True North Tweed Drive

Jay Leonard J is running a series on Canadian pedals this week, and since in 2018 we officially moved to Canada (to be precise, Montreal!) we want to praise this effort by giving it some exposure.

The “all Canadian rig” he’s put together is comprised in most part by pedal by the usual “Canadian suspects,” i.e. companies we cover very often in this blog (Empress, Fairfield, SolidGoldFX, Outlaw, REVV, Dr. Scientists…). However, one company stood out as a stranger to us: True North Pedals.

Based in Saskatchewan, this boutique enterprise specializes in custom and pre-made gain pedals with a unique look: each stompbox is covered in authentic tweed fabric!

The Tweed Drive is a very flexible two-mode overdrive with an amp-like dynamic response. It can be used as a clean booth or a vintage fuzz at extreme levels.

Here’s what each mode does, accessible by flipping the Diode switch:

• The original diodes, deliver a nice low to mid-gain drive,
• The LEDs diodes,  when the drive is cranked, will give you an amp-like fuzz.

It also features a Fat switch that boost the low end if and when needed (great for single coil pickups).

Here are a few videos of it.

While it is not an amp in a box, this pedal is very amp-like in the way it responds to your guitar. From a clean boost to that vintage tweed fuzz you get with those classic amps, this pedal will give you the amp growl that you are looking for!

The ‘diode’ switch flips between original diodes, which give a nice low to mid gain drive, and a pair of LEDs which,  when the drive is cranked, will give a beautiful amp-like fuzz. When you roll back the volume on your guitar, the fuzz will clean right up.

The ‘fat’ switch was designed to boost some of the lower frequencies that can sometimes be missing in a single coil pickup guitar.