Up for sale, a 2021 633 Engineering X3 Multi-Stage Overdrive in near-mint condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original box and paperwork. Handbuilt in England, this versatile, sophisticated overdrive yields a vast array of tonalities, featuring five gain stages, wide ranging EQ controls, and a two-mode Buffer.

The X3 combines soft and hard clipping across the five gain stages, resulting in a notably harmonically rich, dynamic overdrive. When fully restrained, it yields a warm, clean tone that hovers right on the edge of breakup, and the X3 gets down and dirty as it is dialed up, very much evoking the feel of an overdriven vintage tube amp with terrific harmonic complexity, sustain, and articulation. The Body control dictates the low and low-mid frequencies, and Bite controls the upper frequency response. The Pre-Shape switch engages a filter before the last gain stage, scooping the midrange while adding lows and highs for a balanced tone if playing through a midrange-forward amplifier (in Standard mode, the X3 has a very full midrange response). When engaged, the Buffer switch turns the X3 to “Interactive” mode, wherein the tone will brighten if the guitar volume is rolled back, eliminating any muddiness for clean sounds. If the guitar is not connected directly to the pedal, Buffer offers an alternative brighter voicing.

There’s sparingly little wear on the enclosure or faceplate. The central 633 Engineering logo lights up whether the pedal is bypassed or engaged, and the knobs are milled from aluminum.

The original box and paperwork are included.