EarthQuaker Devices Westwood Overdrive Pedal

Our Take:

Whether you're looking to push the limits of your low-wattage combo amp, or giving a boost to your head and cab (possibly unnecessary, but who cares!), the Westwood from EarthQuaker is the translucent overdrive that you need. Styled after the moody cult favorite Twin Peaks, the Westwood is unassuming but wildly effective, providing you light- to medium-gain overdrive that will deliver edge-of-breakup rhythm tone to gorgeous, sparkling, sustained lead tones that you'd be surprised could ever come out of your amp. Don't be shocked if the neighbors come asking what all the ruckus is about.

EarthQuaker's Take:

Westwood is a touch sensitive translucent overdrive manipulator as clean and pure as the breeze which blows through a grove of Douglas Fir trees, and as hot as a damn fine cup of coffee. This mild-mannered light- to medium-gain overdrive with active EQ controls will still knock the socks right off your trusty low-wattage combo amp, pushing it into anything from cutting, edge-of-breakup rhythm tones, all the way to articulate, singing lead tones stacked high with pleasing even-order harmonics and sweet, sweet sustain. And if you pair it up with your favorite head and cab, you should probably call the neighbors first, because the Westwood’s Level control has enough output on tap to alert the proper authorities. Even the FBI. Each and every Westwood is a real Blue Rose case, hand built by a team of special agents in the Black Lodge of Akron, Ohio, USA, where the owls are not what they seem, there’s always music in the air, and the birds sing a pretty song.