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A overdrive pedal with "no color" and dedication to "transparency".

Edward Schooley
Posted: June 11, 2025
The Metro Organic Overdrive is a highly capable transparent-overdrive pedal with added tonal flexibility.


Photos provided by: Awestruck Amplification

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EDITOR IN CHIEF | GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE TAMPA, FL U.S.A.

Edward Schooley

Founded in 2021. GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE of Tampa, FL Guitar Thrills Magazine of Tampa, FL U.S.A. The GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE is excited to bring you some of the music industries finest talent. Including the world of entertainment. Our focus includes the long term goals and aspirations of artists of all sorts. We are an unbiased reporting platform. You are getting insight into the world of music. No, we are not your fathers website for music news. We have grown into our own, and rely upon decades of music experience and knowledge. Guitar Thrills Magazine is a hard act to follow.

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When someone says there is "no color" in an overdrive pedal, they usually mean the pedal is transparent — it doesn't significantly alter the natural tone of your guitar and amp, aside from adding gain or drive.

This is often a positive trait for players who want to preserve the character of their instrument and amp. These types of pedals are often called "transparent overdrives" (e.g., Timmy, Klon-style circuits, or the Barber Gain Changer).

In contrast, a pedal that adds "color" will modify your tone more noticeably — maybe adding midrange, compression, or EQ shaping.

The METRO organic overdrive pedal is exactly that. Trust that there is no color in this pedal. I had no issues with the solid tones, as I used the Metro Overdrive pedal. The Metro Organic Overdrive from Awestruck Amplification is a vibrant player in the transparent overdrive scene:

The Metro is a mid-gain, op‑amp–based overdrive designed to deliver rich amp-like warmth with minimal coloration, inspired by the transparent ethos of Paul Cochrane. It features:

  • GAIN, LEVEL, and TONE knobs
  • Two switches: Clipping Diodes (clean/uncompressed vs. compressed drive) and Mids EQ (flat vs. boosted mids)
  • Tackles everything from clean boost to medium crunch with dynamic sensitivity and slight flexibility to add color when needed

The Metro Organic Overdrive is a highly capable transparent-overdrive pedal with added tonal flexibility. It's perfect for players who want a crafty "always-on" unit: natural at lower gain, yet ready to deliver satisfying crunch or presence boost with a click of a switch.

Tone & Feel

  • At its core, the Metro plays naturally and dynamically, letting your amp’s fundamentals shine through—so you get expressive saturation, not overt flavor.
  • Engage the diode toggle, and you’ll add a touch of compression and edge—great for solos or cutting through a mix.
  • Mid switch gives you the option for flat, open tone or mid-forward punch—handy for shifting between rhythm and lead roles.
  • Rated “the ultimate always-on overdrive,” this may be the last drive pedal you grab for most settings

Pros

  • Transparent yet capable of warmth and drive
  • Flexible circuitry—dynamic control via toggles is a major plus
  • True-bypass switching, top-mounted jacks, and compact footprint

Cons: There isn’t a dual tone knob to enhance the sound for shaping the sound for different guitars and amps. Which is not a major setback. In this case, you would have to go to a Wampler Deluxe Tumnus.

Considerations

  • It’s priced around $189, which is a bit higher than simpler clones. However, you won’t get the kind of cleans you are receiving from the Metro Organic Overdrive Pedal. If you do, I will be more than happy to consider it. Therefore, the Metro Organic pedal is Guitar Thrills Choice, with the above factors. Excellent product and design.  

Amp Pairing Tips for Transparency

To really hear that minimal coloration:

  • Use a clean, headroom-rich amp: Fender-style amps (Deluxe Reverb, Twin Reverb, etc.) or boutique clean platforms (e.g., Milkman, Morgan, Tone King). Even the Marshall DSL40 amp that we used in testing the Metro Overdrive pedal.
  • The Marshall DSL40 amp has sufficient headroom, especially on the 40-watt mode, to maintain clean sounds even at higher volumes.

Keep the amp’s EQ flat or slightly scooped and let the pedal’s gain be subtle.

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