Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 7 stores. Prices updated .

Sweetwater
4.5 (54)
$159.99
Guitar Center
5.0 (19)
$159.99
Reverb
5.0 (260)
$999.99 New
$215.00 Used
Musician's Friend
5.0 (6)
$159.99
Thomann
4.8 (63)
$145.00 $144.00 $1.00 · All time low
Gear4Music
£139.00

Average Price: $286

High-end/Boutique

$50

$176+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Paul Cochrane Timmy". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 30, 2026.

* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

The Paul Cochrane Timmy is your go-to piece of gear if clarity and control are what you're after. A staple among guitar enthusiasts, this highly respected overdrive pedal is known for its transparent sound, letting your guitar's character shine through even as it adds a layer of rich, harmonic distortion. With its versatile controls, you can tweak and fine-tune your sound to absolute perfection. This pedal remains faithful to your tone, ensuring a beautifully balanced relationship between your instrument and amp.

Key Features:

  • Transparent overdrive for an uncolored, pure sound
  • Versatile controls for precise sound shaping
  • Maintains the intrinsic tone and character of your instrument
  • Adds a rich, harmonic layer of distortion without overpowering
  • Ideal for those seeking clarity and control in their sound
  • Renowned for its exceptional build and sound quality

Product specs

Brand Paul Cochrane
Model Timmy Overdrive
Finish Various
Year 2010s
Made In United States
Categories Overdrive and Boost Pedals
Pedal Format Standard

FAQs

Is the Paul Cochrane Timmy pedal a transparent overdrive?

Yes, the Paul Cochrane Timmy is known for its transparent overdrive, allowing you to enhance your amplifier's natural tone without adding unwanted coloration.

What type of sound can I expect from the Timmy overdrive pedal?

The Timmy pedal provides a clean boost and overdrive that maintains your guitar's original tone, with the ability to adjust bass and treble to shape your sound precisely.

How does the Timmy pedal affect my guitar's tone?

The Timmy pedal enhances your guitar's tone by providing a transparent overdrive, allowing you to cut bass and treble frequencies to refine your sound without altering the core character of your instrument.

Is the Paul Cochrane Timmy suitable for all music genres?

The Timmy is versatile and works well across various genres, particularly those requiring a clean, transparent boost or subtle overdrive, such as blues, rock, and country.

Does the Paul Cochrane Timmy pedal require a specific power supply?

The Timmy pedal operates with a standard 9V power supply, commonly used for guitar effects pedals, making it easy to integrate into most pedalboards.

Equipboard's Expert Review

Equipboard tested this

Equipboard tested this

The Transparent Tone Transformer

The Paul Cochrane Timmy is a formidable contender in the overcrowded overdrive pedal market. We were immediately impressed by its solid build quality and intuitive layout.

The Timmy's controls are where it truly shines. Specifically, the treble and bass knobs to be incredibly responsive, allowing us to dial in precise tones with ease. The clipping options offered a range of flavors, from subtle to more aggressive, all while maintaining the pedal's renowned transparency.

Sound-wise, this pedal is a chameleon. In our experience, it enhanced our entire signal chain, removing that metaphorical "blanket" from our amp's speaker. The Timmy particularly impressed with its ability to maintain clarity and fullness across various gain settings. Whether used as a clean boost or pushed into higher gain territory, the Timmy consistently delivered articulate, dynamic tones that complemented our playing style.

However, we did notice a slight increase in noise at the highest gain settings, which might be a concern for some users. Despite this minor issue, we found the Timmy to be an extremely versatile tool that worked well with a variety of guitars and amps.

For us, the Timmy is an ideal choice for players seeking a transparent overdrive that can serve as the foundation of their tone. Its ability to enhance rather than color your sound makes it particularly appealing to those who prize their guitar and amp's inherent character. However, guitarists looking for a more dramatic tonal shift might want to look elsewhere.

Rated 5
That Pedal Show

That Pedal Show

That Pedal Show – Dream Overdrives: Timmy, Jan Ray & Amp11. And A Bit On Ethics

Video thumbnail for That Pedal Show – Dream Overdrives: Timmy, Jan Ray & Amp11. And A Bit On Ethics by That Pedal Show

That Pedal Show – Dream Overdrives: Timmy, Jan Ray & Amp11. And A Bit On Ethics

That Pedal Show

That Pedal Show

Video thumbnail for Paul Cochrane TIMMY overdrive pedal demo by gearmanndude

Paul Cochrane TIMMY overdrive pedal demo

gearmanndude

gearmanndude

Video thumbnail for Paul Cochrane Timmy Overdrive | Reverb Demo Video by Reverb

Paul Cochrane Timmy Overdrive | Reverb Demo Video

Reverb

Reverb

Video thumbnail for Paul C Audio Timmy overdrive and the truth about transparency by JJ of the T

Paul C Audio Timmy overdrive and the truth about transparency

JJ of the T

JJ of the T

Video thumbnail for Timmy Overdrive Pedal by shnobel

Timmy Overdrive Pedal

shnobel

shnobel

Video thumbnail for How Good is the Timmy Overdrive Pedal? My Review by intheblues

How Good is the Timmy Overdrive Pedal? My Review

intheblues

intheblues

Video thumbnail for Is this the BEST overdrive pedal ever made? by Living Room GD

Is this the BEST overdrive pedal ever made?

Living Room GD

Living Room GD

Video thumbnail for Paul Cochrane - Timmy Overdrive - Pedalmaniacs by Pedalmaniacs

Paul Cochrane - Timmy Overdrive - Pedalmaniacs

Pedalmaniacs

Pedalmaniacs

Video thumbnail for Transparent Gain with the Mass Street Custom Paul Cochrane Timmy by Mass Street Music

Transparent Gain with the Mass Street Custom Paul Cochrane Timmy

Mass Street Music

Mass Street Music

Video thumbnail for Paul Cochrane Timmy vs Greer Lightspeed | The two best transparent overdrive pedals on the market? by Rich. Words. Music.

Paul Cochrane Timmy vs Greer Lightspeed | The two best transparent overdrive pedals on the market?

Rich. Words. Music.

Rich. Words. Music.

Video thumbnail for Keep or Sell? Paul Cochrane Timmy Overdrive by Middle Aged Gear Junkie

Keep or Sell? Paul Cochrane Timmy Overdrive

Middle Aged Gear Junkie

Middle Aged Gear Junkie

Reviews

PROS

  • Transparent overdrive that doesn't mask your guitar's tone

  • Versatile, from clean boost to high gain overdrive

  • Compliments a wide range of rigs and amps

  • Responsive to playing dynamics for tone control

  • Offers clipping options for tailored sound

  • Treble and bass cut knobs for precise EQ adjustment

  • Works well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups

  • Can be paired with other pedals like Klon for enhanced effects

  • Maintains clarity of notes, even in high gain settings

  • Adds fullness to guitar sound without muddiness

CONS

  • A bit noisy at higher gain settings

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Paul Cochrane Timmy.

Comparisons

  • The Timmy is often compared to the Mosky Golden Horse (Klon Klone), with some owners preferring the latter for adding more character to the tone.

    Source
  • The Timmy pairs well with mid-pushed pedals like TS, BB, or Klon for second-stage drive and lead tones.

    Source
  • The Caline PureSky is highlighted as a budget-friendly Timmy alternative.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Timmy's treble and bass controls cut frequencies rather than boost, which can be counterintuitive for users accustomed to other pedal EQ setups.

    Source
  • The Timmy is favored for preserving amp tone, especially when addressing overly thick or boomy pickup settings.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Users have experimented with different op-amps, like the Burr Brown 2134, to address perceived brittleness in the Timmy's tone.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Timmy is noted for its performance when pushing a hot amp, particularly with a Marshall Plexi, though it may feel uninspiring at lower volumes.

    Source
  • Timmy is recommended for those who want a "transparent" overdrive, ideal for stacking and acting as a boost.

    Source

User experience

  • It's noted that the Timmy can feel stiff and less dynamic, which may not suit players looking for a more lively and responsive overdrive pedal.

    Source
  • Many users suggest placing the Timmy first in the pedal chain for optimal touch sensitivity.

    Source
  • The Paul Cochrane Timmy is noted for having a gain boost switch, offering more versatility than the MXR version.

    Source
Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 14 Reviews and 56 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
bulwark616

I love it!

The other gain stages in my rig are a revolving door but the Timmy is constant. I'll never not have one. I use it as the light/first gain stage for dynamic response and to push higher gain stages down the chain. Whatever "transparent" means ... the Timmy definitely is what we mean when we say that silly word. It definitely lives up the the hype!

From Gear Setup
thedreadpirateknoberts

Overdrive to Compliment

Summary: A great overdrive that can compliment many rigs and amps. It also stands up on it's own well as a primary overdrive.

Tone: The word "transparent" is getting a lot of hype lately. I love the sound of my guitar and I don't want to put and OD in place that just masks that so I get it. However, I'm not an expert to argue the validity of "transparency" so I'll skip that. The fact is, this pedal sounds like my guitar running my amp into breakup and not like a pedal. I noticed the 'Transparency' the most when I upgraded from a PRS SE Custom 24 to a PRS S2 Standard 24. This pedal took a huge leap in tone quality versus others OD/Distortions as my new guitar sounded much better.

Gain: Gain can really go up on this little guy and it can be very fun. I know a lot of guys use it as a clean boost and I do as well at times but I mainly keep the gain around 11. The pedal itself is very responsive so you can clean up the tone based on your picking power. There is also a 3 way gain clipping switch which allows you to dial in the right type of gain you have set. I've found this to make some major differences in the overall tone I'm going for.

Treble / Bass: The two knobs are actually cut knobs. Thus, as you move the knob clockwise, you are decreasing that tonal property. IE: If I turn the the bass knob clockwise, it decreases the amount of bass coming through. Same thing for the treble. Paul C states that it reduces clipping. I'm no electrical engineer but I can attest to that the changes in the EQ are very smooth and make all the difference in the tone you're going for.

Needless to say, I'm a huge fan of the Timmy.

From Gear Setup
jimmarchi1

comprehensive review!

nickstedman

Death to Mid humps

Love the clipping options. They're all useful. I keep the treble and bass at 12 o clock and the voume at 10 o clock, gain at 11o clock. Guitar at 7, things break up nicely and have full control over dynnamic range.

pony_gracian

A Transparent Overdrive

This is the holy grail of overdrive, you can use it from a Clean Boost or TS9 and beyond amazing blues, rock sounds, even nice Metal sound when you push an Tube Amp, Highly recommend

pkrul
pkrul

1064

Good overdrive, a bit noisy.

I use this one for a bit more high gain overdrive, compared to the King of Tone or de Klon. Nice warm, creamy overdrive, but a bit noisy,

From Gear Setup
ilovegibson20

Great Transparent Drive.

Great transparent drive. The bass and treble controls really allow for dialing in your tone.

T

great tone but can be a little noisey

I am running this at 18v and the headroom is huge but at high gain settings it can be a little noisey.

javiertheworm

Timmy Light Green OD

Cool OD ....light overdrive and stack nicely with other pedals, however I had a Blue one and I have the feeling that sounded nicer

nicksollecito

Dirt

I mostly use this on bass for when I play with a pick. I use it to add just a touch of dirt. Sounds really awesome on guitar.

R

The best overdrive I ever used

So clean, so pure, you can hear all the notes. I'm never letting this guy go out of my set.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Kevin Starrs uses Paul Cochrane Timmy

Kevin Starrs

Singer, Guitarist

Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats

...
Verified via Facebook

you can see a timmy under his other pedals on the board, next to his ocd. seems to be used as a backup though.

See how Audley Freed uses Paul Cochrane Timmy

Audley Freed

Guitarist

The Black Crowes

...
Verified via Photo

Nashville legend Audley Freed (Black Crowes, Sheryl Crow, Cry of Love) shows us his pedalboard at a recent event honoring Joe Walsh at the Experience Music Project in Seattle

See how Igor Haefeli uses Paul Cochrane Timmy

Igor Haefeli

Guitarist, Bassist

Daughter

...
Verified via YouTube

At 22:06 minute mark, Haefeli's Timmy Overdrive can be seen next to Boss BD-2 blues driver pedal.

G

Greg Barnett

Singer, Guitarist

The Menzingers

...
Verified via Imgur

In a photo from the Worcester Palladium concert, Greg Barnett can be seen using the Paul Cochrane Timmy overdrive pedal, as shown in the Imgur album by PeterBys.

See how Ocean Alley uses Paul Cochrane Timmy

Ocean Alley

...
Verified via reddit

On-Stage pre-concert photo of Angus Goodwin's (Lead Guitar) pedalboard. Can also be seen in 'Constructing the Diamond' series on YouTube.

A

Al Schnier

Guitarist

Phil Lesh and Friends

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, which comes from Reverb's moe. interview, Schnier's pedalboard is shown. One of the pedals that can be seen on schematic is the Paul Cochrane Timmy Overdrive pedal.

See how Miku Nakamura uses Paul Cochrane Timmy

Miku Nakamura

Singer, Guitarist

Cö Shu Nie

...
Verified via Twitter

In this photo the pedal is seen.

See how Kenny Greenberg uses Paul Cochrane Timmy

Kenny Greenberg

Guitarist

...
Verified via YouTube

In a "Rig Rundown" video by Premier Guitar, Kenny Greenberg discusses his use of the Paul Cochrane Timmy overdrive pedal. He frequently pairs it with a Klon Centaur or his RC Booster, highlighting its effectiveness in his setup.

C

Chuck Garvey

Guitarist

moe.

...
Verified via YouTube

Chuck Garvey of moe. Is seen using a Paul Cochrane Timmy overdrive in 2016 in the reverb pedal party where they explain the moe. Guitar sounds they were playing with in 2016. This pedal to my knowledge was not used by chuck during the moe. 25th anniversary tour in 2015.

See how Robert Poss uses Paul Cochrane Timmy

Robert Poss

Guitarist

Band of Susans

...
Verified via Facebook

Robert Poss December 13, 2015

pedals for 12-13-15 Heroes of Toolik performance at Bowery Electric — with Tom Cram, Heroes of Toolik and Paul Cochrane. Tags: Fulltone Effects, Fulltone Pedals, DigiTech, Proco Rat and MI Audio

See how Yarol Poupaud uses Paul Cochrane Timmy

Yarol Poupaud

Guitarist, Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video, Yarol goes through his pedalboard and mentions his Timmy overdrive.

See how Brian Wooten uses Paul Cochrane Timmy

Brian Wooten

Guitarist

White Heart

...
Verified via Premierguitar

"I hit a buffer at the front of the pedalboard into a Paul Cochrane Timmy [distortion], which is always on…"

Album Usage

The Paul Cochrane Timmy has been featured on the following albums:

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 Paul Cochrane Timmy, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Analog Man King of Tone Overdrive
Analog Man King of Tone Overdrive Overdrive Effects Pedals
6
Electro-Harmonix POG2 Polyphonic Octave Generator
Electro-Harmonix POG2 Polyphonic Octave Generator Harmonizer & Octave Effects Pedals
6
MXR M169 Carbon Copy
MXR M169 Carbon Copy Delay Effects Pedals
5
Strymon TimeLine
Strymon TimeLine Delay Effects Pedals
5
Strymon Mobius Modulator
Strymon Mobius Modulator Multi Effects Pedals
4
Dunlop Volume X Mini Pedal DVP4
Dunlop Volume X Mini Pedal DVP4 Volume Effects Pedals
4
Diamond CPR1 Compressor
Diamond CPR1 Compressor Compressor Effects Pedals
4

Community setups

Show yours
pkrul

pkrul

Gear IQ 1064

bulwark616

bulwark616

Gear IQ 3437

aquariem

aquariem

Gear IQ 120

N

novaes07

Gear IQ 85

aquariem

aquariem

Gear IQ 120

mattlefevers

mattlefevers

Gear IQ 284

J

jkettlewell

Gear IQ 131

thedreadpirateknoberts

thedreadpirateknoberts

Gear IQ 246

adambrister

adambrister

Gear IQ 359

I

ian_kirk

Gear IQ 48

14 alternative and related items for Paul Cochrane Timmy, curated by the Equipboard community.

MXR CSP027 Timmy

$139.00 - $159.99

cheaper alternative newer

Based on the original Paul Cochrane Timmy, as related on the official product page:

The pedal's based on a design from veteran pedal builder Paul Cochrane that's widely celebrated among high level pros, from first-call Nashville player Kenny Greenberg to first-call L.A. player Lyle Workman to rockstar Brad Whitford. When Paul decided to bring his pedal to a wider audience, he chose to work with the MXR design team. "It's an honor to work with MXR," Paul says. "My first ever pedal was a Phase 90."

Mad Professor Royal Blue Overdrive

$174.00 - $177.13

similar sound

A similar pedal to the Timmy from a user experience standpoint.

Walrus Audio Mayflower

$104.99 - $113.00

similar sound

A now discontinued Timmy alternative, with less gain on tap and roots in the Timmy V1 and TS circuit.

Demonfx Angel Blue Overdrive
similar sound cheaper alternative

A blatant clone of the Paul Cochrane Timmy, following the same control set.

Nordvang Custom Skyline

 

similar sound mod

The Nordvang Custom Skyline expands on the circuit of the Timmy, with an added second channel, true or buffered bypass, and EQ toggle.

Mosky MM Silver Overdrive

$28.19 - $35.88

similar sound cheaper alternative

An ultra compact and budget friendly clone of the Timmy, likely traced off of MXR's licensed version.

More Paul Cochrane Overdrive Effects Pedals

Accessories & Related Items

Gear Guides