Same soul. More control. All tone. Other overdrives wish they could stack like this.
The Protein Dual Overdrive V4 is a collaboration between David Brown and guitarist/producer Adam Sniegowski. After years on the road and in the studio using unpredictable backline amps, Adam approached Dave with a goal: create a dual overdrive that would sound great no matter what it was plugged into. They started with two drives they loved—ones that stacked well but had a few quirks—and set out to fix those issues without losing the soul of the originals.
The Blue side is based on the classic overdrive heard on records like John Mayer’s "Continuum." Dave addressed issues like limited output, revoiced the tone control, and refined the circuit to what we consider our favorite version of this beloved design—true to its roots, but undeniably improved.
The Green side is inspired by the classic “Nashville” overdrive that’s been a staple for session greats like Tim Pierce and Jerry McPherson. We reduced the gain for a more usable sweep, rebalanced the mids for a fuller presence, and tightened the low end to eliminate the woofiness. The result is a warm, punchy drive that adds low-mid "beef" without getting muddy.
But it’s the stacked mode—running the Green into the Blue—that continues to be our favorite. The third “channel” of this pedal delivers added gain and fullness while maintaining note clarity and avoiding the mushiness that plagues many stacked overdrives.
New in V4:
The Protein V4 introduces several key updates for even more versatility and tonal control:
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A 3-way hi-cut toggle, taken from our Carbon V2, allows you to tailor the top end to your amp or preferences
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Three internal switches on the Green side:
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Low cut toggle for tightening the low end even more
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A heavier clipping mode for a more aggressive breakup
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An asymmetrical clipping option for added harmonic complexity and a slightly rawer edge
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These additions make the Protein more adaptable than ever—whether you're chasing Nashville clarity, smooth breakup, or a harmonically rich lead tone, the V4 is built for your pedal board needs.
