Supro mimics its amp transformers’ properties to create a more organic and dynamic drive.
Many casual guitarists and music fans can identify the sound of a Marshall or Fender amp—or at least they think they can. Fewer would dare try to pinpoint the sound of a Supro. But as Jimmy Page can famously attest, Supros can deliver tones every bit as heavy and evocative as those other iconic amps.
Ratings
Pros:
Very cool, primitive dirt with plenty of warmth and hair. Mimics power-tube distortion immaculately.
Cons:
Tone control is too subtle.
Tones:
Ease of Use:
Build/Design:
Value:
Street:
$219
Supro 1305 Drive
suprousa.com
Old Supro amps sound distinctly American—you might even say Southern, with a deep, warm mid-forward tone complemented by crisp, edgy highs, and an almost swampy low end. The Supro 1305 Drive is an attempt at capturing a Supro amp’s alternative American amp sound in a pedal, without the help (or hassle, depending on how you look at it) of vacuum tubes.
Tricky Topology
While many overdrives effectively take the place of a hot preamp in an amplifier, the Supro Drive is designed to replicate the performance of an amp’s entire topology—from preamp to phase inverter to output transformer. While this is far from a new idea, Supro claims the Supro Drive delivers its intrinsic “Supro-ness” via emphasis on mimicking the performance of a Supro amp’s output transformer.
The Verdict
If you’re chasing deep Americana tones swampier than a midsummer’s night in the Delta, look no further than the Supro Drive. The pedal’s inventive mimicry of power tube distortion and output transformer characteristics delivers much of the midrangey grunt that makes vintage Valco and Supro amps so desirable. The tone control is a little too subtle to dial out some of the most pronounced highs in rich mode, but that shouldn’t dissuade a player who’s comfortable with using guitar tone control attenuation or likes leads that cut.
Watch the Review Demo: