Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $128

Standard/Professional

$50

$176+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Carl Martin DC Drive". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Introducing the Carl Martin DC Drive, an exceptional addition to your guitar gear designed to enhance your sound. It's not just another overdrive pedal; it's a versatile tool that brings a rich depth to your music. This pedal stands out with its unique boost feature, denoted by the Fat switch, which kicks in after the standard overdrive circuit, giving your guitar an extra dose of sonic potency. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an aspiring musician, the Carl Martin DC Drive is primed to bring your music to life with unparalleled clarity and intensity.

Key Features:

  • Standard overdrive circuit for a warm, classic tone
  • Built-in 'Fat switch' for a post-overdrive boost
  • Exceptional sound clarity and depth
  • Versatile and easy to use
  • Ideal for both professional musicians and beginners.

Product specs

Brand Carl Martin
Model DC Drive
Finish Copper
Year 2010s
Categories Overdrive and Boost Pedals

FAQs

What type of overdrive tones can I expect from the Carl Martin DC Drive?

The Carl Martin DC Drive offers a range of overdrive tones from subtle, transparent boosts to rich, saturated distortion, making it versatile for various music styles, including blues and rock.

Does the Carl Martin DC Drive have a boost function?

Yes, the Carl Martin DC Drive features a boost function that allows you to increase the volume and gain, providing more punch for solos or dynamic passages.

Is the Carl Martin DC Drive suitable for use with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?

The Carl Martin DC Drive works well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups, maintaining clarity and definition across different guitar types.

Can the Carl Martin DC Drive be powered by a standard 9V power supply?

Yes, the Carl Martin DC Drive can be powered using a standard 9V DC power supply, making it easy to integrate into most pedalboards.

How does the Carl Martin DC Drive differ from other overdrive pedals?

The Carl Martin DC Drive stands out with its dual-mode operation, offering both a vintage and modern overdrive sound, providing flexibility for different tonal preferences.

Brett Kingman

Brett Kingman

Carl Martin : DC DRIVE

Video thumbnail for Carl Martin : DC DRIVE by Brett Kingman

Carl Martin : DC DRIVE

Brett Kingman

Brett Kingman

Video thumbnail for Carl Martin DC Drive Overdrive Pedal by N Stuff Music

Carl Martin DC Drive Overdrive Pedal

N Stuff Music

N Stuff Music

Video thumbnail for Carl Martin: DC DRIVE 2018 by Brett Kingman

Carl Martin: DC DRIVE 2018

Brett Kingman

Brett Kingman

Video thumbnail for Carl Martin DC Drive Demo by Robert Baker by Robert Baker

Carl Martin DC Drive Demo by Robert Baker

Robert Baker

Robert Baker

Video thumbnail for Carl Martin DC DRIVE 2018 - A Perfect Mix (American/British OD) by Alberto Barrero

Carl Martin DC DRIVE 2018 - A Perfect Mix (American/British OD)

Alberto Barrero

Alberto Barrero

Video thumbnail for Carl Martin DC Drive (Colin Smith Alright Reviews) by colin smith

Carl Martin DC Drive (Colin Smith Alright Reviews)

colin smith

colin smith

Video thumbnail for Carl Martin DC Drive 2018 Sound Demo (no talking) by Guitar Bonedo

Carl Martin DC Drive 2018 Sound Demo (no talking)

Guitar Bonedo

Guitar Bonedo

Video thumbnail for DC Drive by Carl Martin by Steve from Boston

DC Drive by Carl Martin

Steve from Boston

Steve from Boston

Video thumbnail for Carl Martin DC Drive - Another Dane You need On Your Pedalboard - ResQ Gear Review by ResQ Gear

Carl Martin DC Drive - Another Dane You need On Your Pedalboard - ResQ Gear Review

ResQ Gear

ResQ Gear

Reviews

PROS

  • Dual voicing suitable for both humbucker and single coil pickups

  • Clear, precise tone that fits well in a band mix

  • Offers a wide range of gain, from almost clean to high gain

  • Unity gain at volume set to 12 for easy integration

  • Transparent clean boost function

  • Competitively priced, offering value comparable to more expensive pedals

  • High-quality construction

  • Versatile, with overdrive and boost functions that can be used separately or together

  • Produces tones comparable to boutique pedals

CONS

  • Jacks too close to the power input, limiting cable options

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Carl Martin DC Drive.

Comparisons

  • The Carl Martin DC Drive was favored in a shop shootout over three other plexi pedals for its sound quality.

    Source
  • On a pedalboard with other drive pedals like the EHX Crayon and Ibanez TS Mini, the Carl Martin DC Drive stands out as the favorite for its unique tonal offerings.

    Source
  • The DC Drive is noted for its affordability and underrated performance, especially when compared to more expensive options like Orange amps.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The DC Drive offers a practical distortion and boost combo, suitable for versatile performance needs.

    Source
  • Users find the DC Drive's overdrive/distortion effect to be "gnarly" and suitable for achieving specific tonal qualities like those heard in Weezer's music.

    Source
  • A Telecaster owner finds the Carl Martin DC Drive effective for achieving a versatile range of overdriven sounds, particularly suitable for pop punk tones.

    Source
  • The pedal is recommended for those seeking to "fatten up" their sound, making it a viable choice for enhancing a Telecaster's tone in punk music contexts.

    Source

User experience

  • Tosin Abasi, known for his technical playing style, has previously utilized Carl Martin's plexi drive for impressive tonal results, suggesting its capability for complex music genres.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Carl Martin DC Drive includes a clean boost feature, praised for its ease of tone shaping and ability to achieve distinct Weezer-like tones on a Baja Telecaster.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Carl Martin DC Drive 2018 review | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 4 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
guy_d_angelo

Awesome pedal.

Great "two in one", highly professional pedal, very much along the lines of the Fulltone FullDrive, however with the benefit of being able to use either the Overdrive or the Boost, or both, and the tones it produces are definitely in the "best of boutique" category. A little noisy at higher settings, I found Keeley stuff to be the best in this department also, however with the amp on crunch I can happily keep the Gain on the pedal at 12 o'clock and still get that "turbo charged 70s British Rock" sound we all know & Luv! Very hard to beat...

Artist usage

Add artist
See how TIm Christensen uses Carl Martin DC Drive

TIm Christensen

Singer, Guitarist

Dizzy Mizz Lizzy

...
Verified via Carl Martin

Artists using the DC Drive

See how Andy Wood uses Carl Martin DC Drive

Andy Wood

Guitarist

Rascal Flatts

...
Verified via Photo

In an Instagram post by Andy Wood, he can be seen using a Carl Martin DC Drive, with the caption: "Look who showed up for the sessions. Carl Martin sent me some toys to try out."

See how Nagisa (Girlfriend) uses Carl Martin DC Drive

Nagisa (Girlfriend)

Singer, Guitarist

Girlfriend

...
Verified via Photo

She uses in studio and tour.

See how Tito Fargo uses Carl Martin DC Drive

Tito Fargo

Singer, Guitarist

Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota

...
Verified via Flickr

Set Up Tito Fargo (Gran Martell)

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Carl Martin DC Drive, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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