Identified for constructing among the coolest guitars to roll out of Indiana, Harden Engineering just lately expanded its line with a low-gain overdrive pedal referred to as the Rodeo Enhance.

Bearing the traits of a hand-built/point-to-point impact, it makes use of Switchcraft jacks, an Alpha potentiometer, and a FET buffer operating to a TL072 operational amplifier related to what’s used within the Klon Centaur.

Working between two guitars (a classic Strat and a Les Paul Customary) and a Bassman clone, the Rodeo shined, particularly when maxed, its Acquire knob goosing the amp with pleasing, extremely usable textures whereas including not one of the woofy midrange of a Tubescreamer or Klon. Clear but gainy, it’s the sound of a cranked Bassman with wealthy overtones, minus the amount. The tailor-made tones of SRV come to thoughts, with a pinch of Billy Gibbons.

Rolling off the management Acquire elevated readability, however the Rodeo makes an important always-on soiled increase, permitting tonal flexibility and output quantity to originate with the guitar’s Quantity management. General, it’s a decent, clean, gritty, heat taste with sufficient compression to encourage blues-rock greatness. Working on a 9-volt adapter, it cleans up effectively, is totally silent, and pushes single-coil or humbucker bridge pickups with out sounding like an ice decide.

This text initially appeared in VG’s October 2024 challenge. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.