Danelectro DROE1 RoeBuck Distortion Pedal Overview
Introducing the Danelectro® Roebuck™ – a revival of the revered Ibanez® Mostortion™, which made its debut in the 1990s. Despite its short production run, this mosfet-driven distortion pedal left an indelible mark on the music world with its flawless tone, earning its place as an essential tool for musicians across genres, spanning from country to metal.
These pedals have taken on an iconic status of their own, arguably reigning as the supreme and most adaptable overdrive effects of their era, resulting in a fervent pursuit among enthusiasts. Although original Mostortion™ pedals have grown scarce, a select few still thrive on the pedalboards of esteemed session players worldwide, particularly in Nashville and LA, for unequivocally valid reasons.
Now, the Roebuck makes its triumphant return, embodying the same raw intensity and captivating sound that defined the classic amp-like overdrive of the original. Encased in a sturdier metal chassis, it sports a charmingly weathered appearance, complete with subtle dents on its casing, worn paint, sturdy knobs, and a resilient, smooth-operating footswitch.
True to the heritage of the initial Mostortion™, the Roebuck retains its mosfet circuitry, which maintains the superb bandwidth and touch-responsive 3-band EQ encompassing Bass, Mid, and Treble controls. This design ensures exceptional tonal adaptability, an all-encompassing frequency range, and impeccable dynamics.
While preserving the unmistakable vintage core tone, the new Roebuck extends its sonic versatility with two extra clipping modes, which can be selected via a conveniently placed top-mounted mini-toggle switch. This enhancement introduces the ideal blend of compression and mosfet-driven overdrive, maintaining the authenticity of the original pedal’s feel. Throughout its spectrum, it exhibits remarkable clarity, unparalleled string definition, and a profound showcase of this highly awaited reissued distortion pedal’s extensive range.
Setting the ‘Distortion’ parameter conservatively, the Roebuck enriches the front end of any guitar amplifier, a perfect companion for delicate crunch chords and captivating lead solos. Elevating the ‘Distortion,’ ‘Level,’ and ‘Mid’ controls amplifies upper harmonics and drive, epitomizing the signature blues and resonant tube-like overdrive.
And for enthusiasts of scooped metal tones, fret not – a quick adjustment of the mid-range and a boost in Distortion will undoubtedly bring a grin to the most fervent metal aficionado. Danelectro has resurrected this magnificent pedal, masterfully capturing the original mosfet tone and distortion, while incorporating two novel clipping options and a resilient construction. The Roebuck embodies everything its predecessor stood for, and then some!
