I had never heard of E.W.S. when I went to review their Brute Drive Distortion, but I’m glad I decided to check out one of their pedals and see what they had going on. Packing a lot into small stompboxes seems to be a cool new thing lately, but some of them are just too small, and a little awkward to use. The Brute Drive is in a perfectly-sized enclosure, that sports not only 2 easy-to-maneuver switches, but a good deal of power as well. Plus, this model is a limited edition of only 500, and is the signature model for blues guitarist Eric Gales.
Volume, Tone, Gain. Boom. Done. This simple, no frills control section is what it’s all about, get in and get out. The Tone knob produces some great low-end stuff, and the treble section really adds a nice sparkle to the tone. Speaking of tone…the Tone control boasts great range a swell, almost like a dual pedal. Before noon, you get a nice overdrive sound, sort of a pushed-tube-amp thing going on. Noon to 2:00 is a bit meatier, but you still get a warm and mellow drive tone. Crank this little black beauty up, and the distortion comes flying out, in a good way. Great for powerful chord voicings or sweet, clear and in-your-face leads, the Brute Drive will have the crowd amped and wired, and screaming at you for more!
Plus, when you need that extra shot of power, there’s a low/mid Boost stomp switch on the left, which integrates up to +10db, for a smooth transition into all out rock territory, and, like a sharp knife, will slice through any mix. This Brute Drive is a great little pedal, and if this is the kind of products that E.W.S. are going to keep putting out, then I’m looking forward to test-driving a whole lot more of their gear. Get one before they’re all gone!
Users: Eric Gales
Specs:
Size(W/D/H): 65mmx112mmx50mm
Weight: 240g
True Bypass Switching
Power Consumption: 9VDC/11mA
Battery Type: 9VDC (006P) ×1
AC Adapter (Optional): 9VDC, Negative Tips (Regulated recommended)
Submitted by Mike B, Website
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