Description

Kherson Drive Retro is our take on vintage SoundJS SD-5 Super Overdrive (made in Kherson, Ukraine, in the 90s), which in turn is a variation of the Boss SD-1 circuit. However, it's not just a clone, but an improved version that utilizes NOS Soviet (new old stock) op-amps (the main difference from Kherson Drive released as Pedal Drop #1 back in 2022), featuring mods such as gain stage EQ and op-amp switches.

Controls

Drive - the amount of gain.
Tone - controls treble frequency response.
Level - effect output volume.
Op-Amp switch - a selection of two chips: Classic (NOS Soviet 1407EУД2) and Modern (LM081).
EQ switch - gain stage filtering: Stock (similar to Boss SD-1 / SoundJS SD-5) and Fat (with increased gain and low-end).
LED brightness trimmer - placed on the PCB trimmer, allows you to adjust the status LED brightness.

About the name

As part of our Hero Cities of Ukraine run, this pedal pays tribute to the resilience of Kherson. Its circuit is based on the legendary Super Overdrive by SoundJS, a brand originally from Kherson. The "Retro" in its name signifies the use of the same vintage Soviet op-amps that were integral to the original SoundJS pedals, delivering an authentic and historic tone.