This is a great high gain unit and boost. If you're needing more sustain the 5150 will do the job, and certainly so for tube amps. The EQ is powerful. I own several of these, and I just purchased another one due to being a dirt cheap scratch and dent price. There were no scratches nor dents; Someone pushed the plastic knobs all the way down against the pedal enclosure. (Injection molded plastic knobs aren't completely flat on the bottom, so if they're pressed all the way down they can't rotate without sticking in places.) I pulled the knobs back up to the proper position, and I have a brand new badass pedal that I got for super cheap. Thank you to whomever purchased this unit before I did.

This overdrive pedal is used by many pros now in their pedal chain to layer gain stages and I fully understand why now. The noise gate is an excellent addition to my chain, smooth saturation and warm distortion to screaming high gains. Don't be afraid to turn the knobs really low, you will be much more impressed if you do and will likely have better results. This staged with a tube screamer, a TC micro boost and an MXR EQ pedal is a killer setup for stage or studio. Plug in and rock!

butter, I believe I have found a new love. I have heard this pedal has fooled EVH himself and I believe it. Just a little bit of fine tuning can dial in the man himself!I am absolutely crazed with the brilliance with a noise gate and a boost switch both built in,,and they work incredibly ??. You've got to try one on for yourself, swing me an email and if you live in MARYLAND I just might make a trial available to you. You won't believe your ears as you play wildly through my setup whether or not the great one may be right with us. Just do it man!Aaron

"Hot Shoe boinin' down the Avenue!"

Overall:I've been itching to try this little striped masterpiece for a few years - and picked it up within the same week I snagged the BE-OD. After watching Mr. Thorn & Mr. McKnight's reviews (as well as a plethora of others'!), I decided to wait no longer. I don't know about any other tone chasers, but there is a eureka moment when one adds a piece of gear that, not only looks nice, and sounds great, but also helps you achieve a tone you were chasing...It is a great feeling. I write a lot of music for a lot of instruments - and like to have different tones for different L/R guitar configurations. I'm pleased with every little nuance that this 5150OD produces. From the noise gate, to the boost function (I personally run a tube screamer set at ZERO prior to this guy ... MoreOverall:I've been itching to try this little striped masterpiece for a few years - and picked it up within the same week I snagged the BE-OD. After watching Mr. Thorn & Mr. McKnight's reviews (as well as a plethora of others'!), I decided to wait no longer. I don't know about any other tone chasers, but there is a eureka moment when one adds a piece of gear that, not only looks nice, and sounds great, but also helps you achieve a tone you were chasing...It is a great feeling. I write a lot of music for a lot of instruments - and like to have different tones for different L/R guitar configurations. I'm pleased with every little nuance that this 5150OD produces. From the noise gate, to the boost function (I personally run a tube screamer set at ZERO prior to this guy for a little bite). I really didn't know over the maturation of my playing styles/tone changes that I was seeking a "brown sound" - in fact, up until a few years ago, I didn't even know how to achieve it. This pedal, while still a pedal, gets really really close. Anything from VH to metal - it does it well. Very responsive. I have it next to a Friedman BE-OD, and they both do such god jobs, similar, but different - I'm not even about to pick one over the other, despite a few reviewers doing just that! To each their own, though. I enjoyed the tone and versatility so much, in fact (and I'm sure zZounds AND Mr. Van Halen would appreciate, haha) that I had to pick up an EVH 5150 amp...just after about an hour of ripping! Seriously, no Van Halen fan should be without this little box in their arsenal, and if you are even slightly considering snagging one, I don't feel that it would be a regrettable purchase. I'm very satisfied!

Awesome overdrive

So im using it through a Hughes and Ketner vortex. Eq set at 12 on clean. The pedal level set where we need it , obviously that changes. Gain is 3/4s full eq a little more bass . Limiter at 1 oclock. I am using one of the new kramer barettas , some chorus and will add a phase 90 asap. My band just plays power pop covers and the 5150 is perfect for pretty much every song. The tone is great using ether the humbucker or splitting it. I love it love the limiter. Only down side is the boost button for all intents and purposes it does nothing.

Great all round distortion and very effective noise gate

Given the price I was hesitant to pull the trigger on this but i've been so impressed by this pedal. Labelled as an overdrive its more akin to a distortion and there is plenty of gain on tap, I rarely push it above noon but it has that gain if you need it. Having Bass, Mid, Treble controls helps fine tune the tones but whats most impressive is the overall clarity and character. Its everything you like about those EVH tones, clarity and presence, thick but without being flabby. The noise gate is very effective and is smart at knowing when to kick in, i've never felt a loss of sustain and a handy light shows when its kicking in and a turn of the knob controls how quickly it steps in. The other tiny little switch is a boost and leads to one criticism of the pedal, its ... MoreGiven the price I was hesitant to pull the trigger on this but i've been so impressed by this pedal. Labelled as an overdrive its more akin to a distortion and there is plenty of gain on tap, I rarely push it above noon but it has that gain if you need it. Having Bass, Mid, Treble controls helps fine tune the tones but whats most impressive is the overall clarity and character. Its everything you like about those EVH tones, clarity and presence, thick but without being flabby. The noise gate is very effective and is smart at knowing when to kick in, i've never felt a loss of sustain and a handy light shows when its kicking in and a turn of the knob controls how quickly it steps in. The other tiny little switch is a boost and leads to one criticism of the pedal, its simply too small a button and its a shame you can't really operate with your foot for a solo boost. The effect of the boost itself is very pleasing especially when used with a lower gain setting, it just compresses the signal lightly like an amp being really pushed. It yields a thicker tone with more harmonics, great also if you are using a quieter amp. You can even get some bluesy tones if you drop the gain way down and maybe roll down volume on the guitar. It doesn't clean up as much as some other pedals i've used but its not bad.

Hands down the best dirt pedal I own

With a dozen distortion/OD pedals in my collection and having tried most styles on the market over a 30 year period, this is the only one that sounds so good alone, I've pretty much stopped using all other effects. Running it into a Laney tube amp. This has the sound not only of the EVH 5150 amp but an amazing classic Marshall tone. I usually just park the drive at 12 o'clock, eq it and use the guitars volume to adjust the distortion. Very responsive to guitar volume. Finding my tone is so easy in fact, I've stopped using just about every other effect pedal except a wah in front of it. Hendrix, Zep, VH, to Buckethead. I can't play as well as any of them, but I hear their tones immediately through this pedal. That said, this is the first time I feel like I'm hearing ... MoreWith a dozen distortion/OD pedals in my collection and having tried most styles on the market over a 30 year period, this is the only one that sounds so good alone, I've pretty much stopped using all other effects. Running it into a Laney tube amp. This has the sound not only of the EVH 5150 amp but an amazing classic Marshall tone. I usually just park the drive at 12 o'clock, eq it and use the guitars volume to adjust the distortion. Very responsive to guitar volume. Finding my tone is so easy in fact, I've stopped using just about every other effect pedal except a wah in front of it. Hendrix, Zep, VH, to Buckethead. I can't play as well as any of them, but I hear their tones immediately through this pedal. That said, this is the first time I feel like I'm hearing myself instead of just trying to sound like someone else. Most of all, I easily get a tone that makes me want to grow, learn and play for hours. Very inspiring!I also never feel like I'm stretching to get enough drive or that I need to boost the signal. It also easily tamed. Not too hot, not too cold, this one is just right! I would buy it again and again and again. At least until I can afford the actual 5150 amp head.

I HATE NOISE

What you don't hear in the demo videos is NOISE, but life is full of compromise. Low budget? No place to open up 50 or 100 watts? It does have nice tone characteristics. I have 3 different to test drive. A Blackstar Stereo 20, Marshall MG10, Carvin SX50 - It definitely adds to the built in varity of the Blackstar; okay with the Carvin; sounds like crap with the Marshall. You can not "overdrive" the amps natural overdrive. You have to run it into a realitivly clean sound. The noise gate peters out the signal on sustained notes, which can be taxing. I have a Charvel So Cal, Fender Tele Player, and a Kramer Beretta: the effect of your guitar's sound is marginal. The difference is in your amp. The Bottom Line: I say, test a floor model, through different amps at the ... MoreWhat you don't hear in the demo videos is NOISE, but life is full of compromise. Low budget? No place to open up 50 or 100 watts? It does have nice tone characteristics. I have 3 different to test drive. A Blackstar Stereo 20, Marshall MG10, Carvin SX50 - It definitely adds to the built in varity of the Blackstar; okay with the Carvin; sounds like crap with the Marshall. You can not "overdrive" the amps natural overdrive. You have to run it into a realitivly clean sound. The noise gate peters out the signal on sustained notes, which can be taxing. I have a Charvel So Cal, Fender Tele Player, and a Kramer Beretta: the effect of your guitar's sound is marginal. The difference is in your amp. The Bottom Line: I say, test a floor model, through different amps at the music store. If you like it, buy one USED from SamAshDirect... But if you want THAT EVH SOUND - buy an amp... And keep shredding!

Stunning distortion pedal

I have a number of overdrive and distortion pedals but this pedal is amazing. Unlike others, it works equally well with my Fender Strat and Les Paul. It also works really well at all distortion levels and the EQ allows for fine tuning.The sound is amazing! I didn't expect it to be so articulate at high distortion levels, the notes are always clear even with massive amounts of gain. It is like having a very expensive amp in a small box.I am amazed at the sound quality. If I were to criticise it in any way, an additional foot switch for the boost instead of a tiny button would have made it perfect.

The. Best. High-gain. Overdrive.

I was looking for a versatile high-gain pedal to fit the sounds/tones I was looking to play - styles ranging from Deftones, Killswitch Engage, for both standard AND baritone tuned guitars. Also, I'm not your typical the EVH fanboy that would get this pedal just b/c it has the EVH stripes, but after watching videos and reading reviews (of which, there are NO bad reviews) I took the dive and saw for myself that this pedal just sounds GREAT. I was hoping it would be the perfect fit for my high-gain needs AND IT WAS! I seriously can't recommend this overdrive enough - but I sorta don't want to b/c I feel like it might be my secret weapon. OH yea, it also has this sub-frequency thing going on that retains ALL the heavy low end, but zero flubbiness, that you'd want. It's ... MoreI was looking for a versatile high-gain pedal to fit the sounds/tones I was looking to play - styles ranging from Deftones, Killswitch Engage, for both standard AND baritone tuned guitars. Also, I'm not your typical the EVH fanboy that would get this pedal just b/c it has the EVH stripes, but after watching videos and reading reviews (of which, there are NO bad reviews) I took the dive and saw for myself that this pedal just sounds GREAT. I was hoping it would be the perfect fit for my high-gain needs AND IT WAS! I seriously can't recommend this overdrive enough - but I sorta don't want to b/c I feel like it might be my secret weapon. OH yea, it also has this sub-frequency thing going on that retains ALL the heavy low end, but zero flubbiness, that you'd want. It's PERFECT!!!