From Boost to Fuzz in One Box
Case Study Effects Aspen Overdrive
Over the years I have used a bunch of different overdrive pedals from Tube Screamers to RATs. One thing I find with a lot of drive pedals is that they usually have a sweet spot or gain/EQ setting that they work best at. Recently I had the chance to test of the Aspen Overdrive from Case Study Effects and what I love about this drive pedal is that it can go from a crunchy boost all the way up to a gnarly fuzz. The Aspen draws inspiration from classic pedals like the Bixonic Expandora and the JHS Kilt.
Greater Control
The unique thing about the Aspen compared to some of those circuits it is based on is that it provides you with more volume and greater control over the EQ with the addition of a bass control. One of the problems with the Kilt is that it doesn’t have a ton of volume to boost your signal going to your amp. The Aspen solves this by improving the post drive volume giving you a ton of boost if you want it. Depending on how you have the gain set, you may want more ore less bass. The Aspen also adds a bass control that allows you to dial in the exact amount of bass you want in addition to the standard tone control.
A Huge Range of Gain
One of the unique things about this circuit, and part of why I love it, is the gain switches that are on the face of the pedal. Not only do you have the normal gain knob, but you can access different gain modes by using different combinations of the two gain switches. Using the gain switches you have access to a boost, overdrive, distortion, and fuzz mode. This makes the Aspen a super versatile overdrive pedal, especially for worship guitar. If you need a great lead tone, this pedal has it. And for those special instances when you need a fuzz for a part, you can quickly flip the pedal into the fuzz mode. I think the pedal sounds awesome in each of the modes and you can hear what they all sound like in the video below.
I’ve used a ton of different higher gain overdrive pedals like the 1981 DRV, RAT, and JHS Angry Charlie, and what stands out about the Aspen is the usable gain range and the control over the EQ that you have. I’ve been using this pedal a lot lately and I think I will be keeping it on my board for lead tones for a while. If you are looking for a pedal to give you huge lead tones - you need to check it out!
Learn more about the Aspen:
https://casestudyeffects.co/products/aspen-overdrive