Everman Custom Audio Effects Light Drive

Two knobs, can't be that hard. One is adjusts tone, one adjusts the drive level. It took quite a while for me to get the right sound out of it, but I reckon that's the sign of a good pedal, good dynamics.

I didn't get a manual with it - but I bought it second hand off ebay. Mine is a prototype too.

I wasn't happy with the sound of the drive channels in my Fender HotRod 2x12 Deville so I sought out an overdrive. I wanted something unique (i.e. not an Ibanez TubeScreamer or FullTone OCD) and found this on ebay. Some of the reviews here didn't do it justice though. It's nice and clean, not too overpowering.

I find that if I just turn the drive up on my amp to where it starts to distort I can then push it further with better sound with this pedal. Kicking in the "more drive" channel on the Deville gives a really cool distorted and feedback sound.

Recently its develop a high pitched, constant background noise that's giving me the irit's. It is second hand though and I reckon that I can get it fixed.

It's heavy duty though. I can't imagine it getting broken in transport or on stage.

J Everman has gotten back to me about a couple of questions even though I'm a cheapskate second hand buyer. Seems very helpful.

I am playing 90's style alternate rock, ala Sonic Youth. It combines pretty well with my Big Muff Pi and my Turbo Rat distortion to created really thick, punchy rhythms and awesome feeback respectively.

It does what it's meant to - give a light drive - fantastically. I think that this pedals strength is its ability to combo with other pedals in a chain.

I saw this thing on eBay--a generic black box with no writing on it. I had seen the Everman Web site and suspected that this might be a Light Drive, so I bid on it. The seller said it was like a cross between a TS9 and a Big Muff.
Two knobs, in, out, adapter input, BLUE LED--very cool.
My one gripe is that the LED stays on whether the unit is engaged or not.

Justin Everman tells me that he will tailor the effects to the needs of the individual user. He tells me that some of the Light Drives were requested to be low gain, which this one is--very low gain.
I plugged it in, and noticed very little difference. When I matched clean level to effect level and played for an hour, going back and forth, I realized that the sould with the pedal was noticeably sweeter. Very, VERY clean and sweet. With the gain knob cranked, there is a slight overdrive that is very warm and responsive. I've decided to keep this pedal in my setup as a boost.
The pedal has a true bypass--fantastic!
When used after another distortion pedal (I tried various boss, EH, Tech 21, and tube pedals), there is a very nice beefing up of tone.

The case is heavy aluminum. I gig without a backup because this is not an essential effect.

I've e-mailed Mr. Everman a few times, and he has been very helpful, even though I got this thing used. Like I said, he custom-tailors his effects for the individual user. How cool is that?

I bought it because it was cheap and I was curious. I was looking for a good fuzz pedal and ended up with an excellent boost pedal. I am very interested in acquiring more of Everman's effects.

Only 2 knobs, not much to worry about. 2 page manual but you dont need it unless your a moron.

Its a low gain job so no real noise here, it smooths out the sound and makes it clearer and more defined than it was before, set on max it gets a little over driven but I think thats the idea. Its not a substancial pedal but it wasent ment to be. It just puts that little sparkle back in the sound that you might have lost somewhere in your signal path, at least thats what it did for me.

Seems dependable, heavy aluminum housing should last forever

I've emailed J.Everman a few times and he was very prompt in his replys to my questions. He only charges S&H for repairs to these pedals. I think more companies should operate that way.

I bought this Light Drive on www.ebay.com and its a pretty cool little guy, I'll probably try one of his Fuzz Drives too now. But overall if your looking for a totally new sound, look elsewhere. This pedal offers that little extra crispness or overdrive, to put you over the top though. I guess they call that transparent.

You step on it and it turns on, but the light is always on, so you never know when the pedal is on just by looking at it.A volume and a tone knob adjust your sound if you can call it that.

This pedal that I bought(i have since sold it)has little to no effect whatsoever. The pedal is touted as a light fuzz, but it doesnt even do that right. The main problem I found out is with the lack of any change in tone at all. It almost does NOTHING. I have an old fender vibrolux and it sounds sweet without this pedal.

Why would you even depend on something that does NOTHING to begin with. I would rather go straight into the amp.

Very friendly and helpful, and since these pedals are being made by a novice, Iwould expect an upgrade, but It cost too much. This is what you get whaen you manufacture effect pedals out of your dormroon.

This is a pedal that really does not do too much. When I originally purchased mine, it was supposed to emulate the TS-9, Big Muff,etc, etc.I tried it out with several other pedals and different combinations, but I still found it to really not affect the sound at all. I would not recommend this pedal, because for the money you can get a great old or new overdrive/distortion box that will make a real difference in your sound.

That other guy has the wrong name of the pedal manufacturer its not Everman Custom Audio Effects, its J. Everman, I dont think he could read correctly or something. All he had to do is read the bottom of the pedal, they are all signed J. Everman. Well anyhow I'm giving a review cause I like this thing and I think its different. The Light Drive Pedal is really easy to use, ya got feet and a finger or 2 and your good to go. Comes with small manual but is unnecessary

A little noisy, but its an overdrive ya get that kind of thing. The effect is a smooth overdrive/fuzz sound that is not harsh as most fuzzes are but smooth. Its sounds great through my Fender. I give an 8 cause its a little noisy

Built really well, I could kick it around and not worry.

A rubber foot fell off once but other than that, I never had problems

I play blues and some alternative. The Light Drive is dymnamic and it dosent change my sound like most pedals do. I had a ts-9 but I like the feel of this pedal better. I also had a Boss OD-1 pedal but it sounded to unnatural. All you have to do with this thing is set your amount of Drive and then adjust your amps preamp to where it just distorts thats where i get a great sound. It could use more knobs maybe but other than that it does what its supposed to.

A few knobs thats it, anyone can figure that out

Lots of gain, not to noisy, less than my MRX pedals. I'm running it through a Marshall dual reverb head and it sounds like the blues to me baby. Its great it gets a fuzz that not to harsh, really creamy I havent seen any other pedal have that quality. Touch sensitive, its nice and clean till you lay into it, and then it starts to back you up with a great smooth fuzz. Not harsh like a fuzz face. I'll give and 8 cause it could use a little more fuzz.

Never had any problems, its in a great metal case and I'd gig with it.

Never had problems

Over all it can do funk, blues, and rock great, It dosent fuzz as harsh as a fuzz face and its not a crap load like a muddy big muff pedal, its clean and very usable. If it were stolen I'd try to get a new one but its hand made and they are hard to come by. I like the Blue LED light its cool and original!!!!!!!!!