DOD Looking Glass - Overdrive

Submitted on January 21, 2016

ANAHEIM, Calif.—At Winter NAMM 2016, HARMAN’S DigiTech is introducing the Looking Glass Overdrive, a collaboration between DigiTech’s DOD and the boutique pedal company SHOE Pedals. The Looking Glass is a sweet and musical drive with a character that works well for any task: lead, rhythm, low-gain, high-gain or even as a tone-shaping boost. This new hybrid of Class-A discrete FETs and asymmetrical clipping is so responsive that it can go from one end of the spectrum to the other with not only a flick of a switch, but with pick attack alone.

“Years ago, I decided to create a really nice overdrive that I actually wanted to play,” said designer Christopher Venter of SHOE Pedals. “After starting with a theory and refining it through extensive play-testing, I concocted the Savior Machine and named it after one of my favorite David Bowie songs. When DOD approached me to collaborate on a new pedal, I decided to revisit my basic overdrive concept and redesign it. The result is the Looking Glass Overdrive, an ultra-responsive Class-A FET design that will give players the satisfaction of feeling like their overdrive rewards their own unique playing style. It’s great for blues, hard rock, indie, experimental music, psychedelic music, shoegaze, alternative, punk and so many other genres.”

Christopher Venter is known for his unique circuits, colorful perspective on classic effects and minimalist design aesthetic, and the Looking Glass delivers in all of these areas. Built for maximum versatility, the Looking Glass’s innovative INPUT FILTER feature allows the player to tame overly bright guitars and interacts with the guitar’s midrange pickups to help cut through the mix without shredding the audience’s ears.

The versatile, yet simple, pre-drive BASS CUT and post-drive TREBLE controls allow players to retain clarity in the mix or dial-in raunchy raw tones as desired, with plenty of output and gain on tap.

Dual gain ranges are selectable on toggle, so the player can control the intensity of overdrive and distortion. A separate HIGH/LOW GAIN SWITCH allows the player to select between a softer overdrive setting and a stiffer, boost compression-oriented higher-headroom setting that can be used as a tone shaping tool or overdrive for higher gain amplifiers. Finely tuned gain ranges provide satisfying feel in the player’s hands.

The Looking Glass is a true bypass pedal, which allows the guitar tone to remain pristine even when the device is off. The power supply input makes it pedalboard-friendly, and it can also be powered by a 9V alkaline dry battery.

The Looking Glass is the best of both worlds. Players are now able to get a sweet sounding, boutique pedal manufactured and supported by DOD, known for its reliability and extensive distribution network, and is backed by a one-year warranty.

The Looking Glass Overdrive will be available for purchase in mid-February 2016, at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of USD $149.95.