Antique Classic Drive V3: Customisable Overdrive
The Cornerstone Antique Classic Drive V3 is a unique overdrive pedal combining vintage aesthetics and cutting-edge features. Customise your sound with 61 colour, faceplate, and knob combinations.
Antique Classic Drive V3
Cornerstone has updated the Antique Classic Drive to a new V3 version, which is inspired by Italian design.
Vespa
Inspired by the iconic Vespa scooter, the Antique Classic Drive V3 is a true work of art. With 61 different combinations of colour, faceplate, and knobs, you can create a pedal that perfectly reflects your style.
The intricate Greek key pattern engraved on the faceplates adds a touch of elegance and sophistication.
Hot Mode
The new V3 Antique Classic Drive is more than just a pretty face. It’s packed with innovative features designed to enhance your playing experience. The Hot Mode is the standout feature, which transforms the pedal into a dual-channel overdrive.
It gives players two great options for boosting gain and volume.
- Hot Gain: Boosts gain for a more aggressive, overdriven sound, perfect for solos.
- Hot Volume: Controls overall volume, allowing you to cut or boost output without affecting gain.
The Hot Mode’s volume boost comes after the overdrive stage, allowing you to control the overall output independently without affecting gain.
This means you can effortlessly increase your signal’s volume in the mix for better clarity and presence during performances. The volume boost can also be reduced, ensuring consistent volume levels between the normal and Hot Mode channels, regardless of gain settings.
TS
The voicing for this overdrive is a Tube screamer-style mid-hump, so expect creamy blues leads and rock tones aplenty from this pedal. However, adding the Hot Modes makes this TS overdrive far more versatile.
Verdict
I’m not convinced about the 61 variations of knobs, faceplates and colours. I’m sure it will appeal to many people who like collecting pedals. Exclusivity and customisation are what sell many effects pedals these days, rather than what they sound like.
The video demos all sound good, and Cornerstone does make some great overdrives, including the Colosseum, so it should be on your radar, especially if you like that TS-style drive tone.