Modern Overdrive Pedals: Are They Really That Modern?

"Better" is purely a subjective term here, as what I like may not be a tone you enjoy. I will say that it's my experience that there are a lot of different flavours out there now, as opposed to your bogbasic 70s stompbox sounds, with the ability to craft your tone to how you want it to sound far greater than you've had before.

Even the much-loved/hated/cloned Klon Centaur "transparent" overdrive has been "improved" upon with the Wampler Tumnus Deluxe, giving you the ability to shape almost every aspect of the tonal quality in it.

It really comes down to what you're looking for, what kind of sound you want, and how you want to shape it. And as to "Are they really that modern," I mean, the basic circuits are roughly the same, if that's what you're asking. The basic way they function is roughly similar. Just the components and how they clip have been changed to give it different flavour, if that makes sense?

Theres really only a handful of circuit topologies. I've gone over the many times in the past if you look over old guitar forum posts.

better is definately sunjective, especially with me being the guy pushing the ds1 as the best distortion / drive there is

unpopular opinion but ds1 is the way

In a word... no

lol

I've been over this ad nauseam on this forum. Almost every boutique overdrive is based on an older design. There are only a handful of topologies and some riffs of those topologies.

I regard them all as part of the marketing merry-go-round. As a purely recreational guitarist I don't feel any pressure to innovate my own sound since my idols all made their noise using 'classic' drives, distortions and modulations. As far as I can tell most modern overdrives just seem to regurgitate the same ol' circuits, on a budget or offer tweaked specs and/or alternative control options. I was interested to see Kelley and Josephine of the Breeders' Premier Guitar Rig Rundown - they play pretty much the exact same gear as they did in their 90's heyday. That does motivate me to master what I own already, rather than chasing 🌈 after 'better' gear.