DSM & HUMBOLDT SILVER LININGS DRIVE/PREAMP ENGINE PEDAL | REVIEW

DSM & Humboldt Silver Linings Drive/Preamp Engine Pedal

MSRP: (UK) £249/ (US) $299

Billed as a cutting-edge gain workstation is made specifically for guitarists searching for the most versatile and useful drive out there, DSM & Humboldt Silver Linings Drive/Preamp is capable of producing anything from the sweetest clean jazzy whispers, to the gnarliest of high-gain chugs! Sam Bell puts the unit to the test in his latest Gi review.

The DSM & Humboldt Silver Linings Overdrive & Pre-Amp pedal is a truly versatile pedal that does what it says on the box. If you're looking for a one-stop-shop for a plethora of amp-like drive sounds, the Silver Lining is well worth checking out.

Out of the box, this unit gives us three different types of amp drive sounds, soft, vintage and hard. This gives us different gain types. Soft is a classic Fender style breakup, vintage is a bit hotter and resembles classic Marshall sounds, and the Hard stage gives us more high gain with a tighter low-end response. Again, these drive stages are controlled, level and a three-band EQ, which is very interactive.

The other side of this pedal gives us a pre and post boost. We can use the pre boost function to further 'drive' our original gain setting. This is like running a Tubescreamer in front of a driven amp for more sustain and gain. There is also the Post Boost which gives us a 'level' boost, useful for solos and moments of music where you need an overall level boost.

If this isn't already enough, the Silver Linings pedal can be set to 3 'modes' which present some useful options. Normal mode imitates a transparent drive with clear top end and refined low end. Preamp mode optimises the pedal for using directly into a power amp without losing top-end clarity and increases the volume range to drive the power amp further. Mid-Boost accents the 800hz range of the pedal for a more cutting and punchy response. This also warms up with sound and smooths out the high end response.

There are a lot of overdrive/preamp pedals on the market advertising themselves as versatile and the 'one-stop shop for all your drive needs. In my experience most of these haven't quite hit the mark. The pedals don't quite feel or sound right. Or in some cases there have been oversights in what's actually useful for players. However, I feel the Silver Linings drive/preamp delivers a truly inspiring range of drive sounds to play with. It feels great, it plays great, it's easy and practical to use. I can see this pedal being very popular with players who play a wide range of styles. Or players who are running pedalboard only rigs and are looking for a fantastic sounding preamp pedal to go with a power amp or speaker simulator. If you're looking for a workhorse drive pedal for your board that genuinely covers a wide range of drive styles authentically without enforcing its own sonic agenda, check out the DSM Humboldt Silver Linings Overdrive and Pre-Amp Engine!

For more information, please visit:

simplifieramp.com/silver-linings