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PettyDrive 3

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Automatically save $100 when you Pre-Order before 01-01-2025! 

 

 

INTRODUCING THE PETTYDRIVE 3

Behold, the PettyDrive 3; a comprehensive tone library cataloging the past decade of Pettyjohn analog overdrive brought together with some exciting new features for a complete anthology of saturated tones.

 

Three channels of foot switchable gain staging have been optimized for excellent interaction so to give the user a full matrix of up to nine different gain settings. We pushed further into new territory with fresh implementations like the parallel drive and dual zone boost circuit! PettyDrive 3 requires only a single DC jack power input of 9-18v with 300mA of current. Furthermore, this analog saturation smorgasbord not only lights up your favorite tube amp but also has been voiced for the modern age with the help of our ToneX profiler, ensuring this PettyDrive3 is our most powerful, diverse and musical overdrive pedal perfectly at home in any rig and in any situation with any guitar. 

 

CHANNEL 1 CHIME 

Originally introduced in the PettyDrive V1, the CHIME in all its variants was destined to become our best selling circuit and no reboot of the PettyDrive would be conceivable without it. The CHIME is the quintessential low-gain, lightly saturated tone sweetener. Originally conceived to mimic the feel of a Vox style amp set to the edge of break up, the CHIME has evolved far beyond being limited to a British amp-in-a-box. The PettyDrive 3 version of the CHIME circuit has been curated to deliver our favorite sonic attributes, drawing from every version we've released, voiced to compliment the other stages perfectly when used solo or stacked in ANY combination.

 

CHANNEL 2: Iron and Gold combine to for the Parallel Drive

The second channel  is where things really get interesting on the PettyDrive3. While we wanted to include a sample of every drive we have ever made in this pedal, we left the standard "stacked in series" approach behind in favor of putting our two main overdrive circuits in parallel. Parallel, blendable overdrive circuits are rarely attempted in the pedal world but we love how this brings two classic amp flavored overdrive circuits together to create a whole new parallel universe of overdrive tones that leave the amp in a box mirage behind. Lets overview the Iron and Gold drives, as they are fully independent overdrive circuits, then explore how the blending works.

 

IRON 

A classic warm voiced overdrive with soft clipping driven by a genuine JRC4558 without any build in filtering, resulting in a full range drive that feels as huge as it sounds, a sound we often associate with pushed classic American made tube amps. 

 

GOLD

The Gold started as a nod to vintage Plexi style amps and later evolved to include Klon tones with clipping modification. Both Golden tones in their own right, who can say that one is better, we say both are essential to have in your tone collection. With the PettyDrive3, we include a new third clipping option never released before! A pair of white LEDs provide very high-headroom for excellent bass response and absolutely huge tones with sustain for days. 

 

NOTE: See Manual for control details 

 

Parallel Blend

Please refer to the diagram in the pictures section. The signal is split three ways at the input of the Second channel, what we are calling the new Parallel Drive, and then goes to the IRON circuit, GOLD circuit separately. The secret to using this section effectively is understanding the IRON, GOLD and Clean Mix Level controls are like three faders on a mixing console so if you take any of them to zero that "channel" mutes. You can thus "mute" one side or the other and dial in a great tone in "solo" or you can bring the levels up for both drives and blend the two tones. One may conceptualize this further as being analogous to having two amps in the studio (or stage) playing at the same time, then blended via each individual LEVEL control. The CLEAN MIX control mixes in the signal as it was going into the Parallel Drive. The advantages to this parallel configuration are numerous compared to standard series stacking, including lower noise floor, increased sustain with less compression, more open/ natural feeling overdrive and more complex harmonic structure without sounding constrained. 

 

INDUCTOR MIDS 

After the three signals are mixed and summed we decided to add our favorite mid shaping tool, a vintage console style, Inductor based Mids bell filter EQ. Our Inductor based Mid bell filter provides for about 8dB of boost or cut centered around 750Hz and has a special sonic quality due to the magnetics involved with a high end analog wah inductor.

 

CHANNEL 3: LIFT Buffer & Boost

Independent controls for PRE-LIFT and POST-LIFT allow for a very satisfying boost channe experience. Boosting into drives, PRE-LIFT, results in more overdrive “gain” along with modest volume boost while boosting at the end of the chain results in a pure volume boost. Generous 18-36v (9-18v power supply) power rails ensure the boost is always clean! 

 

Studio Grade Always-on Buffer

We are able to achieve independent boosting through utilizing the LIFT buffer topology and designing the PettyDrive3 with the LIFT buffer stage being ALWAYS ON. Yep, this is a "buffer bypass" pedal using the same always on buffer as our famous LIFT and PreDrive buffer. For those who want to integrate true bypass with a true bypass looper, you can access the two channels via the Insert Loop. 

 

TRANSFORMER MOD: $99

Genuine Cinemag Transformer Balanced output that enables a second, parallel output TRS jack. This mod brings studio grade magnetics to your tone and expands the routing options and use cases considerably. Double/split the signal, a balanced direct out (w/ ground lift) for direct recording or interfacing with pro audio gear, or just enjoy the sound of a high end transformer in your chain via a standard instrument TS cable. 

 

MAGIC MOJO MOD: $199

Drawing from our Limited series of 2022, we upgrade every “tone” part to the highest level possible, it's ludicrous mode for an overdrive pedal. This notably includes two Emerson Custom tone caps, NOS Allen and Bradly resistors, PRP resistors, and a genuine Fasel inductor.

PettyDrive 3

PriceFrom $699.00

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