The Tone City Double Durple Overdrive/Boost Pedal is a collaboration between Tone City and Pete Honoré, a session guitarist known for his work with Lionel Richie and Tom Jones. What makes this pedal particularly interesting is its dual-mode design, offering both a low-to-mid gain overdrive (Durple) and a low gain, high-volume boost (Double). The Durple side is inspired by the Tone City Mandragora and Lovepedal's Kalamazoo, while the Double side is a modded version of the Tone City Blues Man. Personally, I find the concept of combining two distinct overdrive circuits in one pedal to be a fascinating approach, as it allows for a wide range of tones and a unique playing experience. The pedal's enclosure is sturdy and compact, measuring 12cm long, 10cm wide, and 5.2cm tall, with top-mounted jacks and 9-volt center-negative power. The foot switches have a nice click and are spaced well for individual engagement, although they are close enough to be pressed simultaneously. The mid-control uses a mini potentiometer, which is a practical choice given the symmetrical layout, but the feel is less substantial than full-sized pots. The normal-sized potentiometers are smooth in action and feature silver witch hat knobs with black plastic grip around the center. The pedal's controls are where the magic happens. The Durple side has a low-to-mid gain overdrive that feels like a non-master volume amp, with a slight volume boost and a little grit. The gain control has a wide range of overdrive, and the tone control sounds like a low-pass filter with a subtle effect across its range. The mid-control allows the user to dial in either a low mid-rumble or a high mid-snarl, though the Q is broad and doesn't produce cocked wah-style sounds. The Double side, on the other hand, is a very low gain yet muscly overdrive with a lot of volume. The gain control delivers a restrained, touch-sensitive response in the first three quarters, with a more noticeable ramp-up in the last quarter. The volume control is where the Double shines, as it will seriously kick your amp hard, and anything above a quarter will boost your amp considerably. The smooth/bright toggle switch adds a subtle top-end brilliance when set to bright, and the tone control is more of a standard dark-to-bright EQ control. What makes the Double Durple truly special is how the two sides work together. When both sides are engaged, it feels like walking a tightrope, and the pedal rewards a measured approach. Gain and tonal-wise, they pair beautifully, but pushing both gains all the way up becomes too mushy, and players with lower wattage amps will want to be mindful of how hard they're pushing the volume on each side simultaneously. In my opinion, the Double Durple is an exceptional low-to-mid gain overdrive for the price point, especially when you're getting two flavors of overdrive that have managed to address the common lack of volume boost problem that many classic overdrives suffer from. It's a great choice for anyone just beginning to enter the world of overdrive pedals, as well as overdrive pedal aficionados, as it offers plenty of edge-of-breakup and boosted tones. However, I do think that the pedal could benefit from a bit more tactile feedback on the mid-control potentiometer, as the current feel is less substantial than full-sized pots. Overall, the Tone City Double Durple Overdrive/Boost Pedal is a well-designed and versatile pedal that offers a unique playing experience and a wide range of tones. It's a must-try for anyone looking to expand their overdrive pedal collection.
