Empress MultiDrive review

Fuzz, overdrive and distortion pedal

  • £259
  • €299
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In addition to individual gain controls, each section has selectable high-pass and low- pass filters

MusicRadar Verdict

Three-in-one dirt blender that saves pedalboard space.

Pros

  • +

    Effects sound great on their own. Huge layering possibilities. Versatile tone set.

Cons

  • -

    Very little.

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The MultiDrive from Canadian effects firm Empress is designed to create a sound from a blend of up to three elements: fuzz, overdrive and distortion circuits running simultaneously in parallel through a master output section that features a three-band EQ.

"It's the creation of blends that's the MultiDrive's unique feature, with a huge range of layered tones available"

Each section has a gain knob to set how distorted it sounds and a volume knob to control how much of the effect appears at the output. Each also has selectable high-pass and low- pass filters so you can have just high or low frequencies from any section.

The distortion section lets you choose from crunch, mild and lead sounds. The select footswitch toggles between two unique fuzz/overdrive/distortion combinations set by internal DIP switches.

Each of the effects types sounds really good, but it's the creation of blends that's the MultiDrive's unique feature, with a huge range of layered tones available.

Some unique tone combinations and practical switching options. An excellent, versatile pedal.

Trevor Curwen

Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.