Maker: Browne Amplification Model: Ethane Dual Overdrive Condition: New Description: ALKENE OVERDRIVE Inspired by the classic “Nashville” overdrives found on the pedalboards of session greats from Tim Pierce to Jerry McPherson, the ALKENE takes that familiar, organic feel and pushes it further. At its core, ALKENE combines musical clipping with gentle, amp-like compression—but with more flexibility and control than ever before. We carefully lowered the overall gain range to make every part of the sweep usable, restored key mid frequencies so it isn’t overly scooped, and tightened the low end for clarity and punch. The result is an overdrive that adds the right amount of low-mid “beef” without ever getting muddy, while remaining incredibly touch-responsive. ALKENE excels at crunchy rhythm tones that retain chord clarity, while still delivering singing, expressive lead tones when pushed. As working musicians, we’ve all experienced the frustration of backline amps that sound thin, stiff, or uninspiring. One of our favorite things about ALKENE is its ability to transform those amps—adding the right low mids and just enough sag to make them feel alive and enjoyable to play. To hear this in action, try turning the Level up to 2 O’Clock, fade in your desired amount of Gain, and set the Tone to taste. You’ll notice the amp sounding fuller, with a subtle compression that helps notes jump off the fretboard. CLIPPING & TONE OPTIONS ALKENE expands on the original circuit with two internal switches and one external clipping switch, giving you meaningful tonal options without overcomplicating things. 1. ASYMMETRICAL CLIPPING (External Switch) This external switch toggles between traditional symmetrical soft clipping and asymmetrical soft clipping. Right = Stock Symmetrical Clipping Left = Asymmetrical Clipping Asymmetrical clipping allows the Green side to open up and bloom in a new way, delivering more punch, a wider feel, and slightly less compression—perfect for players who want a more amp-like response. 2. MORE CLIP (Internal – Top) The More Clip switch engages an alternate set of hard clipping diodes, adding extra bite, aggression, and gain. Right = MORE CLIP Left = Stock Setting This mode slightly reduces output volume, so you’ll want to push the Level control higher. When using More Clip, we highly recommend pairing it with Asymmetrical Clipping as a starting point. 3. LOW CUT (Internal – Bottom) The Low Cut (bass cut) switch lets you roll off just the right amount of low end to better fit your rig. Right = Stock Setting Left = Low Cut Enabled If your setup already has plenty of low end, this switch tightens things up beautifully without thinning your tone. Accessing the Internal Switches To access the internal switches, remove the four Phillips-head screws securing the backplate. Inside, you’ll find a small DIP switch with two positions. Using a small flathead screwdriver, carefully set each switch to your preferred configuration.
