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Average Price: $142

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Description

Unleash the full potential of your guitar with the Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive. Designed for musicians who crave that perfect blend of warmth and clarity, this pedal is a testament to Emerson Custom's dedication to handcrafting excellence. With its handwired circuitry, the Paramount delivers a medium-gain overdrive that adds a touch of vintage character without overshadowing your guitar's natural tone. Whether you're looking to add a secondary gain stage or simply enhance your sound, this pedal's simplicity and effectiveness are unmatched.

The Paramount features a streamlined interface with three intuitive knobs that allow you to sculpt your sound with precision. Its ability to switch between 9v and 18v power provides versatility, enabling different tonal dynamics and headroom for more expressive performances. Unlike the typical overdrive circuits, the Paramount stands out with its character-rich clarity, offering a pristine sparkle that enhances every note.

Ideal for both studio sessions and live performances, the Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive is a must-have for guitarists seeking a reliable and nuanced overdrive pedal. Its robust build and thoughtful design ensure it will be a staple on your pedalboard for years to come.

Key Features:

  • Handwired circuitry for superior sound quality
  • Medium-gain overdrive for added tonal warmth
  • Three intuitive control knobs for easy sound sculpting
  • Switchable 9v or 18v power for dynamic headroom
  • Character-rich clarity with a vintage touch
  • Ideal for secondary gain stage applications

Product specs

Brand Emerson
Model Paramount
Finish Black, Chalk, Red, Silver, Smoke, SummerBurst, Teal, Vintage Rose, White
Year 2014 - 2018
Made In United States
Categories Overdrive and Boost Pedals
Pedal Format Standard

FAQs

What type of overdrive tones can the Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive produce?

The Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive is known for its transparent overdrive, which enhances your guitar's natural tone without drastically altering it. It provides a smooth, dynamic response suitable for blues, rock, and country music.

Is the Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive pedal suitable for use with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?

Yes, the Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive works well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups, maintaining clarity and articulation in your guitar's sound across different pickup types.

How does the Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive handle stacking with other pedals?

The Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive is designed to stack well with other pedals, providing a clean boost that can enhance the characteristics of your pedal chain without adding unwanted noise.

Does the Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive require a specific power supply?

The Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive operates on a standard 9V power supply, compatible with most pedalboard power setups.

What are the main controls on the Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive?

The Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive features simple controls for volume, gain, and tone, allowing you to easily dial in your desired overdrive sound.

Emerson Custom

Emerson Custom

Paramount Overdrive | Emerson Custom

Video thumbnail for Paramount Overdrive | Emerson Custom by Emerson Custom

Paramount Overdrive | Emerson Custom

Emerson Custom

Emerson Custom

Video thumbnail for Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive/Distortion | Reverb Demo Video by Reverb

Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive/Distortion | Reverb Demo Video

Reverb

Reverb

Video thumbnail for Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive Pedal Review by Sweetwater by Sweetwater

Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive Pedal Review by Sweetwater

Sweetwater

Sweetwater

Video thumbnail for Pairing the Em-Drive Transparent Overdrive & Paramount Overdrive | Emerson Custom by Emerson Custom

Pairing the Em-Drive Transparent Overdrive & Paramount Overdrive | Emerson Custom

Emerson Custom

Emerson Custom

Video thumbnail for Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive Demo by Daily Gear Desk

Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive Demo

Daily Gear Desk

Daily Gear Desk

Video thumbnail for Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive by Pedal of the Day

Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive

Pedal of the Day

Pedal of the Day

Reviews

PROS

  • Very responsive to pick attack, offering dynamic playability

  • Clearer and less gain-heavy than a typical Blues Driver

  • Rich, hairy overdrive tones especially past 2 o'clock gain setting

  • Pairs well with other pedals, excellent for stacking

  • Smooth and tight control knobs that maintain settings

  • Great sound at both 9v and 18v for tonal versatility

  • Affordable option with powerful medium gain, just enough to push an amp

  • Offers a darker tone compared to other transparent overdrives

  • High build quality with tight input jacks

CONS

  • Can sound overly bright, challenging to dial in the perfect tone

  • May not provide enough gain for those seeking a substantial boost

  • Some users report a gated overdrive sound, can be disappointing

  • Struggles to find the right balance between too little and too much drive for some players

Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 10 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
tylermarple

Give it some room...

I originally powered my Paramount at 9v instead of 18v. While the tone was still fantastic at 9v, I recently rewired my board to give this the full 18v and HOLY SMOKES! What a beautiful sound. It's a little darker than a Soul Food or similar transparent overdrive, but it gives you another dimension of tone while still fitting the "transparent overdrive" bill. Definitely worth making room on your rig for this, even if you feel like your overdrive is already covered.

Roles:
anton_borichevski

Greatest overdrive I've ever heard

Sometimes I use it for the boost, but it's great overdrive I've ever heard

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Julien Baker uses Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive

Julien Baker

Singer, Guitarist

boygenius

...
Verified via YouTube

On Baker's pedalboard, an Emerson Overdrive pedal can be seen between the Tera Echo and the Voyager.

See how Jeffery Jordan uses Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive

Jeffery Jordan

Singer, Guitarist

The Band CAMINO

...
Verified via YouTube

In this YouTube video, at 25:31, you get a glimpse at Jeffery Jordan's pedal board. You can see the Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive pedal.

See how Hunter Walls uses Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive

Hunter Walls

Guitarist

...
Verified via Photo

selling his Emerson Paramount Overdrive

Genre Usage

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Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

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davidrogers182

davidrogers182

Gear IQ 107

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