Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive main image

Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive

$39.00 Price Tier: Budget

4.0 (6)

4 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat

1 community setup

2 wishlisted

13 saved

Page last updated Jun 24, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 24, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (5)

$39.00 4 available Used

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Average Price: $39

Budget/Beginner

$50

$176+

Price Tier

In the Overdrive Effects Pedals category, Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive is priced in the Budget/Beginner range. This is great gear to get started with or for creators on a budget.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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Step up your sonic game with the Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive, a quintessential companion for any guitarist looking to infuse their sound with a touch of classic overdrive. This pedal is designed to deliver a warm, vintage tone that emulates the feel of a cranked tube amp. Whether you're playing blues, rock, or any genre that calls for a gritty, expressive sound, the Cool Cat Drive brings authentic analog warmth to your pedalboard.

Equipped with a simple yet effective control layout, the Cool Cat Drive offers intuitive manipulation over your tone. Just dial in the level, tone, and gain to customize your sound to fit any performance setting. This pedal is built with a robust metal chassis, ensuring durability for both studio and stage use. A true bypass switch keeps your signal pristine when the pedal is not engaged, and its compact design means it won’t crowd your pedalboard.

The Cool Cat Drive's unique dual-layer overdrive circuit provides a rich palette of harmonics, making it a versatile choice for both rhythm and lead playing. This pedal is a testament to Danelectro's commitment to quality, offering musicians a reliable tool for crafting their signature sound.

Key Features:

Warm, vintage overdrive tones
Simple control layout: Level, Tone, Gain
Robust metal chassis for durability
True bypass switching
Compact design for easy pedalboard integration
Unique dual-layer overdrive circuit for enhanced harmonic richness

Product specs

Brand	Danelectro
Model	Cool Cat Drive V1
Finish	Gray
Year	2000s
Categories	Distortion Pedals, Overdrive and Boost Pedals

FAQs

What kind of tones can I expect from the Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive for rock music?: The Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive delivers warm, tube-like overdrive tones that are well-suited for classic rock and blues. It can provide a smooth, dynamic overdrive with good sustain and clarity, making it versatile for various rock styles.
Does the Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive work well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?: Yes, the Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive is designed to complement both single-coil and humbucker pickups, maintaining clarity and character while enhancing the natural tone of your guitar with its overdrive effect.
What type of power supply does the Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive require?: The Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive requires a standard 9V DC power supply or a 9V battery, making it easy to integrate into most pedalboards without needing special adapters.
How does the Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive compare to other overdrive pedals?: The Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive is known for its affordability and robust, vintage-inspired overdrive sound. It offers a unique tonal character with a slightly mid-focused sound, differentiating it from other overdrives that might emphasize different frequencies or have a more modern sound.

Videos

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gearmanndude

Danelectro Cool Cat DRIVE version 1 vs V2 guitar effects overdrive pedal shootout

gearmanndude

Danelectro CoolCat Overdrive CO-1 Demo

musicnbooksdotcom

Reviews

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PROS

Sounds similar to high-end pedals but at a lower price
Sturdy metal enclosure ensures durability
True bypass for unaltered signal when not engaged
Versatile tone control adds flexibility
Clean signal with nice overdrive effect
Brighter grit and beautiful feedback capabilities

CONS

Version 1 quickly discontinued due to circuit similarity issues
Lacks the Hi/Lo switch found on comparable pedals
Version 2 lacks the tonal character and edge of Version 1

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive.

User experience

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Many owners find the Danelectro CO-1 Cool Cat Drive to have a "lo-fi" static effect, similar to a cheap radio, which might be undesirable for some users.
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Comparisons

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The pedal is often compared to boutique brands, with some users noting that despite its low cost, its sound could be mistaken for a more expensive boutique pedal.
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The original Cool Cat series, including the CO-1, had circuits similar to popular boutique pedals like the Fulltone OCD, leading to a revision due to legal issues.
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Compared to Boss pedals, Danelectro models are perceived as less durable, with some users suggesting alternatives like Ibanez TS9 or MXR Carbon Copy for better quality.
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Some users suggest Joyo pedals as a budget-friendly alternative that replicates expensive gear effectively, with positive reviews on YouTube.
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The Joyo Ultimate Drive is frequently noted as a strong OCD clone, favored for its affordability and comparable sound quality.
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EHX Glove is praised for its internal switch, allowing operation at 9v or 18v, which enhances headroom without needing a separate power supply.
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Value and pricing

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While priced very low, some suggest that its sound could justify a higher price if it were marketed by a boutique brand.
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Despite being inexpensive, Danelectro pedals may not hold up for long-term use, leading some users to prefer spending slightly more on durable brands.
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Some buyers report that used OCD pedals are frequently listed for around $90 plus shipping on platforms like Reverb, despite high listing prices.
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Use cases and applications

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The pedal is reportedly used by some owners for its unique static sound when improvising solos over loops, despite not being favored for general tone quality.
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The Cool Cat Drive may not suit traditional overdrive needs but can add an experimental tone when used creatively.
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The Fuzzrocious Demon, formerly known as the Oh See Demon, is highlighted by users for its appeal among professional guitarists like Troy Van Leeuwen.
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Build quality

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Users report the pedal's power jack tends to fail after weeks of use with AC adaptors, and the stomp button is another common failure point.
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Some users criticize the EHX Glove’s switch, despite the pedal's tonal capabilities, indicating potential durability concerns.
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Features and functionality

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The EHX Glove features a tone switch, offering a broader range of distortion and overdrive sounds, which some users find more versatile than the original OCD.
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4.0 out of 5

Based on 4 Reviews and 6 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

robert_jamora

497

about 2 years ago

Transparent overdrive too good that a guy traded his Boss Powerdriver Fuzz/Distortion for it.

This sweeps clean even through its max gain settings on my MIJ partscaster strat with stock pickups on. I traded it for a random acquisition

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Rock Pop Reggae

h_pr

1359

over 6 years ago

Great overdrive

The version 1 of the Danelectro Cool Cat Drive quickly disappeared from the market when it was discovered that the circuit was a bit too similar to two boutique pedals - if you take a look at the circuit, you could view this one as either a Voodoo Lab Overdrive with added tone control or as a Fulltone OCD without a Hi/Lo switch. Either way makes this a pedal that sounds much better than you'd ecpect at this price point - and it comes in a sturdy metal enclosure too, true bypass and all. Much recommended if you can find it somewhere. The later redesigned version 2 doesn't sound bad either, but it lacks something of the tonal character and edge that this one has.

Roles:

Guitarist Composer

Genres:

Dark ambient Electroacoustic music Musical improvisation

eryeager

288

over 12 years ago

infamous version 1 offers nostalgic tone reminiscent of the OCD

This is the infamous version 1 of the cool cat drive that reportedly sounds very similar to the OCD. I love it.

Well I took this off my board when I got the J&H for Christmas. I'm thinking I may make myself a smaller board with my old board/case that I used during my bass days with this OD and a few other pedals I don't use anymore.

From Gear Setup

ryangunwitchblack

189

almost 10 years ago

Surprising overdrive in a plastic box.

I'll probably build a metal casing for this at some point because its the best overdrive I've found in combination with the other stuff on my Ghostwitch pedal board. Super cheap, clean signal, nice overdrive that gives me more distortion, brighter grit and beautiful feedback.