What is the Hypoid Drive?
For those who have followed Guitarist over the years, the name Cogmeister will ring a bell. This innovative pedal, crafted by designer Dan Coggins, has made waves in the guitar community.
Though, not every guitarist requires all three functions in one device, leading some to request standalone versions. Dan was more than willing to accommodate this request.
First, he released the Dan Solo pedal, isolating the final boost section of the Cogmeister. Now, the spotlight is on the central drive section-the core of the Cogmeister-with the introduction of the Hypoid Drive.
This drive section is a culmination of two earlier Dinosaural pedals, the now-retired Tube Bender and OPA-101, but Dan asserts that the Hypoid Drive represents the ultimate evolution of this design.
Specifications
- PRICE: $279/£182
- ORIGIN: UK
- TYPE: Drive pedal
- FEATURES: True bypass
- CONTROLS: Volume, Sustain, Tone, Shift switch, Bypass footswitch
- CONNECTIONS: Standard input, standard output
- POWER: 9V battery or 9-12V DC adaptor (not included) 50mA
- DIMENSIONS: 73 (w) x 121 (d) x 55mm (h)
- CONTACT: Coggins Audio
Performance and Sound Quality
The Hypoid Drive features the standard duo of Volume and Sustain (gain) knobs, along with a tone knob that is paired with a three-position Shift switch. This switch introduces three unique midrange profiles, all finely tuned for guitar.
The central position of the switch can be considered the flat setting, delivering a robust midrange reminiscent of classic Marshall tones, while the other two positions offer varying degrees of midrange scoop.
With these three options and the Tone knob, you can easily adjust the pedal to perfectly suit your amplifier and speaker configuration.
When the Sustain knob is set low,you can achieve a clean boost starting around one o’clock on the Volume knob. Though,the standout feature of this pedal is its extensive range of driven tones.
Increasing the Sustain knob transitions you from a clean tone with a hint of grit to various levels of breakup, ultimately reaching a smooth fuzz-like distortion at the end of its range. Remarkably, this is achieved while maintaining excellent string clarity and responsiveness to the Volume knob.
Final Thoughts
Final Rating: ★★★★★
guitar World verdict: the Hypoid Drive delivers exceptional sound quality and versatility. It’s an remarkable drive pedal that spans the spectrum from clean boost to fuzz-infused distortion, offering tonal adaptability to suit any setup.
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