Origin Effects’ RD Compact Hot Rod: Premium-priced boutique Plexi tones
Classic Heavy Rock tones inspired by modded vintage amps
5,0 / 5,0 | 
Origin Effects’ latest offering, the RD Compact Hot Rod, uses discrete transistors in place of valves to simulate real amp sounds in this compact, but huge sounding, drive pedal. Is there enough on offer here to justify the high price point? Let’s take a closer look.
Origin Effects RD Compact Hot Rod
The new RD Compact Hot Rod from Origin Effects is an all-analogue pedal that’s designed to give you a range of classic high-gain tones. According to the copmany, “Discrete transistors stand in place of valves, right down to the push-pull output stage and specially designed power supply which introduces just the right amount of sag.” Sounds like they’ve gone the extra mile to make this stompbox sound natural and amp-like.
Origin Effects RD Compact Hot Rod · Source: Origin Effects
Controls
Aesthetically, everythng is very much in keeping with previous Origin pedals. The controls available here are Gain, Output and Blend control; High and Low controls; a post drive EQ section (the same as on other RevivalDRIVE pedals) with Preamp, EQ1/EQ2 switch with an adjustment control to tailor the pedal to your amp setup. The More/Pres control which helps shape how the drive responds to your attack. It’s voiced to sound like a classic vintage amp pushed hard to give chewy, fat overdrive tones. Think ’80s amped up gain for hard rock and metal. Interestingly, a many players back then used modded ’70s amps to get there.
Origin Effects knows how to get real amp like tones · Source: Origin Effects
Boutique Tone = Boutique Price
If you are serious about your drive tones then this new compact model could be a good investment. It sounds great, judging by the demos. But it costs the same as a small tube amp, so to push the button on one of these, you’ll have to be drooling over these sounds. Overall, I really like the sound of this new pedal. I can see its worth, despite the relatively high price. It certainly isn’t the cheapest drive pedal on the market! But when you remember what a modded Plexi style amp would cost you, the price point makes sense.
RRP – GBP 320 / USD 390
More Information
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