Sorry, but I didn't know any of the history of the pedal when I bought it, and I certainly could not afford the originals so they didn't lose a sale where I am concerned..
I managed to make it a bit hissy by cranking the drive, middle, and treble simultaneously - but I don't use it as a drive or volume boost, I use it to add a character to my basic sound. Quite simply it takes an average sound and makes it special. What it does to a good bass is magical.