PLAYTECH Leo Drive Review: A Must-Have Cost-Effective Pedal for Guitarists!

Hello! My name is Makoto, a drummer with a deep love for guitars and effects pedals.
Today, I’ll be reviewing the newly released PLAYTECH Leo Drive Overdrive, a guitar effects pedal from Sound House’s original brand, PLAYTECH.

PLAYTECH / Leo Drive Overdrive

PLAYTECH’s effects pedals were previously available but quietly disappeared from their lineup.
Recently, I heard the news that five new models had been released, and I was particularly intrigued by the PLAYTECH Leo Drive Overdrive.
So, I picked it up, and now I’m ready to share my review with those of you who are curious as well.

Appearance and Accessories

The first thing that surprised me was the packaging.
Inside the box, you’ll find only the pedal itself and rubber feet—a simple package.
There’s no instruction manual included, but since the controls are straightforward, I don’t think you’ll have any trouble.
As long as you understand the basics, you can start using it right away.

The pedal has a sturdy metal body that is also lightweight and easy to handle.
The body is painted a vibrant yellow, and the finish is clean and smooth.
The logo and text are clearly printed, giving it a sense of high-quality craftsmanship.

A nice touch, in my opinion, is the design on the back. There are recesses specifically for attaching the rubber feet!

I’ve used many pedals over the years, and while some don’t come with rubber feet at all, this is the first time I’ve seen a pedal with clearly designated spots for them.
It can be a hassle to remove the feet when attaching Velcro to mount a pedal on a pedalboard.
This small detail is a thoughtful and appreciated design feature.

Controls and Usability

The control knobs include LEVEL, DRIVE, TREBLE, and BASS.
The ability to adjust TREBLE and BASS individually is a great feature for players who want more control over their tone.
Most overdrive pedals only have a single tone knob, making it difficult to fine-tune different frequency ranges, so this gives the Leo Drive a significant advantage.
The knobs also have a nice, smooth feel to them.

Soundcheck

Now, let’s get to the sound of PLAYTECH Leo Drive Overdrive!
For this test, I also used the DOLAMO D-8 Overdrive, which can be bought for around 2,000 yen from an online retailer, to make a comparison.
This pedal is also a popular budget overdrive and has both TREBLE and BASS knobs like the Leo Drive. I wanted to see how the two differ.

For the recording, I connected the guitar and both pedals to an audio interface and used the amp simulator in Studio One 6.

In the first half of the demo, I kept all the knobs except LEVEL at the midpoint. In the second half, I emphasized the higher frequencies and raised the GAIN.
My personal impression is that the DOLAMO D-8 Overdrive has a characteristic low-end with a thick sound, while the PLAYTECH Leo Drive Overdrive delivers a brighter, more clear-cut tone.
When you crank up the DRIVE on the Leo Drive, it distorts nicely but retains the clarity of the sound without becoming too saturated.

The key features of the PLAYTECH Leo Drive Overdrive are its simplicity and ease of use. No matter how you set it, it delivers a stable sound.
Thanks to the independent TREBLE and BASS controls, you can fine-tune the balance from low to high frequencies to suit your preferences, making it versatile for a variety of tones. Whether you want to add a bit of edge to your clean tone or dial in a heavier distortion for soloing, this pedal can handle it all.

Conclusion

The PLAYTECH Leo Drive offers a simple design at a budget-friendly price, yet its performance exceeds expectations. It’s the perfect example of a ‘best value’ pedal.
For beginners who don’t yet own an effects pedal, it’s an attractive first overdrive. Even for those who already own an overdrive pedal, the Leo Drive can serve as a great booster or secondary distortion pedal.

Given the price and quality, I believe it’s well worth a try.
If you’re looking for a high-cost-performance overdrive pedal, definitely check it out!

Thank you for reading my review of the PLAYTECH Leo Drive Overdrive.
I hope you found it helpful!

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