Xotic Effects Soul Driven

4.2 (36)

$197.10

5.0 (31)

$168.00 31 available New

$100.00 27 available Used

4.6 (22)

$184.00 $183.00 $1.00 · All time low

Average Price: $169

Standard/Professional

$50

$176+

Price Tier

In the Overdrive Effects Pedals category, Xotic Effects Soul Driven is priced in the upper end of the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 3 merchants for "Xotic Effects Soul Driven". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 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

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Unleash the power of your guitar with the Xotic Effects Soul Driven Overdrive Pedal. This incredible gear offers you an array of tone-shaping options that not only preserve your guitar's core sound but enhances it with the perfect touch of "soul". With this pedal, you gain control over gain and volume, while the Mid Boost knob gives you the ability to accentuate mid-range frequencies. Discover a new world of sound with the Tone knob that lets you adjust from a tight bottom end to searing highs. For an even richer experience, the Bass Boost dip-switch hidden under the backplate is your key to achieving a fatter boost.

Key Features:

Versatile and flexible tone-shaping tool
Gain and volume knobs for easy control
Mid Boost knob for pushing mid-range frequencies
Tone knob for adjusting from tight bottom end to searing highs
Bass Boost dip-switch for a fatter boost

Product specs

Pedal Type	Overdrive
Inputs	1 x 1/4"
Outputs	1 x 1/4"
True Bypass	Yes
Power Source	9V DC power supply required (sold separately)
Height	1.98"
Width	2.5"
Depth	4.39"
Weight	0.6 lbs.

FAQs

What type of overdrive tones can I expect from the Xotic Soul Driven pedal?: The Xotic Soul Driven pedal delivers creamy boost and overdriven tones that enhance natural harmonics while maintaining the transparency of your guitar tone. It is ideal for adding "soul" to your sound with flexible tone shaping options.
Does the Xotic Soul Driven pedal have true bypass switching?: Yes, the Xotic Soul Driven pedal features true bypass switching, ensuring that your guitar signal remains unaffected when the pedal is not engaged.
Can the Xotic Soul Driven pedal be powered by a battery?: Yes, the Xotic Soul Driven pedal can be powered by a 9-volt battery, providing flexibility for on-the-go use without a power supply.
Is there an internal bass boost option in the Xotic Soul Driven pedal?: Yes, the Xotic Soul Driven pedal includes an internal bass boost dipswitch, allowing you to customize the low-end response to suit your preferences.
What are the dimensions of the Xotic Soul Driven pedal?: The Xotic Soul Driven pedal measures 1.98 inches in height, 2.5 inches in width, and 4.39 inches in depth, making it compact and easy to fit on most pedalboards.

Equipboard's Expert Review

Equipboard tested this

Creamy Overdrive with a Twist

Let's dive right into our experience with the Soul Driven pedal. Known for their refined and subtle touch, Xotic Effects has a strong reputation for delivering well-crafted pedals. Is the Soul Driven worth its salt? Let's break it down.

When we first unboxed the Soul Driven, what struck us immediately was its mirror-like housing adorned with blue writing—eye-catching and elegant. The build quality is top-notch, exuding sturdiness, making us confident it can withstand countless gigs without a hitch.

Delving into its features, the Soul Driven impresses with its array of tone-shaping options. The mid boost control is a standout, allowing us to enhance our guitar tones significantly. Internal DIP switches offer further customization, such as bass boosts, making the pedal versatile enough to shift from creamy, warm tones to crunchy overdrive. However, we noticed that the interaction between the tone and mid-boost knobs can be a bit complex. Dialing in that perfect sound can be time-consuming, especially for those who prefer a plug-and-play approach.

Sound-wise, the Soul Driven lives up to its name. The creamy, warm tones are a joy to listen to, maintaining dynamics and compression akin to a tube amp. It excels in clarity, especially with mid frequencies, and stacks beautifully with other overdrive pedals. Yet, there's a caveat—it can be a bit noisy, especially when the gain, tone, and mid-boost knobs are cranked up. Additionally, some users may find the low-end to be a tad excessive, resulting in a sound that's less tight.

In terms of value for money, we feel the Soul Driven is generally worth the investment due to its unique sound and versatility. However, we wouldn't turn a blind eye to the sentiment that it might be a bit overpriced for what it offers.

In conclusion, the Soul Driven is an excellent choice for musicians who value a versatile and creamy overdrive that can articulate a wide range of tones. However, those seeking an ultra-transparent overdrive or a more straightforward setup might find it less appealing.

Rated 4

Videos

Add video

Mike Hermans

XOTIC Effects Soul Driven Overdrive

Mike Hermans

Xotic Effects Soul Driven

The Official Xotic Guitars and Effects Channel

OVERDRIVE SHOOTOUT - Fulltone OCD vs. Xotic Effects Soul Driven

N Stuff Music

Xotic Effects Soul Driven Demo feat. Owen Barry

The Official Xotic Guitars and Effects Channel

Xotic Effects Soul Driven Overdrive Pedal - In-Depth Review!

N Stuff Music

Xotic Effects Soul Driven demo + Paul Jackson Jr. - Part 1/3

The Official Xotic Guitars and Effects Channel

Xotic Effects Soul Driven Overdrive/Boost

Prymaxe

TONE THURSDAY: Xotic Soul Driven Overdrive Pedal - TRANSPARENT & MID HEAVY OD?

Music Bliss Malaysia

Xotic Effects Soul Driven Overdrive Pedal | Gear4music demo

Gear4music Guitars

Reviews

Add review

PROS

Produces a range of tones from creamy tube sound to metal distortion
Offers more gain than typical 'low-gain' pedals, with substantial headroom
Tone and midrange controls are very usable and versatile
High build quality and sturdy design
Maintains clarity of guitar sound and pickup differences
Internal DIP switches allow for bass adjustment
Responsive to guitar's tone and volume knobs, integrates well with pedalboards
Versatile, can act as an always-on rhythm thickener or for lead work
Natural, saturated overdrive sound with controllable mid-range boost
Clean breakup dependent on attack strength, similar to tube amps

CONS

Advertised as low-gain but may offer more gain than expected
Some users report it to be noisy with high gain/tone/mid settings
May require time to dial in due to refined and subtle effects
Appearance considered unremarkable by some users
Not ideal for aggressive, biting distortion or heavy metal
Can be perceived as having too much low end or gain for certain preferences
Some users find the pedal's sound compression hard to tweak

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Xotic Effects Soul Driven.

Comparisons

0 0

The Soul Driven is described as having a circuit reminiscent of a Tube Screamer but allowing more low-end frequencies, differentiating it from typical TS pedals.
Source

Features and functionality

0 0

The pedal's Baxandall EQ is highlighted as particularly powerful, making it highly effective in series with other pedals or for pushing an amp.
Source
0 0

The Soul Driven's mid boost feature is praised for its ability to enhance both low and high gain settings, offering versatile tonal shaping.
Source

User experience

0 0

Owners express satisfaction with its performance in gain staging, especially in conjunction with other overdrive pedals.
Source
0 0

It's noted that the pedal's shiny finish is visually impressive, enhancing its appeal beyond just its tonal capabilities.
Source
0 0

Owners appreciate the pedal's ability to handle both low and high gain settings effectively, making it a versatile addition to their setups.
Source

Use cases and applications

0 0

A user found the pedal worked wonderfully with a Princeton Chorus amp, but required more adjustment when used with a Bassman amp.
Source
0 0

The Soul Driven is favored for its performance across different musical styles due to its wide gain range and effective mid boost.
Source

Critic Reviews

Reviewed: Xotic Effects Soul Driven Overdrive - Mixdown Magazine

mixdownmag.com.au

The Xotic Effects Soul Driven Overdrive stands out in a crowded market with its clear, shimmering tones reminiscent of vintage tube amps. Its well-designed Mid Boost knob offers versatile tonal control, allowing for both creamy and edgy sound profiles. While it faces stiff competition, its blend of clarity and headroom makes it a strong contender for the "always-on" pedal spot, appealing to serious tone hunters.

positive

Full Review

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 6 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

soniataito

140

almost 6 years ago

Best OD I could ever ask for

I almost fell in love with this pedal. It has naturally saturated OD sound with mid-range boosted. You can control the boost-range from low-mid to high-mid, which is very useful to change the "color" of the sound. With gain and tone knob turned up, it produces pretty high gain distortion sound. The ONLY bad thing is that it produces a little noise if gain/tone/mid-boost knob turned up, which is often the case with OD pedals with mid-boost.

Roles:

Guitarist

Genres:

Alternative rock Indie pop Post-rock

ironicteapot

102

about 4 years ago

Great Dynamics

I was surprised to find that it stays clean or breaks up depending on how hard your attack is, similar to how a tube amps would at the edge of breakup. Very versatile and I cant find a bad setting. Is a darker sounding overdrive so works best when paired with brighter sounding guitars/pedals.

Roles:

Guitarist

Genres:

Rock Blues Funk / Soul

Artist usage

Add artist

Joe Satriani

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

Verified via Bananas at Large®

Listed on and sold on Bananas at Large’s website. Despite the deletion of the listing from the site, the URL still exists.

Melanie Faye

Singer, Guitarist

Verified via YouTube

In a Guitar Center demo video, Melanie Faye uses the Xotic Effects Soul Driven pedal while showcasing the Fender Player Stratocaster Anniversary 2-Color Sunburst.

Paul Jackson Jr.

Guitarist

Michael Jackson (band)

Verified via YouTube

In this video, Paul Jackson Jr. talks about how he uses the Xotic Soul Driven and demonstrates its features. He is also quoted on the official Xotic website as saying:

"Very versatile pedal! It's got a lot of tone variations."

Scott Sharrard

Guitarist, Singer

Little Feat

Verified via Facebook

In a Facebook post dated June 29, 2019, Scott Sharrard confirms his use of the Xotic Effects Soul Driven pedal by sharing an image of his pedalboard with the caption: "Finally got the best #pedalboard together. @polytune @strymonengineering #strymonflint and the obligatory #xoticsouldriven by @xoticusa."

Luke McQueary

Guitarist

Don Kelley Band

Verified via Honest Amp Sim Reviews

I have and old 65 Blackface Fender Deluxe Reverb my dad let’s me use on long time loan! Haha. I have one pedal, the Xotic effects soul driven pedal overdrive that I use on a couple songs, and I have an Xotic USA XTC telecaster style guitar I use. I use Signum guitar cables, a Snark tuner, and Elixir 9-46 strings.

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 Xotic Effects Soul Driven, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

MXR Classic 108 Fuzz Mini Fuzz Effects Pedals

MXR M294 Sugar Drive Overdrive Effects Pedals

TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 Reverb Reverb Effects Pedals

Fender Deluxe Reverb-Amp Original Issue (1963-1981) Combo Guitar Amplifiers

Keeley Compressor Plus Compressor Effects Pedals

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