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Average Price: $279

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$176+

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Description

Unleash the fiery spirit of your guitar with the Friedman Motor City Drive, a pedal that channels the legendary tube tone of Friedman amplifiers right onto your pedalboard. At the heart of this compact powerhouse is a 12AX7 preamp tube, running at an impressive 220 volts, delivering the dynamic, touch-responsive overdrive that Friedman is famed for. This pedal doesn't just mimic the sound of a cranked amp; it embodies it, offering a rich palette of tones from mild crunch to aggressive distortion.

Designed by the renowned Dave Friedman, whose expertise has shaped the sound of rock icons like Eddie Van Halen and Jerry Cantrell, the Motor City Drive promises to be a trusty sidekick on your musical journey. Its intuitive controls, including Bass, Mid, and Treb knobs, allow you to sculpt your sound with precision, ensuring your guitar's voice is as unique as your playing style. The pedal is also accompanied by a 12-volt power supply, fitting seamlessly into your setup, whether you're on stage or in the studio.

Ideal for guitarists seeking that authentic tube-driven experience without the weight of a full amp, the Friedman Motor City Drive is a testament to craftsmanship and tonal excellence. It's not just a pedal; it's a gateway to the iconic Friedman sound.

Key Features:

  • Tube-driven overdrive pedal
  • 12AX7 tube running at 220 volts
  • Tone controlled via Bass, Mid, and Treb controls
  • Includes 12-volt power supply
  • Designed by renowned tone expert Dave Friedman

Product specs

Brand Friedman
Model Motor City Drive
Year 2017 - 2019
Made In United States
Categories Overdrive and Boost Pedals
Pedal Format Standard

FAQs

What kind of tones can I expect from the Friedman Motor City Drive overdrive pedal?

The Friedman Motor City Drive delivers classic overdrive tones with a warm, tube-like character, making it ideal for blues, rock, and hard rock genres. It offers a dynamic range that responds well to picking nuances and guitar volume changes.

Is the Friedman Motor City Drive pedal suitable for both rhythm and lead guitar playing?

Yes, the Friedman Motor City Drive is versatile enough to enhance rhythm playing with rich, full-bodied tones and provide smooth, singing sustain for lead lines.

Does the Friedman Motor City Drive work well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?

The Friedman Motor City Drive is designed to complement both single-coil and humbucker pickups, offering clarity and punch with single-coils and a thick, creamy overdrive with humbuckers.

What power supply does the Friedman Motor City Drive require?

The Friedman Motor City Drive requires a standard 9V DC power supply, which is typical for many guitar pedals, ensuring easy integration into most pedalboards.

How does the Friedman Motor City Drive compare to other Friedman overdrive pedals?

The Motor City Drive is known for its distinctive tube-driven overdrive sound, offering a unique tonal character that sets it apart from other Friedman pedals, which might focus on different tonal profiles or gain structures.

Pete Thorn

Pete Thorn

FRIEDMAN Motor City Drive, demo by Pete Thorn

Video thumbnail for FRIEDMAN Motor City Drive, demo by Pete Thorn by Pete Thorn

FRIEDMAN Motor City Drive, demo by Pete Thorn

Pete Thorn

Pete Thorn

Video thumbnail for Friedman Motor City Drive - Official Demo by Friedman Amplification

Friedman Motor City Drive - Official Demo

Friedman Amplification

Friedman Amplification

Video thumbnail for Friedman Motor City Drive Tube Overdrive Pedal Review by Sweetwater

Friedman Motor City Drive Tube Overdrive Pedal Review

Sweetwater

Sweetwater

Video thumbnail for Friedman Motor City Drive - Review by EytschPi42

Friedman Motor City Drive - Review

EytschPi42

EytschPi42

Video thumbnail for Friedman Motor City Drive (Overdrive Knaller?) by session

Friedman Motor City Drive (Overdrive Knaller?)

session

session

Video thumbnail for Friedman Motor City Drive | Guitar Pedal REVEW by Michael Palmisano

Friedman Motor City Drive | Guitar Pedal REVEW

Michael Palmisano

Michael Palmisano

Video thumbnail for Distortion Ltd. In Focus: Friedman Motor City Drive by Distortion LTD

Distortion Ltd. In Focus: Friedman Motor City Drive

Distortion LTD

Distortion LTD

Video thumbnail for Friedman Motor City Drive Playthrough Test by Dhalif Ali

Friedman Motor City Drive Playthrough Test

Dhalif Ali

Dhalif Ali

Reviews

PROS

  • Highly customizable tone with valve and EQ options

  • Produces rich, amp-like sound with impressive sustain

  • Integrates seamlessly with Plexi-style amps for authentic Friedman tones

  • Quiet operation and cleans up well like a real amp

  • Compatible with various tubes for different tonal profiles

  • Pedalboard-friendly size compared to similar tube drivers

  • High voltage operation offers unique characteristics not found in other pedals

CONS

  • Stock tube may lack clarity and note definition

  • Can be noisy with the included 12v adapter without additional isolation

  • Drive can be harsh with the original valve setup

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Friedman Motor City Drive.

Use cases and applications

  • The Friedman Motor City Drive is praised for delivering super high gain tones when paired with tube amps, ideal for tight, high-gain styles.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Users find the Friedman Motor City Drive particularly effective for achieving high-gain tones compared to using the overdrive channel of a Blackstar HT-5 MkII, which is more mid-gain.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • It's suggested to use the Friedman Motor City Drive on the clean channel of tube amps for optimal high-gain performance, bypassing the less effective amp overdrive channels.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Friedman Unveils New Fuzz Fiend & Motor City Drive - Premier Guitar

premierguitar.com

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