork Loin. I once had a Way Huge Russian Pickle that was nice, so I grabbed that piece of crap TS (that everyone seems so fond of because STEVIE RAY VAUGHN USED ONE), and headed for the store. With time to browse I decided on 3 pedals to compare... the Pork Loin, the Fulltone PlimSoul, and the EHX Operation Overlord which, before this time, I had never seen or heard of but because it was an EHX pedal and I replaced my Russian Pickle with a Big Muff Pi, I figured I'd give it a try. I tried the Pork Loin and the PlimSoul twice before trying the Overlord. Nether of those were worth my money because nether one had any TONE. I'm searching for TONE. Is that so heard to ask for? TONE. I finally plug into the Overlord and it was like an addiction. I couldn't believe it! I was in love! Then, I noticed something about it that no other OD pedal has... a freaking dry knob! How hard is it to put a dry knob on a pedal so you don't lose the sound of the instrument???? EHX rocks! Not only is the Big Muff Pi the best sounding, most versatile fuzz pedal in the world but, the best sounding, most logically made OD pedal is made by the same company.

The Electro-Harmonix Operation Overlord Allied Overdrive can supply OD for days without coloring or overriding the sound of your amp or guitar. I'm using mine for crunchy chords and it is perfect for that as well. My quest for the heavenly sound is complete. My Mesa Boogie Fillmore 25 (which I bought from Roq Martin here at Sweetwater), has all the OD/distortion I need, and clean channel is as beautiful as a woman on her wedding day. Combined with the EHX Big Muff Pi and my TC Electronics Corona Chorus, the Boogie Fillmore sings praises to the heavenly host. I simply needed one more pedal to add some crunch to my chords without sacrificing my tone. The Overlord fits the bill.
Rated 5/5

Better Than I Imagined

Like every other pedal, I first watch as many demos as I can find. The "Overlord" didn't have that many, being a fairly new product for EHX, but I liked what I saw and heard, so I bought it. There's a lot of possible variations here, especially adding in Mix and Boost control, along with Boost foot switch. The 3-band EQ controls the flavor nicely. The sound is solid and warm (great natural O.D.). The foot switches are easy to "tap" on/off w/ no annoying "click" (better than other pedals with similar-"looking" switches that have to be stomped hard, producing a heavy "click"). It's now my favorite O.D. pedal (I own 3 others).
Rated 4.5/5

Perfect for vintage keys

As the title suggests, I'm a keyboard player. Searching for quality outboard effects can be a monumental task for keyboardists, as most manufacturers have guitarists in mind when they design effects pedal.
Not so with the Operation Overlord. It was originally intended for keys, and it does a very commendable job at that. What sold me on it was the stereo signal path (a MUST for most keys), and the dry/wet knob.

Using the Dry, Gain and Boost knobs you can dial in the perfect amount of grit for pretty much anything you can think of. It can be very transparent or very torrid, from just a hint of grit all the way up to distortion overkill.
You want Deep Purple? This gives you Deep Purple. You want to ' trip the light fandango'? You can with this. You want some Boston style 'Foreplay'? You got it. "Green Onions"? This pedal will serve 'em up for you.

My one minor disappointment is that the tonal character still seems aimed at electric guitar. There are 3 EQ knobs, thankfully, to help retain the tonal character of your sound, but "flat" is not actually flat - there is a distinct low-mid emphasis when the pedal is engaged. I find that I have to boost the treble a good bit, and bring the bass down a tad to retain the key's original tone.

Otherwise, exactly what I was looking for. Highly recommended, and Thanks Sweetwater, for breaking the sound barrier to get this to me!! I ordered on Friday afternoon, Pacific time, and it was in my mailbox Monday afternoon. Can't beat that!
Rated 4/5

Great for Keyboards, Not too great for leads/synths

Got this pedal originally for my Minimoog Voyager Electric Blue. Plugged it in and tried it individually at both points (Moog Stereo Out - Pedal - Mixer and also at the Mix Out - Pedal - Filter In junction of the Moog) and quickly realized that a lot of the richness of the tone was taken away by the pedal. Not happy with using this pedal with my Moog. Doesn't bring anything interesting in this application.... Pretty nice for Synth Bass tones on the Moog but I don't use Synth Bass tones too much when playing live....

I also play E.P. tones a lot on a stage keyboard and this pedal brings some nice dirt to E.P. tones and that's where I'm using it now. You can setup the pedal to have different levels of dirt on the Boost and Overdrive sections and effectively have 3 levels of dirt on your tone from super subtle to super harsh using the Bypass and/or Boost switches. The Dry/Wet knob is great also. Best part of the pedal is that I can continue using my live setup in Stereo.

This pedal is going to be part of my setup for sure....
Music background: Keyboardist, Composer
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