Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

1981 Inventions Announces the LVL

1981 Inventions Announces the LVL

LVL is a professional low-gain device designed to achieve overdrive gain ranges with a new and unique circuit.


1981 Inventions, the operation of Matthew Hoopes (guitarist of Relient K and creator of the highly-regarded DRV distortion), is proud to announce the launch of LVL. It's the culmination of a 4-year collaboration between Hoopes and circuit designer, John Snyder of Electronic Audio Experiments.

“This is the pedal I have always wanted to make,” Hoopes reveals. “To me, it’s a perfect low-gain stage. I can play an entire set with my band using only this pedal. If you’re familiar with our recordings, LVL is the Forget and Not Slow Down sound... It works great on bass, which is what FULL-RANGE refers to. It also stacks with anything, makes most fuzz better if you put it after, makes most overdrives better if you put it before. It’s also great if you hit the front end with a little boost!”

LVL has two knobs, “LVL” and “VOL”. The “LVL” (Level) knob is the gain control. Turning the knob up produces more gain while reducing low-end and adding brightness. The “VOL” (Volume) knob controls the master volume. Turning the knob up drives the front end of the amp, while turning the knob down dials the amp back to control the gain-to-volume ratio.

LVL comes in a custom bent-steel enclosure with a black satin powder coat and “1981 Inventions” printed largely over the face of the pedal in a white gloss print. The enclosure’s exact size is 2.44” x 4.41” x 1.417” (62mm x 112 mm x 36mm). Power requirements are 9VDC with a 2.1 barrel connector (center negative) and the current draw is 45mA. The pedal weighs 13.2 oz (374 grams).

LVL is currently available on the 1981 Inventions website and from select retailers for $229.

Day 4 of Stompboxtober brings a chance to win a pedal from TWA: The Chemical-Z! Don’t miss out—enter now and return tomorrow for more!

Read MoreShow less
Photo by Artem Podrez: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-holding-an-electric-guitar-6270138/

Intermediate

Intermediate

• Learn classic turnarounds.

• Add depth and interest to common progressions.

• Stretch out harmonically with hip substitutions.

{'media': '[rebelmouse-file-pdf 67832 original_filename="Turnarounds-Oct24.pdf" site_id=20368559 expand=1]', 'media_html': 'Turnarounds-Oct24.pdf', 'id': 67832, 'type': 'pdf', 'file_original_url': 'https://roar-assets-auto.rbl.ms/files/67832/Turnarounds-Oct24.pdf'}

Get back to center in musical and ear-catching ways.

Read MoreShow less

When the Beatles’ bass duties fell to rhythm guitarist Paul McCartney, he fully adopted the role and soon became one of the undeniable bass greats.

Many listeners and musicians can tell if a bass player is really a guitarist in disguise. Here’s how you can brush up on your bass chops.

Was bass your first instrument, or did you start out on guitar? Some of the world’s best bass players started off as guitar players, sometimes by chance. When Stuart Sutcliffe—originally a guitarist himself—left the Beatles in 1961, bass duties fell to rhythm guitarist Paul McCartney, who fully adopted the role and soon became one of the undeniable bass greats.

Read MoreShow less

Fuchs Audio introduces the ODH Hybrid amp, featuring a True High Voltage all-tube preamp and Ice Power module for high-powered tones in a compact size. With D-Style overdrive, Spin reverb, and versatile controls, the ODH offers exceptional tone shaping and flexibility at an affordable price point.

Read MoreShow less