Choosing the right overdrive pedal can be a real challenge and if you’re like me, you probably have a few laying around that didn’t live up to your expectations. In this guide we’ll look at a handful of overdrive and distortion pedals and how to incorporate these in your rig, with David Gilmour’s tones in mind.
Updated January 2024
I’ve always struggled with overdrives. I have a few go-to pedals but very few seem to fit my pickups, amp and not least taste. There’s so much to choose from and every unit seem to offer something slightly different.
Know your gear
My very best tip when it comes to choosing the right overdrive and distortion is to know your gear. What sort of tones do you want and what will fit your amp. Your dream pedal can sound horrible on the wrong amp.
British voiced amps, like Hiwatt, Vox and Marshall typically has a bit of mid range hump. These amps often pair better with pedals that has a flat frequency or a scooped mid range, like a fuzz, Big Muff or a classic booster/overdrive. Tube Screamers and Rats will often sound dark and muddy as these have a lot of mid range and compression, which your amp already has.
American voiced amps, like Fender, typically has less mid range or a scooped mid range compared to the British. These amps often pair better with pedals that has a bit of mid range, like a Tube Screamer or Rat or something similar.
Read more about how to choose the right pedals for your amp.
Stacking pedals
Stacking or combining gain pedals is a great way of expanding your tone palette. David Gilmour often pair two overdrives or a Big Muff with an overdrive for certain tones but also for adding character.
There are lots of different ways you can stack pedals depending on what you want. I often have one fairly clean set overdrive as a foundation for most of my tones and I add a second overdrive, with more gain, for riffs and solos. Having several overdrives set differently, like David Gilmour’s three Tube Drivers, will allow multiple combinations, with different amounts of gain.
David often adds a booster after the high gain overdrive or Big Muff. This is similar to using an EQ and the booster will add compression and character to the tone.
Having the booster in front of a Big Muff or other higher gain pedals, will add more gain, much like driving the front end of a tube amp.
I have played and tested each pedal in this guide, with guitars and amps that are typically associated with David Gilmour.
Colorsound Power Boost
David Gilmour first started to use the Colorsound Power Boost in early 1972. The pedal was heavily featured on the each album and tour between 1972 and 1977. David would replace the Power Boost with a similar sounding Pete Cornish ST-2 for The Wall. By the early 90s, David would rely on the Tube Driver for overdrive tones.
Read more about David Gilmour’s Colorsound Power Boost here.
The iconic Power Boost is still offered by Macari’s, who’s been making them since 1968. Different versions are available, including 9V or 18V, non-master or with master volume etc.
The Colorsound Power Boost is recognised by its super transparent, mid range scooped tone. It was designed to push loud tube amps for more brightness and overdrive, which is also why it can be hard to get the right tones on smaller, more modern amps.
The 9V non-master volume edition has less headroom and acts more like an overdrive or even fuzz. More headroom and clean boost can be achieved by choosing a master volume version.
The 18v version has more headroom and a smoother breakup, making it a more versatile booster and overdrive pedal. Especially with a master volume control added.
Perhaps it’s the super cool exterior but to me, it’s hard to beat the sound and feel of a Colorsound Power Boost. It’s loud and uncompromising taking you right back to those classic overdrive sounds from Obscured by Clouds, Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here.
Bedroom setups: not recommended
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG 78, Wall, FC?
Electronic Orange Bananaboost
The Bananaboost is a faithful take on the classic 18V Power Boost circuit, with a nice headroom allowing you to dial in anything from clean boost to overdrive and glassy fuzz. Like the Power Boost, the Bananaboost has that unmistakable vintage flavour, which means a super scooped mid range, but that’s what makes it special too and it pairs wonderfully with a loud tube amp. See my full review of the Electronic Orange Bananaboost.
Bedroom setups: not recommended
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG 78, Wall, FC
Tru-Fi Colordriver
The Colordriver is offered as both 9V and 18V versions, depending on how much headroom you want. Both with a master volume control so that you can dial in just the right amount of gain. The Colordriver picks up on the original Power Boost, with that typical mids scooped uncompressed tone and a fierce fuzz character when you crank it. I find the Colordriver a bit smoother sounding, with a nice break up and perhaps a tad roll off in the upper frequencies. A great take on the original that fits a wider range of amps and setups. See my full review of the Tru-Fi Colordriver.
Bedroom setups: yes
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG 78, Wall, FC
Vick Audio Overdriver
The Overdriver is based on the 18V Power Boost/Overdriver, with the addition of a master volume control for more headroom. This one sounds vintage and it has one of the creamiest fuzz tones of all the Power Boost versions I’ve played. It’s also a tad darker than most clones, making it fit a wider range of amps and bedroom setups. See my full review of the Vick Audio Overdriver.
Bedroom setups: yes
Gilmour tones: ObC, DSotM, WYWH, Animals, DG 78, Wall, FC
Effectrode Fire Bottle
The Fire Bottle is not a Power Boost clone but rather a tube pre-amp based on the front end of a classic Fender style amp. It’s more of a tool than an overdrive, similar to a compressor or EQ and should be used to enhance your tone and for adding character. Basically a pedal you want to leave on as a platform for all your tones. It does allow you to boost and drive your signal or amp and a switch provides different high end rolls offs, which can be handy on brighter amps.
Bedroom setups: yes
Gilmour tones: suitable for any tone
Chandler / BK Butler Tube Driver
The Tube Driver has been David Gilmour’s main overdrive and distortion unit since 1993 and the recording of Division Bell. Starting with two units, he would use three units on the Rattle That Lock tour. All three set up for different tones, allowing a wide palette of sounds. Either when used alone or stacked with each other.
The Tube Driver is a tube driven pre-amp that can be used to drive the front end of a tube amp or as a stand alone booster and overdrive unit. Unlike the Power Boost, which has a noticeable scooped mid range, the Tube Driver has a flat frequency range and the tube allows for a bit of compression, when driven hard.
The 90s Chandler Tube Driver is recognised by its headroom and smooth breakup. It has a bit more mid range compared to later BK versions.
The mid 2000 BK Butler Tube Driver has a slightly more open tone, with less mid range and compression compared to the Chandler.
I must admit that I have a love/hate relationship with the Tube Driver. It sounds just amazing with the right pickups and right amp but it can be very hard to dial in on other amps and typical bedroom setups. Especially when you have certain tones in mind that you want to achieve. Still, there’s something special about this pedal that non other are able to do. Whether that’s ear piercing Marshall Plexi, dark mid rangy Eric Johnson or heavenly smooth David Gilmour.
Bedroom setups: depends on the amp
Gilmour tones: Division Bell, Pulse, On an Island, Gdansk, Rattle That Lock, Pompeii 2016
Past FX TD-Y
The TD-Y is a continuation of the now discontinued Buffalo FX TD-X. By far the most authentic take on the Tube Driver, with a character that lies somewhere between the Chandler and BK models. Not as dark as the former but warmer and smoother sounding than the latter. A slightly roll off in the highs, a tiny amount of mid range and just an overall smooth breakup makes the TD-Y more versatile and easier to fit with a wider range of amps and bedroom setups. See my full review of the Past FX TD-Y.
Bedroom setups: yes
Gilmour tones: Division Bell, Pulse, On an Island, Gdansk, Rattle That Lock, Pompeii 2016
Electro Harmonix Crayon
The Crayon is no doubt based on the Tube Driver and the Chandler in particular. It has a flat frequency range, perhaps with a slight mids hump, although not nearly as much as a Tube Screamer. It’s very easy to dial in great tones regardless of what pickups or amps you use. Perhaps not as characteristic as a Tube Driver or the TDY but absolutely a worthy companion. See my full review of the Electro Harmonix Crayon.
Bedroom setups: yes
Gilmour tones: Division Bell, Pulse, On an Island, Gdansk, Rattle That Lock, Pompeii 2016
Boss BD-2
It’s impossible to go wrong with the BD2. This has been my go-to overdrive for years. Whether I need a bit of boost, crunch or tight distortion. Incredibly versatile and a perfect match for any pickups, amps and setups. The BD-2 is remarkably close to a Tube Driver, with just a hint of mid range and a classic tube amp response. The Waza version offer a bit more mid range, compression and warmth compared to the stock model. See my full review of the Boss BD2.
Bedroom setups: yes
Gilmour tones: any tone, ideally from Division Bell to present
ProCo Rat
The Rat was designed in the late 70s to capture the tone of a cranked Marshall Plexi paired with a screaming fuzz. David Gilmour would rely on his clean Hiwatt amps and fuzz and later Big Muffs but these pedals can be hard to pair with smaller and more modern amps and setups. The Rat is an excellent and versatile alternative that’s capable of anything from overdrive to fuzz. Especially on typical bedroom setups.
Bedroom setups: yes
Gilmour tones: fuzz and Big Muff tones
Tru-Fi Rat Pack
Teh Rat Pack is based on a specific Rat circuit for authentic vintage tones. It has considerably more gain than the Rat and most clones but perhaps also the creamiest and most fuzz-like character. A 3-way toggle switch allows you to chose between classic Rat, a more mellow overdrive tone and an aggressive open tone. In addition to the stunning looking box the Rat Pack is definitely one of my favourites. See my full review of the Tru-Fi Rat Pack here.
Bedroom setups: yes
Gilmour tones: fuzz and Big Muff tones
Jam Pedals Rattler
The Rattle is a faithful take on the classic Rat circuit, with a few tweaks. It has slightly less mid range and compression, making it sound less boxy and a bit brighter than the original. An incredibly versatile overdrive and distortion unit that fits any pickups, amps and setups.
Bedroom setups: yes
Gilmour tones: fuzz and Big Muff tones
Past FX Revolution
The Revolution is a continuation of the now discontinued Buffalo FX Evolution, which again is a take on the Pete Cornish G2. Sonically, the Revolution sits right between a Rat and a Big Muff, with a bit of early Marshall Plexi shining through. It’s edgy, wild and smooth all at once. An onboard contour control, allows you to dial in a bit of mid range and tailor your tone to fit any amp and setup. Looking for David Gilmour’s Live 8 tone? This is it!
Bedroom setups: yes
Gilmour tones: fuzz and Big Muff tones, Live 8 and On an Island
Did I miss something? Please use the comments field below and share your tips and recommendations!
Hi Bjorn
I am about to buy a TUBE DRIVER, I wanted to ask you how it behaves with a HIWATT HI GAIN 50 WATT? I am only afraid of the noise even if Mr. Butller says that the last ones he assembled, he changed the internal power supply and solved the problem of the noise derived from the alternating current
Thanks as always
Alessandro
I’ve only played the Hi Gain briefly and found it hard to get a good clean tone. You’re probably better with the amp than me but I would be careful with the headroom as the Tube Driver really needs a clean platform. At least to get David’s tones.
I just bought an EHX Crayon based on your suggestion. Adding them to my BD-2 and Rat.
Right now my order is BD-2 at medium gain -> Rat at high gain, almost fuzzy -> Crayon at low gain into a Fender amp.
I’ve set the BD-2 and Rat settings on your suggestion to another of my question in the Time tone page.
I know you suggested that I get another BD-2 but I really wanted another flavor of OD.
Any suggestions for pedal order and general settings for the three?
Again thanks again for sharing your time and knowledge.
I think the Crayon is a great compliment to the BD2 and Rat. As for settings, it’s hard (and pointless) to suggest as they depends on your pickups, amp, taste etc. The Crayon has a bit more mid range, so I guess I’d use that as a cleaner platform.
Hi Bjorn! I’m the proud owner of a Laney Lionheart (the 20W-112 combo), and I need to replace an overdrive pedal on my board. How have you felt about the Butler Tube Driver with the Lionheart? Too much mid-range? The pedal I’m replacing (a T-Rex Hobo Drive that’s crapped out on me) was used for medium-drive stuff. If not the Tube Driver, do you have any thoughts or recommendations that might fit this bill, specifically for the Lionheart?
I’ve posted questions here before and I find myself thinking, “I wish I could do something for Bjorn, after everything he’s done for so many of us out here.” I love your playing so much, by the way, and have had Forever Comes to an End running on repeat many times. Thank you.
Thanks for your kind words and support David! Actually, I have used the Lionheart and Tube Driver together on many of my albums. Mid range is a matter of taste I guess and the Lionheart is easy to dial in for different tones with the powerful EQ. That being said, the Tube Driver can be a bit difficult at times. Either sounding too bright and harsh or too dark, depending on how you set the pedal and amp. The Boss BD2 will always work. One of my favourite tones is using the gain channel on the Lionheart for leads with a Boss SD1 taking it over the edge.
That’s really interesting, Bjorn. I’ve never made peace with the gain channel on the Lionheart. It sounds good to me at lower volumes but then as it gets louder, tone-clarity starts to diminish, at least to my ears. So I always use the clean channel, with a BD2 getting me to the edge of breakup. Maybe a second BD2 is what I need as a medium-gain pedal! (I’ve also got a Vick Tree of Life on the board, which I use for the high-gain stuff.) Out of curiosity, what tracks of yours combine the Laney with the Tube Driver? You always get the sweetest overdrive sounds!
I think most most of Airbag’s Disconnected was recorded with a Tube Driver for rhythms and softer solos and an AnalogMan modded Boss DS-1 for the solos. I remember that as my main setup with the gain channel on the Lionheart. I probably had the bright switch engaged, with the treble around 8:00, bass and mids around 3:00 and the tone around 11:00. Gain was probably set around 9:00 with the volume around 1:00.
Whoa. That’s how you’re getting those awesome sounds? Never would have guessed a DS-1! Is that what you’re using on the leads in “Killer”? (Along with a wah, I think?) You may be accidentally convincing me to try out the Tube Driver. It seems to be an itch I have to scratch. Thanks again for your music and your knowledge and your kindness! Listening to Disconnected right now… such expressive, majestic playing.
The last solo on Killer is the DS-1. The AnalogMan version has a mid range control that adds a lot of presence making it sound more a Rat. It’s the lead on Sleepwalker as well.
Hi, again Bjorn.
I have a BD-2 clone and a Proco Rat clone as my dirt pedals.
I use a Fender amp with a Tech21 British set to edge-of-breakup so I can get an approximation of Marshall tones.
I’m thinking of buying a 2nd overdrive and my options are a TS808 clone, a Xotic BB preamp clone, or another BD-2 clone.
Which do you advise to get based on what I have? For Gilmour tones? For versatility?
If I get either the TS808 or the BB Preamp, should I move the BD2 as my Low gain pedal? Or the should it be the other way?
Thanks again for being so gracious with your knowledge and time.
I would probably get a second BD2 and have them set up with less gain and more gain, with the Rat being the main distortion. Teh TS808 works better as a booster, while the BB is essentially a Marshall in a box.
Thanks for replying!
I’ve read elsewhere that the circuitry is the EHX Crayon is the same as the Xotic BB Preamp, basically a clone..
I was considering it based on that and thought that since you highly recommend the crayon, it might be worth looking into.
I haven’t studied the cirquit but I have both and they sound nothing alike. The BB has a distinct Marshall 800 character, while the Crayon sounds much smoother and closer to a Boss BD2.
Thanks again for replying Bjorn.
Between the BB and the Crayon, which one has the more pronounced midhump?
Probably the BB but the Crayon is better for David’s tones I think.
Thanks for this.
Sorry for the many questions but I would love to know your opinion on the Proco Fat Rat and if it fits the DG tones.
Never tried it.
Sorry for the many questions.
I was also wondering what your reason for your preference to the Waza Craft BD-2 over the Keely one.
Waza.
Greetings Bjorn and thank you for all your work on this site, I’ve been reading it for years. One of my favorite DG sounds is the live side of Ummagumma, especially Astronomy Domine. Am thinking of trying an amp in a box pedal with a British flavor to pair with my Quilter transistor amp which has a blackface Fender tone. This is for bedroom playing and recording. I am wondering what you might recommend. I know the Scarlet Tunic pedal came out a while back to replicate the Selmer and Hiwatt tones, but it is too expensive and hard to find. Instead, would a JTM45 style pedal like the Charlie Brown get reasonably close to the cranked Selmer tone for this? Or maybe a “Vox in a box” pedal?
The Scarlet Tunic is a great choice because it really nails that dirty, vintage flavour of the Selmer that David used on Ummagumma. I think the Charlie Brown is a great alternative. Not quite Selmer or Hiwatt but definitely vintage sounding and capable of doing the job. The Boss BD2 is a great budget alternative.
Bjorn, you’re definitely a good guy. You’ve got a pretty good idea of how to get David Gilmour’s tone. But you still have the patience to answer “beginner’s questions” for the beginner. You are an honorable man.
Just spreading the joy of music and tone. Thanks!
Hi Bjorn
I’m in the midst of redoing my pedal board so I can get some tasty Gilmour tones. Currently using a fender vintera strat and telecaster going into a hiwatt super leeds. The signal chain will be laid out as follows: ernie ball volume pedal, mxr dynacomp, Tru-fi two face for fuzz, ehx green Russian muff, past fx 18v power booster, boss CE-2, tc electronics 3rd dimension chorus, exh canyon for delay/echo. My questions are:
1. You suggest using a boost after the drives, would a black country customs TI-1 be acceptable? It has independent volume, gain, treble, bass and a midrange switch that can emphasize with upper mid/treble, low mid or flat.
2. Is this signal chain correct or should I move my volume pedal and compressor to after the drives.
Great website! You are truly a font of information!
I haven’t tried the BCC but it seems to be a fitting booster.
I would have the Two Face first. Fuzz pedals sound better when they can “see” the pickups. Then the compressor, then the drives. The volume pedal I would place after the modulations and before the delays.
Hell Bjorn, what about Real Tube 901?
I haven’t tried that one so I can’t tell. From what I’ve read it has more gain and a brighter tone compared to the Tube Driver but I might be mistaken.
Hey Bjorn.
I’ve been using FTElettronica’s Final Cut (Colorsound Powerboost clone) and it sounds fantastic. They are a small Italian pedal boutique.
Instant DG’s classic overdrive sounds. If you have a chance, grab one!
Cheers.
Hi Bjorn,
Hope all is well, and I love the website :) Excellent information.
I was hoping you could give some advice as to pedal choice/settings to achieve the tones found on David Gilmour’s latest Luck and Strange release ? In particular the track Between Two Points (solo).My attempt at a Gilmour type pedal board is as shown below.Do you think my rig is ample and are there any additions I should make ? I also own a Fulltone OCD….would this make a better choice of overdrive as opposed to my Boss BD-2 ?
My guitar is an American Standard Strat (CS Fat 50’s) going into a Fender Super Champ XD.
Boss TU-2 Tuner > MXR dyna comp > Electro Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff > Boss BD-2 > Ibanez Tube Screamer > Mooer e-lady > Neo micro VENT > MXR Phase 90 (Script) > tc electronic Flashback Delay > Strymon Big Sky – Boss Loop Station RC-
Any tips greatly appreciated.Thanks
Donald
Hi Donald, I think your main obsticle here is the amp. Not not a bad amp but it’s very different from what David’s using so you would have to compensate with pedals and perhaps compromise to some extent. I would start by setting up the amp for a nice and warm clean tone and I would probably use the Dynacomp, BD2 and a delay. Try setting the comressor level to unity and the sustain right when you hear it’s starting to hit the notes. The BD2 at unity level, tone low and the gain probably around 10-12 o’clock.
Hi Bjorn,
Many thanks for your feedback and advice.I see what you mean regarding the Fender type amp/sound.I maybe switch to a small Laney amp in the future.Once again,thanks for your recommendations.Much appreciated.
Cheers,
Donald
Cheers!
Hi Bjorn,
I have the following OD pedals to choose from whilst currently building my Gilmour board.
Past FX TD-Y
Boss BD-2
Fulltone OCD
Ibanez TS-808
I will also be using an EHM Green Russian Fuzz. Which of these pedals should I best use/leave out on my build for stacking and in which order ?
As always,your expert opinion is greatly welcomed.
Cheers,
Donald
I recommend starting with definiting what tones you are looking for. If Gilmour is what you’re aiming at, which period? Second, start with teh absolute minimum. A hig gain pedal for solos, an overdrive for rhythm and bluesy solos and last, a delay, which is a key component in David’s tones. These three pedals will cover 90% of his tones. Modulation, compression and EQ might be something you should consider for pinning down a specific era or tone.
The BD2 is probably the most versatile between the ones you list. It compliments the Green Russian very well.
Hi Bjorn,
Many thanks again for taking the time to offer your very detailed advice.You provide a fantastic portal for all of us Gilmour enthusiasts searching for these amazing sounding
tones,and is very much appreciated.
All the best with any future projects.
Cheers,
Donald
Thanks for your kind words Donald!
Hello Bjorn. My setup falls in the ” bedroom ” category and my pedal board is achieving of Gilmour’s tone. I do gig with this set up as a solo act in small venues. I had always staked my pedals – TDX Evolution – Patriot. I recently reversed that order. Very clean , almost too clean with the added drives ( headrooms an issue with clipping). I added the Hi Power- awsome pedal , but the headroom issue has no work around with my setup, but I’m thinking of adding the TDY in front of the Patriot, – Evolution- TDX , to put back what that did in my old setup,. Am I on the right track here. Things need a boost , without braking up my Princeton the entire time and clipping my signal into my Bose
..
Why do you need a boost?
Can you discuss the Boss HM-2?
What do you want to know?
What songs or albums feature the boss HM-2?
About Face and Momentary Lapse of Reason. Check out the album guides for details.
hi Bjorn! thank you for the incredible work you do for us here!
I have a question/dilemma that haunts me all the time!
For live purposes, does it sound okay to use a Boss BD2 for the rhythmic parts (i.e. Time, Money, Have a cigar, rattle that lock ) and kick in the Green Russian for the solo parts? How would you place and set those two pedals? I play a Stratocaster through a Vox AC30. I am not sure I am doing the correct thing. I also have a tube screamer and a hotcake in my board.
Greetings from Italy.
Yes that’s pretty much what David does. I would have the Muff first and then the BD2. You need to be careful with the total amount of gain though or else the Muff will sound muddy and you’ll have a lot of feedback and noise. I tend to have an overdrive, like the BD2, that I use almopst as an always on pedal and then kick in either a second overdrive or a distortion for more gain. Experiment! Having the overdrive after the Muff is similar to having an EQ. Having the Muff last, allows the overdrive to drive the Muff for more gain.
Hi Bjorn,
First of all, I just wanted to thank you for your dedication to analyzing, documenting and preserving the legacy of David Gilmour’s playing, tone, gear, amps, etc. What you’ve put together is truly incredible, and I feel like many generations to come will be able to look back here as a timeless resource to learn from and learn about one of the most incredible guitar players of all time.
I have a Fuzz/OD/Distortion question. On board currently I have an EHX Green Russian reissue for my main muff/fuzz tones, and a BD-2 for my main OD tones. I also have a Klon clone and Tubescreamer clone, but don’t (or haven’t figured out how to) incorporate those into Gilmour style tones. Would you recommend adding a dedicated Distortion pedal (ProCo Rat perhaps), or do you think the Green Russian and BD-2 (maybe in conjunction with one of the other pedals) are versatile enough to cover his tonal range from Pulse, for example?
Guitar is a MIM Fender Strat with Texas Special pickups. Amp is a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 1×12″ 40w.
Signal Chain (any recommendations are appreciated):
PolyTune 3 Noir
Xotic SP Compressor
Mooer Ninety Orange (Phase 90 clone)
EHX Green Russian Reissue
Boss BD-2
JHS Bonsai (Tubescreamer clone)
Wampler Tumnus (Klon clone)
Mooer Ensemble King (CE-2 clone)
EHX Mod 11 Modulation
TC Flashback 2 Delay
TC Hall of Fame 2 Reverb
Thanks for your very kind words Michael!
Depends on what tones you want to cover. David has been using Big Muffs since Animals 1977 but not all of his heavier sounds are done with the Muff. Especially stuff in the 80s and the more recent years. I would probably get a second BD2 or something similar and have one set up for either clean boost or mild overdrive and the second for heavier overdrive to act as an alternative to the Muff. For the pre-Animals stuff, David used fuzz but the Muff will cover most of that.
Thank you sir! As far as signal chain, would you recommend running the clean boost/milder OD into the muff into the heavier OD, or another configuration? Also as far as stacking, is the mild OD mainly to boost the muff OR heavier OD, or are there situations that would merit running all three at once? Trying to nail that Sorrow tone haha.
Thank you again!
I usually have one mild overdrive as an always on type of pedal. It’s set clean but with a bit of bite when you dig into the strings. I add a slightly more dirty overdirve for overdrive stuff, rhythms, bluesy solos etc or, a distortion of fuzz for the really heavy stuff. Guitar > distortion > overdrive > boost (always on) > amp
i Bjorn
I read on some channels that on the pulse/division bell tour David used the clean boost (tube drive#1) before the big muff, with the tube drive#2 after.
Here you have your channel, in the Pulse settings, and as you mentioned above, you place tube drive#1 afterwards.
I have a Laney L5, with its Lt112 pair. As drives I have the green muff and td-y.
To more reliably reproduce the pulse distortion sound, it makes more sense to boost before or after. Or it doesn’t even make sense to boost with my setup.
Boost is a bit like using EQ or compression. It should be set up based on your taste and how each of these components interact with your pickups, amp and other pedals. No reason to boost if you already got the tone you want from a signle pedal. A good rule is that placing the booster first adds more gain. Placing the boost after, adds more volume and character. Don’t pay too much attention to how David does it but relie on your ear.
Hey Bjorn, hope you’re well.
I know this page is more about replicas of dedicated units David has used and trusted over the years, but I’m quite keen to try out a clone of one of his Pete Cornish light-er drives.
You’ve reviewed both, so I’m wondering how you’d compare the Echoline Pedals Everest (SS-2 clone) and the Devtech Soft Drive (SS-3 clone). I’ve been weighing up trying one of these out.
From reading around it seems David only really used the SS-2 on the Division Bell and always favoured Tube Drivers to the SS-3.
Thanks!
Tonewise the SS is closer to a Tube Screamer but it’s not a correct comparison. More gain and an overall more open tone. Between the two, I would definitely go for the DevTech.
Nice, thanks for the recommendation :) I might give the Gilmour Muff a spin if I pick up the Soft Drive.
Have you had a chance to try out the Colombo Audio Pulse Driver? Different flavour of overdrive from the TD-Y but also does a good Tube Driver approximation. Somewhere between the MXR Fet Driver and TD-Y to my ear.
Haven’t tried it.
Hi Bjorn!
Just wondering what your thoughts/opinions on the Analogman King/Prince/Duke of Tone as a substitute for the BK Tube Driver?
In my opinion it’s quite tubey (like a different flavour of a tubescreamer) and you have the option of the boost/od/dirt switching
Depends on what amp you, as with all overdrives and distortions but the AnalogMan is no doubt a more versatile pedal, with a an early Marshall-like character. The Tube Driver can be a bit fizzy on certain amps.
Hi Bjorn!
Thinking about buying Crazy Tube Circuits HI-Power for my Fender deluxe reverb.
Is it really so good pedal as it costs?Or BOSS BD-2 will be enaugh?
Many thx!
Depends on what you’re looking for. The BD2 is great but you can’t really compare the two. Keep in mind though that the Hi Power won’t make your Fender into a Hiwatt. It’s rather a overdrive pedal voiced like a Hiwatt.
I give my current Rig below. Do you think I should buy a Tube Screamer and RAT? In your article above, you did not recommend British amps. Will my guitar tone get dark and muddy if I use it with Laney? Is it not possible to correct this with EQ?
I like the tones of Delicate Sound of Thunder and Pompeii 2017. Does it make sense to buy CE2W when I have CE5? Similarly, I have Effectrode LA-1A and would it make sense to buy Script Dyna Comp? I also plan to buy HM-2 and Harley Benton Talk Box. Would you recommend these for guitar and amp compatibility? Thank you in advance.
Fender Vintage Hot Rod ’57 Stratocaster Apple Candy
Yamaha FX310A
Laney Cube 12 Cube Head + Cab 15
Boss DD200
Boss CE5
Boss GE7
Boss BD2
Boss DS2
EHX Big Muff Pi
EHX Ram’s Head Big Muff Pi
EHX Green Russian Big Muff Pi
EHX Deluxe Electric Mistress
Colorsound Power Boost
Effectrode Leveling Amplifier
Effectrode Tube-Vibe
TC Electronic Polytune 3 Noir
TC Electronic Tube Pilot
TC Electronic SCF Gold Stereo Chorus Flanger
MXR M101 Phase 90
MXR CSP101SL Script Phase 90
Jim Dunlop GCB95 Cry Baby Wah
Cioks Ciokolate
You have a lot of stuff here so I guess it’s more important to ask – Is there something you feel is missing?
Thank you for your answer.
I think the TS10 and HM2 are important for the tones of the Delicate Sound, so I would like to acquire these two pedals. Don’t you think these two pedals are critical for Delicate Sound? The TS10 is hard to find, but JHS has managed to give the TS10 sound with the Bad Monkey on his channel. I also think the Bad Monkey could be a good Gilmour pedal. Have you had a chance to try it?
I’m also thinking of buying a Harley Benton Talk Box for Pigs and Keep Talking. The price is very reasonable. Have you tried it before? What are your thoughts on Harley Benton products?
I haven’t tried the Harley Benton, so I can’t really tell.
The TS10 can easily be swapped for a TS9 or a SD1. Not identical but similar. You could also go for a BD2. Keep in mind that David used Fender heads for that tour, so a TS style pedal would compenase for the lack of mid range in those amps. The HM2 sound awful on its own but David used it with a Mesa Boogie head as a pre-amp, which makes all the difference. I wouldn’t say that the HM2 is crucial for the Delicate tones. At least not without a preamp. David also useda Big Muff ram’s head on that tour, which was probably favoured for most of his solos. At least as the tour progressed.
Hi Bjoern
I am wondering if there is any noticable difference between the old Buffalo TD-X and the Past fx TD-Y.
Same question for the Evolution/Revolution.
kind regards
Juergen
The 4-knob TDY is an exact clone of the Buffalo. Same with the Revolution although I found this a tad more noisy.
Hi Björn,
I would like to ask you if you think a Drybell Unit67 pedal can work as an alternative to a TD-Y?
I don’t have the possibility to purchase a TD-Y, but I have been offered a Unit-67 for a good price.
Greetings from Berlin!
No, the Unit67 is a booster and compressor so it won’t provide any distortion like the TDY. The closest match for a Tube Driver or TDY is the Boss BD2.
Thank you. I finally put together a DIY TD-Y V1 pedal, and it sounds fantastic.
Me and a friend of mine are gonna build a BK Butler Tube Drive clone. Which version does Gilmour use and which tubes does he prefer? I especially like the Pompeii Face of Stone tone. I don’t like the album and Wroclaw versions of the same track as much. Do you think he used a different setting or did he modify the pedal? Maybe the tube inside changed? Do you have a recommendation for the Pompeii Face of Stone tone?
Gilmour uses one of the 3 Tube Drives as a boost. I wonder if using my Effectrode LA-1A would do the same job? It’s a tube pedal. Is it very important to boost with the Tube Drive?
Also, which pedals do you recommend for the I Put a Spell On You tone and at which settings? I didn’t see it on the website.
First, I Put a Spell on You was done with a Rat and possibly a Boss CS2 and CE2.
David used both Chandler and BK Tube Drivers for Rattle That Lock and the tour. They’re set for different purposes, from clean boost to mild overdrive and disortion and the last one. Whether or not your should compress and/or EQ depends on what tones you want and what pickups and amps you use. David is both boosting, EQing and compressing but all that’s based on the pickups in his Black Strat and the Hiwatt amps, with the Fane Crescendo speakers. The slightly more open sounding, less compressed and more mids scooped BK Butler would be the closest match for his Rattle That Lock tones.
Would an ODR-1 / ODR-C (nordland) fit in with the tube driver options? Currently trying to decide between a TD-Y and ODR-C, and from a distance they seem like a similar OD style.
Absolutely, it has a darker top end and a tad bit more mids compared to the Tube Driver but it’s very close.
Björn, I love everything about both your playing and this website! If something could be wished it would be to find your old reviews gathered somewhere on the site. You’ve put so much time and effort into it so I think it’s a pity. I know you can find most sound clips on Youtube but there it always refers to the full review on this site, where it often is missing since the pedal is out of production or similar.
Keep up your fantastic work!
Cheers,
Krister
Hei Krister, thanks for your kind words and suggestion. I’ll perform some updates later this spring/summer and put reviews on the to do list. Cheers!
Hi Bjorn, hope you’re doing well!
Wanted to get your opinion on the Crazy Tube Circuits Motherload, as it could be a good way to free up some space on my pedalboard. I believe I saw a very nice demo of yours recently on it?
I am basically wondering if it’s good at getting the tones from those good muffs and rats, or if it’s more of its own thing in which case sticking to some of the good individual rats and muffs might be a more appropriate way to go (even if it’s a great pedal in its own right). For reference, I’ve been using the Ram’s head reissue, the Green Russian, the Tru-Fi Rat Pack, and the Jam Rattler on and off over the past years so this is the benchmark I have in my head.
Thank you:)
Hi, it has its own thing in regards to how the controls operate but tonewise it’s very authentic sounding. Definitely worth checking out for the tones and for freeing up some space.
Hi Bjorn,
I’ve been playing guitar in a Pink Floyd tribute act for 12 years and for what I’ve seen so far my Colorsound PowerBoost starts to break up at nearly 3 o’clock and everything up to that point just won’t do anything, the tone stays pristine clean. So basically the interesting range is between 3 o’ clock up to 5.30 which is the maximum. Is it normal? Do you suggest me to look for a less demanding Powerboost clone, capable of breaking up earlier?
that’s why I find really difficult to relate to your colorsound suggested settings, my unit also has a master volume pot on the side. My main amp is a Hiwatt T20/40 running a 2×12 Blackstar cabinet.
Thanks in advance
Matteo
Each Power Booster model and clone are different and they sound and react different to different amps, speakers, amp settings and pickups. Power Boosts has a lot of headroom and especially if you have one with 18V and master volume. Use it as a clean booster, or, an overdrive or fuzz and don”t freak out if your settings doesn’t mine or Gilmour’s.
Hi Bjorn
I have a BD-2 which can do every Gilmour overdrive tone, but I’m looking for a second one for Tube Driver tones. I’m thinking of the Wampler Plexi Drive and the EHX Crayon. Which one do you prefer?
I might get a TD-Y if I find a cheaper used one. Do you think it would be better that the other 2?
The TDY is as close as you’ll get to a real Tube Driver. The Crayon is close but it has more mid range. The Plexi Drive has that Tube Driver character but it’s closer to an early Marshall, with a bit more going on in the upper mids. I don’t know. Either the TDY or the Plexi I guess.
Hi BJORN,
Thank you for this wonderfully useful resource. Before I buy a new piece of gear, I consult with this site. I find your opinions on gear to be quite valuable. I was devastated during the time it was down. I’m so glad you brought it back to life. Keep up the good work! – Chuck
Thanks for your kind words Chuck!
Thanks for all you do Bjorn, I have been thinking of picking up a Tru Fi power booster (or similar) for some time now, my question is does the new CTC Hi-Power have the same caliber of booster or is it worth having a dedicated separate one? I love your demo and will probably pick it up regardless…Thanks!
Absolutely. The CTC PB is spot on.
Do you know anything about the pedals on Roger’s The Wall live in Berlin? Rick DiFonzo’s screaming guitar solos sound great to me. How do I get that tone?
Haven’t researched that.
Hi , Do you Like Wampler plexi drive?
Absolutely! One of my go to pedals for years.
Hi Bjorn, thank you so much for the wonderful insights all these years. I wanted to ask your opinion on tube-screamer type pedals in place of a BD-2. I’ve been super happy with the BD-2 which can reproduce Gilmour tones very well, but I’m thinking on replacing it with something more modern which can help with other tones as well, so I can have only one OD -dedicated pedal. Specifically I’m thinking about this one https://www.jampedals.com/double-dreamer/ which has a really good Ts808 -like side, and a more modern boost side with blending option. Do you think something like this would work well, or I would be better off with the BD-2 as concerns Gilmour tones? P.S. I have a Laney L5 studio at home and an EQ, so I can bring the mids down significantly if necessary. For loud settings I’m not as concerned because it will help cut through the mix better than the BD-2 probably. I have fuzz and muff pedals for those tones, so I’m looking specifically at the boost/OD section concerning Gilmour tones.
Sorry for my late reply. The BD2 actually has a bit of mids. Not nearly as much as a TS but enough to cut through and personally I prefer the DB2 with the Lionheart over the TS. Having said that, the Dreamer sits between the BD2 and TS. Not as middy as the TS but considerably more than the BD2.
Thank you so much for your input!
First: Thanks for making this awesome website!
I’m very interested in the Power Booster circuit. Would you say that the Pastfx Power Booster V2 is a great choice, also for ‘bedroom’ applications? I want to use it on its own and with a fuzz face into a JTM45 (with attenuator). Since you have mentioned so many Pastfx pedals on your site I was surprised that it wasn’t mentioned in your list.
The Past FX is a clone of the Buffalo FX Powerbooster. This has a bit more mid range and an overall warmer tone compared to the original Colorsound. Fits a wider range of amps and bedroom volume.
Hej, sadly the wonderful homepage of Kitrea is not aviable. Do you know about a new link?
Thanks for your tons of info!
Grts
Frank
It’s up as far as I can tell.
Hey Bjorn, love the fleeting glimpse EP and your original works. I was wondering if a Ibanez tube screamer is enough for an overdrive or if I’d need something with a lot more gain. i have two tube screamer so i could stack them but i only have little space on my pedalboard. Should i get the BD2 or stick with the tube screamer? Thanks
Thanks for your kind words! It depends on your amp. As a rule, with exceptions, I would use a TS with American mids scooped amps, while British mids boosted amps often sound better with more scooped pedals. The BD2 has a bit of mids but not nearly as much as the TS. I would say though that the BD2 is a more versatile pedal, going from pristine cleans to near fuzz.
Hi, WOW great information. I really need your help!
In this video here:
Timestamp 13:25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WClLSPK8Yec
David plays an opening solo to On an Island. In this video the tone I’m really wondering how he gets is from minute 14:25 where the notes are REALLY meaty for lack of a better term. He is hitting frets 7-9 there and I don’t know what pedals will get me the tone from the entire solo AND the tone from 14:25.
Thoughts?
As far as I’ve manage to gather, he’s using the neck pickup (later switching to the bridge), with a Compulator compressor and Pete Cornish G2, which is kind of a Rat distortion (but not quite). He plays VERY loud with the Hiwatt amps, which adds a lot of tube and speaker compression. Read more about David’s 2006 tour set up here.
Hey Bjorn, have you taken a look at the Fender MTG tube pedals ?
Nope
Hey bjorn. Thanks for your amazing website. What do you think about the new hi-power pedal? Would you recommend it for the hiwatt sound? I have laney cub, emg strat, big muff and dyna comp.
Thanks! I haven’t tried it so I can’t tell.
hello bjorn! for about a year now, your website and kit raes have been the most helpful for getting my signal chain and settings the way they are. i have the both of you to thank. i have a question about boosting muffs. i have tried it many times, but everytime its rather too gainy and causes feedback, or too quiet and muffled. my signal chain is cs22 strat which i equipped with an ssl-5 in the bridge > keeley comp plus > dynacomp > phase 90 > VA 73 rams head > td-y > powerbooster > volume pedal > marshall code 100 (set for a very typical gilmour clean sound). every rabbit hole ive gone down to get that tone from the wall or gdansk i see, narrowly comes to dead ends. my signal chain without a booster when i use it sounds fine. may you give some insight on how i may be able to achieve that epic boost tone the right way? oh and happy holidays!
Thanks for your kind words Landon! I’m not familiar with the Marshall Code 100 but the main thing is that you’re happy with the tone you get and how it sounds with the guitar plugged straight into it. Now, obviously, David’s setup is different and you’re referring to a tone produced on a huge arena, which is processed in an album mix as well. Boosting isn’t needed if you already like the tone. David is often stacking a clean Tube Driver after the Muff much like like an EQ, just adding a bit of warmth to the Big Muff. When you do this, you need to be careful with the gain, so if you’re experiencing feedback, that means that there’s too much gain. Keep the level on the pedals at about unity with the guitar going into the amp and set the Muff gain to about noon or even a bit lower. Add your Power Booster and hear how that sounds. I’d set the Power Booster clean with the treble and bass neutral. You should almost not hear a difference when it’s on but it will react with the Muff once you kick it in. Obviously, the overall volume also plays a role. David’s playing extremely loud, pushing the tubes and speakers in his amp rigs. Hope this helped.
it has! thank you bjorn for your insight! much appreciated. and happy new year!
Just saw your awesome JHS Charlie Brown YouTube demo. I am curious what your thoughts are on it 5 years later compared to these? Thanks :)
Also, do you think the Angry Charlie could work in a pinch for higher gain Gilmour (I know it’s JCM800)?
Again, thank you!
I use the CB all the time. Love that pedal. There are many JTM clones on the market but the CB manage to capture that dirty vintage flavour. The AC is a bit too mid rangy and modern sounding for David’s tones IMO.
Hi bjorn
Before all, I’d like to thank you for the time and effort you put in on your reviews and ultimately on your priceless guidance
My gear is a Marshall Jcm 2550 loaded with celestino vintage 30’, and a fender Stratocaster with your pickups recommendations, along with different pedal for Gilmour tones, among them, Xotic sp compresor, byoc large beaver Triangle, Caprid Big muff ram’s head, boss re 201, boss rt 20, ehx mm deluxe, and Vick audio overdriver, mjm London fuzz (ge), jdm fuzz 292, Vick audio tree of life, boss eq 7 mij. As you can tell I’ve got a lot of your recommendations.
However I just seem to fail to nail those Pink Floyd obscured by the clouds era tones somehow; so I would to ask you how should I set it my pedal chain order to achieve those tones. And last, somehow I consider I don’t get the most out of my overdriver, what’s the way to make it sound aggressive on its own and stack in conjunction with my fuzzes, is there any way?? I’m asking you this because the overdriver seem to not provide enough fuzz sound on its own when compared to my other silicone fuzz
Thanks in advance
I
Thanks for your kind words! The Vick Overdriver is a fairly dark one, compared to some of the other clones out there. The Marshall also has a lot of mid range, which will roll off some of those high frequency harmonics you want from your Gilmour fuzz tones. Still, the Overdriver, or the Power Boost, doesn’t sound as aggressive as a fuzz so I would rather use that as a clean boost or an overdriver and have a dedicated fuzz for fuzz tones. David’s Obscured tones are very bright but what you hear is basically his Strat going into the Hiwatt with either a Fuzz Face silicon or a Power Booster, depending on the part. It’s hard to hear but there’s also a Leslie rotary cabinet on most of the sounds, although mixed very low.
I have an XTS Tejas Boost , which is a CS powerbooster , Sounds really good , especially into ( before ) another drive , its makes everything sound good
( including orange drop capacitors )
Hey Bjorn. Thanks for your amazing content. Have you heard about blackstar dept 10 dual drive (the red one)? I watched some reviews and seems that it got quite a tone. Do you think it’s a good alternative for tube driver?
Thank you! No, I haven’t so I can’t really tell.
Hi Bjorn. Thanks for the great info.
Have you ever run a Ge/Si fuzz into the BD2 as a kind of alternative to the Coloursound Powerboost? I’m running a Ge fuzz into a MIAB (set clean) into a fender right now and I could use some more tone shaping, its a bit muddy at 10 volume. Currently I have a treble booster after it but its too nasally, icepicky and boxy. Wondering if you had any thoughts on a BD2 after the fuzz instead, to round it out and get me more mids and compression.
Thanks for any help
The BD2, like all Boss pedals, has buffers and vintage circuit fuzz pedals doesn’t like that. The fuzz will sound thin and bright. I would start by adjusting the amp to match the fuzz and maybe use a true bypass booster or overdrive, like a Colorsound Power Boost clone or a Past FX TDY, which is a clone of the Tube Driver.
Hi Bjorn,
Is the Boss BD-2 a good match with a Princeton Reverb 65 RI amp when playing at bedroom levels?
Thanks!
Yes.
Hello Bjorn,
I’ve been following your career and Gilmourish for a few years now. Great job on the redesign! I’m happy you have continued to provide us with endless information for all thing Gilmour related as well as your excellent work with Airbag and your solo career.
I am currently in the market for the Jam Pedals Rattler to replace my Mooer Black Secret. Would you consider this to be an worthwhile upgrade considering the price difference? How would you compare the two pedals? Does the Rattler have more low-end in comparison to the Black Secret?
Thanks you!
Thank you Joshua! The Rattler is one of my favourite Rat clones. It has a bit more open sound, less mid range, and a smoother gain. I wouldn’t say it has more low end, but that’s kind of the nature of the Rat circuit. If you have too much low end, it will cut the mid range. I would say that it’s a huge upgrade from the Black Secret, which is a good clone too. Another favourite is the Rat Pack from Tru-Fi. It has three diode modes and a bit more low end. I did a review a few years back.
Hi Bjorn.
Love my Bd-2, it is really great for smooth overdrive.
I am now considering an upgrade.
Would PastFx Td-y be a definite upgrade over Bd-2?
Thanks.
The TDY is similar but with less mid range and a bit more amp-like character. I love them both for different purposes.
Hello Bjorn!
I was hoping you might have an idea what effects David is using and how he might be getting his tone in this video:
https://youtu.be/xo_W7KEUqH8?si=WALwJQ0aeozoObI8
The quality is terrible, but I saw the DVD once and figured you probably have as well.
I love how he has such a sweet gentle tone in the beginning, but than seems to turn up the heat a bit going into the chorus without appearing to actually turn an effect on (though I could be wrong – terrible audio and video).
Cheers!
What you hear is the Leslie 760 that’s behind him. Possibly a combination between the Leslie and the Fender tweed amp you see in front of it. He might be using an overdrive pedal too but I suspect it’s just the Leslie. It’s all over Dark Side of the Moon. That rotary and the gain you get from playing harder. Keep in mind too that the pickups on the Bill Lewis guira are fairly hot so any amp will distort sooner than single coils.
Hey Bjorn,
So I recently bought a BD-2w, as well as a Triangle Big Muff clone that was built with BC-109 transistors(sounds like a cross between a Big Muff and Silicon Fuzz Face). Should I put the BD-2 before or after the muff. Also does a rat negate the need for a big muff or would it just enhance it?
Depends on how sensitive the Big Muff is to buffered pedals. I would place the booster after the Muff and use it more as an EQ. I wouldn’t stack a Rat and Muff. Way too much gain.
Hi Bjorn!
Always thanks for your site full of useful informations.
Before the renewal, I think there were more pedal recommendations. (like, Wampler Plexidrive… etc.)
It seems to me that the renewed pedal recommendation list is a more concise and accurate list.
However, I would love to see other pedal reviews that have been removed from the renewed list.
Are you thinking of re-uploading them like a ‘second option’?
Thanks! I needed to cut down the lists a bit to make them easier to read and room for new additions. Older reviews are still posted on my YouTube channel.
Hi Bjorn !
Thanks so much for all the tips…
I am playing with a Lionheart L5T and these lines actually put some concrete words on the impression i had, especially regarding the Tubescreamer. I should definitely give a try to the BD and maybe the EHX Crayon or Hot Wax.
I have always wanted to get the awesome sound of Sorrow on that amp, any recommandation ? I am playing a Tele with standard Texas Special pickups, it may be difficult to go to it but i am not trying to joint a tribute so…
Thanks !
The amp is a great pedal platform so for Sorrow, I’d go for a Big Muff or a Rat.
Hi Bjorn
Really love this site.
I have a Laney Super Cub 15W Amp.
What pedals would you recommend for this amp in a bedroom setup?
I am quite new to this.
Any help would be appreciated
Many thanks
Depends on what tones you’re looking for but a Boss BD2 and a nice delay is always a good start.
Hey bjorn. I’m going to buy an overdrive for gilmourish tones. I have strat with custom 69 and ssl 5 pickups and a laney cub amp. For 2000s and 2010s gilmour tones (for example faces of stone solo tone-ish) which one would you recommend the most?
1) Boss bd 2 waza craft
2) wampler deluxe plexi
3) ehx crayon
Thanks for your Ultimate website..
They’re all very similar but I don’t think you can go wrong with the BD2. Just an amazingly versatile pedal and it goes very well with your setup.
Hey Bjorn!
PowerBoosters – I looked high and low for the pedals you discussed, and I either couldn’t find one or couldn’t afford one, haha. Eventually I settled on a Blammo Voltage Booster, but I’m not quite getting a handle on it (it’s hugely loud), although I do like it.
If you’re not familiar, it has switchable 9v and 18v options, as well as bass, treble, volume, and gain knobs. I believe this would make it akin to a master volume version of the PowerBooster.
So, what I’m wondering is how to apply your three knob settings to my four knob pedal. Would my “gain” be your “volume” and my “volume” a choke to the overall put?
Currently I run the gain around 4-5 o’clock, and the volume up just enough for the pedal to be heard (around 8 o’clock), but this really only gives me so much flexibility in terms of levels of grit.
What amp and pickups are you using?
A selection really. Either a 50s Classic Strat, Tele, or a Les Paul into either a Champ, Deluxe, or AC15.
OK, so nether of these amps are handling vintage style pedals that well. They’re low wattage and designed with a scooped mid range or at least less mid range than a typical Hiwatt or Marshall. That doesn’t mean that these amps are bad but perhaps not the best match for a Power Boost. Now, you can compensate to some extent by lowering the treble and increase the mids on these amps. I would run the Power Boost on 18V for maximum headroom and a smoother breakup. The volume acts like a gain control, so use that in conjunction with the master volume knob. Usually, you want to keep the treble low and the bass a bit higher. Similar sounding pedals, that will fit your amps better, are the Boss BD2 and EHX Crayon.
Pedal life always comes down to “shoulda bought a Blues Driver” haha. They’re great, no idea why I don’t have one – ha.
So… for my 4 knob clone, use “Bjorn volume” as my “gain” and my “volume” as a governor? Like for overall output and unity and such?
The gain is controls the overdrive and the master, the overall output. The master at unity, level with the guitar signal, allows the gain to operate as a 3-knob Power Boost. By increasing the master and lowering the gain, you’ll get more headroom and the pedal acts as a clean booster. Adjust the two for your desired tone.
Thanks!
Hello Bjorn !
If you have to choose between the evolution and the revolution which one will you keep and why ?
Thanks a lot.
The Evolution is, as you know, no longer in production, but I would keep that one I think. They’re very close and the circuits I’m sure are identical, but the Evolution is a bit more quiet and it sounds slightly smoother to my ears. Still, very close.
Hi Bjorn,
one of my most beloved DG tones is the one he created during the solo of A great day for freedom during the Gdansk show. To my ears there is not much modulation in there (just the Doppolas that I try to replicate in my PF cover band with my Dawner Prince Pulse) so it may all depend on the overdrive/distortion tone. I usually use the svisound overzoid + or the Costalab bad angel for distortion tones but they don’t seem to work on this tune. Do you have any suggestions for this special Gdansk sound? Maybe Toptone DG2? Or the SMS Earth Drive? I play a Fender Strat (pickups same as DGs signature Strat) into a Laney lionheart or a Cream Amp (a small german brand very close to Fender vintage amps). Thanks so much for all your work here, Bjorn, it can’t appreciated enough and is always a pleasure to share!!
He didn’t use the Doppolas on that 2006 tour. What you hear is the Cornish G2, possibly with some compression, and delay. Very basic setup. He’s using the trem arm a lot, which may sound like there’s some modualtion going on. The TopTone DG2 is very close. So is a Rat. Cheers!
Hi Bjorn, I’ve been following you for 5 years now and your site is always a source of great inspiration. I need some help figuring out which pedal could work as a replacement for the Tube Driver. As an overdrive I have an OCD, ZenDrive, NobelsOd and a tube screamer mini, finally I use a blues Junior amp. Could I use one of these pedals or do you recommend something else? Thank you
Thanks for your kind words! All of these works nicely with the Blues Jr. The OCD, Zen Drive and Nobels are very similar to the Tube Driver. The Tube Screamer has much more mid range and works better as a boost. Eiether on a cranked amp or, placed after on of the other overdrives you have. Alone on a clean amp, it often sounds flat and too midrangy.
Hi Bjorn! Congratulations for the great site! What do you think about the “3 knobs” BK 910 Tube Driver? It have a 9v jack and the size is pedalboard friendly!
I haven’t played those so I can’t really tell.
Hello Björn, I’m looking for another overdrive pedal to use as a mild overdrive. I have seen the JHS Charlie Brown and the Wampler Tumnus and was wondering what you think will be more suitable for me?
I have an American Deluxe Strat into a keeley compressor +, ehx green muff reissue, bd-2, Mooer Elady, Mooer Ensemble King and a TC Flashback. The amp I have is a Marshall dsl40.
The Charlie Brown is one of my favourite overdrive pedals. It nails the JTM45 tone and it should go nicely with your amp as well although you might need to tame the mid range and brightness a bit. The Tumnus is a Klon, which is kind of similar. You might also want to look into something like the Boss BD2, which hass less mid range that probably will compliment your Marshall amp better since it already has a lot of mid range.
Thanks for all the “gear gyan” (gyan is the ancient Sanskrit word for knowledge).
My questions are : Is the Tube Screamer or RC Booster (versions 1 and 2) a good alternative to
the Tube Driver? Do they come after the Big Muff Triangle/Green Russian in the signal chain?
Thanks again
Thanks for your kind words Raghu! Depends on your amp. Check out this feature for some tips on choosing the right pedals for differnet types of amps. A Tube Driver has a fairly flat frequency range, while a Tube Screamer has a lot of mid range. The RC is quite the oposite, with a slight mid range scoop and a clean boost character. I think the best way to go is either a EHX Crayon or the Boss BD-2. Both very close to the Tube Driver and they will work nicely on most amps.
Thank you very much for your response
Bjorn,
You should really compile an ebook with all of your articles going back to the beginning of the site. There are some classic essays I miss reading. Sell it for $20 or something. I’d buy it!
Sprncer
Maybe I should do that :)
Yes, this is a great idea! I’d buy one too :)
Thanks for all your work on here Bjorn!!
Bjorn, this is the most informative site I’ve come across with regard to pedal/amp matching. I recently picked up a Marshall studio classic, which is a 20 watt version of JCM800. What distortion pedal would you recommend for tight modern metal? Thank you!
Thank you! Well, you already have an amp that will provide a lot of gain and you should be able to get a decent modern metal sound by rolling back the mid range. I’m not that familiar with recreating metal sounds but I would go for something with a bit of mids scoop, like a Boss DS1 or similar. You can also boost the amp with a Boss SD-1. There are lots of metal pedals out there but again, I don’t know any of these.
Are you familiar with the prs sonzera 20. Is this more of an american fender type amp so that a tube screamer or rat would e better with it ? Great website by the way it is a wealth of knowledge.
Yes, it’s based on older so-called tweed era Fenders as far as I know, so A TS or Rat would fit the amp very well. The Boss BD2 is also a good choice.
Tusen tack !
https://youtu.be/gi4jh8xt-aQ
Hi Bjorn – You familiar with this pedal from a talented Italian builder? Has no actual tube in it but a great simulation of 3 tubes with differentt gain levels. Quality tone right in David’s wheelhouse.
All thd Best, Tom
Haven’t tried it so I can’t really tell.
Hi Bjorn,
I was looking at the strymon pedals and loved your review of the Deco. I have two questions. One, Does the Deco do a convincing enough electric mistress as well as boost. And would the Strymon Riverside be a good boost similar to the Colordrive?
I appreciate all the help!!
The Deco is one of my favourite pedals but it doesn’t really sound like anything else. They’ve done an amazing job replicating all the sounds you can get from manipulating a tape recorder. The gain side is similar to a Tube Screamer, with quite a lot of compression and mid range. The echo side does a very nice chorus and a one repeat echo. Set at the sweet spot it does a very good tape flanging. No Mistress but in the same ballpark as an MXR Flanger.
The Riverside is a Tibe Screamer with options. Nothing like a ColorDriver.
Hi Bjorn,
Just wanted to start off saying thank you for providing us with all of this valuable info about David’s rigs throughout his career. I wanted to ask about what you think would be the best pedal combinations for having a good rhythm and lead tone. A couple drive pedals you could switch back and forth between, or a good drive and a good boost pedal. I use a Earthquaker Plumes and an Echoplex Preamp whenever I’m using my board. Which pedals do you think would be best? I like his lead tones during the Meddle/Dark Side era and during Animals the most.
Thank you!
Hi Tom, thanks for your kind words! That depends on what amp you’re using. Please read through this feature on choosing the right pedals for different amps. Let me know if you need more help.
Hi bjorn ! Love your music and great work here!. Do you have a advice with a bluesJr and 57′ Strat reissue? I want a light fuzz/overdrive for dark side/wish/animal. Past Fx Powerboost or Buffalo-Fx Powerboost? Or maybe something else?
Thanks again
Thanks for your kind words Patrick! That depends on what speaker your Blues Jr has. Some are very bright and the Power Boost might not be the best choice. Something a bit more versatile perhaps like a Rat or even a Boss BD2.
Hi Bjorn.
If I simply boost the mids of a Tube Driver with a Boss GE-7 EQ pedal it’ll help me get closer to Gilmour’s TD tone? That warm, “creamy” tone he gets even at higher drive/distortion settings without getting a fuzzy sound.
Any tips on going in the direction of that tone regarding the Tube Driver?
It depends on your amp, speakers and pickups too but yes, an EQ can help you shape the tone of the TD. Try boosting around 400Hz and a tiny amount at 3.2kHz for more presence. You might want to cut the 6.4k band. Minor adjustments.
Hello Bjorn:
I have a BK Butler Tube Driver and I want to place an overdrive pedal in front of it and use the Butler to boost the signal and EQ tonal character to get those soaring tones. What would you suggest as an overdrive pedal in front of the Butler? I’m at a loss because there are so many options these days.
Thank you,
Chet
I like to use something similar like a Boss BD2, EHX Crayon or the excellent Tube Driver clone TDY from Past FX. You could try something with more mids too but in my experience that often makes the Tube Driver sound muddy. I would however suggest to use the Tube Driver as the main overdrive and have a second as a tone enhancer. I think you will find that the tones blend better that way as the Tube Driver is designed more as a pre-amp.
I guess I had it backwards. OK. Tube Drive first, then another overdrive. Maybe it will be a BD-2. Maybe with the Keeley phat mod. Thanks, Bjorn.
Hello and thanks for this guide. I’m looking for a distortion pedal to pair with a Laney Cube 12R. Any suggestion? I’m going to purchase a ProCo RAT 2, but it seems that is not pairing well with British amplifier. Any thoughts on that? Thank you in advance!
Depends on what tones you want but the Rat works great with the Cub.
if i play with a lot high gain then I get a lot of noise ,what is the best way to suppress this without affecting my sound
with kind regards
John
Turn away from the amp and any lights, computers etc. Make sure your pedals has high quality patch cables and powering. Try lowering the gain and find the sweetspot for how much noise you can tolerate without losing tone.
Hello Bjorn,
which patch cables do you recommend , there is so much to get , have already tried quite a few .
With kind regrads
John
There are several good options out there. I’ve been using Evidence Audio SIS for years. Just stay away from the cheapest stuff. They usually colour the tone and aren’t shielded.
Hey Bjorn,
I’ve got a mxr micro amp and a big muff style fuzz. Do you think I should add another overdrive in between and if so what would you recommend? I like what i’ve seen about the EHX Crayon but have seen you recommend the blues driver a lot? Also do you think the JHS 3 series Flanger does a good job for electric mistress tones?
Depends on whether you think you need an overdrive. The BD2 is hard to beat. Very versatile. The Crayon is very close to the Tube Driver David’s been using since the 90s. I also recommend Past FX TDY which IMO is the closest you’ll get to a Tibe Driver.
Hello Bjorn,
Wondering if you have checked out the JHS moonshine and where it fits in the scream of things.
Is it a good TS option, and would the clean blend control make it a good clean boost to boot?
I haven’t tried it so I can’t really tell.
Hi Bjorn hope you are well! I’ve been a huge fan of you and your work am loving the new website. I am looking for a new low to med gain overdrive pedal and would like to know what you would recommend between the BD-2 and the TD-Y. I am looking to emulate the BKB Tube Driver tones from 2016 Pompeii. Also would love to know more about his tones from that 2016 show. Shine on is my favourite song and during that show, the tone is incredible and would love to emulate it. It’s a lot brighter than the original but not sure how to achieve that. Many thanks!
Thanks Lewis! The TDY is very similar to the Tube Driver and absolutely nail those tones. Depending on your amp though, the BD2 has a bit more compression and mid range and may be easier to set up on some amps.
Would you say the bd-2 or the td-y is quieter and easier on bedroom setups?
Thanks!
Both are quiet if you’re referring to noise. They’re very similar soundwise as well so both of them works great on bedroom setups.
Im using a Boss Katana at the moment which is pretty versatile. I think it would be okay to setup the TD-Y with it hopefully. Thanks for the help!
Yes, that should work nicely!
what about the past fx powerbooster? that seems really good. and blammo voltage booster
Absolutely. It’s a clone of the Buffalo FX Powerbooster, with a bit of high end roll off and generally easier to set up compared to the more vintage ones.
Hi Bjorn,
quick question: do you know what are the Tube Driver settings, especially the EQ settings, used by Gilmour for The Division Bell album? I have a Butler Tube Driver with a M-Tech Mantovani Mod (output buffer, 12V power supply) and a 12AU7 Telefunken tube, but sometimes I struggle finding the right EQ.
For example, I’m triyng to replicate the middle solo from the Wearing the Inside Out, but it’s not easy to get that juicy midfocused tone, even with a Fender Strat w/ EMG DG20, a Boss CS2 MIJ, and an Hiwatt tube head. I feel I’m in the ballpark, but not exactly there.
Do you also know what are his favourite settings for the EXG and SPC controls?
Thanks a lot.
Cheers from Italy
Hard to say because pedal settings depends on the amp settings, pickups, other pedals etc. The Chandler Tube Driver he used at the time has more mids than the current BK, so that’s a start. He also used Boss GE7s to enhance the mids. I think the most tricky part of that whole setup is the combination of the Hiwatt SA212 and Fender Bassmans. Impossible to say how they were set up and mixed. Read more here.
Can you please share a few Rat / Rattler settings for fuzz and muff? Thanks!
Settings depends on what amp and pickups you have and what tones you want. A good place to start is to have the volume on the pedal set to unity gain with your guitar and adjust the tone and gain to desire.
Greetings Bjorn,
The down time was worth it- the website looks great! I got my hands on a PowerBoost clone that nails those DSOTM- Animals tones. More recently I have been trying to get the Tube Driver tones, using several pedals. The BD2 is very close; I think the EHX Hot Wax might even be better. I don’t know if you’ve had the chance to try a TC Tube Pilot; it sadly has no EQ, but works great for the clean TD boost tones, especially paired with an EQ pedal. Do you have any thoughts on the old Butler designed Tube Works Real Tube overdrive pedals? Recently, I got a great deal on a used Real Tube Tube Driver (the black and yellow, 5 knob version). I love it! It’s built like a tank, more solid than my old Sovtek Muff. It’s also sounds surprisingly with my bedroom setup and Fender amp. It just has something special that I can’t get from my BD2 or Hot Wax. Again- congrats on the website!
Cheers!
Chris
Thank you Chris! I haven’t tried the older Tube Driver pedals so I can’t really tell. The Chandler has a bit more mids and is closer to the Hot Wax/Crayon, while the 2006/present BK Tube Driver has slightly less mids and a brighter top. My best tip is the TDY from Past FX.
Hi Bjorn,
Your page is one of my most daily visited, not only for Gilmour tones but to understand my gear and be able to achieved better tones. I am a Fender Bassman amp player, I been using the OCD and the East River Drive (TubeScreamer clone) for a long time and works good I think… Lately I being think on trying other kinds of OD like Blues Breaker type and Klon Centaur type. Are this two pedals really scooped mids ? Do you think it will be worthy to try them?
Thanks for your kind words Francisco! The Blues Breaker is based on those early Marshall amps. It’s fairly flat frequencywise with a tiny bit of mid range. Excellent for mild overdrive and just adding a bit of life to your tones. Klon type pedals are somewhat similar but with more mid range and compression. See this feature for some tips on different types of overdrive pedals.
Hi, Bjorn, I hope you’re doing well. Please, have you already tried de Pete Cornish SS-3? And what do you think about de Boss OD-200? I need more options for overdrive/Distortion/Fuzz in my pedalboard, but I don’t more space. I’m thinking to change the SS-3 by the OD-200.
To be honest I never liked the SS pedals. Don’t know why but they just don’t appeal to me. I haven’t tried the OD200 but it has all the classic Boss pedals and IMO it’s hard to beat the BD2.
Hey Bjorn, how’s your pedalboard looking these days?
It’s been a while since we did any shows so at the moment my board is just a mess. I’m recording for others and rehearsing new Airbag material, so I’m just plugging into a bunch of pedals to find some interesting tones. I’ve been using the Thorpy Scarlet Tunic a lot lately. Awesome pedal. I’ll have a review up in a few days. I’m also using fuzz a lot too, like the Jam Pedals Fuzz Phrase and the Dunlop JHF1.
Hi Bjorn, appreciate your site!
I have a 1973 Princeton non reverb. Mild mannered in that it doesn’t really break up (like the reverb model), but has a beautiful tone. I put a Fat Jimmy (unfortunate name…) c1025 speaker in it which made it very open, lively, a lot of overtones but still sweet, just sings. I can play it on 8 or higher and it has a little fuzziness. Use a Hall of Fame reverb pedal.
Am using a Strat partscaster and some nice “1964” A3 magnet pickups, also have some A5 pickups.
This setup does all the jazzy, Bill Frissellish things, and spacey jams and noodling.
Just started looking for an overdrive pedal and tried an OCD V2. I like the solid quality. It sounds good but too hardcore, and has too much gain. Not warm enough with this amp. Can’t really turn the volume past 1/4 turn.
So I’m reading and learning – seems I need a soft clipping low gain pedal instead. Started looking at bluesbreaker types, and Gainchanger, etc. I like the Bad Angel demo. Wondering about what you would recommend.
I’m one of those older guys. Was 9 when British invasion started – we started little bands through school years. Then faded away from it, played acoustic at home, started working , etc… Still went to the concerts and bought the albums of course.
Just got back into electric, going for simple setup for home. A nice od pedal that gets some Gilmour tones – (and maybe into early Cream/Clapton) to reminisce and while away the hours…
Let me know if you have any ideas!
Thanks, Don Wilson
Hi Don, a Bluesbreaker type pedal would perhaps be a better choice. Some of my favourites are the JHS Morning Glory and Vick Audio Mount Pleasant. I also recommend the Boss BD-2, which will give you pretty much anything from clean headroom to fuzz.
Great thanks! Is the Dover Drive or Rat2 in that area too?
The Dover is based on the Tube Driver but tweaked much closer to a Tube Screamer, with more mid range. The Rat has a lot of mid range and gain. I wouldn’t put these in the same category as Bluesbreaker pedals.
Hello to my friend “Bjorn the Bender!” I hope you and yours are well…
I have a sad story to tell. My 2016 Buffalo FX Power Booster just died yesterday…it was a limited edition of a run of only 50 Steve made in Orange, not black. I’m going to try to get it repaired but can’t guarantee that will happen.
Please Search your brain for the best obtainable Clone in case I can’t get it fixed locally. I trust your opinion and knowledge as 75% of my gear is Bjorn approved or recommended. Hopefully it’s something you have tried.
Walter H. ???
Hi Walter, have you looked into the Past FX pedals? They’re clones of Steve’s. Check out my review of their TD-Y.
Bjorn, Thanks for your prompt reply!
I have just picked up two Past FX pedals & one is thanks to you. The Electric Mattress and the Chorus Ensemble MN 3007! Love them both for sure…the Chorus Ensemble is a dead ringer for the original Boss CE-1 chorus. Verlie is also fantastic to deal with at Past FX in Australia…
They have a Power Booster clone too along with the TD-Y and their Canberra that mimics the Carrera Buffalo FX.
What other pedals do you think would replace the Buffalo FX Power Booster? I’m currently playing through a Laney Cub12R combo with upgrades to the Tubes (JJ) and speaker (Celestion).
There are so many great clones on the Power Booster out there now. The Boss BD2 can easily do the job but if you want something a bit more authentic, then the Past FX is very good. Like the Buffalo, it nails the classic tone, but with a slightly warmer top and smoother breakup. The Colourdriver from Tru-Fi is one of my favourites.
Hi Bjorn.
I’m currently debating whether to buy Vick Audio Overdrive or PastFx TD-Y (TD-X clone). In addition to boosting my Stomp Under Foot ram’s head muff to for a Gilmour tone, I want a drive pedal that can do a 70s cranked Marshall tone, like Zeppelin.
I am guessing that powerboost type pedal won’t be a good choice for that sort of tone.
Would TD-Y a good overdrive pedal for that 70s hard rock Marshall tone?
Or should I just buy a Plexi drive for both Gilmour tone and Zeppelin-esque tone?
The TDX is, like the Tube Driver, in Marshall territory but it’s far from a Marshall in a box. The best Marshall JTM plexi style pedal IMO is the Engine from DryBell. That thing both sounds and feels like a real Plexi.
Would Engine also works as a clean boost for muff like Tube Driver?
Yes.
Hi Bjorn, I have a stock mid-80s MIJ strat with a stereo mid-70s Twin Reverb/ newish-SCx2 set up and am looking for the best Colorsound Powerboost/Overdriver clone for it for SOYCD tones at about 80db or so. For Gilmour muff tones I like to use a Menatone Menawatt after a Vick 73 Rams Head which works well. For SOYCD I like to stack multiple ODs into the Menawatt and it sounds good, but would like to try a Colorsound clone. Currently I am debating between the Vick Overdriver and PastFX Powerbooster, which would you recommend? Sounds like the Overdriver has more compression than most clones so that may be a plus for my amps? Thanks for this great site!
The Power Boost might be too bright and mids scooped for a Twin amp. The Overdriver has a bit more compression, while the Past FX has a slightly rolled off high end. You might want to consider other pedals too, like the Boss BD2 and EHX Crayon for similar and perhaps more versatile tones.
Bjorn,
Pardon the clumsiness, but now a days, what is/are good replacements for the Tube Driver and the Dover Drive?
The Boss BD2 and EHX Crayon.
Big thanks!
Hi, Bjorn. Thanks for everything you do here! I’m always checking your site before I make my purchases in pursuit of David Gilmour’s tone…
I’m taking your advice in regards to Rat style pedals for mid-scooped amps. Do you think the Tru Fi Rat Pack would be a good choice for a Fender ToneMaster Deluxe Reverb? Is there something you would recommend instead if there’s a better fit?
Thanks for your kind words! The TruFi is a great Rat clone. A bit more gain compared to most others. You might also want to check out something like the OCD. It has less gain and a more flat EQ but works great with most amps.
Hi Bjorn! I’m hesitating a little. Need some experienced advice. Fulltone OCD v.1.4 (or 1.6) or Wampler Plexidrive?
I’ve got a Hiwatt T20 combo and aiming for PULSE tones. Thank you!
Both works great with the Hiwatt. The Plexi Drive is more compressed and perhaps a tad brighter, while the OCD has a full range character, with less compression. The OCD is perhaps easier to set up, while the Plexi has more mojo in my opinion.
How good is Tube Pilot from TC Electronics serve as alternative booster for the Tube Driver? or the Blues Driver still better?
I’d go for the BD-2.
Greetings Bjorn, I have been a lurker for 2 years now and to be honest this terrific website is a godsend. it has so much information and its all thanks to you, I have been building my entire setup from amps to pedals using this website as the core of it all and so far it has been probably the best decision I have ever made. so far I have a very modest pedalboard comprised of a ts9>green russian>bd-2>flashback delay 2 into a Vox ac15 (unfortunately it was the only tube amp available in my country so I didn’t really have a choice).
I always dismissed distortion/rat pedals because i love to get my distortion from 2 overdrives but I cant help but wonder how a rat pedal feels like and now i am finally about to pull the trigger one and I took an interest in the colorsound powerbooster shape and cant shake it off so now since you dropped the review of the tru-fi rat pack it seemed like the perfect timing. so my question is what are the bedroom/gilmourish scores you would give that pedal?
apologies if my English is iffy, I never really learned to type it formally :p
Hi! The Rat Pack definitely fits a typical bedroom setup. I haven’t tried it on a Vox amp but it sounds awesome on my Laney Lionheart, which is in that ballpark. The Rat Pack has that mid range and compression you want at low volume. It will retain it’s character and provide great tones at any volume. You might also want to check out the Fulltone OCD. It goes very well with the AC and it’s perhaps more capable than the Rat to provide both overdrive and heavier stuff.
I just ordered an ocd to get a feel for the distortion since I didn’t want to risk it with a rat type stuff this soon since I’m not very fond of them.
Hey Bjorn, it has been a long time since I have posted. I have been a long time follower and have gone through many iterations of my Gilmour-inspired home rig. In recent years, I have paid less and less attention to tone-chasing through pedals and really focused on my playing and touch on the guitar, often plugging straight in with pre-amp volume set slightly higher than break-up using my volume and tone knobs more and more. These have been some inspiring years of playing, but I have found that I do lack some gain and compression playing at home and have always missed having a bit of modulation and delay. Recently, I started gradually re-incorporating some drive pedals into the mix to achieve that, but more in the SD-1/Tubescreamer world as opposed to Muffs and things like that. My next project is going to be to try to develop a small board with a drive pedal, mod and delay. I’ve found over the years that I prefer my old DD3 to all other delays (maybe because I slant towards Division Bell ambient sounds as opposed to say the Echorec years), modulation tends to stay with my old Lovepedal vibe pedal and for drive I have been swapping between the SD1 and Tubescreamer. Would you have any tips with this set-up? I feel like with the preamp gain and pedal gain knobs high like this I am lacking some dynamics in playing, but if I slant towards a cleaner edge-of-breakup sound on the amp I struggle to get the compression i need at lower volumes. Anyways, whatever the set-up I have at home, I have continued to enjoy the content here as well as all your solo/Airbag work. Sadly missed your Quebec City show, but hopefully you will be able to make back across the pond sometime in the future and thanks for all the advice over the years!
Hi Alex, sorry for my very late reply. Thanks for all your kind words! Let me know what amp and pickups you have and I’ll try to comment.
Thanks for the reply Bjorn. I have a little single EL34 combo that in essence is a Hiwatt clone (the builder called it his Lowatt hahaha!)It even has the Brill and Normal inputs. I generally run it in the Normal channel and keep the preamp and output volumes high (about 3/4s). The amp has a pentode/triode switch as well which i generally keep on triode at home to tame the output a bit. Most of the time i’m playing with the volume on the guitar all the way up for Have A Cigar/Young Lust type tones. I can do bluesy solos on the neck pick-up (Shine On, Breathe ‘74, etc) and then use the TS Mini or Sd-1 when I’m playing more of the fuzzy solos (Time, Money, Numb). I started doing this after watching Guillaume from Thomann’s do a Hit the Tone on Numb where he stacks an SD-1 with a Marshalley overdrive and it has been working well, but i feel i just need a little more push.
This is a difficult thing to answer because tone depends on so many things. I’m not sure what you mean by push but although the SD1 is a great overdrive/booster, it doesn’t have that much gain. Also, on an already mid range oriented amp, such as the Hiwatt, it can sound a bit flat and boxy. So, the lack of dynamics may be the result of the SD1. You may want to consider something like the BD2, which is a much more transparent pedal that doesn’t really take anything away from your amp but adds gain or boost to what’s already there.
Hello Bjorn here’s wishing you Well!
I have a quick pedal line up question today. My chain starts with my Pigtronix Micro Compressor-Pettyjohn Chime MK II (Set as a Preamp)-Buffalo FX Power Booster-Svisound Overzoid+- then my Pettyjohn Rous(Their Rat style pedal)
I’m asking about the Rat or ROUS(Rodent Of Unusual Size) style pedals location? Should I have that earlier in chain? I’d like your take and suggestions please…Or, What order for all 4 of those pedals would you suggest?
I then have my ambient line up: MXR Analog Chorus-Jam Pedals Ripple-Moore ELady-Boss Dimensions-Catlinbread Echorec-MXR M300 Reverb. I also have an MXR Copy Cat Delay & MXR Phase 95 in my Laney Cub12R Combo effects loop….the ambient line up gives me many options as to where a delay or chorus effects can play…lots of my chain is Bjorn Inspired and I thank you for all your help. Finding your site was one of the Best things I’ve done since 2018 when I started my never ending pedalboard project.
Btw I’ve been using your Cub12R settings suggestions too!
Thanks for the help.
Walter H…
Thanks Walter! Where to place the Rous depends on whether you want to combine it with other gain pedals or not. Doesn’t matter where you place it if it’s used alone. Adding the Power Booster in front adds more gain. Adding the Power Booster after, adds more tone like an EQ. Personally I like to use RAT style pedals alone as they have enough gain, mids and compression already.
I have a 2nd gen vintage rat and it’s very mid-range focused (cuts a lot of lows if I use neck pickup). I put it in front of Boss DS-1 that get choked with too much low coming from the neck pickup. In low setting (overdrive behaviour) it opens up the tone coming from DS-1 and creates a hybrid of neck tone lushness with punch that normally you expect from bridge pickup.
Combining a Rat with a DS1 creates a lot of compression due to the high ammount of gain. That’s why the tone chokes up.
Dear Bjorn, Please, have you already tried the Behringer Vintage Tube Overdrive Vacuum – VT911, which replicates the BK Butler Tube Driver?
It’s OK but I think pedals like the Boss BD2 and EHC Crayon are much closer.
Hi Bjorn !
I hope you’re doing ok.
I tried what you usually recommend by stacking my Crayon and Green Russian going Green Russian first and Crayon second and the result was a really really muffled sound whatever the knobs were at on both pedals. I reverse the order and it was suddenly perfect, did you already encounter this problem ? Is it a problem with the Crayon not being able to handle the amount of gain produced by the Green Russian or is it something else ?
I am not planning on going back on the order because I really love the way it sounds as it is now but I am just curious about why it happened.
Cheers.
What amp are you using?
A Laney Cub 12.
OK, so it dends on the settings of the amp and pedals but placing a booster first will add more gain to the other pedal. Placing the booster after, which is what David does, will be closer to using an EQ. The booster, or overdrive, pedal should be set to about unity level, with very litle gain. Almost clean. The tone controls should be set to get the tone you want, much like how you’d use an EQ. A darker mid rangy or fullrange overdrive might be a bit too dark, while a more transparent overdrive or booster, with less mid range and compression, will often work better as it doesn’t colour as much. As Arya said, more gain also means more compression, which will create a darker and more choked sound.
It is very clear now, I was not too far from the truth from what I get from your response.
So the Crayon is not well suited to be placed after and act as an EQ, I will maybe try one day to buy a real transparent booster/overdrive (a TC Electronic Spark ? A Timmy ? Any advice ?) and try it after the Green Russian to see how it sounds, in the mean time having the Crayon still allows me to shape the sound and change the general sounding of my Green Russian when I want it too (maybe not as drastically as if it was placed after it but it still does what I want it to do).
Thank you very much for your answer, once again I really learn a lot through your website and the time you spend answering to all of us !
The Crayon will add some colour. Although it’s very similar to the Tube Driver, it has a tad more mid range and compression. I think it works nicely as a booster/EQ but again, it depends on the Muff, amp, pickups and all the settings. I think the booster should have some character. A clean booster will only add either gain or volume, depending on where you place it, but you really want a bit more mids and compression too. At least for David’s tones. The BD2 is an excellent option and i think the Tree of Life works really well too.
Ok so I forget about adding a real transparent booster/overdrive and will first give another try and test again different combinations ! Maybe I was simply not familiar enough with the pedals and all the interactions I have to take into account back then when I first tried the Crayon after the Green Russian. I will give a return for the community once I tried all that.
Duly noted about the BD2, I have been considering buying a Keeley Super Phat Mode for a long time now but had other more important purchases to make before considering adding a third overdrive pedal. And besides I was saying to myself that 3 overdrive pedals was maybe a bit much (is it really ? :)) but I know myself, I am going to eventually buy one, too many people saying that a BD2 is pretty much a must have on any pedalboard, I have to try !
Thanks again for the advices Bjorn !
You might want to raise the tone on the Green Russian a bit too. It darker than a typical Ram’s Head. People are often afraid to have too much top in the Big Muff but David’s are actually very bright but he’s using the booster/overdrive to tame that a bit. That way the Muff sound open, with a noticeable attack, and the overdrive adds mid range and compression.
Well I tried everything, following every advices you gave me but I can’t achieve a good tone placing the Crayon (or the Tree of Life for that matter) after my Green Russian. I always have that feeling that I am playing with a blanket over my amp when my pedals are placed in that order. I don’t know if it’s a problem of headroom or sound level (I can’t play incredibly loud since I live in an apartment) or just me being unable to dial correctly every parameter but definitely I can’t achieve a tone that I like in that configuration.
I will try with a BD2 once I will have fall for one !
Thanks again, at least I tried, like you often say it is the only way what suits us and/or what works with our gear !
Volume definitely plays a role but do you need to stack those pedals? The Green Russian sound great on its own and should provide the tones you need for most of David’s Muff tones.
Answering here to your last message since there is no Reply link under it (I don’t know why).
No I don’t especially need to stack those pedals, I just wanted to see what I could obtain by stacking them, now I saw !
And yes I totally agree, the Green Russian sound terrific on its own and when I want something a bit “more raw/less polite” I can still activate the Crayon in front of it, that works for me, I like what I hear !
I always find which overdrive has narrower range of frequencies especially less fatness and put it in the beginning of the overdrive stack and as it goes toward the amp I use the broader and fatter sounding ones. Overdrive also acts as a compressor so sound tries to get through the clipping stage and if the tone is too fat it squishes and chokes the rest of the frequencies along that process. I think that’s why people don’t prefer using a fatter sounding neck pickup into a heavy overdrive and they use bridge pickup with narrower range of frequencies to avoid a choked and heavily compressed sound. That’s my 2 cents anyway.
By trying different combinations it is finally exactly what I ended doing (but without having in mind how the range of frequencies, besides gain and compression, enters in the equation) going Crayon > Tree of Life > Green Russian.
Great added knowledge to me, thanks ! :)
Hey Bjorn, I wanted to know if the TC Electronic Tube Pilot Overdrive would work as an alternative to the Tube Driver
It’s based on the Tube Driver, with that full range overdrive tone. It’s OK but I think the Boss BD2 and particularly the EHX Crayon are better options.
Hello Bjorn! I have a fender hot rod deluxe 3 and a kh-602 with emg 60/81 and im wondering if i should go with a proco rat2 or a ehx green Russian
Both pedals will work but the Rat might be a better choice as it will compliment the amp with more mids and compression. See this feature for some tips on how to choose the right pedals for different types of amps.
Hello! I have a fender hot rod deluxe and a kh-602 with emg 60/81 and I’m wondering if a ehx green russian or a proco rat2 will better suit my setup.
Both will work but you might find that the RAT will sound smoother and fit Fender style amps better. It depends on what tones you want.
Dear Bjorn,
Thank you for all your hard work that you do providing us with all of that priceless data. I was wondering could you help me a little bit regarding pedalboard stack. Recently i have purchase Fender BJ tweed and so far I have JAM Rattler and Ecosex baby. Plan for me is to buy one Overdrive pedal and I would really appreciate your advice wich one would be the best in price rang up to 250€. Also could you be so kind and suggest some other pedals wich can contribute for those Gilmour or overall tones.
Thanks in advance,
Br,
Sime
Thanks for your kind words, Sime. I would go for pedals that has a bit of mid range, as the BJ has less compared to typical British amps, like a Hiwatt and Marhsall. The Boss BD2 and EHX Crayon are very good alternatives to the Tube Driver. I’ve also been using both the OCD and Wampler PlexiDrive with the BJ, with some great results.
Thanks a lot for your quick response. Maybe to go with Butler Tube driver along with Jam Rattler? Or if that’s not the best case for BJ I would go with OCD but my concern is how will it work together with Jam Rattler, will they compliment each other?
Yes, very much. Depending on the speaker you have, the Tube Driver can be a tad too bright for that amp.
Great. Thanks Bjor, thanks a lot for your help. In that case i will go with the OCD.
Hi, Bjorn! Your page is just pure gold. I didn’t understand very well though how you can place boosters/transparent drives, tubescreamer-like drives, distortions and muffs or in which combination to get THAT Gilmour sound. Just to help you, I currently have an American Special Strat (with Texas Specials and a bridge humbucker), a Laney Lionheart L20T-212 and, regarding pedals, a BB Preamp Comp version, a Boss BD-2 (planning to Keeley-mod it), a Klon clone, a Morning Glory clone, a Joyo Vintage Drive and a Nano Big Muff. Help very much appreciated, thank you!
Thanks for your kind words! This is a question that require a long answer but to keep it short – the best way to start is to set up the amp. The amp is your foundation and all the pedals is just icing on the cake. Make sure you have a good tone from the amp before you start adding pedals. David often stack pedals. Not so much for boost but rather for tone. A Muff is often combined with an overdrive, set for very little gain and about unity volume. The overdrive acts very mcuh like an EQ, adding a bit of flavour to the Muff. If you don’t stack, then it doesn’t matter how you arrange your pedals. If you do stack, then I recommend having higher gain pedals first and then the overdrives and boosters after.
Hi Bjorn, do you have any thoughts on the Menatone Menawatt? From what I am gathering it is a Hiwatt amp in a box pedal that works well with Fender black face amps. I wonder if it helps compensate for such amps’ lack of mids so that they work better with pedals like mids scooped muffs and powerboost clones to get Gilmour tones, or is it meant to be a stand alone pedal for Hiwatt like tones? Thanks as always for your help.
I haven’t tried it so I can’t really comment on the tone. From what I understand reading up on their site it will function both as a tone foundation and a more conventional overdrive, with that Hiwatt flavour.
Hi Bjorn, when David used the Power Boost, do you know if the overdrive was created within the pedal itself or is the sound we hear that of the amplifier breaking up from being driven hard, with the the Boost just acting to drive and colour the sound? From what I know the Power Boost doesn’t clip until the very top of its range and I’m unsure how David used it.
I’m guessing that the Tube Driver is the opposite with the sound we hear being that of the pedal itself breaking up rather than the amp being pushed into breakup? Many thanks.
He might have used it for both boost and overdrive. Those old models didn’t have a master control so they distorted much earlier. If you listen to Jeff Beck’s Blow by Blow album, that’s the Powersound with a Les Paul and you can hear its gain character even at reasonably low amp volume. David did use the Colorsound on rhythms for songs like Time and Have a Cigar and it sounds very much like the Powerboost and not the amp.
Hi Bjorn, I have a stock mid-80s Strat and a Fender Super Champ X2 head/cabinet and would like to get close to the Shine On YCD heavy driven Powerboost tone, but I know my amp is not ideal with its lack of mids. I have managed to make a Vick Audio 73 RH work pretty well for The Wall tones and would like to do the same for Gilmour’s earlier tones. Dialing back the 73 RH sustain and/or tweaking some other pedals in my chain (SD-1, Hot Wax, GE-7) does a pretty good job, but I wonder if you think I could get closer with one of the other Vick Audio pedals? The Overdriver may not work best with my amp, do you think Tree of Life or V-2 would be good options and if so, which would be best? Thanks
The Tree of Life would probably get you closer. It’s perhaps overlapping the Hot Wax to some extent but it’s also much more than that. One of my favourite OD pedals and it seems to work well with most types of amps.
Thanks for your help Bjorn. I was able to get a nice tone stacking the SD-1 into both sides of the Hot Wax, so I’ll have to find another way to justify that next pedal purchase LOL. I still see a Tree of Life or V2 in my future!
What do you think about the EQD Plumes for a booster?
Haven’t tried it.
Hi Bjorn!! First of all thank you for this site, you don’t know how useful is to research tone jajaja I always comeback here when I’m in doubt and it never fails me, I think it’s because Mr. Gilmour has a very organic and complete way of organize the various aspects of the rock tone… Anyway I have a few questions regarding overdrives/boost:
I imagine you saw the extras in the 2011 WYWH documentary. In one scene David plays SOYCD on the black strat and I find it sounds cool! Do you think is only the amp (and what amp? in the back there is a mic’ed wem cabinet) or has a booster like a clean Tube Driver?
Here is the clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDHcNU9t4xE
My next question is about a fuzz and overdrive pairing. Do you think that an overdrive like the Boss BD-2, Wampler Plexidrive or the EHX Crayon can make a fuzzface-type pedal work in a fender style clean amp? I have a Stratocaster and a Proco RAT 2 and I’m in the search for an overdrive and authentic fuzz.
Pd: sorry about my english and the nerdy first question :)
Thanks for the kind words! Hard to tell what David’s using for that clip. It sounds to me like a Fender amp, probably a Twin or Bassman but it could very well be a Hiwatt too. There’s a lot of compression and the UniVibe, with a bit of delay that’s set for multiple heads Binson type although I don’t think he’s using the Binson here. Probably an MXR rack. He might be using a Tube Driver but it might very well be the amp too, which again leads me to think of a Fender set for a very mild breakup.
The BD2 is an excellent booster for fuzz and Big Muffs.
Hi Bjorn.
First, thanks for the wonderful job you are doing here, just stunning. Your site is really the first I read when I need some informations about the Gilmour sound, or even pedals in general.
That being said, I haven’t seen some articles about the Blackstar pedals on your site. I have seen some pictures of Gilmour’s gear with the Blackstar HT Dist in it, but I can’t find any information on the web about Gilmour and Blackstar.
Have you tried one of these ? I have a HT Dist, that I used a long time ago, to play heavy stuff. It sounds great, but I’m not sure to manage to have a Gilmour tone with it… Feel free to share your knowledge man :)
Thanks !
Thanks for your kind words! I’m not too familiar with Blackstar pedals. The HT Dist, as you point out, is a fairly aggressive pedal so I have no idea how David’s using it. I saw that in his home studio. It might have been something he tested or, something he required for a specific tone. It’s got a very tube amp-like distortion perhaps similar to his Tube Drivers but with more gain.
Bjorn
When I see the Gilmourish choice symbol, is it referring to the piece of gear above it, or below it?
Thanks, this has always confused me.
Phoenix
On a desktop computer the symbol should be to the left of the text. This site is old and looks like shit on a phone so my apologies. Compare with the score. A high score should have the symbol.
Okay, I just used the laptop and I see the gilmourish picks are beside the pedal–now it makes sense.
Also, just a couple things–thank you so much for this site. I can’t tell you how useful and inspiring it has been over the years.
And, I got a Chase Tone Fuzz Fella fuzz, silicon BC108 chip. I don’t know if you’re familiar with Kyle Chase’s pedals (I’m in no way affiliated for the record). I have his Chase Tone Secret Preamp and the Fuzz Fella. They are the most reasonably priced and excellent pedals. In a way, they remind me of Vick Audio, high quality, reasonable cost (I actually drove out and met Mike Vickery at his house in Arizona, and bought the 73 Ram’s Head from him–also a great pedal).
I’m wondering if you’ve heard of Chase Tone and tried the Fuzz Fella? Also, I’m considering the Phil Robinson fuzz pedal you reviewed. I run a Jerry Cantrell wah, and a Drybell Vibe Machine before my Fuzz Fella (Fuzz Face) and a Cali76 and a number of drive pedals afterward, and I am trying to avoid losing tone because of buffer issues.
Any thoughts on the Phil Robinson Fuzz and it’s placement with relationship to the pedals I mention and buffer issues?
Stay stoked Bjorn.
Phoenix
Don’t have any experience with Chase Tone. Thanks for the tip! The Phil Robinson is perhaps on the lighter side gainwise compared to other silicon fuzz pedals like the SunFace but that’s also what makes it versatile IMO. Great with single coils in particular but works very well with buckers too. It’s not sensitive to buffers so you can place it pretty much everywhere.
Hey a Bjorne hope you have been doing well. I recently been getting back into G2 tones. Obviously a real one will cost too much. I saw Buffalo fx is no longer active. I was hoping you could recommend a G2 clone that is easy to find and has THAT sound. I currently am using and OCD GE for that tone. But would like something that’s a little closer and has a little more gain on tap.
Clark, The Vick Audio V2 is close although perhaps a bit more Big Muff-ish. You will get close with a Rat too. I often use the OCD for that purpose too.
Pastfx in Australia are recreating all the Buffalo fx pedals so would check them out
Hi Bjorn
How about the Xotic EP Boost and The Tumnus Deluxe? Have you tried it?
Yep. The EP boost is a nice clean boost with a hint of mid range. The Tumnus is a Klon, with a transparent clean boost and mid rangy overdrive.
Hi guys,
I’m here for a feedback on the tube driver. I bought a brand new 2020 tube driver from BK butler himself on his reverb market. The sound was ok but this pedal was a huge disapointement. Indeed, It’s noisy as hell when activated. It’s NOT true bypass and the tone suck was HUGE to say the least. I lost all my dynamics (If you already own one of those new TD try to plug direct to your amp). After some research, it seems that mr Butler do not sell the early circuits. The quality we could have expect is not, for me, here. You get a cheap quality PCB, the components might not be the best. I don’t think he even bother to check the tubes he puts in. Anyway, I’m not here to bash the guy, but be advised that gilmour and EJ names to sell a product that is NOT is original circuit.
hope it helps
The Tube Driver has gone through countless changes over the years so no, you’re not buying the original cirquit in terms of a clone of te first model. BUT, it’s the authentic Tube Driver made by Butler. Let’s put it that way. Before I can try to help, please let me know what pickups you use, what amp and its settings and what other pedals you run in the chain. All this will affect the TD.
I know everyone has different ears, but I got the 5 knob version and put in an amperex bugle boy 12AU7. With eq knobs cut and drive set low, I feel like it does great things to my Bludotone high plate skyline, even at bedroom volumes 90 dB)
I use it with the gain channel of the amp with gain set at 9 o’clock.
Hello Bjorn here’s wishing you well in 2021! You have helped me and many other people during the past crazy 12 months with your reviews and insight, TY…
I need your input on my drive line up. I just can’t get it right yet. I use and love a Laney Cub12R combo (thanks to your recommendation) into my board. The drive section starts with my Pigtronix Micro compressor, Svisound Overdrive+, Buffalo FX PowerBooster, Pettyjohn Gold OD. The thought was to use the Svisound as the fuzz. The PowerBooster for an always on clean up drive then the Pettyjohn for the extra distortion. I’ve tried the EHX Green Russian and Vick Audio Rams Head before the PowerBooster but they didn’t sound good at all. I thought maybe a Rat instead of the Overdrive+ or Do you think a Tube Screamer type pedal is missing? I also own aTree of Life OD…after the drive line up I have a fun ambient array. You can probably see your influence on my selection of items I’m guessing? One note: With the Pettyjohn Gold
OD I can only turn the volume and gain to 8-9 or it’s way to loud as I play in my music room only, no gigs anymore. That with the amp volume @ 4-6. Let me know what you think…
Walter H. ?
Hi Walter, thanks for your kind words! Remind me what pickups you use and your amp settings.
Hello & TY for your reply. I’m sorry for the incomplete question, I almost listed more info too…I have three guitars all HH set ups 2 with coil tap.
1-Fender American Strat with Black Cobra neck & Sidewinder bridge. With coil split. I’ve asked Fender for the specs on these with no success. By the name I’m assuming they are a semi Hot made in USA pup.
2-PRS Custom 22 Semi Hollow body with PRS Std 2017 Humbuckers.
3-Epiphone Les Paul Custom Koa. ProBucker 2 neck ProBucker 3 bridge with coil split.
That’s my electric Guitarsenall.
I usually run a clean Cub12R with the gain @ 2-3 max…at the 15 watt input. The .75 input sounds empty to me but maybe I don’t know what I’m doing?
Thanks again, Walter ?
The 15w sound better. For a clean platform, I’d keep the gain as low as possible and the EQs around noon, with perhaps a bit of treble roll off and mids boost. You’re using humbuckers, which might compromise the headroom of the amp a bit but you should be able to set it fairly clean. Personally I prefer just a hair of breakup. The SviSound pedals have a lot of Tube Screamer-sih mid range around 400k, which works really well on Fender amps but not so much on British mids oriented amp like Laney, Marshall and Hiwatt. The Powerboost might sound a bit dark with humbuckers and your amp? Works better with single coils. I remember using a Wampler PlexiDrive a lot with the Cub and the OCD. These two seemed to fit the amp perfectly and they will cover pretty much everything from clean boost to heavy distortion.
Thanks Bjorn so much, Again!
I played my Am Strat today in the Single coil not Humbucker mode and it sounded so nice and tight. I was actually able to run all three of my drive pedals at once, it just took a bit of time to find the settings but worth it. With my new Boss DC 2W Dimension & my Catlinbread Echorec through my effects loop it was a tone home run!
W ?
Hey Bjorn! I’m picking up a Silver Sky and it’s been a few years since I’ve owned an all single coil guitar. At least at first I plan to keep the vintage output pickups in there, is there any distortion pedals you’ve found that work great with vintage type bridge pickups? Thanks in advance for your time.
Hi Nick, that depends on the amp really. I’ve found that most pedals works with most types of pedals but you might want to look into something with a bit of mids and compression, like a Plexi style pedal, rather than a so-called transparent overdrive. Then again, back in the day, that’s all you had and tons of great tones were produced.
Hi Bjorn, I don’t how many more years my pink floyd tribute project should have taken without this site, and for that I can’t thank you enough,
I have bough (an OCD, BB preamp, BD2 waza, Buffalo fx TDX, Buffalo Fx power booster, jhs @ndy timmons od, J rocket the dude, all the three reissue green russian, triangle and ram’s head big muffs) and buffalo CVIII silicon fuzz
my amp is a mesa boogie mark V fender princetone, and a standard USA strat
My questions are :
1- is there any of my pedals that I can use to get the proco rat or the G2 tone (like money solo in pulse or do you recomande to buy a dedicated proco
2- does all proco rats even reissue models close in tone to the original used by david gilmour.
3- having in mind that I’m in a project of a full scale tribute show I’m tryin’ to achieve the closest tone possible to gilmour tone, what do you think is missing in my drive rig ?
compression : effectrode PC2A, carl martin Andy timmons compression,
Delay : boonar + eventide time machine
modulation Boss CE2 waza, strymon mobius, neo instruments micro vent, drybell vibe machine, retro-sonic flanger.
Again many thanks for all the time you’re dedicating to share your knowlegde with us.
Hi Salem, sorry for my late reply.
Seems like you have a great rig there! I can’t really think of anything else.
1. The OCD and the Andy Timmons I guess.
2. Yes, but you should look into some of the clones out there as well.
Hi Bjorn,
I would like to ask, do you prefer Electronic Orange Bananaboost or Tru-Fi Colordriver?
I’m just wondering which one to buy. When it comes to Tru-Fi Colordriver, have you played both 18v and 9v versions?
The Banana for sure. Hard to describe jsut why, but it has more of that vintage flavour and the EQ controls respond better.
Hi, I wanna know which of these pedals can pair better with my Fender Blues Junior IV: Big Muff, Rat, OCD or Tube Screamer. Thanks.
Rat and Tube Screamer. The OCD works too but a Muff often sound too bright on Fender amps. You might want to look into a Muff that has a mid range boost, like the Vick Audio models.
I’m using a Vick Audio Ram’s Head 73 with the mid boost on through my BJ IV and it sounds divine. I do have my Treble set pretty low (4-5) and my Mid (10) and Bass (7) higher. The 73 Ram’s Head is very smooth. Sounds fantastic.
HI Bjorn,
Great reading material.
I want to ask for your opinion on a specific pedal, whether OD or Boost, to pair with my setup: EVH 5150III LBX2 amp (with matching EVH 2X12 cab) and an American Fender Strat (SSS configuration) loaded with Fat 50s pickups.
Using the Crunch channel (Blue channel…lots of gain, really…a lot!), the Strat alone (i.e., no boost) sounds pretty thin, especially in low bedroom-level volumes.
I want to fatten up the tone, what would you recommend, an OD or a clean boost? What specific brand will do the job?.
Thanks, Ofir
I guess you could go for a Powerboost type, which has a bass and treble tone stack. A Klon type would add some mids to the tone. One of my favourites, the Vick Audio, can do pretty much anything from fat clean boost to heavy distortion.
Thanks a lot for the tip! Cheers!
Bjorn,
I’m still putting together the pieces for a Pulse era tones board. Based on your recommendations I’m currently using the following:
Boost – EHX Crayon
Muff: EHX Green Russian Reissue
Drive: Vick Tree of Life
Delay: Boonar
There are two things I don’t yet LOVE in this setup:
1. I don’t get the lovely amp-like breakup you get from your Buffalo TD-X demo from the Crayon. It’s incredibly useful as a clean boost or to add a bit more grit and boost to downstream pedals, but I don’t love it’s tones on it’s own (clean or dirty).
2. The Green Russian is a little too “smooth” for me as it is. I’ve had some success getting more grit using the Crayon with a touch of gain as a boost before it but that gets noisy fast.
I’m debating buying one of the following as an upgrade:
– A TD-X as an upgrade to the Crayon
– A Buffalo Evolution to move to more of a G-2 sound with more grit than the Green Russian
– Maybe a V-2 instead of the Evolution?
I only have money currently for one of these options. Which do you think would make the biggest improvement compared to what I have right now? Any suggestions?
What amp and pickups?
Bjorn,
Much has changed since that original post so please allow me to rephrase the question: If you were to put together a drive section of a board to cover as broad a range of Pulse era tones as possible, but were limited to no more than 4 drive pedals in total in your drive section (less than 4 is fine too, and don’t worry about compressors, delays, reverts or modulation) which would you choose from the following list? How would you use them (which for low gain? Which for overdrive? Any plan for stacking some together?)?
Guitar is a Strat with CS69 / SSL-5 combo. Amp is Laney L5T.
Pedals to choose from:
– BC108 or 109 Sun Face
– Tree of Life
– Evolution
– TD-X
– 73 Ram’s Head
– Vick V-2
For Pulse and that tour, David mainly used Tube Drivers for different types of boost and overdrive, a slightly more compressed and mid rangy SS2 overdrive and a Big Muff. I don’t think classic fuzz fits this era. Since you ask, I’d pick one or two TDX, the Evolution and a 73 Ram’s Head (or the Buffalo Patriot).
I assume a “two TD-X” setup you mention would have one in a low gain configuration and the other in more of a higher gain / solo setting? Or one as a boost? How would you decide when to use the Evolution vs. the TD-X?
Yes. They are somewhat overlapping. You can use the TDX as a distortion unit but the Evolution has considerably more gain.
Do you think the Vick V-2 is a good compromise between the Evolution and the 73 Ram’s head? Seems to have a bit of each in it.
I could then go with TD-X, V-2 and ToL maybe to cover a lot of ground?
Yes, that would make a very versatile trio.
Hi Bjorn
I have been using the info on your site quite a bit to achieve the sound I’m after…I also bought the tree of life which sounds really articulate on the lower setting, but when I bought the Vick V2 I found that it sounded much too dark and muffled; I even wondered if I had gotten a damaged unit.?..it doesnt sound, judging by your review, that you had a similar experience. Just wanted to share my experience.
thanks
Rolf
Did the V2 sound dark or did it make the ToL sound dark? The ToL has a very open character, while the V2 is closer to a Rat, with much more mid range and compression. Two very different pedals.
Hi Bjorn,
I am making an affordaboard for the early sounds. I was looking for a nice Colorsoud poweboostish pedal and came across the TC Spark Booster which is on sale in my country, so is it a good pedal to replicate the colorsound powebooster? I am on a tight budget, the Boss BD2 and EHXs Crayon are quite expensive here. So another alternatives are the Mooer Blues mood or Flex boost (digging info from the comment section), which i can order them from Aliexpress, where also I found pedals that look like a powerbooster like the Caline CP-18 and Caline CP-54, but people say that those are a BB preamp clones (BB is different from powerbooster right?). Also is it true that the Tube Driver and Colorsound Powerbooster are the same circuit, you mention it in the EHX crayon review?
Cheers
No, the Tube Driver and Powerboost are not the same circuit but they sound very similar. The Hot Wax, which was the one I was reviewing, is a dual overdrive pedal with a Hot Tubes and Crayon featured in one. These will double nicely as your Power Boost and Tube Driver respectively.
The Spark Booster is an all clean booster with different mid range options. It’s not that suited as a Power Boost. The Blues Mood can do a Power Boost and you might want to check out the Hustle Drive (OCD) for Tube Driver tones. The BB is more of a high gain Marshall type of pedal.
Hi Bjorn,
I love your cultural website as unique source for so many background information on DG and PF and it has often initiating ideas to get own tones, sounds und gear equipments. I often used it in the last years to have a look and to get more information on this or that. So many thanks for everything, keep on.
Now, first time, I have a question and a high interest in getting more information on that topic from you, or out of the community.
Album: About Face; Song: Let’s get metaphysical (instrumental)
My main question: Which are the effects behind the sound of the first guitar nodes?
My assumption is, it was played with the Esquire (workmate), and DG switched later in song to the Strat.
But I am interested only in the sound of the first guitar nodes, it sounds huge and thick, I can not hear much flanger or chorus out there, the Esquire sounds thick anyway (see below, I know that), but there must be an effect behind on the sound. Distortion more than fuzz? Unbelievable Reverb additional to delays? This thickness of sound, is there a characteristic pedal to hear and used? Can someone hear it ?
What do you think, how was achieved such broad sound (at the beginning) ?
Short background.
Well, I’m playing music since >35 years, several instruments (keys, b, dr, g, trumpet), but I would not name me a real guitarist, but I am playing instruments to understand the instrument point of view/sound. I am most interested to get Gilmour or Floyd sound, since 10 years I try to achieve to get it, meanwhile with e.g. BlackStratrelic, 56erEsquire, LP Goldtop, etc, also with Cornish, BKbutler, Muffs stuff etc etc. and I am close to THE sound.
But still learning and collecting ideas to get it more close to my imagination.
If you could help me finding that answer, or perhaps out of the meanwhile huge community worldwide, would be great! So many thanks again, keep on track.
Thanks for your kind words Juergen! Glad you enjoy my site!
There’s very little documentation from the sessions. He might have been using the old Pete Cornish board that he used for the Wall and Final Cut session, which included a Big Muff. He has also stated that his setup featured a Boss HM2 and Mesa Boogie MkI, which seems to have made up his main overdrive and distortion sounds for the album and Momentary later on. To me, that song sounds very much like the latter and not a Big Muff. It’s hard to tell though as they did a lot of processing in the studio being the 80s and all. A bit of EQ, compression and some digital reverb can create a very different sound. As for the guitars… he did use the Black Strat and the Workmate Tele but probably other guitars too. Keep in mind that the red and cream coloured Strats were bought after the sessions. It sounds very much like the Black Strat to me. You can definitely hear some trem arm vibrato going on.
Bjorn,
As always, thanks for putting together such a fantastic resource!
I’ve followed much of your advice and currently own a Vick ToL, EHX Ram’s head reissue and a EHX Crayon (among others). I’m looking to get the Comfortably Numb solo tone off of the Pulse album.
I find that the Ram’s Head is a bit soft around the edges and lacks the touch of “grit” he has on Pulse.
I’m considering a Vick V-2, Buffalo Evolution or Green Russian to try to get closer.
I also have a germanium Sunface and a Greer Lightspeed if you think stacking either somewhere in the chain might help? I’ve stacked the Greer before but stacking anything with the Muff seems really noisy.
I’m playing a MIM strat with CS69s and SSL-5 into a Vox VT40X (yes, I know it’s the weak link and will bug you about amp questions once I’m ready to upgrade!). I use the Crayon as a clean boost / pseudo EQ at the end of my chain. I only play at home at reasonable volumes mostly.
Thanks for your help!
I think you will find the Green Russian to be a bit more defined than the Ram’s Head. This will also be closer to the Civil War Sovtek David used during that tour.
Hi Bjorn –
Thanks to you after several months of experimenting with different pedals and settings I have made great progress with my ‘Gilmour’ rig and am pretty satisfied with the tones I am getting!!!
Here is my current set up:
MIM Strat with SSL-5/C69 pickups > ?
TCE Polytune > ?
Xotic Sp Compressor >?
Phase 90 > ?
Vick Audio Ram’s Head 73 >?
TCE MojoMojo (for mild OD) >?
Tru-Fi Colordriver (for heavy OD) >?
Mooer E-Lady (I have this in a loop with a TCE Spark Boost Mini to compensate for volume drop) > ?
Boss CE-5 >?
Strymon Timeline >?
Fender Blues Junior
I’m mainly going for Meddle – Animals tones, but also would like it to be versatile enough for Wall, DG78 and About Face tones.
So after boring you with all of that here is my question…what would you add or change to achieve more versatility? Would you add a separate pedal for clean boost such as another Spark Boost, or EHX Crayon (or something else)?
Would I benefit more from adding another overdrive/distortion pedal? If so, what do you think is the most versatile – Wampler Plexi Drive, Vick V-2 or Tree of Life, Top Tone DG2 or an Evolution?
I have room for 1-2 more pedals.
Thanks again!
Seems to me that you’re pretty much covered. What and if you need anything else, depends on what you feel is lacking. Personally I like to have a more modern sounding distortion to compliment the Big Muff. A favourite is the Tree of Life.
Hi Bjorn, firstly thankyou for providing such a comprehensive resource, it’s an amazing amount of work you have gone to.
My question for you is that I have a bedroom setup where i am playing my strat into a 15w fender blues junior amp. I’m looking to achieve the pulse tones and was just after some pedal advise please
1) in terms of overdrive, I’m turn between a keeley modded bd2, a fulltone OCD or a keeley phat mod(is this an update of the boss pedal). I was just wondering if any of these pedals would be suitable for my amp to achieve pulse tones)
Other pedals I’d like to get to achieve the pulse tone on my amp are:
1) Boss rt20
2) boss ce2
3) boss cs2
4) tc electronic flaskback
5) ehx green Russian big muff
6) boss ge7 equalizer.
In your opinion would the above do the job in order to achieve the tone on the amp I have,or Is there anything I am missing here?
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Andy
Both the BD2 and OCD would work nicely although the BD2 might be more versatile, with more headroom and a wider range of tones. You might also want to look into the Buffalo FX TDX or the EHX Crayon for some Tube Driver tones. The challenge might be your amp, which often can be a bit too bright for replicating David’s tones. I’d keep the mids up hugh and the treble low. Experiment with the volume (preamp gain) and master. The best platform for your pedals is a clean tone with just a hair of breakup for a natural compression.
Hey Bjorn, some really useful advice thanks.
Based on that I reckon I’ll go for the bd2. I’ve been looking at the keeley modified version but they seem to have been deleted so are difficult to get hold of! Would the buffalo or crayon be an alternative to the bd2?
Interesting to hear what you said on the amp aswell. Which tube amp would you have recommended as a home amp to replicate the gilmour tones?
The amp you have is by no means a bad one for David’s tones you just need to be careful with the treble. If you are looking for something else, I’d strongly recommend looking into the Laney Cub or Lionheart.
Hey Bjorn, thanks for your response.
Based on your advise I have been having a look at the overdrive pedals. Much as I like the Buffalo FX TDX, it is a bit out of my price range at the moment. Would the keeley modded blues driver be a good alternative to this? I see the EHX Crayon is quite a bit cheaper, but would you say this is an adequate alternative?
The key for me is trying to get those pulse-esque tones playing at home on my Fender Blues Junior(Sorry, I don’t ask for much haha!)
Cheers Bjorn
The Crayon is closer to the TDX.
Hello Bjorn
I have existential problems concerning the choice and the stacking of the pedals :)
I d like to play Pink Floyd songs but Blues Rock songs too.
Gilmour uses 3 tube driver overdrives. Is it possible to combine in the same way :
3 TOL or
3 RYRA Overdrive or
1 TOL (as a clean boost pedal or medium overdrive)
+ RYRA (as a clean boost pedal or medium overdrive)
+ something else like extra boost (RAT, Buffalo or even another TOL / RYRA)
I use Fender Hot Rod Amp and Fender Blues Tweed for now with Les Paul, SG, Telecaster and Stratocaster.
And also what do you think of the Vemuram Fuzz (Shanks 4D and Oz) to be in a Gilmour set but versatile set also to play Blues Rock ?
I hope my question is not weird… :)
Thank you for your kind answer and this beautiful website.
On the last tour, David used 3 Tube Driver each set up with different amounts of gain – clean boost, overdrive and distortion. These were often combined in different ways depending on what tones he needed. To get similar tones, I recommend using three similar sounding overdrives, like three Tube Driver or clones, three Boss BD2 or something similar.
Hey Bjorn, great site. After 30+ years of playing I still learn things from this site.
I’ve got a Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb that I set to edge of breakup, and use ODs to get Foo Fighters type modern rock distortion out of it. I mostly play humbucker equipped guitars.
My favorite so far is the OCD since it results in a lower mid frequency hump compared to Marshall type ODs.
I’m looking for something like the OCD and ran across the Vick Audio Tree of Life. How do you think the ToL would sound in my setup at heavier gain settings? Would the low end be too farty and loose?
Thanks for the kind words! I haven’t played the ToL with a Fender amp but I wouldn’t think the low end would be a probalem. It’s very tight and well balanced. As much as I love and use the OCD, I do prefer the ToL. Its got a bit more gain and open top end, which at least on my amps, makes it sound more dynamic comapred to a OCD.
while not really an overdrive pedal, I thought of sharing my experience with Fender Engager Boost pedal
1. it is quiet, really quiet
2. it’s cheap
3. it built solid
3. 3-band EQ with a good range on each band
4. a switch that shifts mid focus
5. lots of boost volume — i seldom go past 9-10 o’clock
I have had it running into EHX Sovtec Deluxe Muff, both fuzz flavaros of Wampler Fuzztration, and into a number of over drive pedals — played through it by either ES 339 classic57 humbuckers or Strat CS69/CS69/SSL5 on Laney Linoheart 20H
I have also played it on its own, without any other drive after it, into either one of Laney channels
all it takes is a bit of tweak and it opens up everything put after it
I could not have been happier for 75 dollars Canadian on a used one. I sold Wampler Equator EQ as there is no adjustment that I cannot make using the 3-band of Engager and the 3 bands + Tone of Lionheart
BTW, the 200+ Dollar Wampler Equator pedal is noisier than the 75 dollar Engager
I like the position 2 of strat (neck and middle) for mellow blues or Jazz both rhythm and melody, That position on its own lacks a bit of treble on High E to my ears and that’s why I got the wampler EQ. The engage fixed it to my taste much better than the wampler and with no hissy noise
Hi Bjorn
IYO, what is the best booster pedal today ?
My gig is :
Comp>Fulltone>Skreddy LM>Leslie G> Laney L5> Tremolo> EHX Memory Boy.
Thanks for all
Noé
Depends on what pickups and amp you use and what you need a booster to do.
Hi Bjorn!
Your work is amazing and you are the right person to help me! Could you tell me if David uses Muff a little higher than Tube Driver or both at about the same volume? Thanks!
Impossible to know for usre since most of David’s pedals have been modified but looking at pictures alone it seems that he sets his Muffs to about unity gain, with just a slight volume boost from the Tube Driver.
Hi Bjorn!
What would consider between the colorsound boost reissue, TD X and the supa driver buffalo ? to combine with the evolution . or woumd you consider another to cover most of gilmour range tones? Thanks again for your wonderful reviews!
The Power Boost and Supa Driver are two different pedals combined with the Evolution. IMO the slightly more amp-like and modern sounding TDX fits the Evo better.
Hello Bjorn,
Could you recommend a pedal/s that would get close to the sound of a Pete Cornish SS-2? I couldn’t quite get the sound of the SS-2 with the current overdrive pedals i own (keeley bd-2, red llama, ts9)
The BD2 should get you close but check out the Light Drive from TopTone, Evolution from Buffalo FX (although this one is closer to a RAT).
Thank you for the reply and helpful info Bjorn! I’ll check them out. Although i read in a few forums people saying that an mxr distortion plus could come close? What’s your take on that?
Well, yes and no. As far as I know the SS2 originates from a D+ but you can’t really compare the two.
Hi Bjorn,
I own a Laney LC-50 112 that i set on clean channel just at the edge of break up keeping it clean although. I’m trying to figure out how to use my soul food in conjunction with a muff ram’s head to obtain the comfortably numb solo tone. In my current setup i use the soul food at the end of the gain chain in an “always on” configuration with volume at max, drive at min and neutral tone in order to drive the gain stage of my amp at full input dynamics. Now i have some doubts and questions:
1) Should i use the soul food in the actual configuration to drive my amp to the edge of break up or should i use the provided amp gain knob to reach the desired level? At the moment the gain knob is about 2.5/10 because all is demanded to soul food.
1) is my current configuration of soul food the one adequate to work with after the big muff to make it more creamy for soloing even if it is now set as a clean “always on” booster?
3) Have you some personal advice to set properly the chain composed by muff–into–>soulfood–into–>laneylc50?
Thanks a lot for your work,
Daniele
I would always start with the amp and set it to match the guitar and pickups. Find the right balance between the pre-stage, EQ and output to create a powerful clean platform and then add boosters or whatever to enhance the tone if needed. Whether or not you actually need the Soul Food in that chain depends on what you feel is lacking or needed. Personally I often have a Klon type pedal set very clean just to add a bit of flavour, which can help a Big Muff to cut through more.
Hi Bjorn!
Great informations here!!!
I have Marshall DSL 20 and TS9. As you mentioned, it deosn’t do the job well, the sound is thin a lacks bass.
I was thinking about BD-2 or TC Mojomojo. Tore, the guy from TC, explains, that Mojomojo retains the bass frequencies. What would be your choice? Mojomojo or BD-2? The goal is to get nice crunch.. I also have TC Spark but I’m still not satisfied with the results… It’s probably my fault… :/
Regards
Honzinus
All of these pedals sounds great so it’s more a matter of finding the right match for your amp. The TS and MojoMojo has a bit too much mids for a Marshall. The Spark is a booster. I think the BD2 or something similar will do the trick.
Hello Bjorn how are you,
I am curious on your thoughts of the ibanez ts9 tube screamer for a mid boost light od run into an eq pedal or power boost. I personally like the mid boost it gives but sounds a bit choked or dark. Also if I were to use an eq pedal to compensate for a ts9, what frequencies would I need to boost to assimilate the ts9 tube screamer midboost frequencies?
Your thoughts please?
Thank you
Rob h.
It all depends on the amp. A Hiwatt or Marshall wouldn’t need much mids boost but a Vox or Fender usually does. On mids scooped amps I like to boost the 800Hz range, for a bit of that Plexi mids. For TS9 you probably want to boost around 700Hz. Plexi is more of a boost, with the lows and highs maintaned, while the TS9 is more a flatter mid range, with cut on the lows and mids. The TS9 is a bit too flat and boxy as a booster for my ears but a BD2 or even a JHS Charlie Brown, with a 3-band EQ, works great for boosting the mids and maintaining the lows and highs.
I’m using my twin reverb now.
I don’t own a bd2 but do have a charlie brown jhs.
I actually didn’t attatch to that pedal when first tried it so I put it away. Pulled it out the other day when saw your post reply here and now it’s starting to grow on me. I love it alone with my humbuckers for noodling. Has nice grit as well.
Thank bjorn.
Rock on
Hello Bjorn, how are you?
I have both the solasound colorboost aussie version and the tru-fi colordriver and I actually prefer my colordriver over my colorboost.
I was just wondering if your going to review and comment on here on the trufi colordriver pedal.
It’s an awesome and very versatile pedal. I keep it as my last drive pedal in my chain as a clean always on color pedal set up slightly at the edge of breakup into twin, and also use it set on heavy drive set at 10:30 for playing pigs stacked with my dynacomp and muff. Colordriver has lots of headroom goes from clean to fuzz. I set the drive between 0 and noon.
Thanks for reading. Rock on. :)
I have a couple of TruFi pedal reviews coming up!
Hi, i am having the chance to buy a used tdx. it is white, i dont know when it was made. Do you think that it will be the same at the black one? or the black is new and it has improvements? i also saw one black and silver. i dont know which is the newest or the better one
From what I know, all TDX pedals have the same circuit but they have different colours as some of the other pedals in the Buffalo range.
why my message does not appear
All comments are held for approval. I’ve approved and replied now.
Bjorn Hello
I recently bought a fender blues junior Tweed amp which I am very satisfied with, however when I use my Boss bd2 pedal I find that it doesn’t work well on this amp – I would like to know your opinion on the compatibility between this pedal and the amp – is there a better choice?, which distortion or overdrive pedal to choose that is nice with this amp – last question wouldn’t it be wise to change the speaker you recommend the Cannabis Rex what is your opinion on the Texas Heat from Eminence?
Thank you for your response and have a great holiday season.
Sincerely
Daniel
I’ve had great success using the BD2 with the Jr but it depends on how you set each of them. The Jr is very bright so you might want to increase the mids and roll back the treble. Keep the gain low but enough for the tubes to heat a little. You want that sweetspot just before the amp breaks up. The BD2 often sound better with the volume slightly boosted and the tone rolled back a little. Check out this feature for some tips on choosing the right pedal for different amps.
Hello everyone. A good tip… Friedman BE-OD is a great alternative to fuzz solo sounds.
I love this site!!! Thanks Bjorn!
Hi Bjorn, first of all, thank you for the information you give us, it helps me a lot to create a new pedal board.
I am interested in this moment for boost pedals or overdrive.
Many people are talking about EarthQuaker Feathers right now.
What do you think? Have you ever tried it?
Regards Ludovic.
Haven’t tried it.
Hello! can i turn on vick audio overdrive on a source of 18V?
Most gain pedals can be powered up to 18V but contact Vick to be sure.
Hey Bjorn,
I’m trying to fine tune my DSOTM tones. I’m having difficulty nailing the rhythm section of “Time”. I have the actual strumming close, but can’t get the same sound I’m hearing on record. For my DSotM setup, I’m using a Fender Strat with stock pickups, a multi effects pedal set to UniVibe, a Mooer Blue Faze, an EHX Crayon and delay, all into a Marshall MG100. I’ve tried tinkering with the Crayon settings, the UniVibe settings, and the amp settings, but nothing seems to work to my ear. Am I missing something? Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!
Chris
For the rhythms you pretty much just need to dial in a bright overdrive tone. Nothing more. The amp alone should do the job but you might want to run the amp clean and use the Crayon for the overdrive.
Thank you sir! Amazing what a few tiny adjustments will do.
“The OCD is basically a hot wired beefed up Tube Screamer with the typical mid range boost and dark, creamy overdrive.”
Uh, nope, they’re not alike at all.
The OCD is open and uncompressed, with no noticeable mid hump, pretty flat EQ-wise, yes, retains more bottom end.
The TS is more compressed, with a very obvious mid bump.
One’s an asymmetrical hard-clipping circuit (OCD). The TS is symmetrical + soft clipping.
Suggesting they’re similar sound-wise is pretty misleading, even if they’re often used for similar purposes (boosting other gain stages/amps).
Well, maybe I should have phrased that better but I was talking about the tone. Not the circuit. Yes they’re different and the TS has a lot more mids and compression but depending on what OCD model you have… and there are countless versions… some are more scooped or more mids boosted than others. I would still say that the OCD is more similar to a TS and SD1 than a BD2 or a Tube Driver.
Hi Bjorn – I’m considering a Tru-Fi Colordriver. You had mentioned in another post a couple of months ago that you were reviewing one so I’m curious what your impression was of that pedal and if you’re going to post the review.
Also – have you had a chance to try the Skreddy Lunar Module? If so, what were your thoughts on that compared to the AnalogMan BC109? Thanks for all you do with this site!
Yes, there will be a review. Based on a very brief test, I really enjoyed it. Haven’t tried the Lunar.
Bjorn,
I just recently purchased the Thorpy FX Peacekeeper and I love it. Have you considered doing a demo for it? I already have the Thorpy FX Fallout Cloud (formerly Muffroom Cloud) and think it’s one of the best fuzz units I’ve ever heard. Adrian makes some great stuff. I particularity like the fact that they are SO quiet. Keep up the great work!
If Adrian decides to send me one :)
Hi Bjorn, there is a new pedal that says that has David’s tone, the “comfortably plum” with an overdrive and a fuzz in the same pedal. What do you think about it. It would be great to see your review.
Thank you.
Haven’t tried it.
Hi, Bjorn! Thanks again for the precious insights and effort, making this site a constant for tone building.
Have you ever tried the ZVEX Box of Rock? It certainly has less gain and drive than the Tube Driver, but I think it might do a fair job, as it mimics a cranked JTM, and is open sounded (I think).
What do you think?
Thanks for your kind words! No, I’ve never tried it. The Tube Driver has some of that JTM character although I would suspect the BoR to have much more compression and mids.
Hi Bjorn,
i have a 70ies Kelly 50 amp with kind of Fender Bassman 100 preamp and T&B architecture (no mid pot, non-master volume) and am also to receive a Selmer Treble & Bass 50 SVR. I suppose they are so-called mid-scooped amps with little compression ? Should i avoir anything with EQ ? What cathegoy do i fall into, AC30 ?
I would perhaps consider some pedals with a bit of mids or an EQ to compensate.
Hi Bjorn,
I’ve enjoyed this site for some time. It’s very informative and even entertaining but I don’t understand a concept regarding Gilmour’s modern tones, though the earlier e ones are my favorites. So if David is using a BK Tube Driver that sounds like a Marshall JTM amp, why doesn’t he just use a Marshall amp? I understand using a clean Hiwatt with lots of headroom and then have pedals blending to sculpt the tone. But if a Marshall tone is part of that chain, wouldn’t it sound better to use a distorted Marshall amp to push a Soviet era muff? Lastly, if I use an overdrive Pedal with a Marshall flavor, would an Amps Guru 1959 Double Decker be a good choice? It seems very versatile and has a tube which seems to make everything sound amazing.
Thanks in advance
TQuay
Well, I guess he doesn’t use Marshall because that’s not quite what he prefer, although he’s been known to use JTMs in the studio from time to time. The Tube Driver isn’t a Marshall in a box but it’s closer to a Plexi than a Fender. The Hiwatt is based on a Marshall but the amp’s got much more headroom, less compression and less mids. The Hiwatt is a Marshall although it’s not. You need to try one to understand the difference. Adding a Tube Driver on top of a Hiwatt will produce a very natural overdrive, as the Hiwatt has that headroom, while with a Marshall Plexi, which is the closest equivalent, the Tube Driver would have sounded much more compressed and distorted. Tone is hard to explain :)
Hello bjorn,
I’m looking for a pedal to place at the end of my chain for clean always on like an eq boost type pedal that will control the overall volume of my chain to keep a unity volume when stacking od pedals. So if stacking pedals and volume jumps won’t occur. Maybe a pedal with not so much head room.
I tried all my clean boost/colorboost type pedals I have but still get the volume jumps when stacking od pedals.
They say try a volume pedal but will that keep unity volume without any jumps without me having to constantly adjust the volume pedal when switching or stacking gain pedals before it? And if so then what type of volume pedal would you recommend, passive or active for the end of my chain, master volume?
I’d rather have an always on clean eq pedal at the end of my od pedals for unity volume that I don’t have to adjust or touch.
Thank you so much for your knowledge and generously sharing it with the world.
Thanks bjorn
Rob h
Ps.
I’ve also tried my dynacomp at the end of my od pedals but didn’t like the sound. I prefer the dynacomp before od pedals .
I like a top end bite felt the comp took that away.
Maybe a yellow comp might work better. But do you know of a clean eq/boost/limiter/reducer/gate type pedal to do the job of controlling volume jumps for od pedal stacking?
Example,
I use my muff at unity volume with my guitar clean tone.
I use my color driver as an eq. At the end of my chain at unity volume with guitar. But if I stack them I get a volume jump I don’t want.
If I set the muff stacked with my colordriver at unity volume with my guitar, then I turn off the colordriver the muff is too low.
I want to be able to toggle with them and other od pedals without getting the volume jumps out dips.
Update ;
I found that my tc electronics break up pedal actually works somewhat on the 1 setting which acts like a clean boost with a slight top end bite which I like.
It has a cap on the incoming volume from the muff and colordriver stacked.
Does the job for now until I find a kind of limiter pedal or something.
This is for playing pigs when its all colorboost until the last solo then I stack on the muff into the colorboost and metal out the solo.
Believe it or not out of my 20 plus od pedals I own I like the two cheapest ones the most.
Aside my muffs and colorboosts,
Favs are,
Tc electronics break up and
Behringer vintage tube monster.
With those two pedal I can get anything from clean boost to light grit to heavy overdrive to full out distortion.
With the full 3 band eq on the tube monster.
I’m not quite sure I know what you mean. Adding a booster won’t level your volume just because its on. It would just create a platform for your pedals and you’d still have the volume issue. Keep in mind that loud volume is either loud volume, which can be adjusted by tweaking the level controls on the pedal, or the fact that you perceive louder volume because you engage or disengage pedals with less or more mid range and compression. If your amp and main pedal has little mid range and you kick in a pedal with more mid range, you’ll get a considerable volume jump. Sounds to me that you’re probably better off trying to level the pedals you have and use pedals that’s more compatible.
Hello bjorn,
Your correct. I placed the muff running unto my color driver and the volume jump was the cd tone was high. When i neutralized the tone down, there is no jump. The high tone on the color driver was boosting the muff as well when kicked on.
Now what I do is run my muff into my color driver tone at unity then into a boss eq with the bass lowered and the highs up a bit to give me that high end bite my ears I so much enjoy. Boss eq is alway on when using my twin reverb amp. Now both pedals have the same bite when one or both on. No more tone jumps and still have the bite.
Thank you very much for your knowledge. Ps. Contacted the hiwatt company nordsound.fi in Finland and their sending the correct U.S. standard cord for my hiwatt t20 amp head. Thank you very much. Love ya bud, my fellow gilmour guru lol.
Rob h
Glad to hear!
Hey Bjorn, great site. Question, so what overdrive/gain pedal should I get to go with the katana 50 amp for the classic tones?
Check out this feature for some tips on choosing the right pedals for different amp.
Hey, first of all hats off for everything you do this platform, there really is everything one needs so cheers for that. I was wondering if for my bedroom set up the Keeley dark side would work with the Roland microcube GX?
Thank you!
Thanks for the kind words! I think it will work nicely. The fuzz seems to fit most amps.
Hey Bjorn, great site!
So then in reference to this article, what gain/distortion/overdrive pedal would you use with a Boss katana 50?
The Katana has wide range of different tones or amp character so it can pretty much handle anything. Depends on what sort of gain pedal you want.
Hey Bjorn. Idk if you were asked this yet, but have you tried the TC Electronic Tube Pilot? Apparently it’s only 50 USD, and i was curious how close it is to the BK Butler TD. It even has a tube in it. Just picked up an awesome powerbooster clone, and already have a fulltone ocd which should cover tube driver tones nicely. Just curious on your opinion of the TC tube driver clone (if it is a clone that is). I also am aware just because it has a tube, doesnt necessarily make it better than its transistor counterparts, but not too many pedals are 50 bucks new with a tube in it, so it makes me curious. Thanks!
It’s not a clone it lack the tone controls. The tone is definitely in the same ballpark and it’s well worth checking out for the price but I think something like the EHX Crayon is much closer.
Oh yeah, I actually forgot about the Crayon. I remember in your “hot wax” review, you said the crayon side had great tube driver tones, with the hot tubes being a decent power booster substitute. I’ll have to plug my guitar into it at the Guitar Center next to the OCD, and see how they compare. I just love overdrive sounds for David’s tones, or otherwise. Thanks!
Hey Bjorn have you tried a overdrive pedal before a big muff? and if so what are you thoughts and where should I put it for Gilmour tones? or is it just a matter of taste? I find before the Muff gets better feedback after I find it makes a big muff Slightly Smoother
It’s a matter of taste I guess. Placing a boost/distortion first adds more gain. Placing a booster/distortion after, like David does, doesn’t add more gain but rather more volume (if set to boost) and more tone. David’s using his boosters more like EQs, adding character.
Okay I might try it, I might try the boss BD-2w set slightly above Unity setup, but where should I set the gain in the BD-2w?
Depends on what sort of tones you want, how the amp is set, what sort of pickups you use.
I kinda want something that I can use for the second solo to Shine On You Crazy Diamond but also to tame a big muff
Again, settings always depends on many factors. It’s no use in me telling you how to set the gain as it will surely sound very different on your rig. Experiment and see what sounds best to your ears.
I have a Vox AC30vr on the normal channel with treble 11:00 Bass 4:00, The main reason I have it that high it’s because it’s a bit tinny
I have Stock Squier neck and middle pickups and a dimarzio FS1 in the bridge
Hi Bjorn, I love your videos and website! I’ve read a lot of your articles, they’ve been very helpful.
I have a strat, playing into a Fender Super Champ X2 (modular amp powered by tubes). I use the Fender Twin voice setting. I currently use an EHX Soul Food. What overdrive would you pair it with?
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond!
Hi Jay! Thanks for your kind words! Please check out this feature for some tips on choosing the right pedals for different types of amps.
Hi Bjorn,
Many thanks for the amazing information!
I have a MIM 60s strat and a roland micro cube. Just a bedroom set up – not expecting mega tones just want to get the best I can out of the set up I have.
I am after a versatile overdrive or distortion pedal that will fit this amp the best. I can’t workout which one would be the best even after reading the great “know your amp” article. I have a Boss Ce-2 waza that is also part of the set up if this sways things too.
Any advice you can give would be much appreciated,
Emma
I’d go for a Boss BD2 or perhaps a Fulltone OCD. Both of these can do clean boost, overdrive and distortion pretty well.
Hey Bjorn,
I know you did a video on the Keeley Phat Mod a while ago. Is the pedal quite noisy with the gain turned up for you (3 o’clock)? I noticed mine is very noisy in comparison to the Buffalo Power Booster … It does sound good, way more compressed than the PB, but quite noisy, even with an isolated 9V power supply. Even more noisy than a Muff. All running into a Hiwatt T20 btw :P
Would a Fulltone OCD work with the Hiwatt? I fear the mids might get too much …
Thanks for your answers,
Phil
I honestly can’t say. I need to check, if I can find it… My modded BD2 is very quiet and the mod is similar to the Keeley.
OK no worries :P
What about the OCD with the Hiwatt?
A tad too much mids for my taste but you’re right in that Marshall territory :)
Yeah I bought it and I think it gets you closer to the warm, mid rangy PULSE tone. Very dark and not fizzy at all. Thinking of using it as the main heavy OD pedal, replacing the Phat Mod on my board with it … hm, decisions, decisions :D
After a few days testing I think it will replace the Phat Mod :)
It sounds best with the gain at 11:00 – 1:00 (anything higher is too much compression/gain) and tone at like 3:00 o’clock, volume set for unity.
I’ve now seen videos by Fender for their new Tone Master amps claiming to be digital versions of their tube models.
Thinking of trying/buying on of these since they have build in powerscaling for home usage etc.
The OCD would work nicely with a Fender amp, wouldn’t it?
Yes, it will.
Hey Bjorn, what are your thoughts on the mojo mojo overdrive
It’s years since I tried one but as with any overdrive it depends on the amp. The MM is very close to a Tube Screamer, although a bit more open sounding.
Okay it’s just to me it sounds closer to both the colorsound power boost and the bk Butler tube driver ,it can replacate IMHO From DSOTM to The Division Bell,
Through my hiwatt maxwatt, again my own opinion
I come back and read this article all the time. So much valid information here. I’ve even posted it in online forums when people are seeking dirt pedal recommendations.
My question: I am playing a Fender ’68 Custom Deluxe Reverb with an Eric Johnson Thinline Strat. Are there *any* Muff pedals that might work with this amp?
Thanks for the kind words!
The new EHX Green Russian is probably the easiest to set up among the standard Muffs. Very warm and it (almsot) fits any amp. One of my favourites is the 1861 from Vick Audio. It’s based on the early 90s Sovteks, which the Green Russian is too, and it has a mid range boost making it ideal for the more scooped amps.
Hi, Bjorn!
Such a great site! I don’t buy anything without check your pedal experience round here. Thanks a lot!
By the way, have you ever tried the Blackstar HT Dual Drive? Sounds quite right for Gilmour tones?
Thanks!! Congrats!
Thanks for the kind words!
The Blackstar is somewhat similar to the Tube Driver, with a fairly transaprent tube amp character. Well worth checking out.
Hi Bjorn,
I am considering a new Fender Blues Jr. amp that has the Eminence Rex speaker for a practice and jam amp as a clean platform for Gilmour tones. What are your thoughts on the following two overdrive pedals?
Friedman BE-OD pedal- sounds amazing but not sure about Gilmour sounds
Bogner Ecstasy Red or Blue pedal
IF these work they also give me the tones of the two high end very expensive boutique amps (Friedman BE-100 and Bogner Ecstasy) on a budget as well.
I haven’t tried those pedals so I can’t really tell. Based on the vids I’ve seen, they should be able to get you close to the Tube Drive tones. My experience with the Blues Jr is that it doesn’t handle high gain pedals that well, so I’d recommend medium gain overdrives and maybe stack them for more sustain and grit. Other options would be Boss BD-2 and EHX Crayon.
Hey Bjorn
Thanks a lot for that overdrive and distortion guide. Helped me a a lot in focusing my search.
I’ve got interested about the svisound pedals, especially in the SpectroZoid. Your sound in On An Island sunday jam is insane!
I noticed you said that it works well with fender type amps like most of the Zoid pedals, but will it do the job in a bedroom setup aswell? I figure that it will due to the high mids, but wanted to hear your opinion as well.
Thank you!
Yep, works great. Most of the SviSound pedals has a very pronounced mid range and a bit of compression but they often lack low end to allow the mids to really cut through. They work great on most amps but on a bedroom setup and lower volume you might want to compensate with a bit of bass boost.
Hi…. fab review of these effects. I’m quite new to live playing ai it really helps me. Much appreciated Dave#
Hi Bjorn,
I’m getting a Caline Pure Sky, a nice Vemuram Jan Ray/Paul Cochrane Timmy clone at 1/10 of the cost of the original. It should arrive in the next few weeks.
In general, what do you think about Zendrive/Dumble-style pedals used for floydian tones? Do you think they can act as an effective fat boost for clean tones with an hint of tube-amp-flavour (Cluster One, ABITW pt.II)? They could replace a Butler TubeDriver for lead parts (Poles Apart, Maroneed, and so on…)?
Thanks in advance for your help
Always depends on the amp but in genereal, these types of pedals has a nice mid range and a bit of compression that would go nicely with David’s overdrive tones.
So, here’s a pedal that I haven’t seen mentioned here – the Magnetic Effects Zola boost.
The thing that caught my attention was the internal voltage booster that converted 9V to 30V. Perhaps that could be used in lieu of the Power Boost?
Hey Bjorn, hope you’re well and, as always, a massive fan of your content, always keeping us busy!
So, I have been keeping my eye on a Bananaboost lately – some really great sounds one can get from such boosters. However, my main amp, at the moment, is a Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue, and from what I’ve read in many of your articles Fender amps don’t lend themselves very nicely to mid scooped pedals, lacking mids themselves.. Do you think a Bananaboost type pedal would perhaps be a bad purchase for that amp?
Also, since I’m asking about overdrives and stuff, what would be a few of your top picks for overdrives and also distortions (with a little bit more gain on tap) for this amp. I’ve understood that Tubescreamer and maybe Klon type circuits are better bets due to their mids (of which I already have a few pedals) but wondering what you think and how much I could potentially experiment with different pedals, as I think I might be a bit limited here. Any pedal suggestions and input will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks a lot in advance,
Paris
Hi Paris, check out this feature for some tips on choosing the right pedals for different types of amps.
Hi, I would like to build my first own pedalboard (single pedal, no multieffect), but i never used a pedal; i absolutely love the Gilmour sound !! which are the must-to-have pedals to start ?? I know this question is so generic, but i’m really confused about which choose to begin, both type and brand. I have a Strat USA and a Fender Blues Junior IV. Thank you very much !! have a nice day.
I recommend that you check out these features first, before I go into any details
Which pedals to choose for different types of amps
Setting up the pedalboard
Hello Bjorn, I´m renewing my pedalboard and I want to cover the wide field of overdrives/distortions. Now, I´m playing with a Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico, Vox AC4 C1 12″ and I have a Mooer Black Secret (Rat clone), JHS Sweet tea (TS808 and Angry Charlie clone) and a JHS mod Green Russian Muff. After reading the comments of the post, I´m planning to get a BD-2 (close to theTube driver), OCD (similar to the tubescreamer but with much more mid range and very versatile) and a Klon centaur clone (something like a clean booster). It´s fine or you see anything redundant?
Another question is that I´m not sure which clone fits better in each case:
– BD-2: Here I don’t have any doubt and I think that I´ll go for the Mooer Blues mood instead of the standard BD-2 because it´s based on the Keeley Mod (two modes). (I did the same with the Black secret/ Rat choice and I´m very happy).
– OCD: it is very expensive and I read that EHX Glove and Mooer Hustle drive are very close. In your opinion, which one is the closest to the original? Any other clone to take into account?
– Klon Centaur: The only budget pedal that I saw is the EHX Soul Food. Is it close? Any alternative? Recently, I’ve heard about the Caline Pegasus and the Mosky Golden Horse but no idea about sound and/or quality.
Thank you again for your post. It helps a lot!!!
Regards.
First of all, check out this feature for some tips on choosing the right pedals for differnet types of amps.
The OCD does not have more mids than the TS. It has less. More gain and low end, less compression and gain.
The Glove is great. A bit more open sounding and sparkle compared to the Fulltone.
The Soul Food is as close as you’ll get.
Hi Bjorn. I take advantage of this column to ask you some things. I have been following you for many years but I do not deny you that for some time now I have been struggling to understand some things you say or some of your descriptions.
We have as a point of reference the Tube driver that Gilmour has used for many years. You give suggestions suggesting some pedals that, as you say, come close to that of timbre and can be used for songs from Momentary laps of reason up to the present day regarding Gilmour’s sounds. The problem is that I see pedals completely different from them. An example? Bd-2 and SD-1 are the opposite. The Bd2 is clearly mids scooped while the SD-1 is the opposite. Same thing for the ocd, still different from the two and still others. The Crayon is something in between. So I ask you: is the tube driver mids scooped? or otherwise? Then I wanted to ask you, if you agree that if you look for a sound similar to the Pulse era, you need EMGs, which are completely different from passive pickups and that therefore also overdrive will sound differently if you use a Stratocaster like “Black strat “?
Greetings.
Silvio
The Tube Driver is somewhat similar to the Fender Bassman and the early Marshall JTM/Plexi amps. Not quite but close. It’s a fullrange overdrive, meaning that it’s not scooped but not mids boosted either. You can roll the bass and treble controls back and get a lot more mids or boost them and get a very scooped tone.
The BD2 is not scooped. Like the Tube Driver it’s a full range overdrive. It has some compression and enough mids to cut through. Much like those old amps.
The OCD has more gain, compression and mids but not nearly as much as a Tube Screamer. It can do the Tube Driver pretty well. Especially on the more mids scooped amps.
The Tube Screamer has a lot of mids and compression. People often complain about the lack of lows but to get all that mids you need to shave off the lows. The SD1 is very similar with a tad more gain and sparkle.
The Crayon is clearly based on the Tube Driver but it has a bit more mids and compression. Perhaps somewhere between the Tube Driver and OCD.
Hi Bjorn!
I have a fender blues jr tweed. To nail pulse tones, with green russian and boss CE 2w, I’m not very happy using the boss db-2w for “replacing” the tube driver. What you sugest as a better option, buffalo td-x? Carrera? Plexi driver?
Thanks
I had some great tones with the BD2 and Blues Jr when I owned a Jr but I guess it’s a matter of taste and, how you set it up. The BD2 should work I think. The Plexi Drive has a bit more compression and mid range so you might want to try that one.
Bjorn,
Do you have an idea of any more tones a RAT can cover? I build clones and I have built a P19 Muff and RAT clone. Do you have any ideas of what other albums those two can cover?
Thanks,
Evan
The Rat is probably one of the most versatile distortions out there. It can cover pretty much anything from clean crunch to classic distortion and fuzz.
Any views on valve overdrive pedals, like the Beringer, Blackstar or Vox tone garages?
Adding a valve, or tube, to a gain pedal will often make it sound more dynamic and it responds better to your playing and how you set up the amp. As you now, David’s been using the Tube Driver since the early 90s. A tube alone however, won’t make a pedal great. It depends very much on the whole circuit and there are lots of transistor pedals out there that can mimic the tube sound very well, like the Wampler Plexi Drive, Boss BD2 etc.
Hello Björn! Hope all is well. I know how much you like the OCD, did you see he’s releasing a new germanium version? Supposed to be more tube like with more sustain and harmonics. Sounds like a recipe for some great Gilmourish tones. Figured I’d give you a heads up if you hadn’t heard.
Thanks,
Nick
Thanks for the tip, Nick!
Have you had a chance to look at the TruFi colordriver? Looks/sounds promising and not bad price wise either. I’m considering one.
Haven’t had the chance yet. Have them send me one and I’ll check it out!
I put a bug in their ear today. Already got a response back. They seem interested. Here’s to hoping!
Hey Bjorn, they want to get ahold of you but they cant find an email and neither can I.
post*gilmourish.com
They know about your site and your artist page. But was looking for an email to contact you. Im sure they’ll want to figure out where to send the pedals.
Just a quick question Bjorn; Do you know the difference between the soul bender, and power booster? From what I have read elsewhere, Page used both, Clapton used soul bender, and Gilmour the power booster of course. I cant find any comparisons between the two in YouTube. Just curious, Thanks!
The Power Boost has much more headroom and the two EQ controls. Turned up it can drive a tube amp and produce quite a lot of fuzz but it’s really a clean booster. The Tone Bender is a fuzz, with much more gain and saturation.
The Dawned Prince Red Rox just doesn’t seem to get much love, or attention. I’ve used a plethora of the overdrives and Distortions pedal including many of Bjorn’s picks(which are truly great pedals especially the Buffalo TDX). The Red Rox is brilliant and the compression is so valve like. It cleans up and covers so much ground. Can’t say enough about it really. Thank you BJORN for years of inspiration, and technical guidance. Just when I think I got it figured out…I come here and learn something. Bless???!
Hello, there!
Recently I got my hands on a Pig Hoof, which is killer, but I encountered the problem of getting lost in the band mix…
Changing from my TDX to the Pig Hoof boosted by an EP Booster, my guitar disappeared! ?
All this through a Hi-Tone amp, quite loud…
I guess, maybe a second TDX as a cleanish booster for Muffs and Fuzzes would be better, to stay in the same ballpark between overdrive and boosted fuzz?
Dimitris
All Big Muffs, and especially the older ones, like the triangle and ram’s head, have very little compression and mid range. It’s not the Pig Hoof but those early Muffs in general. Unfortunately the issue is that you often get lost in the mix. If you look at David’s setup, he’s using Hiwatts and they’re set with the mids and presence pretty high to compensate for using pedals with less mid range. He’s also using EQs set with a slight mid range boost.
The Pig Hoof sounds great with the TDX set clean after it but if you have big problems not cutting through you might want to use an EQ and boost the 400-1000 range.
More drastic equalisation, then, I see…
Quite impressive, though!
When I used a Vick Audio Overdriver and an Analogman BC109, there was no such great difference between them, in the context of getting heard, I mean.
But, man, they should be played LOUD! ?
Thanks again for your input, Bjorn!
Dimitris
Im trying to figure out what Buffalo FX pedal will give you the same Distortiona/Electric sound David gets on his Final Cut and Fletcher Memorial solo’s. I know there are other effects but what pedal do you think nails it? Thank you Sir.
Between the Buffalos? The Patriot.
Hey Bjorn Have you tried the TC Electronic Tube Pilot or mojo mojo overdrive. If so What’s your experience and will it be a good alternative
I use a hiwatt maxwatt g40 12r and a squire Strat
With stock neck and middle pickups and a dimarzio FS1
I haven’t tried it but from the vids I’ve seen it seems to be loosely based on the Tube Driver, although a bit limited with less controls. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the Tube Driver, then check out the Buffalo FX TDX, Boss BD2, EHX Crayon… to name a few.
Hi Bjorn, I’ve been following this site for years and I have to congratulate you.
I go straight to the point: I changed my amp recently and got a Fender Bassman (Jensen Speakers) and I play with my Stratocaster (CS69 PU).
What pedal do you recommend for recreating the typical Colorsound PowerBoost sound in WYWH with my new amp? Do you think it’s possible?
Thank you very much for the attention.
Thanks for the kind words, Raffaele!
I’d go for the Boss BD2. Can’t go wrong. You might need to roll back the tone quite a bit to compensate for the rather bright amp but it should give you a tone very similar to the CPB. You might also want to check out the EHX Crayon or the Hot Wax, which are sonically a mix between the Tube Driver and BD2. See my review of the Hot Wax here.
Hei Bjørn.
I’m a big fan of david gilmour, and has for a few years tried to get his tunes right.
but really difficult.
my set up i use is. Hiwatt g100r transistor amp, boss compressor/sustain, big muff, rat, mojo-mojo, digital delay. just ordered mxr dynacomp vintage wich i will swap out with the boss compressor
i sometimes use my peavy classic 50w amp, that makes the sound a bit warmer.
i’m concidering to buy the buffalo powerbooster.
i’m trying to get the tone from shine on you crazy diamond aswell the tone from animals.
can you give me some adwise?
Hi Kent! That would require a pretty long reply so please read through these features for some help and tips
How to choose the right pedals for your amp
Amp setup tips
How to set up your bedroom tones
Hi Bjorn! First of all, compliments for the blog and the Youtube Channel, they’re really helpful.
I have a question, currently I’m looking for an OD pedal, now i have a TS9 clone, but I don’t like it, when it’s keep on low gain (1 or 2) it’s good for a clean boost, the problem is when i want more gain, it become really muddy and dark.
Now after reading this page I’m really uncertain, beacouse I want an OD to pair with the Green Russian reissue, that can also switch from clean boost to a good crunch.
I’m oriented on these pedal: Boss BD2, EHX Crayon, MXR Fet Driver or the SviSound Spectrozoid.
My setup is this: Strat with SSL5, Abigayl Ybarra, and Fat 50 (Bridge, Middle, Neck) >MXR DynaComp>Muff>Phase 90>E-Lady>CE2 clone>TC Repeater>Bugera V5.
The Bugera V5 has a really good clean but it’s a bit dark.
which would you recommend?
Thanks.
TS9s often sound dark and muddy if they’re not used correctly. Don’t mean that you’re doing anything wrong but they’re basically designed to provide a Marshall-like tone to Fender amps when cranked and, to push Marshall amps into more gain when set clean. To put it very simple. The Boss BD2 is hard to beat as it can do pretty much anything, from clean boost to near fuzz without sounding too dark or overly compressed.
Hi Bjorn. Greetings! What do you think about the new Fulltone OCD V2? Do you tryed it?
Hi Bjorn
I have an OD Glove and it works well with Lionheart 20H
do you think there will be any advantage in replacing the Glove with an OCD for those amps?
Thanks
The Glove is great! Very similar to the OCD. A tad brighter and less bottom end but I think that compliments the Lionheart nicely.
After watching a few videos by Brett Kingaman and Justnick, my chronic GAS condition flared up and I bought MI Audio Super Crunch Box V2 and MI Audio Super Blues Pro over drive
I have been playing them with three amps (Bugera V22, Peavey Classic 20MH, Laney Lionheart 20 Head) and have been amazed by versatility and range of sounds in them.
The amps are very different in sound and characteristics. Both pedals can be set to sound awesome with each one of the, They are relatively quiet, especially on Bugera. The pedal chain together quite well as well.
Just wanted to pass a note and see if you have had any experience with them.
Thanks for the info! Tried them years ago and remember I liked them very much.
Hello Bjorn,
After researchs on tube pedals i have found the HIWATT tube overdrive , i don’t find a lot of review of this unit and I was wondering if you know it
thanks
Haven’t tried it.
@NJ if I can give you a tip, if you’re looking for Tube Driver tones, the Tube Overdrive isn’t good.
It’s a screamer pedal, so it has low gain. You could find the Tube Distrortion more suitable…
I’m just recording the demo btw
Hey Bjørn,
just got my hands on a Buffalo FX Powerbooster. I only tested it like 15 minutes so far, but what I’ve heard was already mindblowing.
I now know why this thing is called “Booster”: I can crank the gain knob to like 2 o’clock and the sodding thing will still not break up haha (using it with my Hiwatt T20 and Black Strat of course)
Quite noticeable is the “jump” in gain from 4-5 o’clock though, like the old Colorsound Booster I assume, having never played it, only read about it. It sounds so damn smooth though … like there is no fizzy sounds when chords or notes ring out, even on higher gain settings.
I compared it to the Keeley Phat Mod and that pedal is way louder and has more gain overall in my opinion, also does not sound as smooth :P
Is it supposed to break up so late or is it just the 18V headroom and the Hiwatt that cause the late breakup?
Do you think it has a sweetspot (with all knobs maybe)?
Thinking of using it as either a boost or light/medium OD with the gain at like 3 o’clock and leave the heavy OD to the Phat Mod.
Cheers,
Phil
The Buffalo is designed to provide more headroom so there will be a later breakup compared to a 9V. How fast it breaks up also depends on how you set the the level and how much that drives the amp, how you’ve set the amp and how much headroom it has, your pickups etc.
Yes I understand. I guess I expected it to break up sooner haha
After messing around more with the Powerbooster I finally matched the clean sound amp volume with the overdriven and distorted sounds of the pedals, for which I had to turn down the volume on all gain pedals quite a bit. They are mostly at like 9-12 o’clock now. Before that I used a fairly quite clean sound, which I then boosted with the Boss-BD2 to match the volume of the gain pedals.
Remembering the Hiwatt/Powerbooster episode on TPS I think due to the high headroom of amp and pedals, the volume gets boosted so immensly to drive the amp into OD even at lower settings.
You mentioned the interaction between volume and gain/sustain on a gain pedal in an article.
Do you think with the volume being fairly low on most pedals now, this affects that interaction a lot?
Gain pedals are the Powerbooster, Keeley Phat Mod, Green Russian Muff and VA Ram’s Head by the way ;)
Depends on the type of gain. A lot of pedals these days seem to be based on a TS9, Klon or Rat, which are all meant to produce a tone similar to what you’d get from a cranked tube amp. A booster, like the Power Boost, is or was, designed to boost or drive the front end of a tube amp so it had to have a lot of volume. Two different worlds. Yes, the volume and gain on the Power Boost interact in the way that your amp will break up sooner the higher you set the volume on the pedal. The more amp break up you get, the more it will interact with the pedal’s gain structure.
Hey Bjorn – Have you tested out the Black Arts Toneworks Black Forest? It’s supposed to be based on the Colorsound Overdriver circuit.
Thanks! Mark
Haven’t tried it.
Hi Mark, I own the Black Arts Toneworks Black Forest as well as the BuffaloFX 18-Volt Power Booster and can provide some feedback. The Black Forest is amazingly transparent and sounds phenomenal in small bedroom setups. Clarity is absolutely awesome playing a Strat or Tele into an old 1964 Gibson Skylark amp or newer Fender Deluxe Reverb. The Black Forest is sadly not that well known in gear world. I came across it after purchasing the incredible Pharaoh Supreme 6-way Fuzz pedal, which is a fantastic fuzz pedal that can literally be dialed in to almost any setup. The options on the Pharaoh Supreme are endless and nearly every setting sounds wonderful.
But back to the Black Forest. There is just “something” I really love about this little Power Boost clone. And the price is absolutely fantastic. To be honest, I actually use the Black Forest pedal more frequently than I do the BuffaloFX 18-volt Power Booster. It plays very well with other pedals and “beautifies/glorifies” any guitar signal you throw at it.
I do not believe there is much information out there on the web about the BAT Black Forest. It does not even come with an Owners Manual, so figuring out the 6-way depth switch can be a bit of a challenge in the beginning. But after spending a few hours with the pedal I can almost guarantee you will be able to dial in a beautiful Gilmour-esque transparent tone that is to die for. And the BAT Black Forest is NOT an expensive pedal at all. So I cannot imagine you making a mistake buying this baby. I say “get it.” If you decide it is not your cup of tea you can recoup the majority of your minimal investment on Reverb.
NOTE: Do yourself a favor and check out th Black Arts Toneworks Coven pedal before jumping on the Black Forest. The reason? The Coven includes BOTH the Black Forest pedal as well as the Pharaoh Fuzz in a single enclosure. I opted for the Black Forest because I already have a ton of stand-alone fuzz pedals.
I hope this information helps. There are no listings for used Black Forest OD pedals on Reverb at the moment, which tells you something about this pedal right there, IMHO. If you have any further questions about the Black Forest feel free to reach out to me: chris.filben@gmail.com and I will try to answer your questions. The Black Forest is, simply put, a get sounding transparent OD that does justice to the legacy of the original 18-Volt Power Booster.
Thanks, James! I have the BAT Sarcophagus on my board, which I love. Looks like I might have to make some room for the Black Forest.
Hi Bjorn,
I’d also reccomend as OD the Maxon St9-Pro Plus, which is in fact a TS9 with expanded capabilities (it has a “Mid enhance” control to let you dial in this crucial frequency range and can be run at an internal voltage of 9v or 18v with an internal switch)
Bjorn,
Sorry if this has been mentioned but has anything come up re: Dave’s use of the Schaefer wireless units and what it may have added to his tone on The Wall Tour.
Solodallas.com is reproducing clones of the wireless units without the wireless capability for use as a preamp only. There’s a good backstory about how someone traced Angus Young’s tone back to his use of the wireless and now they clone it just for the preamp. Similar I guess to the Echoplex preamp pedals also available. Interesting that the preamp in both the Schaefer and Echoplex added enough to the tone that they are now sold separate of the actual effect they were Intended for.
I’d assume Dave was using the wireless, if not for the whole show, at least when he was on the wall for CN. Thought of the hat when I saw the pic of his amps that includes the two Schaefer units sitting on the Mesa Boogie head.
Derek
Seattle
Yes, he did use the Schaefer but how it was used, I don’t know. I know Angus relied on it but again, how important it was for David’s tones I really don’t know. Angus was very much plug and play, with his Marshalls etc and the Schaefer would have coloured the tone quite a bit but David used pre-amps and lots of effects, so…
Hello Bjorn, excellent reviews of overdrive and distortion pedals.Have you had a chance to try Macari’s Aussie Power Boost version of the Colorsound Power Boost,(18v, master volume,LED and power jack)?
I haven’t tried it but it seems to be a 18V, which has more headroom, with slight mods on it. Proabaly smoother breakup, more headroom and easier to place on a large pedal board with buffers I would imagine.
Thanks Bjorn.
Hi everybody,
Did someone use the pal 959 plexi emulator from PedalPal fx or their jcm? Seems to be great pedals.
Hi Bjorn! I just wanted to say, that the tru-fi pedals would be worth adding to your lists. The Tru-fi Colordriver is an INSANE Clone of the Colorsound Powerbooster. And the tru-fi Floyd Fuzzes seem to be spot on to the original Big Muffs that DG has used over the years. I know it’s impossible to review everything, and that not every company is willing to send you their products for free. So I really hope I’m not frustrating your nerves here :-) I was just sooo happy to learn about these pedals, that I just wanted to share that with everyone here :-) God bless – keep up the good work :-)
Thanks for the tip, Lukas! I’ve seen the TPS guys have been using a couple of the pedals. I’ll check it out.
Cool! Would love to see them here ;-) yeah – TPS is how I know them X-D
Hi Bjorn, I am trying to get a time similar to the ones heard on Wish You Were Here. I’m using a fender road worn strat and a 1976 fender twin reverb. Some guidance on an overdrive that would help me achieve this tone would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Corey
David used the Colorsound Power Boost on that album, although there might be some amp overdrive there as well. He used his Hiwatts and Fender Showmans so a Twin should go nicely although it much less compressed and brighter sounding. Similar pedals would be the Boss BD2 or a clone of the Power Boost. Do check out the EHX Hot Wax as well.
Hi Björn
I recently got a Fender Champion 40 Amp and I’m playing thru a Jazzmaster with Seymour Duncan Antiquity 1 pickups.
I noticed that my Big Muff is rubbish now with this amp (I liked to play Dinosaur Jr. and used to play Marshall).
I also use a SansAmp Original (Classic) wich works well on the Fender for Nirvana like stuff.
1. How would you review the SansAmp Classic? What amp would suit it most in your eyes?
2. Is there an amp I can use that sounds good with my SansAmp AND my BigMuff? I really like them both!
Thanks so much
Check out this feature for some tips on choosing the right pedals for different amps.
hi bjorn: do you think that Xotic SL and Buffalo TDX are somewhat similar in tone and so the TDX could override the SL? thanks as always for your kind suggests!
No. The SL is super compressed and it has a lot of mid range. Very close to how a Marhsall Plexi would sound. The TDX is an overdrive, with less mid range and compression.
Hi Bjorn, sorry to bother, but I wanted to ask, is the Bananaboost THAT better than the Vick Audio Overdriver? I ask cause it seems more difficult to get the Bananaboost shipped to my country than the Vick (also a cheaper shipment with the Vick) but I really desire that colorsound powerboost tone
Thanks in advance!
Hmmm… I wouldn’t say that it’s THAT much better but they’re different. The Banana is slightly darker, with a smoother breakup and less compression. The Vick has more gain perhaps but also more compression. I like the Banana but only because it seem to fit my guitars and amps better. You should also check out the Buffalo FX Power Booster, which has that vintage flavour but it’s tweaked slightly to fit the more demanding amps.
Hey Bjorn,
What would be an ideal overdrive for a 80’s Fender Super Champ, on its gain channel, to produce a sweet lead tone?
Thanks!
See this feature for some tips on knowing what pedals to choose for different amps.
Hi Bjorn, I just got a Princeton Reverb 65 reissue. So in your opinion, would a Boss SD-1 or BD-2 be a better match for it? I also have a Wampler Plexi Drive I would stack with either one for a lead boost. I only play at home at fairly low amp volumes. Cheers!
I think all three would do nicely. The Princeton is a nice pedal platform. Obviously the SD1 and BD2 are two very different sounding pedals so it depends on what tones you want.
Hi Bjorn. What do you think about keep two overdrive pedals in board? So, I can leave one for bases and another for solos or one for bases and another as booster for my Big Muff. I have a Crayon and I’m thinking of buying a BD-2.
Another question: between TC Eletronic Viscous Vibe and MXR Univibe , which one do you think is better?
Well, I have 5 overdrive/distortion pedals on the board so it all depends on what tones you need :) I think both UniVibes sound good but the MXR is perhaps the better IMO.
Hi Bjorn. What do you think about Mooer Blues Mood, a BD-2 clone? It’s worth?
Yep.
Sad, my long comment never appeared here :( Will try to repeat shortly main message: first of all many thanks for such useful page! Here are so many questions in comments about is this or that pedal sounds good with Laney Cub, that I think Bjorn could make separate article about his experience with different pedals with Laney Cub instead of answering to all those questions separately :) I would be very happy too with such article, since I am active Laney Cub used both at home and with a band (I have combo and head and use them with celestion vintage 30 or greenback speakers), I it would be really interesting to know how different distortion/overdrive pedals sound with Cub.
See my reply. Comments doesn’t appear until they’re approved.
Hi Bjorn! First of all – HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I just discovered this webpage and it is really great, very useful information for both bedroom and band players! Thank you!
As I understand one of your main bedroom amps is Laney Cub? I have Laney Cub 12R with Celestion Vintage 30 at home, and I like it so much that I bought Laney Cub Head for my band and play it with 2×12 Vintage 30 Cab. I use two local “boutique” pedals for overdrive and distortion, but I am too lazy to carry my pedal board back and forth between home and rehearsal room, especially considering I am using four cable methods. So I am planning to put small pedal-board at home form Mooer pedals (just because they have amazing and very cheap so called “Flight case”. But the problem – what pedal to choose? I am reading comments on this webpage and here are tons of questions and answers about is this or that pedal is good for Laney Cub, you answered it many times already. I don’t want to be one more :) Probably it is time to write an article about your experience with Laney Cub with different pedals? So you could just give a link to your article when such question appear.
Considering that I decided to go with Mooer series and the fact that they copy famous pedals, then I should choose two pedals (overdrive and distortion) among OCD, RAT, Blues Driver, Bluesbreaker, Tubescreamer, Boss DS-1 and several more which I am not familiar with. Reading your articles and comments I feel that RAD and Blues Driver would be a good choice, but really, you have very valuable experience, I would be happy to read about the whole spectra of your impressions on all pedals you tried with at least Laney Cub. Thank you!
If case if you or anybody else are interested how my Laney Cub sounds with Celestion speaker, I have several studio quality examples of my channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYvgUIE_MTMY5pp4lv_IybQ
For example, here is a solo part of Another Brick In the Wall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDN2SeVBzPw&list=PLDYpP7jPiy3hA9KKlwPBJR4Ezc21-DPgl&index=3
It was not an attempt to re-create original sound, it was my own tone preference, I like it that way.
Hi Sergei, thanks for the kind words! The Cub is a versatile amp and a good pedal platform so I think it’s more a question of what tones you want. I don’t have experience with all the Mooer pedals but the Hustle, Black Secret and Blues Mood are great for replicating David’s tones. Very good versions of the originals too.
Happy New year Bjorn!
I have a question for you. I want to replace my ts9 (too thin) and my BK TD (too boomy). I know that is subjective but which pedal (considering all the gear you having try) can be the best replacement with a Fender BluesJr? I play with a 57reissue strap and Montluçon at bedroom level..
Kind regards
Boss BD-2. I think that would be the closest to what you have.
Hello Bjorn
First of all happy new year ! I have been looking a lot at the Bananaboost as I would like to hit those vintage early era tones. However I am mostly a bedroom player, where i play through a Lionheart L5 studio with matching 112 cab. My guitar is a Fender strat with Fat 50’s/CS69/SSL-5 pickups. My question is, do you think the Bananaboost is going to be problematic in this type of setup considering your bedroom score for this pedal, and if so, what would you recommend as an alternative if i want to stay true to those vintage tones (CPB mini driver?) ? Thank you !
Happy new year Philip! Sorry for the late reply. The Banana works nicely with the Lionheart especially on the dirt channel with the mids around 3 o’clock or even higher. Alternatively, you could go for the Boss BD2, CPB Mini Driver or similar.
Hello Bjorn. Thank you for the insight :) I ended up buying the Boss BD2, as i could get it quite cheap. Do you also recommend the use the dirt channel on the Lionheart for the BD2 ? Thank you !
This is my current settings
gain channel bright on, gain 8-9:00, volume between noon and 2:00, bass and mids 3:00, treble 9:00 and tone 11:00 (o’clock).
hi Bjorn and happy new year: have you tried the BOSS ANGRY DRIVER (fusion of BOSS BD2 and JHS Angry Charlie)? if yes, how do you compare it to the Buffalo TDX? thanks! Massimo
Haven’t tried it but I’ve tried both pedals. The Angry Charlie is more of a JCM Marshall kind of pedal, with quite a lot of gain. The BD2 is somewhat similar to the Tube Driver.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, everyone!
Any thoughts on amp in a box pedals?
Not the real deal, but you can compensate the lack of a working Marshall or Hiwatt with those, as a base of your tones on non fuzz-friendly or smaller amps, I guess.
Also, we are in the making of our first album, we would love to hear your opinion!
Cheers!
https://soundcloud.com/user-104146274/on-the-rail
Don’t have much experience with amp modelling pedals other than your typical Marshall JTM/JCM style overdrives. You could use amp style pedals to sort of add character to your amp, regardless of what amp it is, but it won’t turn your amp into something else. A Fender Twin with a Marshall pedal will still sound like a Fender Twin with a Marshall flavoured overdrive but with that, you will add a bit more mids and compression to your amp.
No doubt it won’t change the amp into a different thing.
I tried Catalinbread ‘s RAH, which in fact helps handpe my silicon fuzz and Overdriver a bit, actually…Highly recommended!
I wish all the best, for you and your family, my friend, Happy New Year!
Hi Bjorn,
Have you tried Keeley Super Phat Mod? I don’t know wich one i should choose: Keeley Super Phat Mod or Boss BD-2 Keeley mod.
Tkanks in advance for quick reply.
Mike
I did a review of the Phat Mod some time back.
Thank you, just bought Boss BD-2 Keeley. To my ears these are very similar pedals. There is a bypass difference only. It’s a great pedal. In my opinion it’s also good working with EO Pig Hoof.
“Some Big Muffs, like the Sovtek models and clones, are often best alone. As can distortion pedals like the Rat and similar, like the Buffalo Evolution, TopTone G2 etc.”
I get some nice sounds with an Effectrode FireBottle after the Buffalo FX Evolution (into Laney L5H). The other way around – FireBottle into Evolution – sounds horrible.
Hi, Under your “Distortion” section you mention a “category 2 distortion”. Can you explain what it is with some examples please? I have a BJr with Cannabis Rex and am looking for more mids for my setup. I am looking at a buying a RAT which should also help. Thanks
Sorry for my late reply Pierre. I think it says in the feature. By category 2 I mean distortions with more compression and mid range like a RAT, OCD etc. Category 1 would be the more mids scooped and less compressed pedals like a Boss DS-1 etc.
Hi again Bjorn,
So I just got the Keeley Electronics Super Phat Mod and it’s a killer pedal. I love its low end through my strat and I’ve gotten a lot a driven tube amp Jimi tones out of it. My first question is: Do you think that the phat mod replaces my Wampler Tumnus deluxe in terms of its function as a pedal? The fact that they’re both gold I think is also throwing me off lol. A follow up question would be: If they can live peacefully together on the board, would you stack the tumnus before or after the phat mod? Thanks for your time!
It’s two different types of overdrive to my ears. The BD2 is a full range overdrive, with lots of headroom and a lot of gain if you crank it. The Tumnus is based on the old Klon, which might sound similar if set clean but it has a lot more compression and mid range if you crank it.
OK- Thanks for clarifying.
Hi Bjorn,
Any opinion on Origin Effects Revival?
Also if they tell you you just have one option to chose in you’re own in the chain of tone (guitar, effects and Amp) and we will give you the rest which one you chose? (Which on eis the most important in this chain?)
Not sure I understand the question.
I mean which one plays the biggest role in creating a tone?
I don’t know how to answer that… I would say that your mind, technique and experience is the most important. Know your gear and have an idea of what sort of tones you want. Doesn’t really matter what gear you use if you don’t know how to use it or if it doesn’t fit your needs. I would put my money into a guitar and amp with the guitar probably being the nost important as it’s an extension of you and your expression. Worry about pedals later.
Awesome thanks, that exactly answers my question, you’re the best!
Haven’t tried it.
Do you know if there are any good tc electronics overdrive pedals such as the El Mocambo, or the Nova Drive?
Overdrives aren’t really TC’s strongest side or focus. They tend to be based on the Tube Screamer in different forms. I think there are much better alternatives out there but it’s all about taste.
TC Electronics isn’t really in the game when it comes to dirt but they make a boost pedal called the Spark that is excellent and covers a lot of sonic ground. It can be used as a clean boost plus it has bass and treble controls so it can function as an EQd boost or a compensatory EQ with the volume normalized. It is also a switchable Mids Boost to cut thru like a TS. Additionally, it makes a nice Edge Boost or even a stand alone Light/Pushed Overdrive with Gain and Level controls. It is a very useful pedal especially if you already love the gain of your amp (I use it with a Mesa Triple Rectifier). It sounds killer! The three modes are: Fat, Clean, and Mid. The four controls are: Gain, Level, Bass, and Treble.
Hello Bjorn. Mooer Black Secret does not work well with my Laney TI-15, probably because it is a Mids boosted and compressed amps. But I really like the sound of RAT. Could you indicate some distortion pedals that works well with my amp? Another question: in my amp (Laney), I have to adjust the tone control of my Ehx Crayon and Russian Big Muff around 3 or 4 o’clock to get a nice sound. Less than this sounds fat, without brightness and definition. It’s normal?
Not that familiar with the amp but I guess it’s fairly mid rangy and probably not the best headroom, I don’t know. The Black Secret and other Rat type of pedals should work but it depends on how you’ve set the amp. Is it clean? How’s your EQ settings? The Crayon and Russian Big Muff are fairly bright so I again I would look at the amp settings. What sort of pickups do you use?
Although a bit off Gilmour’s tones…
Have you ever tried treble booster pedals, like the Dallas Rangemaster?
Any experience, how they would sound on smaller amps like the Lionheart 5 watt combo and 20 watt stack?
Hope you are doing great!
Treble boosters aren’t like other overdrives. They boost certain frequencies and push the amp into overdrive, compression and clarity. They usually work better on bigger amps and high volume and they should be used much like an EQ when you need to open up and push the amp a bit. I’ve used a Beano Boost with the Lionheart and it sounds great with the amp’s normal mode and gain channel, as it gets fairly dark, but it gets too bright on the bright mode. For my taste at least.
This world seems so complex for the small budget guys…
I was ready to acquire the Boss BD2 when I found out Boss has re-designed it with a tiny circuit which can hardly be modified.
In the video you posted about the Boss BD2, did you used the standard old model, a modified model or the new model with the tiny cicuitry ?
Do you have any oppinion on the new miniaturization circuit design?
I used a stock model. Some of the clones and modified versions add more lows and rolls off the highs a bit but the stock does the job.
BOSS has switched to surface mount manufacturing. You will need to search the used market if you want to modify any of their pedals.
Hi Bjorn! great Job! very interesting discussion! between td-x buffalo and strymon riverside what are more “gilmourish” sound?
thanks a lot
Peter
The TDX is based on the Tube Driver David’s using so I would say that one. However, it depends on your amp too. For a Fender or Vox, which both has little mid range, the Riverside might be a better choice.
Hi Bjorn,
do you ever got to try the TC Electronic Tube Pilot? Supposedly a “Tube Driver” clone… the price is amazing (around 40 EUR)…
Nope. It has two controls so I can’t be a clone but possibly something close.
Hi, Bjorn. Do you think the Analogman King of Tone v4 has a place when trying to achieve David’s tones? Thanks, Greg
Forgot to say I’m using an Orange Rocker 15 set on the clean channel. Thanks.
Don’t know how it matches up with your amp but you can’t really beat the KoT. It works nicely for just about everything and you should be able to get close to David’s Tube Driver tones… with some tweaking.
Hey Bjorn,
I recently recorded something and put it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kV9ErsrDag
What do you think in terms of the sound?
Still trying to figure out the best mic placement, pedal and amp settings, but I must say that this is the best my gear as sounded so far :D
Also thanks for that awesome backing track!
Cheers,
Phil
Sounds great Phil! Well done!
Sounds great to me. Definitely a quite Gilmourish tone and the phrasing is also good. The Keeley sounds great at any gain setting IMHO.
Hi Bjorn.
I’m looking for a Tube Driver clone foe pulse tones. I’m using and Eric Johnson strat with a 50w katana. Would you recommend tree of life, ocd, or plexi drive? Something else in that price range perhaps? Thanks!
The Tree of Life and OCD has too much mids and compression for a Tube Driver but they can be set up for somewhat similar tones. The Plexi would be much closer. Check out the excellent TDX from Buffalo FX as well.
Hi Bjorn – Effectrode Overdrives (Tube Drive and Blackbird) Can you review these? PS love my Fire Bottle and Tube Vibe by Phil…
Sure! Send them to me and I’ll review them :)
Ha! Good point – I never thought of that :-0 – They are quite premium for sure…..maybe in due time….
Hey Bjorn,
Somewhat of an odd question. Placed later in the chain with saturation set low and with volume set at unity or higher, is the Strymon Deco’s natural compression enough to knock a standalone compressor off a board?
No. You don’t hear much compression unless you crank the gain.
Hello Bjorn,
great site, amazing work and an incredible amalgama of knowledge :)
I’m getting a Distortion pedal and my amp is a Vox AC30 CC1 (all valve). The Evolution sounds an amazing piece of kit but I’m wondering how much more “tone” would I get on top of a much cheaper RAT 2? Is the price difference worth it (in Europe 235 EUR vs 79 EUR). I like tube-like distortion, smooth and that works well with the guitar volume pot.
Many thanks!!!
Thanks for the kind words! The Evo and RAT are somewhat overlapping so if you’re looking for something slightly different you might want to check out a Fulltone OCD or, one of my favourites, the Vick Audio Tree of Life. Both pedals are medium gain overdrives that compliments the Evo perfectly.
Hello again and thanks for the reply. I don’t own any of them so I was deciding between the two. After the videos I watched I’m pretty much decided on the Evo but, as I was there, I also saw the TD-X… Say for “PULSE” tones (Comfortably Numb/Time solos, Sorrow…) which one would suit better? :) Many thanks.
The Evo I guess. You could use the TDX as well but it’s more of an overdrive.
Sorry for one more question: does it clean up nicely as we roll down the volume on the guitar?
That always depends on the pedal settings and your pickups but the TDX cleans up. The EVO has too much gain and compression.
Sorry to bother (again). Thank you for all your trouble :)
One more question: is this pedal suitable for an AC30? I read on your reviews/tutorials that a Muff and an AC30 is not the best for Gilmour tones. Being this pedal a combination of Muff and British tube amp overdrive, do you think it will work nicely for David’s tones?
Many thanks!
I haven’t tried that specific pedal with a AC30 but I would assume it does.
Bjorn, When you comment to us about OD pedals by different makers and what circuit they are “based” on like your recent comment
“The Charlie Brown is based on the old JTM45 and Plexi tones so I guess that one is the closest to he Wampler. The Angry Charlie is a more modern distortion based on the JCM800, with more gain and an overall more aggressive character”
How and where do you get this information if the manufacturer doesnt come right out and say it? Is there a resource that lists circuits for all pedals and what they are “based” on for an amp etc? Any extra information you could provide would be helpful. Thanks…P.s your blog is absolutely essential!
Some makers are honest about this while others will say that a pedal is based on a British brown sound or that green overdrive pedal… things like that. It’s also about experience. I’ve been playing guitar for over 25 years and I’ve had the chance to play more amps and pedals than I can count. I recognise tone and branding very easy based on that.
Thanks Bjorn for the reply! I hope to get my ears to that point someday! Do you like the Archer by J. Rockett? The Koko Boost by Suhr? How would you classify these two?
The Archer is based on the Klon. It has lots of headroom but turn the gain up and you get that Klon grit and compression going. The Koko is cleaner I think. More of a volume booster although I think it has a mids boost option as well.
For a bedroom setup, which overdrive would be better, Blues Driver, Soul Food or Crayon?
Depends on the amp. Read more about that here.
Hey Bjorn,
so I’ve played and listened to lots of different overdrive sounds in the last couple of years since I started playing guitar and wondered: Obviously there are major differences with the pedals mainly with the amount of midrange, but pairing any amps with the right pedals gets you a similar overall sound.
So am I wrong here or is there like only this “one range of sounds” which overdrive, just overdrive pedals can produce?
Probably a subjective thing, but I think I never stumbled across an overdrive sound and went: Oh that sounds TOTALLY different than others despite the amount of gain being high or low.
You tell me if my ears are already wacked or if I may have a point here :D
Interesting question. I think the “problem” is that the market is swamped with a gazillion different pedals that claim to be it. As I see it there are mainly two different types of overdrives and I can use Boss as an example. The BD-2 is a fairly transparent overdrive, with lots of headroom but also a lot of gain. It doesn’t colour your tone but it can be used as a clean booster or as an overdrive with the amount of gain you need. The other type of overdrives is the Tube Screamer and the Boss SD-1. It has less low end but a lot of mid range and compression. These are designed to capture the tone you get from canking a loud tube amp. Between these two there are tons and tons of variations but they’re all inspired by these two.
That’s also what I learned so far :)
Unless the pedal has some rare feature that adds a flavour they are all very similar sounding.
Interesting was the recent TPS with the Hiwatt and Powerbooster. I was surprised Nick didn’t know about the Powerbooster and acknowleged that it was the best OD pedal range from fuzz to boost he ever heard. Only proves your point of it being a transparent overdrive I suppose … ;)
(They should really get you on there btw ;))
Rolling of the guitar volume with a Tube Screamer sounds nowhere as good as doing that with a Keeley Phat Mod.
In your opinion, what Pete Cornish pedal is the closest in comparison to a Tube Driver for Gilmour tone purposes?
Oh, I really don’t know if they have a pedal like that. The ST-2 is very close to the Colorsound Power Boost so I guess that’s as close as you’ll get.
Any thoughts on the jhs Charlie Brown and angry Charlie? Do they compare favorably with the Wampler plexus rive?
The Charlie Brown is based on the old JTM45 and Plexi tones so I guess that one is the closest to he Wampler. The Angry Charlie is a more modern distortion based on the JCM800, with more gain and an overall more aggressive character.
Hi Bijorn
wondering if you’ve tried earthquaker devices westwood drive?
I came across this by one of the coolest guys on the net and started GAS’sing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se7URw0DS84
one of our local stores allows returns in 30 days. I got and decided to keep it and sell some other drives
It’s a very versatile drive playing well with both my Gibson 339 and fender strat on both my Bugera v22 and Peavey Classic 20 amps
though to psot in case you could get one to try
Haven’t tried it. Thanks for the tip!
Hello bijorn. This is a new version of OCD.(OCD V.2) A total different eq.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi0pu0jdrOY
What do you think about it? I think it has a very balanced equalization and a very valid alternative to the tube driver, maybe slightly warmer. With this video, based on some songs by Pink Floyd maybe you can get an idea. Greetings.
I haven’t tried it so it’s hard to tell. Based on the clip alone it sounds very promising.
If you want to spend some time, in this video you can listen to the difference between all eight versions until you get to V.2. Greetings.
https://youtu.be/txHlJKghD0k
Hi Bjorn,
What do you think about BOSS mod. OD-1 ?
Bye.
It’s basically a Tube Screamer without the tone control. Personally I prefer the SD-1, which is basically the same pedal with a tone control.
Hey Bjorn, I have a suggestion regarding the very popular Fulltone OCD. On the forum, I have seen many people asking about boosting with the OCD, and have seen you say a few times that boosting with it is probally not a good idea. I have asked myself when i first got it. A lot of us have this prdal, but might not be using it correctly regarding David’s tones. Maybe you could make a video about how you personally utilize this popular dirt box? You could also tell me to go scratch myself and don’t tell me how to run my website….lol. But it’s a popular question, and maybe make a video how you personally use it. Obviously there are no set rules on how to set these things up.
Thanks for the tip, Frank! Boosting is tricky because it all depends on the whole rig – the pickups, amp, what pedals you combine, what tones you need etc. As a rule, I’d say that amps with less mid range and compression, like Fender and Vox, should be paired with with overdrives and distortions that has more mids and compression, like OCD, Rat, TS etc. And vice versa. Hiwatts, Marshall etc that has a lot of mids and compression will take the more transaprent pedals better. Now, there are no rules and we’re talking about David’s tones. Pedals like the OCD can make Big Muffs sound too dark and compressed but again, if you have a Fender or something similar, that’s probaby where you want to go. I’ve tried to explain this in detail in this feature.
Hi Bjorn. To get Gilmour tones mainly from the solos of Pulse, Gdansk and Pompeii 2016 I have a Buffalo FX Evolution but I had thought about buying an EHX Overdrive, both to complement the Evolution at times and to play only with the EHX and some modulation.
What would EHX recommend? Sould Food, Glove, Crayon, Green Russian Big Muff? Or maybe you prefer another Driver that is not from EHX for a similar range of prices?
Thank you very much best regards.
What amp are you using? Pickups? See this feature for some tips on choosing the right pedals for different types of amps.
With a Laney Cub 12R and a Fender American Special Stratocaster with Texas Special pickups, which one would you choose? Thank you very much…
Just add that I’m also considering Boss BD-2. What do you think of the combination: Buffalo FX Evolution + Boss BD-2 (or BD-2w?) With Labey Cub 12R and Texas Special pickups for Pulse and Gdansk tones ? Thank you so much.
One of my favourite overdrives and great for boosting.
The Green Russian is a Big Muff and not an overdrive. Somewhat overlapping to the Evolution but well worth checking out. See my review here. Between the overdrives I’d check out the Crayon – there are two versions but they’re identical. It’s very close to David’s Tube Driver that he’s been using since the mid 90s.
Hello! I recently put a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates PAF style humbucker in the bridge of my strat – any recommendations for a pedal to get smooth creamy Pulse style leads? Thanks!
Depends on your amp. Check out this feature for some tips on choosing the right pedals for different amps.
Hi Bjorn,
I took a look at the setting and set up of the PIGS THREE DIFFERENT ONES song
but I have doubts.
I’ve:
– Tiny Terror 7/15 Watt
– Engl E651
———————————————————————————————————————————————
– Masotti od-box
– Ibanez CP-10
– Ibanez GE-10
– Ibanez LM-7
– Ibanez MS-10
– Danelectro cool cat fuzz v.2
– Electro Harmonix mod. Green Russian (ultimate version)
———————————————————————————————————————————————
– 2x cabinet Weber 2×12″ + FC-12 speakers clone
Well,
TINY TERROR USE:
– Tiny Terror setting? …..another, I can use some of the pedals on the list or I’ve to use, for example, ELECTRONIC ORANGE mod. BANANABOOST ?
In your opinion, the cabinets it’s ok ?
ENGL USE:
– Engl E651 setting? ……another, I can use some of the pedals on the list or I’ve to use, for example, ELEVTRONIC ORANGE mod. BANANABOOST ?
In your opinion, the cabinets it’s ok ?
Bye.
Both amps should be fine but I haven’t played them enough to suggest specific settings. I would try to set them as clean as possible but with the pre stage just at the edge of breakup for a bit more bite to the clean tone. How much depends on your pickups and playing style. See the amp setup tutorial for more. The Bananaboost is definitely worth checking out for these tones and I think it will go nicely with both amps.
!!!! Very, Very, Very THANK’S !!!!
Hi Bjorn,
I have a vintage 1982 Rat and I was wondering what boost or over drive pedal would work well with it?
Depends on your amp. The Rat has a lot of gain and compression and personally I think it sounds best alone. If your amp has lots of headroom you might want to pair it up with a fairly moderate booster, like the Boss BD2, for a bit more character and boost.
Hi everybody,
about overdive pedals…..
…. there are mods for the MAXON mod. OSD-9 (OVERDRIVE-SOFT DISTORTION) ????
Waiting for a reaply.
Bye.
Haven’t seen one but there are lots of companies out there offering different mods to different pedals. Do a Google search and I’m sure something will turn up :)
Hello Bjorn,
I was reading some updates in the page and I came across the EHX Crayon…
What do you mean by ” Dont’ get fooled by the two designs. The circuits are identical!” ?
Thanks
They’ve released two seemingly different versions of the pedal but it’s the same pedal. There’s different graphics on the two and I think they even have different names but again, it’s the same pedal.
Hi Bjorn,
What do you think about this product ? Did you try it?
https://www.axeandyoushallreceive.com/product/byoc-blue-overdrive-pre-built-pedal-mod-package
Waiting for a reaply.
Bye.
I haven’t tried this particular model but you can’t really go wrong with the BD2.
about overdrive….
I have a MASOTTI pedal mod. OD-BOX: it is a TS-10 optimized clone, a excellent balance product.
very good system sound….
Hi Bjorn,
Question:
What’s you’re opinion on the ELECTRO HARMONIX mod. TUBE ZIPPER ?
Bye.
Haven’t tried it.
Hi Björn!
I’m currently using a Blackstar HT5 with which I am very pleased with. However, since I’m now biffing up my pedalboard and looking to add Fuzz (deadset on the Hendrix Fuzzface), i’m thinking of switching it out for something with a more ‘Marshall-ish’ tone to better match the Fuzzface.
Do you reckon that is neccesary to make sure the pedal sounds good or would the Blackstar handle it with grace?
Reading your “Knowing which pedals to choose for your amp” made me regret my decision of going with the Blackstar quite abit…
Regards, Adam
I think you should be able to get a nice fuzz tone with the HT5 as your platform. It’s not an overly brutal amp but definitely within that early Plexi/JTM era range. Keep in mind though that the secret to Hendrix fuzz tones were the fact that he always played very loud and he always added fuzz ontop of an early cranked amp.
Hello Bjorn !
I got a question regarding overdrive/distorsion & Hiwatt.
I have a Keeley D&M Drive through my Hiwatt and it does’nt seem to fit the amp real good, what do you think of this set up?
Also, I’m wondering on how Revival Drive from Origin Effects would sound through Hiwatt and smaller Hiwatt amps (20W tubes). As it seems to be very tweakable.
Thanks for your incredible work here !
Hettar
I haven’t tried the Revival so I can’t really tell.
The D&M was designed with the Klon (boost) and OCD (distortion) in mind and both of these have a lot of mids and compression, which can get a bit too much on amps like Hiwatt and Marshall. You can compensate to some extent by rolling off the mids and presence on your Hiwatt to about 11 or 10 but you’d still have a lot of compression. Read more about choosing the right pedals for your amp here.
Hi Bjorn. I was wondering if you had any thoughts on the Effectrode Tube Drive?
Thanks!
I haven’t tried it so I can’t really tell. Based on the reviews I’ve heard it’s in the same ballpark as the BK Tube Driver.
Hello Nicholas, I own an Effectrode Tube Drive and can provide a bit of information on the pedal. It definitely is a fantastic OD. The Tube Drive can seriously crank your volume yet still sound full and completely toneful, most likely thanks to the additional headroom provided by the 3 tubes, particularly in the primary gain stage. I love the overall sound and color of the Tube Drive and use it quite often. The Tube Drive also sounds beyond belief when you crank the volume and lower the drive. Super clean and harmonically rich. With regard to ODs, I only use a handful because most don’t cut it for me. That handful includes the King of Tone v4 Standard and King of Tone v4 High-Gain, as well as the Effectrode Tube Drive. These ODs just “SING”. There is something inherently beautiful about all three of these Overdrives and I do not think I could choose one over the other. But rest assured, I do feel that the Effectrode Tube Drive is certainly one of the three finest Overdrives ever created! And I believe David Gilmour may “partially” agree as he has regularly used the Effectrode Tube Drive in his recording and live setups for quite some time. I hope this information helps you make an informed decision.
I’ll chime in my $0.02 worth, since I have both the BK Butler Tube Drive and the Effectrode Tube Drive. As Bjorn stated, they are similar, but they’re different beasts at the same time (if that makes sense). You really can’t go wrong with either; both sound excellent and both are built like tanks. I would say that the Effectrode’s build quality is truly second to none. It’s an “audiophile” pedal that works equally well in the studio, on the road, or in the bedroom. I agree completely with James’ thoughts on the Effectrode Tube Drive. The Butler is no slouch either. If you do go with the Butler, I highly recommend getting the “Bias” option (BK added this for Eric Johnson); the extra cost is worth the versatility in adjusting the “feel / tone” of a particular tube. Both pedals do pair somewhat differently on different types of amps / guitars. However, I don’t find any hard, fast rules. My advice, if at all possible, is to try each with your particular setup and see what works best for you. Be warned: if you do try both, you may wind up doing what I did and keep both, LOL! I literally spent one entire afternoon swapping both in and out of my signal chain, with different amps / guitars, trying to decide which one I liked better. I couldn’t decide! Both sounded great (similar, but different). I gave up and just use both now. I know it’s a cliche’, but you really can’t go wrong with either. I think there’s a real reason DG has used / uses both. Full disclosure: I’m a self-admitted Effectrode junkie and have most of their pedals (they are all that good)! Phil Taylor (Effectrode’s owner, no relation to DG’s Phil Taylor) is probably one of the most knowledgeable people on the planet when it comes to tube circuit design and theory (and all things Binson Echorec). Also, just a really great guy. BK will go out of his way for you, as well. Both highly recommended. Sorry if I made your decision harder. Enjoy the tone quest!
Hi Bjorn,
i have a Buffalo TDX: exclusively for space reason on my pedaboard i was planning to replace it with a Wampler Plexidrive. Do you think i could miss some features of the TDX with the wampler or are they very similar?
Thanks as always! Massimo
They are similar but it depends on what tones you want. The TDX has a darker and smoother tone, with less mids and compression. The Plexi is brighter, with more upper mids and compression.
Hi Bjorn!
I’ve got the BK tube driver and Vick Audio 73 Hams Head BM. They works incredibly well on my Fender Blues Jr with stock speaker and tubes, but when I try to blend those two pedals, the sound was a quite harsh and shocked, cutting a lot off frequencies. Do you have any hint about setting each pedal? I pursuit the tone from DSOTM and I have a fuzz face clone and I prefer to use it from covering the sound of this album instead of the Big Muff, but, playing songs from WYWH present, a Big Muff was indispensable… Thank you in advice!!!
It all depends on the amp you’re using. Keep in mind that when you’re blending two or more overdrive/distortion pedals, you add gain and compression so the amp needs to be able to handle that. David’s Hiwatt has tons of headroom so can more easily stack pedals, whereas the Blues Jr has less headroom and it can get quite nasty when you stack pedals that as much gain as the Muff and Tube Driver. My best advice is to use these two pedals alone and find the settings that fits your amp. Don’t pay too much attention to how David sets up his.
Hi Bjorn, I love the site, if you get a chance check out the Idiotbox Power Boost, it’s a take on the Colorsound and has charge pump built in so it gets close to the 18v like a colorsound.
Thanks for the tip!
I’d also love to hear your take on the idiotbox Power Boost!
If you put a Butler Tube Driver into a Wampler Plexi will that work to do an Eric Johnson violin sound lead tone? Or will it just be noise. Do they stack?
Amp – Fender Twin or Hiwatt T40
I haven’t tried it. I would assume that you get a lot of noise but try it. I think Eric uses a Fuzz Face and Tube Driver into a Marshall plexi head.
Hey Bjorn,
From videos that I have seen, EJs’ lead channel is usually:
Vox Wah -> Echoplex -> Butler Tube Driver -> Marshall JMP 50W
Cheers!
EJ is only using the Fender for his clean channel: delays -> chorus/flanger -> Fender Twin Reverb.
For his dirty channel (TS808 -> digital delay) and lead channel, he uses Marshall amps.
I am not sure that you will get a good result with the Plexi pedal and TD for his lead sound.
Have fun.
HI BJORN,
Great website. It has been extremely helpful.
I am torn between getting a Vick Audio Tree of Life and an Electronic Orange Banana Boost. I am leaning towards the Tree of Life. How would you set it to boost a Muff? Which is better? Can you do a video on boosting possibly?
I am using a MIM Strat>Boss Blues Driver>Electronic Orange Pig Hoof>Mxr Carbon Copy Delay>Ditto looper>Peavey Classic 30 using your recommended amp settings. The amp is loud so I set Volume at it’s lowest for bedroom playing. What amp settings would you recommend for playing at such a low volume. Thanks again for your dedication to this website and for answering my questions.
Eddy
Hi Eddy! Thanks for the kind words!
The Banana is probably a better booster as its very transparent and has the headroom you need. The Vick is one of my favourite pedals but it’s got a lot of mid range and compression, which can be a bit too much for boosting and with your Peavey. I like having boosters after the high gain settings. It acts much like an EQ, adding tone and boost rather than more gain.
As for the amp settings, I’d set it up for as much headroom as possible, with the EQs fairly neutral. The C30 has a lot of mid range so you probably just want to keep that around noon and perhaps the treble slightly below. Keep in mind that amp settings should always be based on your guitar, pedals and preference.
Hello Bjorn,
For your opinion which one is the best alternative for the Colorsound Power Boost?
Electronic orange bananaboost
Throbak overdrive boost
Buffalo power booster
or do you have a better advice?
Depends on what you’re looking for. The Throbak has the most headroom I guess. It’s a nice clean booster, although you can set it up for gain tones as well. The Banana is probably my favourite. It’s very close to my old Colorsound, with the same fat low end and wide range from clean to nearly fuzz.
Hi Bjorn,
I’d like to ask you how would you compare the Pete Cornish ST-2 to the Colorsound Powerboost?
From what I’ve read so far the ST-2 is basically a revisited version of the colorsound, but what are in your opinion the differences, for instance is the st 2 a little hotter in terms of gain?
thank you and as always congratulations for your work
Matteo
Hi Matteo! It’s been too long since I tried the ST-2 so I can’t really give you a good answer. From what I remember they sound very similar. Same character and transparent tone. The ST2 is perhaps a bit cleaner in that it doesn’t have some of the quirkiness of the PB.
Hej Bjorn,
I have problems with the setting of my booster. I recently bought an EHX Crayon. I would like to use it for sounds like the Coloursound Powerboost. If the clean boost sounds good, then the Big Muff (Pig Hoof) sounds dark and has a lot of midrange without trebles. Is my bedroom setup too quiet for this? I use a Peavey Classic 30 amp volume at digit 2 (normal channel). Can you help me?
The Crayon has a bit of mids and compression and I suspect that it’s the combination with the Pavey that makes the Muff sound dark. The Peavey has a lot of mid range, so I’d either try with more transparent booster or just use the Muff alone.
Bjorn, you’re a genius… I love this site and I love your music. I’m trying to figure some stuff out with my rig. I’ve got a new Laney Lionheart T20 112. I’m using a Boss BD2 for clean boost (set basically to the point of light breakup). I’m running that into an MXR ’78 Badass distortion. Then into a Boss tremolo pedal and an MXR Carbon Copy. It’s the MXR Badass that’s the weak link in the chain; it seems to lack definition. So two questions: 1. What drive pedal do you think might combine well with the BD2? I was thinking of trying an OCD, and 2. What order would you stack the pedals in? Thank you! – David
(Oh, also: do you think this rig would benefit from compression? I play through the Laney on the clean channel, and my band mostly plays smaller rooms.)
I don’t have that much experience with the Badass but I think the OCD would give you more definition and bite. Check out the Vick Audio Tree of Life too. It goes very well with both the BD2 and Lionheart. If you intend to use the two pedals combined, I would have the high gain pedal first and then the booster last acting as a booster/EQ. Compression is always a good idea with clean channels and single coils in particular. It adds to the definition and sustain.
Thanks, Bjorn! I’ve never tried the Vick, but I just read your review and will try to get my hands on one. The 20 watt Laney has more headroom than I need (but the 5 watt didn’t have enough — go figure). So my thinking is that the Blues Driver can get me to on-the-verge-of-breakup, with either the Vick or OCD serving as the high gain pedal. Is that sensible? (The Blues Driver is basically always on with my current setup.)
I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned and am learning from your site. Many thanks.
That makes sense :) Glad to help!
Hey Bj̦rn Рlove your site! Packed full of knowledge, wisdom and good suggestions Рand very fine, very tasteful guitar playing!
I wanted to recommend the Catlinbread Katzenk̦nig (maybe for a review?!) Рit is a blend of a Rat and a Tonebender Fuzz. This pedal sounds incredibly smooth and fat. I find it absolutely amazing. I own a fair number of the pedals that you recommend, like the Buffalo Td-X and the M1 and I love them Рyet, I find the Katzenk̦nig to be an outstanding pedal.
Thanks for the kind words and support!
HI Bjorn,
I’m new to David Gilmour sound and I’m learning a lot from your incredible work!
I used to play mainly hard rock like the Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and the kinds. I play a Gibson SG special with Iommi pick up at the bridge, into an Orange OR15 stack. I bought a Sovtek muff clone and a downer Prince Boonar. What would you recommend as a booster for the muff and for lightly overdriven tones?
Thanks for your help!
Thanks for your kind words! Depends on how you’ve set the amp and what Muff you have but I’d go for something versatile like the Boss BD2 or EHX Crayon. Check out the Xotic EP booster as well.
Hi Bjorn, I have a Fender Blues jr with a Cannabis Rex speaker.I was wondering if the Buffalo fx Power Booster or the TD-X would work better for my amp?
The TDX is a great match but the Powerbooster can sound a bit thin and harsh on Fender amps.
Hey Bjorn, thanks for sharing so much of your time and knowledge. I was wondering if you could help me with my pedals. I have a Mesa Mark 5:25 and I mostly play an American Tele deluxe plugged into the first channel on clean. As pedals I use an xotic sp compressor, an EarthQuaker Hoof, a Mesa Grid Slammer, an amptweaker Tightdrive jr, a Bogner burnley, a tc electronic sentry as well as a Keeley Super Mod Workstation and a tc electronic Flashback (running through the effects loops). Even though I’ve read your tutorials and explanations, I’m still not sure if this is the best equipment to cover most of Gilmour’s sounds. I especially enjoy the sound of David’s latest tour as covered on his BluRay. What do you think? Do I need to change something, maybe switch pedals? Thanks Kay
Hi Kay! I don’t know all of the pedals you’ve listed so I can’t really tell. What you hear on Pompeii 2016 is mainly the Tube Drivers, which are set for clean, overdrive and distortion. The Tube Driver is known for having a fairly transparent amp-like tone, much like the early Marshall JTMs. On some of the solos he also used a Big Muff, which are more scooped and less compressed than the Tube Driver.
Hi Bjorn,
Which version of OCD are you using or prefer for Gilmour tones?
I have no idea what mine are. Officially it’s the V1 but I know they changed the circuits many times on that model.
Hi Bjorn. I wanted to ask you some things and above all what do you think of my thought. For a week I bought an OCD v.2. I’m using it on a Hiwatt T 40 2×12 Fane combo amplifier. The argument is that since I bought this pedal I can no longer use anything else, I really like it and I like it in all settings, from zero gain to the maximum, something that has never happened to me before. To be premised that I also have a green russian big muff, the only pedal different from the OCD that I like. So I ask you: what do you think if I remove the rest and I buy another OCD v.2? I thought to put them both in the pedal board with different settings, like one with little gain and the second one set as a pedal plus high gain to do anything. In this way I would always have the same timbre, which is the one I like most. Considering that I also have the Russian big muff, do you think it’s okay for Gilmourish tones and to cover all the Pink Floyd tracks from Dark side up to Rattle’s Gilmour tones? In David Effects for tone drives he uses only Tube drivers and Big muff. Of course I also have everything else I need: Mxr Dyna comp, Mooer elec lady, Mooer ensemble King, Voodoo lab microvibe, Tc electronic Nova Delay. Best regards
That is, I wanted to say David also uses only two types of distorted sound pedals: Big muff and tube driver.
You can definitely run two OCDs. It will be much like David’s multiple Tube Drivers. Keep in mind though that the OCD has considerably more mid range and compression compared to the TDs, which will make a more noticeable difference from the Green Russian.
Hi Bjorn – I was wondering why you rate the BK Butler Tube Driver so low for Gilmour Tones considering this is what he actually uses. Was there reasoning behind that? I am speaking from a full stage volume POV (not bedroom). I have 2 and blend them and also blend with a Fulltone BIG BOX 69 to get a very nice sound, but wondering why such low grades for these in your opinion?
The Tube Driver is listed in the “Gilmour in a box” guide. It’s been his main overdrive since the early 90s and given that you have a rig similar to his, you will have the tones. But, that’s also why I rate it lower than 10 because it’s not an easy pedal to use and paired with typically mids scooped and uncompressed bedroom amps, it’s pretty useless. It is designed as a preamp to be used with loud tube amps. As much as I love the pedal, and still use it, I think there are better and more versatile options out there.
Great thanks – now moving onto fuzz. I am in search of that 1968 Hendrix live bombastic fuzz sound (and I don’t have the budget to buy 17 old ones and pick the best one). Let the search begin….Any recommendations? Again full stage volume with a Marshall Handwired BluesBreaker.
As you probably know, Hendrix tone was a combination of his Marshall Plexi heads driven hard and a germanium Fuzz Face ontop of that. He used the volume control on his guitar to create tones from cleans to crunchy overdrive to screaming fuzz. Germanium fuzz is tricky because to get THE tone you really need a good, and much sought after, transistor. I haven’t come by a budget pedal that will deliver this but do check out the mini FFs from Dunlop. They’re great!
Hi! What’s your favorite settings for the OCD to get a Powerboost kind of sound like on Pigs and other songs like that? I use a strat with a solid state peavey.
The OCD is a very different pedal, with more mid range and compression, with less headroom so I wouldn’t depend on it to create those vintage tones. You can get somewhat similar tones with the hi engaged, a bit of boost on the volume and the gain rolled back to just above breakup but the specific settings depends on your pickups and amp settings. The Boss BD2 is a better option for Powerboost tones.
Hi Bjorn,
First of all, congrats on the new buyer’s guide which is cooler than ever.
Right now I’m using a Plexi style amp for home practice and recording and I own a BD-2 (stock) that works really well with that amp. I’ve been looking at the “Keeley Super Phat Mod Full Range Overdrive” for a while and I’m wondering if it is worth the upgrade. What are your thoughts? (the guitars I’m using are Fender MIJ 62 Tele with Nocaster pickups and a Gibson SG with 57 classics).
Thanks
Cheers!
Thanks for the kind words! The stock BD2 is really good so whether or not you should upgrade depends on what you’re searching for. The Keeley has a bit more of everything and I guess it sounds more balanced and, well, more expensive but again, the stock model is well worth both checking out and keep.
Thanks!
Hi Bjorn,
So I have a bugera v22 head an a proco rat2 I was wondering what overdrive you would pair with that ,I was looking at the buffalo power booster, the OCD, or a ts 808 wanted to get your opinion,
Also congrats on the new album it’s fantastic I can’t wait to pick it up.
Thank you! I’d go for mids oriented and compressed pedals, like the OCD or 808. The OCD has more low end and gain, so personally that’s my favourite of the two but it depends on what tones you’re looking for.
Hi Bjorn. I wanted to ask you what do you think about the carl martin plexitone (no single channel, but the classic two channels plus boost)? could it be a valid alternative to the tube drive? Are we in the gilmour tones? How would you sound on a HIWAT T40 combo amplifier? thank you!
I have one of those single Pete Thorn models and I love it. Very high gain but you can set it up for some nice mellow tones as well. For Tube Driver tones, I think the Wampler Plexi Drive is closer to a Tueb Driver.
Hi Bjorn,
first of all thanks for sharing all these informations and many useful and precious tips.
I need your help.
I’m tryng to choose the right overdrive for my rig. I mostly play a telecaster into a Magnatone Twilighter 112, 22 watt 2 6V6 (the new ones) which sounds a bit like a Deluxe reverb but with a much “robust” sound and not so middle scooped; to me the sound is quite balanced. It’s also much louder and with a lot of clean headroom.
I am looking for a very versatile OD tha covers different kinds of music and styles (and of course I like David!) and if possible that goes from crunch to almost fuzz.
Among your favourite I lean towards Vick TOL, SVISOUND OVERZOID oz01 plus (with boost), OCD, SOULFOOL.
And what do you think of the ARC EFFETCS KLONE V2 and the King of tone?
Your advice will be greatlu appreciated.
Cheers!
All of these are somewhat similar in that they’re all based on that Tube Screamer, Klon, Dumble mid rangy and compressed tone. It’s a matter of taste and I can’t really say that one is better than the other. Personally I’m a huge fan of the Vick and OCD because they manage to balance that mid range, with enough low end and a bit of crispyness.
The BK butler tube driver is a great box for making a screaming solo, but not for chords or rhythm. A good distortion pedal or overdrive is much better for switching for that sound. I think I paid too much for the Butler for what I want to play. I also tried using it through the loop/send/return instead of just the input on the front, and it really sounded like a crazy monkey, making all sorts of weird things going on. Don’t do it. Use the input jack. I think it might depend on the guitar that is used for the Butler. Many pickups are so different, so it may do better with a relative pickup. I’ve watched a few guys on youtube playing distorted chords from famous songs and it doesn’t even come close to the original sound. So, like I said maybe a funky, sweet, or screaming solo is really only this pedal can be capable of doing for yourself. I give it a 5 out of 10 overall.
It all depends on the pickups and amp. The Tube Driver, and other pedals like it, is often misunderstood because a pre-amp full range overdrive is very different from a BD2 or Tube Screamer. It’s much more demanding and difficult to set up but with the right combinations, it can sound incredibly dynamic and sweet. I don’t recommend the Tube Driver if you’re looking for instant gratification.
Hi Bjorn! With a Fender Blues Junior III with the Eminence Cannabis Rex speaker do you think the Tree of Life or Keeley-Modded Blues Driver would be a better choice for trying to get closer to the older tones (Animals, DSoTM, etc) or would something else work better in your opinion?
The Rex makes the Blues Jr sound warmer and smoother but I still think you should focus on those mid rangy and compressed pedals.
Hey bjorn. I’d like to hear your opinion on the following: I personally love gdasnk distortion lead tone, for instance that very tone of echoes’ guitar solo. So wanted to ask If you had to choose just one pedal between a plexi-drive and the buffalo fx evolution which one would you go for to achieve that tone. Thanks in advance
The Evolution. The PlexiDrive is more a medium gain overdrive pedal.
Hi Bjorn,
I really need an advice on this topic. I’ve already got a Green Russian and a TS9 replica, so I need another guy for my set up, I’m really into de Buffalo TD-X but it would break the bank and the shipment is kinda hard, so I need some alternative for this guy under 150 bucks ( something similiar to buffalo and the tube driver). Thanks my man!
EHX Crayon or the Boss BD2.
Hi Bjorn,
I have some questions again :)
1) For your opinion what is the best alternative for Bk Butler/Chandler tube driver?
2) Again for your opinion the best alternative for newer model Bk Butler tube driver?
3) Is there any differences between old model Proco Rat and newer model Proco Rat (2) ?
The best “clone” out there is by far the Buffalo TDX. Check out my review here. You might want to check out the EHX Crayon as well. There really isn’t that big difference between the Chandler and BK. The Chanler is perhaps a tad darker and warmer but you will find them very similar.
As far as I know, apart from the 85 white face reissue, the newer Rat pedals doesn’t have the LM308 chip, which makes them sound slightly brighter and not as smooth as the older ones. There shouldn’t be any problems tracking down an old model but check out some of the many clones out there as well, like the excellent Arc Effects Soothsayer and the Mooer Black Secret.
Hi Bjorn, I recently run into the MXR MC-402 Boost/Overdrive – do you know the device? Do you think it could work as main overdrive (instead of the Rat) boosted by the Boss BD? I have a MesaBoogie amp looking for the modern Gilmour sounds (Pulse etc.).
Never tried it so I can’t really comment.
Hi Bjorn.
I’m about to buy a Maxon ROD880 to cover all the tube driver parts. I read somewhere that is one of the closest, what do you think? I own EMG and a Fender Ramparte tube amp
Never tried it.
Hey Bjørn.
Since you recommend so many of the Buffalo FX pedals, I was wondering which one is your favorite and if you have to choose one, what would it be?
Have a great holiday and I’m looking forward to your new minialbum.
Martin
Depends on the amp and what tones you want obviously but I think they did an amazing job with the TDX. They managed to capture the tube character of the Tube Driver and modify it slightly without losing any of its character or dynamics.
Hi Bjorn, do you think at some point you may have a dedicated sub-page for overdrive pedals driving another overdrive pedal choices (stacking)? It has been many instances that people like the character of a pedal in a certain amp but the second they put it in their own amp with a different character (scooped vs. mid heavy) they are disappointed. I thought it would be nice for those users to also add a downstream amp like very mild overdrive pedal (designed for being pushed by an upstream pedal rather than being a full fledge overdrive pedal) that can act as a shaping block prior to sending the signal to their amp. It may not be a true tube amp circuitry but if it can do the trick, it is much more practical solution compared to buying a different amp altogether. For instance they are lots of guitar fans that they went for a Fender amp for other tones or no particular tone and then they became Gilmour fan later on and they want to to hold on to their Fender amp and they can’t afford or find it practical to buy a Hiwatt or such, can they use a downstream pedal to build up more compression and mids but in a dynamic way and very amp like and then send the signal to their amp? Are there such “tube amp companion” pedals? :)
Stacking is always a hot topic and not alaways that easy to understand. It’s on the to-do list, among many other things, to write something. Thanks!
Hi Bjorn,
if you have time I’d like a piece of advice!
Lately I have been obsessed with the Colorsound Power Boost…Just a way to nail some vintage Gilmour tones.
I already have 2 tube drivers (with different tubes), a Buffalo FX Evolution and a BD-2 Waza..
Anyway I was thinking about buying a modern pedal for the purpose: one among OCD, Tree of life or AC Booster…
What do you think?
Better one of those or Buffalo FX Power Boost?
Thank you
Depends on the amp. I love the Powerbooster but it’s very scooped so unless you have an amp with a bit of mids push, I would perhaps go for something that’s a better match for your pedals. Both the Tube Driver and BD2 is close to the Powerbooster but they both have more mids and compression. I would say that you’re pretty much covered but if your amp can handle a pedal like the Powerbooster, I would definitely check out the Electronic Orange Banaboost or a Colorsound.
I have a Blues Junior, that’s why I thought it would be better to use something else rather than the powerboost…
Anyway I think I’ll give a shot to the Bananaboost!!
Thank you so much!
Hi Gilmourish community!
I need help: I already have strat/ironfist comp/vick 73’/sunface bc109/ tree of life… (Lionheart L20) I Know that there is only one dirt pedal missing and I don’t Know what would be The best. I’m considering The Buffalo Powerbooster (muff booster and distortion itself type of use) but your opinion is welcome. Maybe there is another “perfect pedal” that would suit my setup?
(Pompeï 2016/ DSotM/ Animals/ Rattle/ division Bell are my tone target)
Thanks Bjørn and all of you Gilmour fans
Émile
Qc/Canada
The Buffalo TDX is in my opinion the best overdrive for the Lionheart and Gilmour tones. Check out the Tree of Life from Vick Audio too. The Powerbooster is great but it doesn’t always go well with the Lionheart.
Yeah, I have a Tree of life and it sounds good. But if The Powerbooster isn’t The best choice, what should I be looking for if I want to be able to Cover DSotM, WYWH… booster sound?
Can you give me some pedals to Check that can complete my dirt section? (Already have 73′ ram’s head, sunface and tree of life)
Thanks
Could use the Tree of Life but check out the TDX and Boss BD2 as well.
Hi Bjorn,just curious if you have ever tried the effectrode tuber drive?If so,how does it sound compared to the bk butler tube driver.If not, you should get effectrode to send you on one to review.Surprisingly there is only one decent video demo of it online.Cheers
I haven’t tried it. Definitely agree that they should send me one :)
Hello, Bjorn! Have you tried the Suhr Riot pedal? David is now with a Blackstar HT-Dist, but I think the Riot is a great pedal also.
Thanks for the tip!
Hey Bjorn, what do you think about the Mad Professor Sweet Honey for those rythm guitar tones from WYWH, Animals and DSotM?
Great Site Bjorn!! and not only for PF fans, the site is full with very useful info. Congrats
Thanks for the kind words! The SH is very similar to the Boss BD2 and Tube Driver. It has a tube sensitive attack or gain structure, with a hint of compression and mid range. Depending on your amp it works nicely for David’s Powerbooster and Tube Driver tones.
Hello Bjorn! If you haven’t tried it yet I highly recommend the ProCo Fat Rat. Stock it’s identical to their White Face Reissue, but it’s got a switchable “fat” mode that adds bass and cuts the highs a little, and also can be switched from silicon to MOSFET clipping. The MOSFET makes it sound more amp like and dynamic, making it sound a little bit more like the G-2. I’ve had it for about a year and prefer it over muffs for Gilmourish tones, even with my Strat and Hiwatt. Its very versatile but it can nail those classic Rat tones with the stock setting better than most clones. I know you love the Rat, so I thought I’d give you a heads up. Keep up the good work!
Yep, very cool version of the Rat :)
New OCD (v2) is out. I wonder if you have tried it and have any thoughts about the Buffer Modes, new circuit, issues and comparisons with the 1.7?
Thanks in advance/
Haven’t tried it.
Hello Bjorn!
Love the content and thoughtfulness you provide in both your reviews and your comments. I would really appreciate your insight relative to my current set up and where to go moving forward. My current guitars are a Fender American Professional Stratocaster and a Japanese Epiphone Les Paul Custom, and for an amp I am using a Fender ’68 Custom Deluxe Reverb (first channel (custom) uses a Bassman tone circuit so it’s much more mid present and warm, and the second channel (vintage) has some of the brightness taken out so it’s more pedal friendly). Given that I only have a treble and bass knob it’s nice to have a choice between channels because it acts as sort of a pseudo mid-EQ. My question relates to gain so I’ll just state the chain of my gain pedals: Keeley Compressor Plus > Buffalo M-1 > Wampler Tumnus > Catalinbread SFT (ampeg amp-in-a-box style pedal).
My base tone tends to be the SFT on very low gain being pushed by the Tumnus as a clean boost to get a very mild overdrive that sounds good at bedroom levels. The natural sound is very articulated and warm with a lot of clarity. I love the M-1 but I’m finding when I engage it even at low gain it is still quite muddy and I lose a lot of that articulation. I’m wondering if maybe I’m stacking these pedals incorrectly even though the sound I’m getting pre M-1 sounds like a great starting point to begin gain staging. Should I just be focusing on maybe using the SFT OR the Tumnus as a starting point to give the M-1 more room to breath? I’m finding that to get to a sound I can enjoy I have to really crank the treble on both my Tumnus and M-1.
Also, I ordered an Evolution off of Reverb for a great price (in the mail currently) and am just wondering if given my set up I should be looking at the Patriot and/or the TD-X. My Tumnus is my mid humped overdrive and I’m wondering if having the TD-X would be complimentary to this. My absolute favorite tones from Gilmour are from Dogs and I know he wasn’t using a Tube Driver back then but I’m wondering if given my current set up the TD-X would be more appropriate than the Power Booster going into a Fender amp, even if that amp is less bright and has the possibility for more mids. Also, considering that Dogs is about as heavy gain as I’m looking for in terms of a Gilmour-esq sound, is the Patriot just going to create a redundancy in my set up alongside the M-1 and Evolution? Thanks for your help!
A lot of questions here so I’ll try to cover it all… Your amp, although not as scooped as the Twin and other blackface era Fenders, has less mids and compression than say a Marshall or Hiwatt. Muffs are very scooped so adding that to a scooped or less mid rangy amp will not help the pedal to cut through. The reason you perceive a difference between the Tumnus and M1 is because the Tumnus has considerably more mid range and in comparison, the Muff will be perceived as being lower in volume when engaged due to its scooped tone. You can stack these and add more mids to the M1 but the Tumnus also has a lot of compression, which can make Muffs sound darker and almost choked. The M1 is also designed to emulate the tone from an already stacked Muff so you should be careful with adding too much gain and compression. The TDX has more mids than the Powerbooster but not as much as a TS or the Tumnus.
Hello Bjorn! I need your help. I play with a Fender Strat into a Fender Super Champ XD amp. I have 3 effect (overdrive/distortion) that are Tube Screamer, Proco RAT and Fulltone OCD. Also use the Xotic SP compressor and Xotic EP booster. I´m not satisfied with the RAT and OCD because I fond them very harsh, hard to make a sweet tone. Reading your texts, I became interested in two pedals: The Arc Soothsayer and the Evolution. I am more into the Soothsayer for I find it more “fat soundindg”, but reading that you are a EVO fan, I´d like to ask you witch one is better for my settings, how can I stack the or if you think I should keep the Rat and the OCD. Too many doubts here. Thanks very much, congratulations on your incredible work!
Those are very similar to what you already have. See my previous reply for some tips :)
Thank you very much for your answer. I´ll check it out.Congratulations!
GREAT STUFF! Thanks Bjorn.
I have a Dr Z Maz 18…. I run treble 1:00, bass 11:00, mids 2-3:00, master 3:00, and pre volume at 12:00…ish. (my goal is edge of breakup or cleaner for everyday basic amp settings) I am chasing a nice vintage overdive tone. not full on heavy crunch but more Classic rocky, but I need to cut through at times for solos, I would like to know what order you would run the following OD/boost pedals for a 1-2-3 stacked overdrive progression. Am I trying to stack the WRONG pedals together. (Oh and I run a Wampler Ego compressor always on… usually.) On my board are>>> TC Spark, Emerson EM Drive, JHS Superbolt, Soul Food. (not on the board but available; BD2 waza, ProCo Rat, TS9, Palasades, FullDrive 2.
It’s probably not what you want to hear but my best tip is to experiment. Doesn’t really matter what I suggest if it’s not what you want or what sound best with your gear. Start with getting the best tone and platform from your amp and experiment with the pedals you got. Put them in different orders and hear how they interact in different positions.
Hey Bjorn,
Wondering how the soul food would compare to the xotic bb preamp for single coils with a laney lionheart. Thanks!
Linus
Both are great for clean boost and for fetting up your tone. They have considerable mid range and compression. The BB is based on the early Marshall tones, with more compression but also a bit more sparkle. The Soul Food is darker, with less low end. Personally I like the BB.
Hey Bjorn, I’d like to know your opinion about to use the King of Tone by Analogman, Overdrive Side (Low Gain) as a clean booster. Do you think that’s a good option to use?
Best,
Luis Gustavo
I really don’t have that much experience with the KoT. I think this review describes it pretty well.
Hi Bjorn! I really appreciate your reply. Thanks for sharing this KoT review too!
Hey Bjørn !
I recently bought the Mooer Blues Mood.
I have the Boss BD2 (standard version) too.
How would you set both?
My goal is to have one set for clean boost and the other for heavy overdrive.
But I can’t decide which one is the best for each purpose…
So I need your help again! :)
Thanks in advance!
Max
Depends on your amp, its settings, your guitar and its pickups… I often prefer the BD2 with the volume fairly unity or slightly above, tone around 9-10 o’clock and the gain around breakup. I rarely use it for high gain stuff.
Thanks for your reply!
I’m currently playing in a Blackstar HT5 but I’m considering to replace it by a Peavey classic 20 MH. One of my strats is equipped with EMG DG20 and the other with Tex mex and SSL5.
I set the Mooer for clean boost and the bd2 for overdrive stuffs.
But I don’t know if it’s the best choice🤔…
Thanks a lot Bjørn!
I play with emg dg 20 or Tex mex and ssl5. My amp is a L5 studio.
Currently I set the Mooer for boost and bd2 for overdrive. Is this the best choice?
Thanks a lot!
Sounds like a good setup :)
Hi Bjørn
What overdrive/booster would you recommend for a single coils and a Fender Blues Junior III? I’ve just looked at your review of the Vick Audio Mount Pleasant, and that definitely sounds like a good option, but I was wondering if you’d have any other ideas :)
Thanks!
Something mid rangy, like the Mount Pleasant or Tree of Life, Fulltone OCD, Boss BD2 or a Tube Driver, like the Buffalo TDX would also work.
Awesome, thank you!
Are Timmy Overdrive one mid scooped?
No exactly scooped. More flat and very transparent.
So the Colorsound power booster is what is heard on songs like Have a Cigar Animals live 1977 Oakland bootlegs? Gilmour’s tones on that concert are pretty much my favorite, even though it is a bootleg and sounds compressed. Did Snowy and Gilmour both pretty much use the power booster, and not much else for Cigar? That’s probally my favorite version I have heard. It hits harder than the studio version.
Yes, David used the Powerbooster as his main overdrive unit between 1972-77. What you hear on those live version and pretty much all of the WYWH and Animals albums is the Powerbooster. I’m not sure what Snowy used for overdrive on the Animals tour but his Wall stage setup featured a Cornish ST2, which is based on the Powerbooster. Judging by his tones on the ’77 tour, I would assume that he did use the Powerbooster.
Hi Bjorn! Thanks for all that you do!
Simple and hard question at the same time! Which pedal do you think can cover theTube Driver tone in overdrive settings (Gdansk for example)? I’ve got a OD 808, MojoMojo, and a BD2 but, cannot match that sound..The BD2 is great for mild boost but the od 808 sounds too boxy to my ears and i think to remove it from my pedal board…as you can read, i really need your help to choose a new one!
Thanks in advance!
What amp and pickups do you have?
Try Vick Audio Tree of Life or a good clone of SS-2 Cornish, like Costalab Natural Drive MK II or Top Tone Light Drive. Zen Drive and Morning Glory/Marshall Bluesbreaker could be good alternatives too.
And the pedal: Buffalo TD-X too.
Sorry for commenting but I wouldn’t say that the Tree of Life is a clone of the SS2. The SS2 is closer to the Distortion +, Rat and TS9, while the Tree of Life is based on the Dumble and Zen Drive, which has much more low end, more headroom and overall a more open character. It’s one of my favourite overdrives. Highly recommended!
I’m so sorry. It’s true that Vick Audio Tree of Life isn’t a clone of SS-2. ToL is near of Zen Drive and OCD. I’m from Brazil and my english is not so good as yours. Clones of SS-2 are Top Tone Light Drive and Costalab Natural Drive with buffer. Super phat MOd by Robert Keeley could be a good option too.
Hello Bjorn,
Thanks a lot for all the infos on your blog! I start to understand a bit better why I haven’t been satisfied with my tone so far despite having an ok setup (gretsch 5422 and Palmer fab5 tube amp)
Following the advices on this post, I have finaly tried a TS clone and it felt like I juste found the mission link between my guitar and my amp! Mids! I can’t help grinning when I think about it!
You’ve made really good reviews or BYOC large beaver.
Have you tried the Crown Jewel? It seems to be some kind of ultimate OD pedal…
Cheers mate!
Thanks! I haven’t tried the Crown Jewel, so I can’t really comment on it.
Hi Bjorn, i’d like to know what do you think about Analogman King/Prince of tone; do you think it should match my Laney L5? could they have any similarities with pedals such Tree of life or timmy or TDX? thanks very much Massimo
The KoT/PoT is in that mid range, compressed Marshall-ish territory and somewhat similar to the ToL… not so much the TDX. Great match for the Lionhearts.
Hi Bjorn.
(I apologize for my English.I am not native speaker.)
Congratulations about your site.It helps many guitarist to find nice tone.
I’m not intresting exactly for Gilmour tone.One year ago i bought my
1st serious amp VOX AC15C1 greenback speaker all stock and my guitar is
Fender strat road worn 60s.I’m looking to buy my first and only pedal overdrive/distortion.
I have read your article about amps and if i understand correctly VOX amps
have a lot of mids.I have to mention that i usally play rock and blues.
What do you think about ts9, ocd, xotic sl drive, wampler plexidrive,
boss bd-2, jhs morning glory ?. What kind of pedal would you suggest me ?
What is your opinion about treble booster (BSM or ROOSTER jam pedals) into clean amp ?
Vox amps DO NOT have too much mids. You can roll back the tone controls and crank the speakers for more mids and compression but at “normal” settings and bedroom levels, you won’t get that Hiwatt/Marshall mid range from a VOX. All of the pedals you list are typically mid range oriented pedals so I guess you could go for any of these. Personally I’m a huge fan of the PlexiDrive. Check out this feature for more tips on how to chose the right pedals for your amp.
Hi Alex, I noticed your post. Here are a few overdrives that I believe would be fantastic with your Vox. Question. Do you want more of a clean boost or a bit of dirt, or a ton of dirt? This is a major consideration.
For a clean overdrive, the very best available is the King of Tone V4 from Analog.man. A close second is the Klon KTR. Another low-gain OD worth considering is the ThorpyFX Peacekeeper.
For a relatively expensive overdrive that will add a bit of dirt to your Vox, I highly recommend the Gurus Amps 1959 Double Decker Tube Overdrive (expensive at about $420 but absolutely feature-laden. You can go direct out with the 1959 to a recorder, DAW or mixing desk with a standard 1/4 inch TRS cable and the pedal even has a speaker emulator (2 Vox AC30s mic’d with Shure SM57s if I am not mistaken. Additionally, the 1959 contains an effects loop, which is extremely helpful for those of us with amps that have no effects loop.
A very versatile option at $350 is the Chase Bliss Audio Brothers OD, also a dual OD, with both sides functioning as a Boost, OD or Fuzz. This is a very versatile solid-state option that most likely has the most options of any other solid-state OD on the market.
For a little less, you can check out the JHS Sweet Tea. This is a solid-state dual overdrive that is everythig from mid- to high gain. I really like the Sweet Tea bc you can use the lower level OD, the heavier OD, or both to create an overdrive sound all your own. AND you can decide the stacking order of the overdrives. Another favorite of mine is he Wampler Plexi-Deluxe. It definitely recreates many classic sounds from Marshall amps. However, I feel the Gurus 1959 Double Decker is a better sounding unit, probably because it is based around a 12AX7 tube, so you get tons of additional beautiful headroom.
And finally, if you have the cash, for $469 new you can purchase what I consider to be the pinnacle: the Effectrode SR-71 Blackbird. This is another tube driven pedal, advertised as a pre-amp actually. But here is the beauty. Phil Taylor, the genius designer at Effectrode, used the exact components in the SR-71 Blackbird as were used in the original preamp sections of the famous Fender Blackface (smooth as silk), the equally famous Dumble preamplification section, and finally an overdiven Dumble preamp section. Each of these 3 modes sound beyond belief. I plug the Blackbird directly into my amp. Last in the pedal chain. And it takes my amps to a completely different level. They breathe anything from a pure glassy Gilmour-like tone to a balls-out Led Zeppelin assault, making your system sound like a million bucks.The Blackbird is certainly worth checking out if you want the very best sound and it has plenty of power and the ability to easily re-bias the tubes and/or swap tubes to get the very best sound from your system.
Those are a few options from which to choose. I have a bias towards tubes. However, the solid-state pedals coming out these days are beyond belief. In closing, one of my very favorite overdrives is only $162 and is a sonic replic of the Colorsound Power Boost made famous by Gilmour and T-Rex: Black Arts Toneworks Black Forest. For the price I believe it is an absolutely incredible overdrive with a 6-channel selector switch to truly dial in your tone. If I were on a budget and wanted one seriously bad-ass overdrive that goes from clean to very mean, I would definitely buy the BAT Black Forest.
On the other hand, if money is no concern, I would certainly purchase the Effectrode SR-71 Blackbird Preamp AND either the Chase Bliss Audio Brother dual OD or, my preference, the Gurus 1959 Double Decker.
Hi Chris Filben !!
Thank you for detailed answer I really appreciate it.!!! I did not make it clear in my first
post, I am looking for an overdrive medium or heavy. I will follow your suggestions and
I will try some pedal like JHS and BAT black forest. However, I am closer to plexidrive or
Xotic sl drive.
Hi Bjorn,I was wondering if you have tried out the Gurus 1959 Double Decker Dual Tube Overdrive. After purchasing the Echosex 2, I decided to give the 1959 Double Decker a try. I tested it against the Wampler Plexi-Deluxe and the BuffaloFX Evolution Overdrive, both of which I consider very fine ODs. I must say, the Gurus 1959 Double Decker floored me. The inclusion of the 12AX7 preamp tube in the drive made all the difference in the world.
Guitar solos through the Wampler Plexi-Deluxe and the BuffaloFX Evolution sounded very fine. But it was night and day when I plugged in the Double Decker. It roared! The sounds I am able to coax from the 1959 Double Decker are astounding. The tube obviously responds empathically to your picking style, which really was not the case with the Wampler or BuffaloFX pedals. I would say the 1959 has more headroom, more authentic amp sound and just has that tube mojo that cannot ever be achieved froma solid state pedal attempting to emulate an actual tube OD. And finally, you can record direct out to a DAW directly from the Gurus 1959 Double Decker and it even has an effects loop. An incredible design from Italy and I feel it is one of the best sounding Overdrives I have ever played.
I liked the Gurus 1959 Double Decker so much after auditioning it for two hours that I immediately sold both the Plexi-Deluxe and the Evolution OD. If you have not checked out the Gurus 1959 Double Decker, I really think you would like the pedal, based upon your other reviews I’ve read.
Hope to get my hands on one :)
Hei Bjorn!
Have you heard of a TrueOverDrive from Danish company Lunastone?
http://www.lunastonepedals.com/
If not, check it out. I wonder what you’ll say about it.
Thanks for the tip!
Hi Bjorn, what do you think of Tube Work Blue Tube and Tube Work Real Tube? Can they be a Valuable Alternative to Tube Drivers?
Yes, well worth checking out. Be sure to check out the Buffalo FX TD-X as well. Best TD clone out there IMO.
Thanks ;)
hey bjorn did you test the RUMBLE drive from MOOER ?! ive seen some crazy reviews of it and it sound aaaawwwesome in them , so can you give me some advise about it plz ? :) tnx
I haven’t tried it yet but it’s loosely based on the Dumble amps, with a very mid rangy compressed tone, lots of gain and smoothness. Well worth checking out based on the reviews I’ve seen.
Rumble is a great pedal! But Juicer is my favorite. Jon Carin uses it. :-)
Sir Bjorn – Will you review the Effectrode Tube Driver (Overdrive unit) soon?
Haven’t planned to be send me one and I’ll do it :)
Hi Bjorn,
How would you stack a TD-X with the Evolution, and with which settings on each? I’ve seen that DG stack them on the solo of Echoes at Live in Gdansk, and I’m after this type of tone.
My Evolution sounds a bit muddy by itself, and stacking it with the TD-X set for clean boost is not really better. I remember I had better results when using the Evolution stacked with the TD-X set as an overdrive/mild overdrive. So most of the time, I prefer to simply use a muff with a clean boost.
It could also come from the amp and speaker combination, I actually use my Laney L5 studio through a semi-opened cab loaded with a single 1×12 Celestion V30. Would you recommend a Celestion G12H loaded cab for the L5 (for example the Laney LT112)?
The guitar I use is my Squier Stratocaster equipped with D.Allen Echoes PU.
Thanks for your help!
Cheers!
Alexis
There shouldn’t be a problem stacking the two pedals on the Lionheart and with your cabinet. I suspect the issue lies in your amp and pedal settings and the amp settings obviously depends very much on what tones you want, the room you’re in, your pickups etc etc. That being said, the lionheart does have less headroom than David’s Hiwatts and more compression so combining two fairly gainy pedals with a dark and compressed amp, might not produce the same tones as David’s. Try using the Evolution alone and if you need to stack it, try using a cleaner booster.
Hi Bjorn, thanks for your help.
I tried a few tweaks on other pedals, without changing settings on the amp and its OK now. I think there were multiple factors affecting the tone coming from the Evolution:
– Weather, as read multiple times on the Internet that germanium components (like those used in the Evolution) are affected by weather changes.
– Boosters, I used a TD-X and Vick Audio Overdriver (powered by 18v adaptor) set for clean boost and the Evolution worked great with both and also as a standalone pedal.
-Delays, I noticed that the Evolution sounded darker and sometimes muddy when using the Strymon Timeline, while it stayed perfectly defined when paired with the Dawner Prince Boonar. So a few tweaks on the tone controls of the repeats coming from the delay can also greatly affects the final tone.
So I think my main issues were weather changes and settings on the delays. I have now found the tone that my Evolution had when I originally received it! :D
And by the way, I ordered a few new toys recently, based on your reviews (and my never-ending tone quest haha!):
– Dawner Prince Boonar: just a fantastic delay, better and easier to use than the Catalinbread Echorec (I had it for some weeks but finally canceled my order as there were strange noises coming from the pedal). The Boonar can do everything I need from a delay, from slapback to wall of cascaded delays, perfect for playing Hank Marvin, Mark Knopfler and David Gilmour stuff.
– Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff reissue: you have to try it Bjorn! ;) I wasn’t expecting too much (as I have a Soul Food that I had to repair only 3 weeks after receiving it brand new, a failure in electrical components), but I can say it is really impressive! I A/B’d it with my Vick Audio 1861 and they are identical (with 1861 used in stock mode), except that the EHX Green Russian has more volume on tap and is just a tiny bit darker than the 1861. So if the components are more reliable than other EHX pedals, this is a killer choice for a Muff pedal at any budget.
– Skreddy Pedals P19: I love my Vick Audio 73 Ram’s Head, but was after something a bit more focused and compressed, and this one fits perfectly in that role. With an Overdriver + Eleclady+ delay, it’s clearly The Wall tones.
I’m still waiting to receive a JHS Muffuletta and a Hartman Analog Flanger, as I found them at affordable prices. But now I really need a Custom pedalboard and switcher, as there is too many stuff laying on the ground haha! :D
Cheers! Alexis
Hi Bjorn, will the Wampler PlexiDrive sound ok at lower amp volume levels? I play thru a Blues Jr, turned up to about 3. Some pedals I have tried (like the DLS MKIII) don’t drive the amp and create any overdrive on their own it seems. Appreciate your input. Cheers!
Yes, it sounds great on any volume. I also recommend checking out the Vick Audio Tree of Life, which goes very well with Fender amps.
Phenomenal information and loving attention to details in this article, Bjorn! I’ve read carefully and just wanted to ask a quick question regarding your thoughts on what you’d recommend for my rhythm guitar playing needs.
I play a Fender Telecaster into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe for rehearsals/jams/gigs, and at home currently playing low volume through a Pro Jr. The only dirt pedal I have is a TS-9 tube screamer, and would like to get another od/dirt/color pedal for my rhythm guitar playing needs. I’m wondering if it might be a good idea to target another OD pedal (like perhaps the BD-2?) for my ‘always on’ character pedal, and then use the TS-9 for added dirtiness when needed? Or perhaps I should go the other way around and use the TS-9 for my always on character and target another specific pedal for my extra raunch…thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
Sorry Bjorn – I forgot to mention that the stuff I play is very much in the 60s/70s influenced garage and power pop realm (think: Guided By Voices, Pavement, etc.).
The BD2 should be a good choice for the amp. It has a very nice headroom and clean boost, with just a hint of mid range and compression. It goes very well with the TS as well.
Hi Bjorn,
I own a 30 Watt Engl tube amp which has a warm and present mid range and also a lot of headroom. I’ve read several of your articles and they were incredibly informative but I still can’t decide which pedal I want. I’m struggeling to choose between the V-2, M-1 and the Evolution (maybe two of them)… Which of these are best for tones like Time, Sorrow and which ones are better for a more RAT like sound (Comfortably Numb)? Greetings from Germany!
The Evolution is no doubt the most versatile of these and I think it will go nicely with the amp as well. The V2 is similar, with a tad more gain. The M1 is a Muff and I think it can sound a bit too aggressive on your amp. You might also want to check out stuff like the Fulltone OCD, Vick Tree of Life and the Arc Effects Soothsayer.
Hey Bjorn,
Excellent site! I’ve been a true Gilmour fan since the late 70’s and am continually attempting to emulate his tone. Your site has been an excellent source of info! Thanks so much!
Now to pick your brain. I currently have the below listed pedal setup. Extensive I know, what would be your recommendations for pedal order, additional pedals etc.
Boss Vol pedal > Wampler Eco compressor > Morley Wah > Digitech Whammy > Monte Allums modded BD-2 > TC MojoMojo > MXR 10 band > DOD Filter > MXR Uni-vibe > TC Helix Phaser > TC Corona Chorus > TC Hall of Fame > MXR Carbon Copy > Stereo setup Amps (Fender Roc-Pro 1000 and Roland BC-60)
Thanks Again and Great site!
Greg
BTW, I’m playing a Rarebird Stratohawk with EMG SA’s and SPC.
Thanks again!
Greg
Hi Greg! Thanks for your kind words! Sorry for my late reply.
Try this: guitar > wah > dod filter > whammy > eco compressor (could go first as well) > BD2/MojoMojo (order depending on whether you want to stack them) > MXR EQ > UniVibe > Phaser > chorus > delay > reverb > amp. I prefer having UniVibes and phasers in front of the gain pedals, so you might want to try that as well.
Hey Bjorn, Thanks for the reply! What is your opinion of adding a Wampler Plexi and a Triple wreck for the Boogie tones?
Should work nicely :)
Thanks Brother!
I have a question about how to use the overdrive before or after the big muff as booster
Hi Daniel. Please check out the Big Muff tone guide for some tips.
Hi Bjorn
Do you think a Boss BD-2 / Keeley Phat Mod and a Klon-type pedal such as the Wampler Tumnus would be redundant on the same board? I am looking for one pedal to give me a nice, light crunch (especially on the neck pickup similar to what you’d hear on Pulse or Gdansk) and another that would be capable of a decent, saturated hard rock-style rhythm (my band plays a bit heavier style). I already have a RAT-style pedal for solos. I was thinking BD-2 or Keeley for light overdrive and something with a little bit of a midrange bump for rhythm as I typically run my mids a little under halfway (the Soul Food seems a little dull but the Wampler looks to be amazing).
For reference I have a HiWatt Custom 50 and SSL-5 loaded Strat.
Thanks!
The BD2 has less mid range and compression so they’re not that similar. Still, with more or less the same gain range they do cover much of the same ground. Keep in mind too that The Hiwatt has a lot of mid range so adding a clon on top of that might get a bit too much. The BD2 and something similar would be a better combo for that amp I think.
How about something like a Fulltone OCD?
The OCD is somewhere between a BD2 and TS9 I guess. Still a lot of mid range and compression but with the right settings it sounds pretty good with a Hiwatt.
Thanks.
On a semi-related note, what would your recommendation be for good pedal stacking combinations through the HiWatt? I was thinking of using the BD-2 as a light overdrive AND a boost for a fuzz and/or distortion.
It can handle pretty much anything and the BD2 is a great pedal for boosting.
Hey Bjorn, have you ever played a ZVex Super Hard on? If so, which of the pedals mentioned in this article would you compare it to? I’m thinking of buying one to play heavy, down-tuned stuff (as I heard that QOTSA’s Songs For The Deaf was recorded with one), but I was wondering if it would also be any use for more traditional rock n roll tones.
It depends on your amp and how well it works with fuzz pedals. The Super Hard On has a massive amount of gain so I guess a Muff would be the best choice or perhaps a BC109 fuzz, which has some of that raw edgy tone.
Hi Bjorn,
Great article! I’m thinking of either the Tree of Life or the BD2. I currently have a 10w Allen amp, which is loosely based on a Fender Blackface amp but can get into tweed country as well. I’m also using a MIM strat with D Allen ’60s Rock n Blues pups.
Which overdrive pedal would you think would work best with this setup?
Thank you!
Both, I guess but the Tree of Life works perfectly with Fender amps adding a bit of the mid range and compression you need.
Hello! Love the site. Extremely informative and useful. I was curious to see if you had any experience with the Dumbloid?
Thanks
Nope.
Wow! Excellent resource~ Thanks Bjorn! Im using a VOX AC15C1 w/ Greenback. Can you please classify the pedals I have, (mid range scooped vs not) and arrange a basic gain stack of 3 or more of them to go from> clean stage 1 boost only,> to moderate stage 2 overdrive, >to a heavier stage 3 overdrive/lead (no FUZZ tones needed) using 3 or 4 of the following that I have. Looking for a well rounded mix of tones. I have: TS9, JHS Superbolt, EM Drive, Palasades, Blues Driver BD2Waza, Fulltone 2, Wampler dB+ Buffer/boost,Nano Big Muff, Pro Co Rat. (These are not ALL on my board obviosly, just available! LOL) I play USA ’72 Tele Thinline w/ humbuckers and a USA STrat Elite 4th gen noiseless single coils thru a VOX AC15C1 miked up. I use a Strymon Timeline and JHS Avalance reverb, a Sonic research tuner, Volume pedal for swells etc, there is a POG and an MXR 6 band EQ, a Wampler EGO comp, and a BBE sonic stomp. BIG help if you wanna take a crack at this I would LOVE it! THANKS!
Hi Bruce! Please read through this article for some tips on how to categorize pedals :)
Hello,Bjorn! when you specify the two tube drivers, # 1 is a volume boost, it goes after the Muff. Is # 2 set to give more gain? Would it be before Muff?
Thank you.
After. David always use his booster after the higher gain pedals.
Thank you!
Hey Bjorn.
Would you say a Buffalo FX TD-X and a Keeley-modded Boss BD-2 on the same pedalboard might be redundant?
Typically I carry two or three overdrive/fuzz pedals – a light/medium overdrive (where I imagine the TD-X would overlap with the BD-2 on my board) and a heavier, Marshall-type overdrive (I love the Evolution, but I’ve got my hands on a Bogner La Grange and find it to be even more versatile and amp-like) and some sort of fuzz for when the need strikes.
I also carry a boost, such as the Keeley Katana or Source Audio Programmable EQ (which is amazing, by the way) to give any of the above pedals a good “push.”
I use a HiWatt Custom 50 1×12 for gigging and Laney Cub 12R for home recording. As much as I love the TD-X, I feel like I have the other bases covered so well that I’m willing to trade in its insanely versatile gain spectrum for something with a bit more headroom. The Keeley-modded BD-2 seems like the ticket.
What do you think?
Thanks!
It always depends on what tones you’re looking for but personally I think they overlap to some extent. The BD2 has more sparkle and less compression, while the TDX is slightly darker and smoother with a hint more mid range. The BD2 is better at boosting IMO while the TDX works better as a stand alone pedal but unless you want two similar sounding pedals with different settings for different applications, then it might be redundant with both.
Hi, Bjorn. Hats off to you for the great work!
Anyway, which of the following pedals do you think would best serve my needs:
(1) Tube Driver (2) Plexi-Drive (3) BD-2 (4) Tubescreamer (5) Soul Food (6) OCD
I was thinking of cranking up the amp while using the pedal similar to an attenuator (amp volume up, pedal volume fairly low) to get creamy distortions at relatively lower volume levels. I’d probably leave the pedal on and just mess with the volume knob to control the amount of gain.
I use a ’61 Gibson SG Reissue into a Fender Pro Junior most of the time, and occasionally bring out a Squier Telecaster with a P90 on the neck. Care to share your thoughts? Thanks!
Thanks for your kind words! I think I’d go for either the BD2 or the OCD. Both works great on Fender amps and has the ability to maintain the character at low volume. The other pedals will work too but the Soul Food can sound a bit thin on low volume and the Tube Driver and Plexi can sound a bit harsh on low volume and mids scooped Fender amps.
What about JHS Morning Glory instead a BD-2 and Lovepedal Zen Drive instead Cornish SS-2 for coming back to the life and louder than words? Solid state amp, bedroom player. Thanks!
Yeah those are similar.
Wow thanks for taking the guesswork out of all this! I decided to grab a used Behringer BO100 (a version of the bd-2) and really like it with an old hondo Strat in a cheap bedroom setup so before I shell out the extra cash for the boss I thought I’d ask if you ever played one for comparison?
Played what? Sorry…
Hey Bjorn! I need your guidence about overdrives and distortions.
Currently I have a CostaLab Custom Muff on my pedalboard, noisy as hell but since nobody knows about this pedal in my country, I’m pretty much married to it. For distortion/overdrive I’m not quite sure what to get. I want a overdrive for a clean boost, one for more gain and a distortion like ProCo Rat. But is it 3 pedals necessary? I was thinking in get a OCD, a Green Rhino from Way Huge (sounds like TS9) and a ProCo Rat. But I saw your videos with the Plexi Drive and now I’m confuse what to get. Does Plexi Drive can replace the Rat? Should I get a Soul Food or a Crayon instead of the Green Rhino?
Which amp do you have?
A Laney Cub 12 head
Sorry for my late reply, Diago. How many pedals you should get, depends on what tones you want to cover. For David Gilmour’s tones, I usually recommend at least one distortion for the lead tones, one overdrive for rhythm and the bluesy stuff and one delay. These three pedals will cover most of his stuff and you can easily build on that. The Cub can handle pretty much anything. The OCD is a very versatile pedal that can do awesome overdrive stuff and pretty heavy distortion tones as well. I would go for that one perhaps and a Muff or something similar.
Hi Bjorn, Are you tested the EHX Crayon? It’s a good substitute for the Tube Driver?
Greetings!
Very close. Well worth checking out :)
hi Bjorn, have you heard of or tried the Harben Audio Synesthesia Drive its a clone of a colorsound power boost
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TAn8QkS69A
Thanks for the great website
Haven’t seen that one before. Thanks for the tip!
Hi Bjorn. Can you tell me something about the MXR fet driver as alternative of the Tube Driver? I have a Blues Driver but I can’t reach the tone for The Division Bell or Pulse.. So I’m looking around for something else, like this MXR..
What’s your amp and pickups?
I have got an Hiwatt maxiwatt g50r and a Fender American Special with Texas special
Ok, the Fet Driver will provide similar tones with the right settings but it’s initially designed for a slighty different tone. Pedals like the Buffalo FX TD-X, EHX Crayon and Wampler PlexiDrive is a better choice I think.
Why not a SS-2 Cornish clone? Or a Vick Audio Tree of Life or perhaps a Zen Drive?
I have a Boss CS-2 Compression Sustianer too.
I have an East River Electro Harmonix (TS-808). I’m a bedroom player of Gilmour light overdrive sounds and I don’t need a booster for Big Muff, because I have a Iron Bell Fuzz. What other overdrive would you recommend? Vick Audio Tree of Life (U$ 119), Super Phat Mod Robert Keeley (U$ 150), Boss BD-2 Waza Craft / Boss BD-2 stock, or a clone of SS-2 Cornish? Thanks a lot for your attention! Congratulations for your job and website based on Gilmour sounds!
What sort of amp will you be using?
My amp is a solid state Hiwatt (Maxwatt) with reverb, 12″ speaker, 50 watts. Thanks for attention!
The BD-2, in all its different versions, is perhaps the closest to the Tube Driver, although a tad brighter. The Tree of Life is closer to the Tube Screamer, with lots of mid range and compression but it has much more headroom and low end. Both pedals should work nicely with your amp.
What do you think about the Boss BD-2 Waza Craft? Is it the same thing that Keeley Mod Bd2?
More or less, yes.
Hey Bjorn, could you kindve explain the difference between something like the Vick audio over driver and something like a sparkle drive mod pedal? The sparkle drives normal mode is a stock ts-808 circuit and mod 1 setting is very comparable to a bk tube driver. I didn’t want to get the over driver if I could get close tones with what I have.
The Overdriver has very little mid range and compression. It’s more amp-like. The Sparkle is a clean booster with modes for more/less compression and mid range. Which to choose depends on teh voicing of your amp.
Hi! This is a bit hard to describe in text, I’m sure audio examples would be better, but here goes:
I just purchased an Evolution, after having been on the lookout for a used one ever since I heard about it two years back. Your demos and reviews were a big part of the reason I wanted one. I started testing it, and it sounded wonderful clean and at low gain settings. However, turning up the gain, I got that buzzy, thin, wasp-like sound that I’m always trying to avoid. I tried adjusting the tone and contour, but to no avail.
Now, this isn’t the first time this has happened. I got a Suhr Riot Reloaded a couple of weeks back, and it, too, had that nasty quality to it, reminding me of a Metal Zone or when you use a distortion pedal through a cheap transistor amp.
I then tried the Black Secret, which the Evolution was intended to replace, and in the Turbo setting, it was big, thick, singing. Switching between the Mooer and Buffalo FX pedals, it was remarkable how much better the Mooer sounded.
I know the Evolution isn’t supposed to sound like this, it’s not a pleasant sound. Same thing with the Riot for that matter. Is it my amp that just won’t take certain pedals? The amp is a Laney L5 Studio with an Egnater Tweaker cab, Celestion G12H-30 speaker.
What are your amp settings, including the switches, and pickups do you have?
if I could add my two cents, I know what you mean. What I find helps is a greasebucket tone circuit on the guitar. It rolls off lows and highs, and really helps with this problem. For example on my bridge single coil I have the tone down to three-four with the tube driver
Hi, i have the exact same problem with my L20H with LT212 cab with original speakers… Don’t know what i’m doing wrong. I have tried all kinds of settings on the amp, also the settings described on bjornriis.com (clean channel) and on this page (drive channel) for this amp. Only tried with humbuckers though. (JB hotrod) Have new jj tubes on order, and a 2017 LP Standard which has coulsplit, so maybe that improves things… Don’t know..
OK, so the problem is that the Evo sounds too thin and harsh/bright? The Lionheart can do a wide range of different tones, depending on which channel and bright/normal mode. Overall the amp has less mid range than a Marshall and Hiwatt, which can make some pedals sound less smooth and perhaps even thin. Still, I have used the Evolution many times with the Laney, even recorded with it, and I always get really fat and smooth tones. As with any pedal, it all depeneds on the amp and what settings you have on the amp.
I always use the dirt channel on the Laney for more compression and mid range. Try this for a start: gain channel, bright mode, gain 1.5, gain volume as desired but keep in mind that the louder you play, the more you push the tubes and speakers for mid range and compression, bass full, mids full, treble and tone off.
Do also try a more conventional setup: drive channel, normal mode, gain 2, gain volume as desired, bass 6, mids 6, treble 3, tone 6.
Obviously, the settings on the Evolution depends on which of these amp settings you use but try adding a bit of boost on the Evo by setting the volume at 60-70% and the rest of the conrols to match and as desired. Hope this helps.
Hi!
After changing all the tubes to JJ from Eurotubes all is good. Amazing difference. More dynamic and punchy now. Also got the smoothness i was looking for. :)
Thank you for your help.
Glad to hear :)
Hi Bjorn,
I was reading your very interesting review of the Electronic Orange Pig Hoof in which you talk about using a booster behind a Big Muff. The examples you cite are:
a) Coloursound PowerBoost for late 70s tones
b) Tube Driver for present tones, and
c) Slightly darker Tube Screamer or OCD for more squeezed warm tones.
I was thinking about getting the Vick Audio 73 Ram’s Head and I already own the Tree of Life, so I wonder if the TOL would work as a decent booster for the Ram’s Head?
I know a lot of this is very amp dependant and my current amp is an old fender and not appropriate to the sounds I want but I am leaning towards a Laney L5 with the LT112 CAB ( would a 212 be a better option in case I ever get a bigger Head ( ) or possibly the H&K TM 18 ( not sure on a CAB for that ). I am hoping to demo these in the very near future.
My guitar is an early 90s USA Schecter Strat which has a Schecter super rock bridge pickup / schecter monster tone middle and neck pickup. All 3 tappable ) No clue if these are meant to be decent pickups but they seem ok.
More of a bedroom player for now but interested in sounds from animals and also WYWH and Gilmour in general ( probably have to get an MXR script 90 just for those 4 notes: A# F G E… )
As always, thanks again for your amazing kindness and time in sharing all of this information with us and helping us all to understand our sounds better.
Thanks kindly,
Craig
Hi Craig! Between the amps you mention I would definitely consider the Lionheart. By far one of the best sounding and most versatile amps I’ve played and they can handle pretty much any pedal you throw at them. A Muff and ToL combo works nicely but the 73 also has a 3-way mid range switch allowing quite a bit of boost so at least for my set up, I never need to boost the 73. Cheers!
Hi, I was wandering what combination pedals would I need to get the Sorrow Intro and Outro sound from gilmour. Cheers.
What sort of amp and pickups do you have?
What are your thoughts on the TC Electronic Spark Booster and MojoMojo Overdrive?
The Spark is basically a clean booster with some EQ options and mid range boost. Very versatile and definitely worth checking out although I prefer either a transparent overdrive, like the Powerbooster or BD2, or a, Echoplex booster. The MojoMojo is basically a beefed up Tube Screamer.
Hi Bjorn,
Sorry to hijack this older post. But the TC Mojo Mojo does not sound like it compresses/boosts mids like the tube screamer (to me – I might be wrong). I have a Peavey Classic 30 and the current O/D’s in my possession that I can choose from are TC Mojo Mojo, Way Huge Green Rhino, Boss OS2. I also have a supposed Rat clone – Eno TC-13 Myomorpha Distortion too. If you know any of these pedals, which would you recommend to pair with the amp (also on which channel). Thanks!
I think all of them would go nicely with the amp. The Classic 30 is a very good pedal platform so it depends on what tones you want.
Bjorrn, forgive me if this was already asked (this thread is long), where do you rate the Xotic EP versus the other clean boost pedals? I am aware that you use the EP yourself. Thanks in advance. I love the content of this website.
Thank you! Very similar to the TopTone Shine Boost. Perhaps a tad darker but it’s got that slight compressed mid rangy flavour.
Hi Bjorn, Your site and tips help me a lot!!!
I have a question, which the best mini pedals for a tube driver tones cover?
I have a Mooer Blues Mood and a Hustle Drive.
Other question, the Xotic SL Drive works better as overdrive or a distortion pedal?
I think to use a SL as distortion and Blues Mood or Hustle (the most like TD) as overdrive or a SL as overdrive and Mooer Black Secret (for example) as distortion. Do you think?
Thanks and greetings!!!
Well, it’s all about taste really. All of those could easily double as both overdrive and distortion. Personally I prefer the SL for distortion and lead tones and probably the Hustle as well. The Blues Mood is very close to the Tube Driver.
Hi Bjorn,
I would like to know you thoughts on the way Huge Green Rhino?
Basically a tubedriver. Have you tested one. How do you like it?
It’s closer to the Tube Screamer, with a couple of extra features for more low end and gain. More mid range and compression than the Tube Driver.
Dear Bjorn! I have a “Vick Audio Tree of Life” and more pedals “Overdrive and distortion” I do not have. Do I need a pedal Tube Driver Chandler 88th year of release? I was offered a pedal Tube Driver, and I do not know if it will be like “Vick Audio Tree of Life”. Thank you
The ToL has much more mid range and compression than the Tube Driver. Two very different sounding overdrives really. The Tube Driver has a more early Marshall tube amp tone, with moderate mid range and compression, while the ToL is closer to the OCD, Tube Screamer and Dumble tone.
Hi Björn. I was wondering if you’ve tried any of the Pettyjohn drives? I had my mind set on the TD-X, but at the same time it would be nice to have something that would give me a couple of more tonal options for live use. The PettyDrive looks like a fun, versatile box of joy!
Don’t have any experience with those…
hello Bjorn
I have spent a big hunk of dough on some pedals, several of your picks…
OCD – Bass Big Muff – Vibe Machine – Flashback
So far so good.
I was running a compressor after the Big Muff, it allowed me to get more tone by lowering the output and cranking the volume pot on the BIG muff to its sweet spot. But peer pressure made me try the compressor in front of the OCD and then.. meh.
Now I have ordered a Tree of Life which will arrive any day,and thinking to take the compressor out.
So many drive pedals, could I ask how you personally might put these together, in what order?
OCD v4 > Tree of Life > Bass Big Muff, or Tree of Life > OCD > Big Muff, or…?
I think you know all these pedals pretty well.
I would want one to use at a clean boost setting for pretty stuff and stacking.
Thanks for your great website and advice.
Hi James, doesn’t matter how you arrange them if you’re using one pedal at a time but for stacking, I would go for this: Muff > OCD > ToL. As for the compressor… Whether or not you need a compressor depends on your pickups, the amp and what pedals you use. Based on your pedals alone, I would say that you don’t need a compressor as the OCD and ToL are very compressed.
Thanks very much! Just arrived today, I am very pleased with the sound and range of the TOL.
A question about the OCD v4. Is this the noisiest pedal in the world or do I have a bad unit?
I get so much noise from this pedal when the volume is past 12:00. Now I tried it stacked with the TOL. The TOL bumps up the OCD noise, even if the OCD is set to 9:00 volume.
Whether using the OCD alone, or stacked, if I use a jumper lead from the OCD housing screw to ground, it cuts the noise.
Have you seen this on OCD’s before? The high noise factor or the noise reduction through grounding?
I haven’t experienced that the pedal it self is noisy and I think I have four of them now. But, the OCD has a lot of compression, mid range and gain so there will be some noise when you crank it up. It’s just the nature of the pedal. Mind too that proper powering and good quaility cables will eliminate much of the noise.
Hi, Bjorn!
If you were to buy only 3 pedals to achieve a Pink Floyd sound, would you get delay, modulation and distortion, or delay, modulation and overdrive? I’m really considering buying the Nova Delay and the MXR Phase 90. Other than these, which distortion or which overdrive would you get?
Thanks! =D
I would start with a distortion for the big lead tones, an overdrive for rhythms and the milder leads and a delay.
Björn, I’ve decided to get the Flashback Delay and Looper + Tree of Life Overdrive.
Considering this “hard to beat for the price” motto (as you clearly did with the Flashback), which DISTORTION and which MODULATION (one of each) would you pick, hands down, to cover most of Pink Floyd tones?
Thanks a lot in advance, again! And cheers from Brazil :)
Depends on your amp but I guess I would go for something versatile when it comes to the distortion. Perhaps a Fulltone OCD or a RAT kind of pedal, like the Buffalo FX Evolution. As for the modulation, personally I prefer flanging for the late 70s era, and the Mooer ElecLady is hard to beat, but it wouldn’t quite work for other eras. Perhaps a phaser for the Dark Side/WYWH stuff and a flanger for the Animals/Wall stuff.
Hello again, Björn!
All right, I got my hands on a Flashback Delay and Looper + Tree of Life + ProCo RAT 2 + MXR Phase 90 Eddie Van Halen + Mooer Eleclady. My amp is a Fender Frontman 25r (when I change it, I’ll keep in mind those “mids scooped” tips).
My questions are: do you think this pedalboard is solid? And in which order would you chain these pedals?
Thanks again, you’re great!
Hi, you have covered the basics with those pedals so I’m not sure what to recommend. You should be able to cover most of David’s stuff with that. Whenever you buy a new amp, and if it is a more mid range oriented amp, I would probably look into a Muff or fuzz for some of those vintage tones.
Hi! I don’t know if this reply is going to be seen at the same time as my previous reply which wasn’t answered yet, but it’s worth the shot.
My pedals ended up being these ones:
– Flashback Delay and Looper
– RAT 2
– Tree of Life
– MXR Phase 90 EVH
– MXR Analog Chorus
– Mooer Eleclady
My actual amp (I’ll probably change it sooner or later) is a Fender Frontman 25R.
My only questions are:
1) Do you think that’s a solid group of pedals for playing on stage and at home?
2) And MOST IMPORTANTLY: in which order would you put these 6 pedals, exactly?
Thank you, Björn!
Hi, sorry I got the comments mixed up. Yes, I think it looks like a very nice setup. Try this order:
guitar > rat > tol > phase > chorus > eleclady > flashback > amp. I often place the phaser before the dirt pedal but try both ways and hea which you like the best. Cheers!
I literally just found out that this pedal existed a hour ago and was wondering if you had any experience with the Maxon TOD‑9 True Tube Overdrive. Basically the classic Tube Screamer with a mini tube in it. Been out for a few years now and it’s slightly expensive but was thinking it might be a smaller Tube Driver option. Otherwise I’m about get a second Keeley BD-2 as the MXR Fet Driver I currently have for TD #2 just isn’t cutting it.
Haven’t tried the TOD9 so I can’t really comment on it. As for the Fet Driver replacement, the Keeley BD2 is great but check out the Buffalo FX TD-X and Wampler Plexi Drive as well.
Hey Bjorn,
Currently rocking a setup consisting of a Vick Audio 73 Ram Head (switching out with a JHS Muffaletta) for fuzz, Buffalo FX Evolution for distortion and Vick Audio Tree of Life for lighter overdrive. It’s a good setup, but I feel like there’s still something “missing” so to speak. Meaning that contextually, I find myself gravitating more toward my Evolution for lead playing and shying away from the ’73 Ram’s Head, which puts me in a conundrum in that setting the Evolution up for optimal lead playing leaves me relying more or less solely on the Tree of Life for my overdrive and distortion tones, which I’d prefer to do rather than use it as a solo boost for the ’73 Ram Head.
I was wondering, should I consider taking the fuzz pedals off my board, dedicating the Evolution solely to heavy overdrive and modern-era Gilmour-style leads, and get another overdrive pedal? The Tree of Life, with my rig (HiWatt Custom 50 SA112), seems to be the *perfect* low-gain overdrive. Leaving the Evolution for leads and heavy distortion, would it make more sense to get a mid-level overdrive? Or to stick with one of the fuzz pedals (the Muffaletta sounds great without a booster), set the Evolution up more as a go-to heavy overdrive and the Tree of Life as a light overdrive?
Thanks!
Hi Don, obviously the number of pedals and which pedals you should have on your pedal board, depends on what tones you need. I use Big Muffs all the time but mainly for Gilmour stuff so for my own music, I mainly use either distortion or different overdrives… either alone or stacked. Big Muffs and fuzz are great but they sound like, well, Big Muffs and fuzz and if that’s not what you’re after, then it’s not going toprovide a whole lot more than that. I often have a combo of different overdrives, like a booster, milder overdrive and one heavy saturated. That will provide the pallette of tones that I need for most things. So, the Evo for heavy lead stuff. The ToL for cleaner overdrive and perhaps something like a Buffalo FX TDX or the Wampler Plexi Drive for mid gainy things would provide a wide range of tones.
Hi Bjorn, in your response here you mentioned you sometimes use combination of ODs stacked. So what is your signal chain for the stacked overdrives? I mean if Evo is set for heavy overdrive, do you still feed to another overdrive? or putting an overdrive feeding the Evo? or you mean using a combo of mild overdrive (TOL) feeding the mid gain overdrive (BFX TDX or Wampler Plexi). Do you use any three OD pedals combination? I found staggering a mid scooped to a mid heavy and back to mid scooped or vice versa OD pedals allow to have 3 or even more OD pedals in the signal chain, as long as the heavy feeds to a light and back to heavy feeds to a mid, etc. Not that it is needed, just for sake of knowing the analogy for not choking the signal. What do you think? Is there any section of your articles going to be dedicated to strategizing stacking gain stages? Thanks a lot for all the time you spend on this :)
My main overdrive pedal is the Buffalo TX. It’s usually set for a midl overdrive that I use for rhythm stuff, power chords etc. In front of it, I have a TopTone Shine Boost set to max, that I kick in for heavier solo stuff. I don’t really use Muffs that much anymore, so for the full gain lead tones, I have a Vick Audio Tree of Life set fairly mild, also placed in front of the TDX. The idea is that both boosters can be kicked in for different tones ontop of the TDX, much like boosting the front end of a crunchy tube amp.
Thanks, Bjorn. Your latter idea is exactly what I’m thinking. I’d love to keep a muff on board, but with my rock band the Evolution just seems to sit in our mix so much nicer – for Gilmourish leads (with a Retro Sonic Chorus or Mooer E-Lady) and for non-Gilmourish stuff as well. For the other two overdrive pedals, I was actually leaning toward *both* a TD-X, for cleaner overdrive and a Plexi Drive (or another Marshall-voiced OD, such as the Friedman BE-OD) for mid-to-high gain stuff. Do you think that pair would cause too much overlap?
They’re similar but one approach is to set them differently – one for clean boost or mild crunch and one for heavier overdrive. They compliment eachother nicely.
Thanks!
Reading your response to Arya above – do you think going with two overdrive pedals and a boost/EQ is a more efficient option? For argument’s sake, let’s say one being a light overdrive (TD-X/Boss BD-2), the other a heavier overdrive (Evolution), and a good EQ pedal to accentuate certain frequencies and/or provide a boost? That way, in theory, I could set both overdrives to good rhythm levels and then use a boost/eq in conjunction with modulation pedals to get a good lead sound out of either.
That’s similar to my setup. I have two overdrives that are set more or less identical, although the pedals are voiced differently. Adding a booster to each of them, provides different tones for different applications. I don’t really like EQs because it easy to overdo it and I think using different overdrives provides more natural sounds and a bigger palette of sounds but that’s what works for me. Try different setups and choose the one that gives you the tones and versatility you need.
Thanks for the tips, Bjorn. I’m going to give that a shot – a low-gain overdrive, a high-gain OD (torn between the Evolution and Friedman BE-OD, which sounds killer through my HiWatt) and, for now, a Keeley Katana mini as a boost.
hey Bjorn. im about audio dover drive. your score was 10/10 and you were recommending. but now its 7/10. its my mistake or it was like that ?
I can’t remember changing that…
Hi Bjorn,
from what I read you said that the buffalo Evolution can easily nail those G2 and Tube driver(ish) tones; now I own a Buffalo Td x, so talkin’ about tube driver tones I’m ok with it, what I would like to ask you are these two questions:
1) Do you think the Evolution while doing a proper G2 could nail the RAT tones as well?
2) Do you think in order to get a convincing Pulse setup, would be useful to have two Td X on the pedalboard?
Cause I know that David used ’em (well the tube driver actually) simoultaneously on certain songs
Ps. concerning the DG20 pups: I found out that keeping the SPC off and pushing hard the EXG can get you close to the sound he’s using in the intro solo (surely using the double compressor setup)
Thank you very much!
congrats on your work as usual
Ciao from Italy
Matteo
Sorry the song I was referring to, regarding the dg20s, was Coming back to life
no one?
Teh Evo and TDX is somewhat overlapping but they’re really two different pedals. The TD is brighter, less compressed and it has much more headroom. Much more of that early JTM Marshall kind of tone. The Evolution is close to the RAT, with a bit of the Muff falvour. Much more compressed, less headroom and a lot more mid range and gain. I would use the TD for boost and overdrive and the Evo for leads.
Hi Bjorn, I have a Hiwatt custom 20 sa210 and i was wondering would a ehx soul food or fulltone ocd be better for a well balanced overdrive sound? I have a proco rat 2 and a bb preamp and I really don’t like either of those with it. Your help would be appreciated!
What is that you don’t like about those two? The Soul Food and OCD can sound a bit “boxy” and bright on Hiwatts, as those amps has a lot of mid range and compression already. They blend better with amps that doesn’t have as much mid range and compression, although it always depends on what tones you’re looking for. For the Hiwatt, I would probably go for something a bit more transparent like the Buffalo FX TDX, Boss BD2/Keeley Phat Mod, Vick Audio Overdriver etc.
Hi Bjorn,
Firstly, thank you so much for this site. I’m not even a guitar player and I read it all the time! I’m a writer and I was wondering if I could use your expertise (and the gilmourish’community)on something specific I’m writing about. I’m not sure if you have seen the WYWH “demo” recently released on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/XEoUuTazzZI
I’m trying to narrow this version of Shine On to a specific date referencing Glenn Povey’s book The Complete Pink Floyd. Obviously the first solo isn’t there, the second solo is different, there’s no sax, and from comparison even the drum and bass parts are not the same. In fact, this version is slower when played next to the official release.
My questions revolve around a technique Gilmour uses to time his famous 4 note phrase. It starts at 3:10. You can hear that the phrase is played very, very, quietly and he uses the quiet version as a guide to know when to begin playing the same notes loudly. This strikes me as odd. There is no rhythm track at this point, so why would having the phrase in there twice to guide him be necessary? Any other number of means could be used to tell him where to come in. And he’s also not keeping time with anyone but himself, and thanks to the build up, the phrase is not even equidistant from the previous one at the end. I believe he recorded the actual part outside of EMI studio 3 so he could use all of his amps to achieve a louder sound. Would he be hearing it through headphones? If you dug deep enough, could it be heard in the final mix? The only other reason I can think of is that it had to match exactly with pre-recorded rhythm tracks. I.E he has 40 seconds before the drums come in and it has to be perfect. But, there is no drum or bass before that part! So, they could just start that reel after he was done. I know this is a lot, but I’m flustered and I first thought of you to help. If you have time, any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Kevin Cenedella
Hi Kevin, this is obviously an early demo version and David’s playing is very reminiscent of those late 74 British shows and early 75 US shows. Not as smooth and mellow as on the album but a bit more nerve. In regards to the 4-note intro. I don’t think it’s a que but rather a tape bleed from a previous take. Could aslo be bleed on the source tape. You can often hear that on old bootlegs. I assume they either used a metronome or click track when they recorded. I’m sure there is some info on that somewhere but again, I don’t think what you hear is something they actually used.
Hi Bjorn,
Thank you for such an amazing website! I’ve spent countless hours on it.
I was one of the folks that bought the Xotic SL Drive based on old recommendation. My current setup is:
Fender Gilmour Custom Shop Strat –> MXR compressor –> Xotic SL Drive –> BYOC Large Beaver Ram –> Empress Tape Delay –> Catelinbread Echorec –> Boss DT-20 –> 65′ Fender Princeton Reverb.
Reading the more recent posts about the SL Drive having too much gain for certain amps, I’m curious how you feel it pairs with a 65′ Fender Princeton Reverb. Also, do you have any recommendations for the sequence of my daisy chain?
Thank you,
James
p.s. I’d like to make a donation to the site for all of your hard work. It is tremendously appreciated.
Thanks for your kind words and support, James! Glad you enjoy the site :) Your chain looks fine. I’m using the SL Drive a lot in my home studio and it works nicely on most amps. I haven’t tried it on a Princeton but I would imagine that it sounds great. Works nicely with most other Fender amps I’ve tried it with, adding a nice mids hump and some compression.
Hey, Bjorn.
My current batch of drive pedals are the following, in order:
Z.Vex Fuzz Factory
Evolution
M1
Mythical Overdrive
…and a Boss BD-2 keeley modded.
I have two BD-2s. One is a constant in my guitar case for drop-in gigs, but they have a very narrow band of usefulness. I have a gap in my “light overdrive” spectrum, because I’ve tried other pedals – plexi-drive, throbak overdriver, v1 marshall bluesbreaker, a few other random things – and none seem to have the same “openness” of the Keely-mod BD-2 when it’s in that comfort zone.
Is there a Buffalo FX pedal that would be a good match for the BD-2? I love the Evolution, and the M1 may be my favorite pedal of all time.
The TDX is very close to the BD2 but in my opinion, even more versatile. The BD2 may have more headroom but the TDX, which is based on the Tube Driver, has a wider breakup and a tighter low end. I think it will compliment your pedals very well.
Ok, one more option. Sorry, but i’m in this autistic-pedal-mode right now. :D
I’m thinking about this:
– Vick Audio ’73 Ram’s Head
And maybe stack it up with my Fulltone OCD clone.
The ’73 sounds very natural and vintage to me…
Hi Markus, I’ll answer everything here. As you know, how your pedals end up sounding depends on the amp and how that amp is set. The Lionhearts are extremely versatile and can be setup in a number of different ways. I think all the pedals you’ve mentioned are capable of providing some really nice Gilmour tones with your amp so it more down to preference. The RAT can sound a bit flat and oversaturated but that’s pretty much the nature of the pedal. I love it but it does sound better on amps that has less mid range and compression. OCD-like pedals should be able to deliver tones close to David’s Tube Driver so I would probably stick with that and maybe get a Muff for the bigger lead tones. The Vick ’73 is great and very versatile with the 3-way mid range switch. The Hoof is a great alternative too but it might be better for the early stuff, rather than the more present tones. Hope this gives you start.
And one more thing regarding my recent post; i already have an Joyo Ultimate Drive, which is an Fulltone OCD clone. Would there be a way to stack that with some (modestly priced) pedal to have an easy way to achieve a Gilmour tone with my setup? Thanks! Markus
Hi Bjorn! First af all; thank you! You are a true inspiration and driving me forwards to finding my own tone! :D My question is this; I need to find a powerful, organic and lively overdrive sound. I hear it in the fuzzes, for example in the Hoof. But i’m not sure if that is the way to go or should i settle for something else like a Rat. I play a strat to a Laney LC15, both in the bedroom and with a band as a lead (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin etc rock). My problem with the Rat is that in demos i hear it doesn’t quite have that organic, ballsy vibes that the fuzzes have. I think the Rat sounds kind of metallic and electronic sometimes, and this is something i don’t hear in the muffs. Well, my alternatives have narrowed to these:
– Earthquaker Hoof (200€)
– Proco Rat (75€)
– Mooer Triangle buff (60€)
And maybe i would also need and driver for the rat and the mooer?
Well, i really hope that you can help me as i don’t have the opportunity to try these out over here!
Best,
Markus
hii bjorn,, sorry for troubling u with more doubts…. here in south india,, we do not have the luxury to test these various wonderful pedals or amps for ourselves ,, only way acquire them is wen my relatives come to india from america….. ur website is a great source for guys like me!! im now learning how to manipulate tone with the help of ur great articles…..
bjorn,,, im planning to buy a 5 watt amp for home practise,, confused between marshall dsl 5c,, and laney lionheart 5 watt amp,,
im more inclined towards laney lionheart…. will pedals like buffalo fx rams head,, buffalo fx powerbooster,, buffalo patriot,, wampler tumnus,, boss ds1 ,, boss bd2 go along well with laney lionheart studio 5watt?? which compressor,,,fuzz / muff (i like gilmour and hendrix type tone) ,,, boost (as standalone overdrive and for boosting muffs or another pedal),,,distortion pedal ( ihave boss ds1 already with me),, in ur expert opinion will work best with laney lionheart 5 watt amp?? my guitar is yamaha pacifica 612v with seymour duncan jb bridge humbucker pickup and 2 single coil yamaha pickups….. and also i wud love to play a wide range of bands on the above setup ( led zep,, jimi hendrix,, gnr,, acdc,, ozzy,, black sabbath ,, zztop,, metallica,, pantera,,etc ) :) :) :) is it possible?? and also between marshall dsl 5 and laney lion heart 5 watt amps,, which do u strongly reccomend>??
waiting hopefully and excitedly for ur replyy !!!….thankuu …..
Hi! Thanks for your kind words! Personally I would go for the Lionheart. The Marshall DSL is a nice amp but it’s much more aggressive, compressed and far brighter sounding. I guess you can throw most pedals at it but it’s really designed for plugging the guitar straight into it for the more modern sounding Marshall tones. The Lionheart is capable of both classic Marshall tones and providing a balanced platform for your pedals.
thanku so much for ur reply,,,!! one more doubt plss,,,im goin for lionheart rather than dsl.
after much reading on this site on overdrives and distortions,, amps,, and general rules for amp – pedal combinatins,,, i have decided on the following pedal combinations for muff,, boost,,overdrive ,, they are -buffulo patriot, wampler tumnus (mid boost / low gain overdrive),, buffalo fx tdx ( high gain overdrive) ,, the logic behind this choice is i can use wampler tumnus as standalone low gain overdrive and also as a mid boost for buffalo tdx to make it also act as a high gain distortion,, with buffalo tdx alone i can obtain from mild to high gain overdrive tones,,
( i also have boss ds1 to act as a stand alone distortin pedal)….. and if i feel like boosting the
patriot (which can also act as stand alone muff) ,, i can use tumnus or buffalo tdx in the boost mode,, if this logic works i can get a wide variety of dirt tones from the amp …. do u think tdx and patriot will work well with lany lionheart “5” watt ?? i know u have laney lionheart l20 and use most of these pedals ,, but do u think it will work on 5 watt?? pls give me a guidance bjorn,,, it means a lot to me…!! thankuu :) :) take care…..
Please see my previous reply. Let me know if you still need any help :)
hii born,,, hope u r doin great,, thnku very much for ur reply,, you dont have to apologise for the delay,, i consider ur replies to our questions as great bonuses,,, the site itself is a mini university of guitar tone which is available for us free..!!!
one doubt though bjorn ,, i have finally decided on pedals tumnus,, fulltone ocd and boss ds1(i have it),, mxr dyna comp or xotic sp compressor for laney lionheart 5 watt ( in the assumption that although its drive channel is marshall style still because of 5 watt power,, it needs mids boosted/ compressed pedals)…. do u think this is a good decision?? if u were in my shoes what dirt/boost pedals would u choose :) ?? thnku ,,
Seems like a nice combo of pedals for the Lionheart. It can heandle just about anything and the pedals you’ve chosen are versatile and should provide a wide range of different tones.
thanku very much..!!
Hi M; Riis,
What would be your choice today, among the many pedals available, in order to replicate the Pete cornish SS-2 pedal, as used in the Division Bell album?
Best regards,
duncan
Top-Tone Light Drive.
hii bjorn ,,,, great information!! but i have a doubt regarding 2 sentences in this article –
1) These pedals (uncompressed mids scooped boosters)can sound horrible on an uncompressed, mids scooped Twin or “SMALLER BEDROOM AMPS” ((does this include compressed mids boosted smaller amps like marshall dsl 5c?)), but creamy and smooth on a compressed and mids boosted Marshall
2) These pedals (compressed mids boosted overdrives) will produce a smoother and overall bigger sounding tone, on amps like the Twin and “SMALLER BEDROOM AMPS.” (again,, does this include compressed smaller bedroom amps like marshall dsl 5c??)
does this mean that for smaller bedroom amps even though it is a mids boosted compressed marshall dsl 5c,, mids scooped transparent overdrives or fuzz sound horrible?? (in another article i read that marshalls have natural compression and lots of mids so fuzzes and transparent overdrives work well and mids boost pedals like tube screamer or ocd would choke because of the excessive mids already present in the amp )
so my doubt is that ,, by the term “smaller bed room amps” in the above statements,,,, do u mean only those mids scooped uncompressed amps like fender or vox??
i hope this question reaches you,,,, would greatly appreciate your reply,,, and also thanks a lot for those articles ,,,, they have helped a lot,,,, keep up the goodwork !!
Hi Vivek, sorry for my very late reply. This one got caught in the spam filter for some reason. I should perhaps have been more clear in the article but I’m using the term “small bedroom amps” generically. Fender, Vox and similar amps doesn’t have that much mid range and compression (most models anyway) so you would need compressed and mids boosted pedals on both small and big amps. A small Marshall however, like the DSL, can sound thin in a bedroom setup despite the fact that it has a lot of compression and mid range. You won’t get low end needed. Still, it’s a matter of setting the amp up correctly for the environment and using the right combination of pedals.
I’d recommend folks on here check out the Fulltone Catalyst. At similar settings to the Colorsound Powerboost it does a cleanish boost just as well, blending equally as well with muffs as most dirt pedals. At higher settings it does a great fuzzy overdrive sound that’s great for early 70’s classic rock tones. Like most Fulltone’s it is built rock solid. Definitely worth a look. Very inexpensive too, got mine for $78 USD new.
The RAT is great, al Muffs are great… the diver driver and also the newer MXR Fet Driver are awesome… kind of tube drivers without the tube but extremely creamy and harmonic… but my favorite OF pedal besides a Klon like pedal like the Soul Food, Tumnus, Archer or Sick as… the Way huge Fat Sandwich… oh man… that pedal is ridiculously amazing! Plus the interbal trim pots were you can add even more drive… wow! You should definitely check the Fat sandwich… very unique, not necessarily for Gilmour tones… but nor is the OCD or the Plexi… anyways… great list… wish for more Soul Food type pedal reviews .
Hey Bjorn!
Ever try out the Bogner Ecstasy series of pedals? There are countless demos online of people doing pretty convincing Marshall in a Box tones with the Bogner Ecstasy Blue pedal and the Red is a bit more high gain. But both have full EQs, a few extra switches to tailor the pedal to your amp and a second switch for a boost. Kind of similar to pedals like the Wampler Plexi Drive Deluxe or new Strymon Riverside – wondering if you had a chance to get your hands on either yet!
Haven’t tried them.
Hi Bjorn, any thoughts on the strymon riverside?
I haven’t tried it but I think the review made by That Pedal Show is very convincing.
Hi, I just can’t understand….if you have to choose between buffalo or throbak for the dsotm or wywh sound which one would you suggest. by the descriptions you love the same, by the video (I can’t see the potential of buffalo) and can’t see the clean in throbak (used as booster)
anyway…….AMAZING WEB SITE!
Depends on the amp. The Buffalo is slightly darker and has a smoother breakup. The Throbak is brighter and has more headroom.
hi, thx for reply,
hiwatt t20 head and 12″ fane (always hiwatt)
Hey Bjorn, try out the Walrus Audio Iron Horse yet? It’s very Rat-flavored and has three different clipping options.
I A/B’ed it with the Evolution last night through my HiWatt Custom 50 1×12 combo and they’re REMARKABLY close!
Chris
Haven’t tried it… :)
If you can get your hands on any of their pedals, it’s worth a shot – they’re pretty big in some circles over here in the states. That one is their LM308-based overdrive – upon further review, a little darker than the Evolution with a bit of a lower-mids push; pretty cool. They’ve also got a pedal called the Voyager which is said to be everything from a Klon clone to a Timmy, so I’m excited to see how it stacks up as a low gain/boost pedal.
Thanks for the tip!
Hi Bjorn. Once again thanks for your comments over the past few years as I’ve popped a question on here now and then. Another one for you please.
Last year I made the unfortunate move of selling my Buffalo FX Evolution pedal (you know how it goes swapping gear, selling stuff to fund other things). Anyway, not my best decision in retrospect. I was thinking of getting another, but noticed the Analogman DS-1 on your Time Jamming video and also on the Analogman site. I know both pedals are different – very different lineage – but how would you compare the Evolution and AM DS-1 (with mids knob)?
Many thanks, and all the best for 2017.
Hi Bern! I guess the DS1 is softer or smoother. Perhaps a bit flabby in the lows but it’s hard to beat that silky smooth sustain. It’s my go-to pedal for recording huge sustained solos. My issue with it, and reason for not using it live, is that it doesn’t have a lot of output. It’s loud but not enough compared to other similar pedals. The Evo is more aggressive sounding and closer to a Marshall I guess. It’s still smooth but you have more of those amp-like harmonics and overtones. I don’t know, they’re similar yet very different… if that makes sense. The DS sounds bigger while the Evo is more focused and cuts through better.
Thanks Bjorn – much appreciated!
Bjørn, as a novice, I can’t thank you enough for your blog. I unfortunately live in an upstairs apartment and can’t get enough sustain without getting evicted or beat up.
Do you have a good solution? If so, I’d greatly appreciate your knowledge.
Thanks for all you are doing to help everybody. I love the way you play.
I was a singer years ago, but my heart lies inside the guitar.
Many thanks.
jpl
Hi! Thanks for your kind words :) Check out this article for some tips on improving your bedroom tone and this one for some tips on choosing the right pedals. Cheers!
Hello Bjorn!
You used to have the Xotic SL Drive in this list.
Can you remind me please for what albums you recommended?
Best regards,
Joao Bicudo
p.s. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
It’s based on the Marshall Super Lead so I would go for the Tube Driver tones. Delicate to present I guess.
Hey Bjorn!
Scotty Smith of ProAnalog Devices is back, and has released the Power Driver v2.
It covers all the Overdriver sounds, and, when the gain is cranked, moves into fuzz territory.
If this interests you, then you can reach Scotty through the facebook page.
Here is the link.
https://www.facebook.com/proanalogdevices/?pnref=story
Hey Bjorn! I have a HiWatt SA112 that sounds *amazing* and a combination of the Buffalo FX TD-X and Evolution covers my light/heavy overdrive tones. Was thinking of adding a booster to get *more* of either pedal for solos. I was thinking of going with a completely neutral, straight-ahead clean boost like the Keeley Katana. Very important the original signal isn’t coloured. Any recommendations?
The Katana is hard to beat. I’m using the Top Tone Shine Boost, which is a clean booster, like the Katana and there’s a mids switch for a bit more presence.
Thanks, Bjorn. Would a regular ol’ Boss BD-2 do the trick as well?
It’s not a clean booster although it does have a nice headroom. You get a bit of both, I guess, with the BD2 :)
Hi Bjorn,
TC electronics introduced 13 new pedals. http://www.tcelectronic.com/smorgasbord-of-tones/
Can you please share your thoughts if any of these are useful from David’s general tone?
I haven’t tried them yet but I’ve always trueted things that comes from TC to give me the tones I need. The Cinders Overdrive, Rusty Fuzz, Echobrain and Prophet and the modulations should make a good start.
hello bjorn . im looking to get a bd2 overdrive with keeley mod but found a katana blues overdrive on his website . any idea if this is better than the modded bd2 . i was finding it hard to buy a keeley modded bd2 but found an analogman bd2. just wondering what your thoughts are on the katana blues overdrive compaired to the modded bd2s. also would they be a good booster for a byoc muff rams head that i bought a few months ago .i have a laney 12 cub and cab and think this my next step towards a gilmour like tone . many thanks. .
Hi Kris! Check out the new Super Phat Mode from Keeley :)
Hey Bjorn, just want to say I love your site and find it extremely useful. I am in the process of buying my next pedal but due to the expensive nature of good pedals, I have to pick and choose the most crucial one that will be of the most use. I am debating between a Boss CS-2, Vicks Audio 73 Rams Head, or Mooer Eleclady. I do tend to prefer David’s Wall/Gdansk/Pulse tones so any assistance in making this decision would be extremely helpful. Thank you!
I would also like to add that I have a Mesa Boogie Mark 5 and SSL-5 in bridge, stock pups in neck/middle
Yep, all three pedals goes very well with that setup.
Hi Sandro! Not sure if you’re asking for all three or just one but all three should go nicely with the tones you describe.
Dont get a mooer eleclady, get a Donner Jet. Its exactly the same and a fraction of the price. But the electric mistress sound, even a real one (ive tried) is actually pretty disappointing and sounds weird because its not the 80s. A rotary is better, even a cheap one like an AROMA/tomsline roto engine, in place of the boss RT20 which is also good but expensive. If you dont already have a compressor, start there. They take a bit of getting used to but become invaluable. For instant satisfaction though the vick rams head cant be beat, with some delay and reverb, its tasty! Dont even have to go nuts on the gain. I like mine with gain almost off and boosted with a power boost/ vick overdriver which is in fact my favourite pedal which I use for boosting everything or as a foundation drive on its own. They come in 18v now. But then I have a Hiwatt t40 amp, and as Bjorn keeps saying, the answer to what pedal is good, is what amp do you have because it depends on your amp type. Like, if you have a fender tube amp, maybe you need a vick V2 instead of a muff. Hope this helps :)
Which o them would you recommend: Wampler Plexidrive clone, Fulltone OCD clone, BD2 BOSS (blues mood Mooer) or SS-2 Cornish Clone for Gilmours Drive (Louder than Words solo, Shine on you crazy diammond)? For Muff, I have Iron Bell Fuzz clone. Does OD-3 BOSS could be good for Ac/DC, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin?
Depends on what pickups and amp you have.
I have a strat Fender mexico with black strat pickups replica for Gilmour sounds
and a les paul with mini-humbucker for Jimmy Page sounds
The OCD is very versatile and would probably be the best choice in any case.
Thanks
What about a Seymour Duncan pickup booster as a clean boost?
I haven’t tried it but it would operate and sound similar to the Effectrode Fire Bottle and it should be placed first, to be able to “interact” with your pickups.
Hello Bjorn,
I very like your site and some information helped me find my sound.
And I looking now for new pedal with Rat-ish tone – I choose between Jam Rattler+ and ProCo Rat2 ’87-’88. What you can most recommend me of these two?
Thanks in advance!
Cheers!
Sorry for my very late reply, Mikhail. I’m very fond of the Rattler. It’s very close to the original, with a bit more open character and more low end.
Ok, thank you. Also can you tell me: how close ProCo Rat ’90 vintage reissue to original Rat large box or small box 84-85?
I think the 90 has a bit more gain but I haven’t done a proper A/B test. I know they now doesn’t use the LM308 chip, which is what made those old pedals sound so good.
Hi Bjorn, how are you?
I have a question:
Recently I bought a Ibanez TK999OD to use as BK’s Tube Drive. But I’m having a hard time to tuning the pedal. The TK999OD have High, Low and Mid nobs plus a Presence one. Should I set for a more bright tone or a dark one? Currently I’m using both High and Low at 12 o’clock, mid at 3 o’clock and Presence at 2 o’clock. I know from the previous questions that you didn’t test this pedal before, but from your knowledge with pedals and the Tube Drive, what should I use with this one?
Thanks!
I can’t answer that without knowing what amp and pickups you have.
1. Dear Bjørn,
I am contacting you as I have a question regarding your reviews of the TD-X and Evolution by Buffalo FX. I am slowly building a pedalboard David Gilmour sound. I completely understand that you are busy and might not be able to answer such questions, but nonetheless I decided to still try and contact you, since I truly need some insight.
However, does the TD-X deliver lead tones on it’s own as well? I love the tone but I am afraid the gain is not present for lead solo’s. That is the only reason I am looking at the Evolution, because I want to have a great overdriven lead tone for solo’s, but I love the tone the TD-X creates. Can you perhaps comment on this? Could the Columbus distortion stack with the TD-X as well?
My setup is Fender strat EMG – Cry Baby wah – Boss cs 2 – EHX de luxe big muff pi – Columbus distortion – Bad Monkey – Drybell Univibe – Boss c 3 – Tc Electronic delay – Boss Rc 3 – Fender twin red knobs.
Thank you for your time Bjørn!
All the best from Holland!
Hi Bjorn,
A little more info, I am looking for a new distortion/overdrive pedal.
I also want to replace the EHX muff what is your advice on that?
Thanks Bjorn.
Why do you want to replace the Muff? What sort of tone and quailites are you looking for?
Hi Bjorn
Thank you for the information, I checkt out your reviews of the TD-X many times and it was hard for me to choose between the TD-X ore Evolution but I think I am going first for the TD-X, and maybe later I get the Evolution.
And I want to replace the EHX for a more simple Muff I know the EHX is verry versatile but I like simplicity.
Witch Muff do you think is working the best in combination with the TD-X ?
The tone I am looking for is Delicate/PULS.
Thanks a lot Bjorn.
Given that you have a Fender amp, I would check out a more versatile distortion that will maintain its tone, even on a mids scooped amp such as the Fender you have. I’m not familiar with the Columbus distortion that you have, but check out the Buffalo FX Evolution or a Rat clone, like the Jam Pedals Rattler or Arc Effects Soothsayer.
Hi Jack! Check out my review of the TD-X. I’m using it for solo work all the time in my own setup and music :)
Hi! First time i write.
I have a Fender Blues Deluxe tube amp. I would like to find a booster to complement the big muff, the ideal thing for me is to replicate the sound of ANIMALS. Any suggestions? Cheers from Argentina!!
For Fender amps, I’d go for something with a hint of mids, like a Boss BD-2, Buffalo FX TD-X or Wampler PlexiDrive. The more mids scooped, transparent boosters tend to sound too bright with Fenders.
Hi Bjorn and greetings from the U.S. First off let me say, this is definitely the Ultimate Gilmour site. So much great information here. I was wondering if you might be able to guide me in some decisions. I currently have a MIM fender strat, (stock. No upgrades on it ) and I’m playing through a VHT special 6 for the amp. It only has a tone and volume control on it. I am also using a Boss me80 that I’m looking to replace with single pedals. I love the intro and exit solos to “Coming back to life” so I am hoping to replicate those tones. Actually all Pulse tones to be honest. Lol also the “Comfortably numb” tone. Here is where your “guidance ” comes in. I have between $600 to $700 u.s.d. to spend. Locally they sell EHX, Earthquaker, Wampler and Boss pedals here predominantly. What would your pedal choices be for the tones I’m interested in replicating? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the great job here on the site. Thank you.
Hi Bill, thanks a lot for your kind words! Apologies for the late reply. I recommend a basic setup of a distortion, overdrive and delay. Those three will get you far and you can add modulation pedals later on. Now, I’m not that familiar with your amp and how it’s voiced. It has some obvious limitations so I would go for something versatile. The Boss BD2 is an excellent overdrive capable of replicating most of David’s milder overdrive tones. Distortionwise, you could look into a Mooer Black Secret, which is a clone of the old Rat distortion or, check out EHXs Bass Muff, which is an excellent reproduction of the early 90s Big Muffs. It should go well with your amp although the Rat is a more versatile pedal. For delays, you could go for pretty much anything but the TC Electronics Flashback is probably your best choice for the budget. Hope this helped.
Thank you kindly sir. I will definitely look into those pedals. What is your opinion of the boss super overdrive or the Xotic SL drive for Gilmore over driven tones? I appreciate your advice and again, your site is the best. Thank you.
The SD-1 is based on the Tube Screamer. It’s very close, although perhaps a tad brighter with a hint more gain. It works nicely for David’s Tube Driver mild gain rhythm and lead stuff. The SL Drive is based on the old Marshall Plexi amps. It’s very compressed, with tons of mids. Depending on the amp, this one can sound both a bit thin and boxy but it does that early Marshall tone to the point.
I have Colorsound overdriver, modded by Costalab, but i dont undestand why Gilmour replaced it with a Tube driver. Powerboost was a swiss knife for his sound…
Cheers !
Matter of taste I guess and the Tube Driver has more mid range, which goes well with the Fender amps he’s often using in the studio and with the Hiwatts, allowing him to cut through properly in a stage mix. The Powerbooster has a more uncompressed and raw character, while the Tube Driver has a more amp-like character.
What’s your opinion on the MXR Il Torino for boost/overdrive tones? Seems like a good pedal!
I haven’t tried it so I can’t really tell. Sounds like you should be able to get some Tube Driver-ish tones with it but I’m not sure how they compare.
Hi, Bjorn. First, congrats for having been mentioned on Keeley website when lauching their amazing pedal called Dark Side.
About overdrive, I’m watching this very hard to find pedal made by NOC3 Effects named Pure Drive. From the videos available it seems it’s kind of “plexish” too. Very versatile overdrive pedal. If you could, check it out.
Thanks Roger! That was very nice of Robert :) I haven’t tried the Pure Drive so I can’t really tell. I’ll check it out :)
Thanks Bjorn. Sorry I got confused between TD-X and Evolution. So budget-wise what is the closest pedal to Evolution? I’m hoping I get something that offers smooth and high compression high sustain in the high setting but more transparent with hearing attacks and articulations and low compression in the low settings. Sort of like G2 or a hybrid of G2 and P2.
Thanks a lot.
I guess either the Mooer Hustle Drive or Black Secret.
Hi Bjorn, a really great article and also the comments are great. I want to bring it to your attention that I have chosen a Kingsley Minstrel 2 tube overdrive after comparing it with the BK Butler. In my opinion, and if you can test one you will find it is far superior. Simon Jarrett who makes it has really done an excellent job on filtering so it can be used with any amp and it maintains your amp and its tones. It has fantastic dynamics you can turn your guitar down to get complete clean tones or turn it up to engage overdrive. In addition, if you pick lightly it can be clean and if you pick more aggressively it engages the overdrive. I have tried it in my Laney IRT Studio at 1 watt volume level 6 in the clean channel and it is absolutely amazing. On the other hand if I crank the amp in the 15watt channel or in my Fender hotrod it does all the same stuff just at a higher volume. I am going to write to Phil Taylor, Gilmour’s tech as I believe he should try it and talk with David as I am sure he would love it. Here is a link to it. http://kingsleyamplifiers.com/products/pedals/19/ Some of the others are awesome too, That’s Pedal Show did an expose on some of them. The Page is fantastic also.
Thanks a lot for the tip and the kind words!
Hi Bjorn, I had hard time saving money and finding a used Buffalo TD-X as a versatile distortion pedal that can cover a bit of muff tones of DG per your comment a while ago. I ended up preferring a vintage Reissue Proco Rat hoping that is sort of in that versatility of TD-X. I appreciate if you comment on their differences and what else is out there as a poor man’s version of the TD-X?
Thank you,
Arya
Hi Bjorn, I just noticed that TD-X is more like the overdrive character and Evolution is Buffalo’s distortion pedal, so I think the comparison I’m seeking and the versatility (boost to overdrive to distortion to fuzz/muffish character) is between Rat and Evolution. Sorry for the confusion. Regarding the versatility in case it is hard to fit the left side of the range (boost/overdrive) with the right side (distortion/fuzz/muff) in one pedal, I would rather focus on the right side (distortion to fuzz/muff) since I already have a few options for boost/overdrive. Although articulated attacks in the lower distortion setting that is what I like about some of the boost / overdrive pedals is something I really like to not loose when I buy a distortion pedal, while I can crank up the distortion and I reach smooth muffish tone. Can these both fit in the same distortion pedal?
Thanks again.
Both the Evolution and Rat are distortion pedals, with a fairly high amount of gain and little headroom. You can tweak both for milder overdrive tones, but the lack of headroom and amount of mid range and compression, makes them less suitable for boosting. They should either be used alone, or being boosted by a dedicated overdrive or clean booster. I guess the closest match for a TDX budgetwise, would be a Boss BD2 or the Mooer Hustle Drive, which is a clone of the OCD. Not quite the same but close.
Hi Bjorn, I hope all is well. I’m asking this question on behalf of my brother. He’s interested in buying a good all-around distortion/overdrive pedal to use with his little 5 watt fender champ re-issue amp. He would be using it as his only effect pedal right now. He plays at bedroom level through both a Strat and Les Paul. He mostly likes playing grunge music. I suggested the Wampler Plexidrive, Fulltone OCD or Buffalo Evolution. Do you mind providing me your suggestion as to what might work best with his little setup? Your website rocks!! Thank you, Tim
Hi Tim! Although all three are great, I think that the OCD is probably the best choise. Especially considering how versatile it is for all sorts of styles and sounds.
Thank you so much Bjorn!!
Hi Bjorn,
Thanks for those really great reviews !
I have a question about the Svisound Spectrozoid.
I can see and hear that you used it on your “On An Island Sunday Jam” on youtube and your tone is amazing.
I can’t find any review of it on your website and anywhere on internet either.
What do you think about it ? Is it mostly Overdrive, Distortion or anything else ?
How would you compare to others and what would be your rating ?
Thanks again for your amazing blog ;)
Hi! I love that pedal! Like most of the SviSound pedals, it’s fairly mid oriented and this one kind of takes over from the OverZoid, with more gain and low end. Hard to describe the tone really. Most of SviSound’s pedals are unique but as you can hear from my clip, it has a bit of that Big Muff character, with some nice harmonics and tons of sustain. It might be a bit overwhelming on amps with a lot of mid range and compression but it sounds amazing on Fenders and other cleaner amps.
Hey Bjorn,
Think a BD-2w (the new Waza Craft line) would be redundant with a TD-X on board? I’d be using it primarily as a clean-ish boost, occasionally pairing with the TD-X for a boosted overdriven tone, and occasionally a Vick ’73/Buffalo Patriot, if necessary.
I think it would fit nicely. Especially when yu’re using it for boost.
Dear Bjorn, what booster would you recommend to use with my Analogman BC183? And where to place it, im currently using a fender stratocaster with 1969 fender custom pickups-> Xotic wah-> xotic Ep booster -> Analogman BC183 -> mxr phase 90 (r28 mod)-> catalinabread echorec -> Fender Super Reverb
How about the EP? Place it after the fuzz and hear how that sounds. It should add a bit of sparkle and smoothness.
Hi, Bjorn…I see the wampler is now your favorite… I tried it. I think that lacks a lof of gain and sustain. To me, it does not remind the butler tube driver at all, which lacks of sustain too! I can have a lot of “overdrive” tone with the DG1 with low gain settings. Boss BD2 original sounds way better to my ears! I don’t know… perhaps a combination of guitar, chain pedals and amp…
Well, yes… you said it. It depends on how you’re using the pedal. On the “wrong” amp, any pedal can sound like shit. I have no problem getting both gain and sustain from both the Plexi and Tube Driver but neither are meant to be high gain pedals. I often use the Plexi with either a cranked amp or stacked with a second overdrive.
Hi Bjorn,
Currently I use a cmatmods signa drive (tubescreamer with flatter mids) in front of my deluxe reverb amp. And now being “mids-conscious” after spending some time here, I’m on the fence wether to have it replaced with a Vick audio Tree of Life OR keep the SD and have an EH soul food before it to boost some mids & treble. I’ve applied that same method using the keeley mod ts9dx in front of the SD and it does add some beef to it.
Setting it first in the dirt chain, how’s the soul food as a treble booster to both overdrives? Am I better off with a certain midrange booster such as the Suhr Koko boost? Should I get the Tree of Life instead?
Thanks!
Paul
You could go either way, I guess. I think what you need to be careful about is not to blend to much compression and mids. A DS or ToL, blended with a Soul Food might be a tad too much but I haven’t tried it myself so I can’t really tell. The Soul Food can boost the highs quite a bit but it also ha s A LOT of mids, so you might end up with a choked and muddy tone. I think a mids oriented pedal blended with a scooped one is often a better approach.
I think I’m going for the Keeley Oxblood instead of the Soul Food and place it in front before the other overdrives. This is my current setup: Guitar > TS9dx > Signa Drive > Ratified > Deluxe Reverb
Here’s my planned setup: Guitar > Oxblood > TS9dx > Tree of Life > Musket fuzz > Tone Job EQ/boost > Deluxe Reverb
What do you think of this setup?
Looks great!
Hi Bjorn, I have owned the Bd-2 for about 4 years now, bought it because your review on the site. I used it just for boosting the musket or the soul food. It works great after the musket and the soul food. Is there another similar booster like the bd-2, but one that is a bit better suited for a bedroom set up? Can you recommend a similar pedal. Thanks as always.
Check out the Buffalo FX TD-X and Wampler Plexi Drive :)
Hi, Bjorn. We all know now that the Wampler Plexidrive is your favourite. Now, when we’ll see a review and video of it? Cheers.
Well, it’s one of my favourites and I have done a few clips with it, including a Shine On Jam that a did a couple of years ago. I haven’t planned a proper review though, as I only do reviews of pedals that are given to me from the company. They get the promo, so I think that’s only fair. But, I might do one anyway. I love that pedal :)
Hi Bjorn,
Would Macari’s Colorsound be too difficult to tame on something like the Peavey Classic 30?
It goes very well with the Classic 30. The compression and mid range that amp provides, makes the Powerbooster very smooth and warm.
Hi Bjorn,
Longtime reader here – your talent and written insights are a source of constant inspiration!
Have you ever tried the Earthquaker Devices Palisades?
Chris
Thanks a ton, Chris! I’ve only given it a quick run. Kind of a TS808 but with tons of cool features. Really a unique pedal.
Thank YOU, Bjorn! Great to talk to the man himself. I bought a broken Palisades recently, so figured I’d check in. :)
When it’s fixed up, chances are it’ll be competing with the Wampler Plexi Drive Deluxe as my “primary” overdrive – the rationale being that both pedals offer more than one overdrive flavor and some added versatility while reaching a variety of Gilmour, Lifeson and Summers-inspired tones.
But even with the Wampler’s “pre-gain” switch and all of the versatility of the EQD, I’m unsure whether either pedal offers the true versatility of a dedicated overdrive and dedicated boost. The Wampler, as expected, doesn’t stack well with my Buffalo FX Patriot (or Vick Audio ’73 Ram’s Head, for that matter), and I expect the Palisades to excel at low to mild overdrive sounds, but likely overcompress and choke up the signal like the Plexi Drive Deluxe.
So, all-in-one, dual style overdrive (PDD, Pinnacle, etc.) vs. dedicated pedals (the TD-X/Evolution are the first to come to mind). Any thoughts or experiences?
For context: I’ve got the typical Strat/Duncan SSL5 setup running through a variety of different amps. I used to use a Marshall JCM800 set as clean as possible, then a Yamaha T50 (a very underrated, 6L6-based amp designed my Mike Soldano with amazing cleans), and now a Mesa Express 5:50+.
Thanks again.
Chris
Hard to say. These dual or multi pedals allows you to have several effects in one but they come with obvious limitations as they can’t sound like anything else. I guess you have to decide whether you like that particular combo or, if stand alone pedals will give you more freedom.
Hi Chris. I have a Jet City amp(basically Soldano amps made in china) and I assume since Mike designed both, your Yamaha would have similar tone to my Jet City. What settings do you use on it? My ears aren’t developed enough to hear what settings work or not – pretty much everything sounds okay to my ear. I know what I consider good tone – but I dont really know how to get there. If you could send your settings it would really help me out.
Hi Bjorn!! This is my current setup for the classic rock stuff and I am wondering if this would work for David’s (Confortable Numb) stuff. Fender Fat Strat with a Duncan Custom 5 on the bridge – Fulltone OCD – Boss Chorus Ensemble CE 5 – Mooer Ana Echo – Fender Hot Rod Deluxe in clean channel.
What settings would you suggest for the OCD, the chorus and the delay? I am especially curious about that switch in the OCD. Is it a bright switch?
The tone reference I am going for would be something like Live In Gdansk. I have always found PULSE to clean sounding for my taste.
You should be able to get some nice Gdansk tones with that setup. although you might consider a Muff or distortion pedal for the heavier solos. How you should set the OCD depends on how you’ve set the amp. Check out this feature for some amp setup tips and this one for some bedroom setup tips. Yes, the switch is a normal/bright switch and I’d use the bright to get that Tube Driver flavour :)
I do have a couple of Distortion pedals around, but I didn’t think they would be of much use for David’s stuff. I do have a Suhr Riot (AWESOME pedal for heavier stuff) and a Keeley modded Boss Distortion (DS-1). Would these suit me of something more Muff oriented would be a better bet?
Both should provide some nice Gilmour tones with the right settings. I often use an AnalogMan DS1 for recording those huge solos. Kind of a Marshall meets Muff tone and often easier to record than a Muff.
Is it necessary to sell my Boss OD-3 and buy a Boss Blues Driver or a Joyo (clone of OCD)? Thank’s a lot for help me!
Why? What tones are you looking for?
I like the sounds of Shine on you Crazy Diammond, that solos of Rattle that lock, 5 AM, Division Bell, The Wall, Dark Side , Animals. I’ll buy a Iron Bell replica an I have the Boss OD-3 too. Is it necessary to replace the Boss OD-3 for the BD-2 or an OCD? Thanks.
Those sounds pretty much cover the whole catalog :) I think your setup will be a good start as it is. The OCD is very versatile and works great with your amp.
hey Bjorn, great website you’ve been a big help, I’m trying to get that have a cigar tone. I have a boss bd2 and a mxr phase 90 script logo with a hiwatt 20 combo and Stratocaster I was wondering if you could give me some good setting thanks from Australia:)
Thanks, Jakob! Check out the suggested amp settings here. For the pedals, David used a Colorsound Powerboost and the BD2 can do a pretty good job emulating that one. I’d set the volume slightly above unity, for a bit more compression and that smooth amp-like break up. Depending on how hot your amp is, try setting the gain on the BD2 to somewhere between 10-12 o’clock and the tone around 9. Tweak your way around that and hear how that sounds. The Phase 90 should be set to around 11 o’clock.
I think you used to list the Xotic SL Drive as a pick and now it’s gone entirely while other non-pick pedals remain. What shifted in your opinions or what displaced it?
Nevermind, I see this was asked and answered.
I still love that pedal but I think there are others that are better suited for David’s tones… and I don’t want too many pedals listed :)
“The RAT is just fantastic
That is really what I think
Oh by the way, which TONE’s Pink?”
Hi, Bjorn. I completely agree with your conclusion on Proco RAT. Nothing more. Thanks for Gilmourish.
LOL, awesome :)
I read somewhere that the MXR FET Drive is trying to recreate the sound of a BK Butler Tube Driver. Have you had any chance of trying it?
Yep. I think it was designed by a request from Joe Bonamassa. I’ve tried it briefly but to me it sounded very bright, with a bit too much of everthing. Slightly harsh. I suspect that it’s designed with higher gain settings in mid, which I guess works but the cleans and mild overdrives didn’t sound as smooth and dynamic as the BK or the Buffalo TDX.
Bjorn I have a tube driver which has never worked great on any of my bedroom setups. Definitely needs a loud / high powered tube amp. I bought a TD-X last week and wow. It’s a great piece of kit that’s easy to dial in. If I didn’t have a problem with parting with gear, the TD would be sold. 😃
Hi Bjorn! I still find myself constantly referring to your “Buyer’s Guides”, very useful! Just curious where the Xotic SL Drive has gone? If I remember correctly it used to be one of your “Picks”? I had a SL Drive but replaced it with a Plexi Drive Deluxe. Just too much gain in the SL Drive for my taste! The PDD sounds much more full and open to my ear, although the natural compression of the SL Drive did come in useful for those long sustained notes!
That’s pretty much why I removed it :) I’m updating the guides, so there will be some changes in the next couple of weeks. I’ll let you all know when it’s ready :)
Thanks for the suggestions. Sorry to keep asking about this topic, but do you think one of the old Deluxe Electric Mistresses would go nicely with the OCD? I have the Mistress and I’m finding that when using that and the OCD, the flange sound it’s meant to produce is a little bit un-noticeable, and instead it kind of sounds a little bit harsh, I don’t know how to explain it, and it’s most noticeable when letting notes ring out. Have any idea why that might be, or are those pedals not best suited for eachother? Thanks again.
The OCD has a lot of mid range, which will make the Mistress sound darker and less “liquidy”. The current DEM has more mids, so that’s not a good combo, but check out the late 90s version or the Mooer ElecLady. Both sounds very nice with the OCD. On my amp, at least :)
Thanks for the help. My Mistress is either a V1 (’78-’80) or V2 (’80-’81) according to this site: http://www.metzgerralf.de/elekt/stomp/mistress/ident.shtml
I believe you’re familiar with that site, I think you’ve mentioned it in one of your posts before. It sure is a great site, it even has some suggested settings for different models and versions of Mistresses, very useful!
Yep, great site!
Hi Bjorn, I have a few things I’d like to ask you about. So I play an 80s Japanese Strat with a Fender Blues Junior 2. Currently the only gain pedal I have is the Fulltone OCD, and it would be great if you could give me some tips on how to ballpark some classic era Gilmour lead tones (Time, Money, Mother, Comfortably Numb, etc.) on my rig, if possible.
Also, and sorry if this is a stupid question, but I am new to tube amps after playing on solid states for years. When playing driven tones, should I be leaving the volume knob on the amp low to create a clean sound through the clean signal, and rely solely on the OCD for the gain, or should I crank the volume knob on the amp to get an already overdriven tone, and then use the OCD with it just to give a touch more dirt?
I think I’ve been getting somewhat close with my tones, but I feel like I don’t have quite enough gain, or dirt coming from the OCD. Could this be because I’m playing in my basement at relatively low volumes? Perhaps I should go ahead and get something like a Rat just give me more gain for a fuzzy muff-ish sound, and stick to lower gain sounds for the OCD?
I could post a link of some sound clips of my rig if it would help you get an idea of what I’m talking about, if you like.
Hi Adam. For David Gilmour’s tones, I’d run the amp clean and use the OCD for gain. A tube amp’s pre-amp will produce the gain, while the output stage, will produce output. A balance between these two, will often provide the best tone. Try to set the pre-stage at the very edge of break up and the master volume as desired. Use the tone controls to fine tune the sound. On a Fender, you probably want to lower the treble and increase the mid range. An OCD should be able to provide enough gain but you might want to look into similar sounding pedals that has more gain, like a RAT, Buffalo FX Evolution or similar.
Anyone have any experience with the Fender Champion 100? I have the Pig Hoof and other assorted pedals but because I do live an apartment, my volume is kept very low – somewhere around 2 or 3 LOL yet I can’t get it to sound right. Like it has no bass at all and it just sounds shrill for the most part :D
Check out this feature for some tips on choosing the right pedals for you amp.
Hi Bjorn, I ended up buying a cheap but good compliment amp. It’s a Crate V33. I’m running Laney Cub and Crate V33 in parallel. My tube driver setup is keeping the level low prior to the TD through a Pigtronics Fat Drive (bringing Fat drive level up till the overtones create enough treble, low bass and moderate treble in TD, and then sending it to a cranked up amp simulator to smooth up the overtones further and then sending it to mods, delays (stereo out) and then to the amps. I just did it a couple of hours ago and the sound was so smooth even at max drive setting! It’s a great feeling when an idea becomes a reality after a long struggle. Thanks for all your help 😃
Congrats!
General consensus is that the DOVER DRIVE is a faithful TUBE DRIVER (tubeless) recreation, even the graphics seem to replicate that, it seems that the DD is a fuzz face into some sort of zendrive.
It’s faithful in the sense that it replicates the tones you get when rolling the treble and bass all the way down for more mid range and less headroom. It does not do the clean fully transparent side of the Tube Driver.
To follow up on Bjorn, which he mentions in his review, the Dover drive (as the name suggests) is based on the Eric Johnson Tube Driver tones which is very different from how David Gilmour uses his.
Bjorn: Any experience or knowledge regarding the Maxon true tube boost overdrive TB09? I watched Mike Herman’s demo of it on YT with a strat and it sounded…well……gilmourish. Any idea if this is a good good alternative to a Tube Driver? It seemed a bit more versatile the way OD and drive work together./ Gerry LA
I haven’t tried it so I can’t really tell.
Hi Bjorn, I really enjoy DG’s guitar on Alan Parson’s A Valid Path album on “Return to Tunguska”. Is he using a bottleneck on his strat or lap guitar with tube driver you think? He has similar sound and style on his latest album on track “Beauty”. It sounds so much like a violin. What setting could reach that tone you think? Playing with bias value, using a extreme band pass EQ, two tube drivers in series, etc?
I’m sure there was some info floating around when the album was released in 2004 but I can’t remember. Need to check my files. Hard to tell what he used as you can hear that the whole track, including the guitars, are very produced and processed. I’m guessing a simple setup of one of the Jedson lap steels, possibly a Tube Driver and maybe a delay but that could be added in the mix. All the modulation and stuff sounds added in the mix.
Hello there,
I was wondering what settings you would advise for a boss bd2 blues driver and also if you think it’s worth the hassle to get the keeley modification.
Thanks!
Pedal settings depends so much on your pickups and the amp and its settings. I haven’t tried your amp so I can’t really tell for sure how it matches up with the BD2. I would start by setting the volume on the BD2 to unity, the tone around 9-10 o’clock and the gain at around 10:00. That shoud give you a nice bluesy tone, with a slight breakup. But again, how it sounds depends on how you’ve set the amp.
Hi again Bjorn! how are you?
I have a question, I want to achieve this particular Gilmour tones: Delicate/PULSE/Gdansk/On an Island. I’m close, but I think I need a booster/ overdrive with more warmth tones, compression and character.
I have a Laney Cub 12R amp with default speaker and tubes, Proco Rat2, Boss Blues Driver bd-2 keeley mod (as a booster), and I just order a EHX Deluxe Big Muff Pi, all with a Fender Strat MIM with default mics.
Now I have an offer to buy a BK Butler Tube Driver with Bias Knob for a good price.
Do you think it’s good for the tones I want and the gear I have? I play on bedroom with average volume.
I’ll wait your answer before I make the purchase.
Sorry for my late reply, Emi. The Tube Driver might sounds OK on your setup but it really needs a bit of volume and a bigger amp, I think. You may find it a bit too bright and fizzy. I’d check out the Buffalo FX TDX as an alternative – it works much better on smaller amps – or something slightly different, like a Fulltone OCD or the excellent Vick Audio Tree of Life.
Thanks for your answer Bjorn! Finally, I bought the Tube Driver. I’m watting the arrive. Did you try your TD on your Laney Cub 12? how it sounds?
Yes. It sounded pretty good I think but you need to give it a bit of mid range and volume to make it sound smooth. Try setting the amp as clean as possible, with the mids increased a tad and keep the treble moderate. You might also want to boost the volume on the TD a tad and roll back the treble, compared to David’s settings.
on tube drivers and valves, check what valve you have in there, just so you know. Ive had some fun with butler not responding to emails but now I know why. I was trying to find out what the stock valve is they come with. As far as I can tell, according to the guy I bought mine off he didnt change it from new and its a Ruby 12at7. LOL! so much for the special butler tube. Couldnt turn the gain up more than a few notches.
I think Bjorn said he uses a 12au7. The one I found from a forum, which im sold on now is a bit different family, a E180CC. highly recommended
I bought European Mullard E180CC NOS from eBay for cheap and it’s very sweet sounding and workable in a wide range of overdrive amount.
Thanks for the answers! The TD’s sound is really better than the Boss Blues Driver bd-2 keeley mod with the Muff (keeley mod goes great with Proco Rat, rather than the TD). I mean, the keeley sounds similar on some setups, but you can get more good sounding tones from the TB, It has more tune options (and it has its own valve, of course). I recorded a sample, my first contribution to this great forum. “Sorrow_intro”, it’s celphone quality, but you can understand what i mean.
https://goo.gl/n8OSoZ
–Fender MIM (with default pickups) ==> EH Big Muff Deluxe ==> TD (RUBY 12AX7AC5 HG valve) ==> Laney Cub 12r (default speaker and valves)–
Thats HUGE, fat sound! The tone it’s similar, not perfect, any sugestions are wellcome =)
(I know, my play it isnt great hahaha)
George, as you can read above, my TD came with a RUBY 12AX7AC5 HG valve. I think it’s the default one.
Greettings!
Hi again,
I also wanted to ask, if I had to own three overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedals for the Gilmour sound from meddle to animals, what would you advise? I currently own a mini Dunlop Jimi Hendrix fuzz face and as I said before, a blues driver. I have a fender American strat and an epiphone les Paul and my amps are a Marshall mg50w and a vintage peavey 70w Bandit. I was thinking that I should get a big muff clone, which one would you advise? And also should I get a Rams head clone or a triangle clone?
Check out the JHS Muffuletta or the Vick Audio 73 Ram’s Head, which has a mids boost. Both are extremely versatile and works nicely on most setups.
Hi Bjorn,
I would like to thank you on behalf of all David Gilmour fans for this wonderful website you have. I have a few questions regarding overdrive. I currently own a stock boss blues driver and am looking into getting a TS808. I’m not expecting to get brilliant Gilmour tones on the tube screamer but I was wondering how close I can get to his 70s tones with the blues driver. Is it possible or do you think I should buy a colorsound or a colorsound clone? And if it is possible do you know what settings I should use?
Thanks!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Nicholas! I haven’t tried your amp but of the pedals you mention, I would go for the BD2 or the Mooer Blues Mood, which is based on the Keeley modification of the BD2. You should be able to nail most of David’s 70s rhythm and milder solo tones. The Colorsound, or a clone, can sound thin and fizzy on smaller amps.
Bjorn, my bad if this is the wrong place to post this, but anyway, I’m looking to buy an overdrive/distortion/muff/fuzz pedal. I play a mid 80s MIJ Strat with new Gilmour style custom wound pickups, with a Fender Blues Junior 2.
If I were to get one dirt/gain type pedal to start with for Gilmour muff/fuzz/drive tones, what would be your recommendation? I know that might be a bit difficult to answer, so that’s why I’m just buying one now to start with, I’ll inevitably end up buying more in the future.
A few I have been considering are a Fulltone OCD, Tube Screamer, EHX Soul Food, ProCo Rat, Mooer Triangle Buff, one of the Dunlop Mini Fuzz Faces and also one of the Mooer Fuzzes, but anything within that kind of price range I’d be open to.
I know I’m not going to be able to get one pedal that can nail everything, so if you could give a recommendation of one pedal that can ballpark those tones, or two or three that can ballpark different eras of Gilmour tones, that would be great. Thanks.
I’d get something versatile, that can both cover as much tone as possible and, work on your rig. I’d stay away from fuzz and Muffs, as these often sound thin and fizzy on Fender amps due to their lack of mid range and compression. The OCD is a great alternative and probably your best choice if you only want one pedal that can do pretty much everything. A Rat, or a similar sounding clone, is also great for covering the fuzz and distortion tones. Check out the Mooer Hustle Drive and Black Secret. Both are great sounding and affordable clones of the two mentioned.
Thanks so much for your recommendations, they help so much. If you don’t mind, I’d also like to ask you a little more about this topic. Do you think it would be worth it to have both the OCD and the RAT? Are there tones that the OCD can cover that the RAT can’t, and vice versa? Basically what I’m asking is that if I were to get multiple pedals to use with my Blues Junior, would it be worth it to have for example one to replicate Gilmour’s fuzz tones, one for the Muffs, one for the Powerbooster, etc., or would I be able to get just as close to all those tones with just an OCD or RAT?
The OCD does a better low gain overdrive tone. The Rat can do that as well, but it doesn’t have that much low end, which is great for cutting through on solos but it can sound a bit thin and boxy for rhythm stuff. The OCD can easily be set up to replicate David’s Tube Drivers.
Thanks again Bjorn. I think I’m sold on buying both the OCD and the Rat for the extra versatility. Thanks!
Bjorn, with all due respect to you as an internationally renowned tone chaser, are there *any* fuzz or Muff type pedals that would work with a Fender amp? Say, a Princeton Reverb Reissue at bedroom levels? Guitar of choice would be an Eric Johnson Stratocaster.
Continued thanks for your efforts on this website resource.
I fear I’m continuing to beat this fuzz/Muff w/Fender amp issue to death, but I remembered this video: Red Muck into a Hot Rod Deluxe III (6L6 valves, probably not quite as pristine as the 6V6 Fender amps) sounds fairly convincing.
https://youtu.be/tFLC2rVnuEI
The HRD does have more mids and compression compared to a Twin. I’m not sure what his amp settings are, or if he’s paired the Muff with a booster or EQ, but it sounds very nice.
Hi Patrick! Terribly sorry for my very late reply. The Princeton actually has a less scooped tone and slightly more compression, compared to a Twin and similar, so with the right settings, you should be able to make most fuzz and Muffs sound great with it. Keep in mind though that a Fender with fuzz will sound different to a similar wattage Marhall with fuzz. It’s just the nature and tonal differences between the two amps. The Fender with fuzz might produce a slightly brighter tone, with more fuzz harmonics, while a Marshall, will produce a darker tone, with a more compressed top end.
No apology necessary! You are a busy guy and I’m sure you’re not glued to this website 24/7.
Thank you for your informative response.
Hi Bjorn – interesting reading your’s and other’s comments on the SS-2 and seeming to find it fairly unique in the world – not many “clones” out there. I have a fair few OD pedals -TS / Digitech Blues Screamer (BD2), Joyo Ultimate (OCD), PlexiDrive, CS Overdriver clone, Skreddy Lunar Module, RAT clone and now my ThorpyFX Muffroom – so should be able to get whatever flavour of core OD tone, the only OD I have stayed away from is a Tube Driver as I don;t hink I use the volume required to get anything useful out of it. – amp is Laney L5t, bedroom volumes.
I’m wondering if the key here is really in the compressor *before* the overdrive the Poles Apart solo seems fairly low gain in some bits but has a definite crunch to it – almost fuzz like sometimes – but with some sort of bite (for want of a better word) ? I usually have a compressor afterwards as I find it better keeps the OD character (Xotic SP), whilst helping overall volume normalisation between clean/OD tone switches.
You usually want to compress the signal into a gain pedal, which is what David also does. It will provide a more balanced and even signal to the dirt pedals and, depending on the amount of compression, it will require less gain and boost to get those smooth sustained notes.
Thanks Bjorn, I will A/B my comp placement.
I actually dug my DigiTech Screamin’ Blues out of its drawer, Cheap BD-2 clone but with separate bass/treble controls, and sure enough with gain about 60% I get that clean with fuzzy edged very clear and sustained SS-2 sound for Poles Apart:)
Hey Bjorn! I was thinking about getting the OCD but first I wanted to ask some questions about it. How versatile is it? What other Gilmour Tones can it do besides the stuff from the PULSE era and can I get Zeppelin and AC/DC like tones from it? Thanks
First – what guitar, pickups and amp do you have?
I got a MIM Stratocaster with stock pickups and a Roland Cube 30
The ODD should go nicely with your setup. It’s very versatile and you should be able to dial in anything from mild crunch and overdrive to fat Marshall distortion.
Say, Bjorn. Any thoughts on the Catalinbread “RAH WIIO”? As much as I like my Fender Twin, sometimes I want some more “English” voicing to my amp and this looked like a good alternative to selling this $1200 monstrosity and investing in an even MORE expensive Hiwatt clone.
It does capture that mid rangy in-your-face Hiwatt tone, which should go nicely on a Fender and add a bit of meat and mids. It does have a nice headroom but the goal with this pedal was to capture Jimmy Pages overdrive tones, so it’s not an amp-sim pedal as such but more an overdrive voiced like a hot Hiwatt.
Hey Bjorn! You’ve answered some questions of mine, and I’ve come here again. I have built a really nice pedalboard (although a bit overblown) and felt the need to build a backup board to take to sit-in gigs or a buddys house to jam. I wanted to make it on the cheap so I decided to go with a Mooer setup. The board is inspired by the Gilmour MLoR backup board. I have most of it figured out but I’m having trouble deciding on an Boost/OD combo. I was hoping you could help me out. I don’t mind staking two OD’s from more versatility. I like the Blues Mood but I’m not sure what to pair with it. So I got –
Yellow Comp
Black Secret
TriBuff
Blues Mood
Flex Boost? Hustle Drive? Green Mile?
Ensemble King
Ninety Orange (just because)
ElecLady
ReEcho
Graphic G
Thanks for your time, wisdom, and help as always!
Jacob
Hi Jacob! I’d go with the Hustle/OCD personally. You have the Blues Mood/BD2, which can double as a booster, so the Hustle would give you something inbetween the Blues Mood and Black Secret.
I know you reviewed and gave the Wampler Plexi overdrive great reviews. Have you played the Wampler Plexi-Drive Deluxe? If so what were your thoughts and how would you rate it?
I haven’t tried it actually, so I can’t really tell.
hi Bjorn
I’m looking to buy one of the two, which would you say is closer to the original?
Power boost buffalo, or
Overdrive Audio Vick?
The Overdrive is closer to the original. The Buffalo has a smoother and slightly darker tone, making it more versatile and easier on a wider range of amps.
hey Bjorn! Do you think of any situation where the mooer flex boost outperforms the blues mood? I haven’t had the chance to try the flex boost myself and you always complement the blues mood but i often wonder which one could do gilmourish tones the best, either boosting or od’ing. Cheers!
The Flex Boost, a clone of the Xotic AC booster, has a hint of dirt but it’s fairly clean and transparent. The BD2 or Blues Mood has more gain and a hint of mids. Both works nicely for moosting either the amp or other pedals so you could really go either way. The reason I often mention the BD2 or Blues Mood is because it works equally well as a booster and overdrive, whcih I think makes it a more versatile pedal.
Great stuff! I still have and use many of those pedals. I’ve done some time in the Gilmour camp. My question was always how do you get that gigantic, heaving Sorrow tone? I actually used to get the Dogs of War sound with a Cream Tone pedal; which was another very smooth and transparent tube screamer tone.
Hi Bjorn,
Wondering why my comment asking about playing a Colorsound through the 1W input of the Laney Cub amp isn’t being posted? I see other posts being approved, can you please email me and let me know why? Thanks
That comment was responded to April 10 but you posted that in the “Amp” feature…
Hi, Bjorn. Wonder if you’ve tried the new Boss BD-2W, Waza Craft… does it worth the extra money? Regarding to Gilmour tone, I mean…
It sounds pretty good. The custom mode sounds very similar to the Keeley version.
Thanks, Bjorn… I’m considering to have a pedal to emulate Tube Driver as a Gilmour overdrive (Momentary, Delicate, Division Bell, Pulse, On an Island, Gdansk, Rattle albuns/shows) not as a booster for Big Muffs. In this case, according to my options here, the Mooer Blues Mood would be a better shot instead the regular Boss BD-2? I mean, because of the “Keeley” mod on Mooer… Cheers.
Yep.
Laney cub12r head.
Orange 1×12 v30.
Cheers again
Rick.
You could go either way. The Buffalo has a smoother breakup and an overall slightly warmer tone, so that might be your best choice.
Hi Bjorn.
I’m torn between a Buffalo powerboost vs Vick audio over driver,to complement a BD-2w,Rat,Vick audio 73 Rams head,TD-X.
Any thoughts?
Much appreciated as always.
Whats your amp?
Great info! Thanks so much. Ever play through a Pro Analog Power Driver? Wondering how you think it compares to the other Power Booster pedals.
Haven’t tried it…
Hi! I had already posted a few months ago and I still haven’t made my mind (but i am close). Basically I want the comfortably numb lead tone (big surprise there). i have a fender amp and a Strat with a humbucker in the bridge. i want to get a traditional Strat but for the time being this is what i am using. I also have some pedals, some distortions and the like but those are for heavier styles.
The question is regarding the overdrive/booster. As far as i have read in your site, the mooer blues mood seems like my best bet for boosting, but i read a few comments ago that you mentioned that if i use a Rat (Black Secret for example) you could get away with no boost. Is that so or i am getting it wrong?
A few months ago you recomended the Black Secret over the Muff clone for my setup. i was basically down to getting a RAT clone and the blues mood, but since i am on a budget if i can skip getting a pedal it would be nice.
What do you recommend?
The Black Secret Rat clone can easily go without a booster but a dedicated booster or overdrive in addition to that would provide a much more versatile setup.
Hey Bjorn! I recently got my hands on a Xotic SL Drive and was wondering do you know any settings for it for any gilmourish tones? Also how does the tube screamer mini compare to the TS9 and Maxon OD808? Thanks
It can do a Tube Driver pretty well although it has a bit more mids and less low end. I’d start with the level at unity, tone around 10:00 and the gain fairly moderate. Tweak this to match your amp and guitar. I haven’t tried the TS mini.
Love this website and I have contributed financially! Great information contained herein. Thank you, Bjorn for your efforts. I have to choose only 1 overdrive pedal for my board. I only play at home these days and my amp is a Fender ’68 Custom Deluxe Reverb and I use an Eric Johnson Stratocaster.
I’m trying to decide between the Vick Audio ’73 Rams Head, Buffalo Evolution and the Wampler Plexi-Drive. I’m leaning towards the Evolution because of it’s perceived versatility and Gilmour tones. Can you and your audience help me decide?
Thanks!
Hi Patrick, thanks a lot for your kind words and support! Much appreciated. The Evolution is no doubt the most versatile of these. You might find it a tad bright with the Fender amp but with some tweaking on the amp and pedal, it should work nicely. It can cover most of David’s tones, from warm overdrive to distortion and fuzz.
So I’m considering getting a ProCo RAT II. I already have a Bk Butler Tube Driver, Buffalo FX Evolution, Ibanez TS808DX (808 + separate clean boost). Is the RAT going to be redundant? I feel like the Evolution is just a little too pristine?
Also, how would you stack the RAT with a Tube Driver? I’ve seen people suggest sending a mildly overdriven TD *into* the RAT, whereas you’ve suggested mild overdrive from the Evolution into an aggressively set Tube Driver (on your Evolution review).
David place his boosters after the Muff or distortion. This way, the booster act more as an EQ, adding tone and character. You can also try to place it in front of the distortion. This way, you’ll be adding more gain similar to driving the front end of an amp.
The RAT is very similar to the Evolution so you might end up with two, very similar sounding pedals. The Evolution might sound too pristine due to its smooth gain tone and mid range so you might want to consider a Big Muff or even a fuzz, for more harmonics and less compression.
Humbucker guitars: Use a Tube Screamer-like overdrive with its drive set to zero with level and tone as appropriate. Put that in the chain in front of a ProCo Rat with Distortion at 9 o’clock, Filter around 1230 and volume as appropriate. Put the other end of the cable into just about any Marshall/Celestion amp/speaker and you’re sure to find pleasing sounds.
Thanks Bjorn, I got your point, will try this chain for a while, and my goal is to find a best combo for my amp. Thank you ! you are always helpful!
Cheers!
Sorry, I didn’t get you. Do you mean the the pedal chain is too long?
No I was talking about putting a buffer next to the Tube Driver… Wasn’t that your question?
Thanks for your feedback.
And here is my pedal chain: Guitar->Big Muff->Rat2->Tube Driver (OD)->TS9->Tube Driver(booster)->TC Nova Delay->Tuner->Amp.
is this ok for putting TS9 between the TD? I remember you mentioned before that TD hate the pedal with buffer. can you give you advice?
the reason I use this order is to try different combos,like Big Muff+TD(booster),Rat+ts9, rat+TD, TD(OD)+TD(booster), TS9+TD(booster).
Thanks!
You might experience a slight change in the tone but its nuances. I have noticed that some of the high end is rolled off and the pedal sound a bit less expressive.
hi here, Bjorn,
I use rat2+Tube Driver (booster) and rat2+TS9, as 2 combo, both are great sound, and I am trying to use 2 Tube Drivers, one of which loaded Philips 5814/12au7, what do you think?
my guitar: Fender strat (fender neck + Warmoth black alder body, vintage bridge, and Neck:ssl-1,Middle:cs69,bridge: texas, will change it to SSL-5 later)
AMP: laney irt studio + 112 peavey cabinet, loaded sheffield speaker, supposed to be 60w or more.
Thank you!
David
Hi! Sounds like a great setup :)
Hi, Bjorn. I wonder if you tested the Marshall Guv’Nor drive pedal… I never had one… does it sound nearly as the tube driver or there’s nothing on it that sounds like Gilmour at all? They are so cheap in price.. Best regards.
I had one years ago. It does sound similar to the Tube Driver, with that transparent amp-like tone. It’s been a while but I do think that I ditched it because it sounded a bit sterile. You might want to check out the Crayon that’s due from Electro Harmonix or the Boss BD2 (or better, the Mooer Blues Mod) for similar tones.
Hello Bjorn!
I have the unfortunate task of thinning my pedal board. I’ve done alright so far but I am stuck on which overdrive/distortion to keep. I have the TD-X and the Evolution. Unfortunately I can only keep 1. Out of the two, which do you think will get me the most Gilmour tones? I’m also very much into Don Felder’s tone (apparently he used a cranked Fender Tweed Deluxe for Hotel California but now uses an OCD, Boss chorus, and Boss Delay.) Quite similar to David’s setup I guess, just smaller. Anyway, you’ve said that the OCD has a RAT-ish tone, so I’m leaning to the Evo, but then I will lose the slightly boosted Shine On tone from the TD-X. I am so confused!!! Please Bjorn, help end my madness :)
Ha ha, well, since you already got both you should be able to decide which is the most Gilmourish :) I would keep the TDX. It can do clean boost, overdrive and distortion VERY convincingly. The Evo, although very versatile, is a distortion pedal and can’t really do much more.
Hey Bjorn,
I am trying to decide between the Wampler Plexi-Drive and the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret. In your opinion, which do you think is better to land the Gilmour Pulse/Delicate sound and Hendrix low-end sound. Also, I have a Jam Pedals Tube Dreamer, which I love, do you think it’s worth it to even get a “Marshall in a box” type pedal in my case? I play an American Strat through a Fender Blues Deluxe reissue and I also have a Marshall DSL 15W head. Thanks!!
Depends on how Marshally you want it :) I think the PlexiDrive is the closest of all three to the Tube Driver David’s using. I haven’t tested that pedal on your amps but it should work nicely.
Which one is best overdrive (to be used with clean booster, may be Mooer blues mood) : on a low budget, and for bedroom setup, with a solid state amp:
(1) Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini (2) Mooer Hustle Drive (3) EHX Soul food (4) Joyo vintage overdrive
Which one is most versatile and best suited for Gilmours sound?
Hustle :)
Which one is best clean transparent booster (to be used with RAT2 or clone) : on a low budget, and for bedroom setup, with a solid state amp:
(1) stock Bd2 (2) Mini Spark Booster (3) Mooer blues mood (4) Mooer Hustle Drive (5) EHX Soul food (6) Donner Blues Drive
Which one is most versatile and best suited for Gilmours sound?
I would say the Mooer Blues Mood. Its transparent and works better as a booster. Having said that, the Rat and similar clones doesn’t really need a booster so you might want to consider getting it for Tube Driver-ish overdrive.
Hi Bjorn how are you doing? I have few questions, i will post them in different threads so it becomes easier for you to reply.
Which one is best distortion: on a low budget, and for bedroom setup, with a solid state amp:
(1) Stock Proco RAT2 (without LM308 IC), (2) TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion, (3) MOOER Black Secret
Which one is most versatile and best suited for Gilmours sound?
Mooer Black Secret :)
Hello Bjorn!
I love your work and your site, but i feel difficult to find some info about compressors.
I have 2 compressors but that wasn’t the best deal, the boss cs3 and mxr dynacomp.
It would be great if you have some time to create it like you did with the others kinds of pedals!
Between the moer yellom comp, the xotic sp comp and keeley c4 comp/ 4 knob comp, witch of those do you think its the best for replacing my 2 olders comp?
I would like to have something that doesn’t color the signal much!
I play a strat with ssl5 and 69’s pups thro a Hiwatt T20 and my chain is:
Guitar – mxr buffer, polytune, mxr comp, ehx small stone, Vick’s 73 ram’s, Vick’s Overdriver, Mooer Blues mood, Mooer King Ensemble, Mooer Eleclady, TC Nova Delay, Boss RT 20, – Amp.
Nice review about Bananaboost!
Cheers ,
Joao Bicudo
Hi Joao! I’m working on a compressor guide so hang in there. You could go for any of the ones you list but if you really want something transparent you should check out the Iron Fist from YellowSquash. Check out my review here.
Hello Bjorn!
Thanks for your reply and advice!
So I’ve made some research about the Mooer Yellow Comp, the Xotic SP Comp and their “based on” features. The Mooer is a clone of Diamond Comp a optical comp, and the Xotic is based on the Ross Comp, like the Dinacomp.
Like you said before I could go either way, but since I already have the Dinacomp (Stock) probably the best choise will be the mooer, also in terms of budget. I use compressor with clean sound and distortion. Having the gilmourish tone in mind can you advise wish should I get? Where I live the mooer is 3 times cheaper than the Xotic.
BTW do you know if the Iron Fist from YellowSquash have a European dealler?
Cheers
Joao Bicudo
If you already have the Dyna, then the Mooer seems to be a good choice. I’d send YellowSquash an e-mail and ask. They’re very helpful :)
Hey Bjorn long time no see right? Hope all has been well for you. I have a question do you think the Wampler Euphoria can be used in conjunction with either an EP booster or an OCD or tube screamer like OD to get his more contemporary tones such as G2 at Gdnask and his current tour tones, thanks.
I don’t think I’d use any of those to boost the Euphoria. Perhaps I misunderstood your question but the Euphoria is based on the Dumble amps and it has a lot of mid range, and plenty of gain so it’s really similar to the OCD, although a bit cleaner.
There is a toggle that allows you to select between three different types of gains. In the smooth selection it is a dumble tone, in the crunch setting it sounds like a Marshall in a box. I was more of asking what i should boost that type of gain stage with.
Both modes are fairly mids oriented so a booster that’s as clean as possible or else your tone will sound too dark and choked.
Has anyone tried the Skreddy Hybrid Fuzz driver? Thoughts?
I’m a huge fan of it. Hated it the first time I played it, but didn’t have time to really set it up with my rig. I have the lunar module and was a strong advocate to the screwdriver. The setup on these pedals makes them some of the most versatile around. My favorite solo of all time is David’s gdansk fat ol’ sun solo, and the hybrid fuzz driver is the closest I’ve gotten to that glorious tele -> compressor -> G2 sound.
Any chance you still remember your HFD settings for the G-2?
(I love the Fat Old Sun solo too, and I’m trying to dial in the hybrid fuzz driver.)
hey Bjorn
thanks for this article and for all your help
I have a question with the wampler plexi drive (which I got after so many good opinions here)
I like to set my pedals at unity level, so I can use a volume booster for my solos, and then nevermind whatever pedal I was using (soft or strong overdrive, or the muff) I got a nice level of volume.
the problem is than my wampler got unity volume level very off, like 9:00 oclock… if I use the gain at maximum (because it is supposed to be my strong overdrive), and then it sounds very soft …. i just thought it was the pedal, I mean not capable to get a good gain…. but then I realised that if I put the volume at 12:00 or more, not respecting the unity volume level, with the same gain than before it can produce a lot of more gain… sounding better… more gdanzk
how do you deal with this? should I just dont use to unity level anymore? should I add another pedal? Should I use unity level of volume and just get use to got few gain?
thanks a lot
The PlexiDrive is a rather soft pedal. It’s based on those early Marhsall JTM amps, which had lots of headroom, smooth breakup and a nice mid range. Setting the pedal to unity gain, will produce a moderate overdrive. Increasing the volume, will drive the front end of your amp, which, when paired with an overdrive pedal, will produce more gain.
Whether or not you should use unity level depends on what tones you want. The beauty of overdrive and distortion is that you can combine them and set the controls for multiple tones, which, given that you have a tube amp, will interact with the amp. If you want more gain but want to keep a low volume, then you might want to look into a pedal with more gain, like the Buffalo FX TDX.
Hi Bjorn,
What is your best recommendation for a single pedal in an MXR-ish sized unit that can faithfully cover all or most of David’s clean to low gain tones?
Thank you,
Tony
Depends entirely on what amp and guitar you have. Let me know and I’ll try to help :)
I use anything from Blues Jr.’s to Bassman/JTM45 type amps, always set as cleanish as possible to take pedals well. Thanks again.
I think the Fulltone OCD is as versatile as you can get. It cover most of David’s tones, from overdrive to distortion and fuzz and it works nicely on any amp. You might also want to look into the Wampler PlexiDrive.
For me a boosted front end (ie clean boosted) vintage amp gets me in the ball park. Love the Rat for home use but live I stick to my Flynn booster (Rory Galagher Hawk) with my 18 watter.
Hi Bjorn,
Thank’s for your reply.
Cheers
João bicudo
Hello Bjorn,
I have a Vick’s 73 rams head and the Overdriver.
Excellent pedals by the way, can you share your settings for the Overdriver boosting the muff or overdriven the muff like in Sorrow song? Thanks.
I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Best regards,
Joao Bicudo
Hi, the settings depends on your amp and its settings, your pickups and what Big Muff settings you’re using. The Overdriver responds to how the amp especially is set up so my settings might not apply to you at all. Anyway, the ’73 has a quite a lot of gain, so I would roll down its gain to around 12:00 and set the Overdriver fairly clean, starting with the volume at unity and the gain at clean or edge of breakup. Start with the bass and treble at 12:00 and tweak them for the desired EQ tone.
Hi Bjorn.
Thanks so much much for putting together this fantastic and inspiring site.
I am getting back in to trying to nail that Gilmour sound and your help would be greatly appreciated
I have a Les Paul studio and a Tele-Partscaster (with push pull) a blues deluxe and little 5w valve amp.
I got a Nano Big Muff pi a while ago and have really struggled to get a nice sound from it.
I do have the TC Flashback which is great.
So, with a couple of hundred pounds to spend I don’t quite know where to put it.
I mostly play with band in a studio which tends to have either Marshalls or Hot Rods to play though.
So my feeling is i need something versatile.
Having read through your site I was gonna get a BD2 and Vick Audio rams head but then I saw their other pedals like the Tree of life and the Overrider and even the V2.
Sorry for such a long post.
Thanks very much
Hi Jake. Versatile is the way to go, I think, based on the setup you’ve listed. The Tree of Life is an excellent overdrive, which can nail David’s Tube Driver tones and it has enough headroom to double as a booster. It’s got a nice mids boost as well, which will go nicely with your amps. I think the V2 would be the best way to go distortionwise. It will nail the Big Muff tones but be versatile enough for a wide range of tones.
Hi Bjorn. Thanks very much for your reply and advice. Have a great Christmas.
Hi bjorn, I was wondering if an Electro Harmonix Soul Food would suffice for a coloursound power boost style overdrive? I have a Vox ac10c1 amp and I’m using the soul food as a boost for a Vick Audio 73 ram’s head. It sounds decent but I’m just wondering if a Power boost style pedal would make a huge difference?
Thanks for your time.
They’re two very different sounding pedals. The Soul Food has a lot of mid range, while the Powerbooster has hardly any. EHX are releasing the Crayon, which seems to be a Tube Driver/Powerbooster-ish kind of thing. You might also want to check out the TC Spark Booster… or simply a Powerbooster clone.
Hey Björn, speaking of EHX – they’ve got a new overdrive/boost pedal, the crayon, that sounds sort of gilmourish to me – maybe a bedroom alternative to the colorsound? I’d love to hear your opinion (or even better read your review sometime) on it. Cheers, Michael
I’ll try to do a review of it. Sounds more like a Tube Driver clone from what I’ve heard so far.
Hi Bjorn! I’ve seen on Instagram that you have been using a lot the Top Tone Shine Boost. Where do you place it? Before overdrive/distortion or after for boosting the mids? I have used it as first pedal, with the “Shine” switch on, giving me really great bright clean tones, but I was considering placing it after my RAT.. how would you do it? My chain signal is Shine Boost –> Marshall Bluesbreaker MKI –> RAT. By the way, I’m considering replacing the RAT for a Top Tone DG-2, since I really dig the RAT tones. Other possibility could be Shine Boost –> RAT or DG-2 –> Bluesbreaker MKI, since the BB is a very transparent low gain overdrive. How would you do it? Greetings from Brazil!
Hi! I basically use the TopTone for either boosting the Muff (placed after the Muff) or, to drive the front end of my overdrives and distortion for a bit more gain. That slight mids boost, and the considerable volume boost, goes very well with my sounds. The TopTone DG2 is an excellent Muff/Rat distortion. I have never tried it with a Marshall but I would imagine that they would sound great together.
Hi, Bjorn. I’m considering to have an overdrive pedal for Gilmour tones. What would you recommend between these two: DOD 250 or Top Tone Light Drive? I’m not interested in boosting Big Muffs pedals, only the drive itself… Cheers.
Between the two, I’d go for the Light Drive. It’s sort of a clone of the Cornish SS2, which David has been using for some years. Nice mids boost and lots of sustain.
Hi Bjorn! I was wondering on your The Blue jamming video what settings did you have on your Blues Driver? Thank You!
Oh… I don’t remember. I would imagine that the volume was set to slightly above unity, tone 9:00, gain 1:00.
Hi Bjorn!
I bought EHX Soul Food pedal recently. And I can’t produce any good sound from it. It really sounds very dull compared to Wampler PlexiDrive. But maybe I use it wrong. Can you advice some settings and place in the chain for this pedal? I tried to place PlexiDrive before Soul Food, as a clean and bass booster. It helps, but not much.
Thanks!
What sort of amp do you have?
I have Hiwatt CP-103, it doesn’t have middle control. It sounds nice on bedroom volume, it has a lot of headroom, very dynamic amp. To be honest I’m starting to understand this pedal. I feel that it has great sound. It’s nicely overdriven on low frequencies and it’s very articulate and dynamic. But It still sounds dull and flat compared to PD. I cant explane that.
Hello Bjorn! What would you prefer for bedroom setup with Laney 12R? Boss BD-2 (Keeley) + ProCo Limited Edition ’85 Whiteface RAT (Alchemy Audio) or Boss BD-2 (Keeley) + BYOC Ram’s Head Large Beaver? I would be very grateful for a quick reply. Tomorrow I’m going to buy someone.
Depends on what tones you want. The BD2 is great bit between the rat and the muff… The rat is no doubt the most versatile. It can nail fuzz, muff and classic distortion. The muff is great for a lot of David’s lead tones but you’re pretty much limited to that.
Hi Bjorn
Still needing advice and still learning great fun. I now have a quality EQ (Empress Para eq) that doesn’t suck tone like the Boss G7 did. What I would like to know is what is best. Should i put the EQ before or after the overdrives (BD2 & Power Boost) if I wish to increase the mid range in the tones from the overdrive Do you know what differences the placement makes. My set up is Bedroom only at present Thanks once again for your knowledge and assistance.
Bernie
Hi Bernie! You should ALWAYS place the EQ after the source you want to adjust. If you want to adjust your gain pedals, then place the EQ after all the gain pedals or just the one, if that’s the case, you want to pair it with. If you place it in front, then you will be EQing the signal coming into the pedal and not the actual sound or tone being produced by the pedal.
Hi Bjorn,
Great information, really valuable to someone who is just venturing out in the world of pedals.
I have a question regarding the topic in the article that I am not too clear about: Do you need all three? Boost+Overdrive+Distortion AND Big Muff? or is it pick and choose?
I’m not sure where you get your equipment, but out here in Czechia, it’s a little difficult to find these lesser known brands outside of TC Electronic, Boss, etc – so your “picks” for Distortion+Overdrive+Boost are a little expensive to import and impossible to find locally. For example, the Buffalo FX and Plexidrive, are out of reach both financially and availability-wise. Will the TC Electronic Spark and/or Boss BD-2 suffice? do you recommend one over the other for a bedroom setup?
The same applies to Overdrive: Ibanez TS9 OR Maxon (are they the same)? OR Fulltone OCD (speaking of which, they do advertise the Mooer Hustle Drive as a clone of the Fulltone OCD, have you tried it?)? OR EHX Soul Food? The Xotic SL Drive is available here but, again, a bit expensive though I CAN get it.
Last but certainly not least: I did find a Turbo RAT locally (a tad up there, same price as the Xotic) but also the RAT 2 Classic is relatively easy to get from UK retailers. Any other alternatives?
Finally, again I ask, are all three necessary or do you prefer to only combine two of them? like a Turbo RAT + TS9+Spark? or just RAT+TS9?
I’m on the same boat regarding Chorus, but I hear good things about the Mooer Ensemble King as a CE-2 clone, and surprisingly readily available here and fairly cheap.
Any rec’s for reverb? and no section about the MXR Dynacomp / BOSS CS-2?
Thank you!
Lots of questions here but I’ll try…
Whether or not you need all three or 20 pedals on the board, for that matter, depends entirely on what tones you want. To replicate David’s tones, I would say that you need at least one overdrive and distortion. A versatile distortion like the RAT, or similar, will allow you to cover both the early fuzz tones and the Big Muff tones. I have reviewed a lot of different pedals here but the more familiar brands, like Boss, TC etc are definitely worth checking out. TCs spark booster is a great sounding clean booster, while the Boss BD2 is capable of producing similar tones to David’s Tube Drivers. It’s also well worth checking out the Mooer pedals. Most of them sound REALLY good and the price should fit any budget. Check out the Green Mile (TS9), Blues Mood (BD2), Hustle Drive (OCD), Black Secret (RAT), TriBuff (Big Muff) and the Reeco delay (Boss DD2).
How do you like banana boost from electronic Orange?
Great sounding Powerbooster clone. Slightly darker than most clones out there, which takes away some of the harshness. They just released a 18V model.
Thanks man..hey do you mean the TC delays? I havent caught up with any of the new gear out..
Hi Bjorn..i just got my arc effects big green..would this be the right set-up, Fuzz, black secret, plexi drive, @ then maybe my T-U 2..i know its not alot. ,but i think it will be short an sweet as they say..I’m wondering if i should flip-flop the plexi an rat..should i ditch the tuner or leave it at the end as a buffer..As always thank ypu for your time, this is a invaluable resource, and you’ve helped me so much ty….Chris
Hi Chris! A tuner is the most important pedal in your arsenal, so never ditch that :) Alternatively, get the new clip on from TC. It’s awesome. Do you use the rat and plexi together? If so, then your order is the recommended one. If not, then it doesn’t matter.
Well im still a rookie when it comes to pedals..i guess i will use both if i can…TC electronics is that the delay unit your talking about..or the phaser..or something else?
The new clip on tuner from TC :)
Bjorn,
Will this work in a band setting, on the fly, with other instruments playing? Can it replace the tuner on my pedalboard? I always like getting anything I don’t need out of the chain.
yes it does :)
Hi Bjorn, I was wondering if a Proco Rat 2 would do a good job at covering Gilmour’s “Animals” and “Wall” guitar sounds. I have a Vick Audio 73 Rams Head and a boost pedal and they sound great but I kind of want one pedal so I don’t have to use a boost and a fuzz. Thanks!
That or a Buffalo Evolution, Arc Effects Soothsayer or similar clones.
Hej Bjørn,
First of all, thank you for your music and for your excellent work with the site!
I am looking for a booster/overdrive to get into my pedalboard. I’d like to have a versatile pedal, clean and transparent, but also get quite overdriven sound. My guitar is a Fender American Strat with DiMarzio pickups (the bridge is a hot output one), the amp is a Laney Cub 12R. What about the Electronic Orange Bananaboost? Will this pedal match my little amp, like your 10/10 for bedroom setups?
Tusen takk
Thanks for your kind words! The Banana is, as you probably know, based on the Colorsound Powerbooster. Very transparent, lots of headroom and a nice crispy overdrive tone. Goes nicely with the Laney.
Thank you! I will get this pedal for sure! But they are sending the pedals on february 2016. I wrote them also, nice guys!
Rock on!!
Hi Bjorn,
Have you heard of Fuzz Dog Vintage POW Colorsound OD / Boost)?
http://shop.pedalparts.co.uk/Vintage_Pow_-_Colorsound_Overdriver__Power_Boost/p847124_7448353.aspx
It looks like there are some good reviews but would be nice to see if any of the Gilmourish fans tried one to see if it is promising.
I have ordered the kit. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Haven’t tried it.
This is the sound sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W87SDbsc4pY
hey, Bjorn…. I would like to get at that saturation heard in echoes-pompeii(solo). I Have an Fender AM special with texas special, amp vox vt40, big muff ram’s head handmade,Dunlop Fuzzface bc108 and flashback delay,,,but I miss a boost to get that saturation…..so,which boost you recommend me??
Hmmm… How’s the tone you get now? Actually, with those amps I recommend looking into other types of fuzz or distortion pedals, like the Rat or similar clones. That will give you saturated middy gain and lots of sustain. Fuzz and Muffs are great but they often sound flat and fizzy on amps with scooped mid range, like yours. Just a tip :)
Hi Bjorn, im interested in the big green fuzz by Arc Effects..have you tried it? If so will it go well with a H&K tm-18..i have a fender strat ssl-5..gibson lespaul with classic-57 & probuckers..thank you
I haven’t tried it but it’s a clone of the early green Sovtek Muff, which goes nicely with the TM18 :)
Hi Bjorn! I have a Pevaey Classic 30, so quite a bright amp with quite a lot of mid range!
In your opinion which overdrive/boost could work better with it (and in general with brighter amps, like the Vox AC30 I’ll probably buy and the Fender Bassman 59 LTD), between the Buffalo Powerbooster and teh Throbak Overdriveboost?
I’d like to use the booster after all my gain pedals (especially after the Electronic Orange Pig Hoof MKII I’ll probably buy) in order to “equalize” them (as Gilmour used to do during the 70s on albums like Animals and Wish You Were Here) and give theme a bit of presence to make them really shine (especially the Pig Hoof MKII which has a little mid range), and so to hear them more easily!
The Classic 30 has lots of mids, which is what you want for Big Muffs. An AC30 is a bright amp too, but it has a much more scooped tone… unless you drive the shit out of it and get your mid range from the cranked tunes and hot driven speakers. Anyway, you could go either way with the boosters. Both works nicely with the Peavey. The Buffalo has a wider sweep, from clean to creamy overdriven, so in that sense, it’s the most versatile.
Thanks a lot! I’ll keep the Peavey for a lot of time, as it is very good and also vintage sounding!
However, I also like (a lot) the Fender Bassman 59 LTD (David still uses it in studio, by the way)! In your opinion how is its tone? To me it is quite bright (but not like other Fender amps like the Twin Reverb), with a good amount of low end and with a decent quantity of mid frequencies! In your opinion which overdrive/boost between the Buffalo and the Throbak could work better with an amp like the Bassman?
Buffalo I guess, since it’s a tad darker.
Thanks for the tip! :)
Hi Bjorn,
I was wondering if you could comment on usage of bias knob on the newer BK Butler Tube Drivers. The older 4 knob BK Butler used ones are sold 150 dollars cheaper than new ones with Bias which is a lot of money in Canadian dollars but if it is useful to nail down the taste and sweet spot, not spending it may leave room for future regret. Do you know if DG uses one with bias control these days?
Thanks a lot.
I think David’s got both but recent pictures show that they’ve removed the bias control in the back, i.e. they’ve modified the pedal. A bias control is used to fine tune the transistors. Germanium fuzz pedals often have one because germanium transistors are very sensitive to temperature changes. The bias model is not a must for covering David’s tones and In my option, it’s much more effective to replace the stock 12AX7 tube with a 12AU7 if you want less gain. The bias control allow some tuning but the pedal sound better with the control set neutral.
Hey Bjorn!
I don’t know if you have checked out any of the Amptweaker stuff. I recently got the TightDrive Pro, and holy mother of god!! This thing is amazing. I can easily get David’s tones from the 80’s and on.
I’m getting the TightFuzz next. Looks to be another homerun if the demos are any indication.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll check it out :)
oh dear. with a Vick Overdriver, TDx and 73 rams head, and a pighoof on order, and only a stomp under foot violet menace on the wish list, I was getting some relief from GAS. :(
That’s never going to happen. Accept your condition… :)
HA HA HA HA
Bjorn, do you think a Keeley modded blues driver is an improvement over a Throbak booster in terms of getting that Colorsound clean boost? On Laney 5W Lionheart but not necessarily low volumes. I have the Throbak but have a chance to pick up a BD cheapish. I know The Buffalo would be better choice but funds are low as saving to fly, with my son, from Australia to LA to catch the 25th March Gilmour show!!! Can’t wait for that one. That was thanks to your review. I, for some reason or other, never caught Floyd/Gilmour live so knowing it could be the last chance I have to take the plunge!
Hi Paul! The BD2 has a tad more mids, a hint of compression and more of a an amp-like character. The Powerbooster, and the many clones, are more transparent and not as smooth as the BD2. They’re somewhat similar but you can’t compare them 100%. The BD2 is perhaps a more versatile pedal and easier to make work on different amps.
Thanks again Bjorn, may as well pick this on dup then and have a play around. ;-)
Hi Bjorn, on this overview article you say that the Throbak power booster is in your opinion the best color sound clone on the market. Yet on the article for the buffalo booster, you say that that one blew you away and replaced the Throbak on your board. I would like to know which is the final opinion you have on these as I am interested in getting one to replace my colorsound over driver (well not entirely replace, but to have a smaller footprint on my board).
Thanks,
Bryce
Hi Bryce. I haven’t come around to update the buyer’s guides yet (I’m working on it) but since I wrote that, I have tested many more Powerbooster clones. All of the clones I’ve tried are very good. The Vick Audio Overdriver is probably the most authentic sounding. The Buffalo is slightly darker and it’s got, in my ears, the smoothest break up. The Bananaboost is also on the darker side, with more responsive treble and bass controls than the rest. The ThroBak is probably the most versatile, with all the controls and it also got the cleanest headroom. It all depends on the voice of your amp and what kind of tones you want. I’d get the Vick and Buffalo for overdrive and the ThroBak and Banana for boost.
Thanks for your input. I suppose I am going more for a clean boost. I am just using it for bedroom jamming for right now on a Mesa Boogie Express 5:25 Plus (I guess I can save the color sound for the big amps), so in your opinion do you think the Throbak or the Banana boost would work better for my setup?
Could go for either I guess. The Banana is a tad darker and might work better with your amp.
Hey Bjorn! Amazing website you have here. Can you recommend me settings for my Stock Boss BD-2 and Mooer Black Secret? My favorite tones are Dark Side Of The Moon and PULSE and for my guitar and amp I’m using a stock MIM Stratocaster and a Roland Cube 30. Thank You!
Thanks for your kind words! Always hard to suggest settings because it depends on how you’ve set the amp and how everything sounds in your room. Check out this feature for some amp set up tips. For rhythms I’d set the BD2 up for a mild crunch, with a slight volume boost to get a smoother tone. Set the tone high for a bit of crispiness but avoid the harshness. The RAT usually sounds good with all the controls at around 60-70%. Set the volume to about unity, the gain where you want it and the tone medium, for warmth.
Does the Blues Driver require a high volume to work?
Depends on what you mean by “work”. The BD-2 is designed to capture that classic tube amp tone, allowing you to achieve that on smaller amps. That being said, most gain pedals do sound smoother and slightly more compressed on higher volume.
Anyone know which BOOST pedal that can boost my Big Muff (With the mid range and all), provide a convincing tone for ALL Gilmour eras and also be used as a make-shift overdrive when needed?
I forgot to mention – I don’t fancy busting the bank on said boost pedal
Depends on what amp you got but I recommend a transparent booster or one with a low mid range. That way you can add a bit of gain and volume, without altering the tone of the Muff. For budget models, check out the TC Spark Booster or Boss BD2. For something slightly more pricy, check out the TopTone Shine Boost, Buffalo FX Powerbooster or the Buffalo FX TDX. Again, it depends on your amp and the Muff model you’re using. I don’t think there’s one pedal that can do it all.
bjorn hello , I have a question about the buffalo Evolution , how you place in the chain , I don not reach the same tone as you, you put a booster ?
Thank you
I have it after the compressor and before modulations and delays. I’m not using a booster as it has lots of gain on its own. Keep in mind that tone isn’t just about pedal settings and combinations. What amp, guitar, pickups and other pedals do you use?
Hi Bjorn! I suggest you to try the Costalab Moon Drive! It is based on the Cornish G2, and in fact it has a very warm and quite huge sound; moreover, it’one of the most dynamic sound I’ve ever tried!
I will :)
Hey Bjorn, how r u doing?
I don’t wanna exactly get the David Gilmour tone this time, but i think you can help me. I’m searching for a versatile distortion pedal who reacts with volume knob, volume pedal, the hand touch, etc. A distortion to go to overdrive or maybe even a clean sound, only touching the guitar volume knob. I wish this distortion had some british tone, remembering a vox or marshall amp (i love how steve howe with fuzzes and fenders, blackmore with a vox ac30and jimmy page with fuzzes and marshalls and can change the tone only with guitar volume knob), and i think in some pedal adding a good sustain to my guitar and be able to play several strings at same time.
I think about the TopTone Dg2. I loved the tone and the articulation, and since i’m brazilian, it would be easy to buy one, but i don’t know if it cleans up well. What pedals could you sugest to me?
Thanks
Sorry for my late reply, Franklin. Depends on how dirty you want it. The DG2 has a lot of gain and although it responds well to your picking and guitar volume control, how much it does that depends on how hot pickups you have. I’d rather look into an overdrive, like the Buffalo FX TDX or the excellent Vick Audio Tree of Life. Check out my reviews linked to here.
Hi Bjorn
Do you have any experience with the FET Dream and would you recommend it for bedroom set ups through a Laney cub 12r,and a strat?
Much appreciated
Rick.
I haven’t tried that particular pedal but FET based overdrives in general are very versatile and goes well with almost any amp and guitar. Well worth checking out, I would imagine.
Bjorn,
I’ve been craving something with some higher gain options and have been considering the Arc Effects Soothsayer. Since I’m in bedroom setting/volume levels, how would the Soothsayer sound boosting a Muff on low gain levels i.e. instead of a typical booster/overdrive?
Sorry for my late reply, Jason. The Soothsayer is based on the classic RAT pedal and it has A LOT of gain. Probably not what you’re looking for. At least not as a booster or overdrive unit. Check out my review of the Vick Audio Tree of Life and the Buffalo FX TDX. They should be closer to what you’re seeking.
I definitely want it for the RAT and high gain sounds, but I was just curious if it would work ok as an overdrive or booster as a bonus. I don’t have anything higher gain and I REALLY want a Soothsayer. I may look into a booster separately though… Thanks Bjorn!
Bjorn, I currently have a Throbak Booster as well as the OCD and RAT for boost or OD.
Do you think the Efectrode Tube Driver would be a useful additon? Can it function as a Tube Driver or is it more an OD? Playing a Strat with SSL-5 through a Laney.
I would like to achieve the tone in The Blue (live or studio). The Throbak doesn’t quite achieve it even maxed out it’s a bit thin sounding (in comparison to Gilmour’s tone). Would a TD-X be better suited?
Slightly off-topic, Ive a 1983 Telecaster Standard that I would like to make sound like the Filterton Duo Jet from The Blue. I woudl rather not reroute or cut etc, do you know of any Telecaster pickups that would give me the same tone (Bridge and Neck)?
Thanks mate, keep it up. Your playing prowess is something I would love to achieve! ;-)
Hi Paul, sorry for my late reply. First off, on The Blue, David’s using the Gretsch for rhythms. The lead is the Black Strat. I haven’t done any research on Tele pickups besides the different vintage single coil models, so I’m not sure what to suggest. Check out Seymour Duncan’s tone chart and see if they got something.
The Effectrode Tube Driver is very similar to the BK Butler model. At lower amp volume, they can sound a bit thin and fizzy. Still, it’s a great sounding pedal. The Buffalo TD-X nails those Tube Driver sounds perfectly and it’s also an easier pedal to set up on different amps and volume levels.
Hey Bjorn, it’s all good mate I know you are a busy man! I ended up grabbing a 2nd hand Effectrode Tube Drive and pushing the volume a bit more it does indeed sound awesome. Don’t know why, I just read it as being the Gretsch for the solos (mixed it up for sure). I appreciate all the time you spend for us Gilmour geeks.
Cheers.
Hello Bjorn!
Between the Tc Electronic Spark Booster and the Mooer Flex Boost wish do you think it works best for boosting a bass big muff or a mooer triangle buff?
I have a Mooer blues Mood for boosting but I dont think its transparent!
I play a strat with ssl5 bridge and cs69 middle and neck thru a hiwatt t20.
Cheers,
Joao bicudo
They’re very similar so you could go either way.
Hi Bjorn, in your opinion, what is the best current alternative to the Tube Driver in a smaller footprint? Thanks, Tony
Butler TD-X. No doubt. Check out my review here.
Thank you. What would be the next best alternative in an MXR sized enclosure?
Wampler PlexiDrive.
Hello Bjorn! I hope all is well.
I feel my pedal board may be clogged with gain pedals. I currently have a Buffalo Patriot, Evolution, TD-X, TC Spark Booster, and a Vick Tree of Life. They all are different in their own way but there is also some overlap. If you had to choose the least useful of the five, which would it be? I play through a Fender HRD with a Strat.
Thank you Bjorn,
Ben Ferwerda
Obviously, you need to decide which you need and which you can ditch, based on your guitar and amp and what tones you need, but generally speaking I’d consider at least removing either the Evo, TDX and ToL. They’re all somewhat overlapping. Personally I’m not a huge fan of the Spark Booster, but given that it’s the only clean booster you have you might want to save that one.
I agree that the spark booster is kind of sterile. I’ve been using it similar to the way you use the shine boost so for that its alright. I get what you mean about the overlapping. The ToL is great and a bargain. It doesn’t have as much gain as the TD-X but with the SB in front it can get close. The TD-X and Evo are very similar but the Evo has more saturation to my ears and the contour knob helps with the HRD mids scooped sound. Guess I just need a bigger board : )
Thanks Bjorn!
Cheers!
One of the best boosters I’ve found for a Ram’s Head style Muff is the Xotic AC Booster. Lets you recover some of the bass you lose when you dial in screaming highs on the Muff.
Yep, great match.
Greetings Bjorn, I am burned out trying to find a cream colored Dover Drive, sold out, can’t find a used one for decent price etc. Can you recommend a close substitute for home use only between something like the Wampler Plexi Drive or the Golden Cello? Actually looking more for Eric Johnson tones than Gilmour’s. Using a Fender DRRI amp these days.
Cheers.
The Black Dover is the same pedal as the cream coloured one. You might also want to check out the TD-X from Buffalo FX :)
Very true George :)
I have just aquired a Fender Bassman 59 reissue. I absolutely love the tone this amp brings. I have a few questions though. I am looking for an overdrive pedal that complements the natural warm, woody sound the amp produces. That lead me to wondering if what I wanted was a clean boost. Would a clean boost let me drive the amp at lower volumes? Or should I get a low gain overdrive pedal? Would the soul food be a good choice since it is a transparent overdrive pedal? I am not looking exclusivly to play at lower volumes but I am looking for a pedal that works well for both lower volumes and with Bassman cranked. Im not looking for heavy distortion, just a sllightly dirty clean blues tone to classic rock rhythm tones. Thanks!
The Soul Food is transparent when you set it clean but there’s a considerable mids boost when you crank it. It works nicely on the Bassman but if you want something a bit more overdrive-ish I’d look into the Fulltone OCD or the excellent Vick Audio Tree of Life.
Hi Bjorn
Thanks for the wealth of information on your site it truly is astonishing.Can I trouble you with a question please.
I am looking to create a pedalboard with Gilmourish tone in mind(I have been using multi effects pedals for years(Boss GT8 etc) and am now wanting to create an individual pedalboard.
After watching ALL your reviews a zillion times I am drawn to the Buffalo fx range and they seem to nail the tone for my ears but I’m really not sure which one to get.
I play a Fender strat with cs tex specials neck+mid and a ssl5 in the bridge,not a great amp(Fender Mustang v2) will soon change to a Laney cub 12.
Could I ask you for a recommendation as to which Buffalo pedal to go with and any other pedals that will get me somewhere near to the Masters tone.
Any advice would be truly appreciated.
Huge thanks
Rick.
Hi Rick! Since you’re somewhat new to pedals and are perhaps looking to cover some ground, I’d go for something versatile. The new TD-X is a versatile overdrive based on David Gilmour’s Tube Driver, that he’s used on pretty much everything since Division Bell. It goes well with your guitar and amp (and the Cub). I’d also look into the Evolution, which is a versatile distortion, capable of covering most of David’s lead tones.
Hi Bjorn
Thanks a million for replying :)
Can I ask,where you recommending both the Evolution + TD X together or did you mean either of the two?
Thanks again
Rick.
I’d get both. The Evo pretty much takes over where the TD-X stops :) Having these two on your board will provide a versatile setup that should be capable of covering most of David’s tones… as well as a whole lot more.
Cheers Bjorn
Much appreciated :)
Cheers!
Hi Bjorn
Thanks again for all the work you do :)
After deciding on the Evolution & TD-X, purchasing them is proving nigh on impossible.I have sent 3 emails over a 2 week period to Buffalo and left a comment on the forum at Buffalo FX and not yet received a single reply.Really disappointed with the poor customer services.Is anything happening their end that you’re aware of?
Kind regards
Rick.
Sorry to hear, Rick. Steve usually responds right away. Try their Facebook page.
Hi Bjorn
Just to let you know Steve did get in touch saying that he hadn’t received the previous mails.All is now good and the pedals will be with me in 6 weeks or so :(
Glad to hear :)
This website can make boutique builders with obscure products insanely popular. Im on a six week waiting list for my TD-X, and thats before waiting for it to be shipped from europe. That was weeks ago. I suspect the wait time now is now so long he is building pedals and gave up on the email. Wait until the next popular overdrive pedal sucks in all the demand and then you might have a chance :)
I’ve been using a DOD (Digitech) 250 as a boost for after my Triangle Big Muff. It works very well for that purpose.
Hi Bjørn,
Thanks for site…great resource.
I’m interested in obtaining a single pedal to create those sweet, singing lead tones like CN but which can also get similar great lead tones like on Jeff Beck’s Big Block (Guitar Shop record).
I use a tele with vintage single coils into a 15W Deluxe Reverb type amp which is clean mostly, and usually bedroom volumes. What one pedal would you suggest irrespective of price (and a budget version option), or if not with one, what combo (prefer as simple as possible)?
Thanks
James
Hi James! I’d go for something versatile. Muffs go well with Fender amps but it’s not the ideal combo for Gilmour’s tones. You’d need more mid range, which the Fender amp don’t have. You could go for something like the Buffalo Patriot, which has plenty of mids, but I think pedals like the Buffalo Evolution, Arc Effects Soothsayer or even the new TD-X from Buffalo would all be better choices. You’ll find reviews of all three here on the site.
Hi Bjorn
Your site is almost my only source for my new pedals!
A question: how would You compare the Buffalo TDX to the DOVER DRIVE? Are they similar in a way?
All the best Massimo
Hi Massimo! Thanks for your kind words! The Dover is aimed at Eric Johnson’s tones. He’s using the Tube Driver with the bass and treble all the way down, which produce a tone similar to the Tube Screamer or OCD. It’s OK for David’s tones but not ideal, in my opinion. The TD-X is a straight clone of the Tube Driver, with a few modifications, which I think makes it a more versatile and bedroom friendly pedal than the original.
hi bjorn, any thought about the Paul Cochrane TIM/TIMMY? are they similar to Buffalo PowerBooster or the new Buffalo TD-X in terms of boosting or light drive?
Best regards Massimo
Somewhere in between I guess but perhaps closer to the TD/TD-X.
/Hey Bjorn How are you? How have you been? I have a question about a the wampler Plexi Drive. Does it have enough gain on tap for the solo tones that Gilmour got on Gdnask?
Hi Clark! Sorry for my late reply. It has a nice amount of gain but depending on your amp you might miss that little extra bite David gets from his Tube Driver. Check out my review of the new TD-X from Buffalo FX :)
Hi again Bjørn.
Thanks for sharing all your endless rivers of knowledge in all aspects of David Gilmour tones and Pink Floyd-encyclopedia. Latest I have been reading about Effectrode Blackbird. – It sound very cool. But what is a Pre-amp like Blackbird exactly? Could I used it instead of an Overdrive, and how does it work together whit other pedals?
(Small bedroom set-up). It seems like David Gilmour uses a lot of effectrode pedals so why isn’t fx. the Tube Driver not on your “list” (Buyers guide)?
Thanks in forehand – Best regards Mathias
Hi Mathias! I only include pedals in the buyer’s guide that I have played myself. That way I can give an honest opinion of each of them :) Overdrive pedals are basically small preamps. The Blackbird is designed around the same preamp you have in most tube amps but it acts and sounds much like any other overdrive. You can either use it as a pickup enhancer or booster, clean booster or dedicated overdrive unit.
Thanks. -Well that make sense. :-) It is nice to read a honest review/guide before getting new equipment.
Thanks again.
Cheers!
Hi Bjorn,
I just bought an EHX Soulf Food for 40€. How about this pedal? Why did you write:
“It can sound a bit boxy and dull on its own but it cuts nicely through a dense band mix”?
I’m not very satisfied of my 2 overdrives.
Costalab Natural Drive MKII is a nice clean boost, I use it to add color to my clean sound, but when gain increase (above 1:00), the sound is quite thin. Used as clean boost pedal: 10/10,as overdrive pedal: 5/10!
Joyo Vintage Overdrive, clone of Ibanez TS808, is more aggressive, has more gain, but sometimes it’s too gritty and not so smooth.
How is Soul Food compared to this 2 overdrive? It can be used for low gain lead tones, like Shine On, Coming Back to Life, High Hopes final solo?
Well, overdrive is perhaps the most difficult effect or pedal to get right. Which model to choose, depends on what guitar and amp you’re using and, of course, what tones you want. The Natural Drive sounds huge on bigger amps, with lots of presence and mids, but it can sound thin and even harsh on brighter amps and low volume. The TS808 sounds flat on it’s own but used with a slightly cranked amp, it makes almost anything sound amazing. The Soul Food is based on the Klon, which has ties back to the Tube Screamer. It’s a great clean booster and you can tweak it for warm and creamy overdrive. Again, whether or not you like it or if it fits the tones you’re trying to replicate, depends on your amp and guitar.
Hi Bjorn, hoping all is well, I’m thinking of buying a rat 2, it will be my first pedal after my TU-2…Is a rat a good choice as a 1st stand alone pedal, until I can afford others, to go along with my TM-18..also..have you an opinion on the Modest Mike mod? Thanks again for this site, you have saved me countless $, by showing me ..what…where & how….Chris
What’s better the plexi or rat 2
Nevermind, lol I bought the plexi on impulse, I can get the rat next maybe, what you think? Sorry for all the comments..Chris
I’m sure you’ll be pleased. Please see my reply to your previous comments :)
Two very different pedals. The PD is an overdrive with lots of headroom. The Rat is a distortion, with very little headroom and lots of gain.
Hi Chris! As far as I know, the current RAT 2 doesn’t feature the LM308 chip, which is essential for the smooth distortion character. The Mooer Black Secret does and it’s cheaper. Worth checking out :)
Thanks Bjorn! Cheers!
Throughout your site and videos, you talk about boosting one pedal with another, such as using a powerbooster to open up a muff. Can you explain how best to do this? Like what order do you place the pedals and what kind of settings would you use?
Hi Bryan! Check out the Big Muff Tone Tutorial feature. It’s explained in detail there. Let me know if you need more help :)
Excellent! I figured it was on the site somewhere. Thanks for the help and all that you do.
Cheers!
Hi Bjorn, between the current version of ProCo Rat 2, Mooer Black Secret and Little Bear Rat with LM 308, which you recommend?
I thank your help!
Greetings!
I haven’t tried the Little Bear so I would go for the Black Secret. Hard to beat the price and it sounds great!
Thanks Bjorn! Another possible option would be the TopTone DG-2. Do you think it works well as a distortion pedal, replacing a Rat? Between the DG-2 and Mooer Black Secret, what would be the best choice in your opinion?
The DG2. No doubt :)
Hi Bjorn,
I just realized I forgot one important question. I had thought about merging it with the previous Question #3..
Do you think the Colorsound Overdrive can be as successful as the Colorsound Power Boost at reproducing the the classic Gilmour tones that are produced a) by the Power Boost alone, b) a Big Muff/Power Boost tandem, and c) a Fuzz Face/Power Boost tandem?
Thanks again and sorry about the double post.
Again, both pedals will work nicely for all applications. There really isn’t that big difference between the two. It depends on the amp and whether or not it can handle these pedals or not.
Bjorn,
Thanks so much for answering my questions. I really appreciate and value your opinion on this matter. Since there is not much difference between the Colorsound PB and Overdriver, I think I’m going to build the 9V version for now because I don’t have room for 2 9V batteries in the bright citrus orange enclosure that I’m planning to use.. (I’m old school and I like pedals that can be powered by batteries as well as DC power supplies.) If I don’t think it has enough headroom I can either sell this one or convert it to an 18V Power Boost version and put it in a bigger enclosure that will accommodate 2 batteries.
As for my amp, I have a Fender Twin Reverb right now, but I’m saving up some money to buy a new amp. If I’m patient enough I’d like to buy a Hiwatt Little D Rig or perhaps a Hiwatt SF412 with Fane Speakers in a WEM cabinet. However, Hiwatt amps are a bit pricey and there isn’t a dealer within 400 miles of me that carries them. I’d like to find a good amp that sounds like a Hiwatt, but is considerably cheaper. Any recommendations?.
Check out the Hiwatt Tube Series amps or the Laney Cub range.
Hi Bjorn,
I just love your website and your playing! :)
I hope you can find time to answer the following questions: I’m getting ready to build my own clone of the Colorsound. However, I’m currently undecided as to whether it would be best to build the 18V Powerboost or the 9V Overdrive. I hope you can find time to answer the following questions
1) On one website, I read that the CS OD is capable of generating more distortion due to the lower voltage while the Power Boost is much cleaner. In your opinion, is the OD capable of generating more distortion than the PB?
2) Right now I’m not playing in a band and don’t plan to do so in the near future. Of the two (OD or Powerboost),
which would work best in a small home studio. (I live in a house, not an apartment so I can crank the volume up a bit more than someone who has an apartment..)
3) Did Gilmour use a Colorsound Overdrive at any time? Someone claimed that he used one on stage either in the late 1980’s or early-to-mid 1990’s.
Thanks a lot for any help you are willing to provide! :)
Hi David! Thanks for your kind words!
I haven’t done an a/b test so I can’t tell for sure. There are also variations between each model, as the original pedals and the different generations of reissues from Colorsound/Macari’s differ. The OD and PB is supposed to be the same pedal. They were anyway. From what I understand, the current OD does have less headroom than the PB. 9V would give you less headroom anyway, compared to 18V.
I guess both of them would work fine. The question is whether your amp can handle these pedals or not. They can sound pretty harsh and fizzy on brighter and mid scooped amps.
David is seen using an Overdriver in the early 90s on some guest appearances and for the recording of the Carrera Pan Amercia soundtrack.
just bought a Little Bear Rat clone for under $50 on the bay. Has LM308 chip. cant wait!
Bjorn,
Love the site. Such a resource! One thing: right now, there is not a link to the review for the Arc Effects Soothsayer.
Thanks! It’s in the review category list :) Here’s the direct link.
I see there’s a lot of talk about the Mooer pedals here, but have anyone tested the Hotone pedals (which are about half the size of the Mooers)?
Don’t have any experience with those… anyone?
I owned the Hotone Grass for a little while – it’s actually quite a good pedal. I’ve also seen some pretty good reviews of this one over on TGP as well. They market it as a Dumble-type OD – how accurate that is, I’m not sure, as I’ve never played a Dumble! But it sounds great and despite the size, is built very solid. I only sold it because it was redundant to my OD needs, having bought an Effectrode Tube Drive (plus owning some other ODs as well). But if the Grass is typical of their line, I’d have no trouble recommended Hotone.
Thanks for the info!
Greatly appreciate the help Bjorn!
Cheers!
Bjorn,
I am wanting to give The Rat a try for no other reason than just to try it on my rig. I see many different versions. The current Pro Co Rat 2 is very reasonably priced, but I am wondering if that is the model I should try out. Can you please advise, so that I buy the one that people seem to rave about. I appreciate it greatly!
Chad from Dallas
I don’t think the current ProCo models does the classic RAT justice. Check out a clone, like the Mooer Black Secret, Jam Pedals Rattler or the excellent Soothsayer from Arc Effects.
Hi, Bjorn. What’s the best for Gilmour tone: a boost pedal like Top Shine or an equalizer like Boss GE7 to act like a volume boost with mids boost configuration? Cheers.
Depends on what you need. EQs are tools for tone shaping, while boosters are often used to beef up an amp. I prefer using boosters because they sound more natural and they also seem more versatile… for me at least. The Shine Boost is an excellent choice for boosting a clean amp or a gain pedal like a Muff. The mids switch also allow you to add some presence.
Hi Bjorn, I thinking to have BYOC rams head. Its very versatile to play like albums wall, pulse, Gdansk. But on the other hand Big muff vintage ( 80s ) are the “truely” decission… what do you think? I have a tube chandler driver. Is it better to have a big muff vintage or BYOC having the TD chandler. I will have in a future a procorat too.. Merci ! Hope you are doing well
The BYOC is based on the ram’s head and the original early 70s circuit so in that sense, it’s vintage. I wouldn’t og buying a vintage pedal off Ebay unless you really know what you’re doing. You never know what you get. The BYOC goes nicely with the Tube Driver.
Hey Bjorn, longtime reader and fan of your work, and just wanted to say a few things. I bought my Laney CUB12R based largely on your recommendation, and it’s an amazing little amp.
What I really came here for is to suggest that you look into a new(ish) pedal by MXR’s Custom Shop – the Il Torino Overdrive. I know you’re a big fan of the BD-2, but you might give this one a try in its place. It’s very transparent, has two switchable gain modes (boost and overdrive), and is playing very well with my BYOC Large Beaver in both modes. It also has a three-band EQ, which in my mind makes it more versatile than the BD-2. It might make for a good budget boost/OD; retail is $120USD.
Anyway, thanks for all you do
Thanks for the tip, Chris!
Quick question, just as a point for clarification: did you review the Rattler, or the Rattler +. It seems the picture is of the Rattler +….but from the text it seems your reviewed the Rattler. Just curious….
I reviewed the Rattler +. The standard Rattler is basically a RAT clone, while the + has three different clipping modes, including the standard Rat.
Thanks Bjorn! BTW…I love the work you do on the site….I love both your playing, and the insights you share with the gear you review!
Thank you!
Hi Bjorn First off I love your site read it everyday and appreciate all the work you have put into it. Thanks! I would appreciate some advice. I have a musket, nano big muff and deluxe big muff I am playing an American deluxe ash strat with n3 pickups through a 65 fender twin reissue and looking for a boost my choices are either throbak overdrive, keeley phat bd2, tc spark or xotic rc boost please help. Down the road I am going to pick up another amp. but for now your thoughts on boost would be a lot of help.
thanks
Steve
This is the greatest guide on the web. What a treasure for all of us Floyd fans, I first saw them in 1973 at Cobo Hall in Detroit and have been obsessed ever since. I have learned a lot from you Bjorn and can not thank you enough.
Hi Steve! Thanks a lot for your kind Words! Wow, Cobo Hall! They tore that down recently, didn’t they? Being a Kiss fan I know Cobo Hall is a place with quite a history :)
Hi Steve! I’d go for the BD2. It’s a great combo with Muffs and bright souding amps. You might even want to check out the EHX Soul Food, which has a lot of mids, which the Twin doesn’t have but it can be fairly transparent as well.
Hello, Bjorn!
MXR Micro Amp CSP233 it’s a good booster for David Gilmour tone?
Excuse my english, i live at Quebec city.
I haven’t tried it but it’s basically a clean booster so I guess it will work. Personally I prefer boosters with a bit more gain.
hey im using a marshall AVT 50 and a gibson traditional through a basic audio scaraba deluxe fuzz.i only have either a digitech distortion factory or a screamin blues pedal as an overdrive and was wondering if anyone has used a radial tonebone trimode wich is a true tube pedal.or are there anyother sugestions as a good overdrive for this combo.
I don’t have any experience with Radial. Pedals like the Tube Screamer, RAT and even the BD2 seems to work nicely with Marshall. I’d stay away from Big Muffs.
Hello, Bjorn!
I have a tube amp with 2w mode and I haven’t got any pedals. I want to achieve distorted sound on lead channel, but even in 2w mode the amp is pretty loud. If I understood you correctly, with proper overdrive/distortion/booster pedal I can achieve desired sound with low (actual) volume. Am I right?
Hi Alex. What amp is this?
This is “made in Russia” amp Yerasov Gavrosh 12V with 2xEL84, 3x12AX7/ECC83, 1x12AT7/ECC81 tubes and 12” Celestion Vintage 30 speaker, 2/10w power modes. It has 2 channels – clean and lead with high-gain mode on lead channel.
OK. I’d go for something versatile that can tolerate low volume without losing character. Big Muffs, fuzz etc needs a bit of volume to get that smooth sustain. The RAT distortion and Tube Screamer overdrive is a nice start. These will give you a wide range of tones suitable for all kinds of genres, including Floyd. Depending on your budget, you could either check out the Mooer Black Secret and Green Mile or something in the boutique segment, like the Buffalo FX Evolution and Wampler Plexi Drive.
Big thanks for answering!
Cheers!
hi again Bjorn
I have another question
Just I bought new pedal to my setup – it is Maxon RTD800. I try to use this effect with my BD-2 and Pig Hoof MK II.
My current guitar chain is: guitar>wah>compressor>pig hoof MK II>BD-2 Keeley. It is nice setup for Gilmour`s sound. For blues and high gain solos I bought RTD800.
What’s your opinion about best place for RTD800 in my chain ?
b.r. from Poland
Andrzej Kwiatkowski
I’d place it after the Hoof and use the BD2 for boost for both the Hoof and RTD.
Thanks a lot Bjorn, I thought the same :)
Next quick question: which pedal in your opinion is the best for boost Pig Hoof MKII (or Big Muff RamsHead) to get Gilmour`s tone :
1) TopTone Shine Boost 10/10 Gilmour tone
2) Wampler Plexidrive 10/10 Gilmour tone
3) Boss BD-2 Keeley Mod 9/10 Gilmour tone
I now use BD-2 Keeley. Is Shine Boost or Wampler Plexidrive much better than my BD-2 ?
I play bedroom on Fender Devil Twin Amp with Gold Alnico speakers.
Sorry for my late reply. The Wampler has a bit of mids and compression, which don’t og that well with a Muff. The BD2 should work nicely, as you can boost both the gain and volume, without much colouring. The Shine Boost is a clean volume booster, which might sound a bit too bright when you combine it with a Muff and Your Fender amp. The MKII was designed specifically for a Hiwatt type of amp, which has a lot of headroom and presence in the high mids. I don’t have any experience using it With a Fender.
hi again Bjorn :)
my english is a little poor, can You explain what does it mean ” which don’t og that well with a Muff ”
regards
Andrzej
I recommend using transparent boosters with Big Muffs as they tend to sound dark and muddy if you boost them with pedals that has lots of mid range and gain. The PlexiDrive has quite a lot of mid range and therefore not ideal for boosting Big Muffs.
it seems that my Keeley BD-2 will be very good for Pig Hoof MKII :)
thanks a lot Bjorn
Cheers!
has anyone tried the Radial tonebone trimode or the radial hollywood overdrives
Quick question: does anyone know anything about the Catalinbread Galileo MKII? I’ve just got the Deluxe Big Muff Pi and it sounds awesome but I need a good OD/Booster to go with it. Currently I am using a stock Boss DS-1 (I know, it’s all I had) and it works but not well. Am also looking at a EHX Soul Food
I haven’t tried it. Anyone?
I have not tried it, but the friends that have all said the same thing. It gets the Brian May sound, but also adds a lot of noise.
My recommendation, get the Soul Food.
(Just my opinion of course.)
Hi Bjorn! Thanks to your advice I ordered a Pig Hoof (Original) and Banana Boost from Electronic Orange. They just arrived today and are sweet!
Jan has now improved the Banana Boost to a Mark II version. It doubles up the 9 volt circuit to 18 volts. He says this gives it much more clean headroom and makes it closer to the original Coloursound Powerboost. I don’t have anything to compare it to other than a clean boost on a TC Nova, but I can say the Banana Boost is a) really loud, b) really clean, and c) adds just a bit of ‘sing’ and sustain to the sound – not sure how to describe it. Those are first impressions, right after setting them up using an old 100w hybrid Carvin amp (tube power stage). I have yet to play around with the settings.
Both pedals are great – thanks for your advice!
James
P.S. I have Banana Boost Mk II serial #1!
Awesome, James!
Hello Bjorn, how are you?
Wish of those pedals do you prefer for boost Big muff, TC ElectronicsSpark Booster or Boss BD2 Stock or Mooer Blues Driver?
I play a Strat with SSL5 and 69’s thro a Hiwatt T20HD
Cheers,
Joao Bicudo
The TC is a clean booster and I prefer a bit dirt when I boost my Muffs. I would have to say the Mooer :)
Hey bjorn,
What c will be type recommended settings for the maxon od808. Also when boosting the muff the chain should be guitar to od to muff to amp???
Thanks
The OD808 and other Tube Screamers can be a tad to dark for a Big Muff but I’d set it as clean as possible with a fairly neutral tone setting. Place it after the Muff.
I miss the Boss OD 1 Overdrive. It’s the best driver I think
Hey Bjorn, I didn’t know where to post this, so here it is! All my musical life, I played Marshalls, with humbuckers on stage, no effects at all except a period where I used a modified Roland JC 120, and a Boss Heavy Metal 1. I found that at almost any volume I could get beautifully rich harmonic feedback. Now using the Reeves, and vintage single coils, I find that I have to really crank the volume to get any controllable feedback at all, and I was wondering which of my pedals would help me get that great controlled feedback. Would maybe a bit of compression help? I have the Muff, the Musket, Si, and Ge Fuzz, but really haven’t experimented enough to see what will give me that particular feedback, without breaking windows! Perhaps a dedicated distortion pedal, as opposed to the pedals listed, or the Throbak, that I forgot to list. Or, would a great overdrive such as the Butler TD, or Plexidrive help. If you can think of anything I can do with my current rig to achieve that’s always been a signature of my sound it would be greatly appreciated. I feel kind of naked, and thrown off my game without it. I find it one of the greatest sounds a guitat can make, and never had any problem achieving it with a Marshall, and a Humbucker loaded Gibson.
Thanks, KEITH
Hi Keith, as you know, the setup you have now is quite different to the Marshall and humbuckers you used to play. I also suppose you didn’t keep that rig at home? Hiwatts, or the Reeves, have a lot of headroom and even though Marshalls can sound clean, they still have a pretty aggressive tone and the combo with the speakers, pedals and often humbuckers, makes it easy to create feedback. I rarely get feedback with my Reeves using overdrives unless I kick in a compressor, which I often do at certain parts. I’ve found that Sovtek Muffs or clones easily sustains or feedback, while ram’s heads needs a bit of boost or even a compressor. Again, it depends on what pickups you use and how hard you drive the Reeves. You might want to increase the channel volume(s) quite a bit and keep the master low to push the preamp section for a hint of dirt or at least less headroom. My go to pedal for feedback is the AnalogMan Boss DS1 with a mids control. I’ve used that on several recordings and the thing sings endlessly. You should check it out :)
I may do that,( the modded DS1), but I was right thar comoression may help. One more quick question. You said the Sovteks are good for feedback, how about the Musket, with a bit of compression? Think that might do the trick? My hands are a bit tied until I get a studio space, and it looks like I finally found one that’s already been treated, and used as a studio, and it’s inexpensive, so the added volume will certainly help!
Thanks for the lowdown, KEITH
It might. Add a bit of compression and perhaps also increase the pre gain on the Musket :)
Hi Bjorn,
To my ears, when David play the comfortably numb 2nd solo with bridge pickup on Pulse, it sounds like if he was using the neck pickup. I mean, it’s like the neck pickup voicing but with the crunch and sustain of the bridge pickup. Is it the Butler overdrive pedal the secret behind this tone? I have a 57 Reissue strat with the EMG DG-20, and my amp is a Mesa Boogie Mark V. I don’t know if you are familiar with this amp but the Mark V have several amp modes, but I still could not get close to this comfortably numb tone with the bridge pickup.
His tone on that version is a combination of many things but he does use the bridge pickup, with the SPC rolled up to about half for boosting the mids. He’s also using a Sovtek Civil War Muff, which has a dark tone with lots of mid range. This is paired with a Tube Driver boosting or acting like an EQ adding a bit of colour. This setup has a lot of mid range, which is essential for that fat and smooth tone. Add to that the mid rangy Hiwatts and the fact that he plays VERY loud, which again adds natural compression and mid range. I don’t think you can achieve this on a typical bedroom setup.
I actually could reach a much better tone by simply turning off the built in 5-band EQ of my Mesa Mark V, which had the bass and treble boosted and mids scooped all the way down (I use it mostly for Metallica covers with other guitars). But indeed, the lowder I crank the amp, the closer I get to that fat tone.
Hi once again Bjorn. Another question for you. Out of the various overdrives you recommend, which fits this description the most (or is there another you suggest trying): smooth rather than crunchy, really excels at edge of breakup and low gain tones, dynamic and touch responsive (i.e. responds very well to pick attack and guitar’s volume knob), and works well going into a clean low-volume bedroom tube amp? Maybe that’s a big ask!!! I’m having a lot of trouble finding something that fits. I have the Power Booster, which I pretty much use mostly for a clean boost and the basic platform for my amp – I use it almost as a clean pre-amp (so that various dirt pedals can actually work at bedroom volume), and I have the Evolution, which is fantastic at medium to higher gain tones. I’m looking for something that fits in between those two gain-wise. Ideally this pedal would be an all-rounder and so be good for other styles such as bluesy stuff too. I should add that I’m not looking for the Tube Screamer sound either. Like I said, maybe this is a big ask!
Hi Bern! How much dynamics and picking sensitivity you get from your pedals also depends on how they interact with your guitar/pickups and the amp but based on what you already have, I would think that the Wampler PlexiDrive should fit nicely in between. It’s got a tad more mids than the Powerbooster but not as much as the Evolution nor the Tube Screamer. The gain ranges from super clean to where the Evolution begins. It’s also extremely responsive to your playing.
Thanks!
Hi Bjorn !…I Just got a Vick Audio Overdriver recently and I noticed that when I dig into my strat a little a harder the overdrive seems to squash out a little bit , like I have a compressor in my chain ( which I don’t ) …I have an ssl-5 in the bridge position and CS69’s on the other two . The issue only seems to occur when I’m using the bridge pickup . I lowered the pickup height quite a bit and it still happens . The drive level on the Overdriver is generally set between 2-3 o’ clock…I think it’s a great overdrive but this is the only thing about it that’s bugging me . My amp is set clean and am playing at bedroom levels . Any idea what could be causing this ?..Or is this just the nature of this particular circuit ?…Thanks !
Hi Danny! It does bleed out a bit but that’s the nature of the pedal and its silicon transistors. Try not to have too much bass from the pedal and amp and too much volume boost will also make it squeeze a bit so you might want to lower it. Are there any buffers in your chain? It really don’t want any buffers near by.
Yes…two buffers , A boss TU-2 first in the chain and a Boss DD-2 last in the chain…The others are TB….I will try your recommendations Bjorn…Thanks and love your site !…Cheers !
Hey Bjorn, how are you doing?
I have a strat and a laney cub 12r amp, and i’m going to buy a booster/drive pedal. I really want the TopTone Shine Boost, but i don’t know if i’ll miss the drive, so i’m considering buy the EHX Soul Food. Between these two pedals, wich one you think would work better as booster and overdriver?
Thank you. You don’t know how u are helping me to make my gear.
Hi Franklin! The Shine Boost is an all clean booster so other than driving your amp’s gain it doesn’t do much to overdrive by it self. I’m using it to drive and boost my dirt pedals. The Soul Food has a wider span, from clean to quite heavy overdrive and a lot of volume boost. It does have lots of mid range though, which can make it sound a bit boxy but it works nicely with the Laney. I also recommend the Wampler PlexiDrive, which has a similar character but a more transparent tone.
Hi Bjorn,
I’d like to thank you again for creating such an excellent website. It has really taught me a lot about tone and electric guitar tone building. I recently got a Buffalo FX Power Booster based on your recommendations, and I really like it. I’m using it as a powerful clean boost, running a Maxon OD820 into it.
One of my tones I am after is a powerful blues tone – think of Stevie Ray Vaughan. I am playing a 2014 American Standard Strat with Fat 50s neck and middle, SSL5 in the bridge, into a clean channel of a Fender EVH 5150iii (Gain at 9:00 o’clock, bass and mids at 5:00, highs at 9:00, presence at noon) for my blues tone. I have a Maxon OD820 (best Tubescreamer pedal I have ever used btw) with the level all the way up, and gain knob all the way down. Tone knob between 12 and 1 o’clock. It goes into the Power Booster which is set to Bass and Treble knobs in the center, level all the way up, gain all the way down.
I have to ask – for a powerful clean boost for blues, do you prefer the Top Tone Shine Boost or the Buffalo FX Power Booster? I like my Buffalo FX Power Booster alot; but I was wondering on your opinions regarding your two “Gilmourish picks” for boosters when put in a head-to-head competition against each other. Are they any different from each other?
Thanks for your kind words, Greg! The Shine Boost is an all clean booster, with aprox 30dB boost. It also has a switch for adding a tad more high mids, which is similar to the preamp in the old Echoplex units. It doesn’t do anything than boosting clean so in that sense it’s very different from the Powerbooster, which has an EQ section and drive control. Based on the tones you describe I would stick with the Powerbooster :)
Hi Bjorn. greetings!
What do you think of the Xotic RC Booster as reinforcement of a Big Muff?
Thank you for your attention!
Works nicely although I prefer to have a bit more dirt myself, like the AC Booster.
Thank you! Cheers!
Hello Bjorn!
I was hoping to get you advice on something. Lately I’ve been thinking that my clean tone from my Fender HRD is lacking some character. I love the tones I get when I use my Plexidrive or Evolution, but when I’m not my sound seems flat. Would it be okay to use a clean boost like the Power Booster to give my amp some life, then add the overdrive or distortion pedals on top? I think you’ve said that neither the Plexi or the Evolution needs a clean boost, but would it hurt?
Thanks!
I’d say that most amps would benefit from a booster of some sorts. Especially when you run them all clean. The Plexi and Evo doesn’t need boosters but that doesn’t mean that you can’t combine them with one. If you do though, make sure that the booster is really clean and transparent, otherwise you’ll be colouring your tone and adding gain to those pedals, which will make them harder to control. The Powerbooster could be one way to go but you might also want to look into dedicated clean boosters like the Effectrode Fire Bootle and TopTone Shine Boost.
Question- A guy I know who is playing a show doing both DSOTM and WYWH albums in full and he uses only Fulltone ’69 and Fulltone ’70 for dirt and swears by them. I dont know how he does it but he sounds spot on. Do you have any experience or thoughts about these pedals? Not that I need another pedal, but I have an opportunity to buy both for about half the going price so was wondering about going for them and experimenting (not just for Gilmour stuff of course). The negative power input scares me off a little, needing either non-alkaline batteries or Fulltone’s dedicated power supplies (I think – I havent researched that part yet.) He LOVES Fulltone and yet other pedals Ive tried have always left me feeling underwhelmed. Of course this guy is an amazing player and I stink.
Depends on what tones you’re looking for and what amp and guitar you have. The Fulltone fuzzes are great but like all fuzz pedals, they’re very sensitive towards the amp in particular. If you’re certain that your amp can handle fuzz pedals and make them sound good then the Fulltones are a good choice. If not, I’d consider something a bit more versatile. The Fulltone OCD could be a way to go or a RAT or the Similar Evolution from Buffalo FX.
Dear Bjorn,
My name is Alessandro, I’m classical guitar Professor in Universidade de BrasÃlia – Brasil.
Like you, I love guitar and Gilmour tones. Congratulations on the great site. I have learned a lot from their tips.
I would like to have your opinion, I am in doubt between buying a used Tube Driver – Tube Works / BK Butler (3 knobs) or a new Wampler Plexi Drive. Both are at the same price. What do you think?
greetings,
Alessandro
Hi Alessandro! Depends on what amp you’re using. The Tube Driver, in all its variations, can sound a bit harsh on the “wrong” amp. I would say that the PlexiDrive is a more versatile pedal and easier to make work on different amps. Cheers!
Thanks, Bjorn! My amp is a Fender Blues Deluxe, 40 w, with Jensen C12N speaker. Finally I ended up buying a Tube Driver with Bias knob. Hope it works well with my amp.
I’m sure it does :)
Hi Bjorn!
I would like to know your opinion about 2 OD pedals. The Maxon od808 and Lovepedal Dover Drive.
I play a mexican strat with 69’s neck and middle pickups and ssl-5 bridge pickup thro a hiwatt t20hd with marshall 1936 cab with 2x25w greenbacks.
My current guitar chain is:
Guitar, boss cs3, mooer big buff, ehx bass big muff, rat, ehx soul food, boss bd2 stock, ehx small stone nano, mooer eleclady, mooer king ensemble, ernieball volume pedal, vox time machine, mxr buffer, amp.
I’m very pleased with this rig, it’s was all following your tips! But i think i can improve even more, that’s why i need your opinion about overdrives.
I currently use for overdrive the ehx soul food and like you said, it’s sounds weird or dull ! In my rig it changes my tone when activated. So i decided to swamp it for a better one.
In this page you describe diferent overdrive pedals, so, between the lovepedal and the maxon what do you think can work better in my rig!?
P.s. changing the stock tremolo block of a mexican standard strat for an schaller block would make a big diference in terms of overall souding, sustain?
Thanks.
Cheers,
Joao bicudo.
Hi Joao! The Soul Food has A LOT of mid range. Hiwatts do too and this combined will often sound “boxy” or dull. Although I think the Maxon OD808 is hard to beat for overdrive tones, it has the same “problem”. So does the Dover. These pedals tend to work better with Fender amps and other amps that has less mid range than Hiwatts. One of my favourite overdrives at the moment is the Wampler PlexiDrive. Tonewise, it’s somewhere between a BD2 and OD808. I haven’t tried the Schaller term systems so I can’t really tell. I’m using Callaham myself and are very happy with those.
Does the Gilmourish stamp of approval go with the pedal above or the pedal below?
It’s supposed to be the pedal next to it. Not sure how the site looks on your browser…?
Do you have a recommended tube/settings for the bk butler tube driver?
With what guitar/pickups and amp? What tones are you looking for?
I’m using a 50s reissue strat with fender cs69s. My amp is a 59 fender bassman reissue. I’m looking for the first leads in shine on you crazy diamond and the leads in comfortably numb. For numb, I’m also using the Vick audio Rams head and rt20. Thanks!
Start with setting up your amp. Check out the amp setup guide for some tips. The Tube Driver has a scooped mid range, which also goes for the Bassman. Ideally, I’d either use an overdrive with more mids or an EQ to boost the mids but experiment with the amp settings and try to get it as smooth as possible. I usually keep the volume on the Tube Driver at 2:00 no matter what. This boosts the pedal a bit and rolls off the harsh overtones. Keep the treble moderate and set the gain as desired. For boosting you should set the TD as clean as possible and roll down the treble considerably, especially with a Fender amp. You might also want to engage the mids boost on your Vick.
Greetings, in your opinion, how well does the Wampler Plexi Drive stack with a silicon (BC108) fuzz face? Any recommended settings, if you think the two are compatible, of course.
Thanks.
Ok but usually I prefer using more transparent boosters or overdrives for boosting. The Plexi has a nice mids boost and a hint of compression as well, which can make fuzz and Muffs sound a bit too dark and muddy.
Great review on these pedals! One question i had is if the Keeley Katana was a good substitute for the Coloursound Powerboost? Thanks
For boosting yes but the Powerbooster also double as an overdrive.
Hi Bjorn, does the Wampler Plexi Drive work well as a booster/EQ placed after the big muff? Also how to you counter the volume drop on the Moore Elec Lady?
Hi Jeff! The Plexi Drive has a hint of mids boost and compression, which will colour your Muff or distortion to some extent. I’ve had some success with it but it can make the Muff sound a bit too muddy and dark. Ideally I’d use a more transparent booster.
Hey Jeff, regarding your Elec Lady question. There is a sweet spot with the color knob. It’s around 10 or 11. When you find it, you will notice the volume drop is gone.
Thanks Pete. That’s where I set mine. I’ve tried every spot on the color knob. I’m now running it in a parallel blend/mix pedal. This has solved the problem and it also sounds much better mixed with the dry signal. I have my Elec Lady, CE-2, and Phase 90 running this way, what a dramatic improvement with all three pedals!
Dig it! Glad it worked for you.
Hi Jeff!
I have the same volume drop issue with elelady, can you explain how to run in parallel blend/mix pedal?
Cheers,
Joao bicudo
Hi Joao, I am using the Radial Bigshot Mix pedal. There are many others like it. Basically they provide you with a parallel FX loop that you would run the Eleclady through. You just blend the fx signal with your dry signal. Your dry signal doesn’t loose any level so your over all level stays the same.
Hi Bjorn
I just discover a pedal company in Italy wich seems to have a lot of David Gilmour “inspired by” pedals
Here’s one: http://www.baroni-lab.com/dg-island-overdrive-pedals.html
Have you ever heard of them? And if so how do they perform?
Cheers
Yeah, I’ve got a few on their pedal and are planning on a review. Good sounding stuff :)
Hello Bjorn,
Please can you tell me your opinion about Vick audio Rat VS Buffalo Évolution.
I want to replicate those gilmour Rat and Pete Cornish G2-tones (div bell for rat, on an island for G2) .
That ‘s all I want.
Would the Vick RAT DO THAT?
Do I need the Buffalo Evolution?
Of course I will only use Strat with single coils.
Regards
Sébastien
You could go either way I guess. They’re very similar. The Evolution has a tad less mids, which makes it sound brighter and a bit more open. It also has a bit more low end. The RAT has more mids and an overall more saturated tone. I like them both but I’d probably go for the Evolution on darker amps and the RAT on brighter amps.
Hi Bjorn,
I think you should try out a behringer vt911 or vt999. It would be interesting to see how they compare to a bk butler tube driver and if they can produce gilmourish tones.
They’re OK but I don’t think they come close to the Tube Driver.
Jhs just did a video comparing them, verdict was its dead on
Hi Bjorn,
Great job on he new look website and the solo album. Need your advice, I’m currently running a W&C Box Of War, Spark Booster and a Crowther Hotcake into a Laney Cub head and cab (home/recording) and an old AC30 (gigs). I’m fairly happy with the drive options but i’d like just one more to complete a versatile setup. I’m thinking maybe an OD808 or maybe a BD2 given that there’s a midhump option on the spark booster if i need it? I’m looking towards the plexi drive as well as the OCD as other options. What do you think?
The best always,
Ben.
Hi Ben, the OD808 and OCD are similar, with a nice mids boost, while the PlexiDrive and BD2 has a more transparent amp-like tone. I’m loving the Plexi and think it would go nicely with your setup but all of the ones you’ve listed are safe. Depends on what tones you’re looking for.
Hello Bjorn,
What would you think about Vick Audio Classic RAt VS Buffalo Fx Evolution, in terms of replicating both Classic LM308N Pro CO RAT, and Pete Cornish G-2?
Do you know if the Vick is fine for bedroom amps like Laney Cub? (I’m asking because Vick Overdriver is not so good for bedroom setups…)
Regards,
Uwe
Hi Uwe! The RAT and the many clones, are very well suited for bedroom setups. Most mids boosted pedals are. The Evolution has a tad less mids and a more open sounding tone. A bit more low end too. They’re very similar sounding thought so it depends on how much mids you want.
Hello Bjorn!
I was wondering if you had seen the new Plexi-Drive Deluxe from Wampler? It certainly is a much more tweakable pedal than it’s predecessor. I watched Shnobel’s video of it in comparison to the Buffalo Fx Evolution and was surprised at how (somewhat) similar they sound. Here’s the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INvcLJX7rGQ
Anyway, do you think there are any new “Gilmourish” qualities to the deluxe that would justify buying it if you already have the original? (Love my Plexi-Drive by the way!)
Thanks!
Ben
Yeah, I saw and I’m sure I’m going to pick one up eventually. The fact that you now have three EQ controls instead of just the single tone knob makes it very versatile. Still, not sure if it makes a huge difference for me and my tones. I love the simplicity of the standard too :)
Hello Bjonrn!!!
Congratulations for your excellent work and help, .I really love your articles!!
Im a little bit confuzed, i have the following pedals and im asking you the suggested order of arrangement.
Im playing at home in a Small tube amp.
The pedals are:
Boss CS3, BK Buttler Tube Driver, Pete Cornish G2 Clone,EHX Soul Food.
Thank you very much!!!
Thank you, Kostas! The pedal order seems fine :) If you’re using the Tube Driver and G2 together, then you might want to switch places between them but otherwise it’s how I’d do it :)
Great site bjorn. My signal order is 62 custom tele into boss tu3 – soul food – sl drive- deluxe mistress- boss dd7. I use the sl drive as a tube driverish sound and keep it on all the time. I use the soul food as my main lead tone. Just wondering how u would set the sl drive and soul food. I have it running into a fender deluxe reverb bass at 5 treble 2.5. Low volume. Reverb at 3. I also have a tube screamer and can’t decide if I want the tube screamer or soul food. Any words of wisdom on this?? Thanks Sean
Or how u wud set the Macon od808
Depends on how you’re using the pedals. If you intend to boost, I’d keep the volume on the SL at about unity level, the tone rolled down a bit and the gain as desired. The Soul Food is a better booster for other pedals than a 808. Set it as clean as possible and if needed, just a hint of volume boost. The exact settings needs to be set according to your amp and guitar. I’d use the 808 as a dedicated overdrive.
These little drive units can help you express every feeling imaginable, from your deepest sorrow to the most fiery anger! I am about to record some songs in my home studio and I’d like your opinion on something.
I use a Lionheart 5w, Analogman BC109, an CB Echorec and I want an overdrive/booster for drive tones like Gilmour’s on Dark Side and WYWH.
1, I’m having a luthier make me a left-hand maple neck Strat, in which I’ll fit my voodoo69 pickups. Would all the rig sound too trebly, with such a neck? My only reference is Gilmour, who -mainly- used the Powerbooster while the rosewood neck was on his Black Strat. Should I go for rosewood?
2, Great video, on how to boost Muffs and get more presence and attack. How would my BC109 behave in combination with a PB? Also, you said that on Dark Side tours Gilmour added fuzz on top of overdriven PB. Different approach than the mild crunch for Muffs?
3, Finally, which one would you suggest as a main overdrive/booster unit, the Vick Audio or the Buffalo, for this home recording rig of mine?
Hi Dimitris!
1. There isn’t that big difference between maple and rosewood. It’s a subtle thing and more down to what you’re more comfortable with. It also depends on your amp and pedals. A maple neck can make a bright amp sound brighter but a rosewood might round things off.
2. David used the Powerbooster for overdrive, as you can hear on songs like Time and Have a Cigar. If you listen to the Wembley 1974 show, you can hear that he kicks in the fuzz onto of the Powerbooster on Time. On a smaller setup I’d perhaps use the fuzz alone and maybe add a booster in the same fashion as demonstrated in my clip. It will round off the harshness of the fuzz and add a bit of sustain.
3. The Buffalo is the most versatile of the two and probably easier to record as well.
What are you thoughts on the vick audio overdriver pedal as a power boost replica. I plan on purchasing that an the 73 rams head just curious if you think a different manufacture makes a better reproduction for the price range.
Check out my review of the Vick Overdriver.
Hey Bjorn, hey everybody !
I really appreciate you gathering all this information for us, Bjorn. Could you comment on the Electro Harmonix Double Muff (nano) ? I’m having one at home for testing at the moment. I’m using a Telecaster and a Laney Cub 12R as an amp, which i actually bought after researching your site, and I’m just soo happy with it:)
The Double Muff seems to do a pretty good job as an OD pedal (which i would consider it to be). After reading your article, i will probably get a RAT for Distortion, too … Now I’m thinking about giving back the Double Muff and getting a maxon OD808 instead (and yeah, im after Gilmourish tones:) …).
The problem that i see in general with finding the right pedals is, that it’s one thing to try all the different pedals in a musicstore, but another, how they will work for me at home / on stage, with my guitar and my amp ? That’s where the experience of guys like you really helps me out at the moment. I’m the kind of person who practices a lot in the bedroom, but i also do perform occasionally and will be performing more in the future. … maybe you haven’t tried the Double Muff, so in that case i guess your answer would be, get an OD808 instead, and you’re on the safe side;)
Anyway, big thanks again,
Cheers from Germany !
Hi Lukas! It’s impossible to give an exact definition of how pedals will sound on different amps because how they ultimately sound is also determined by the guitar, your settings, the room and not least, how you play. The safe way is always to go for something versatile, which often means pedals with a pronounced mid range and darker tone. Typical late 60s and early 70s pedals were designed for large tube stacks because that’s pretty much what you had back then, so when choosing these pedals for a bedroom setup you need to be sure that your amp has enough mid range and tone on lower levels or it will sound very thin.
Thanks for your quick reply ! I think i get what you’re saying. I will probably just get an OD808 to try at home, as well, to compare it to the Double Muff ( it’s easy to send products back at no cost from some dealers in germany, i don’t know about other countries … ). It seems that the pronounced midrange you’re talking about, could really be the way to go for me at the moment. Would you put the Double Muff into the same category with other late 60s and early 70s pedals, though ? Obviously, the two muff fuzzes within the double muff respectively fit that description, but i feel that the combination of the two makes up for a whole nother sound… or would the fact that you’ve basically still got some muffs preclude that they’re ever gonna sound anything like a tubescreamer, no matter what ? Please don’t mind my ‘uneducatedness’, i’m just so curious and find it really difficult to dig up this kind of information anywhere.
No worries at all :) Happy to help! The Double Muff is certainly in that early 70s category so a TS808 might be the way to go. Especially if your setup needs more mid range.
hello, “professor” Bjorn. Your page is just my guide to my happiness! LOL
Gilmour used the Colorsound Powerboost to set Fuzz Face and Big Muffs on FIRE! Do you know if he used the Colorsound OVERDRIVER too?
Hi Roger :) Not sure if he used one in the old days but there is a picture in Phil Taylor’s Black Strat book from the 1992 La Carrera recording sessions where an Overdriver is spotted. It’s really the same pedal as the Powerboost. Only the chassis and name was changed.
Hello everybody,
About the Mooer Black Secret, I bought one and it sounds great. I have a Blackstar ss amp and the combination of the Black Secret with my Boss BD-2 = Excellent combination for Gilmour’s tones. If you are looking to buy a Mooer pedal go to that website . It is in China but they have warehouses in the US and UK. A friend of mine recommended that site. The Mooer are in liquidation mode, the will not get other models than the ones one the site. For example, you will pay for a Mooer Black Secret $ 51.80 US and it is free shipping. But you have to be patient, mine took two weeks to be delivered. I am in Canada. For me it is worth the wait because I am on a low/medium budget and they have great deals. They also carry other brands like Joyo and Biyang. I bought a Joyo Vintage Overdrive for $30, it’s a TS-808 clone. For a modest bedroom/home studio like mine a good sounding OD for $30.00 = great deal. I am using the Joyo OD with the Boss BD-2 for Shine On and it sounds pretty good. I also bought a Biyang Fuzz that sounds like a muff. I will talk about that in the Muff section.
I wanted to share this because I know that there is a lot of people with a smaller budget.
Cheers from Canada… :-)
The website is donnerdeal.com :-)
The Donner modulation pedals are pretty good. Definitely worth the (very little) money.
I got the Alchemy and the sounds are really good on that. I will probably pick up the White Wizard as it’s a bit more versatile.
Thanks for the tip!
I may have missed this somewhere on the site but Gdansk Echoes sounds like Gilmour is using an older fuzz rather than his Muff. Did he dig up his old fuzz face for Echoes? Thanks.
He used a triangle Big Muff for Echoes. See the Gdansk gear guide for more.
I’ve heard some buzz about Bondi Effects’ Sick As overdrive. I’ve listened to clips on Youtube, and for my money, it has a rather neutral tone, maybe with some additional brightness (which, if problematic, could be mitigated by rolling off the treble). Do you have an opinion on it?
I haven’t had the chance to try one myself but judging by the clips I’ve heard it seems to be a very cool sounding pedal. Much like a Tube Driver or at least somewhat similar, as far as I can tell. Very transparent and amp-like. I would imagine it would work nicely as a booster and overdrive in terms of David’s tones and of course, a wide range of other tones as well.
So using them as a pair would work better? Like putting Big Muff at the start of the gain channel and the Soul Food as a booster after it, so that the Big Muff dominates the signal chain?
Thanks,
Matt
[That would be the way to go. The Soul Food has a lot of mids though, which can make your Muff sound a tad too dark but depending on the voicing of your amp I think the combo of these pedals sounds great. – Bjorn]
I was wondering which pedal you would take for Gilmour tones: A EHX Soul Food or a Bass Big Muff Pi?
I am leaning Soul Food since it has a higher rating and is probably more versatile but then again, can it take the place of a Big Muff?
Thanks,
Matt
[Two very different pedals and I don’t think you can compare them. The Soul Food is a booster/overdrive. It’s capable of producing anything from clean to crunchy overdrive. The Bass Muff has tons more gain and isn’t designed for boost nor overdrive. It’s a dedicated lead or distortion pedal. I would say that both would nail David’s tones but they cover different tones. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn i’ve only recently found this site (I am amazed by it, great work), and i’ve been checking out the gear guides as I’m looking to buy a few pedals to get close to the Delicate Sound of Thunder tone. I’ve got a Les Paul custom so I’m obviously aware I won’t be able to nail it, just trying to get the right drive and effects combo. I already own an EHX big muff w/ tone wicker and a TC electronics spark – not your most recommended pedals i know but i had purchased them before finding your blog! If you can give any tips as to which pedals i should get that’d be really appreciated, thanks.
[Depends on your amp but if you don’t own one already, you should have a delay. It’s essential for all of David’s tones. The TC Electronic Flashback is probably your best buy but there’s a huge range of different delays out there serving different purposes. If you’re considering replacing the Muff for something a bit more versatile and suiting for your LP, then the Buffalo FX Evolution might be what you’re looking for. It’s capable of nailing almost any of David’s lead and overdrive tones from the 80s to present. Aside from that… perhaps a chorus, which is typical for the 80s. The Mooer Ensemble King is actually very good and it’s based on the legendary Boss CE2 that David used. Hope this helped :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn!
Thank You for great work with guitar gear on that site! Tones of useful information for guitar maniacs :)
I have a question (may be someone asked you already) about Throbak Overdriveboost and Buffalo Power booster. What is the sound difference between them? and which one seems to be more flexible in it’s settings?
[Hi Sergey! Depeneds on your amp and pickups but in general the Buffalo is darker and has a smoother breakup and more creamy overdrive. The ThroBak is slightly brighter and the overdrive tone has more top end. Both are great clones of the original so it’s a matter of what fits your amp the most I guess. The Buffalo for brighter amps and bedroom setups and the ThroBak for darker and bigger amps. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Any thoughts on using the Xotic SL Drive perhaps in SB mode with a silicon fuzz? Once again, I am searching for a pedal like the DLS MKIII, which didn’t work for me at all.
Thanks much.
[I haven’t tried it but I think you’d be having problems with too much gain and noise. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn. I hope you are keeping warm. I was wondering if you have had any direct experience with the Sarno Earth Drive post muff and/or post Germanium Fuzz Face? Thanks Bjorn!
[Never tried it so I can’t really tell. Based on the reviews it seems to be a very transparent overdrive, which should make it a nice companion for Muffs and fuzz pedals. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn!
I am looking for a dedicated overdrive to get tones close to “The Blue” and “Marooned”. The two I’m looking at right now are the OCD and the Dover Drive but I am open to all suggestions. Do you have a preference for getting close to that tone? I’m playing at home (low volume) on a strat through a fender hot rod deluxe and my signal chain is: ST-200 > Vibe Machine > Retro Sonic Distortion > Sunface > Buffalo PB > Analogman Mini Chorus > DD-20. Are there any in particular that would go well with my setup?
[Both should do the job. The OCD is probably the most versatile of the two. I also recommend the Wampler PlexiDrive, which is probably as close as you’ll get to a Tube Driver. – Bjorn]
Hi bjorn, have you tried the pickup booster by seymore duncan, a really awsome and versatile boost. The boost has 25 db with a resonance switch, designed for single coil pickup. The resonance switch can make a single coil either a classic humbucker or high output humbucker. The resonance switch at 0 produces hi def boost. This pedal is the best boost i have heard, but, this is a big but, it is very noisy. Worth a try
[Never tried it. I’m using the Effectrode Fire Bottle, which I guess is similar. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Instead of 2 small pedals, I could also consider one larger pedal covering all, like a Buffalo Evolution. I’m interested to know what you would pick.
Take care,
Matthias
[Two pedals is obviously more versatile but the Evolution is able to cover both overdrive and distortion sounds. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I’d like to set up a very small pedalboard for band rehearsal and bedroom practice.
If you could pick only two MXR sized overdrive/distorsion pedals to cover most of your needs, what would these be?
Thank you in advance.
Take care
Matthias
[Very sorry for my late reply, Matthias. For Gilmour sounds? Depends very much on your amp and pickups but my best tip would be the Wampler PlexiDrive for the Tube Driver tones and the Vick Audio ’73 Ram’s Head for the Muff tones. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, hope you had as wonderful a Christmas as we did here! Looking forward to the 2015 happenings here on Gilmourish!! I have a question about overdrives: I told you I was going to order a TD from BK Butler, but looked closer at my money situation, and put it off until my bills are all straight. Now I’m wondering if I’d do better with a Plexidrive. You should be somewhat aware of my amp, guitars, and pedals, and I think I’ve told you many times how much I love thay cranked Marshall, early Master volume, or even more the Jubilee model sound. Knowing all of that, could I get closer to those Marshall tones with the Plexidrive, and still get the same great Tube Driver tones? I’m planning on loading another 2×12 with Greenbacks, so I’ll get the speaker breakup of my old Marshall cab. So the short version, Plexidrive, or Tube Driver? Will the PD do the TD, and get me that Marshall sound?
Thanks, and Happy New Year, Keith
[Happy new year, Keith! I can’t really praise the PlexiDrive enough. Definitely one of my fav overdrives. It’s not as wild and huge sounding as the Tube Driver but it has a very similar flavour, both being early Marshallish. What I like about the Plexi is that it responds very much like a tube amp. The more you crank both the gain and tone, the more compression it adds so it’ll never sound harsh. I think it would go nicely with your setup. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn, great site, lots of good info here! I’m pretty new at playing and have the following setup, a standard strat –> Skreddy P19 –> EH Soulfood –> TC Flashback –> Fender blues Jr III I have a question about dialing in Gilmour tones, should I be using either the P19 OR the Soulfood to dial in the desired tone or both together? I’m using this as basically a “bedroom” environment. Any tips you could give here would be appreciated. Thank you
[Very sorry for my late reply, Bill. The P19 is designed to be used alone as it’s already stacked, meaning that it’s designed to sound like a Muff+booster combo. You can combine it with a booster but I think that takes away some of the characteristics of the pedal. I’d use the Soul Food as a clean booster or dedicated overdrive. – Bjorn]
Has any tried stacking a silicon fuzz with the Wampler Plexi-Drive? If yes, how well did it work?
Thanks.
[Hi Richard! Sorry for the very late reply. I’ve done it but it didn’t work that well. At least not for me. The Plexi has a bit of mic range and compression, which makes the fuzz dark and choked. Better with a more transparent booster. – Bjorn]
Hello all. I just wanted to share a pedal stacking combo that I have discovered with the Gilmourish community. Bjorn has been incredibly generous with both his musical and tone advice so I wanted to take this opportunity to give back a little:)
As we all know, pedalboard real estate is always a factor for a myriad of reasons. So when you discover a pedal that can serve multiple purposes, a “happy dance” often occurs:) This pedal is the Catalinbread DLS MkIII in Superbass mode. It’s original purpose for me was to push it with a Germanium fuzz face to really nail Jimi Hendrix sounds. And it does that in spades. I use a Rivera 6L6 based very fenderish 55 watt tube combo set crystal clean. It works beautifully in that application. Then I also discovered that even boosts and mild overdrives sound at least as good, and almost always better, pushing the DLS as well. And the recent test was could it “boost” a muff? On Bjorn’s recommendation, I had purchased the EH Nano Bass Big Muff Pi. It was stupidly cheap and I got a discount on top of it:) I am very pleased with the pedal but, of course, I wanted to see if I could squeeze more out of it. And I was able to running it into the DLS and bring it to another level. They key for me was setting them both to moderate gain. I had the DLS at 12:00 and the muff at about 1:00. And the beauty of the DLS is that every application I mentioned above I use the same settings on the DLS. I don’t ever have to touch it. It just transforms almost anything you push it with into something better – and it never seems to make anything sound worse. Again YMMV, but here are the approx. settings that I use on the DLS – 18V, master at or a little above unity, treble 11:00,mid 10:00, bass 8:30, pre amp 12:00.
Happy Holidays and Happy Stacking everyone!
– Matt
[Thanks for sharing Matt! – Bjorn]
The Ibanez Ts9 would work for drive the Big Muff Civil War? im searching the tone of PULSE. Sorry if my English is not so good
[It’s not ideal due to its boosted mid range which can make the Muff sound very dark and choked. I’d use a more transparent booster like the Boss BD2. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Have you listened to the Black Arts Toneworks Black Forest Overdrive? Basically a Colorsound Overdriver circuit, with a “depth” switch that varies the input capacitors for some interesting tonal nuances. I got an excellent deal on one, and while I haven’t had a chance yet to try it with my Bugera V22, I did try it on a modeling amp with a Vox AC30 model, and so far I’m loving it. Can’t wait to try it with the Vick Audio 73 RH I’ve ordered.
If they play as nicely together as I hope, I’m probably going to get the Vick Audio Overdriver as well. I’m loving what the CSOD circuit is doing for my tone in general, and since I have to cover a lot of different tones (I play in a old folks band that covers everything from blues to Bad Company, and the Stray Cats) it’d be nice to have one box dedicated to just to boosting the Muff, and to have another to use for medium overdrive.
[Never tried it but it sounds very interesting :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn! Thanks for your reply! I traded my You Dirty Rat for a Mooer Black Secret and I must say that the little Mooer simply outperforms the YDR… The distortion is thighter, clearer, warmer and the Mooer generates a lot less noise. I put a Mooer Flex Boost behind it like you suggested, giving the already great sound of the Black Secret that extra searing quality of David’s sound on Castellorizon, while preserving the clarity of the signal. Thanks Bjorn!!
[Great! – Bjorn]
Thanks for the info! Do you recommend putting the TS808 in front or behind the SL Drive as a boost? Also did you run the SL Drive on 18v or 9v? I would assume running on 18v would give it more headroom, I’m really keen to pickup this pedal it seems like a great versatile little pedal for that classic Marshall lead sound!
[I had the TS in front… just like you would on a Marshall+TS combo :) Think I set the SL pretty moderate and the TS full on. Try both before and after and hear what suits your setup. I powered it with 18v. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I’m thinking of buying an Xotic SL Drive and using it as my main distortion pedal on my board. I’m only playing in my bedroom and small gigs, it seems like a great pedal for the money, and I love it’s small footprint (I’m also a huge fan of Mooer pedals sound/price/footprint). You’ve got it listed as an overdrive pedal here but would it work for those more distorted lead tones? I’ve already got an original TS808 so would it be much different from that? Cheers!
David
[The SL is an overdrive/distortion. Works as both. It has enough gain to be used alone but it also works nicely paired with a Tube Screamer boosting it. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjørn,
I’m new to the site, and let me begin by expressing my thanks for providing such a great resource not only for all things Gilmour, but also for information on all this vintage and modern gear.
I have a question about alternatives to the Colorsound Powerboost. I don’t know if you have much experience with the Xotic Effects pedals, but I was wondering if either the AC Booster or the BB Preamp would give a similar result and which one would be closer to the character of the original?
Thanks,
Ryan
[Hi Ryan! Welcome to the site! The AC Booster would be the closest I guess. It has a nice headroom and you can still crank it for classic overdrive. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn! First time poster here. I’ll try to keep this brief if I can. I have been playing for over 20 years but I never really used pedals. I am fixing that now and I’m trying to get good stuff. I have mostly played 70’s hard rock and 80’s heavy metal and thus my interests were always on getting gear that could get me there. The cranked Marshall sound. But deep down I always lusted for the Comfortably Numb lead sound (don’t we all?)
This song drives me crazy because there’s so many ways to play it (as David has done it over the years) and I noticed that his tone has varied a lot over the years. In some old Wall era clips it sounds pretty raw. Then on Delicate Sound of Thunder it sound less aggressive, then in PULSE it sounds even more mellow (to me) and then on Gdansk it sounds more dirty again. If I could choose, then Gdansk would be the one I am looking for, a more aggressive version of what is generally the same tone.
Anyway I have been obsessively listening YouTube Clips and reading everything I can at you site and pretty much got it down to what I need. My current gear is a partscaster with a Seymour Duncan humbucker at the bridge that I built and a Gibson Explorer. These are great for metal but I am thinking on buying or building a normal Strat for this (as well as for the Deep Purple stuff. You just need the single coils) for pickups I noticed that those DiMarzio Area pickups sound awesome in some clips in YouTube but if you have any other suggestion I’m all ears.
I have an old BOSS Chorus and a Keeley Modded DS-1, the orange distortion. I also can get a very good deal on a Joyo US dream. I like the way these sound but I understand they are way too aggressive for the Gilmour sound. After carefully reading I think I am gonna get a Mooer Blues Mood for boosting, but my MAIN question would be the overdrive. Keeping it in the Mooer department, I think either the Black Secret (RAT) or the Triangle Buff (Big Muff) would suit me. But which is my better option? My first idea obviously was the muff, but you keep repeating on the site that these are hard to control. The RAT seems more versatile but I noticed you recommended it for Delicate Sound of Thunder/PULSE tones, and I want a dirtier version of this tone. Can this only be obtained with a Muff?
I am also gonna get a digital delay (a boss or something similar, and I think maybe a compressor if needed but it’s very low in my list so far.
I have old Marshalls from the 70’s that are way too loud for my current application so I don’t really use them anymore. I am basically going to be using a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe in the clean channel (a very good clean, I can set it to a sorta Dire Straits clean sound quite easily). The amp is in its original condition so it has the common “too much bass†issue these amps are known for. I am gonna start playing in my bedroom (yeah, I use a tube amp at home, even if I don’t crank it. I can’t really play solid state anymore. Hate the tone) but I eventually wanna move to playing this song with a band.
So any suggestions/ideas? I would really appreciate the input. And congratulations for such an amazing site.
[Hi Santiago! Thanks for posting :) Based on your setup I’d definitely go for a versatile distortion. A Muff can sound bright and harsh on a Fender amp although with some tweaking you can get it to work. The Black Secret is an excellent RAT clone, which will provide the tone you want. You might also want to look into the Buffalo FX Evolution, which is based on the G2 distortion David used on Gdansk. See the Comfortably Numb tutorial feature for some more tips. Hope this helped :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn! It’s me again… :-) Just wondering: What do you think would work best with a Mooer Black Secret? A Mooer flex Boost or a Blues Mood? And would you put the Black Secret before or after the booster? I’ve really fallen in love with these little fellows……..
[Both would go nicely. I prefer the BD2 or Blues Mood myself. Place it after the Black Secret. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn! Thanks a lot for your reply! My neighbors are nice people, but playing insanely loud would harm the relation…… I bought a TC Mini Spark yesterday for boosting, and perhaps to add some sparkle to the clean sounds. I’ll try the compressor/Rat combo this weekend when the missus is out :-)
Okay, that makes sense, do you ever boost the TD when you use it for OD? I hadn’t thought about using both, just the TD for higher gain OD, and the Throbak as a clean boost, but would it enhance the TDs OD to use a clean boost after it? If so, I’d probably use the Spark, after the TD, and for my DSOTM era board, use the Throbak as DG used the CPB. Does that sound about right, knowing my amp, speakers, and Cymbaline?
Thanks for all the help Master, I’m almost there. Even learned to program MIDI drum tracks yesterday. Drums are the only thing that was keeping me from laying tracks for my first demosof the material for the album!
Peace, your faithful Padawan :)
[Awesome! Do share when you got some songs ready :) I’m currently boosting my TD with a TopTone Shine Boost placed in front of it. It’s basically a treble booster but it’s got some mids too which make the whole difference. I normally place all boosters after the pedal they’re gonna boost but this one sounded best in front. The Tube Driver is set for a moderate break up, which is my main overdrive and rhythm tone. Kicking in the booster, I get a bit more presence and a nice gain boost, which is enough for typical overdrive solos, where I don’t want to go all the way to distortion. It’s basically like boosting an amp, with the TD acting like the pre-amp. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
First of all, compliments on your website! How much info on DG can you accumulate in one spot…..
I do need some advice however….
First of all, this is my rig:
2008 Fender American Standard Stratocaster with Alnico 5 PU’s -> Boss CS3 -> Ibanez TS9 -> Proco You Dirty Rat -> Mooer ElecLady -> Laney TT50 combo on clean channel with a TC Electronics G-Major 2 in the effectsloop for delay and chorus duties.
The clean sounds are nailed as far as I’m concerned. Amazing what a compressor and flanger can do for a decent Gilmour-sound…
Now to the dirt: I love the searing leads on Castellorizon and Comfortably Numb on Live in Gdansk!
How to…? I understand that David often uses a booster or overdrive to kick another gain stage into a higher gear. And am I correct to say that a Rat can be used in stead of a Muff or P1-type distortion and a TS9 for a G2 or Colorsound?
So in order to get (as Steve Lukather puts it…) the sustain from hell, could I use the TS9 with Drive set to 0 to fire up the Rat? And, because I love the overdrive sound of the TS9 in itself, are the little Mooer Flexboost/OD or Pure Boost equally suited? Or am I looking at it in the wrong way?
Thanks!
Edwin
[Hi Edwin! The sustain from hell might be a bit too optimistic on a bedroom setup. David’s tone on Castellorizon was done with a Tube Driver (possibly G2) and he played insanely loud. You can’t possibly recreate that on a smaller amp. That being said, you can achieve a similar result… A Rat can double for a Big Muff and in many cases it’s a much more versatile pedal too. A great alternative is the Buffalo FX Evolution, which is based on the Cornish G2 and has a bit more open tone than the RAT. These pedals got a lot of gain so I wouldn’t combine them with a booster or overdrive. Perhaps a compressor to enhance the sustain. The TS9 got a lot of mid range and although you can get some similar tones to the Tube Driver it’s very different from them Coloursound, which almost has no mid range. The TS9 can also make your distortion sound darker and choked so I’d use it as a stand alone overdrive and get a more transparent booster, like the Boss BD2 or Buffalo FX Powerbooster for boosting. Hope this helped. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Wondering if you’ve tried an MXR Zakk Wylde Overdrive and what your thoughts might be on it.
Thanks, Aaron
[It’s kind of a TS9 meets Distortion +. It’s got a fat tube amp like tone, with more presence and mids scoop than a TS9. I think it sounds best in front of a slightly cranked amp but it works nicely with clean tones as well. Not sure if it’s a typical Gilmour pedal but I guess you can tweak it towards some of Gilmour’s heavier overdrives and even distortions. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, real quickie, does it matter which goes first, Throbak, or Tube Driver?
Thanks for all you do! Keith
[If you intend to use them together, I’d place the TD first. That way it will dominate the tone and the ThroBak will act like a booster or EQ. If you don’t want to use them together then it doesn’t matter. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Cheers for the reply. I must admit the Tube Works sounds a lot more usable with a Spark Booster. The TS i’ll use as a warm, mellow drive for cleans and see how that goes. The RAT would be the more sensible choice, I’m looking at the Jam Rattler, but like yourself I love the whole Big Muff vibe. The Large Beaver is a staple in my setup and the Jam Red Muck is also, quite tempting. If I had the money I’d buy both but…
Thanks
Ben.
Hi Bjorn,
Just a question regarding the Tube Works Real Tube pedal. I’ve just bought one secondhand and while i really like it, especially for those ZZ Top-esque blues/boogie tones, is there a way that you know of to open it up a little more? It’s just a little too muffled at the moment! I’ve tried tweaking my amp setup (a Laney Cub Head and cab and Vox AC30) but it’s just a little too dark and muffled. Any opinions will be gratefully received as it’s a great pedal! Also, I use a Ibanez TS10 on my board after the Real Tube, would a RAT type pedal be a good alternative for a Big Muff to have a versatile drive setup?
Many thanks, good luck on your new album,
Ben.
many th
[I haven’t tried those old Tube Works pedals so I can’t really tell. Shouldn’t be a problem getting bright tones from it but again, I can only speak from my experience with the Tube Driver. Keep in mind though that if you use it in combo with the Tube Screamer, you will get a darker tone as the boosted mid range of the TS will choke up the Tube Works a bit. The RAT is definitely a great alternative for a Muff. Not quite the same but a much more versatile pedal. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I’m getting a Fender Blues Junior for Christmas and I was wondering if
using a maxon od808 and a proco rat would be a good starting point for a gilmour sound, also will the rat sound similar to a big muff and what would be the best compressor I could get without breaking the bank?
Many Thanks.
[Yep, the 808 and RAT would be a great match. Fender amos doesn’t have a lot of mid range so a Muff can often sound thin and fizzy. For compressors, check out the Hartman or the excellent Whirlwind Red Box :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I’m in process of building a gilmour inspired pedalboard and torn on which boost to go with. Right now I have a skreddy p19 for my muff and a dover drive for my overdrive pedal. I was interested in the buffalo fx powerboost but see they have been out of stock for a while. Any boost you could recommend, I was looking at the TC electronics spark but wanted to get your opinion on that as well as any others. Also where would you recommend I place the boost in my pedal chain? Thanks Bjorn, site is a wealth of information keep up the great work!
[Hi Kris! I’d place the booster after the Muff. This way, the Muff will be the dominant effect and the booster acts more like an EQ, enhancing the character of the Muff. I think Buffalo are stocking the Powerbooster again. Send Steve a request and he’ll help you out. I’ve played just about every clone there is and this is IMO the best. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, Ordering my Tube Driver from BK today! Like you said, I’ll be getting the original non bias model, and if it has too much gain for me, I’ll change to an AU7. However, if I leave the AX 7 in there, and plugged into a 2×12 loaded with Greenbacks, or Vintage 30’s, wouldn’t it act like another preamp stage, and get me closer to a Marshall sound? Just a thought, I just picked up a bluesbreaker cab very much like my Avatar for $100.00, and am loading it with either of the above mentioned speakers. Mainly for studio use with my Ibanez Tube Screamer head, but thought it might make the Reeves a bit more Marshally when needed?
Peace, Keith
[The Tube Driver has that early Marshall JTM quality. Depending on the amp of course you can get some really nice classic sounds. It’s a very transparent pedal though so it doesn’t do all that much to colour your tone. You can definitely hear the tube working and adding a nice compression to your tones when you drive the pedal hard. You will hear a dramatic change if you swap the 12AX7 with a 12AU7. The AX has more presence, top and gain, while the AU is softer, more headroom and perhaps not as smooth break up as the AX. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I forgot to ask:
Always in the Division Bell Studio pedalboard, is the Boss CS-2 the only Compressor used? Is it always on (every song)? Is the Dynacomp sometimes used on the album, alone or paired with CS-2 like in PULSE (Keep talking, Coming Back to life, A great day for freedom).
THANK YOU AGAIN !
Best regards
[It’s impossible to tell as we don’t have any official records of what he did use on each song. We can only guess based on what we hear. The new Endless River footage has given us more knowledge and it seems that the Boss CS2 was the main compressor. He did feature a Dynacomp as well but I’m not sure if he used one. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn,
I’m following Fabio’s post about Division Bell Studio setup.
Do you think that the following effects order for the Division bell tone would be ok:
Guitar > dedicated Buffer > Tuner > Boss CS-2 > MXR Dynacomp > Pitch Shifter Digitech Whammy> Big Muff BYOC ram’s head > Keeley BD-2 (like TD#1 set for vol boost) / RAT / SS-2 replacement (TS9?) > Wampler Plexidrive (like TD#2 set for overdrive) > Boss ce-2 > Earnie Ball Vol. pedal >TC flashback 2290….
And In the Division Bell “Settings and Setups” section (“David’s Gear”), in the Songs settings, are the effects listed as their order in the chain? For example (“A great day for freedom solo; CS-2, Tube Driver, SS-2, phasing effect and delay”: is it the order in the chain?)
Thank you and best regards….
[Yes, that should be the effects chain although looking at it now I guess it should say Tube Driver or SS2. He probably didn’t use both. I’m pretty sure it’s just the Tube Driver. The effects chain looks great. Personally I’d go for the OCD for the SS2 tones :) – Bjorn]
I got my Vicks Audio Overdriver on October 6, and it has become one of my favorite od pedals. From Gilmour in the 70’s to Jeff Beck’s Blow By Blow, it nails them all. Very responsive to pick dynamics. I can’t find a bad setting on it.
I look forward to your review.
[Great pedal indeed! – BJorn]
You are a gentleman Bjorn, and a mind reader!!
I have a RAT2 sitting in a shopping basket ready to go, and a second hand DD3 waiting should I want it! But just last week I met a pedal builder and he’s building me a Tonebender Mk1. Parts already on the way from Germany! Once my missus stops beating me over the head with a frying pan I will certainly be looking at the Evolution :-)
Brian
[Cheers, Brian! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, when you do the review of the Vick Audio Overdriver, can you please fare it with the Buffalo FX power booster for all of us so that it’s easier to decide whether to get the Vick Audio or the Buffalo FX for a power booster? Much appreciated :)
[I don’t do audio comparisons in a review as I don’t think that’s fair to the product I’m reviewing but I will try to write a comparison between all the Colorsound clones out there. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
New Laney Cub just arrived (tube mods later), and I also got a Keeley mod BluesDriver. Any suggestions what should I be looking at next? Sold my Muff and EM Deluxe last year – kicking myself now! Anyway thanks in advance!
Brian
[Hi Brian! What tones are you looking for? I would say that a good distortion, an overdrive, which you now have, and a delay would be the three most essential pedals. If you want to keep it simple yet versatile than you might want to look into the TC Flashback and the awesome Evolution distortion from Buffalo FX. – Bjorn]
Bjorn–
Just wanna follow up with my impression of the Vick Overdriver. I love this pedal! It surprised me when I first plugged it in. The tone is absolutely awesome and it really packs a punch. It’s got a bit more balls to it than I was expecting. Two things stood out to me: the pedal on it’s own is very dynamic and is perfect for Overdrive and Clean boost, but its very musical and responsive. Also, as a booster for the 73 Rams Head, it adds the perfect amount of bite and attack while smoothing out the rough edges and adding a nice harmonic response. The two combined are very close to the original. I tried them with a Deluxe Mistress, a Strymon Lex, and TC Flashback and it nailed “Raise My Rent”. The best part is it is much more affordable than the other clones. Hope you’re enjoying yours as much as I am and I can’t wait for your review. Take care,
John
[Thanks for sharing, John! It’s a great pedal and I’m enjoying it very much. The review will be up in early December. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, here again… I would like to ask you about Boss DS-1. I have the chance to modify that pedal, but I really don’t know in what range is. The keeley mod gives the pedal a Marshallish classic sound, and I think the same from Analogman. I know you recorded some parts of Airbag’s songs with it (Call me Back, you said in a previous post, don’t you?), what’s your opinion/recomendation for it?
Cheers,
Luca
[Hi Luca! Mine is the AnalogMan modded with the extra mid range control. I think that’s needed. Otherwise, the pedal is pretty harsh. With the mids slightly boosted the pedal goes into RAT territory but more open and slightly more transparent sounding. It’s still a fairly bright pedal though so if your amp is bright then you might want a darker sounding distortion. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn Riis,
I am a big fan of the Division Bell and Pulse Tone; I recently bought a EMG DG20 set.
I’ve read a few times the Gilmour’s gear section / Division Bell page.
But there is something that isn”t clear to me:
– Can you confirm that when david uses RAT or Big Muff, he always pairs those pedals with the Tube Driver 1 (set for volume boost)?
– Is the Tube driver 2 (set for overdrive) always used alone by David?
– The Pete Cornish SS-2 is also used alone, or with the TD 1 (vol boost)?
Last question :
Are the Boss CS-2 and the Boss Ce-2 chorus always on ?
Regards,
Fabio,
Milano
[Hi Fabio! 1: Most of the time, yes. He would use the clean Tube Driver not so much for boost but rather as an EQ to add a bit of that tube character to the high gain pedals.
2: Yes. I think he sometimes also paired it with the SS2 but it’s usually used alone as the main overdrive unit.
3: Sometimes with the overdrive TD but usually alone for a slightly different overdrive tone compared to the TD. He didn’t use it that much though.
4: There was always a CE2 on in the amp setup. This one was lined with one of the channels for a wider stereo spread. He would also use a CE2 that’s placed in the effects line. This was on for 90% of the songs. The CS2 was the favoured compressor but he would also use the Dynacomp and sometimes both.
Hope this helped :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn and folks,
I am just reporting some news. Vick Audio, the guys who brought you the awesome and affordable 73 Rams Head, has released the “Overdriver,” a clone of the 18v Colorsound Powerboost. It’s just as affordable too. I just got mine in today. I’ll let you know what I think compared to the Buffalo Power Booster. Hope you are doing well,
John
[Hi John! Thanks for sharing :) I got the Overdriver last week and are preparing a review for it. I’d love to hear what you think too :) – Bjorn]
There’s a good amount of underrated OD pedals instead of the harsh ibanez tubescreamer I recommend the BBE Green Screamer instead, its much smoother and the harshness in the mid-range bump isn’t there and its much warmer. Also another pedal if you can find it is the Blakemore Mustang Overdrive. Its an excellent OD pedal with a 3 band EQ and very wide palette, going from a slight clean boost to a searing smooth saturation fit for killer leads. Finally another pedal I’ve come across is a Vox Cooltron Big Ben Overdrive. For people who want to emulate a nice big British style amp and lack the money I’d recommend using a Big Ben OD to get that nice breakup. It emulates the best transparent overdrive tones from amps like Vox AC30 and an early Marshall or the Laney. Yeah I know Gilmour didn’t use a Vox but a similar guitarist by the name of Andrew Latimer of Camel used some AC30s with a Les Paul and had a similar set up to Gilmour. Even his playing style is in the same vein as Gilmour’s and worth checking out.
[Thanks for the tips! – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn. I hope all is good by you. And thanks in advance for all your great tone tips. I was wondering whether the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret III in Super Bass Mode could work effectively as a booster after my muff. It works great when I run my Ge fuzz face into it with a fairly low gain setting and when I run it at 18v. Thanks again Bjorn.
[I would assume so. Try it and decide for your self :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I can’t decide whether to buy a buffalo fx powerboost or the dover drive as my boost pedal. I plan on using this in conjuction with a blackout effectors musket as well as others. I mainly play in the house at bedroom levels with a power soak. I enjoy all Pink Floyd, tend to lean towards PULSE, Gdansk. Can you recommend one over the other?
[The Buffalo. The Dover is not a very suitable booster, as it has a lot of gain and mid range. It will only make your Musket sound choked and muddy. – Bjorn]
Hi Björn,
I hope it goes well with your new record.
I have a few questions regarding my eternal hunt for Animals and WYWH tones.
My set-up is currently a Vintage Tele, Fender 57′ Deluxe with effectrode Tube-Vibe and a Strymon El Capistan.
My questions is as follows, – Could a Buffalo Power Booster or a Fire Bottle Tube Booster do the overdrive for me or should I choose a BD2 (Keeley), OCD or Plexi-drive?
In your great great article on Dogs, you write that Gilmour had a Seymour Duncan SSL (neck) in his Tele but only used his bridge pickup. Should I replace my American Vintage ’58 Single-Coil with
ex. Antiquity (Seymor Duncan) or the like?
I know it should be a matter of personally taste, but these pedals are pretty hard to get hold on in Denmark which is the reason I ask for your advice.
Thanks in forehand
Best regards, Mathias
[Hi Mathias! Sorry for my late reply. The Fire Bottle isn’t really an overdrive but more a booster for adding a bit of life to your pickups and tones. Of the ones you’re listing I think either the BD2 or PlexiDrive would do the job. Personally I’m a huge fan of the Plexi Drive. Which pickup you should choose depends as much on your amp and pedals as what tones you’re looking for. There are no records on what pickup there is in David’s ’55 Esquire or ’59 Custom other than that they’re custom wound. I would assume they’re both around 5.5k-7k, which is a great fit for those vintage late 60s and 70s tones. – Bjorn]
Hi, Björn.
About the Boss Heavy Metal HM-2: I bought one to know better about the sound of this pedal. I think you underestimated it… it sounds huge on my set up! For DSOT tones, it’s great! My favorite one now! With the right settings you can do “On the turning away” pretty good! It deserves a detailed review, don’t you think? Cheers.
[Care to share your amp and pedal settings? My experience with the pedal is that it definitely needs a darker overdrive or pre-amp combined with it, which is what David did with his 1984-87 HM2+Mesa combo. Alone, I find the pedal very bright and almost harsh. Set up right, it sounds awesome, I agree with that :) – Bjorn]
Hey, Bjorn
I have a chain
TC Spark Booster – Boss BD-2 – Musket
So, I`m using a Musket with overdriven BD-2 for a lead tones and TC Spark Booster for a clean tones.
I have read you posted once that I`t good to keep booster (TC Spark Booster) always ON to get better sound on a lower volumes. Where do you think it should be placed in the chain? Because, when it stands last, and it`s ON with BD-2 and Musket, the sound starts to be very busy and nosy, and is a problem to make all 3 pedals work with the same volume alone and together.
Could you please suggest me how would you use that 3 pedals?
P.S My full chain is
Strat SSl-5 – MXR Dynacomp – Musket – BD-2 – TC Spark Booster – Phase 90 – Nova Delay
Thank You!
[I wouldn’t use all three at once. Even if it sounds clean, it’s still a gain pedal so you’re basically stacking 3 gain pedals, which will add noise. The compressor is also a gain pedal. I’d use the Spark for cleans and the Musket and BD2 for leads. – Bjorn]
Hello all,
I own Maxon OD-9 pedal, which did not like after some time of usage. After buying new amp (Koch Studiotone) with much fuller sound, the combination of both was very boxy.
For those of you, able to solder and mod your tubescreamer pedals, Brian Wampler’s advices are here:
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/5_DIY_Mods_to_Perfect_Your_Ibanez_TS9_and_Boss_SD-1
Also check his BD-2 mods or Russian big muff mods.
My Maxon OD-9 already has a true bypass, so I made TS808 mod (swapping 2 output resistors), different diodes clipping mod with 3PDT switch (LED, stock silicone and no diodes), increased the gain and bass. My next step will be passive tone control, which will make pedal more transparent.
The pedal has its creamy overdrive, but with more bass, also gain, so it does not sound so boxy. LED diodes against silicone have more tube like tone and more total volume. I have also seen another mod, replacing C2, C3, C8 caps with more audiophile WIMA MKS4 caps, so I wil try.
Now I have more fun with my pedal, it will stay on my pedalboard.
Enjoy your modding.
Michal
[Thanks for the tips! – Bjorn]
I work in the brewing industry here in the United States and last week at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver CO, I met up with BK Butler for coffee and to take delivery of a Tube Driver that he made for me. What an amazing guy! Incredible stories and a truley warm and generous person.
The Tube Driver that he made for me included an upgraded NOS 1980’s YUGO tube and the new “Bias Adjustment Knob”.
Here’s my question: Have you done a review of this newer version of the Tube Driver?
By the way, your website has been an invaluable resource for me. I’ve added the following to my set up: Electric Orange Moon Vibe, Mojo Hand Nebula Phaser, Costalab Chorus, Pure Tone Buffer, Buffalo Evolution & Patriot, Hartman Flanger, Strymon El Capistan, Effectrode Compressor, Evidence Audio Cabels, Blackstar Tube Amp Stack and of course the BK Butler Tube Driver.
Thanks Dude!
[Thanks for your kind words, Mike! No I haven’t reviewed the bias version. My original review is old so perhaps I should update it… :) – Bjorn]
Update on the Vick Audio Overdriver. Vick Audio offered to sell me the first one, (so of course I jumped on that!) Just got it.
You are sooo going to dig this. I won’t say anymore, because I don’t want to color, (no pun intended) your opinion and possible review, but this is right up your alley.
[Thanks! I’ll try to check it out :) – Bjorn]
Hi, Bjorn. Love the site and the reviews. If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like your suggestion for overdrive/distortion and boost for solos. I play in very small venues and cannot turn the amp up past 4 – usually 2 – so the “bedroom” setup will probably work best.
I have a Gibson Les Paul Standard and a Fender Eric Clapton Strat that I run into a Fender Princeton Reverb 1965 reissue. I’m very pleased with the clean tone, but I’m looking for an overdrive and/or distortion (plus a boost for solos). Adjectives to describe the sound I seek would be the often used “warm, full, creamy, smooth” etc.
For rhythm something full. Not metal or punk tones, nor the snarling Keith Richards tone, but kind of a Joe Bonamassa overdriven/distorted (whichever term is more accurate) sound with those sustained ringing chords. Billy Gibbons and Gilmour have that result on songs like “Gimme All Your Lovin'” and “One Slip” but the tone is a bit 80s. I know all those guys rely on loud amps for that tone, but since that isn’t an option, any suggestions you have are appreciated.
For solos, the “Comfortably Numb” tone with it’s warmth and sustain is obviously the benchmark.
Anyroad, any suggestions you have for the right overdrive/distortion and/or boost for solos are appreciated. Thanks!
[Hi Craig! The Buffalo FX Evolution for distortion and the Wampler PlexiDrive for overdrive and boost. I can’t really praise these two pedals enough. Especially for a setup like yours and the tones you’re seeking. There are lots of other great alternatives out there too, like the RAT, Tube Screamer, Boss BD2 etc but I think the Evolution and Plexi Drive will hit the spot. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn! Just a heads up. Vick Audio is going to be releasing a Colorsound Overdriver reproduction soon. (About 3 weeks to a month from this message.) :)
[Awesome! – Bjorn]
hey bjorn, what do you think which alternative boosters are good as, close good and maybe better the the originals? one for the coloursound booster era and one for the tube drive era
[Either the Buffalo FX Powerbooster or ThroBak Overdriveboost for the Colorsound and the Wampler PlexiDrive or Fulltone OCD for the Tube Driver. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn have you tried the EHX East River Drive? It’s a TS808 clone and people say it’s really good! Cheers
[Yep. Definitely worth a try. Perhaps not as smooth as the original 808 but very nice indeed. – Bjorn]
Bjorn,
how can i achieve a tone similar to the solo in have a cigar with a BD2? I play a fender strat with SSL5 in the bridge on a blues jr.
[It should do the job very well. It’s a fairly bright pedal though so don’t be afraid to keep the tone low. Check out this feature for some bedroom setup tips and this one for some amp setting tips. – Bjorn]
HI Bjorn,
base on our conversation above I have also bought a Mooer ElecLady, so now for my Gdansk sound my pedalboard is in the order :
Stratocaster MIM (all original) – Boss CS2 – Skreddy p19 – Wampler Plexidrive – Choruslab / ElecLady – TC flashback – Laney Cub 12R Combo.
I trust that the order of the pedal is good. Isn’t it?
Now I have only the room for another pedal in my pedalboard I am some doubt what buy between the Buffalo Evolution or Boss GE 7. What can be more useful?
Could you help me?
Thanks a lot
Sebastiano
[The order seems OK :) I’d definitely go for the Evolution. It’s an incredibly versatile pedals and not just for David’s sounds. You shouldn’t really be needing an EQ unless you feel your tones are missing something that you can’t get from your guitar or amp. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn riis,
Could you share with us your experience with Tc Electronic Spark Mini Booster, please?
Does it the job well as a small package with the Blean boost setting from the original spark booster?
Have a good night! Bye
[I haven’t tried it but I would assume that it would work nicely with Muffs and other high gain pedals. The original one does a great job at both clean boost and boosting other pedals. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I was thinking in getting a second overdrive/booster and a buffer. Do you think the Soul Food would do the job done? I know it has an internal switch to select between true bypass and buffered mode, and since the pedal has great reviews and a good price seems to me like a very good deal. Here’s my setup:
Fender Strat with Fat 50’s, CS69’s and SSL-5
Fender Blues Jr. III
Olympia Fuzz
Ibanez TS808
P19
Phase 90 Vintage 74′ Script Logo
Carbon Copy delay
BTW I’m looking forward your new album, I heard the demo you uploaded on facebook months ago and sounds fantasticly good.
cheers from Venezuela.
[The Soul Food is an excellent booster. Based on the Klon it has a warm clean tone and lots of mids when you crank it. I haven’t engaged the buffer on mine so I can’t tell if it’s capable of driving the signal effortlessly or not. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
thanks a lot. Base d on our conversation up, I read about Buffalo evolution on Buffalo web site. It report the Evolution as an overdrive, Isn’t it?
If I understand well you you suggested to use the Wampler plexidrive as an overdrive and booster and the Evolution as Distortion to cover the G2 in Gdansk and as second overdrive too, did yI get you though?
Thanks for you feedback and thanks in advance.
Sebastiano
[Not sure why they call it an overdrive. Perhaps due to the circuit, I don’t know. It’s capable of some mild overdrive tones but it’s definitely a distortion. – Bjorn]
You should definitely check out the high volt by love pedal it is great for a lot of the wall, animals, and DSotM. It can pretty much cover most of gilmours lead tones and it has a great range of gain. It can get pretty fuzzy too.
[Thanks for the tip! – Bjorn]
I have a keeley mod boss bd2 ……………………… okay that pedal for the overdrive tones animals tour 1977? … eg .. wanna touch have a cigar, the pace of Pigs (Three Different Ones), sheep, etc …. what settings would be nice to get that overdrive tone ………….. locate tone knob where for example?
[It’s a great alternative to the Colorsound Powerboost that David used at the time. The settings depends on your amp and pickups. It’s a fairly bright pedal so don’t be afraid to lower the tone quite a bit. – Bjorn]
I’ll try that Bjorn; thank you very much for the response! I do prefer some vintage tones; IMHO, a TS9 sounds too trebly for my taste, but maybe the mooer green mile is warmer than a normal TS9? Anyway, im after for that have a cigar lead tone so I guess the BD2 isn’t that bad for it.
Cheers
Thanks Bjorn,
probably a Univibe can be the next one.
Do you think that the Wampler Plexidrive should be placed before or after the Skreddy P19?
And do you think I need a distortion too or I should be able to cover Gdansk tone with Plexidrive and P19?
Thanks a lot
Sebastiano
[If you’re using the P19 with the PlexiDriver, then I’d place the PD after the P19. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter. You’re pretty much covered but I strongly recommend considering the Buffalo Evolution as well. It’s a distortion based on the G2 and RAT. It’s by far the best sounding distortion I’ve played. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, I know we have different amps, pickups, and guitars haha, but, do you have a setting for the blues driver as a stand-alone overdrive for Have a Cigar ? (I don’t know if the lead settings are different than rythm?) I’m not liking the BD2 really :/ Was it a bad purchase?
Maybe I should have bought the Mooer Green Mile ? (altough very different overdrives) My goal is a classic overdrive sound rather than using the bd2 as a booster.
I would thank you so much
[The BD2 is classic tube tones so if you don’t like it then perhaps it’s not that suited for your setup… or we simply have different tastes :) The TS9 is a very different sounding pedal and although it might sound better on your amp it’s not what I’d recommend for classic Gilmour tones… since that’s what you’re obviously after :) I normally set the level slightly above unity, the tone between off and 9 o’clock and the gain at 9 for boost and anything between 12 and full for gains. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I have just boght the wampler plexidrive based on your suggestion, thanks a lot.
Always Based on gandsk sound which could be my next pedal or “essential”, I remid you my “tools” to play only at home
Stratocaster MIM (all original) – Boss CS2 – Wampler Plexidrive – Skreddy p19 – Choruslab – TC flashback – Laney Cub 12R Combo.
On what do you would invesst?
Thanks in advance
Sebastiano
[Seems that you got Gdansk covered :) Perhaps a UniVibe for Breathe? The DryBell Machine Vibe is my favourite. Also, I can’t have a board without a Mistress :) The Mooer ElecLady is a bargain AND it sounds great! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Do you have any experience with the Pigtronix Class A Boost?
[Never tried it. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn!
The site just keeps getting better and better!
Anyway, I was wondering… what guitar volume knob/pedal settings should I use for the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver to get that Time (rhythm), Money (rhythm), Shine on, and Have a Cigar kind of tones?
I play a Fender Am. Std. Strat through an 18 watt tube amp. (Traynor YGM-3)
Thanks in advance!
[Thanks! I don’t have any experience with the Traynor but they BD2 settings depends on how the amp and your pickups sound. TRy setting the gain at around 11-12:00, tone 9:00 and the volume at around 1:00. You might want to adjust that to match your amp. – Bjorn]
Hi, Bjorn.
Although you said the RAT is more versatile pedal, I wonder when (or if) Gilmour used the Boss HM-2 on the Delicate Sound… tour. Cheers.
[Hard to tell when he actually used it but I’m pretty sure it’s on On the Turning Away. Could be a Muff as well. It’s all over both About Face and Momentary. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn, Awesome website. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and insight.
I am looking for new fuzz and overdrive pedals to replace my Keeley Fuzz Head and MI Audio Blues Boy Deluxe, both of which I have not been able to get the sound I want out of them. I use an American Strat and Les Paul through a Gries 35watt (PTP 6L6 Blackface clone) usually at bedroom volumes. I love Gilmour’s tone especially on DSOTM. My amp has a pre and master volume and I like the natural overdrive I get from the amp. Since I play mostly at low volumes initially I was looking into getting a boost pedal to fatten the sound and was looking at the TC Spark Boost. However, I see you highly recommend the Buffalo Power Booster. Do these pedals directly compare? If one had the Buffalo Power Booster would getting the Spark Boost be redundant? It seems the Buffalo can do the clean boost of the Spark Boost in addition to having a really nice overdrive sound. As for the fuzz I am leaning towards the Analogman Sun Face. With a Sun Face/Power Booster/Natural Amp overdrive do you think it would be necessary to get a dedicated OD/Distortion like the Rattler/OCD? Thanks!!
[It all depends on what tones you want. The Spark Booster is an all clean booster so you will have to drive the amp pretty hard to get enough gain. The Buffalo has lots of gain but it’s very bright so if you want that classic 70s and 80s Marshall sound then it might not be the best choice. A Tube Screamer or the OCD will give you slightly darker and warmer tone, with more gain too… – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn. Following on from my post of the 4th July . My amp is a fender hot rod deluxe iii and my guitar is a 2012 fender strat select with bare knuckles irish tours. Also is the ocd acting as the boost in your suggested pedal order ? Thanks
[The OCD can work as a booster but it has quite a lot of mid range, which isn’t the best for boosting. At least not for David’s tones. I’d keep it as a dedicated overdrive and get a more transparent overdrive, like the Buffalo Powerbooster, Boss BD2 or TC Spark Booster for boosting cleans and the distortions. – Bjorn]
Hi, Bjorn,
Thank you for all your sugestions
I finally figured out the list of pedals what i will by and just want to usk your opinion
Boss cs-3
Red muck
Pro co rat2
Ibanez ts9
Tc spark booster
Mxr phaze 90
Tc nova delay
Do you think this setup is good enough or you would remove or replace some of them?
Thank you
Dmitry
[Seems like a very versatile setup! I can’t think of anything else… perhaps a flanger for those Animals and Wall tones? The Mooer ElecLady is really nice. – Bjorn]
Ok thats great, I will look into those two options, thanks again Bjorn!
Hey Bjorn did you ever try the costalab moon drive? It’s supposed to be an exact copy of the g2. I wanted to know what you thought of it. It seemed pretty close in a review I seen. Thanks for your help!
[Haven’t tried it but I’m sure it sounds great like the rest of the CostaLab stuff :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
enjoy reading your great website!
I have a question for you. I have an EHX Soul Food. What fuzz or other (overdrive?) pedal(s) would you use in combination, if you were to play?
Like yourself, I am also a big Gilmour fan, and thus, my tone and playing does end up close to, or what I feel closely resembles his tone.
Curious to know what your thoughts are.
Thanks!
[It combines nicely with most pedals I think. It does produce quite a mids bump when you crank the gain but set for clean boost it works great with most gain pedals. – Bjorn]
Hi, Bjorn!
Thank you for your answer.
So, if i understand right, I can use Red Muck together with Tc Spark Booster for heavy lead tones and Spark alone for boosted clean tones or for overdriven tones with compressor?
And one more question. Does the spark cover BD-2 tones with mid or fat mode?
Thank you!
[Yes but keep in mind that the Spark Booster is all clean so it will only do for boosting cleans and other pedals. It will not create overdrive alone. Nor with a compressor unless you drive the compressor really hard. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, hope you are well and exciting news regarding Davids latest work, looking forward to the release in a few months.
Wondering if you can lend some advice as Im considering a 2nd boost/overdrive in my chain for more versatility. Im currently using a Keely BD-2 and if you had the choise to partner that with one other boost or overdrive, what would you choose? Would you leave the BD-2 as dedicated boost and go for an overdrive, or visa-versa? I’m looking to cover mainly DSOTM up to the Wall, but I have a 2nd strat with the EMG’s so like to cover a little pulse-era also.
Heres my current pedal set up in order;
Caroline Olympia
MXR Supercomp
Mesa Throttle-box
Musket
BD-2
MXR Script phase-90
Echorec
TC Nova repeater
Red witch Empress
Into a standard Blues Junior. Playing at home and alternatining between quiet and reasonable volume (depending on if the family and neighbours are home!)
Thanks for your advice as always!
Cheers,
Nick
[Hi Nick! I’d go for either a Powerbooster, like the one from Buffalo, for clean boost and use the BD2 for overdrive or, a Wampler PlexiDrive as an overdrive to cover the Tube Driver tones and use the BD2 for clean boost… :) – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn!
Thanks again for the help. Sorry for the slow response, busy week. I’ve really been all over the place on this Lionheart between both clean and drive channels and using the high and low inputs. Currently I have it on drive channel, Bright OFF, drive turned up to 3, bass 4, mid 6 treb 8, reverb 4, tone 7.
I really cannot tell a difference between the high and low inputs either with the DG-20.
I know in your video you’re using a BK Butler Tube Driver, and also a BOSS compressor that I do not yet have.
If you have both a Red Muck and a Keeley BD-2 at your disposal, can you try them together and see if your set pairs well together? It’s just really weird that when the BD-2 is engaged it really just adds gain and lessens the high notes of lead tones unless I up the Red Muck to 100% gain.
[Do you need to boost the Red Muck? The BD2 is transparent enough to boost without colouring too much but there is a slight mids boost there as well, which might not go well with your setup… or ears. It works nicely over here so I think that you either have to just find the right balance or consider not boosting the Muck, which is fully capable of acting alone. Mind too that the drive channel on the Lionheart, although sounding clean, will add a very different basis for the pedals compared to the clean channel. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Another question sorry!
I am very tempted to get a Tube Driver, but which is better; a Butler or a Chandler?
Thanks, Hamish
[Butler, if you ask me… :) – Bjorn]
Hi, Bjorn!
Thank you for all that information that you post on this site! Incredibly useful!
I recently bought a Spark Booster for clean tones and wondering is it works as good as a compressor, or it`s better to get a separate one?
And a second question. For the lead tones I want to buy a JaM Pedals Red Musk and use it together with OCD. Do you think it will work to get some Pulse tones?
Sorry if my questions are stupid) jusi trying to make it clear for myself.
I`m playing American Standart Strat with Custom Fat Pickups and Marshall 40C
Thanks!!!
[Sorry for my late reply, Dmitry. There are no stupid questions :) The Spark Booster is a booster or overdrive and isn’t designed to double as a compressor. That’s two different types of effects. The OCD can work as a booster but it has quite a bit of mid range, which will colour the Red Muck to some extent. The Sparkle Booster is a better option. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn!
I picked up a Keeley modified BD-2 to use with my Red Muck, however I am having a heck of a time trying to get good PULSE tones out of it.
My rig is Strat with DG-20s –> Red Muck –> BD-2 –> BOSS DD-7 delay –> Laney Lionheart 5w amp.
I am not sure if maybe the Keeley BD-2 and Jam Pedals Red Muck go well together or not, however I am finding that the BD-2 just adds gain and volume without an increase in tone. To keep the tone from sounding poor, I have to increase the gain on the Red Muck to 100%.
I watched your video of the Red Muck but I just cannot seem to get that kind of tone. Can you recommend settings for the Red Muck, BD-2 and possibly settings you find that work on the Lionheart?
I did try your recommended settings found in your Red Muck review video, but I can’t even seem to come close to PULSE tones. I do get a really wicked “Empty Spaces” tone though :/ but nothing like PULSE.
Thanks again!!
[Hi Bryan! What’s your amp settings? – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn. Comparing the TS9 and the EHX soul food, which is better and more versatile? Which one of them acts better as a transparent booster or when boosting a big muff? Will the Soul Food produce a more high gain/creamy bluesy overdrive?
[Both have a fair amount of mid range but the Soul Food is noticeable cleaner and more transparent. Both can produce some serious gain but between the two I think the Soul Food works better for boosting. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn
I’m going to London on Tuesday and I’m thinking maybe I’ll grab myself an 18v Powerboost. Do you think that it could give me the WYWH and Animals overdrive tone? What are the differences between the 18v one and the 9v one soundwise? I have a Laney Lionheart 20w combo with an American standard strat with an SSL-5 bridge pickup.
Thanks!
[The 18v has more headroom and a generally bigger and smoother tone. Works nicely on the Lionheart. Have a great time in London! – Bjorn]
After all, is there something that’s really ‘correct’ when it comes to tone? Cheers Bjorn, I hope everything is fine over there!
[Nope. Only your ears can be the judge :) – Bjorn]
Greetings
Got a little question about one pedal. I’m currently looking for a high gain fuzz or distortion wich can cover a big part of my distortion needs. Not so long ago, a new pedal called “Karma Suture” by Catalinbread caught my eye by range of dist. it produces. And though that this is just dist. of my dreams, if only it could produce the Big Muff sound. But unfortunately, I can’t check this entirely. So the question is, what do you think of “Karma Suture” as a pedal for Gilmour’s Big Muff and Distortion tones?
Thank you)
[I haven’t tried it so I can’t tell. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn
This is a reposting of my 29th June post which does not appear to have got to you
Thanks for this brilliant site!
Im a great fan of Gilmour’s DSOT/Pulse tone and also participate in Gibfloyd (Gibraltar’s Pink Floyd Tribute Band – Check out Youtube!).
Up until recently I have been using a Boss Gt-10 with some great results through my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe however I was keen on having a more versatile set up with stomp pedals that retained the convenience of the multi effects so recently bought a TC Electronics G System (4 stomps in the loops).
I went back to basics to get the overdrive/distortion sounds and used just stomp pedals try to get close to an “On the turning away/Time†type of tone as a starting point. I have the following pedals: Fulltone OCD, Blackout Effectors Musket (on your recommendation! thks), TC Nova Drive (MIDI makes this one a no-brainer!).I also have an MXR Dynacomp as an alternative the the G Systems compressor and a Boss DD Delay.
The dilema is that I just can get the right pedal combinations to get a desired sound. Is it MXR Dynacomp>OCD>Nova Drive>Musket>Delay.
Im tired of tweaking and racking my brain and thought i should refer this to the expert! to see if you could you give me some advice on the pedals (Do i need say amore transparent boost? BD2 or TC Spark? and eliminate the OCD?) and how you would go about pedal placement?
Congratulations on an amazing site. You can’t imagine the hours I spent on it reading and listening! Please keep up the great work! and look forward to hearing from you
Best Chris
[Hi Chris! Sorry, I haven’t seen your first posting… What amp and guitar/pickups are you using? I always recommend to start with the amp settings before intriducing any pedals. Check out this feature for some amp setup tips. I’d arrange your pedals like this: guitar > mxr > nova > musket > ocd > delay > amp. Let me know if you need more help with the settings after you’ve checked your amp :) – Bjorn]
Finally I got my BD-2, and I love it.. It might not be a Colorsound but for the price (altough fairly expensive for a Boss over here…) I love it.. Thank you very much, now I have a great booster and OD… How do you play live with pedals that dont have many mids going on ? Like a Ram’s Head Big Muff.. you just boost it ? Some guys recommend boosting that kind of pedals with TS9’s and mid-heavy OD’s, but I dont think that’s the best choice..altough it’s a very subjective thing..
Anyway, thank you so much Bjorn!! Shine on..
[Hi Tom! Teh BD2 is very nice. Ram’s head Muffs and scooped overdrives have a tendency to drown in a dense band mix. Boosting them will add a bit more compression and mid range, depending on what booster you use and how much you boost. I always boost Muffs with a Colorsound PB or clone and although they’re equally scooped the combo cuts through nicely. There’s nothing wrong with boosting with a TS9 or similar middy pedals but personally I think that colour the character of the Muff too much. – Bjorn]
Hi I just bought a RAT plugged in my Cub12R… I searching for a good tone to learn and play some Gilmour solos and don’t really obtain any good result…
Do you have some start setting to go with ?
Thank you !
[Depending on your guitar, setting all three controls around 2 o’clock is usually a good start. See this feature for some settings tips for the Cub. – Bjorn]
Any suggestions on a pedal to complement the SL Drive? Something to allow me to get both rhythm and lead tones without repeatedly tweaking knobs on a bedroom set up? I like the SL Drive’s Superbass for smooth leads and its Superlead for rhythm/arpeggio work but that goes beyond knob tweaking to dip-switch flipping, so it seems like I need a second pedal either to be used independently or to be stacked. Thanks.
[How about a TS9 or OD808? I’m stacking my SL, set for Superbass, with a Maxon OD808 and love the tones I get. I can go everywhere from ZZ Top and AC/DC to 80s metall and Floyd. Very versatile. You may also want to consider the Buffalo Evolution that I recently reviewed. It stacks very well and works perfectly with the SL. – Bjorn]
Thank you for all you work, Bjorn! Nice tips, great job! Cheers!
[Thanks, cheers! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn
I really like David’s overdrive tones from WYWH and Animals. The overdrive tone from the Colorsound Power boost is my second favorite after the animals/wall/final cut big muff tone. Would I be better off with a clone like the Buffalo FX version or the 9v reissue or the Overdriver to get some nice and accurate overdrive tones at bedroom levels?
Thanks!
[The Buffalo. It’s a tad warmer and got more headroom, which is better suited for bedrooms. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, do you know what is guitar effects of tim renwick in track called “Night Of A Thousand Furry Toys” from broken china album? Also i want to know which type of overdrive/distortion has been used in guitar solo part of that great song…
thank you in advance :-)
[Hi! I’ve no idea. He is a Strat guy and I think he has mentioned that he prefer Fender amps but then again, he might have used some studio equipment. Great tune and tone though! – Bjorn]
Thank you, Sebastiano! Both pedals are very good, I think and true to the originals. The Blues Mood (BD2) is perhaps the closest to David’s old Colorsound Powerboost and current Tube Driver tones, while the Green Mile (or TS9) has an overall warmer tone with more mid range. It depends on what amp and pickups you have. The Green Mile is perhaps more versatile, while the Blues Mood has more of an amp-like tone. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
My guitar is a Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico with original pickups and the the amp is a Laney cub 12 R, and I have got also a Boss CS2 – Skreddy P19 – TC Flash back.
What overdrive do you choose if you were me? Blues Mood, Green Mile or eventually some other. As said I like also blues.
Thanks a lot in advance
Sebastiano
[The Blues Mood then perhaps. It’s also worth checking out the Mooer Hustler, which is a clone of the Fulltone OCD. Kind of a mix between the BD2 and TS9. – Bjorn]
Many thanks!!! :) Cheers my friend
Hey, thanks for the response. A new deal has actually come up meanwhile, a local store now sells Mooer pedals. Site isn’t updated yet but perhaps it would be even better to get the Black Secret. I do get the feeling I should get the RAT, basically from all I gather all around the internet, starting here. It just wasn’t the ideal setup IMO. Anyways, I’ll see to it next week or so.
Cheers!
Hahah, I’ve been thinking about that option, the keeley sounds great but I’d have to save more money and I dont know… im just so decided with the stock one..
In the future, I will buy a keeley one
Hey Bjorn, do you have some settings for Shine on pt1 with the BD2 as the main OD? Cheers
[Try setting the gain at 9-10, tone 8-9 and the volume for a mild boost around 1-2 (O’clock settings). – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I’m looking for a Vintage RAT clone, for classic pulse and division bell tones, and of course that would be able to sound as close as possible to sovtek big muff.
here’s what my budget allows, from the less to the more expensive: Mooer Black Secret, Cmatmods ratified, Hartman distortion, retrosonic distortion (tough a bit expensive ….). Jam pedlas rattler is far too expensive.
a pedal that would handle as a vintage RAT….
Thank you!!
[The Mooer is actually very good. Well worth checking out :) – Bjorn]
@Tom… Lucky you, go on Ebay and get one with the Mod! It is a much better and more versatile pedal :)
Cheers!
Haven’t had a chance to try them all out yet, by the time I got to the shop, they only had the LPB large two 12ax7 model still in stock, but I’ll let you know, the real tube Hot Tubes, might be a winner!
Keep kicking ass buddy, KC
[Cheers! – Bjorn]
HI Bjorn,
did you have the chance to test the two Mooer overdrives
– Blues Mood Overdrive
– Green Mile
As I understood the Blues Mod is based on Boss BD2 with included a Keeley mod in it.
I awe a demo in youtube and it seems great:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6K5hFfWH-Q
and also the green mile seams very good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFw1b8COJ1A
I decided to take one of the two but I do not know which one can be more suitable for David Tones.
Thanks for your opinion.
GREAT WEBSITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Thank you, Sebastiano! Both pedals are very good, I think and true to the originals. The Blues Mood (BD2) is perhaps the closest to David’s old Colorsound Powerboost and current Tube Driver tones, while the Green Mile (or TS9) has an overall warmer tone with more mid range. It depends on what amp and pickups you have. The Green Mile is perhaps more versatile, while the Blues Mood has more of an amp-like tone. – Bjorn]
Damn… I was arriving at the store, at the exact moment another guy was buying the last BD2 in stock!!! LOL!! Hahaha, it was a funny experience after all…seems like I’ll have to wait a couple of days to get mine..
Has this happened to you?
Cheers!
Hey Bjorn,
Been wanting to get a Rat, in fact I went and tryed it at a store today, with my own amp (unfortunately not the guitar, my Les Paul with coil splitting). To be honest, I’m not sure. I mean, it sounds good, and of course goes further in the gain department, but I’m not sure if its going to make that much of a difference from the BD2 I currently have to justify it. Then again I wasn’t at ease with the guitar and didn’t have much time, don’t know how it works with single coils, delays, etc. I just feel like I could use some more gain (for the Floyd side of it) and generally more power than what the BD2 has at times, especially with the low bedroom volume. Should I just go for it and buy it, spend some more time with it in a more comfortable setup? I feel like there was much left to explore.
Thanks!
[The RAT and BD2 are two very different pedals. While the BD2 can be tweaked for pretty heavy distortion it is a much brighter pedal and more suited for clean boost and overdrive. The RAT has more gain and mids, which makes it a great distortion. It will also allow you to get those creamy lead tones on songs like Comf Numb, Sorrow etc on low volume and bedroom setups. I’d definitely get one. Spend some time learning how it sounds and behaves with different settings. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Do you think an additional distortion or fuzz pedal is required to compliment the Dover drive pedal, for Gilmour/Airbag tones, or do you think that the Dover drive is enough to nail most Gilmour tones on its own?
If not, can you please suggest a pedal that sits in well with the DD and compliments it as well?
Also, could you please share the pedals used and their settings on Airbag’s ‘Call me back’ AND ‘Silence Grows’ (different settings, I know :) ? What setting would you recommend on the Dover Drive for the above songs? Also, what’s the acoustic guitar that you’re using on ‘Silence Grows’?
Thank for the great music on ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’. Can’t stop listening :)
[Depends on what tones you want obviously. The Dover can cover anything from mild overdrive to creamy distortion. It does not do clean boost that well and if you want a Big Muff tone, then you better get a Big Muff :) For Call Me Back I used a RotoVibe paired with a Boss CE2 for all the rhythms played with a Tele (I think…). The lead in the middle is clean with Mistress and the main solo, is an AnalogMan DS1 with Boss RT20 played with a LP with Custom 57 pickups. For Silence, I used a Strat clean for the rhythms. The main lead is a Strat with Sovtek green Muff, while the riffs after the solo was done with a Strat and a Jam Pedals Fuzz Phrase. The rhytms after the break is all Tube Driver. The wah lead at the end is on OCD with wah played with a LP. I don’t remember what acoustic I used. Probably borrowed one in the studio. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Bjorn, how are you? Have you tried the Retro-Sonic Preamp? It’s a replica of the BOSS FA-1, a transparent bass and treble booster.
[Never tried it… – Bjorn]
Sorry for all the typos, for some reason there has been a latency issue on your site for the past week or so, and the letters are showing up on the screen about a half second after being typed. Anyone else have this problem? This is the only site my phone is having this issue on?
Peace, KC
Yeah, I’d forgotten that they made the MXR sized Hot Tubes for some time now, but does it have tubes? I don’t remember seeing any vents, and thought the nano version was maybe just a digital tube nodeling pedal. I woukd almost bet that at least one of the 5 or 6 two tube pedals they’ve started pusing is a good sounding preamp, for getting that Plexi sound out of a cleaner amp like our Reeves. I’m gonna take my head and Cymbaline to Sam Ash today, and try the 3 different models they have, and get back to you. My thinking is, that with the Reeves pres kind of stacked with the 2 12ax7s, and likely a high gain preamp, it would push the Reeves in a Marshally direction. It might be
like you said, Instant max distortion, and sound like crap, but it could just act like a stacked stage pre, and give the Reeves thar smooth compessed sound of a cranked plexi, or master volume Marshall. We’ll see, very curious?
Peace, Keith
[The Nano doesn’t have tubes. How did the shoot out go???? – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, seems that EHX has recently put out half a dozen two tube preamps/overdrive /boosters including bringing back the HotTubes, if indeed it ever went away, I know I hadn’t seen one in years, but a recent visit to my store of choice, I saw 3 different units, and a few more on a website. I played through a Hot Tubes many years ago, but my recall isn’t stellar. Would any of these two 12ax7 units be a good replacement for a Tube Driver. Only asking because they’re a bit lower priced, and readily available without a long wait, and online purchase. What is your opinion, if any, about this new, and reissued line of tube pres?
Thanks brother, Keith
[I haven’t tried them so I can’t really tell. The clips I’ve heard of the Nano sounds perhaps a bit more transparent and with less low end. The Tube Driver sounds huge the moment you step on it and although it’s transparent, in terms of less mid range, it certainly doesn’t sound like you’re only kicking in more dirt. The closest I’ve co0me to the Tube Driver with other pedals is the Wampler PlexiDrive, which is based on the JTM45, which is kind of the basis for the Tube Driver too. – Bjorn]
Hello to you Bjorn,
I’d like to know what you think about the Joyo pedals, particularly the Joyo pre-amps which are ACtone, American sound, British, and California?
Thanks!
[The Joyo pedals are OK but I think the Mooers are far better and closer to the originals. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn,
Following the direction of Dimitri’s message, could you confirm that in the Division Bell and Pulse Tones, Gilmour:
1 – Always uses Big Muff with the BK Tube driver 1 (volume boost setting)
2 – Always uses RAT with Tube driver 1 (volume boost)
3 – Always uses Soft Sustain with Tube driver 1 (volume boost)
4 – Same question with the Tube driver 2 (overdrive): is it used in conjunction withg the TD 1 (volume boost), or alone without TD 1?
Regards, Uwe
[I’m sure he was occasionally using different setups and combinations depending on his mood and how his guitar sounded at a given venue but check out this break down for each song. It should be more or less what he used throughout the tour. – Bjorn]
Bjorn just bought a rat2 and its awsome, i boost it just a but with the drive channel on my fender frontman 65r (driver: 20%), does david gilmour boost his muffs or g2 with the tube drive1 ( booster drive) or with the tube drive2 ( full drive), it has me going confused, and does the rat need a compressor in the chain ? also like you said rat 2 goes well with transistor amps, i wanna buy a new bugera v22 tube amp will it go aloong well?
[He’s boosting with the clean boost TD. The Rat doesn’t need a compressor because it has so much gain and mid range so it already sound very compressed and saturated. The RAT goes well with almost any amp… :) – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, have you played the Blackstar LT Boost? It makes me think about the blues driver, I mean, for the Blue haha. Also, it is cheaper than the BD2 (at least here in Chile), do you think the blues driver is really worth it considering price difference?
[Never tried it. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Do you think that the SS-2 from pete Cornsih could be easily replaced by a Boss DS-1, or an EH Soul Food. Can I come close with those pedals?
You described it as a cross between an old Ts9 and a MXR disto +… By the way what kind of pedal is the MXR Disto +? Transparent or typical end 70’s overdrive with pronounced mid hump?
Regards,
Uwe
[The Dist+ is a germanium based overdrive sounding much like the Tube Screamer but much more transparent. Alone, on a clean amp, it can sound rather thin, but the idea was to use it on a cranked Marshall or whatever and guys like Randy Rhoads used it all the time. I think the closest match to the SS2 would be either the Soul Food or perhaps the OCD set on the hi mode with the gain rolled a bit back. – Bjorn]
Bjorn,
in the Division bell gear section, you describe the 2 Chandler TD and their settings (one of them set for volume boost, the other as an overdrive).
If you were using a Boss Blues driver and a Wampler Plexidrive, how would you set them respectively?
Which one as a volume booster, which one as an overdrive (any idea of settings?, knowing that I have a Laney Cub head and that I use your recommended settings).
Best regards,
Laurent
[The BD2 works better as a booster I think so I’d set that as clean as possible and use the PlexiDrive for overdrive. – Bjorn]
thank you for your prompt answer!
Actually I do have another question about transparent overdrives.
Do you think that It would be honest to think that I would be able to recreate a Chandler TD tone, like a Keeley Modified BD-2 does, with a EH Soul Food? And would the Soul Food be able to be adjusted as a volume booster (for muff, RAT), as well as an overdriven Tube Driver?
Thanks again !!!
[To some extent and it depends on your amp too. The Soul Food has more mid range than the Tube Driver and BD2, so it’s not identical but you can set it up for tones that are very close to David’s 80s and 90s overdrive tones in particular. It’s also a nice booster although I personally prefer one a bit more transparent. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Thanks for the replies :) They are very helpful.
I want to choose one overdrive for bedroom setup with solid state amp at low volume. How’s (1) Electro-Harmonix OD Glove or (2) MXR Classic OD compared to Boss BD-2 or Fulltone OCD?
Regards
Ratan
[I haven’t tried the MXR but the Glove is similar to the BD2, with a bit more mid range. I also recommend the EHX Soul Food. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Could you please give me an advice before I buy a RAT pedal / I’m looking for a straight clone of the Vintage RAT with LM308N chip. But the Jam Pedals Rattler is way too expensive…
What would be the best among the less expensive pedals: Mooer Black secret? Cmatmods ratified? BYOC Mighty Mouse? Another one?
Thank you so much for helping!!!
Regards, laurent
[The Mooer and BYOC are great! Classic RAT tone with the same warmth and creamy character as the old models. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
A quick questions… would you recommend the 5 knob with Bias control BK Butler TD over the standard 4 knob one, pros and cons…?
Thanks,
–Ara
[There’s really no cons but the questions is if you need it. The bias control allows you to fine tune the gain stage to match your guitar and amp. I didn’t see the need for it and got mine without but it might be a good idea if you have an aggressive amp to be able to tame the pedal a bit more. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
What you think about those way huge drive pedals, pork loin, green rhino or red llama? Have you tried them? Are they god for mild overdrive and boost? I’m thinking about one of those or OCD to replace my Sd1, and to combine it with big muff and sunface bc109.
[The Pork Lion is similar to the BD2 and Tube Driver, with a fairly transparent amp-like tone. It can be used both as a clean boost and overdrive, with a nice amount of gain. The Green Rhino is basically a beefed up Tube Screamer, with lots of mid range and a creamy character. It has a few more options for more low end and gain. Great alternative to the OCD. I haven’t tried the Red Lama. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, great site. For your readers have them check out my OD-308 for David Gilmour tones. This video really showcases it for David’s tone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MD7ZImZARQ
http://monteallums.com/custom_effects.html#OD308A
I offer the OD-308 as a DIY Kit and assembled. The circuit is roughly based on a RAT 2 but with several changes.
Thanx,
Monte Allums
[Thanks for your kind words and for the tip! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Can I use my Boss DS-1 (Orange Box from BYOC), and my 1981 Boss sd-1, for Division Bell Tones?
What are those pedals like in your opinion? Tranparent boosters or mid hump warm creamy pedals?
Best regards.
Foffy
[Yes you can. They’re both fairly transparent without too much mids. – Bjorn]
I have a Mexican fender strat and I play through a fender frontman 212r
[Check out the amp settings in this feature. You may want to lower the treble considerably and maybe even turn up the mids a bit. Try also to lower the tone on the DS1. Don’t be afraid to keep your tones dark. Tones open up the louder you play and on low volume we often raise the treble to compensate but that results in harsh tones. – Bjorn]
H i Bjorn i don’t think my previous message went through but i have a boss ds-1 distortion pedal and i am looking for a momentary lapse of reason sound out of it but can’t really seem to get it. would you have any suggestions for the settings?
[What’s your guitar and amp? – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn Riis,
I have a recently bought Keeley modified Ts-9 that has twice the distortion level of a normal Ts9 or Ts808.
I’ve never played a RAT and I’m after D Bell and Pulse tones. i’d like to replace a Big Muff with a RAT kind of pedal. Here’s my question : Do you think that my Keeley Ts 9 is able to replace a RAT (in the article you write that RAT and Tube screamer are same kind of mid hump pedals…)
In case I missed something, I also own a EH Soul Food, but I honestly don’t think it’s able to do anything else than a transparent overdrive /booster.
Plaese let me know what you think…
Have a good night.
Foffy
Spain
[Hi Foffy! The Soul Food, or Klon, is indeed a transparent overdrive booster, so it won’t do much more. A Rat sort of takes over where the TS9 stops. The RAT can be set up for some mild overdrive tones but a TS9 can’t replace a RAT. I’d get both :) – Bjorn]
Have you ever tried TREX tonebug Distortion? They were budget pedals made in China, but it seems Trex doesn’t make then anymore.
[Never tried them. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn I have a boss ds-1 and I use it for other artists but what do you think would be the best settings to get a gilmour sound out of it?
[Don’t have that much experience with it but settings depends on your guitar and amp. Try something neutral and tweak your way from there. – Bjorn]
Bjorn, what are some good starting points to get tube driver sounds from the BD-2? Thanks in advance!!
[Depends on your amp and guitar. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn! I’m still waiting for my EHXTortion pedal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KTJTDAAAjc and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISSapaiTrsI YouTube demos). It probably arrives this week. As I mentioned on your personal page on FB, my “biggest problem” is my poor amp, a Fender Mustang III… Interested me, in particular, its versatility of functions as “booster” and as “Overdrive” and the apparent lack of “hums” amplified (none of guitars that appear in these video demos were eqquiped with active pickups like the DG-20s – although most are equipped with humbuckers… – and this fact caught my attention). Regards from Brazil!
[Keep us posted when the pedal arrives! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I’m the owner of both Bd-2 (Keeley mod) and Wampler Plexidrive, mid scooped pedals which I like in order to nail some Chandler Tube driver tones (Division bell area).What would be your recommandation of settings for those two pedals , in order to replicate the 2 types of Chandler settings in the album ( Volume boost and overdrive)?
Other question, you mention the Pete cornish Soft sustain as it’s only been used in Poles Apart.
What is that pedal like? Transparent, mid scooped? like the Chandler? Or more like a TS or RAT (warmer with lot of mids). What would be the best replacement out there?
regards,
Uwe
[Pedal settings depends very much on your guitar and amp so I can’t and shouldn’t really, make any specific recommendations without knowing your rig. In general, I personally prefer a bit of boost from my overdrives. Setting the volume slightly above unity volume drives the amp a bit more and creates a bigger tone. The BD2 tone is best set from 10 o’clock and below, while the PlexiDrive tone reacts with the gain, and adds more compression the higher you set it. The SS2 is hard to describe really. Kind of an overdrive meets a classic distortion. Not too much gain but a hint of mid range and a balanced tone. I guess the best way to describe it is MXR Dist+ meets TS9. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, I am planning this setup for my bedroom practice: Proco RAT 2 + Boss BD-2 + Boss DD7 + Solid state (transistor) Amp. I have already got RAT 2 and liking it sound :) Which overdrive will be best for my setup? a) Boss BD-2 or b) Ibanez TS9/Maxon OD 808 or c) TC Electronics Spark Booster or d) Wampler Plexidrive e) Fulltone OCD.
I want to choose one among these for bedroom setup with solid state amp at low volume. You take care and many thanks for your hard work!
[The Fulltone OCD is perhaps the most versatile. Especially on solid state amps :) – Bjorn]
Thank’s for answering, Bjorn. I’m using a Hiwatt T20 HD. Now it’s time to start bilding the right set of effects. Than you again, man!
[Sorry for my late reply. The basics should be a distortion, overdrive and delay. That will get you far. And maybe a modulation for colouring. For PULSE and your rig, I’d go for the Buffalo Patriot for distortions. Fulltone OCD or Wampler PlexiDrive for overdrive. Both will do the Tube Driver very well but they’re a bit nicer to smaller amps and more versatile. As for delay, you might want to look into a multi unit, like the TC Nova or Eventide. PULSE has a lot of different time settings and you need to be able to dial in some accurate settings. You could also go for something like a TC Flashback and use a recording software with a delay effect plug in to measure out the time settings. Hope this helps :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn! Congratulations, man! I’ve read all your comments, several times and it’s always a real lecture. I bought a ’57 reissue some time ago and now I am purchasing some effects. How would be the “basic” pedals to cover the majority of PULSE that you would recommend? I am starting my set, so if you helpme with some ideas it would be great! Take care and many thanks for your hard work!
[Cheers, Silvano! What amp are you using? – Bjorn]
Hi, Bjorn.
Regarding to Gilmour tones, is there any difference between the new ProCo Rat 2 and the old “white face”??? Cheers.
[Minimal, although the 2 has a tiny bit more gain and low end. – Bjorn]
Apologies if you have covered this pedal before, but I would appreciate your opinion of the ARC Effects Klone V2 (if you have used it of course). Love your website and thank you for all the time and effort you put into it.
[Thanks Michael! Never used it so I can’t really tell. In general, the Klon, including the EHX Soul Food, is a powerful booster/overdrive that will fatten your cleans and produce a very nice and warm overdrive. Kind of a mix between a cleaner and more transparent booster and the old TS9. I don’t think you can go wrong :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
as usually congratulation for your Web site.
In the last period I am buinding my effects for David’s Tone.
So far I have in my chain the following effects (some bought base on your adviced):
Boss CS2 —> Skreddy P19 —>> TC Flashback —–> Laney CUB 12 R.
I play only at home.
I’d like to buy an overdrive and I am thinking about the following:
– Ibanez TS9
– Maxon OD 808
– Fulltone OCD
I play also blues.
Could you give me your opinion? Which one doyou suggest between these three or you can also raccomend some other ones?
Thanks a lot in advanced.
regards
Sebastiano
[Hi Sebastiano! As a dedicated overdrive I’d go for the OCD. It’s kind of a TS9 beefed up to the max. Very versatile and similar to the TubeDriver. It’s not that good for boosting though so for that, I’d go for a more transparent overdrive, like the Boss BD2, or my favourite, the Buffalo FX Powerbooster. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Wonderful website you have here. Pink Floyd’s been my favorite band since I was a kid and this site is heaven for any guitar-playing Floyd fan.
I had a question about distortion pedal vs Muffs. I play metal most of the time on a totally different rig, but also love to play blues and funk on my American Strat in a style I liken to a mix of Gilmour and Frusciante (RHCP). Here is my setup:
American Standard Strat (SSL1s and SSL5 in bridge) – MXR Dyna Comp – Xotic RC Booster – Wren & Cuff Tall Font Russian – Maxon OD808 – into amp’s input. In the FX loop I have a Boss CE-1 (yes, the big gray box, I’m a chorus junkie, just love the CE-1 sound even though it is a pain to deal with its issues) and a TC Flashback delay. The amp I am using is an EVH 5150 iii combo which I can dial down to 1 watt (and spare the neighbors.)
My favorite Gilmour solo tones are the huge and heavy ones like in “Yet Another Movie” and “What Do You Want From Me.” Would a RAT, or Russian Muff like the one I have be a better fit for these tones? I know that you said live, Gilmour used a RAT on “What Do You Want From Me”, and his studio tone on Division Bell for that song is HUGE, which he used a Muff on. The W&C Tall Font Russian Muff sounds awesome for this, but I can’t help wondering about how the RAT compares.
I am also interested in hearing your opinion on how a Boss HM-2 compares to the Muff and RAT for these kind of huge heavy Gilmour solo tones. I am a big fan of the Momentary Lapse Of Reason album and Gilmour supposedly used the Boss HM-2 on a lot of the songs, in studio and live.
It’s great that you take time to answer everyone, this makes your website that much cooler.
Peace,
– Greg D.
[Hi Greg! The RAT has more mid range, less low end but more gain, than most Big Muffs. It’s really two different pedals and personally, as much as I love the Muff, I think the RAT is a more versatile pedal. Especially if you want to cover other tones than David’s as well. The HM2 is a tricky pedal because alone it sounds like crap. You really needed to pair it up with a pre amp or overdrive and your amp must be on the darker side. The RAT, being somewhat similar, is a much better choice and far easier to set up. It’ll nail most of David’s tones but Momentary and Bell in particular. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn, as we discussed on Facebook…
This is a test to see if I am able to post a comment.
[Check :) – Bjorn]
Cool… :-)
Hi! I own na OCD…and wanted a marshall drive like pedal..really thinking about the DG2..since Im from Brazil. I am the Rhythm guitar of my band. What do you think?
Cool guide by the way!
[The DG2 is perhaps closer to a RAT with lots of gain. You can dial in some nice JCM800/900 tones but so can the OCD. Personally I think the Wampler Plexi Drive and Xotic SL Drive are some of the finest Marshall pedals on the market. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Thanks for replying the previous posts :)
Different pedal need different current draw, different DC voltage (9V, 18V), their adapters gave different polarity (tip negative, tip positive). It will be very very useful if you can prepare a chart, sowing all these details for all the pedals you use.
———————————————————————————————–
pedal current voltage adapter grounding
draw type
————————————————————————————————
Ibanez Tube Screamer 6mA 9V tip negative negative ground
Boss BD -2 13mA 9V tip negative negative ground
Pro Co RAT 2 9V tip positive negative ground
Moogerfoogers and a few boutique and oddball pedals use center positive.
Some VERY rare pedals (ie, vintage fuzz face) use what is called positive ground – this is different that the reverse polarity of above, and the actual physical parts of the circuit are different and can’t be used with other “normal” pedals. Avoid these or ALWAYS use a separate power supply.
These kind of consolidated information will save many people from blowing their pedals with wrong power supply.
[Thanks for the the input, Ratan! Something to consider for future updates of the Buyer’s Gear Guides. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
Have you played the MI Effects Super Blues Pro? I love mine. Very versatile OD pedal capable of hitting many of the different OD tones. Highly recommended.
[Never tried it. Thanks for the tip! – Bjorn]
Great! It’s easier to find the BD2 over here, so I’ll get that one.. thanks Bjorn!!
[Cheers! – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, the BD2 and the Mooer Blues Mood cost the same in my country, which one would you go for?
Cheers
[They’re very similar so you could go either way. The Mooer is true bypass so it might be a tad warmer due to the lack of the Boss buffer. The Boss is perhaps a bit smoother though. The Mooer feature a Fat switch, which is similar to the Keeley, and other, clones with more low end and gain. – Bjorn]
Thanks for the advice Bjorn. Definitely time for a think about this! Hope to see Airbag play on these shores soon! ;)
[Cheers, Ben! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Many thanks for the reply. Food for thought definitely! I use a Lace Sensor Equipped, maple neck Tele and a maple neck Strat with ’69 Pickups into an old AC30. I suppose either a Rat or a Muff would work with a Tubescreamer as well!?
Cheers,
Ben.
[A Muff will work on an AC30 but it’s a very bright amp so you’ll probably end up sounding more like The Edge than Gilmour, so perhaps a RAT is a better option. Having said that, you should be able to dial in some great tones with the combo. Muffs and Tube Screamers doesn’t go that well together. The mid range boosted Tube Screamer tend to make the Muff sound dark and muddy. Better to use a transparent booster, like the BD2 or Soul Food :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Recently I’ve left my fuzz obsession to one side and have decided focus on overdrives and distortion pedals! Something that covers Delicate Sound/Pulse eras. I’ve got an old Ibanez TS10 (low mids) which i like and a Klon Clone (a great booster) but it needs that something else. Would a Rat be a good, budget friendly choice to stack up or should i be looking towards more of a Muff area? Any info will be gratefully received!
Nice to see Airbag’s doing well. Don’t happen to be gigging in the UK anytime soon by any chance?
Ben.
[Hi Ben! Thanks! We’re always checking out places to play and hopefully, we’ll be able to tour in the UK as well :) Which pedal you should get, depends on your guitar and amp. Muffs tend to be a bit moody… especially if you’re seeking THAT tone. A RAT is a much more versatile pedal, that’ll work great on any guitar and amp but some find it a bit too dark and perhaps not as vintage sounding as a Muff. You can’t go wrong with a RAT but a Muff might be a more exciting choice… if your amp is up for it :) – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
I think my earlier comment got deleted accidentally.
Anyway, I was looking for another overdrive not just for Davids tones but others as well. I stumbled on Brett Kingman’s review of the Big Lloyde F-6 overdrive. Reminds me of a tube screamer but with more headroom. Ever heard of it?
[Sorry about that, Ben. My spam filter has been a bit aggressive lately. Never tried the F-6 but I liked what I heard on the review. Sounds a bit similar to the Way Huge Green Rhino, which basically is a TS9 with a few extras. It’s also well worth checking out the new EHX Soul Food and the Hermida Dover Drive, that I recently reviewed :) Both are in that TS territory. – Bjorn]
Bjorn, do you think I could achieve a have a cigar tone emm not identical but at least similar with a tele with vintage style pickups and just a BD2 ? (maybe with some flanger-i know:weeird but i dont have a phaser) Cheers!!
[Definitely. Depends on your amp though but the BD2 delivers anytrhing from clean boost to near fuzz, so it should cover both the rhythms and leads on Cigar. A flanger… I don’t know. Better to keep it clean, I think :) – Bjorn]
OK !! :) Thank you so much Bjorn!! I’ll grab the BD2
Cheers!!! And again, thank you so much my friend! :)
[Glad I can help :) – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, would you use a BD2 instead of a OD3? What do you think about the OD3?
Cheers!
[Depends on what tones you want. The BD2 has a more transaprent tone with more headroom. It’s great for boosting your cleans or overdrives and distortion, or for those classic tube tones. The OD3 has more mid range and doesn’t work that well for boosting other pedals. A very nice overdrive though and you should be able to cover David’s Tueb Driver tones with it. – BJorn]
Hi Bjon BIG thanks for the reply very helpful indeed.
As you Know DG Is the master of tone and moving between
albums and his sounds I would like to recreate the tones
from meddle through to the wall.
Looking forward to having some fun with the sounds from those
pedals and all thanks to you Bjorn for showing me the light.
I will add a mistress and bk in the near future and I think I will stick
with the vintage single coils on the Strat. (complete with toggle switch and cut back whammy)
Gary
[Good luck with your tones, Gary! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn.
Can you Steer me in the right direction.
Been reading you pedal reviews and found them very helpful
I have just ordered the following items and
would like to know if I have missed anything regarding
a workable DG pedal board.
1) Analogman BC108 fuzz
2) mjm London fuzz with bios
3) Dunlop cry baby
4) Musket
5) Throbak power boost
6) OCD
7) Effector tube vibe
8) EVH Phase 90 with script button
9) Morley optical Mini Vol pedal
10) Nova delay ND1
With a 54 Strat and Fender Blues Deville
Basically want to know if I have most or all of
his sounds covered with the above of do I really
need that BK Butler? or Electric mistress
or the SA pickups
Great work my friend keep it up
Gary.
[Hi Gary! That looks like an awesome setup and you should be able to cover most of David’s tones… and more :) Nothing really sounds like the BK but it’s not a must. It’s a challenging pedal and it can sound rather harsh at times but it depends on how much you want it, I guess :) The OCD is a much more versatile overdrive and between that one and the ThroBak you’ll be able to cover most of the Tube Driver stuff. The SA pickups… again, it’s not a must. You’ll be able to cover the tones with most other pickups and some tweaking of your pedals. Still, if you’re desperately seeking THE Pulse tone, then you should consider them. In regards to the Mistress flanger… for me that’s a big yes. No other pedal or effect sound like the Mistress and with it, you’re dead on David’s Animals and Wall (live) tones and his first solo album and Final Cut. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn!
Such a great website you have!!!
I have a question.
I already have a OCD Version 4 and i´m thinking of trade him in a Wampler Plexy Drive.
Can you describe me how those pedals compares each other?
Who have more gain range, more compression, more warmth?
They are kinda similar sounding?
[They’re actually two very different pedals. The OCD is basically a beefed up Tube Screamer with lots of gain, boosted low end and tons of mid range. The Plexi Drive is much more amp-like, with a more transparent and dynamic tone. It also has a bit more compression. Two different pedals for different applications. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
As far as my setup is concerned I have a Marschall JTM 45 point to point that goes to a Mesa Boogie cabinet 1×12 (with vintage 30) and my main guitar is a Fender Eric Johnson and I also use a PRS Custom 22. The pickups are the factory ones.
The questions are for a stage environment.
[The JTM45 doesn’t have all that much headroom so try setting it as clean as possible and be careful with the treble. You want a fairly dark and middy tone. Try setting the ram’s head’s volume and gain at around 60% and the tone at 40%. The Buffalo works best as booster when placed after the Muff. Set the gain between 10-12, depending on how hot your amp is and the volume between 12-2 depending on how much boost you want. The treble and bass should be set to match the amp. This is basically an EQ so you should try to match. Start with setting the treble at noon and the bass at 9 or 10. Tweak your way around this. – Bjorn]
Thanks for your reply, Bjorn! I was too slow though, the Soul Food has sold out where I was purchasing from. I have it on back order but it’ll be a couple months and I might have to buy something else to cover me while I wait. I’m drawn to this new series of OD’s from EHX and particularly the Hot Tubes as it seems to retain a good bass punch (I’m actually in a two piece band so I have to keep the lows, no Tubescreamers for me. It’s funny how much a Gilmour inspired rig can fill out a two piece though). Would this work well as a fuzz boost to even out the fizzle and bring in some mid without losing the bass? Or do I need to hold off and wait for the Klone?
I feel like I’m pestering you about these pedals, but they’re so budget friendly I can’t help it, and you’re honestly the only guy I know of who would use these pedals the way I would, instead of just reviewing the pedal straight.)
Thanks again Bjorn, one day I’ll have the colorsound, for now $60 units will have to do.
[No worries, Ash :) It should work very well as a booster. It’s not a Colorsound Powerboost clone, so it will behave a bit differently but it’s transparent and great for both boosting and as a dedicated overdrive :) – Bjorn]
are you sure that the moor blues crab is an bd2 alternative? didn’t you mix it up with the moor blues mood? to my ears the blues crab is more or less an marshall bluesbreaker substitute.
[Sorry, my mistake! The Mood is a BD2 clone, based on the Robert Keeley modified version :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, long time visitor first time poster. I was wondering if you had any opinion on the new Electro Harmonix Soul Food (a Klon clone). It’s only a couple months old so you may not have played it, but any thoughts? Especially in combination with a fuzz. Seems like it may be a good budget boost but I’m not sure if I should pull the trigger. Can’t find it in stores to try it and OD’s are so picky with a fuzz, I need an expert opinion before deciding.
Thanks for all of the amazing information you’ve compiled here, I visit almost every day just killing time reading everything I can. Hell, even your comment responses are interesting and informative.
[Thanks for your kind words, Ash and thanks for posting! I haven’t had the chance to try the Soul Food yet but based on the clips I’ve heard and from having played the Klon, I think it will be great for boosting your fuzz, Muff or whatever and for overdrive tones. A versatile pedal and I’m very much looking forward to try it myself :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, in trying to reach David’s tone, I bought the BYOC Muff (the Ram’s head with the four way switch) and a Buffalo power booster. I am a bit confused though with all the settings and could use some help with both pedals. As far as the BYOC muff is concerned: I have the Ram’s head version and would like a suggestion regarding the individual settings for volume/tone/sustain as well as for the four-way switch (not the 3 way I think you have tested). Position 1 is the lowest sounding whereas 4 (tone bypass) is the loudest. As far as the Buffalo Power Booster is concerned: What are some suggested settings for volume/gain/bass/trebe knobs? What I am looking for is a mild overdrive setting and a heavier overdive option. Also, do you think it is better to boost the muff with a milder or a more powerfull boost?
Lastly the correct pedal chain is Guitar, BYOC, Buffalo, Amp, right? Thanks a lot in advance!
[What amp and guitar/pickups do you have? Do you play at home, rehearsal, stage? – Bjorn]
Hey I just came across your site and its greeaaat! I was wondering what you think about the effectrode tube drive? I have one that should be here in a couple of days. I have the tube vibe and I absolutely love it! I am looking forward to it very much but I would like to hear your opinion!? One more thing what do you think about the Foxrox aquavibe?
_thanks_
Steve D
[Hi Steve! Welcome to the site :) I haven’t had the chance to try the Tube Drive yet, so I can’t really commend on that. The Aquavibe is great. Personally I prefer darker sounding UniVibes but it has a nice vintage flavour :) – Bjorn]
hi Bjorn, i just wanna ask if the digitech bad monkey is a good budget overdrive ( compared to the BK butler tube drive) for a david gilmour tone? other alternative is a boss overdrive ( OD-1,SD-1, BD-2).
[The Bad Monkey is based on the TS9. Quite decent but I think that a Mooer Green Mile would be a better pick. The BD2 is an excellent Tube Driver alternative. Again, check out the Mooer Blues Crab, which is based on the BD2, with a few extra features. – Bjorn]
Hi, Bjorn. Thanks for all your work and insight here – even beyond your Gilmour expertise. You are the first (and only, that I’m aware of) who addresses what works best at home/bedroom setup vs. Wembley arena. Very helpful indeed.
My amp is a Princeton Reverb reissue. I currently have a TS-808 and I know Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson, SRV, etc. swear by them, but they are also known to use very loud amps. Mike Campbell (Tom Petty) plays through a Princeton live and uses a Way Huge Camel Toe (Green Rhino & Red Llama – he mainly uses the Green side). In your opinion, would a Green Rhino be a better fit for the Princeton or is there really no noticeable difference between the Green Rhino and the TS-808? Jim Campilongo uses a Fulltone OCD with his Princeton which is another consideration, but my “style” is closer to Mike Campbell’s.
Anyroad, your suggestions are appreciated. Keep up the great work.
Craig
[Hi Craig! Thanks for your kind words! The Green Rhino is based on the TS9 but it’s got lots more to offer. Additional controls allows more gain and low end and the overall character is more open and not as middy as the TS9. The OCD is somewhere in-between. It’s got considerably more gain than the TS9 but not as much mid range. It’s three different pedals based on the same principle. It’s hard to say which is better because it depends on what tones you want. Personally I prefer the OCD but I think in terms of versatility, the Green Rhino is the way to go. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Thank you Bjorn for your advices. Please do not worry about ”Sorry for my late reply”.
I mean, the work you do on Gilmourish.com is wonderful, helped me a lot.
On top of that, you take the time to answer personally my questions and give me advice.
Again thank you, thank you so much for your dedication.
Regards from Canada :0)
[Cheers, Luc! – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn…What do you think of the pete cornish SS-3?
[Not my favourite overdrive but it’s got some very nice tones. Kind of a TS9-ish overdrive with a bit more mids but not nearly as much as the TS9/OD808. It’s got more gain and low end, which makes it similar to the OCD as well. COmpared to both I think the SS3 has more of a tube amp quality with a bit more open tone and more dynamic gain but again, more mids than the typically transparent boosters and overdrives. – Bjorn]
Thanks bjorn, i think i must report this information to the gilmour army. I bought the Xotic AC, Plus, it is a dual booster, it has 2 channels that can be turned on at the same time (2 pedals in one basically), it comes really handy as an overdrive and a booster, the classic ac booster it has is a glassy overdrive, i use it as a volume boost, also it’s been added a mids control, wich helps to make it even more cleaner and a comp switch (wich changes from hard clipping to soft clipping), wich helps a lot cause it adds more compression and sustain, it also increases the gain and gives an earlier break up, but its unnoticeable at low gains (i keep it at the minimum), the other channel is also the classic ac booster, but instead of bass and treble controls, it has a tone knob to shape it, it also has increased gain wich makes it closer to the tube driver, but more glassy, this channel also has a boost swich, wich obviusly increasses the gain, i always keep it on, cause the change is not that great, but adds more balls, a bit more of bottom end and top end top it. I use this pedal on my gilmourish set up, it’s my main booster and overdive. Also in my band i use it with my ibanez ts808 to give it more gain, i got a creamy distortion with endless sustain (don’t use muffs on my band work, for obvius reasons), i strongly recomend it for gilmourish work and any kind of work, it is extremly versatile. If you can get it on a deal, it is as good as the classic ac booster, but much more versatile, for me, it is my must have overdrive and it’s my favourite pedal of all.
[Thanks for sharing! – Bjorn]
Hi mate,
Can you suggest me a pedal to reach a clean tone for Shine and coming back to life?
my setup: american special strat standard pickups, laney cub12r, MXR dynacomp and TC flashback.
On the amp I use the basic setup you suggested on the amp section of the website.
Thanks! ;)
[It’s basically just a clean tone with some compression and delay. Start with your amp and set it up for a nice clean tone and see what you get. You might want to add a booster just to beef up the tone a bit more. Check out the Boss BD2, TC Electronics Spark Booster or the excellent Buffalo Overdriveboost. – Bjorn]
Bjorn – Absolutely great site, which I have used as a learning resource and for sheer enjoyment since 2008! You do need to get the old graphics head back up though – you know, the one shifting between you and Gilmour – it was creative.
After a lot of gear tinkering, I believe the biggest break through occurred with my recent acquisition of a Hylight era Harry Joyce DR 504. Whereas my Twin always “tried” to get David’s tones, the Hiwatt just “is”. So, basically looking for that same “ah ha!” moment pedal wise. I happened upon a near mint Bubble Font Sovtek for a great price and, frankly, I’m pretty pleased. I do need to shape it though, and therefore am in search with a post-Muff pedal.
Although I’ve had some experience with the Power Boosts – namely the Macaris reissue and the Prescription Electronics Overdriver – I’m not so sure I want to spend nearly $300.00 for another pedal similar to two that I wasn’t necessarily over the moon with. While I actually preferred the PE version to the Macari, they both had a metallic, grainy tone and a distortion that was at best “not smooth”. So, basically, just used to add more 3-D imaging to the tone.
Recall liking the BD-2 during my limited experience with it, but I have a bit of an aversion to Boss pedals and would prefer to get it right from the start – rather than having the offload it for something else. Would you still recommend, or would you go for something else?
Also, have you tried a LM308 Rat after the Big Muff…(gain set to minimal, volume at about 80%, and tone set to taste)? Getting a very, very good Dogs tone…… Would like your opinion though, basically as validation that I’m not crazy.
As always, thank you for your effort!
[Hi! Thanks for your kind words! I’ve always been a fan of the Colorsound and I think it makes a perfect companion to the Muff, adding that extra bite and making the Muff sound more open. My favourite clone at the moment is the Buffalo Powerbooster. It’s incredibly dynamic and versatile and it has a 9>18V swap inside, which increases the headroom. Excellent booster and it nails those classic Dark Side/WYWH/Animals overdrive tones as well. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn!
I would love to have a RAT for the versatility of the pedal, but, is the actual model of the RAT that bad? (judging by comments)
Well, if it is, I guess I could buy a Mooer Black Secret, but, gotta admit the RAT looks cool haha
Thanks Bjorn, see ya’
[The current Rat isn’t bad but they’ve changed some of the components and it’s not as good as the originals and the clones available. The Mooer is very good and you should try it. Check out the Jam Pedals Rattler and Retro Sonic Distortion as well :) – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn :)
I’ve been a great fan of your site (and videos) for many years and when viewing them I noticed you had a Marshall solid state amp laying on the corner…
Did you actually used it? And if yes I was wondering how did you set it for the clean tone needed for Pink Floyd/David Gilmour? And how did you set/used the overdrive channel on the thing?
Cheers from Portugal ;)
Diogo Lopes
[Hi Diogo! Yeah, I had a Marshall 5210 solid state combo a few years back. Didn’t really use it that much but it was my main practice and demo amp for a few years. It’s basically an early 80s solid state version of the JCM800. The clean channel was quite good, with a warm and balanced character. Very different from the harsh stuff Marshall’s producing today. The distortion channel was very similar to the Shredmaster pedal. Very sweet with a nice compression and sustain. I regret getting rid of the amp but it was very worn out and sounded pretty bad towards the end. – Bjorn]
Hey bjorn, have you ever tried the Xotic power trio (BB, AC, RC)?
Cheers.
[Yep. Very nice pedals. The RC is an all clean booster. The AC is very similar to the old Colorsound Powerboost with a transparent glassy chime and mild break up. The BB has more gain than the AC. – Bjorn]
IMUO & experience one of the most underrated pedals from Gilmour to Knopfler a good compressor pedal & makes a HUGE difference. Recording studios use compression for fatness & sustain more than any other single effect beside reverb.
It is usually placed first in the chain of distortion pedals, a great clean boost, & usually THE key to sustain as well. I recommend Cmatmods Signacomp out of several I own. Most comp pedals can be noisy, but SignaComp is dead quiet & not very expensive.
[Thanks, Dave! Compressors are important in shaping a tone and they can wonders when you need them. I do think it’s important to use them with care though and know when to use them. Studio compressors and stomp boxes are two different things and overdoing it can do more harm than good. A good amp and volume will also is many cases make a compressor redundant. Cheers! – Bjorn]
I think, maybe the way to go for me is with a versatile distortion. (solid state amp)
Because I like the overdrive sounds from my Blackstar amp, pretty good crunch.
Can you suggest a few for a Gilmour tone. I like the Pulse sound and The Wall.
I did not see any MXR distortion in the buying guide, good for Gilmour tone ?
If you do recommend MXR. What model ? Good with a ss amp ?
[Sorry for my late reply, Luc. You can’t go wrong with a RAT. It’s capable of anything between very mild overdrive to creamy distortion and saturated fuzz. There are lots of clones on the market and I recommend checking out the Jam Pedals Rattler and the Retro Sonic Distortion. The MXR Distortion + is really much closer to an overdrive and meant to be used with a cranked amp to get those late 70s and 80s tones. Alone on a clean amp it just sounds thin and harsh. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn…
If I buy only one overdrive/distortion, which one should it be ?
Of course I play a lot of Floyd but also play a lot of Blues.
The Boss BD-2 looks like a very good option for bedroom/home studio.
Fulltone OCD is also very interesting. A Tube Screamer better ?
My amp is a SS Blackstar ID-15 TVP, the 2 clean channels have a lot of headroom.
I also have 2 crunch channels that could act like the overdrive in the chain. Also 2 OD channels.
With the TVP option, it sounds a lot like a tube amp. My setup also include a Boss CS-3
Regards from Canada :0)
[Hi Luc, sorry for my late reply. It always depends on what tone you want. In regards to David’s Tube Driver tones, I would say that the BD2 is closer and if you invest in a Keeley modified version, you’ll have a really good transparent booster/overdrive. The OCD has much more mids, which can be good but it will also sound darker. The TS9 is a great overdrive but doesn’t work that well for boosting cleans and other pedals. If you have to decide on one, I’d go for the BD2. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn!
I bought the Rook as my dedicated overdrive a couple months ago. It sounds great, but I’m having trouble getting any real gain with my MIM strat with CS69’s and a SD P-rail in the bridge. The most I can get out of it is clean with some break up at full gain settings. When I play it through my deluxe strat with noiseless pickups it has tons of gain. Even more than I need for On an Island solo 1. Is this because of the vintage pickups?
[The total amount of gain you get from a pedal depends on the pedal it self, the guitar and its pickups and the amp. The hotter the pickups and the less headroom the amp has or the hotter the tubes are pushed, the more gain you’ll get. The Rook is a fairly mild overdrive but far from a clean boost. Depends on what you had in mind when you bought it. But yeah, the vintage low output single coils will make it cleaner, while the high output noiseless pickups will make it sound hotter. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn. I’m still loving the new album along with all the others. It’s practically all I’m listening to recently. I’ve always LOVED the sound Gilmour got on Gdansk on Castellorizon, which is ofcourse the Cornish G2. Besides the DG2 that’s reviewed above, are there any other pedals that will get me in the ballpark of the G2. I know that there is one of those build your own clone G2 kits (they call it the R2G2, was wondering if you’ve tried it). Also I tried the Keeley SD-1 which has a germanium diode, thinking it would be somewhat similar, but its not close, too much mids. Thank you in advance for your response, can’t wait for the buyer’s guide to delay XD!!! Cheers from Australia.
[I haven’t tried that many clones but the G2 is very similar to the RAT and sort of the same pedal. The Rat has more mids and not as much low end but you can definitely tweak it for some very nice Gilmour tones covering most of the 80s and the G2. Check out some of the modified Rat clones like the Jam Pedals Rattler and Retro Sonic Distortion, which both are very close to the G2. – Bjorn]
speaking of Rat, have you ever tested the Mojo Hand FX Socrates? They say it’s an improved Rat pedal with bass and trouble controls…
[Haven’t tried that one yet. – Bjorn]
I have a ProCo Rat and it plays many tones. Billy Gibbons, Aerosmith, and Gilmour just to name a few. I’m very happy with the RAT. I’d love to try a colursound and a butler but the money only goes so far. Thanks for article. I’m sure that anyone who gets a RAT will love it. Enjoy!
[Agree! Cheers! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, i just wanted to ask, what do you think about Mooer Green Mile? It’s a Tubescreamer clone. I wanted your feedback about that pedal.
I really like your work by the way. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
[Thank you! The Green Mile is a pretty good clone of the Tube Screamer. Perhaps not as smooth and warm as the Maxon OD808 but a great alternative. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn
Thanks for sharing so many great tips here. I am using Laney L5T combo and Strat with Duncan SSL-5 pickup. I am not following one particular tone of Dave but want to be somewhat close to him. Now I’ve just ordered my musket(exciting!), and considering to add a booster. I play both at home and in my band. Would the Wampler Plexidrive a good companion for boosting musket?
Regards
Damon
[Hi Damon! Sorry for my late reply. The Plexi Drive is one of my favourite overdrives and it’s a nice replacement for David’s Tube Driver. It has a bit too much mid range to be used as a booster though. Combined, you’ll end up with a dark and choked tone. Check out a more transparent booster like the Boss BD2, ThroBak Overdriveboost, Buffalo Powerbooster as similar :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn
First of all, Fantastic site and resource and all your effort and dedication is very much appreciated!!
Apologies for the long winded post … but I would really appreciate your feedback. I am struggling a bit with getting my set up sorted. I’m trying to find a suitable fuzz/distortion for singing/sustained lead lines but am encountering the home vs gig issue and I really want one pedal which will straddle both camps. Basic set up (ignoring mod/delay etc) is
-> MXR Script RI Phase 90 -> Wah -> MXR Custom Shop Comp-> Way Huge Red Llama (set for dirty boost) -> Wampler Plexi Drive (set for very slight Break up) -> Wampler Tweed 57 (for Neil young/Stones tones) -> mod /delay -> Fender DRRI (use US Tele (SD broadcaster Pups) and US Strat (Texas Special Pups))
We play mainly classic rock (inc Floyd), hence the broad choice of dirt pedals to cover a variety of different tones. The issue I have is that I can’t find anything that sits well in that Fuzz/Distortion spot which I want to use for sustained, singing lead lines. I have tried MXR Classic Fuzz 108, Dunlop mini fuzz face (red: germanium), Skreddy P19 clone, Rat ii (bought in ’94). Of these, I really liked the Dunlop mini germanium and it works well at home, but it nearly gets lost in the mix live. I kick it in and it disappears unless volume is dimed, and then it gets too gnarly. The rat is ok, but I can’t get over the way it seems to give that ‘cocked’ wah tone, irrespective of how i tweak it – I want to like it, but there is something slightly unnatural about the way it seems to render lead lines and I’m wondering if I’m just doing something wrong as some of the demo you have done using the rat sound outstanding!! The P19 clone just didn’t have enough “je ne sais quoi†for me – it felt like something was always missing from it. I have also tried a Mooer triangle buff, which I like, but live, again, it nearly disappears and it seems to have uncontrollable low end girth when used at home (and it is just too small to stomp at in the dark on stage!). I have also tried a ToneBender mkii clone which was too mid humped for me. So as you can see, I’m struggling and would really welcome your advice with respect to whet pedal would suit best for that fuzz/distortion spot on the boards.
Another small issue I seem to be having is that the script RI ph90 appears to be giving a bit of a treble lift/boost to the signal. Not sure if this is something to do with buffers and signal degradation in the chain. Again, thoughts would be most welcome & appreciated!
Cheers & Happy Christmas!!
[Hi Ramon! Sorry for the late reply. It’s always a good idea to start with the amp. Fender amps in general are bright but they also have a lot of mid range. That’s probably why you hear that choked wah tone from the RAT, since it also has lots of mid range. On a more transparent amp it sounds warm and sings for ages. Big Muffs can also be a challenge on Fenders. Not that you can get them to work together but it will sound different from David’s tones since he’s mostly using a Hiwatt with the Muff, which is very different from a Fender and Muff. Check out this feature for some amp setup tips and start with the settings.
Personally I’d arrange the pedals a little differently. Nothing wrong with the way you have them lined up but try this: guitar > wah > compressor > PlexiDrive > Tweed 57 > Red Lama > Phase 90 > delay > amp.
The Iron Bell is kind of a mix between a Muff and a RAT. It’s a versatile distortion that might go better with your amp. I also recommend the Electronic Orange Pig Hoof (red) for classic ram’s head Big Muff tones. It has a lot of gain and top, which cut nicely through the mids boosted Fender amp. Hope this helped :) – Bjorn]
Which one sounds better for Gilmour tones: Ibanez TS9 or Ibanez TS808?
[They’re very similar so it’s down to the nuances. If you ask me, I think the Maxon OD808 has the smoothest tone. – Bjorn]
Bjorn, I like my Fulltone 70s fuzz and Boss BD2 combo, searing sound and cleans up well.
However, I would like to try out the Earthquaker Hoof muff clone. Could I ask which transparent booster would you recommend for it (a) boutique (b) brand name?
(Is it the case that the Hoof requires a true-bypass booster rather than a buffered booster like the BD2?)
Thanks much for the tremendous insight!
[Hi! The Hoof Fuzz is a Muff so you won’t have any of those fuzz buffers issues. The BD2 works fine but I think the pedal really shines with a more vintage sounding booster like the Buffalo FX Powerbooster or the ThroBak Overdriveboost. You’ll find reviews for both here on the site :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Hereby I would like to express my thanks for your great initiatives for colleague guitarists to rethink their sound and develop their tone. It was a great help to understand all the elements of tone forming from guitar, pickups, boost, distortion, modulation, delay etc. Your research contributed significantly to developing my own tone and indirectly to my style. Of course I admire David and learn how he formed his tone with your input, but even more important it helped me to rethink and select the elements I need for my music, both live and in the recording studio. I have tried & build all sorts of chains of effects, but are now a bit back to most essential components with your help. Thanks Bjorn! Writing this comment while listening to your beautiful music Homesick!
On the content, an action I recently did is removing compression units out of the chain, I found that without specific compression pedals, the tone forming is much more versatile and controlable and the different effect can be heard better. I am interested in your experiences.
My setup : Finally I used your tests to select for most of my music the DG strat, the Big muff (or Rat) enhanced by the Throbak overdrive, modulation by MXR phase 90 (or Lex strymon) going into the Boss GE2 EQ and end in the Mesa Boogie DC5 (or Roland AC50 with chorus). I have also added a simple soun on sound pedal chain. This is able to produce from clean versatile to a huge sustained sound, great for the melodic symphonic Rock of my band http://www.fusonic.nl
regards
Teo
[Thanks a lot for your kind words, Teo! Glad you find my site useful :) The danger with pedals is that we often use too much or too aggressive settings. The best tone is usually the one coming from the guitar and amp alone and a very few pedals is enough to take it a step further. Once you add too many you might end up trying to fix a problem by adding even more, which will only make it worse. A compressor is a nice tool but should be used with care and for certain applications. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn!
I just got the Plexidrive and I would like to hear what settings you would recommend to get David’s Tube Driver overdrive tones with a Stratocaster with CS 69′ pups, played through a Classic 30 set to a warm and punchy clean sound. Thank you!! :)
[I usually set the tone between 9-11, volume for a slight boost around 1-2 and the gain as desired, usually around noon to 2. I mostly leave the bass filter off or else the pedal gets quite muddy and loose some of that twang. Tweak your way around that and see how that goes :) – Bjorn]
Thanks for response and greeting from Poland :) Great site.
The main problem is before fender I had a washburn x10 :) This is very, very budget guitar, in Poland it costs something about 600PLN so it is below 200$. On the bridge pickup, and cranked laney CUB with delay in loop, i have a perfect tone for playing a solo Time from DSotM. This guitar was good only in this solo and nothing else :) And now, on the fender, it is good for everything else, but i cant play my favourite solo :) On washburn i have a humbucker on the bridge with much higher signal, so without any overdrive I can play it, and on Fender i have to use some effect and don’t know which. With copy of TS, sound is pretty muddy. Solo in Time is freshy, gentle, soft and i think little distorted. With Klon Centaur i was able to play something near what i want, but i felt insufficiency :) And now i dont know. Changing pickups is neccesary or effects will help me. Maybe 2 effects, i have a Proco Rat, so maybe Overdrive and Proco? I must try this wampler, but only option to play it is buy it sight unseen. And one question more about those TS. Is there really difference between Maxon 808, TS808 and TS9? Sorry, for the question but i have a little problem to play every effects, which i want to play. And i want to sorry for my english, it is not my main language :) Thanks for response, I’m really grateful
[Changing pickups could be an option. High output humbuckers is not the best option for David’s tones, so you might want to look into some late 50s ones or something like Seymour Duncan Phat Cats P90s for that single coil tone. Since you already have the RAT, which should provide all the distortion tones you need, you might want to check out the OCD. They make a very good combo. If you want something brighter and more vintage sounding, then check out the Boss BD2… or the Wampler PlexiDrive. There are some slight differences between the Tube Screamer models. I’m not an expert but from my experience, the Maxon has the smoothest tone – a bit warmer and smoother than the Ibanez. – Bjorn]
Hi, to conclude, i wanna know which of overdrive is the best in your opinion with a tube amp. I have a Laney CUB 12 and Fender American Standard Stratocaster with stock pickups and want to buy some pedal but i don’t know which. I think that OCD will be great but i also want some TS. I have a copy but i don’t think that it is 100% correct. So i want to buy original TS but i dont know which should i choose. Is that a difference between Maxon OD808 and Ibanez TS808? Is TS9 really good or is it cheap alternative. Or maybe something else, will be more suitable. Anyway, thanks for this site :)
[Hi! There’s no perfect pedal. It all comes down to what tones you want and it’s not just the pedal alone that makes the tone but every single piece in your rig. So, what might work for me, may sound horrible to you. The OCD is a very versatile overdrive that works great with the Laney and your Strat. I think I’d go for that one over a Tube Screamer actually. Although a classic it lack some low end and gain so it’s better paired up with a cranked amp. I also want to recommend the Wampler Plexi Drive, which will produce anything between David’s smooth Tube Driver tones to AC/DC :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
firstly I want to thank you for this amazing site, it is really helpful!
But I need an advice about a booster pedal. I have BK Butler Tube Driver, it is my only “distortion pedal”, I use it for clean boost, dirty rhythm and ridiculous leads, obviously it needs a lot of set-up changing and that is really annoying sometimes. I have also ordered Electronic Orange Pig Hoof (have to wait till March). But I think some nice “cleanish” booster will be nice in my pedal-board. Well, I was thinking of Ep and Rc booster by Xotic company or Colorsound Overdriver / Power Boost Clone (DIY kit). You know, some nice boost, which I could add to Tube Driver and Pig Hoof for leads. By the way I play a stratocaster and telecaster through Marshall JTM-45 (which has really lot of bass!)
Thank You!!!
[I’m using a Buffalo Powerbooster, clone of the old Colorsound Powerboost, to boost the cleans and the Pig Hoof. A perfect combo and a very versatile pedal, that’ll take you from pristine cleans to fat Tube Driver-ish. Electronic Orange offer the Bananaboost, which is very similar. – Bjorn]
Hi again Bjorn
Thanks for the advice concerning the TC Flashback, I just got one.
One last question, – what can a TC Spark do for me compared to a Boss BD2 or the like?
I’ved checked youtube an so on but I really can’t tell what a Spark do…
I have a Laney Lionheart 5 watt and a Vintage telecaster and I like the drive in the amp and I want to keep a good guitar and amp. sound without too many effect pedals.
What kind of a simple set-up would you suggest?
I hope you understand my dilemma, if I can say so.
Thanks Mathias
[The Spark is a clean booster, which means you can boost your amp quite a lot but it doesn’t do anything for your overdrive tones. The BD2 has a much wider tone span from clean boost to creamy overdrive and near fuzz. If you want a versatile pedal, then the BD2 is the way to go. In that case I also recommend the Keeley version for even better tones. You might also want to check out the Fulltone OCD and Wampler PlexiDrive. Both goes incredibly well with the Lionheart and will give you a wide range of tones. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn.
Which overdrive /distortion pedals would work well with a Les Paul type guitar through a Laney Cub 12R combo?. I would like to get a little bit more punch out of it. I like the Wampler Plexi Drive and the Wampler Pinnacle, but I would greatly appreciate your suggestions.
Many thanks
[I fyou don’t have the PlexiDrive then I strongly recommend it. Goes really well with both buckers and the Cub and it’s very close to David’s Tube Driver as well. Other than that… The Boss BD2 Keeley, MojoHand Rook, Buffalo Powerbooster… to name a few… – Bjorn]
So what is a good inexpensive ( under $100) od pedal to stack with a Dunlop fuzz face? Looked at the Boss line BD2, OD3 and SD1, or TS9 tubescreamer and of course the Bad Monkey. Any suggestions?
[You’d need a true bypass pedal so that the buffer in the Boss and Ibanez pedals don’t mess up the fuzz. Familiar with the Mooer pedals? Check out the Blues Mood (BD2 clone with Keeley mod) and the Flex Boost. – Bjorn]
For Martin Taylor, I would try a few of the following. The Ethos Overdrive, The Fulltone OCD, The MI Audio Super Crunch Box (if you were thinking of RAT pedal) and a Pigtronix Envelpoe Phaser. For short delay up to 700ms there is the marvelous and quite beautiful Lovepedal Echophonic Jr (V2 is called the Echophonic)
Hi Bjorn,
I was wondering what settings you used on the Rook, both as a boost and as a standalone Gilmourish OD? Cheers!
[Ooohhh… I actually don’t own one but borrowed one from a fried and tested it for the Buyer’s Guide. I’m afraid I don’t remember any settings. It depends very much on your pickups and amp, anyway. David does’t really use that much gain so try to keep in fairly moderate and also, try increasing the volume to about 3 for a nice and fat tube amp character. – Bjorn]
Hey i was wondering if you tested the Mooer Blues Mood
If so,is a Blues Driver clone ? How is it ?
Thanks, Tom
[It sounds very nice and it also feature the Fat mod from the Keeley BD2. – Bjorn]
I know people told me not to get any pedals yet but i couldn’t resist. I picked up a Keeley phat modded blues driver but was wondering should I get a rat as well or is it to similar in function to the blues driver. I don’t intend to practice with any pedals on, just to use them for a bit of play time after practising.
[Nothing wrong in getting a few pedals. Used right they can be a huge inspiration. I practice both with and without pedals but I think what’s important is that you don’t get lost in them and that whole tone quest and compromise the will and need to practice. The BD2 can deliver a wide range of tones from clean to pretty heavy distortion. The RAT is a dedicated distortion pedal. I often recommend getting both becuase they do serve different purposes and, you can use them together for new tones. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn how are you doing? Hey a friend of mine recently purchased a Suhr Riot, and its currently his favorite go to distortion. He was asking me if he could get something similar or really close to Gilmours tone with it, do you think you can maybe a tone thats very similar to a G-2? I already suggested to him if he feels he needs that particular sound to get a proco rat or top tone dg-2 but he doesnt really want to spend any money if he doesnt need to, what is your opinion on this?
Thanks and have a good day.
[I’ve never tried the Riot my self so I can’t really comment or suggest anything. From what I’ve read and heard from demos and reviews it seems that the pedal is perhaps closer to an OCD or perhaps somewhere between an OCD and RAT. The G2 has more gain I think and less mids but with some hot pickups and a dark amp, you should be able to get close… if my assumptions are correct. – Bjorn]
Thanks Bjorn!
It turns out I had both pedals set pretty much exactly how you recommended.
I know that the RAT doesn’t really require a booster in the gain department, but I more want it to give that extra kick when going into a solo – rather than standing on the volume pedal all night.
Of course it all depends on which amp I’m using it (The RAT) with; with some – like my little Marshall Class 5 – I have a slightly tough time getting it out of muddy-fuzz territory, whereas on a Carvin stack I use at some practices (not a huge fan myself), it seems to enter into the ultra-trebly crispy zone, and I end up feeling like I need to dime the filter control just to barely compensate.
Anyways, I like the ‘all @ 2:00’ idea. After that I guess it’s just tweaking.
Also, by the way, I have now had the opportunity to compare both the ‘Whiteface’ RAT and the RAT 2 (USA-model from mid 90’s with LM308 chip).
Although they are obviously in very similar territory, I think I prefer the Whiteface slightly.
It seems to have finer-tuned control over the 3 knobs, whereas I have found my RAT 2 to be a bit more unpredictable (particularly with the filter).
All in all, I feel the Whiteface is a bit more refined.
If only it had that LED…
Hi Bjorn
What’s your opinion about the Line 6 DM 4 to achived a Gilmour sound??
Thanks in advance!
José
[I haven’t tried it so I can’t really tell. You got all the classic models there tho so if not all of them works out you should be able to tweak some of them for some great tones. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I recently got my hands on a new pedal which is admittedly perhaps not so gilmourish but I think is great anyway! thanks to you I have my gilmourish pedal board sorted (hmmm, for now!) but wanted a distortion different to my muffs and fuzz to go with both my strats and les paul to cover classic rock through to modern blues. I picked up the new Mesa Boogie ‘Throttle Box’. I know that just screams METAL, and yes naturally it is all over this genre, but I think some will be suprised with what this pedal can do. It’s very tweakable for some great tones! I have 2 kids under 4 yrs so I need to play quiet, and I have to say this thing is unreal! I set it up with my blues junior and it’s completely dead silent, have the volume at wisper level, and this thing still just sings and sustains for days! Its a real hoot. If you get a chance to try one out I would love your opinion! Loving it and my Olympia fuzz in particular right now.
Take care,
Nick
[Thanks for the tip, Nick! I’ll check it out :) – Bjorn]
very informative as usual , incredible details , thanks much .. how come the throback overdrive boost only got 8 out of ten ?is it because its a smaller bedroom style set up? im the tele guy with the mare pick ups and roland cube lite .. i do plan on playing at home and also live in clubs as well .. i cant decide on which either the throbak or the banana boost ? im definatly getting the pig hoof muff mkII if that helps …. youre an inspiration to us all ! thanks
[The ThroBak is an excellent clone of the old Colorsoud but I think both the Bananboost and the Buffalo Powerboost are closer to David’s old tones and the original 18V Colorsound Powerboost. Check out the Boss BD2 for similar tones as well :) – Bjorn]
Bjorn-
I have been a big fan of your site for years, but I just now decided to chime in. Recently, I purchased the Skreddy Lunar Module. I was very hesitant to make this purchase because I have been patiently awaiting your stamp of approval. I put a lot of stock in your opinion. I was inspired by Kit Rae’s Time video on Youtube. The tone from this pedal sounded dead on DSOTM to me. Your reviews of the Sun Face are really good, but I am only a bedroom player and I did not want to take a chance on a pedal that would not sound good at lower volumes. To make a long story short, the LM works perfect for DSOTM at bedroom levels. But I was really shocked by how the pedal works as a booster for my BYOC Large Beaver/rams head specs. The LM made my LB come alive. I had been using the T.C. electronic Spark Booster and the Boss BD for a booster, but they make the LB sound too dark for my taste. To compensate for the dullness, I would increase the tone knob on the LB. The LM gave the LB the sharp/bright/piercing quality I have been looking for. Now I dial the tone back a little on the LB and let the LM work its magic. I have never used a Colorsound PB or Throbak, but this is what I imagined them to be like. I don’t think the LM will work very well for boosting clean tones, but it excels at boosting the Beaver. I thought I was only buying a fuzz pedal, but instead I received a fuzz, booster, and overdrive pedal all in one. I have only had the pedal a few days and I haven’t even discovered all it is capabilities. Thank you
Here is a video of me using the LM to boost the LB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCUbb1EzYmA
Gear used on the video:
57 RI Stratocaser with SD SSL-5 in the bridge, Boss CS-3, BYOC Large Beaver, Skreddy Lunar Module (as boost), Deluxe Electric Mistress, T.C Electronics Nova delay. The signal is split from the delay to a Laney Cub 12r combo amp and the other output goes to the Boss RT-20 into a Fender Vibro Champ XD at slightly lower volume.
Lunar Module Mini Deluxe Settings:
Clean, chimy, power boost tone (thanks Kit) Volume- unity, Fuzz- 0, Body- 1:00, Brite- 3:30, Range- 3:00
[Hi Matt! Very interesting that you would use the LM for boosting a Muff. It certainly wouldn’t have worked with any other fuzz :) Great tone you got there! Thanks for sharing the clip :) – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
I recently got my hands on a BD-2 Blues Driver (don’t know what took me so long).
Do you have any specific tips for running it with a RAT?
particularly, what settings would you suggest for the combination?
I’ve been fooling around with them and trying to find a sweet spot(s).
Often it feels like I’ve found one – then I come back the next day and the same settings just don’t cut it (perhaps just my ever-changing ears).
Anyways, all that aside, I would like to know what settings have worked well for you so far between the BD-2 and the RAT. (note: I run my blues driver AFTER the RAT – which is generally standard).
regards,
Julian
[Hi Julian! The settings depends on how your amp sound and its settings. The more headroom your amp has the more gain you can allow from the pedals. Start by setting the amp up for a warm clean tone. I usually keep all three controls on the RAT around 2:00. This seems to work well on most amps. Make the needed adjustments to match your guitar and amp. The RAT has a lot of gain so you really don’t need a booster but set the BD2 up for a clean boost with the volume around noon, tone at 9-10:00 and the gain just at the break up point around 9. You might have to adjust this to match your amp and you might also want to roll down the gain on the RAT some. Hope this helped! – Bjorn]
Bjorn, what an astonishing achievement your site is. Sorry to gush but there you go. I read it even if I am not buying a pedal! :-)
Anyway I ended up getting a Fulltone Fuzz ’70 and the Boss Blue’s Driver for a London gig and they worked brilliantly for me (even into a transistor amp) with a Trev Wilkinson pickups Strat copy. Incredibly fat sound, great on chords, dark or bright. Love it. Much thanks for inspiring me.
[Thank you, Hud! Glad you enjoy my site :) – Bjorn]
Hands down my favourite guitar site. Great job Bjorn. Was hoping you, or anyone else, can give me advice on the best overdrive or booster for a Cuff and Wren Box of War I recently bought. I’m using a Blackstar ht-5r combo.
Thank you.
[I recently did a review of the Buffalo Power Booster, which is a clone of the old Colorsound Powerboost. It’s an excellent booster for both the amp and gain pedals and doubles as a very powerful overdrive. Check out my review here. – Bjorn]
Hey I just bought a digitech grunge for a song, I think it is more a fuzz the a distortion, in between a big muff and fuzz face, I think you get some awesome gilmourish tones with this raw powered pedal
Hey Bjorn,
It’s been a while since I’ve talked to you. Hope you’re excited about The Greatest Show On Earth. Why don’t you have the Skreddy Screwdriver listed in the buyer’s guide? You gave it quite a positive review a few years back.
[Hi Eric! Yeah, only a few weeks before the release and we’re up to our necks with stuff that needs to be done :) The SkrewDriver is very nice indeed but I couldn’t feature everything… maybe I’ll include it in a future update. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn
I am a bit undecided about which pedal I should get between a tube driver and a wampler plexidrive, since I have been using a colorsound powerboost so far, to get the 70’s tones, but now with my band we’re gonna cover some recent stuff as well, and this of course needs a change on pefalboard in order to get as Pulse ad you can get. :)
Now I have a strat with dg20 pickups in addition to another one with low output, and I’m running in stereo, with my main amp being a Hiwatt t40 head trough a hiwatr4x12 cabinet…the colorsound works pretty well with this setup, so back to the point which overdrive would be the one to go for in your opinion( for the muff I’m gonna get a box of war by wren and cuff)
Thanks!
Matteo
[The Tube Driver and PlexiDriver are both based on the same Marshall-ish flavours. The Tube Driver is brighter, has more gain and of course the tube makes a lot of difference. The PlexiDrive is much easier to set up though and works on alomst any amp. You Hiwatt should be up for the Tube Driver but the PlexiDrive is no doubt a more versatile pedal… in my opinion. THAT being said, I prefer the Tube Driver. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn!!
I have a cover band and we all love Pink Floyd, so I’m trying to do my best to get a tone close to Gilmour’s. I think I might need some pedals and I hope you can help me a little bit.
Right now I have a Mexican strat with Texas Special, a Marshall JCM2000TSL (for Pink Floyd songs I only use the clean channel), EHX LPB-1 (linear power booster, I use it to compensate the volume difference between the strat and a Les Paul, so it’s always on with the strat at 10:00), MXR Dynacomp, Joyo Vintage Overdrive (REALLY cool Tubescreamer clone), Joyo Classic Chorus and Boss DD-3.
I think I will need:
1.- A fuzz, Big Muff or RAT. Which one do you think is the first I should go for? I was thinking about a RAT (which one is better ProCo RAT2 or MOOER Black Secret?), but maybe I should better get a Big Muff. The problem is that I think the good Big Muffs are very expensive, since the modern EHX models are not that good. What do you think?
2.- A flanger and phaser/univibe. Related to flangers I was thinking about getting the MOOER Eleclady. But what about the phaser? I read you like the MOOER more than the normal MXR, but less than the script logo MXR. What would you recommend for a low budget? The difference between the MOOER and the script logo MXR worths the money or the MOOER does the job well? I’m also thinking about getting the JOYO Vintage Phase, that I assume is cloning vintage Phase 90 and not the modern one, do you have any opinion about it? And related to univibes, I found them very expensive and I think that it won’t be so necessary if I have a phaser.
3.- An analog delay. I am really happy with my dd3, but sometimes I miss the analog sound in some songs. Which one do you recommend me? I really like the sound of the MXR Carbon Copy, but i would want to get a delay with tap tempo. I read about the VOX Time Machine, that has a vintage mode thats is supposed to sound like an analog delay, but I would want to read your opinion about it.
Cheers!! ;)
Jose
[Hi Jose! Sorry for my late reply. Let’s go…
1. The RAT is obviously the most versatile, based on your setup. Personally I think the Mooer is better sounding than the current RAT but they’re quite OK as well. In terms of Muff, check out the Large Beaver, North Effects or the EHX Bass Muff.
2. Again, you can’t go wrong with Mooer. The sound you get for the price is hard to match and unless you’re very very picky about your pedal board both the flanger and phaser will nail David’s tones just as well as any stock EHX or MXR.
3. I haven’t tried the VOX but I think the Flashback is hard to beat. Great sounds and price. You might also want to check out the TRex Reptile and the TC Nova Repeater.
Hope this helps :) – Bjorn]
Hey Björn, great guide!!
I hope you can help me with a question.
Do you know the overdrives like the ‘Way huge red llama’, ‘DOD 250’ or the ‘Zen drive from Hermida Audio’?
How would you or arrange them to which kind of overdrives? I don’t really know if they belong to the transparent boosters and OD’s or to the ones with more mid range like the TS…
And so do you think they’re also recommended for boosting or generally for a Gilmourish sound?
Cheers!
[Sorry for my late reply. The Red Lama and 250 are very amp like with a fairly transparent tone and little mid range. The Zen is closer to the OCD with lots of mids and an overall more saturated tone. In terms of Gilmour’s tones and boosting, I’d go for the first two. Check out the Way Huge Pork Loin as well :) – Bjorn]
Hey, Bjorn! I asked a question before about amps and you were more than helpful. I’ve ran myself into a corner about gear. Your breakdowns and descriptions have been extremely helpful. I’m undecided about an overdrive pedal. I’ve read this over and over, listened to clips on youtube over and over. Finally I resolved I’ll just ask the guy that wrote the thing! Haha
My amp will be a Blackface Bassman with 2×12 cab. My question is this –
I plan on running a Keely modded Blues Driver for my clean booster. I also plan on having a ProCo Rat on my board. Now with two great pedals on my board already, do I go with A Maxon 808 or the Fulltone OCD. My thinking is that I’d like to have some versatile pedals that can get some Gilmourish tones but are just great in their own right. The thing I want to avoid is picking pedals that sound generally the same. I’d like for them to be slightly different. So I’m wondering what would be a good pairing with the Blues Driver as far as something different for versatility – the Maxon or OCD. From the clips I’ve heard, I know they are all in about the same ballpark, all very versatile, and ultimately it’s a matter of preference. Still, I thought I’d appeal to you for some insight.
Love the site, and keep up the good work! Jacob
[Hi Jacob! Thanks for your kind words! The BD2 is a transparent fairly bright sounding pedal much like the old Powerboost. The TS9/OD808 and OCD have much more mid range and a more saturated tone. As I’ve tried to explain in the feature, the BD2 and similar pedals are more tube amp-like, while the TS9 and similar sounds more like a tube amp being driven with a overdrive… if you can see the difference. So, I would say that the TS9 and OCD are very similar but quite unlike the BD2. The BD2 is great for David’s classic overdrive tones and for boosting, while the TS9/OCD gives you more of a warmer, darker and smoother overdrive tone, which is great for replicating the Tube Driver and the Delicate, PULSE, Island era. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
I’m totally excited at the moment for 3 reasons and I just had to tell you…
1. I’ve finally finished building my red strat tribute, it’s now being set-up professionally for me. It’s a Warmoth alder body & Warmoth 21 fret maple neck. I sprayed it CAR (of course!) with nitro lacquer, it’s got a Callaham Vintage S trem, Callaham vintage tuners and a DG-20 set with the pick guard swapped for a single-ply 8 hole white. Can’t wait to play it now. I did a black strat tribute last year and have loved playing it, I’m sure this will bring similar joy! #0001 tribute next…
2. My pedal collection continues to grow. I managed to finally get hold of a RAT. I’ve toyed with just buying a new one for ages, but always kept an eye out for old ones. Most go for crazy prices but last night I managed to win an Ebay auction for a big box 90’s re-issue Vintage RAT for a really good price. Maybe because the auction finished at 4:30am! Any tips on which are your top Floyd tunes for me to use the RAT on? I’m guessing Pulse/Delicate era?
3. I’m going to The Wall in Wembley next Saturday, can’t wait. Will DG show up for Comfortably Numb?! Doubt it, but I can dream.
Keep up the awesome work, I’m addicted to this site!
Cheers,
Gareth
[Sounds like a very nice rig, Gareth! The RAT is a very versatile pedal and although Delicate and PULSE are probably the best era for it you can tweak for almost any of David’s lead tones. – Bjorn]
Hello:
TOM, the Vox Pathfinder 15r is a great amp, really great, but all VOX… put a 2×12 cabinet and you get a great clone of the ac30. VERY UNDERATED
The boost is wonderful plus, QUEEN IN AN AMP
But i think it do not pass the gilmour style of amp.
Best regards from CHILE
Hello Bjorn !
I was wondering if have you ever played with a Vox Pathfinder 15r, how would it suit for Pink Floyd stuff ? Do you think it would be a bad combination with a Hendrix fuzz face?
See ya!
[Never tried it so I can’t really tell. Sorry… – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Did you try the Mooer fuzz, distortion and overdrive pedals ? I saw you tried some modulation pedals of this brand.
They have very interesting clones imo. What do you think about this brand ?
[The fuzz pedals are OK but there are better alternatives for tight budgets. The RAT clone is very good and I also liked the Blues Mood (BD2) and Green Mile. Haven’t tried much else of the gains. I think the Mooer are by far the best budget option on the market. Well made and the tones are very close if not identical, to the originals. They’ve even incorporated some popular mods to the circuits. Depending on how picky you are I don’t think you can go wrong with these pedals. – Bjorn]
I was surprised not to have the drive ligth list
About it and bd-2, may say about their differences and if one works best for gilmour tone as the other?
Thank you!
[You mean the Light Drive from TopTone? It has more mids and gain than the BD2. The BD2 is better for boosting I think. – Bjorn]
Thanks for the help Bjorn
Cheers!!!
[Happy to help :) – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn :)
As you said the demeter fuzzulator and the g-2 sound very different from each so I was wondering, many people say that the rat has a sound very similar to the g-2, just wanna know your opinion, and if it’s true, could you give me some settings as a good starting point to set mine?
Cheers!!!
[You might be able todial in some G2 similar tones with the Fuzzolator, especially in the diode mode but it’s a fuzz and much closer to a germanium Fuzz Face than the G2 and RAT. However, the RAT is loosely based on a germanium FF or better, the tone you get from combining humbuckers, germanium FF and a large tube stack. It’s definitely a distortion though with lots of mids and gain saturation. The G2 is very similar to the RAT with much of the same gain structure and character but a bit more low end and presence. I’d start setting all the controls on the RAT around 2:00 and tweak your way around that. – Bjorn]
Bjorn,
Two questions, kind sir:
1) Have you ever tried the Paul Cochrane Timmy? I’m wondering how it would work as a clean boost behind a muff or fuzz? It’s very transparent and excels as a clean boost in general.
2) I’m currently looking at JTM45 type pedals. You listed the Plexi-Drive under “transaprent boosters and overdrives.” Does that mean the Wampler works well as a clean boost behind a muff or fuzz? I would have guessed these type pedals would excel more at “crunch” than as a booster.
Many thanks!
Brad
[Hi Brad! 1. I haven’t tried it so I can’t really tell. 2. The PexiDrive is semi-transparent I would say. Not as clean as the BD2 and other boosters but nowhere near as middy as the Tube Screamer, OCD etc. It works OK as a booster for Muff etc but I think there are better options for this. The PlexiDrive is perhaps best used as an alternative for David’s Tube Driver. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, and all in the land of Gilmourish. I’m going to learn, and explain my experience with the Catalinbread echorec in parts, as I learn about this incredible pedal. This post, I’ll say this first. I immediately upon having it in my hands realized the little info in the box left me wondering how I was going to figure out how to get a Gilmourish sound, with so many settings. The answer is, the online manual. Catalinbread has a manual pdf online that does exactly what I wanted it to do. First, it gives you a lesson in how the original worked, and I was quite surprised that the binson divided it’s maximum delay time of 300-310 ms into the four heads, each one at a set 75 ms apart, with no adjustment. That leads me to believe that other than the artier, psychedelic stuff, DG used mainly head four only, the maximum delay time. It goes on to explain the way they found a great balance betwren the original, and the new Echorec. I’d seen posts complaining that the max delay time is said to be 1000 ms, but that some settings are shorter. This is due to them staying true to the Binson, by dividing it’s maximum delay time equally between it’s four “heads, therefore if you use a setting using head two as the highest head, you’ll get a maximum of 500 ms, as each head has 250 ms maximum delay time between it, and the next head! They also added an optional boost via trimpot to send your tubes into overdrive by the use of a two transistor preamp, which depending on how you setup the pedal, can be on all the time, or be switched on, and off when in bypass. The manual is extremely informative, and the recommended starting point for anyone who gets this pedal. It’s actually so much information, they congratulate you at the end, for actually reading the entire manual.
Next post, Plugging it in!
Peace y’all, Keith
[Thanks for the info, Keith! – Bjorn]
Looking forward to reading Keith’s impressions on the CB Echorec. I’m seriously thinking about purchasing one of those, and still expecting an opinion from someone who has a musical taste similar to mine (I’m totally onboard with Keith’s views that anything post-Animals isn’t really PF, but I digress…).
Hey Bjorn, got the call last night. My Catalinbread Echorec is waiting for me at Sam Ash. I’ll be there at 11am when they open, and will post my real opinion of it’s Gilmourish value as soon as I sort it out!
Peace, The POSTECUTIONER!
[Looking forward to it, Keith! – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
Love the additions to the Gear Guide! Great work :)
Quick question regarding the Wampler PD. I have an OCD at the moment which I like, but I’m thinking about switching it with the Plexidrive. I’m looking for that sound from the first solo from On an Island (the song) . Do you think the switch would be beneficial? The Plexi sounds great on all the videos I’ve watched but I always think it sounds a little AC/DCish (which isn’t bad, just different). I’m playing at home with a Fender Strat into a Blues Jr.
Wishing you all the best from Eugene, Oregon.
[The PD is based on the JTM45, so no wonder it sounds like AC/DC :) It’s an incredibly versatile pedal and although it has that Marshal flavour it allows your amp and guitar to shine through. The Tube Driver, which was used on most of the stuff on On an Island, is based on more or less the same early Marshall circuit so the PD is an excellent alternative and, in my experience, a bit easier to set up on smaller amps. The OCD is based on the TS9, with much more mid range so although they’re both overdrives I don’t think they should be compared. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn. Thanks once again for the tip related to the TC Electronic Spark Booster. It is really a very clean booster that “brought life” to my poor Mustang III amp. It is versatille and there are lots of combinations of its controls for different results. And it was specially useful for me because it didn’t brought “amplified hums & cia” in comparison to my Boss BD-2. When used with a guitar equipped with de “EMG kit” the resultas are even more amazing! Regards :)
[Glad to hear it worked out, Carlos! – Bjorn]
Great article once again Bjørn!!!
I want to set my Demeter Fuzzulator to produce a G-2-like sound, i know that setting up depends on many things but could you give me some basic start up settings?
Cheers from Portugal :)
[They sound very different from each other so I wouldn’t expect the Fuzzolator to nail all of David’s G2 and Muff tones. Depending on your guitar and amp I’d set the gain to about 75% and the volume for a bit of boost to get that smooth amp-like distortion. Try different settings with the tone to match your amp. You may also need to tweak the mids and treble on your amp a bit too. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
have you tried the Hardwire CM-2? Is a good overdrive for Gdansk sounds and, in general, for boosting the Big Muff?
It’s basically a tube screamer, but with High and Low controls and the Classic/Modified switch that adds gain and mids (in Modified mode, not really Gilmourish maybe, but it’s a versatile pedal, i think).
It’s a good choiche?
Hardwire CM-2 or Boss BD-2, what would you chose?
Thank You.
[I haven’t tried it so I can’t really comment on it. From what I can gather based on the clips it sounds like something between an OCD and Tube Driver. Should go nicely for David’s overdrives but you might experience that it’s mid range won’t go that well for boosting distortions and fuzz. I don’t know. I’ve always loved the BD2 and the Keeley in particular is a very versatile pedal. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
Thanks for the advice, but I just want to clarify which Xotic booster you meant? They have AC, RC and EP boosters on their website, but SP looks like its a compressor. I’m definitely after some grit with my fuzz, so I’ll work out which one to go for :-)
Also, I forgot to ask, I’m after a digital delay. I cover analogue with my EHX Mem boy dlxe but could do with a bit of digital delay too. Should I just go for a DD-3 or is there something else I should look out for?
Cheers,
Gareth
[Sorry, I meant the EP booster, which is based on the boost circuit off an Echo Plex. The RC (Really Clean) is similar to the TC Spark Booster, while the AC (Almost Clean) is closer to the old Colorsound Powerboost, whith a transparent tone producing everything from clean volume boost to glassy fuzz. In terms of single small size delays I prefer the TC Flashback. Silent, great tones and lots of options. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I’ve been stalking Gilmourish for just over a year now and have bought TONS of gear based on your views & reviews. Thanks for running such an incredible resource, it’s an amazing website that I enjoy every day.
I just wondered if you’d had chance to try out the TC Electronics Mini Spark Booster yet? It looks pretty awesome. I need a true bypass booster for my BC108 fuzz as it hates my BD-2! Is that type of clean boost going to help me push the fuzz, or should I go for the regular Spark Booster with a touch of gain too? I’m using my Laney Cub12 at pretty decent volume, no neighbours to worry about.
I’d also be using it to boost a Pig Hoof II when I finally get around to ordering one. I’m using a Skreddy P19 and a Hoof Fuzz for my muff tones at the moment, they’re both awesome pedals. But always room for one more, right?!
Keep up the amazing work, love it.
Cheers,
Gareth
[Hi Gareth! Thanks for your kind words! Well, there’s always room for one more pedal, isn’t it :) The Mini Spark Booster is a clean boost that’s great for boosting the volume and for getting a bit more bite from your amp. It works nicely for boosting fuzz and distortions as well but personally I prefer a bit more dirt with my fuzz pedals. It’s the old Hendrix trick, with the fuzz and a cranked Marshall. It seems to add a bit more presence, edge and grit to the fuzz. Check out the Xotic EP Booster, Throbak OverdriveBoost and Wampler PlexiDrive for alternatives. – Bjorn]
Hi, Bjorn. Fantastic job on the site – very informative and extremely helpful.
If you can spare a moment, I would love your recommendation.
Here’s my setup… Gibson Les Paul Standard=>Boss TU-2=>Dunlop JH-1 Wah=>Crowther Hot Cake=>MXR Micro Flanger=>Boss DD-3=>Whirlwind Selector=>(A) Ibanez Ts-808=>Marshall Class 5 (B) Fender Pro Junior. I’m using the TS808 solely on the Marshall Class 5.
Since the Hot Cake was designed to work best with a Vox amp, I figured I’d replace it with something in the chain that will let me achieve smooth, creamy sustain and gain (a la Gilmour, Santana, etc.) but at low volumes.
Your thoughts? A RAT (modded?) Keep the Hot Cake? Thanks!
[Thanks for your kind words, Craig! I’ve never had any problems with getting smooth tones with the Hot Cake on low volume but I guess it depends on the amp. I’d keep it but check out the OCD, Wampler PlexiDrive, Way Huge Green Rhino… to name a few. The RAT might work for what you’re looking for but I think there are better pedals out there for overdrive tones. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, will a transparent overdrive make my sound cut through better than a tube screamer? i thought TS’s are supposed to do that cos of its mid-hump? I’m confused.
[Depends on how you’re using it. Yes, more mid range allows the guitar to cut through better but mids boosted overdrives, such as the TS, doesn’t work that well for boosting other pedals. If you combine it with a fuzz, Big Muff or similar, the tone gets dark and muddy. Better to use it as a stand alone overdrive or for boosting a cranked amp. For boosting pedals such as mentioned above, I recommend a more transparent booster. This will blend better. – Bjorn]
Well, I’m back.
Still haven’t gotten my whiteface working again, but I DID get my hands on an original US-made RAT 2 (with LM308).
At first, it blew me away in a manner very similar to the whiteface (ie, I was very impressed).
HOWEVER, over the past few days I have noticed that the tone has become(?) WAY too bright.
That’s even considering any possible compensation with the ‘Filter’ knob.
As soon as I reach very high volumes, the brightness-induced feedback simply overtakes the tone and transforms it into squished nonsense.
Anyways, I’m still trying to figure it all out, but the way things stand right now, I am obviously more impressed by the whiteface – but that may be unfair as other factors may be at play here.
All that being said, I can testify to the whiteface ’85 reissue and US-made RAT2 (when it was working properly) sounding almost exactly the same – in a brilliant way.
If only these problems didn’t keep occurring so I could just relax and enjoy that amazing RAT tone…
– Julian
[Hard to tell why it sound that bright but the louder you play the more peaking transients you’ll create and some upper mid range frequencies can appear as very bright and harsh. – Bjorn]
Hi! Quick question: Do you think the Maxon OD808 is a good match for my Fuzz Phrase? I’m thinking the 808’s lack of lower end and gain is a good match for the FP, which has a more lower end and gain?
[Not really. The reason is that the 808 and similar Tube Screamers has a lot of mid range, which doesn’t work that well as a booster or for combining with other gain pedals. It depends on your setup and it might work for the tones you want but in most cases, you’ll end up with a dark and muddy tone. I recommend a more transparent booster like the BD2, ThroBak Overdrive Boost, TC Electronics Spark Boost or similar. – Bjorn]
Hi, Bjorn. Just wanted to write about a couple of issues I’ve had with my BYOC Triangle Large Beaver and new ProCo RAT2, in case any of your other readers have similar issues. I thought I had a bum beaver ’cause it made weird, scratchy noises. Turned out the problem was the cheap alternative “Boss-type” AC/DC converter I bought. I now have a real Boss converter; problem solved. My new RAT was hesitating (after engaging the stomp switch) when I first got it. Now that I’ve had it for a couple of weeks, it hardly ever works. Luckily, I found a good deal on a Whiteface re-issue, which should be here in a couple of days. The RAT2 will be going back to Amazon. Eager to get the WF RAT in place, along with the Beaver, BKB Tube Driver, EH Mistress, and Whammy-DT. Just need to score a delay next!
[Sounds like a killer setup! Thanks for your post :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
To which catergory would you attach the following pedals:
– BOSS DS – 1 (IMO very close to Pete Cornish SS-2?)
– Pete Cornsih SS-2
– BOSS SD-1
Mid scooped / transparent pedlas, as opposed to TS 9 or RAT style midrangy?
Or something between the 2 categories?
Best regards,
Sebastien
[Hi Sebastien. Sorry for my late reply. They all got more mid range than the early 70s Muffs, Colorsound Powerboost, Boss BD2 etc but not nearly as much as a RAT, TS9/OD808 etc, so yeah, I guess you could say they fit right in between there. – Bjorn]
Bjorn,
Good evening.
I was wondering if you could add the Fulltone Fulldrive pedal in the higher section, the Transparent / midscooped pedals, among the Tc Spark booster, Boss BD-2 Keeley, wapler Plexidrive.
It’s a very transparent pedal, and I’m sure it belongs to that category.
Do you have any experience with it ?
Thanks for sharing!
[Well, there are lots of pedals I’d like to include but that would have made the list messy :) The Fulltone is OK but not one of my favourites. I know it’s a very popular pedal though. I’ll consider it for a future update. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn!! I wonder if i could get your advice on something. Im looking for a booster that will boost my Big Muff PI (New one) and my Proco Rat 2 (Also new) Ive decided that i will go for either a Bd2 or the Tc Electronic Spark Booster. Now the fun part xD Which one of these makes the tone fatter and more Gilmourish? Amp i use: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Guitar:Fender Strat with EMG picks. Pedals:
TU3
CS3
BIG MUFF PI
PROCO RAT 2
BK BUTLER TUBE DRIVER
FLANGER DELUXE
WHAMMY PEDAL
NOVA DELAY
//Best regards Oscar
[Sorry for my late reply, Oscar. Based on what you already have I’d say the TC Spark Boost. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
The best site on the web is improving again with this updated section! Great work as always!
Here is part of my chain. Strat>Olympia>Dynacomp>Bass Muff>DB2>Spark Boost>mods>DR103
I need your recommendation for basic setting for BD2 and Spark Boost. I guess to use the Spark as clean booster (not much choice) and BD2 as overdrive.
BTW, have you ever mind to add basic settings to the buyer guides? This would be the best place to get references and would save you to reply to lazy guy like me!
Thanks
Deny
[Thanks for your kind words Deny! Settings depends on so many factors, like the guitar, pickups, amp, speakers, playing style and technique, what other pedals you use, in what environment you play etc etc etc… So, what works for me might not work for you. What’s important is that you get the best tone from your amp and base all your pedals on this. See more about amp settings and setup in this feature. I usually set the BD2 volume slightly higher than unity for a bit of that tube-like compression and warmth. The gain I place somwhere between noon and 2 and the tone between “off” and 9 o’clock depending on what guitar I’m using. – Bjorn]
Cool.
I know, ‘rookie mistake’ with the power supply ;)
Anyways, it looks like I might be picking up an original RAT 2 (USA made, LM308), so once I get my ’85 whiteface back, I can tell ya if there’s any noticeable differences between the two.
I do expect them to be roughly the same – which is certainly fine by me – but I’m excited to see for myself. So I’ll keep ya posted.
Skål!
Julian
[Please do :) – Bjorn]
Bjorn,
I have a question. Before I get into ill let you know my setup so you have an idea what im working with. I have a brand new mim standard strat, and a fender excelsior amp. The problem im Having is when I am playing time, the settings that i use on my Keely mod BD2 to add balls to my jam pedals rattler on the solo, dont sound to good for the slight od in the rythms. This is only the second song ive learned to play so far(the first being breathe) so im sure ill run into this problem alot? anyways, i cant really bend down and adjust the bd2 before the solo, so iam wondering if it would make sense to either get something like the spark to add balls to the rat, and use the bd2 as a dedicated od, or get the wampler plexidrive and switch off between the bd2 for od. I guess what iam wondering is if the bd2 is close enough to the plexi that it wouldnt make sense to get it, but rather add the spark, witch seems to be a very diff animal….any advice would be appreciated, thanks- Josh J
[Well, the Excelsior amp is pretty straight forward without any EQ controls and it doesn’t have all that headroom either. Not quite sure what you’re experiencing but I would assume that the problems you have with the rhythm tone is that it’s just too much gain and it’s very bright? Anyway, the TC Spark Booster is very clean and transparent so adding that for the rhythms will perhaps be a better solution. The PlexiDrive has a slightly darker tone than the BD2 with a bit more compression and mid range but I don’t think it would do much difference. – Bjorn]
So, needless to say, I am ‘through-the-roof’ impressed with the RAT (whiteface).
As an almost exclusive silicon fuzz user up to this point, I have never experienced so much versatility (as well as distinct character) in a single pedal.
UNFORTUNATELY, I made the terrible mistake of powering the pedal with what turned out to be a power supply of the wrong polarity. So now, I’ve had to send back the beauty to get repaired/replaced :(
In the mean time, I have been going through so much RAT withdrawal that I have begun looking at grabbing another while my whiteface gets repaired.
And this leads me to my question. Have you had the opportunity to try out BOTH the old RAT 2 and the ’85 whiteface reissue? (both have LM308 chip).
And if so, are there any noticeable differences between the two? (aside from the LED of course).
I may be able to find a ‘vintage’ RAT 2, but I guess I don’t want to shell out the big bucks if I’m just going to end up with the same two pedals + an LED.
– Julian
[Ouch… gotta be careful with that powering :) Hope it works out. It’s been a while since I’ve tried an original RAT so I never got to A/B test the 85 reissue. From what I can understand they’re supposed to be more or less the same. – Bjorn]
How would you compare the CW SUF with the Box of War (Wren and cuff)?
Keep up the good work Bjorn! If you need help with something be sure to let know!!
[Thank you, Marc-André! Not much difference really. Both are dead on the old Civil War. The SUF might have a bit more presence and top, while the BoW has a tad more mid range but really, they’re very similar so I guess it comes down to preference and how your guitar and amp sound with each of them. – Bjorn]
hey Bjorn, what about the Costalab Natural drive review that you made? I thought you would put the pedal here?
Chears!
BTW I’m getting a civil war (stomp under foot) in the next few days! Cant wait to try it.. ever get the chance?
[I wanted to cover the basics and most common pedals in this first version of the guide. I’ll have more models future updates. The CW SUF is a great sounding pedal! – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, so what do you think of the Fulltone FullDrive 2 (Mosfet) with the added boost function? It not only covers the overdrive section but it also has a switch for a clean boost. I just wanted some “pro guitarist thoughts” on it..
[I haven’t played it that much but it kind of sounds like a mix between the OCD and a transparent booster. Very versatile and I think it works especially well for David’s PULSE tones. Personally though I prefer an even cleaner and more transparent boost. – Bjorn]
Would you give the Jam pedals Rattler Classic(without the toggle switch) the same 10/10 score as the one with the toggle? I have the classic because it was less expensive and im wondering if i made a mistake?
[Both sound great and for those classic RAT tones I’d give them both 10. The toggle switch makes that version a bit more versatile. Kind of like a OD808 and RAT in one pedal. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn,
Can you say a little more about the Banana Boost, I’ll buy us, and I would like some more information on this pedal. Which period she covers.
Thanks
Alex
[It’s pretty much a clone of the current 9V Colorsound reissue with master volume. Sounds very similar. The Banana Boost is not as punchy and snappy as the Colorsound (in lack of better words) but it has a smoother break up I think and the treble controls blends a bit better. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn. First of all let me congratulate you for such a wondrous website and a vey nice sounding band. Airbag is awesome! Congratulations to you and your band mates on your work.
Bjorn, I’ve seen that you recommend a lot the Rat and Tube Screamer for smaller bedroom setups, which is my case, and that you use it too. Or used to.
Here’s my board: Wah > CS-3 > RAT > TS-9 > Chorus > Delay > Tube Amp.
My question is, have you found the same problemes that I’m having? I can’t combo the RAT + TS9 without completly destroying the tone. Everything becomes muddy. The RAT is set with the gain at a little less than noon and the TS-9 is set for volume, only, the gain is at zero. The CS-3 is on all the time, although turning it off doesn’t help with the RAT + TS-9 mud.
Did you had the same issue? Or am I doing something really wrong? I’m considering in get rid of the TS-9 and get a BD-2 instead (maybe will clear it up?).
Sorry for the long post.
Congrats, again!
Cheers.
[Thanks for your kind words, Antonio! Both the RAT and TS9 has a lot of mid range and combining them will make your tone very dark and muddy. I’d get a second overdrive and one that’s more transparent than the TS9 and use for boost. Setting up a clean boost as a basis for most of your tones will bring some life into your amp and give the TS9 and RAT a bit more balls. Check out the BD2, TC Spark Boost and similar. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn. Thanks again for your excellent site. Quick question about boosting a muff, please.
I’m soon going to get a muff, at this point mostly leaning towards a BYOC Large Beaver Ram’s Head. I’m wondering if you’re familiar with the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII overdrive? As some of the overdrives/boosts listed above (and in the comments) are based in that classic Marshall sound, and the DLS is designed exactly for that sound too, do you know if it’d be a good muff boost?
I’m playing a Strat into a low-wattage Fender tube amp, at bedroom levels, if this affects your answer. Many thanks.
[The DLS is pretty close to the Wampler PlexiDrive, which is based on the JTM45 early Marshall tone. I havn’t managed to make these work as boosters for the Muffs as they have a bit too much mid range and compression. It’s a matter of taste but I think the Muffs goes better with more transparent sounding boosters like the BD2, ThroBak or TC Spark Booster. – Bjorn]
Hi Björn, have you ever tried the stu castledine coloursound overdrive boost? Is it a legit réussie, an original, does it sounds good? I dont know what to choose between the throbak (my original choice) thé banana boost and this one… PS have you heard about amalfitano pickups? Gonna order one probably and wanted your opinion on it… Thanks!
[The Castledine is probably as close as you’ll ever get to the original 18V. It has more headroom than he 9V so it works nicely as a clean boost and overdrive… although the reissue with master volume has a bit more headroom. Hard to compare with the ThroBak and Banana. They’re all very good sounding and offer something slightly different to each other. Never tried the pickups so I can’t really comment on that. – Bjorn]
Cool article. I have a recent Butler Tube Driver (with Bias Control). Though it sounds great through my tube amps my preference is to use it through a solid state Lab Series L5…it sounds great at all volumes. Perhaps that is because the L5 is designed to sound pretty much the same at all volumes.
[Thanks for the input :) – Bjorn]
hey Bjorn i was wondering if you could give me a list of transparent boosters that work for the 71-77 era, besides the 2 listed? ….if the work with a bedroom set up then thats a real plus!
[There are 6 pedals listed in the transparent boosters/overdrives category. All of these has enough headroom for both clean boost and overdrive. Check out the Xotic Effects RC and AC as well. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn
I wanted to ask your advice about a colorsound powerboost alternative to boost a muff, since it’s hard to find a BK butler or an original colorsound.
Pedal that I have are: xotic bb-preamp, fulltone OCD, zvex box of rock, hermidia zendrive, xotic EP booster. What do you think will come closest to the colorsound for boosting a muff?
Thanks in advance,
Maarten
[The Xotic BB for sure. It’s very close to the CPB. In fact, the RC, AC and BB are all based on the CPB and similar tones that you’d get from the early Marshalls etc. Place the BB after the Muff and set it up for a clean boost with fairly neutral treble and bass settings. Add a bit more dirt if you think that suits your tones. See this feature for some Big Muff tone setup tips. – Bjorn]
Really? Are they based on the CPB? Which of them is closer to the original CPB?
I guess the AC would be the closest. It doesn’t sound the same but it will give you much of the same headroom and breakup.
Thanks so much Bjorn!
That’s pretty much what I had thought. I did some looking around and finally decided on one of the whiteface (’85) reissues.
I’m still waiting for it to arrive, but from what I can tell, it fits the bill perfectly (LM308 chip as well as being Made In America).
I guess its too bad that it doesn’t have the LED like the RAT 2, but obviously that’s not a big deal. I’m just pumped to add such a versatile fuzz-stortion-drive to my rig.
Until now I’ve stuck almost exclusively with a Silicon Fuzz – and it only takes one listen to ‘Time’ or one viewing of ‘Pompeii’ to remember why – but the lack of flexibility does eventually rear its head.
Anyways, I’m excited to get my hands on it. In the mean time, I think I could use a new overdrive other than my TS808….
Thanks again,
Julian
[Keep us posted, Julian :) – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, big ‘gilmourish’ fan here,
Sorry, wasn’t sure if you’ve already answered this but…
I’m in the market for a RAT and I’m still slightly unclear on the differences between the various models.
When you talk about the RAT 2, is that that same as the newest models?
I’ve read all about the lm308 chip – which I’ve also seen people say is not included in the ‘modern’ RAT 2 – and mention of the difference between models made in America vs China.
Also, when you mention the ‘Vintage’ RAT, is that the same as what has been called the “Whiteface” vintage reissue?
I apologize if I missed something. I’m so tempted when seeing the standard ProCo RAT 2 for such great prices to just snatch it up – but I’m curious if there are other things I should be looking out for.
Any clarification would be MUCH appreciated!
Thanks,
Julian
[Hi Julian! The current ProCo model doesn’t feature the LM308 chip, which does make a difference. The pedal isn’t as smooth and dynamic as the ones that feature the chip. Tryu to track down a vintage model (slightly bigger box), the old RAT2 or the whiteface (ProCo recently reissued a ’85 model). If not, there are several great sounding clones like the Rattler from Jam Pedals. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, once again on choosing an alternative overdrive to have near a BD2 Keeley mod. I ditched the Spark Booster, seems redundant… I’ m considering some very versatile like the Mojohand Rook or mantra from Blackouteffectors, but I’m also testing a modded TS9 with true bypass switch that sounds good and is dead silent. The doubt is about the tone control that seems it works only at the very end of the turn where the pedal begin to hiss with the finally found highs! Any suggestions are welcome because the BD2 is fantastic but very mid scooped ,and sometimes I’d like to have more versatility!
Regards,
Luca
[The TS9 is at the very other side of the tone spectrum. Can’t really go wrong with that but if you want something in-between, then the Rook or Wampler PlexiDrive might be a good way to go. Both has a bit more mid range than the BD and gets nice and compressed when you turn up the gain and volume. – Bjorn]
So I’m considering and overdrive or booster and I’m reading this and you make a clear distinction between the two but you don’t say which is which or give me any way to figure it out myself, I just want a tiny bit of a gain boost like on Shine On You Crazy Diamond, I use a MarkV full stack at home, the Blues Driver sounds alright but idk if that is IT or not, any suggestions would be helpful!
[You want a transparent overdrive with a typical mids scoop. Check out the Boss BD2 (preferably Keeley), ThroBak Overdriveboost, Colorsound Powerboost, Wampler PlexiDrive, BK Tube Driver… – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, would you prefer BD-2 or PlexiDrive for an overdrive and boosting RAT/Muff? My amp is Laney LT-5.
[The BD2. The PlexiDrive has a bit too much mid range and compression for boost. – Bjorn]
btw i recommend checking out an amp called zinky they are essentially deluxe reverbs clones with a second channel that has preamp gain. The clean channel is pristine, but the the amp does break up fairly quickly because its biased so hot. But its got mojo for days and for 15 watts its gets loud as fuck (sorry for my dirty american mouth). Or the company egnater, the models specifically being the warmaster and renegade for the ability of tube swapping.
[The Egnaters are great. Haven’t tried the Zinky… thanks for the tip! – Bjorn]
Dear Bjorn
thanks for being incredibly patient and helping out a fellow guitarist in need. I would like to apologize for wasting your time a little. I recently was getting a little annoyed at the lack of being able to get that gilmour tone. My iron bell and tone wicker were too harsh through my twin and zinky amps. But then genius struck me or you could say i remembered one the most important ingredients to whole equation that i had been forgetting. Volume… plain and simple, i cranked my amps and all that harshness dissipated and now both pedals are giving me gilmour tones. I use the Iron Bell for the P-1 cornish sounds (i dont boost now, with volume that pedal doesnt need a boost.), and i use the tone wicker boosted with the bb preamp for teh G-2 tones. Both of those setups have been gold when i crank it. So thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and next time i’ll be a little more patient and make sure i tackled every avenue before i come here. Again Thank you and take care.
[No worries, Clark :) Happy to help and to hear you found your tone! – Bjorn]
also would the fulldrive 2 mosfet work well as a booster, (i forgot to add that i boost the iron bell, it smooths out a little and seems to be sweeter). Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.
[Not really. It has a bit too much mid range and gain. I’d rather go with a Boss BD2, TC Electronic Spark Booster or the Xotic RC. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn hows life goin?
Well i have completely changed my gear since my last inquiry. I now use a fender twin with 1 15 inch so it stays cleaner when being blasted, my pedals for dirt i currently run are the iron bell and the xotic bb preamp. Do you think if i bought to boost a big muff tone wicker pi again and used the bb preamp to boost it that i could achieve something in the gdnask vein or animals of tone.
[Not quite sure I got the question but why would you need a Tone Wicker when you got the Iron Bell? Should be able to get similar tones. The Tone Wicker may sound a bit more vintage though but I recommend that you check out the BYOC Large Beaver ram’s head or, if your budget allows it, the Electronic Orange Pig Hoof for even closer tones. – Bjorn]
hey Bjorn
Im currently using the iron bell (thanks to your review) and it works great. I see that it works
great as a stand alone distortion for that sound but i like boosting it to give it that extra umph. Currently im using a plimsoul which is nice but i was wondering if you would think the mosfret 2 or maybe the bb preamp by xotic would be better. Im goin to try the tc spark this weekend. thanks
[The Spark Booster is an all clean booster. The Xotic counterpart would be the RC. The BB is perhaps a bit closer to the old Colorsound Powerboost, with a wider gain range. Check out the AC as well. Personally I don’t think the Mosfet works that well for boosting Muffs and other distortions. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, love your site!
Have you done a demo of any RAT pedals or clones of the RAT? I’m thinking about the BYOC Mouse which apparently does have an LM308 chip like the old ones. I’d really love to hear some sound clips of what you would do with a similar RAT style pedal if you can find the time in the future for a demo.
Thanks, and keep up the good work with the site!
[Hi Matt! The BYOC Mouse is very nice. I’ve done a review of the Jam Pedals Rattler, which is probably my favourite RAT clone. Check out the Retro Sonic Distortion as well. The Pete Cornish G2 is also in that RAT territory. See my review of the TopTone DG2 for something similar. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
I’m kind of torn between a TC Spark Booster and a BD-2 (Analogman mod). Which one would you prefer and what would the main reason be for your choice? In terms of clean boosts, are they both equally capable boosters? What about versatility and acting as dedicated creamy overdrives on their own?
I think I’ve read before that you prefer the Keeley mod of BD-2 for its warmer tone compared to the Analogman mod of BD-2. I’m asking as I will be ordering a Sun Face BC109 from Analogman pretty soon, and I therefore I have a chance to also pop in a BD-2 mod of theirs in the cart. I can find a TC Spark Booster in the local music store, so in terms of availability both are equally accessible.
Many thanks.
[See my reply to your previous comment as well. Both the BD2 and TC has a transparent tone that doesn’t colour your signal. The BD2 has a wide range from crystal clean to near fuzz, while the TC is all clean. It does feature a mids boost, which adds a bit more dirt but neither will give you that Tube Screamer, creamy tone. Both are closer to the Colorsound Powervboost and BK Tube Driver. The BD2 will mess up your SunFace but the TC works nicely. So you need to choose I guess. TC – clean and works with fuzz. BD2 – clean and more gain but doesn’t work with fuzz. – Bjorn]
Hey again, I just read the post from Clark, and I’m a bit curious about my inability to get that super sparkely tone that David has in the first intro blues solo in Shine On You Crazy Diamond, and really all over WYWH. I can use the guide to set up like it says he did, but that high end crispness, and sparkle is the only word I can use to describe it, and it’s just not as crystalline. Could it be something in the mixdown, like added compression? I’ve tried changing the settings on the pedals, different picking techniques, but just can’t get it. What say you, you kniw my gear, and my pickups shouldn’t be an issue, as they are spot on period Fender. It’s the one tone I crave most, and yet one of the only one’s I’ve been unable to emulate, which leads me to believe there are some additional things done in mixdown to create the tone What do you use, and what settings, to achieve this wonderful tone?
Thank you, Peace, Keith
[You mean the studio version? I think the solo was recorded straight into the mixing desk with the Strat. If so, they’d use compression and perhaps a tube preamp of some sorts. All of the other guitars on that album were recorded with either a Hiwatt/WEM setup or Fender Twin with a Colorsound Powerboost or just clean. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn
I bought the fulltone ocd to boost my bif muff pi with the tone wicker. I was wondering if you knew any settings to dial in to help that elusive sound. Cause for the life of me i cant seem to get the gilmour tone down, pretty close but it seems a bit harsh and trebley. I use an egnater but i run the amp on glean with the gain super low so its pristine clean. Thanks for the response for my first question.
[The OCD might not be the best option for boost. It has a lot of mid range and quite a lot of gain, which will colour your tone and add more gain to the Muff. It’s a great overdrive and an excellent alternative to the Tube Driver but for boost, I think you’ll be better off with a more transparent and cleaner overdrive, like the Boss BD2 or the TC Spark Booster. This will allow a cleaner and warmer tone. See this feature for some amp settings. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn,
this might be a repetition of what everyone is asking but do you think the given configuration could enable me of a gilmourish tone considering bedroom level.
Setup that i’m planning is Olympia Fuzz > Dark Matter distortion >Fulltone OCD >Spark Booster.
Current i’m using Vox AC4TV amp and fender Stratocaster with CS69/CS50/SSL5.
Thanks.
[Sounds like a nice and versatile setup. Throw in a delay and perhaps some modulation there as well and you’re spot on :) – Bjorn]
Bjorn,
I need your wise advice again! Based on this website recomandations, I bought the following pedals: Bass Big Muff and Boss BD2. The next one coming in should be the Olympia Fuzz.
I am looking an alternative for Coulorsound PowerBoost and Tube Driver to complete the distorsion section of pedalboard. I am playing tune from DSotM to Division Bell era. I am using the BD2 as Muff booster actually. I am wondering which of the following pedals you recomand for overdrive tone.
– TC Spark Boost
– TC MojoMojo
– Hot Ice Sweet Distorsion
– Boss BD2
– Other budget pedal (150$)
I will consider original Tube Driver or Coloursound PB if recomandations price are close to these (like ThroBak Overdrive) ’cause amp is Hiwatt Custom 100 and bedroom level is not a consideration for me.
Thanks again,
[The BD2 would do the job of the Colorsound. I haven’t tried the Ice Sweet but it sounds very close to the Tube Driver, although a bit more aggressive. The Wampler PlexiDrive is also a great alternative for the Tube Driver. If you need a second transparent boost, since you already use the BD2, then the Spark Booster would be the closest match. – Bjorn]
Love this site! Its like a new addiction for me right now haha
I’m looking for a new fuzz/distortion that will be boosted with my OCD overdrive. I do play shows occasionally but primarily have to play at a lower bedrrom level. i have been debating on picking up the Rat 2 or even a Analogman sunface Will the sunface sound good at bedroom levels? Or if i get a Rat 2 does it already have the LM308 chip? Your advice is greatly appreciated.
thanks again, addicted to this amazing site!
Cheers,
Dustin
[Thank you Dustin! I think I’d go for the RAT. It’s much more versatile than a fuzz and you can easily tweak it for similar tones. Fuzz pedals also tend to sound thin and harsh on bedroom levels no matter how you set the amp. The OCD works best with the RAT anyway. Check out the Jam Pedals Rattler for a great sounding clone with a few extras. – Bjorn]
hi again bjorn,thanks for your advice,i cant wait to place my order but in your expert opinion on getting something close to davids sound(comfortably numb,time etc..)which pedal would be best(rattler or large beaver)? and would i need any others before i order? i own a fender american special strat and fender hot rod deluxe,i also have a boss ds1 and boss me25…………..congratulations on your site bjorn,looks like you make a LOT of guitarists very happy :) including me..i think your great,,thanks for all your work,best regards..dave
[Thanks for your kind words, Dave! Glad you enjoy the site. Check out this feature for some Comfortably Numb tone tips and this one for Time. See the Tone – Pedals feature as well for some general setup tips. Let me know if you need more help :) – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn,
Sorry, I’ve missed your last reply!
I didn’t know that the Plexidrive was a transparent kind of distortion… is it really similar to a Chandler Tube driver?
Concerning The Pete Cornish SS 2, what is the best choice to get very close, under 200 USD ?
Thank you and sorry for snowbowling you with my questions!
Sebastien
[No worries :) The Tube Driver is very much like an old JTM Marshall, so the PlexiDrive is right up there. The tube in the Tube Driver makes a lot of difference, but you can tweak the PD for similar sounds. It also has a better clean response than the TD, I think. The SS is really quite unique, so it’s difficult to find similar pedals. The Skreddy and TopTone are close but check out the OCD and again, the PlexiDrive. – Bjorn]
hi bjorn,just come across your site and love it,can you tell me where i can get either a BYOC large beaver or a RAT please
[Thanks Dave! The Large Beaver can be purchased at Axeandyoushallreceive.com. The RAT should be available in most local guitar stores or online retailers. Check out the excellent Rattler from Jam Pedals as well. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I think your spam filter is tough. I can’t see the “reply below” you’ve mentioned in the previous answer. Regards
Sebastien
[Hmmm… I could swear I answered a few of your comments. If not, then I apologise. Let me know if there’s something I’ve missed. – Bjorn]
Meant the pickups, forgot to clear that up http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2009/Jul/Gibson_50s_wiring_on_a_Stratocaster.aspx It’ll be a while until I get some new pickups, so I might as well explore the current ones a bit.
I have heard about the wonders of BD2 modding, starting here :b, though I think I’ll leave it alone for a while. I did have to open up the Memory Boy to “fix” the volume boost though. Guess they put trim pots on that one after all…
[Oh… Thanks for the link! – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn,
I’m back again with some more reflection about adding new mates into my collection of overdrives… but at reasonnable price .
2 kind if things I was looking for:
– Chandler / BK tube driver clone : I already own a Boss BD 2 from Robert Keeley, but I’m dying to try a Fulltone OCD (using Low Peak down position switch will scoop the mids, if I’m right).
As i’ve read you Mooer ElecLady review and as you say you’ve tried most of the Mooers being really convinced, what do you think about The Fulltone OCD replacement (Ustle Drive). The Prymaxe vintage clips on youtube are great.
Which one is the best to your ears , not only standing alone, but also when using it with other classical gilmourish pedals (chorus + delay + compressor…. let’s think the typical division bell chain).
– as I said in the previous message, I’m convinced that the Boss Ds 1 stands closer to the Pete Cprnsih SS 2. What would you think about the Mooer Ultra Drive ? Really asking myself what to do…. Buying a stock old Japanese Ds 1 or going for that buidget clone (knowing that I will be using the pedal in a Division Bell typical chain of pedals, …again). How does that thing compare to other SS 2 alternatives like the Skreddy Top Fuel …. Which oine to buy ?)
Thanks for your help again!
Have a nice day .
Sebastien
[Hi Sebastien. Sorry for my late reply. The OCD has a lot of mid range and tonewise it’s much closer to the Tube Screamer than the Tube Driver. Depending on your amp, you can set it up for some convincing Tube Driver tones but the Keeley BD2 and the Wampler Plexi Drive are both much closer. The Hustle Drive is grea but again more a TS9 kind of pedal. I haven’t tried the Ultra Drive so I can’t comment on that. – Bjorn]
Hi again Bjorn,
I ‘ve asked you about the boss ds 1 vs Pete cornish SS 2 a few days ago.
Have your tried the Mooer ultra drive distortion ?
Best regards
Sebastien
[See my reply below :) Haven’t tried the Ultra Distortion yet. The Hustle Drive is pretty nice though. – Bjorn]
Got myself a Boss BD-2, really enjoying it so far. Nice dynamics, even if my chinocaster’s pickups barely let that happen (t’was a charm on that fender in the store). Gonna be doing a 50’s wiring mod in it soon though, that should “clean it up”?
Thanks for all this great info Bjorn, has helped a lot! *fades back into the blue…
[Not quite sure what you mean by 50s mod. The pedal or the pickups? Anyway, most mods on the BD2 are cleaning up the pedal for a smoother break up. You’ll still have a pretty aggressive overdrive but much more headroom on lower gain settings. It’ll also sound a lot warmer and more dynamic. – Bjorn]
Now i’ll be a bit off topic: I’ve seemn that you used a BYOC Chorus on one of your what do you want from me video (older version with CS 69). Is the new BYOC kit as staright clonne of the Bos CE 2 ? If yes do you like it as much as your CE- 2 ?
Is the Boss DD -2 an absolut necessity for the Division Bel;ll tones ( along with the DG 20 set)?
Thank you for the most complete website about gilmour
Sebastien
Best regards
[The BYOC Analog Chorus is very similar to the CE2 but it has true bypass, which makes it sound a bit darker. It’s also tweaked for a bit more smoother tone and less mid range. The DD2 is just another digital delay. I think it’s one of the finest sounding but you could pretty much use any digital delay. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Speaking about overdrives… I had the chance to see a shootout of the DS 1 older 1978 version vs the Pete Cornsih SS 2 and it seemed very very close. Much more than a Rat or even an MXR distortion + (knowing that SS 2 is supposed to be Cornish’s take on the MXR Dist +).
And… xhat do you think about the BYOC orange distortion ?
For those SS 2 tones.
Best regards,
Sebastien
[From what I’ve read, the SS2 is loosely based on the Dist+ but, as you say, it doesn’t sound anything like it. The DS1 has some of the same character. I haven’t tried the BYOC so I can’t comment on that. – Bjorn]
Hey, last question for a while i promise. So I have a fender excelsior, keely bd2 and jam pedals rattler classic, and a all stock squire bullet strat(I know pretty lame). I have the amp pretty clean, and the pedals: guitar/ rattler/bd2/amp. First off is that the right order? And my main question is how do I dial insome Gilmour tones, I know it’s a matter of expirimenting but I have no idea wear to even begin, is there certain knobs that should be set then left static while I only mess with others? I guess I’m just asking for a small tutorial and how to do this, I’m very new to guitar and these are my first pedals. I don’t really even know what the point of the bd2 is. If there is already an article on all this could you point me to it? If not maybe you could help me out. Btw I know there’s a lot of negative reviews on the excelsior but I love it so far, not much adjustments but I like a clean signal from my amp, witch is all this gives. Seems like an ok blank pallet to add pedals too, not great but a good budget amp for a beginner like myself. It’s good to have a real tube amp:)
[Hi Josh, sorry for my late reply. The Excelsior has its obvious limitations so it’s a matter of settings the volume for the desired headroom. It’s a great sounding amp though and it should be enough for a nice basis for your Gilmour tones. Pedal settings depends very much on the voicing of the amp, your guitar and what tones you’re looking for. I usually start with all the knobs at about 2:00 o’clock at tweak my way around that. The BD2 could either be used as a dedicated overdrive or for boosting the Rattler. If you use it as a boost, try setting the volume at about unity, tone at 9-10 o’clock at the gain between off and 9:00 o’clock. Hope this helped. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I’m actulally trying to re-organize my setup and I’m currently working on a Pete Cornish SS-2 alternative for the Division Bell Tones.
I ‘ve recently bought a Laney Cub head, and I’m not convinced by the MXR Distortion + (own a vintage Script logo model), though it was supposed to be an inspiration for Pete cornish building the SS-2.
The BYOC Mighty Mouse doesn’t seem to be the solution neither.
But…. I recently tried a friend’s Vintage Silver screw early Boss DS -1 (from 1979), and …. I think that it stands very very close to the SS-2. Much more than the 2 other pedals mentioned above.
For exemple, I find that the MWR distortion + makes my amp sound as if there was a blanket upon it. Ds-1 is much more open, has much more mids and treble, and sounds to my ears like the SS-2 I can hear on various youtube videos (Gearmansdude for example, wich plays the SS-2 against his Luther drive).
Please Bjorn, could you help for the SS-2 alternative, and give me your opinion about DS-1, or your other experiences (Toptone Lightdrive? Skreddy To fuel ? What is the closest match to real thing.?)
Thanks for sharing your science !!!!! Keep on rockin’.
Regards,
Christophe
[Hi Christophe! I think I answered a mail too but here goes :) As far as I’ve read, the SS2 was loosely based on the Dist +. Still, they sound very different. I love the Dist + but I always need to use a booster behind it. The TopTone Light Drive is perhaps the closest. You can also get fairly close with a Wampler PlexiDrive or a Fulltone OCD. – Bjorn]
hey bjorn i absolutely love this site man. Excellent work my friend. Just wondering if you ever had the chance to check out the providence final booster pedal. I think you would truly appreciate the pedal yourself!
[Thanks for your kind words and for the tip! Never tried it… I’ll check it out :) – Bjorn]
Btw , the tone i want the most are davids delicate sounds. If that helps at all with my question.
Hey Bjorn!
So two days ago I ordered my very first set of pedals, two of witch are the jam pedals rattler classic, and the keely bd2. I then realized that i forgot to order a Delay!, so i went to GC and picked up the T-rex tap tone, I love it so far( cant play my guitar without it now, itll be great when the other pedals arrive and i can combine them)but im very new to guitar, I was just wondering if this was a good choice for gilmour tones. Either way i dont regret buying it cause its given me massive inspiration in a way ive never felt before, but still i would like to know if it will work for the kind of tone i want the most, gilmour. Thanks for the help btw on helping me decide on the other pedals i bought. cant wait to try them out.
[The Tap Tone is based on the Replica and Reptile with a typical analog tape echo tone. It’s perhaps best suited for David’s 70s tones but you should be able to dial in those 80s and 90s digital delay tones as well. I haven’t tried it so I can’t really comment further. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, I don’t believe I’ve asked this question before, so here it is: With a good Vintage Fuzz, The Musket as an alternative to all the Muffs available, and a good clean boost, in my case the TC Spark, should I be able to cover most of Davids OD/Fuzz/distortion tones from his earliest Floyd recordings, through Animals? My question is about the gain pedals only, as with The Reeves/Weber combination, Cymbaline, and pretty much all of the modulations and delays, I think I’ve got the rest covered almost verbatim. I was just wondering if I need any additional OD’s, or Distortions to cover this rather long period. I have little interest in anything later than Animals.
Thank you sir, you talk, I listen! Keith
[Depends on how accurate sounding you want to be I guess. The Hendrix fuzz you just bought should be able to handle 1968-1975, although David used a germanium between 68-71, which is very different from a silicon. The Musket, although based on the Sovtek, is fully capable of covering Animals, solo 78 and Wall. Overdrivewise, I think i’d consider a pedal with more gain than the TC… although you can get some nice Time, Cigar etc tones with it. I’d use the TC for boosting and something like a Throbak Overdriveboost, Wampler Plexidrive or similar for overdrive… my two cents… – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, I am a little confused as to when you use the BD2 and the OD808. Is the OD808 used on its own or with the Muff like the BD2. Also, when you are using them, do you use both the volume and gain on the pedal or just one of them. Is there a general setting you prefer for them…
Thanks Norman
[It’s always a matter of taste. I prefer using the 808 as a dedicated overdrive, since its mid boosted tone doesn’t go that well with Muffs. The BD2 works nicely as both an overdrive and booster. Usually I use it for boosting cleans and Muffs, with a fairly clean setting with just a hint of dirt. The actual settings depends on the amp, guitar and how the Muff sound. – Bjorn]
There’s a ton of comments on here so I hope this hasn’t been covered already.
I have a Deluxe Reverb which is 22W – most would consider this small. This article calls for a larger amp. I’m wondering if the Deluxe will work with this setup. I bought the Big Muff the other day and by chance already had a BD2. Tried it for a while and it sounded pretty good, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it Gilmourish. I also got a lot of feedback, as the article suggested.
I wonder if keeping lower levels but micing it to a PA would do anything.
[Feedback can be the result of many things. When you combine Muffs and overdrives, you need to be careful with the total amount of gain and volume. David doesn’t really boost the Muff that much but rather use the booster as an EQ, blending in a bit more tone, which again makes the Muff sound more focused. Try setting the amp as clean as possible with moderate EQ settings. Set the Muff with medio gain and the level at about unity with the amp. Add the BD2 with no or little gain and the level just above unity. That should provide a cleaner tone and less feedback. Adjust the gain on the Muff if needed. Obviously, standing too close to the amp will cause feedback. Also, be sure that you experience feedback caused by high volume and not microphonics. – Bjorn]
So for gilmour tones, The hartman Flanger is the better choice over the eh deluxe mistress?
[Matter of taste. Obviously, David used the 76 Mistress, so the Hartman would be the closest. Personally, I prefer the Deluxe. It’s a bit more focused and blends much better with fuzz and distortions. It’s also worth checking out the Mooer ElecLady. – Bjorn]
Hey what’s better? The jam pedals rattler, byoc mouse, or Hartman distortion, I’m tied between these and it’s kept me from purchasing for three weeks now. Also is the Hartman flanger any better then the current eh electric mistress. Thanks.
[I’d go for the Rattler. The smoothest of these in my opinion. The Hartman flanger is based on the original 76 Mistress, which has a much more liquidy character than the current Delxue. Very different. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, and thanks Scubidu! I looked at the new FF minis, and I want all three, starting with the Germanium, ah heck, no order, just all three. Dunlip swears they got ’66-’68 covered with the Germanium, the early ’70s covered with the Dallas-Arbiter bc-108,( most likely the same circuit as the 3 Hedrix models), but still, $99.00! , and the theres the 70th anniversary, which is worth it as a collectable, and lastly, the mini JH-F1 Style. Like I said, the Arbiter, mini Jimi, and anniversary are mist likely the same bc-108 circuit, but once again, $99.00! I’ve also got GAS for their new talkbox, that has it’s own amp, so it doesn’t go between the amp, and cab, and has a tone shaping knob! As soon as anyone tries these 3″ diameter units, let us know. Lastly, they did the smartest thing ever for the Fuzzface, in on the right, out on the left, LED, and true bypass, the last one being the only one I’m not sure of. Will true bypass change the pedals tone Bjorn? Anyway, looks like NAMM 2013 is going to be a good year for vintage style gear!
Peace, Love, and MORE PEDALS!!! Keith
[Yeah, I know! They are cute! I haven’t seen any specs or pix of their guts but I would assume that they have the same circuit as the bigger ones. The red germanium is quite dull sounding if you ask me but the Hendrix sounds pretty nice. True bypass and led may make the fuzz sound a tad brighter but I’m really no expert on the technical stuff. – Bjorn]
The proco RAT ’85 whiteface reissue does have the original chip in it. I just ordered one from Sweetwater.
Hey Scubidu, yeah, the Hendrix 70th is already in the store I frequent, and Dunlop claims it’s the exact same circuit as the original Dallas Arbiter that Jimi used, but I’m sure they aren’t using NOS parts, so how close to the original is my big question. However, I would imagine it’s as least as good as the JH-F1, and that would be such an improvement because of the size, and jack placement. I just wonder if anyone’s tried it yet, I haven’t had time. Thanks for the link, I’ll check the others out!
Peace, Love, and GilBjornish,hehe,Keith :)
So I thought I had made up my mind on the Hartman but then I noticed that the mooer version of the rat says it uses the lm308 chip. Would this be a good alternative?
[I haven’t had the chance to try it out yet. I guess it’s a fine alternative but I would assume that the Hartman has a bit more tone in it. – Bjorn]
hi keith!
dunlop will ship new fuzz face minis in february. there will be a hendrix fuzz too (the others are a germanium and a silicon).
here is the link: http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/FFM3-hendrix
Bjorn, speaking of pedals, I was wondering if you’ve heard whether Dunlop’s statement that their 70th anniversary Hendrix FF, truly is the Dallas Arbiter circuit as exactly as they claim. Wouldn’t be nice to have a great FuzzFace in an MXR sized pedal, with the in, and out on the proper side, and an led? I could do w/o the graphics, but I could live with them if it is all they say!
Thanks, Keith
[I haven’t seen the circuit but the demos sounds nice… for what it’s worth. Hard to judge a fuzz by a sound clip because you’ll always loose all the nuances and harmonics. I really don’t know. The JHF1 FF sounds pretty good. Not quite up there with the SunFace but not at all bad. My opinion. – Bjorn]
Alright, thank you. Ive decided on the hartman lm308 distortion(since for some reason the byoc mouse is unavailible on the website),Thanks again for saving me from a disapointing purchase.
[The Hartman is a good choice :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
a couple of minutes ago, I tried the Mooer Black Secret, and I must say, I’m very impressed. Thank you very much, because without your review of the Eleclady, I might never have known about those pedals. Some time ago, I had a new RAT 2 that I sent back immediately, because it sounded harsh even with a tube amp. After I had read that the Mooer had the LM308 chip, I decided to check it out. I could get some smooth sounds out of the Mooer even when I plugged it into my trusty old Vox Pathfinder 10 wich is a nice amp for cleans and mild overdrives but usually can’t stand heavier distortion pedals. All you need to do is raise the filter knob of the Black Secret and lower the treble knob on the Pathfinder. This is still not as good as the right amp (for instance my PCL Vintage Amp), but it is quite okay. As far as I remember, the Proco was much noisier than the Mooer. With the Black Secret, my Boss BD-2 and a Boss DD-7 (with digital and analog modes), I finally managed to build a basic Gilmour pedal board for bedroom use.
Cheers
Martin
[Glad to hear, Martin! – Bjorn]
Would it be better to get the new ratt2 thats availible from proco, or is the byoc mouse a better choice? Or does it not really matter.Ive just heard that the ratt2 reissue is not as good as the original, just hearsay though, nobody reliable has told me their opinion.
thanks – Josh
[The current ProCo model doesn’t feature the LM308 chip and the pedal doesn’t sound as warm and smooth as the older models. It’s not harsh or anything it’s just not quite the same. The BYOC Mouse, Jam Pedals Rattler, Retro Sonic Distortion etc might be a better choice. – Bjorn]
The SIgna is a great pedal! I have the Super Signa Drive and it is great really versatile and run at 18v it opens up nicely! You can get some great TS sounds from it and some pretty uncolored tones for Gilmourish tones as well. Though the Super offers you the full EQ to dial out the Mid Hump if it is not the sound you are craving at the moment. Cheers
hi, i have a bd2 and was looking for an od808 also. They don’t seem to show up second hand that often here in new zealand. there is currently a fulldrive 2 and a cmatmods signa drive though. both are about the same price. would you recommend these as suitable alternatives, and if so which is the better…
[I think the Signa Drive is perhaps closest to what David might use. A bit more transparent and open sounding that the old Tube Screamer and Fulldrive. I’ve never really been a fan of the Fulldrive so I must recommend the Signa here… Check out the Super Signa Drive as well. – Bjorn]
Bjorn,
Thanks for everything. I wish I had read your site before I bought my Maxon OD-9. Since I play a low volumes, it doesn’t really shine. Plus, I can’t bond with the mid hump. I’m considering getting another overdrive to compliment my rig. I noticed that you’ve mentioned 3 of the pedals on my short list: BD-2, OCD, and Plexidrive. Which of the three would you recommend in terms of tone and/or versatility. For reference, I’m playing a start with Kinman Woodstocks into a Princeton Reverb Reissue via a Rat.
Charlie
PS You are right on about the Rat (I have the whiteface reissue). AMAZING pedal for getting low volume, high gain tone.
[Depends on what tones you want. The OCD is based on the old TS9 circuit but it has a lot more lower end, gain and presence. The PlexiDrive is perhaps my favourite of the lot. Very dynamic, transaprent and warm. Works great as a booster as well. – Bjorn]
Hey,
Just to say I got the EHX Momory Boy and it’s sounding great! I can’t however turn it up enough with the overdrive, because it gets horribly distorted (no effects loop, delay is before the amp’s overdrive). So I was thinking of trying out the Boss BD-2, found a great deal online. Having the delay at the end will get rid of that bad distortion, right? Hoping to give it a test soon. Cheers, and a happy new year!
[Yes, if you run the amp clean and the delay last in the chain, you’ll only echo the guitar signal. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Got my hands yesterday on a Colorsound Power Boost and the first thing I did I did an A/B test with my stock Boss BD2, which I’ve been using for the last 3 years, (yes, even for Floyd tunes).
Currently I’m using a stereo setup, with all the effects chain on the first amp (Hiwatt Maxwatt 200W head on a 4×12 Hiwatt speaker) and with all the effects chain plus the Boss RT20 on the second amp (Vox Valvetronix 60w) for doing that kinda Leslie Gilmour thing. My guitar is a Mexican Stratocaster with Voodoo Blues Set pickups by Dave Allen.
Even on a transistor amp like mine I was blown away by the colorsound, I noticed the compared to the bd2, the sound has more body, it’s wider and the attack of the single notes is perfect, where the bd2 tends to be harsh and a little bit muddy; when the pedals are used for simply boosting the signal with no hints of crunch they are quite similar, yes the colorsound has a fattier tone, but then again the bd2 has no bass and treble controllers, all you get is that “tone” knob which can’t do miracles.
I tried boosting the Fuzz Face (Dunlop JH F1) and played the “Time” solo and after that “Echoes”…again using the Colorsound every single note was perfectly clear and clean in the attack, and instead I had a loss of definition with the BD2.
I noticed one peculiarity: the Colorsound has lots of bass frequencies, I mean when I rolled down the treble knob at 10:00 o’clock and the bass one at 12:00 it had too much of that and on my Hiwatt head I had mid 40% bass 60% and treble 60% so I had to turn the bass down to 11:00 and the treble up to 1:00 and course now it’s more transparent.
The thing that really shocked me, in a good way, is how good the colorsound sounds on the hiwatt, which is a solid state amp, I didn’t expect that, maybe it has something to do with the fact that it has so much room (200w head on a 4×12) ?
I was considering a Laney Cub12R for smaller venues and rehersals and for that I assume the bd2 would be a better choice or am I wrong?
Thank you again, and have a great 2013!
see ya!
Matteo
[HI Matteo! Sorry for my late reply. The CPB is indeed a great pedal! It works nicely on the Cub as well but you may find it hard to maintain the headroom when you use the Cub for gigging. It’s a great bedroom/rehearsal amp but it might be a bit too small for clubs etc. You might want to consider a Fender Blues Jr, Peavey Classic 30 etc for a bit more wattage. The CPB goes nicely with these as well. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I’ve recently discovered gilmourish.com. Fascinating ! I really appreciate your efforts here. Its blown me away.
I want to buy pedals to play Gilmour like leads. Two sounds I like include the “Time” solo from the studio album and the sound David got at the stratocastor anniversery show (so much sustain) BUT I’m not a purist. I’m looking for the best I can get for my situation, which you will not consider ideal. Although I have an old vibrolux I almost always play through my Swart 5 watt boutique tube amp (because I live in a small apt with neighbours who complain – I even have an attenuator). I realize the swart isn’t the perfect amp for a Gilmour sound because it doesn’t have the most headroom, but it is a great tube amp and if I don’t play loud its got a good clean sound. I may buy a strat one day, maybe even very soon, but right now I’m playing a 72 LP. I hope this doesn’t render the whole question useless. I do play some Gilmour leads note for note regardless. ( fwiw I also play Gilmour on a flamenco acoustic guitar).
Question 1: Do I buy a Blackout Effecters Musket – which you suggest is best for small setups, or a Rat 2 Keeley Mod which you suggest might be better if one isn’t sure what one’s amp can handle. I also considered the Top Tone DG 1. I’m leaning towards the Musket.
Question 2: Do I get the Boss BD2 Keeley mod, the Fulltone OCD? I understand the coloursound powerboost isn’t ideal for bedroom setups? I’m leaning towards the Boss because you recommend it so often, but there is also a comment saying the OCD is your favourite.
Thanks for sharing all your amazing knowledge. I can’t believe this site.
Steve
[Thanks for your kind words Steve! Glad you enjoy my site :) Big Muffs in general doesn’t sound all that Gilmourish on LPs. The combo produce a saturated, often muddy tone. Depends on the pickups and how hot they are. The Musket’s focus control will compensate some though. Hard to recommend the best option but for a versatile tone, I think I’d go for a RAT, TC Dark Matter or similar. The BD2 and OCD are two different overdrives. While the BD2 has a transparent tone, designed to boost the amp or other pedals, the OCD has a lot of mid range, typical of what you get on a cranked amp. In essence, I’d use the BD2 for boosting, and the OCD as a dedicated overdrive. – Bjorn]
I will go for the TC after christmas, the ThroBak seems to be pretty good but it is too expensive for me ;)
Thanks you for your fast answer!
[Cheers! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn!
I would like to change my overdrive pedal. At this time it’s a Maxon OD808, but I don’t really like it. I mean, it work good to boost the drive channel on my fender amp. But I hate the sound of it with my big muff.
So I don’t know what to choose between the TC Electronic Spark Booster and the VintageFX Colordrive 2. My guitar has the +25db medium boost (Sign. Clapton), so I don’t need a pedal with a lot of midrange ^^. Indeed I would like something of versatile wich can allowed me to switch between Pulse tone and Wish You Were Here tone (my two favorite era)
Thanks for your answer, and thanks for this great site ;)
[I’d keep the OD808 for overdrives and get a second more transparent pedal for boost. The Colordrive is just too clean for my taste but the TC is great. Check out the ThroBak Overdrive boost as well :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, Me again haha. Ive been looking at the Pulse gear pic that you have uploaded and the one kitrae have. About the tube drivers, i just wonder how Giolmour could get an overdrive sound from one of em when all the knobs are set the same. Maby the drive is set 0,5cm more but does it realy make that big diff?// Best regards Peter
[I don’t think all those settings apply to what he actually used. Some perhaps, but he did have one set up for clean boost and one for overdrive. He might have adjusted the settings during a show as well. – Bjorn]
Hello again! Thanks for your response – in fact after reading all of your in depth reviews of muffs and their clones – i went for the Colossus! (ordered just a few hours ago). I’m really excited as it sounds amazing and has great reviews everywhere! I got it as I preferred the sound of a muff…(i’m really influenced by David’s tone!)
Since my previous post I realized that i had some of pedals in the wrong order and the booster wasn’t doing what it should – it just wasn’t working at the start of the chain – but after the O/D it worked a charm. :)
Now that i had a great distortion pedal on it’s way it has presented me with a new dilemma: I will have to take one of my existing pedals out to make room for it – so what one??
I have just two choices – either i take out the booster, or the EQ. What would you do? I don’t use the EQ that much – but it has it’s uses.
Many thanks,
Paul
[Good for you, Paul! I’d ditch the EQ. It’s much more effective for the tone if you spend some time making sure that the amp is set up properly for the tones you need. Add the Colossus and a booster on top of that and set them up to match the amp. That should give you all the tones you need. An EQ should be used only if you need to enhance certain frequencies but a booster is a much more versatile pedal. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, thanks so much for this site it’s a fantastic help to me! On your recommendation, I have the wonderful Cub12 – I’m now looking to add a distortion pedal to my board and have just purchased a TS clone (from a new London based company called Boo boutiques). I would love a similar tone to DG, and in one of my bands we even do (/attempt) a version of comfortably numb.
I’ve got it down to two pedals: 1) a RAT II or 2) Bass Big muff. I have a strat style with humbucker pickups and play in venues up to 200 people. What of these fine distortion pedals would you recommend?
Also, I have a seymour duncan pickup booster and I’m not sure where to put it in the chain – at the start or after the O/D & distortion? Or even not to have it all??!
many thanks for your time :)
[Thanks for your kind words, Paul! As you know, the RAT and a Muff are two different beats, so it’s hard to compare them. The Cub handles both nicely so it depends on what tones you want. The RAT is definitely the most versatile, so you might want to check it out. For an even better tone, I recommend a clone, like the Jam Pedals Rattler. You can place the booster anywhere in the chain. I prefer them after the high gains. – Bjorn]
Hi!
Just got my Mooer Ensemble King – a chorus pedal.
I never had the luck to play a boss ce-2 so i can not compare both. but i really like the mooer. it is gentle and subtle. it won’t kill you with washed out chorus floods. it ends where some other (modern) chorus pedals start. so it works well with clean sounds and overdriven ones. like it. and: it is really small ;-)
[Thanks for your comment! Agree with that. Great chorus tones! – Bjorn]
Took a look at those Mooer pedals… they seem great! Think I might be going for a delay though, at the moment I have none. Mooer Reecho model seems like a good one, with the different modes and larger time range.
Thanks Bjorn!
[I’ve tried most of them and they’re surprisingly good! Cheers! – Bjorn]
Great website with outstanding articles. I’m overwhelmed. I’m a casual guitar player chasing after the Gilmour tone and just an overall decent set up for home use. Per your amp article recommendations, i’m looking at the Peavey Classic 30. I have a MXR Carbon Copy and after this article, i’ll be taking a look at the Fulltone OCD and the Rat II. Are there one or two more pedals that you would recommend to complete this set up? I’m looking for all around rock music playability but with a really strong emphasis on Gilmour. Thank you in advance
[Thanks for your kind words! Depends on where you want to go. I think you’ve covered the basics so how about a modulation pedal, like a chorus, flanger or phaser? A phaser would cover the Dark Side and WYWH tones but it’s perhaps not the most versatile pedal you can get. A flanger is a must for David’s Animals/Wall/Final Cut tones but again, for little else… unless you want to play a lot of Van Halen :) A chorus will give your tone a bigger dimension and add a bit more space to your leads etc. You could also go for a more transparent overdrive for boosting the clean tones and the RAT. Check out the Boss BD-2 and the TC Electronics Spark Booster. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn!
I’m very curious of the OCD, so can you tell me how well it works for boosting a Big Muff, and how does it cover David’s 70’s overdrive tones?
Thank you!!!!
[It’s an OK booster but it has a bit too much mid range (similar to the Tube Screamer), which can make the Muff sound dark and muddy. The OCD is an excellent overdrive that’ll cover most of DGs overdrive tones but I think a more transparent overdrive would be better for boosting. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn!
Love the articles, being a gear noob myself. I currently own a Burswood Eletric and a Vox Pathfinder 10 amp. I don’t know for sure which model is the eletric, but it looks exactly like one of the black strats with white pickguard and works the same I guess. It was pretty cheap though, 100 euros with g-10 amp. The Vox is a 10 watt solid state.
Been thinking of getting my first pedal, and I think an overdrive pedal could come handy. Its a pain when switching from clean to overdrive on songs like Echoes, using the amp’s od channel. Do you think the Boss BD-2 would be a good choice? I have a pretty tight budget. Besides Floyd I mostly play Led Zeppelin and Queen, mostly 70’s stuff. A delay pedal would be my other choice (apart from a better guitar)
Thanks!
[Sorry for my late reply. I think the BD2 would work out nicely. I also recommend that you check out the new Mooer mini pedals. The Green Mile is a Tube Screamer clone with a bit warmer tone than the BD2. It’s also worth checking out the Mooer Hustle Drive, a clone of the Fulltone OCD. Kind of a mix between tye BD2 and Tube Screamer. – Bjorn]
Hi, Bjorn!
Does boost so much important to get Davids Sound. I cant understand for what it needs.
I understand, that when you play solo, you click a boost and its sounds loud and warm, but i don’t have enough money to this pedal
my wish gear is Fender Stratocaster, Big Muff, Behringer Vintage Delay (by the way, is this delay is good, or this is crap and i don’t take Gilmour sound with it) , MXR Dyna Comp. I mean, can i take with this pedalboard gilmour sound, or i need PowerBoost too?
Thank You! Wish to quick answer!
[You don’t need a booster. Most of the Big Muffs can be used alone with great results. David doesn’t really use overdrives for boosting the volume or gain but rather to enhance the overall tone. Much like an EQ but an overdrive has a bit more character and works better with a Big Muff. See this feature for more info on boosting. – Bjorn]
Ty so much for the reply, I also wonder if the OCD is better for overdrive rhythm then the BD2? I got a Bk butler tube driver but he dont like rhythm so much but solos he nail! so i need a good overdriver rhythm pedal as close to Gilmours. Best regards Peter
[Depends on the amp and guitar you’ll be using with the pedal but personally I prefer the OCD for rhythms and the BD2 for clean boost. – Bjorn]
Currently I own the following: a Fender Champion 600, a VOX AC4TV, a Orange Micro Terror. I want to use an ABC switcher then keep the Fender Clean, modulation for VOX, and gain for the Orange. In the way of pedals at the moment I have an old Electroharmonix ploychorus, a Dunlop volume pedal, and a delta lab delay. I got rid of the double muff and the Boss superoverdrive because I didn’t like the sounds. What would you recommend for overdrive and distortion for my set up? Please remember that I live in an apartment in Spain and I can’t get loud.
By the way, for guitars I have a strat style, a tele style, a sg style, les paul style, an SHS configuration, and a Jaguar.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
[Hi Paul! Based on your setup and situation I would recommend something versatile that sounds great even on the lowest volume levels. One of my favourite overdrives at the moment is the Wampler Plexi Drive. It can produce a wide range of tones from transparent clean boost to warm overdrive and tube distortion. Very similar to the Tube Driver David’s using but a bit more versatile. Check out the Fulltone OCD and Boss BD2 for similar sounds. Distortion-wise I’d go for something with a boosted mid range that stays warm and creamy on low volume. Check out the RAT and TC Dark Matter. Hope this helped. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn! I wonder wehere u bought ur Colorsound Power boost. I also wonder what new delay pedal sound close to the DD2 and the CE2, the CE2 is one of the best chorus pedal for its fat sound,but are there any new chorus pedals that are close to the CE2, and the dd2? Ty! :)
[I bought the CPB at Macari’s in London in 2005. They make them themselves and I think you can only buy them at their store. I haven’t quite found a pedal that sounds like the DD2. It’s digital but it has a very warm and natural tone. You can track down one on EBay but you can get similar sounds with a TC Nova etc. The best CE2 clone I’ve come across is the Chorus Lab from Costa Lab. Check out my review here. It has the same warm, analog tone and a mix control that allows you to blend in the desired effect amount. – BJorn]
Didn’t see you recommend the Spark Boost in that last post. I’m hoping that isn’t a reflection of what your review of that pedal will be. It definitely sounds nothing like a Tube Screamer! :) KC
[No, it’s certainly doesn’t. I would say it’s a fair clone of the Colorsound. The review is coming sometime soon. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, Firstly many thanks for such a great website and the time you put into it!
It has helped me tremendously in setting up some very nice combinations of gear!
I have assembled a very nice selection of pedals that sound really special but I’m a bit dissapointed with my Maxon OD808 overdrive. I know you like/recommend this pedal for smaller amps, and yes it is warm and super creamy but I’m not sure I’m a fan of the ‘Ibanez Tubescreamer’ sound. I feel it changes the sound of the Strat to less like a Fender!
I’d love to try a BK Butler Tube Driver but dubious that it wouldn’t work for me on a smaller amp, I couldn’t justify the expense, nor its huge size on the pedal board or the power requirement.
I know your thoughts on the Fender Superchamp XD & Fender Amps in general, but I think the FSCXD is one of the best sounding I’ve auditioned for the size to use at home, the only other one to make me change would be upgrading to the Fender 65 deluxe Reissue! (I’ve learnt and played music, piano , guitar etc for the last 40 years off & on!)
I mainly run the clean channel through a TC Electronics Nova Reperater Delay, Electro Harmonix Electric Mistress, Jam Pedals Red Muck, DryBell Vibe machine to a Black replica Gilmour Strat, EMG DG20’s, red MIM strat -CS69’s and a Gibson Les Paul Studio. All that combo sounds so nice and I really enjoy these pedals!
My question is what other Overdrive pedal alternatives are there that you could recommend without breaking the bank? To work well with the Red Muck? Not tubescreamer 808 based or is everything based on this chip ?? Preferably 9v Boss type power. I’ve wondered about the Fulltone Fat Boost FB3, Way Huge Electronics Green Rhio Overdrive, Boss BD2 Keeley…not sure whether these are Tubescreamer based? ….I guess what I’m after is an overdrive that doesn’t “colour”the sound of the Strat but provides a violin type of sustain, low noise, not too many knobs to fiddle with!….and a ‘tube type’ dynamic range. I like to play Time, solo from Another Brick in the Wall, Money, Marooned etc. Regards from NZ!
[Hi Ross! Thanks a lot for your kind words! Glad to know you enjoy my site :) The TS9/OD808 is a very versatile pedal and you can pretty much plug it into any amp and it sounds great. However, as you’ve experienced, it colours the tone due to the boosted mid range. This is especially noticeable on lower volume when the amp isn’t allowed to shine through in the chain. They’re are basically two kinds of overdrives – the TS type, which are designed to sound like a cranked tube amp and the transparent boosters, which are meant to be used for cranking an amp, tubes especially. The Green Rhino, OCD etc are based on the TS tone with a pronounced mid range and an overall creamy dark tone. The OCD is perhaps somewhere in between with a bit more presence etc but it doesn’t work that well for boosting Muffs etc. On the other side of the spectrum, you have the Boss BD2 (Keeley preferably), Way Huge Pork Loin, ThroBak Overdrive Boost, Wampler Plexi Drive, Butler Tube Driver, Colorsound Powerboost etc… All these are very transparent, bright sounding and ranges from crystal clean to near fuzz. The Plexi Drive and Tube Driver are somewhere in that early Marshall land, but they’re all very similar and great for Gilmour’s rhythms and for boosting your distortions. Based on your preferred setup I would perhaps go for a Plexi Drive or the BD2. These works nicely on smaller setups as well as those huge stage setups. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, I ended up getting the Cub12R Combo in the end, thanks for the great advice. Now I’m turning my attention to which pedals to go with it. From what I can gather, the muff is first priority, is the Musket the best option for this amp or are there others more suited?
[I think that’s a good choice yes. The Musket works nicely with the CUB. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn! I note that in several of your articles you recommended using the OD unit after the distortion but eg according to David’s signal chain on Pulse tour, Tube driver for volume (or gain) boost was used before the Muff (or RAT, etc). Also some other sources claim that the OD should be placed before the distortion (eg, see Pierangelo Mezzabarba’s video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzpySj7NxJo&feature=relmfu , time: 6:44, where he says that after years of tryouts he can say that placing OD after the Muff is a common mistake but it certainly isn’t correct). Obviously, everybody can try for themselves, but I wonder why you have a different view, whether it is just a matter of your preference or you have other reasons as well. Many thanks. Juraj
[Well, for one, Mr Mezzabarba should have pointed out that this is his preference and not a rule. The booster can be placed either in front or after and how it will end up sound depends very much on the rig, how loud you play etc. I have tried to figure out why the sources says that David used the TD booster in front of the Muff in 94. This is the only time he’s done that and I doubt that he really did it… perhaps the source is wrong or perhaps he changed things around I don’t know. Anyway, it doesn’t really matter. Try different combos and hear for yourself what sounds best for YOUR rig :) Cheers! – Bjorn]
There are several pictures of Dave’s 70’s rig which show the Power Booster is first in the chain – before any fuzz. I definitely see the logic in placing the PB after a fuzz but the photos tell a different story. Check out Kitrae.net in the Power Boost section to see them.
Hard to tell just how he used the PB back in the days. Yes there are some pics from the 1972 tour indicating that he might have placed the PB first but there’s no indications of whether he used it with the fuzz or not. Judging by later bootlegs, from the Animals tour, it is clear that he at least used the Muff and PB together and judging by the tone, he seem to have placed the PB after the Muff like the Muff and Tube Driver setup of latter days.
Placing a booster first adds more gain. Placing a booster after, adds more volume and tone/character.
Hi Bjorn!
I need an advice – I have a small (30W) Hughes & Kettner SS amp (which I am planning to change, but not now). I play only in my apartment (neighbors never complained about the music, but I usually do not play very loud). I am looking forward buying some pedals, and after reading your great/super articles, I am between a Proco Rat 2 (modified by Keeley with the LM380 chip and a 3 way toggle – like the Retro-Sonic Distortion, but not sure if with similar results) and a Blackout Musket… For a Gilmour sound with my current setting, which one do you suggest? I am also planning to buy a Boss BD-2 modified by Keeley as well.
Thanks a lot! Greetings from Kiev,
Ivan
[Hi Ivan! In general, I would say that a RAT sounds better on SS amps than Muffs. The Musket is very versatile and you might be able to dial in some great tones with it but Muffs sounds much better on tube amps and a fairly high volume. I’d go for the RAT :) – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, or perhaps someone in the community. I notice that I have a scratchy volume pot, and that’s usually just dirt, and a little pot cleaner, or quickly moving it back and forth will clear a dirty pot up, but this ONLY happens between about 8, and full volume, and when I turn the volume all the way off, if I have any gain either by pedal, or amp, I’m getting tons of radio interference. Could I have a defective pot, or would this be more of a capacitor issue? Like I said, volume off, heavy AM interference.
Peace, Love, and Gilmourish! Uncle Ebb
[I would assume it just needs cleaning but I’ve never experienced radio interferance. Can’t help you there… Anyone? – Bjorn]
Have you tried the Jetter Helium at all as a muff boosting pedal?
[Nope. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, I finally got to try my rig with a full compliment of players, at near stage volume, and ended up unhooking everything but my carbon copy, and using the TS circuit in my 30 watter for my distortion. Foloowing your suggested settings for my Musket works quite well at home, but I had a hard time with the fuzz sounding muddy, and the gain was indredibly loud. I puchased the pedal lighty used, with the bag, and box, but no instructions. There is a little area on the vol. Knob that seems to have a stop, or preset range right between about one, and two o’ clock. The prevous owner mentioned something about there being an adjustment to this, do you know what I’m talking about? Also, my Carbon Copy really sounded almost like there was no volume to the delayed signal even with the mix knob fully clockwise. Could my pups being set too low cause this? Or, maybe a weak battery? It had a brand new alkaline energizer in it, and I forgot it had a adapter jack. I just find it hard to believe the effect would be that subtle, as the lights were very bright, so I don’t think it was the battery. It was one of thise strange days where nothing worked the way I thought it would, but even just using the TSA, w/ a weak sounding delay, I was amazed that I still got some very Gilmour like tones. Any suggestions?
Thanks my friend, look forward to getting you and Lindy together! KC
[Hi Keith! I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the setup. Playing with a band compared to playing at home, require a whole different approach to your setup. Tube amps tend to get darker and more compressed when you play louder. That’s the tubes working and even though the amp sounds clean, the tubes can get quite aggressive, which can result in Muffs etc sounding muddy and dark. You can try to compensate with tweaking the settings on both the amp and Musket but be careful with adding too much treble in the mix, as this will only worsen the problem. The focus control on the Musket should clean up the signal a bit too. A 30w may sound huge at home and even in a studio without a band but once the other guys start playing you’ll probably realize that the amp is too small. It depends on how loud you play and the acoustics in the room. A delay tend to sound bigger and more pronounced on lower volume but once you crank the amp you also need to adjust the delay settings – which goes for any pedal. The reason you perceive the delay as too dark is probably because the amp is sounding darker as explained above. I’ll have a look at your other mails when I get the time. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Hello gain Bjorn, Thanks for letting me bug you once in a while. I took your advice and have finally got a TC Electronic Dark Matter & Spark Booster. However, I’ve only tried using pedals a few times and am not really familiar with their use. I know this is asking a lot, but will you please give me a good jumping off point on the settings when using these pedals together to try and get the “Dogs” sound with a Tele or Strat out of small Fender tube amps. I assume from what you’ve written that, guitar>Dark Matter>Spark Booster>flanger>delay>amp is the proper way to chain the effects? Thanks again for Gilmourish and especially for your willingness to help. Sincerely, Mike D.
[Hi Mike! Obviously, the settings depends on what amp and guitar you’re using, the amp EQ settings and how loud you play. The chain you’ve listed is fine. I assume you’re using the Dark Matter for distortions and the Spark Booster for boost and overdrive. Try setting the amp as clean as possible and keep the treble at a moderate level. Fender amps tend to sound quite bright so it’s always a good idea to roll down the treble quite a bit in terms of David’s tones. Set the Dark Matter for a mild distortion and the Spark Booster for a clean boost with the EQs matched to the amp. It’s hard to be more precise than this because you really need to set up the pedals based on your rig and playing. The trick is to not overdo the amount of gain but rather to use the booster for enhancing the overall tone. Hope this helped. – Bjorn]
Bjorn, great site, I stumbled across by accident but read every post! I wil try to keep this brief, and then get to my question(s) Im an older guy, born in the 50’s, got my first electric after seeing the beatles on ed sullivan, played in garage bands through high school, lots of rock, including floyd, and then joined the army. I continued to play in the army for a year, and then didnt even own a guitar for over 23 years. Fast forward, I decided to buy a guitar and amp, then bought a boss br800 hard disc recorder, followed up by an alesis sr 15 drum machine, a set of roland v-drums, a bass, and about 15 more guitars. I became really good at direct in recording, mixing, and mastering, and released a few cd’s / mp3’s and still get royalty checks. Anyway, a change in careers and a relocation back to my home town, got me interested in and now im playing in a band again. Playing live & recording, obviously 2 very different skills, especially when I was recording as a one man band. One of the reasons we gave up music in the 70’s was we were broke, now a lot of things are very affordable. I am now struggling through putting together-revamping my pedal board, and need help. First, I have found that I like building my own guitars, I have a “tele” and a “strat” i replaced pots and pickups, installed locking tuners, etc. The tele has a seymour duncan lil 59 in the bridge and a vintage stack in the neck. The strat has tex mex’s in it. Ive gone through several amps, but now play through a Peavey Classic 30, I swapped the stock speaker for an emnence swamp thang, and have a custom built cabinet with two 12′ eminance texas heats. Now, my pedal board, A fender tuner, a dunlop crybaby wah, Keeley modded DS-1, MXR dyna boost clean boost for playing leads when I need a little extra boost, then an MXR Smart Gate. I knew better and wasted a couple bucks on a behringer DC9 Dynamics Processor, i was going to try it just after the wah, within 5 minutes, it was off the board and in the junk pile. Im now looking at an inexpensive Slide Meister Valve Screamer TS808 JRC4558 Vintage Tube Overdriver, All metal Steel enclosure compact and powerful. JRC4558D CHIP, Analog circuit design. Level, Tone & Drive controls. True Bypass construction. Uses high quality parts such as German WIMA audio capacitance, high precision resistance etc…for clear signal. Ok, my questions are: 1. Have you used of any of these older pedals and are they acceptable quality for 70’s & 80’s rock, pink floyd to tito and tarantula, to JJ Cale & Clapton to southern culture on the skids, etc. 2. Have you heard of the Slide Meister Valve Screamer TS808, if so what do you think, yes or no? 3. Im interested but not sure with how you run lets say a tube screamer just before say the keeley modded DS-1? Is there maybe a general set up that can be fine tuned to ear? Rehearsals are coming along fine, we have played a few gigs, and have a big one in front of several thousand people in October. I guess since i could never afford much equipment as a kid, the pedals, order, and how they work together is very confusing to me, and all I really want is to sound my best. The other players have been playing non-stop for 35+ years, so help a rookie out if you can. You wont hurt my feelings, tell me to dump what is trash, give me nay tips on order of pedals, one guy told me to put the noise gate in the effectsa loop, I didn rally trust him, but he could be right. Everyone we play for, including my bandmates tell me I sound fine, but I have to beleive, I could sound better with some tips from you more experienced players. If you have time, feel free to email me at paulkearschner@insightbb.com, thanks for reading, considering, and advising if you do! All the best.
[Hi Paul! Sorry for my late reply. I haven’t tried the Slide Meister but from what I can see it’s a take on the classic 808 Tube Screamer. It’s a very versatile pedal that’ll cover most of the tones you’re referring to. Perhaps not the ideal pedal for Gilmour’s tones, since he’s using more transparent overdrives like the Colorsound Powerboost and Tube Driver but the 808 should be able to nail most of those tones. It’s fairly mild though so you might want to consider a distortion as well for the heavier sounds. In terms of boosting, the 808 can get quite muddy. It was designed to capture the tone of a cranked amp and for boosting a tube amp but it doesn’t work that well boosting other pedals due to its pronounced mid range. In that case I’d go for a (Keeley) Boss BD2 or one of my favourites these days, the Wampler Plexidrive. Good luck with your playing! – Bjorn]
Bjorn,
Thanks a lot for your advice and quick replay, actually we are playing small venues but i also record a lot, in both cases i go with my fender hot rod deluxe for all tube tone. I think i can go for the MJM London Fuzz blue por budget reasons but im still afraid of having anoying feedback whenever i use it with my wha. The buffer switch was what made the MXR attractive in the first place, although i wasnt really in love with the tone, but maybe i should only change the order in my pedal chain.
Fender American Std Strat > VOX Wha Wha > (new silicon “silent circuit fuzz”) > MXR Dyna Comp > Xotic RC Booster > Electro Harmonix Flanger Hoax > Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man > Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.
Do you think i should try a new order in my chain?. Again, thanks for your advice
[Place the fuzz before the wah and you’ll avoid all the feedback and osciallation issues :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Im new to this site and have to say it is mindblowing. Excelent work!. As a tone wise-man, ineed to ask your for your help. Im designing my tone and have to choose between some options on fuzzes.
I want to achieve that hi-gain sound of Time´s solo and Dog´s third (dry bluessy) solo…..I do own a Frantone “The Sweet” and love it but since it is so noisy i decided not to use it on my pedal board (noise gets really amplified by flangers and delays) and im looking for a new silent circuit option. After some research i think the choice could lay between Analogue Man BC-108 Sun face or a MXR Classic Fuzz, both are silicons but there is a notable diference on price. I also use a VOX Wha first on the chain and want to boost the fuzz with a Xotic RC Booster.
I want to make a good choice since im really into that (TIME-DOGS) guitar tone which i believe are the best of all time
Please advice. Thanks a lot
[Thanks for your kind words! Glad you enjoy my site :) Between the two, I’d go for the Sunface. It’s probably the closest I’ve ever gotten to the classic fuzz tones. Do also check out the MJM London Fuzz (blue). As you’ve read in this feature – fuzz pedals are very sensitive to what amps you’re using them with and they need some amount of volume to open up. If you’re mostly playing at home, the MXR might be a better choice. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, great new article of tone series! I’d like to ask you an advice about overdrive again. recently, I saw that you speak about TC Spark booster and not about MojoMojo. I was wondering about choosing a new overdrive because I’m not satisfied of my BYOC OD2. Do you think MojoMojo or Spark Booster could be a good replacement also thinking that I already have a Keeley-BD2 as a booster in chain? And between the two, what could be better for replicating the powerboost/tubedriver lead tones on the laney cub12?
Thanks in advance, regards!
Luca
[The Spark Booster would be the closest to the Colorsound. Both has a transparent tone, lots of lower end and tons of headroom. You can also drive these for fat overdrive tones. The Mojo Mojo is very similar although more of a dedicated overdrive, like the Tube Driver. Like the Spark Drive, it has a transparent tone. I don’t think neither would do much if you already have a Keeley BD2. It should be able to give you the clean boost and the overdrive that you need. That being said, the Spark Drive has a bit more headroom and is perhaps better suited for boosting. You can also use this to boost or blend in character with the BD2. – Bjorn]
Thanks very much for the fast reply, that’s really helpful. Thank you :-)
[Cheers! – Bjorn]
Firstly – thanks so much for this incredible resource. The information here is so useful. Having read as much as I can on here about the effects pedals I think I’m fairly set on what I’ll be buying. But I have one quick question.
You talk about the muff only working as intended when volume is involved to smooth things out. With the advent of these tiny all-valve amps (Blackstar HT-1 and Marshall 50yr anniversary 1w) will the muff respond as it should bearing in mind these amps get driven hard at much lower actual volumes? Or does the muff require actual high volume? I’m just wondering if the gig level characteristics of a muff could be had at lower volumes by using one of these amps?
Or do these amps still need a RAT?!
Thanks.
[The intention wasn’t that you had to play loud to get the right tones from the Muff but at the time it was designed, in the late 60s, people would always use these huge stacks on stage since there was no monitoring. Although you had lower wattage tube combos there was no 1w or solid states available so there wasn’t any “we need to make sure this pedal works on all amps” philosophy. You can definitely use Muffs on maller tube amps and stacks. Volume is relative to the amp circuit and the way the speakers “move air” to produce sound. Crank a smaller tube amp and you’d have much of the same result as with a big stack. That being said, not all amps goes well with Muffs and I think these 1w that you mention will distort too soon on their own to give you the clean basis for those smooth tones. The H1 has a 8″ speaker, which is better for just plugging the guitar straight into the amp for practice and the Marshall breaks up way too soon. I’d rather take it up a notch for the HT5, Laney Cub or similar. – Bjorn]
Re hi !
Thx very much for your quick answer, i’ll check that !
Actually, i’m using a Fender stratocaster classic player 60’s with CS 69 pickups and a laney cub12r (following your advices ;) ), i’d should probably mention that in my first post … :s
[No problem :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn !
I was wondering if you can suggest me a nice setting for my BD2 (regular model) in order to correctly boost my Pig hoof.
Thx a lot in advance,
David.
[Depends on what pickups and amp you’re using but I usually set it fairly clean with the tone at about 10:00, volume 1:00 and gain 8-9:00. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
My rig is very simple, as I’m trying to respect the pure tone of my single channel 20 watt tube amp and my Tele. So I only carry a TC Electronic Nova Drive pedal and a TC Electronic Flashback delay. I base the sound on the amp and push it from there. But I’m in need of a pedal to boost for some solos. Under a gilmourish approach, could you please suggest a pedal to use in conjunction with my Nova Drive? Should I go for another dist/od or fuzz pedal to place behind the Nova Drive or should I just get a boost? Obtaining more sustain in the process would be greatly appreciated as well.
Thanks in advace!
[The Nova Drive should be able to give you the sustain you need. You can also use the overdrive channel on the Nova to boost the distortion stage. However, I recommend a more transparent booster for maintaining the tone of your amp and guitar. Check out the Boss BD2 (preferably the Keeley model) and the new TC Spark Booster. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn,
I’m currently using a Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue 40W. You have advised that pedals such as the Big Muff and Tube Driver may not sound very good on a smaller amp. Would you consider this a smaller amp? I’d really love to get a Tube Driver but I’m not sure my amp can handle it. I love my Blues Deluxe, but it’s certainly no 100W Hiwatt in the volume department.
Thank you for the invaluable advice your site has provided.
[Small is relative. A 10w could handle even the most demanding pedal and make it sound huge while a 50w would just choke. It depends entirely on the amp’s character and how you use it. The Blues Deluxe would go very well with Muffs and the Tube Driver but as with all amps, these pedals needs a minimum of volume to open up and to get that smooth tone. Go for the Tube Driver if you’re able to play fairly loud at home or if you’re playing with a band with the amp. If not, check out something more versatile like a Keeley BD2 or Fulltone OCD. – Bjorn]
Hello again Bjorn. As you advised, I re-read the “Dogs” analysis and the other “Animals” related articles, and this page regarding the effects, too. I’m just a living room player who rarely jams with others; the amps I’d be using run from 5 watts to 22 watts. Will the current production Boss BD-2 and Proco Rat get me 90% there? Or, will I be 100% happier with the Keeley modded BD-2 & a Retro-Sonic Distortion, both of which will cost twice as much? Thanks again for Gilmourish.com.
[Difficult questions of course. Depends on how picky you are :) The Stock BD2 and RAT will get you very close. Something in between and equally versatile are the TC Spark Booster and Dark Matter. A bit up in price but I think that would pay off :) – Bjorn]
Yes you’re right, it makes sense having a more cleaner & less cluttered signal path for a better, purer tone. Less is more.
Was only perhaps considering the BBE based on positive user reviews, but all in all i believe too that the Spark Booster would cover a lot more ground. Hope you’ll have the chance to test it yourself soon!… Thanks for the help again mate, very much appreciated!
Tom C.
[Cheers! – Bjorn]
Cheers mate! :-)
I tell you, I’m seriously excited about the release of this pedal & have a good feeling you’re hunch is correct that it’s a clone of the Colorsound PB ! Hopefully a great one at that too :-). Am wondering how it may actually rate along side the ThroBak pedal since that’s supposed to be one of the better clones out there, as rated by yourself too…
As you said, what would truly be great is if it really could be properly utilised in a smaller (home) setup as well. That would be just awesome since it could give players the best of both worlds, as well as extra tonal flexibility with its tone/bass/mid controls. A very affordable pedal too!
Btw, just on another subject, I’m also looking to maybe getting a BBE Sonic Stomp pedal. Have you by any chance tried one & had any positive thoughts on it? I felt that perhaps instead of using an eq pedal this instead could inject some good useful dynamics into my existing sound…
[I haven’t tried it and I’m a bit reluctant towards these kinds of pedals. My opinion is that a pedal board only should include the nesseceties and a good booster, like the Spark Booster, is a much more effective way of enhancing the tones. The pedal can act as a boost, EQ and overdrive… that’s three pedals in one, which means less cluttering, cleaner signal and easier to operate. – Bjorn]
Hiya there Bjorn, hope u been doing well mate!
Wanted to congratulate you once again on a great job by writing this very useful technical guide about probably the most significant features for anyone who’s setting up their pedal board & wants to achieve a good tonal balance with their choice of pedals… It sure has opened my eyes a whole lot more :-)
At the moment I am also looking for a nice quality booster pedal myself & thought I’d bring to your attention what looks to be a great new product by TC Electronic called – Spark Booster.
I’ve only read & hear what I could about it, since it’s just hit the market, but honestly from all angles it promises to be one great pedal in this particular application!
It has a very transparent tone that looks to be made specifically for boosting your existing o’drive/ distortion/ fuzz pedals in front of it. Here is a snippet from the TC site describing it:
“The Spark Booster’s level knob allows you to add 26 dB of boost – it raises your volume without altering the character of your tone in any way. Spark Booster’s Gain knob is perfect for adding a hint of breakup or slight compression to a clean amp.
The active EQ controls consist of Bass and Treble knobs – which allow you to cut and boost these frequencies. They form the perfect tone shaping tool and because they are active EQs, Spark Booster can amplify frequency areas as well, and be used to create deep, extended lows or to add beautiful top-end sparkle. Also, Spark Booster is True-bypass, guaranteeing optimal tonal integrity. Rounding out the feature set of Spark Booster is a mids toggle switch that allows for three settings. The ‘Clean’ setting means the pedal boosts your signal equally across the frequency spectrum. The ‘Fat’ setting fattens up sounds and adds life and punch to your sound, and allows for precise tonal shaping with the EQ and Gain knobs. ”
It also has bass & treble knobs to fine tune the frequencies that are usually pre set in other pedals. On top of that, it’s also true bypass which is another advantage over the Boss type pedals & the negative issues arising with the buffered circuits in them.
At the moment I have a Tech 21 Double Drive pedal that is capable of clean drive boost & sounds ok, but since I haven’t personally tried any others yet, like the BD2, it’s a bit hard for me to judge. Have you yourself tried out the Double Drive perhaps?
Anyways, it looks to me like the TC might be a worthy contender amongst these pedal types & hope I can try one out soon. I have no doubt that the Boss & Fulltone pedals sound good, but it helps to know there could be also other ones our there, especially like this one which looks as if it already has many of the “mod” features that those other pedals don’t have in stock form. Not a bad price too, around $130. If in case you get the chance Bjorn, would you be able to check it out too & give us your opinion, would be very helpful as always :-).
Thanks again for your help mate, much appreciated!
Tom C.
[Hi Tom! I haven’t had the chance to try the Spark Booster yet but it sounds very promising. From what I understand it pretty much a clone of the classic Colorsound Powerboost that David used in the 70s. Seems that TC has tweaked it for a bit more versatile tone, which comes in handy on smaller bedroom setups. The added 3 way tone switch also allows you to add a bit more grit for certain situations. I’m very much looking forward to try this one :) – Bjorn]
Do you think that the MXR Distortion+ would do a good job in boosting the Big Muff and for using it as just an overdriven Tube Driver?
[Not really. It’s not powerful enough to be used as a booster I think nor an overdrive. It’s better for cranking an already distorted amp. Check out the Boss BD2, ThroBak Overdriveboost, Fulltone OCD or Way Huge Pork Loin instead. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorne,
Great article btw! I was wondering, regarding the coloursound PB. When I set the volume of my amp to the volume I want, exactly how much boost do I dial in in the PB? I’m not sure exactly how much louder it needs to be than my amp to get the mild overdrive tones. It seems that my PB doesn’t begin to break up until around 3o’clock but Is this because the pedal isn’t being pushed enough and is not loud enough or is it because that’s the way the AA Fist is made? I have also added a master volume knob to mine btw.
Thanks a lot!
-Hunter
[Is it the Fist or Colorsound that you have? It’s been a while since I tried the Fist but I think it’s slightly milder than the Colorsound, which means that it doesn’t distort that easily. Anyway, the settings depends on your amp and guitar. The more you push the tube amp and the hotter your pickups are the sooner the pedal will distort. You just have to try different setups and see what fits your playing and rig. – Bjorn]
Good morning Bjorn,
Thanks for your suggestions. As usually you were pretty much right on. It was a combination of too much treble at the TD and a little too much volume at the Red Muck. I lowered the treble at the amp and the TD and my neck pick up jumped to life. This was just the opposite of what I was doing to fix this problem. Again thanks.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading about placement of the Compressor vs Muff. Lot of what I’m reading suggests putting the Muff first inline then compressor then a boost. Do you see any advantage for doing this. I’m trying to understand more than just put this pedal first but more what effect on the sign makes this order better. I know it comes down to what sounds best or what works with certain pedals but just for the technical geek in me I’m wondering why this order.
Thanks again for all the work you do on this site…
Karl
[Glad to hear it worked out! The compressor is usually placed in front of all gain effects except fuzz pedals, which needs to be placed first in the chain due to its circuit. The Muff should be placed after the compressor. However, keep in mind that a compressor is also a gain effect so be careful when you’re combining the Tube Driver with a booster. With the compressor this means that there are three gains engaged, which can cause a lot of feedback, noise and too much gain. I mainly use the compressor for cleans and mild overdrives and engage it only when it’s needed during a solo or heavier parts like when you need to sustain a specific note or add some climax to a passage. Anyway, try different setups and hear how that sounds. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn! how are you? =)
so, to be clear, chain effects should be like this:
Guitar => Big Muff => Compressor => Tube Driver (boost) => Amp
is this ok?
Try this: guitar > compressor > Muff > TD > amp. You want to compress the signal for the guitar. Not the already compressed signal coming from the Muff and other overdrive and distortion pedals :)
Hi Bjorn
As so many others have already said, I love your site. I played quite a bit back in the 90s but put in away after I got married. A few months ago I put all my gear up on craigslist but the I stumbled across your site. Curious, I dusted off a few of the pedals I rarely use and was amazed. Suddenly I was getting the tones I had been searching for. I have now set up a music room in my house and have added several pedal you have reviewed. This has had a domino affect on my family since now my daughter who is 12 and two step son, 10 and 13, are learning to play, and listening to Pink Floyd. It’s so cool to see how excited they get about the music and to hear them tell their friends about it. Thank you!!! You have no idea how much this has meant to me.
So now on to my question. I have serveral amp, a blues jr, classic 30, and a hot rod deville 212. The pedals I am using are a mxr dyno comp, red muck (love this pedal), tube driver (you are right about it sounding thinner on the smaller amps) TS808, DB-2, and a carbon copy. I play an American Standard Tele with three Strat Texas Special pickups and a Les Paul Studio. I primarily play my Tele. When using the BK Bulter to boost the Red Muck I find that unless I stay on my bridge pickup my low end seems to get clipped. I have tried running just those two pedals into the amp and get the same result. I have started using my BD-2 as my boost and it sounds good but not as warm. The Td is a bias model and I changed the tube to a 12au7. Any thoughts on this issue? Also any recommendation on pedal and amp combinations and setting would be awesome.
I have really love sitting down and experimenting with this since I found your site, though it can drive me a little crazy a times. Thank again Bjorn, from me and my family…
Karl
[Hi Karl. Thanks for all your kind words! Glad you enjoy the site :) Hard to say what might be the issue without having tried your rig but a common problem with both the TD and Muff is often that there’s too much treble. Sounds strange perhaps but treble will add to the clipping if there’s too much of it. Try lowering the treble on your amp to about 30% and lower the presence as well. This might sound dark but keep in mind that perceived treble and high frequencies also depend on volume so the louder you play the brighter the tone appear so you can roll down the settings quite a bit. Try also rolling down the treble on the TD as well. I mainly use the TD for boost or very mild OD… try this: volume 2:00, hi 11-12:00, bass 3:00, gain 10:00. Also, be careful with using too much gain when you’re combining gain pedals. Set the TD up for a clean boost just on the edge of break up and the Muff gain around 50%. This might sound too mild but the louder you play the more aggressive it will sound. Adjust as needed. Hope this helped. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn,
I just discovered your Gilmour page and dig it, but it’s so much info and there are so many possibilities that I’m confused. I’m looking for “Animals” sounds, particularly “Dogs” and here’s what I’ve got to work with: ’60 Time Machine Strat; ’52 RI Tele; DRRI & Princeton Reverb amps; Mosrite Fuzzrite, Boss SD-1, Bad Monkey, Boss BF-2, Line6 DL4. Can I get into the ballpark with this stuff? Do I need something else to boost? Thanks so much for Gilmourish.com
Mike
[Hi Mike! Please check out this in depth analysis of Dogs. Read through it first and let me know if you need more help. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn!
Jimmy Behan has made a clone of Big Muff Ram’s Head
http://www.jimmybehanfx.net/editions/rams-head
It seems to be very interesting package with extra switches but still providing the original Ram’s Head fuzz sound. I didn’t find any sound clips.
Do you, or anyone, have a touch on this one?
[Thanks for the tip! I’ll check it out :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Love the Musket!! Absolutely stellar pedal. And for those interested I used it with Fender Pro Jr and it’s great at any volume.
My question is Rat ’85 Reissue or Retro-Sonic clone??
Thanks again for an amazing website
[Thank you Jon! The RetroSonic Distortion is a great pedal. It nails the classic RAT with a couple of added features for different tones. Very silent too. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Im looking in to getting a good gilmourish boost pedal. My favourite tones are Davids late 70s – early 80s tones. Would you recommend the VintageFX Colordrive or the Throbak Overdrive Boost? I would only be using this as a boost pedal and not as an overdrive.
Thanks in advance!
[Both will do the job. The Colordrive is clean all the way up but I don’t think it sounds as smooth and vintage as the ThroBak. I’d go for the ThroBak. – Bjorn]
Do you recommend an order for: Octaver, Big Muff, Tubescreamer, Rat?? I use these pedals in the front of the amp…the order I use is: guitar, Octaver, Tubescreamer, Big Muff, Rat. I’ve been having trouble getting a good Big Muff sound thru my Fender Twin. I play it thru the clean channel. Is it meant to be played thru the clean channel or should I use some gain?? Any advice? Thanks!!
[Set the amp as clean as possible. See this feature for some Big Muff set up and tone tips. Is the octave an octave pedal or fuzz? If it’s a fuzz it should be placed first. If it’s an octave effect it could go first or last. I’d set it last or after the gain pedals to simulate an octave fuzz… Octaver > Big Muff > Rat > Tube Screamer > Octaver. – Bjorn]
Hi, Im trying to decide on an overdrive pedal and wondering what might be best out of my short list of Maxon OD808, Boss BD2 keeley, Voodoo Labs Sparkle ( these are in my price range!)
My setup is a Fender HSS Strat, Gibson Les Paul Studio, Fender Superchamp XD, TC Electronics Tone Print flashback Delay, RAT2 Keeley. I want solos such as “Time” to sound as authentic as possible, particularly using the Strat. Cheers!
[Based on your setup I’d go for the Maxon or Sparkle (the Maxon is better). The BD2 might sound a bit too bright on your amp. – Bjorn]
i’m strictly a bedroom or in my case basement player. My drive pedals include way huge green rhino MkII,rat 2 newer one,tomorrow should have version 2 musket, and boss blues driver. I use to have version 1 musket so no suprises there but i’ve been playing with order since i just got the green rhino for my setup i think i like this order for my drive pedals guitar>green rhino>rat>musket>blues driver>amp there will be some other pedals up front like wah and univibe, i’m still building my collection back up. I am using my green rhino as main overdrive,rat for muff/fuzz face quality,musket for civil war/sovtek muff and blues driver is clean boost. I have blues driver and green rhino setup pretty similar gain wise but i get so much more sustain with rhino. I just wanted to say thanks for all the gilmourish tips. I was a early adapter of musket use to own #53 but this article is reason i went out and bought rat 2 couple years ago and recently a tubescreamer clone and blues driver. Keep up the good work.
[Thanks for sharing! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
thanks for your incredible site. It’s a great source for everybody who wants to learn something about tone. My question is: Have you ever heard about Rodenberg GAS pedals? If not, here are just some basic facts: They are boutique pedals from Germany. I tried them this morning and instantly ordered one for me, the GAS-808. As the name of the model says, it was originally inspired by the TS-808, but it’s got its own sound and the mids are not that pronounced. It has a switch to add a little more bass. The sound is very open and smooth – just what I was looking for. The pedal works for a mild overdrive in front of a small amp – that’s the was I use it, because my music is more like swing and not that loud. Obviously, it’s an extremely versatile pedal and at the same time has lots of character.
[Thanks for the tip! Sounds interesting! I’ll check it out :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Im using a strat with CS69 pickups into a Fender Hotrod Deville 410 with the usual amp settings you reccomened with slightly more pressence on the amp. Im using an ocd placed after a BYOC large beaver triangle version, however im having a hard time using the ocd as a booster for the muff. I play fairly loud where the amp is just about to break up. But when i put the muff on with the ocd, the ocd seems to just cause the muff to lose all of its pressence and make the amp sound like its covered in mud. Ive tried placing the ocd before the muff but that sounded way to harsh. Would you recomened a different overdrive/booster like the ColorSound or tube driver? Or am i missing something in my settings?
[The triangle is fairly dark and the OCD has a lot of mids – although not as much as the Tube Screamer. This is not the best combo and the tone often gets muddy as you point out. Buffered pedals, like Boss, doesn’t help either… rather making it worse. It also depends on the pedal settings of course. I place the Muff first and keep the volume around unity with the amp and the gain at about 50%. The tone can be set according to the overall tone of your rig. Set the volume on the booster to slightly above unity with the amp and the gain to just at the edge of the break up. This way you’re able to tame the gain and feedback. Either way you should perhaps consider a more transparent booster like the Boss BD2 (preferably Keeley), ThroBak OB, Tube Driver or similar. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn! Great article, great website, great player… Great person :)
I think a point should be clarified though: does Gilmour gets is overdriven tone because its pedal are distorting the signal themselves, or because the strenght of the clean signal hits the pre-amp hard enough to saturate the tubes?
First case would mean that Gilmour doesn’t use tube saturation at all (except if he’s driving a Tube Driver hard enough of course)… Second case would mean that, after all, the modulated signal gets distorted… Would you mind explicating how Gilmour actually manipulates his signal?
Anyway, thanks for the article! Cheers!
[There are lots of articles on this site explaining this but in short. David’s amps are always set very loud. They don’t distort but the tubes are pushed hard to get more sustain and a allowing them to interact with the pedals. All gain pedals are set fairly mild but it is them that creates the actual distortion and overdrive. Since the tubes are pushed hard he doesn’t have to crank the pedals since the interaction creates the sustain and gain he needs. The modulation pedals are placed after the gains, allowing them to colour the signal without getting distorted or altered. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, I saw on Davids gear in 88-94 on your site that he used a Bob Bradshaw Remote Switching System. I cant find it anywere does it have another name and do u know how much it cost? Ty.
[Not sure you can buy David’s boards. Most of the stuff Bradshaw made was custom designed. Check out Custom Audio Electronics for more details. – Bjorn]
Have to agree the Joyo Ultimate drive gets pretty darn close to an OCD for the price £25 off the bay it’s a steal , also for a cheap alternative to the classic Rat check out the biyang ds 8 (mouse) nails it even has the lm308 chip an built like a tank .
Have currently set myself a new years budget effects board challenge maximum of £40 per pedal it is certainly proving interesting scouring eBay , gumtree and Craig’s list when I have managed to complete my board will add it to the excellent gear gallery with mini reviews of my choices .
Happy new year Bjorn and all glimourish obcessives :-)
[Happy new year to you too! I need to check these out :) – Bjorn]
Hi Björn!
Currently I’m using for bedroom playing/recording a ProCo RAT II and an Ibanez TS9 (the amp I use is a Laney Cub 12). Latelly I’ve been wondering about replacing the TS9 with something with more character… I was thinking of throwing in a Fulltone OCD, Throbak Overdrive Boost or a T-Rex Moller. What would be your choice?
Once again thank you for your amazing site and your precious tips!
Cheers
Sergio
[Depends on what tones you’re looking for. The OCD is perhaps closest to the TS9 with a couple of additional features, a bit more gain and lower end. It works nicely on the cub12 and you can easily use it for boosting your RAT. The ThroBak is a great pedal but perhaps not that suited for smaller amps and low volume levels. I’ve never tried a Moller, so I can’t really tell. – Bjorn]
Hi Luca and others!
As you can see above, I have struggled with same kind of issues with my ProCo Rat 2. I tried a couple of overdrive and boost pedals and I found a great solution: Okko TwinSonic Overdrive.
http://www.stompbox.de/twinsonic_english.html
The pedal can be used in several ways: as a clean boost, as an overdrive, as a treble boost and/or mid boost and as a boosted overdrive (booster before, after or both before and after the overdrive circuit). The pedal gives a fuzz-type of sound when gain, more and push are cranked up so it can be used without Rat to give nice singing sound. Well, I’m not selling my Rat… ;-)
The price is 249 € here in Europe (can be bought directly from Okko). In my opinion the price is not high if you think how versatile the pedal is.
Hopefully this helps.
Bjorn,
I suspected that was the very nature of the pedal …
I have read and been reading this article several times and everytime I find something new between the lines!
Thanks for your kind help!
Luca
[Cheers! – Bjorn]
Don’t forget the inexpensive Joyo Ultimate Drive, an affordable OCD clone. I recommend it. It’s fantastic!
[Thanks for the tip! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I’m little bit confused using a BYOC OD-2, ts808 clone, to replicate convincing tones of some classics like SOYCD or Dogs of War from DSoT or Castellorizon (I found that the RAT2 Keeley 3way mod. alone with the switch set on “Mighty Mouse” position is a better choice for it – Dist.13:00 Filter 8:00 Vol. 12:00).
I’ve seen that you mostly used the 808 with the BD2 in front of the BD2 and in few cases behind it. How do you arrange and set these pedals? I didn’t have any other TS808 and the OD2 seems really noisy, the pedal issues an annoying hiss when engaged even compared to other hi-gain pedals like the RAT or Large Beaver. What about of the originals? My rig is AMSTD>CS69>BYOCclassicComp>OD2>BD2keeley mod.>MISTRESS>DD3>CUB12R
Any suggestion? Is the CE2 essential for those songs?
Thanks for your help!
Luca
[I haven’t tried the OD2 but it’s based on the TS, which is quite noisy. Especially if you crank the gain and keep the tone quite high. The noise comes from the boosted mid range. I mainly have the BD2 after the 808 with a clean boost setting. The 808 is set with an overdrive tone. – Bjorn]
Alright, well after more playing around with my pedals, I think I’ve got the tone I want without adding more (except for an electric mistress which is the final remaining piece to my puzzle). And I’ve found that the Tonebone classic is a pretty sweet pedal, you should check it out if you haven’t. I’m no expert but it seems very similar to the tube driver. It has knobs for volume, bass, treble, filter, and drive. Then it has switches for presence (bright, flat, dark), mids (+0 db, +7 db, +12 db), and the best feature, the drive gain (+0 db, +9 db, +20 db). I play with the volume, treble, bass, and filter all on 2:00, the drive on 8:00, and the gain on +20 db. With my guitar volume at about 5 I got instant Coming Back to Life. With the guitar volume all the way up it gave me a really nice, slightly crunchy distortion for the second and third solos. I bought mine from a friend but I think new they’re like $275. A bit expensive but should be easier to find than a Chandler/BK Butler.
[Thanks for the tip! – Bjorn]
I know where I confused you. I’m not looking to replace the Tonebone, I like what it does as a clean booster. I know Dave used 2 tube drivers on PULSE and the 06 tour, one as a clean boost and one for overdrive, so I’m thinking about getting an overdrive in addition to what I have for that effect. Maybe that’ll be too much for my rig, I figure I’ll try before I buy.
Another question, do you recommend putting the compressor before or after the muff in the chain?
Finally, just a curiosity, the page on the Wall says that he had both a fuzz face and a muff in his rig, did he use them together, or just one at a time?
[OK, any of the ones I mentioned in the last comment works nicely for David’s overdrive tones. You should only use a clean booster with the Muff though. The compressor should always be in front of the Muff and distortions. I don’t think David used the fuzz on the Wall tour. The board was also used on the Animals tour where David used fuzz on Money. You should never use distortion (Muff) and fuzz together. Too much gain and noise. – Bjorn]
First of all, thanks for this website! I’ve been a huge David Gilmour fan my whole life, and lately I’ve made building a Gilmour-toned rig my favorite hobby. Right now I’m looking for an overdrive. I play on a late 80’s/early 90’s Peavy Bandit 112, which is pretty formidable for a solid state amp. I have a modern Big Muff and a Tonebone Classic that I use as a clean booster. I’ve gotten a fairly convincing clean PULSE tone akin to the beginning of Coming Back to Life with this. Now I’m looking for an overdrive for the louder solos and booming songs like Sorrow. I’m thinking about the Tube Screamer. What do you think?
[Not quite sure what you mean. David’s using a Muff + booster setup on Sorrow so you should be able to get a similar tone with your pedals. If you’re considering a new booster for the Muff I’d go for something transaprent like BD2, Tube Driver, ThroBak Overdrive Boost etc. A Tube Screamer has too much mid range to be able to boost properly. If you’re looking for a better sounding Muff I recommend the excellent Blackout Effectors Musket for those PULSE tones. Check out the Electronic Orange Pig Hoof as well. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, great website and thanks for putting it on the web for us! I’ve finally bought a Peavey Classic 30 and am very happy with it, I’m just using the normal channel to get the clean sound and have a few nice pedals (and one Boss DS-1 I want to get rid of once I can find a nice distortion). I bought a BBE Green Screamer as my OD and while I am happy with it can see what you mean about it being different from that transparent boost, but unfortunately can’t play loud enough at home to get a Colorsound.
Do you think an EQ after the Green Screamer might be a good idea to help take out some of the mids and get a more transparent boost? I’m assuming it’s low to middle range ‘mids’ that are boosted with this pedal. :)
[I don’t think an EQ would fully solve the “problem” with the GS or similar mid range boosted pedals. You might be able to get a bit more presence but the nature of these pedals are too different from the more transparent boosters. The Colorsound, ThroBak etc really needs a high volume to shine but check out the Boss BD-2 for a similar tone that works better on lower volume. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn!
Thanks for the answer! Now I have the total picture.
I did some additional research on overdrives and boosters. On one guitar gear discussion site I found out a good hint: Wampler Ecstasy Drive. It seems to go from clean boost to overdrive and even to distortion. Four knobs – volume, gain, tone and bass – and a 3-position toogle switch for tone changes. The sound samples are pretty promising.
http://www.wamplerpedals.com/overdrives/ecstasy.html
Have you tried that pedal?
I must say that I am not looking for just Gilmour sound so versatile overdrive/boost pedal is more than suitable for me in order to get hard rock or heavy rock sound also. But I am still considering to get Empress ParaEq for solo boost.
[Sorry for my late reply. I’ve never tried the Ecstasy but it sounds like a classic transparent overdrive with a bit more gain than the Colorsound Powerboost. Hard to tell how it functions as a clean booster but the I guess it will work fine. As explained if you intend to boost, say, a Muff, the booster should be able to produce pure clean tones without any breakup. The Ecstasy seems like a versatile pedal though for both clean boost and the heavier rock tones. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn,
and thanks for the great site! I have enjoyed many times in reading your articles and especially your comments on “Overdrive and distortion” site. And of course thanks go to all gilmourish fans who have send their questions and suggestions!
Like many others I have also struggled with distortion-overdrive-boost issue. I bought ProCo Rat 2 (with LM308) and I did a Keeley modification on it. I highly recommend to do that if you have original version of the pedal. What makes me wonder is what kind of overdrive and/or booster should get with Rat 2.
Bjorn, you have mentioned several times that Boss BD-2 is a good unit with Rat 2. But what is it really for? Is it for overdriving or boosting (as a clean boost) the signal? If former, should I try Boss SD-1 also – if latter, could another option be Empress Effects’ ParaEq? With those two Boss pedals I don’t mean original pedals but the Analogman modifications (at this moment I have bias for them). Mike from Analogman says on his site that both BD-2 and SD-1 can be used as a clean boost.
So, what do you recommend?
[Thanks for your kind words! Glad you enjoy my site :) The term boosting is often used when you’re either using an overdrive or fuzz to further distort a tube amp. Hendrix would crank his Marshalls for distortion and add a fuzz face for an even wilder tone. Gilmour’s setup is slightly different in that his amps are set clean and he’s using a combination of distortion/fuzz and overdrive for his main lead tones. He doesn’t actually boost the gain or volume but adding a transparent overdrive after say a Muff, adds a bit more character and a fatter tone. The overdrive acts more like an EQ, although an EQ alone would do the same job. The Muff is set about unity level with the amp with a fairly mild gain and behind it he adds a Tube Driver that’s set slightly above unity level with a very slight crunch, almost clean. The RAT has a very saturated tone and works nicely alone but a mild transparent booster like the BD2 or SD1 would go nicely with it and tightening the signal a bit. Set the Rat up for a mild distortion and add the booster behind it with a clean tone. Adjust both pedals for the needed tone but keep in mind that too much gain means noise. – Bjorn]
I don’t seem to recall when Gilmour ever used a Cry Baby or Whammy, but it’s listed on his Wikipedia page?
[David rarely used wah wah but he did frequently in the early days on songs like Set the Controls For the Heart of the Sun, Stay, Echoes etc. The Wahmmy has been used on Marooned and The Blue and he also used it on Sorrow a couple of times on the 1994 tour. – Bjorn]
Hey again, have you ever tried the Demeter Fuzzulator? I’m wondering whether this pedal is based on the Big Muff or Fuzz Face. There also seems to be quite a debate amongst guitar players on whether the Big Muff is a distortion or fuzz pedal.
[The Fuzzulator isn’t really based on anything but it’s closer to a classic fuzz than a Muff. You can set it up for multiple fuzz tones but it doesn’t have nearly as much gain and saturation as a Muff. The thing about fuzz, overdrive, distortion etc is that people tend to call just everything fuzz or distortion but these are two different effects both tonewise and technically. Then you have the overdrive, booster etc. The Big Muff is tricky because while it’s tonally closer to a fuzz it’s technically closer to a distortion. The intention was to make a sustain pedal with as much gain as possible so I guess you can say that it was the forerunner for the distortion that appeared in the late 70s with the RAT, Boss DS1 and MXR Distortion +. – Bjorn]
If I may add, I’m also wondering what the Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker would sound like into a solid-state (tone OFF, wicker ON). To me, it sounds like a bright (higher treble response compared to the 2000 NYC reissue) and ballsy (low-end bass retained) distortion pedal on tube amps (again, all based on YouTube demos)?
[Depends entirely on the amp, guitar/pickups and the pedal settings. You can get some really great tones with the Wicker on both solid states and tube amps but in general a Muff won’t sound as good on a solid state as on a tube amp. I’d much rather go for a RAT or something similar as explained in the article. – BJorn]
I hope all is fine for you, due to the recent event in Norway. I’d still like an answer regarding which category of compressors the BOSS CS-3 belongs to. My apologies if I’m being a little persistent here :p Also, do you happen to know if David Gilmour ever used a Klon Centaur?
[The CS3 is electric as far as I know. Not quite sure on the technical aspect but a VCA type perhaps? There aren’t that many true optical compressors on the market. The Electro Harmonix White Finger is optical, while the Black Finger has a tube. Most pedals are either VCA or digital simulating the optical tone. David has tons of pedals in his collection so there might be a Klon there somewhere but there are no sources indicating that he has used one. – Bjorn]
It seems like out of all the boost pedals available in the boutique market, the MXR Micro Amp appears to be the most subtle one. It doesn’t seem to mess with your treble frequencies and gives a clean volume boost that borderlines pushing a tube amp preamp into its overdrive state. I’m judging all this based on YouTube demos. By the way, is Bjorn a Finnish name? You share the same name as BJFE’s founder.
[A good booster should be transparent and be able to give you a nice clean boost. The Boss BD2, Colorsound Powerboost, MXR Micro Amp etc will all sound very similar. The Colorsound and BD2 will also produce aggressive gain as well. Bjorn is an old Nordic name popular among the Vikings. I think it originates from Norway, Island and Denmark but it’s also used in both Sweden and Finland too. I’m Norwegian :) – Bjorn]
I heard the Fulltone OCD has an “old” version 4, as well as a “new” version 4 (brighter, “fuller” and better bass response)? It’s essentially a more amp-like and gainier Fulldrive 2 isn’t it? Can “Dumble-in-a-box” overdrives like the Zendrive or Blackstone be likened to Tube Screamers? I’m also wondering if you’ve ever tried the HotCake by Paul Crowther and Timmy by Paul Cochrane; and if these pedals are clones or resemble any pre-existing overdrives? (whew) So many questions all of a sudden!
p.s. Do you happen to know if the BOSS CS-3 is a ROSS, Orange Squeezer or an optical compressor?
[I haven’t that much experience with different OCDs so I can’t tell if there’s any difference. It’s similar to the Fulldrive but perhaps a bit more amp-like if you will. More gain. The OCD, Zendrivem Blackstone etc are all either based on (not cloned) or in the same tone family as the Tube Screamer. All these pedals are meant to sound like a cranked amp, while the more transparent overdrives like the Colorsound Powerboost and Boss BD2 are meant to be cranking the amp. I don’t think neither of the compressors you mentioned are optical. Check out the BYOC, Demeter, Maxon, Electro Harmonix etc… – Bjorn]
Thanks for the response Bjorn! It’s kind of you to have the patience to reply to all the questions posted here. Since I need a tonally mid-range pedal to balance my solid-state amp setup, I was wondering if the (block reissue) Distortion + or III by MXR would do the job? I’ve read that the former pedal uses an identical circuit to the Voodoo Lab Overdrive (not Sparkle Drive), rumored to inspired the Fulltone OCD (one of your recommendations).
Are you sure the OCD is a modded TS9? Based on online reviews, it’s supposedly a “cranked-Marshall-tube-amp-in-a-box” (of course we know these type of pedals, along with TS clones have been done to death in the boutique market)?
[Of the MXR pedals I think the III would be better than the +. The + needs a cranked amp and in my oppinion it fails as a dedicated overdrive or booster. The OCD is a TS9 clone but it’s based on the same tone. Keep in mind that the TS9 was also designed to capture the sound of an overdriven tube amp so the concept of any mid rangy overdrive is basically the same. The more transparent boosters like the Colorsound Powerboost, Boss BD2 etc are designed to overdrive a tube amp, so these are designed a little differently. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, I’ve been strolling through all the comments on this page and still can’t get my head around a distortion pedal that would sound great through my Marshall AVT50 (solid-state amp). The overdrive channel on this thing is atrocious, and I’m currently looking into either the BD-2 or Turbo RAT.
I’ve been through the DS-1 and OS-2, both which sound extremely harsh through the clean channel of my amp (too much treble response regardless of how I adjust the pedals and the amp EQ). I would assume running an OD-3 or SD-1 (or any TS-type pedal) wouldn’t make it sound any better? HELP?!?
[I’m not too familiar with the AVT but from what I understand it has a tube in the preamp section. I guess that’s making the amp a bit more agressive – at least if you utilize the internal gain stage. The best way to start off with your Gilmour tones is to set the amp as clean as possible with the EQs around 50% and the master a bit lower than the channel volume. This allows more headroom with enough power to back up your pedals. Bright amps may sound warmer with mid rangy pedals like the Tube Screamer and RAT. These has a warmer more saturated tone ideal for solid states and bright amps. Big Muffs and the more transparent overdrives like the Tube Driver and BD2 might just be too bright with a nasty bleed in the gain stage making your tones harsh and trebly. I’d go for a RAT for a distortion or one of the many clones like the Retro Sonic Distortion or the Jam Pedals Rattler. These also have multiple mode and tone options for further tone shaping. For overdrive I’d get a Tube Screamer like the Ibanez TS9, Maxon OD808, Way Huge Green Rhino or the excellent Fulltone OCD, which is probably one of the more versatile overdrives on the market. Keep in mind that you always need to adjust the settings on both your amp and pedals to get the tones you want. Don’t get too caught up in what you read but do the needed adjustments to get a warm smooth tone. Hope this helped. – Bjorn]
Hi Again !!!
Thank for your really quick answer !
Do you think that the regular BD2 will do the job or i must buy the Keeley mod one ?
Or, i’m also interested by the banana boost from electronic orange (maybe the cheapest coloursound clone actually available ) do you ever try it or hear something about it ?
Thank U.
David.
[I haven’t had the chance to try the Banana yet so I can’t tell but the feature you commented on will tell you something about how to use the Colorsound and similar pedals and what to consider. The stock BD2 will do fine although I recommend the Keeley for a much warmer and smoother tone. – Bjorn]
Hi Björn,
First i would like to thank you for your wonderful website, it’s a real gold mine for people like me who looking to approach (humbly) the mythic Gilmour sound !!!
I own a Maxon OD 808 and i recently order a Pig Hoof and i would like to know if you think that the maxon will be a good boost for the pig hoof. Actually i own a regulat big muff (NY reissue V9) and when i use both pedal together (maxon+muff) the sound is really horrible and there is some lose of volume when i try to bend a string. I don’t know if it’s because it’s a bad combination or if it’s just because my actual muff is crappy !!!
Thank U.
David.
[Thanks for your kind words David! The current US Muff model has little in common with the early 70s pedals. It’s dark, muddy and just too wild. The Maxon has lots of mid range, which doesn’t quite go well with a Muff. You might experience volume drop and a choked and muddy tone. I’d rather use a more transparent overdrive or booster like the Boss BD2, Colorsound Powerboost, ThroBak Overdriveboost, Tube Driver and similar. The Maxon is better used as a dedicated overdrive and not as a boost. – Bjorn]
Hi Björn,
I sometimes re-visit your site and scroll through the articles and always find something new to think about. This time I started to think why is that I always need to compromise my overdriven sounds because if I dial in a killer overdriven sound, then the clean sound cannot be heard at all. Usually I get them about even volumes by setting the amp that it already breaks (= compresses) quite heavily but there goes my clean sound :(
I just wanted to ask any tips for balancing the volume between the clean and dirty sounds if any. Because like you were writing in the article everything has effect on everything, so if I have a good distortion sound but it is too loud, turning down the level from the pedal usually kills the bite from the sound.
I think that best solution is to have two different amps? One for clean and one for dirty :D
[Depends on the amp. If you feel you need to crank the amp and the pedal volume to get the tones you want it may be the result of your amp not having enough headroom. Hiwatt, Sound City, Reeves, Mesa, Peavey Classic, most Fenders etc has tons of headroom with a clean punchy tone. These allows a powerful clean tone and creamy overdrives depending on the pedal you use. Marshalls and most smaller solid state amps has very little headroom and breaks up more easily. Forcing these to stay clean and adding gain pedals for overdrives can be a challenge because the clean tone will sound flat and the pedal won’t respond that well to the amp tone. Not sure if you understood what I’m trying to say but it depends very much on the amp. The ideal Gilmourish setup should allow you to have the desired clean tone and add gain pedals without having to boost the volume. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
i just want to ask you if the ’85 Whiteface Rat really has the same sound as the vintage one?
Keep up with the good work,
Luka
[Haven’t had the chance to try it but I see it gets great reviews. Check out the Distortion from Retro Sonic as well. It’s a RAT with lots of cool features. – Bjorn]
Hello,
one question: I have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (40w). This is considered a small amplifier?
I also have a distortion as the only OCD, but I’m a little unhappy with him because I think it has little sustain and a little saturation (probably not best for my equipment). On the other hand ended up ordering a BK Butler Tube Drive, because I think this has more saturation and less gain. I use only the EMG DG 20, and generally like pedals with saturation, compression and not glaring pedals! What do you think?
The RAT is a pedal I’ve ever experienced and I will buy, because actually it’s really saturated, compressed with very sustain at the same time clear, is not an uncontrolled distortion.
Hug
Daniel
[A 40w combo is about right there in the middle I guess. A bit too big for your bedroom but not as wild as a 4×12″ stack :) The Butler is not a mild pedal. Although it’s capable of producing a transparent clean boost it’s near fuzz on high gain settings. Lots of compression when you crank the tube and tons of sustain. It’s incredibly dynamic and responds well to even the slightest volume adjustments and picking techniques. I’m not sure you will experience it as a milder pedal compared to the OCD but it’s definitely more transparent and dynamic. The RAT is a classic distortion with lots of mid range, compression and sustain. Incredibly versatile and easy to get great tones with. – Bjorn]
Hello,
Have a look at this :
http://www.youtube.com/user/PinkFloydNutter#p/u/1/d5pH6UwngR0
(Australian Pink Floyd Show gear)
Cheers
[Cool! – Bjorn]
Here bjorn i found this, thouhg of course you already know the songs haha, but to anyone els who may be interested here a link to a site with the Hal Leonard On An Island Song Book, for only $24! whereas ive seen em els where for $5o+
http://www.get-it-all.net/store/product_info.php/products_id/2725?ref=fg
[Thanks! – Bjorn]
Bjorn,
Nice update! So far good job with the weekly tips. They have been very helpful. What is your take on noise suppresors such as an MXR smart gate or Boss nS-2? I know Cornish listed David using a smart gate in the 70’s and I get a lot of noise from my dg-2 and byoc muff so I was thinking of getting one. Thanks!
[Thanks Tyler! Please see this feature for some tips (bottom section). – Bjorn]
bjorn,
you get all these requests: “what do you think of…?”, “would you recommend…?”, “can i get a good gilmour-tone with…?”
and i’m so deeply sorry that i have to be one of those guys myself now.. :(
:)
i was thinking of getting a throbak overdrive boost. the problem is that i can’t test it because i cant’ find it here in germany and i hate the process with returning things i bought from foreign shops.
is this pedal worth spending 200 gbp? or is it one of those effects i have to play at 160 db to get a good tone with? because i only play at home on lower volumes.. am i better off with a maxon?
thanks in advance, and thanks again for the great site and work!!
greets!
[No worries Richard :) Funny you should ask. I’m working on a review of the Overdrive Boost. It’s based on the old Colorsound Powerboost with a transparent tone and not at all like a Maxon or Tube Screamer. Depends on what amp you’re using. The clean boost works nicely on all kinds of amps but if you want to use it as an overdrive you should have a tube amp. I’ll have the review up in a day or two. – Bjorn]
Dear Bjorn!
Excellent review and advice! Indeed the Rat with a booster works wonders. As a booster, I use EQ-7, because desired overdrive I do not have. Along with the flanger and chorus can get a good tone era The Wall-On an island. A little hard to course with Pulse. However, what about fuzz tone era ’68-’75? I once tested Dunlop FuzzFace – not the slightest likelihood in the sound of Gilmour / Hendrix. I love the tone of live performances ’69-’75 such as Echoes, AHM, Wembly live etc. Which pedal is available in shops pedal Fuzz appropriate for that use or interpretation of the original clones bc-108.
By the way, I’ll be at Roger concert in Moscow!)
[I’m using an AnalogMan Sun Face BC108. Similar pedals would be the MJM London Fuzz (blue), Fulltone 70s, MXR Classic Fuzz, Dunlop Hendrix Fuzz Face etc. Keep in mind though that a fuzz needs a loud tube amp for those smooth punchy Hendrix/Gilmour tones. Smaller amps, solid states and low volume will often make the fuzz sound thin and harsh. The RAT is capable of some pretty convincing fuzz tones and you can also check out a Muff as well. – Bjorn]
to answer the question from a few posts above unless someone els has already done it, yes Jeff Beck did use the Coloursound and the RAT sometime during the 70s (obviously late 70s for the RAT). my question is do you have any suggesions for the RAT to get Gilmours tone from OAI on the song OAI for the solos, i use the typical 2 o’clock settings for muff but it just dosent sound quite like the cornish (im very tone picky) , i however have Monte Allums RAT mod with the 3 way switch (basicly same as keelys) and i use the middle toggle which for more volume and useing the RAT as an overdrive or power boost with the BD-2 (keely moded) behind it with the gain cranked up a little becuase daves cornish to my ears sound like it has a little more treble then the muffs but and the tone i get is close..but still not there, its just a little too sharp and a little too much gain so i guess i need to tweak around a little more but if you have any suggestions that would be awsome.
[What’s your amp settings? I usually keep the RAT fairly mild with the gain at 12:00, tone and volume around 2:00 but that also require a typical mids scooped amp and settings at the very edge of break up. – Bjorn]
Hi, great tips for Gilmour mania beginer.Im going to buy Rat coz i think it is very good drive.
(I was yesterday on Rogers show in Poland, Åódź, it was great :)
Hello and good day,
I am running a 60w Fender Hot Rod DeVille 4X10 combo. I have tried the pedal setup of Muff first, then OD and then Tube Driver as a boost. The way I have mine set up is, I have an Xotic Effects AC first(clean boost), BK Tube Driver(OD), then my Big Muff(tone/wicker). I use the AC with the Muff and it sounds great, like the Gdansk aggresive sound I love. When I have it the other way it takes all of the snort away from the muff and the low end is horrid. I don’t understand why it sounds so much different the way almost everybody else has it set up. What are your thoughts on this setup ?? Thanks much and have a great day, Matt
[Pedals behaves different on different amps and they’ll react to how you set the amp and the other pedals. You should trust your ears though and if a booster+Muff sounds better on your setup than Muff+booster then go for it :) – Bjorn]
Bjorn, I’ve got a Fender Pro Jr and I was wondering what do you think is the best OD/distortion pedal for getting Gilmourish tone?
[I’ve never tried it but from what I understand it’s a one channel 15w amp somewhere between the Champ 600 and Blues Jr. Due its size and limited controls I’d go for a versatile easy to tweak setup with a RAT distortion and a TS overdrive (or similar clones). They’ll work nicely on almost anything and you’ll have no problems getting convincing Gilmour tones. – Bjorn]
Hey can the Blackout Effectors Musket pedal create some of the tones from On An Island or some of David’s classic tones from the late 80’s (like tones from Delicate Sound of Thunder, etc.)? Is it more of a Big Muff or more of a fuzz? Thanks for another great tip Bjorn!
[Please see my review of the Musket here. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, I’m just throwing my two cents in here.
If you’re on a budget, like myself, you can really make your pedals work for you with the RAT and Bd-2 combo.
At the Moment I’m running the rat with all the settings at around 2.30 as my main distortion.
I run the Bd-2 after the RAT for a sparkling clean boost with the volume high, the gain around 11.00, and the tone around 10.00.
On it’s own, the bd-2 gets me a lovely soft dynamic-response overdrive.
Currently looking for a new overdrive to pair with the bd-2. I’ve had my eye on the pricier ocd, but also the barber LTD and the visual sound route 808.
Just wondering if you have any experience. with the latter bjorn.
[Of the three I’ve only tried the OCD. Great pedal with lots of different tones. Highly recommended! – Bjorn]
thanx bjorn for these great tips but i have missed the first half of them are you going to put them back on when you have finished ? as im gutted ive missed them or is there a way i can get them all up from tip 1 to now 11 . great u doin this for us bjorn gotta say youve realy helped us all sort our floyd sound out ,thank you m8
[Please see the blog archives :) – Bjorn]
Bjorn, thanks for the many tips on your website and for all the research you’ve shared over the years. Thanks to you, and after several experiments, I now get great Gilmour tone with a fairly budget-friendly rig that includes a modified America Strat with Fat ’50s, SSL-1 and SSL-5 pickups. To me, it really starts with the guitar, and the SSL-5, in particular, is essential to capture much of David’s lead tones. I also changed to a Fender Blues Jr., and have the following pedals: Blackout Effectors “Musket,” Blackstar HT Drive and MXR Carbon Copy. The Musket is amazing, even at lower volumes — I like it much better than the RAT. It’s essential, really. And the Blackstar sounds great for both Floyd and many other genres.
[Glad to hear Mike and I can’t agree more on that it always starts with the instrument :) – Bjorn]
Yeah! And I already have a boss od which i love and a noise supressor. I’m planning on buying an electric mistress and some kind of tremolo pedal after the others but that’ll take some time lol. Next on the list is an ehx lpb1 booster that I’ll run on my fx loop for solos :D
Thanks for all the info man and keep up the good work
[Cheers! – Bjorn]
I think I’m really going for a Rat after I get my dd-20 and a comp, and maybe later i’ll check the muffs. I’ve using multieffects over the years but got tired of the tweaking, so what comp would you recommend? I’ve been doing some research and read that the dynacomp (block) and boss cs3 are not very good. So i’m thinking about the mxr custom shop comp (because i wouldn’t want to spend more than 150€), that’s true bypass and all that. I’m really serious about my bypassed signal since I bought a recent cry baby wah that made my rig sound like crap. Although I don’t if I can get a hand-made clone or not.
[Rat, DD20 and comp sounds like a great start. I haven’t tried the MXR Custom Comp my self but you can’t really go wrong with MXR. It’s also worth checking out the Red Compressor from Whirlwind, which is a true bypass clone of the original ’76 Dynacomp made by the same guy. – Bjorn]
So I want my clone to have the LM308 chip, right? I haven’t decided yet if i’m buying a rat or a big muff but if i buy a big muff which one should i get? The guy that makes tha rat clones makes 3 different types of a muffs (triangles, russians and nyc ones). Would i be better off with one of these or with an EHX? If so, which one (NYC, little big muff, russian or tone wicker big muff)?
Thanks a lot for the help man
[The RAT is a much more versatile pedal than the Muff. So if you’re not sure what to get I’d go for the RAT. And yes, it should have the LM308 chip. Of the Muffs I’d definitely go for a clone. The EHX models are bleak compared to the 70s models and the new clones.. apart from perhaps the Little Big Muff. Personally I’m very fond of the triangle but the ram’s head or russian are perhaps a bit more Gilmourish and versatile. I haven’t managed to find any russian clones that fully replicates the tone of an early 90s Sovtek but the Stomp Under Foot civil war model is very good. – Bjorn]
Hey, i’m considering buying a rat but i dont know if i should get a clone (true bypass) or a rat 2. Any thoughts on that?
And congratulations on the website, it’s really useful man! I went to Roger Waters’ “the wall” show 2 days ago and his guitar players were using teles and fender 4×10 amps…I found it weird but they got a nice tone.
Thanks
[The RAT has hardwire bypass like the MXR pedals. That’s similar to true bypass only that the signal travel through the cirquit. This might result in a slightly darker tone when bypassed but I’ve never had any problems with my RATs. What’s important though is that you get a model with the LM308 chip. This produce a much smoother and warmer tone than the new models. Check out the excellent Distortion from Retro-Sonic. A RAT clone with additional features. – Bjorn]
Mmmm… I don’t know really… maybe we should buy and tour with a brand new 90 000 euros Yamaha piano to check it out, ah ah ! Have a nice day… – wan –
No problem with your previous answer, it made no doubt to me, everything is clear about the BD-2/Colordrive and the OCD/TS9 now ! Thanks to you.
It’s so strange because sometimes I feel that my live sound is bad and the recordings are fine and a few days later it’s quite the opposite…
I finally order a BYOC Large Beaver though I already have a RattleR, a DS-1 and a Pig Mine. The Boss is the one I know best because I’ve had it for a long time and it works fine with the BD-2. The Pig Mine sounds really great but it’s not easy to combine it with a booster/overdrive : I prefer to use it for recording sessions where it does a really good job all alone (same for Lunar Module, of course both plugged either in a transistor or tube amp !).
It seems the quest for ultimate sound will never end, as long as I won’t have check all combinations ! Fortunately, your strong advice is really helpful to make things clearer. Best regards, – wan –
[Well, I can assure you that not even I can end your quest for THE tone. It’ll never end :) I’ve searched for years… LOL! But that’s part of the fun isn’t it? In regards to your comment about live tone VS recordings. It’s perfectly normal to experience this. Sometimes your rig sounds great and sometimes you just want to throw it out of the window. There’s a number of reasons for this like the venue or place that you play may have totally different acoustics compared to the next place. The electric current may be slightly off. There might be a higher humidity. Perhaps your ears are more tired than yesterday… the list is too long but it’s just the nature of playing an instrument. Thank God we’re not playing an expensive piano that’s shifts character from night to night :) – Bjorn]
Since you have a Laney cub and so do many of us, what combination would you of Dist/overdrive to you use on it?
[I mainly use the two practice setups but I also love using just a very basic setup with a RAT (distortion), Maxon OD808 (Tube Screamer overdrive) and a Boss DD2. – Bjorn]
Many thanks for your replies, Bjorn. My pedalboard is currently being rebuilt mainly because of new songs we’ve been writing and working on for a few months. I try to find the best combination of sounds to avoid the “tap dancing” between sections of songs and it’s not always easy ! I won’t bother everybody with all the details as we all know what it’s all about.
I already own an OCD and it seemed to me – I mean “according to what I read” and A/B testing I made with my BD-2 – that it was pretty close to the TS-9. I must admit I don’t know the TS (never tried, heard on records but never heard on a real amp) but according to Analogman the Ibanez TS808 reissue would be the only one to have “the correct JRC4558D op amp and output resistors”. Lack of time and money push me to ask you one last question : as above for the Colorsound and the BD-2, will it bring new colors to add a TS in the OD section of my “Rolling Thunder” (*) pedalboard ? Is the Ibanez TS-808 reissue a better choice than all the other TS around ?
Again thank you for all your patience and kindness…
– wan –
(*) The “Rolling Thunder” pedalboard is my homemade pedalboard that makes laugh and asks everybody, so I think I’ll soon write a pictured article about it !
[I see that I had a typo in my previous answer (edited it now). What I meant to say was that the BD2 and Colordrive was very similar. Not different :) The OCD is kind of a hot rodded TS9/808. It has much of the same warm saturated mid rangy character but a bit more gain and lower end. The extra switch also allows more tonal variety making it much more versatile than a TS9/808 IMO. I’d stick to the BD2 and OCD and rather concentrate on a new distortion, fuzz or modulation… if you need that sort of thing :) – Bjorn]
“Chic !”, another great article to read soon ! Anyway, if you don’t mind I have a question for you that should match the subject of your article. I never had the opportunity to check a VintageFX Colordrive plugged into my Classic 30 tube amp, I was wondering if this could work despite its low power ? My main guitar is a Fender Strat Highway 1 with CS69 pickups and I plan to buy a silicon fuzz too. When playing in concert or rehearsal, I set the “normal” gain of clean channel between 3 and 4, as I already have a BD-2, could the colordrive bring any improvement ?
Kind regards,
– wan –
[I don’t think the Colordrive would do much difference if you have the BD-2. They’re very similar. I’d rather go for a slightly different overdrive like the TS9 for a bit more mid range and warmth. Great companion for the BD-2. – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn,
I don’t know if you have ever tried the Jam RattleR or Jam RattleR+ but I own the last one and it sounds to me as a great replica of the original ProcoRat. There’s also a Jam Big Muck based on the Russian Sovtek Muff that I’ll check as soon as possible. Keep up the good work !
– wan –
[Never tried the Rattle. I’ll have a review up on the Big Muck soon. – Bjorn]
For all those who would like to have a Colorsound OD – and who may consider building it on their own: guitarpcb.com has a wonderful pcb for this one. It’s basically a very simple built and thus suitable for beginners. Moreover, the ones looking for “vintage” pedals should consider start building their own because most “vintage” pedals are simply much too expensive and building them DIY is much more fun and you can save a whole lot of money! Greetings from Germany – Outstanding site here! Keep it up!
[Thanks for sharing the tip :) – Bjorn]
Just to add to my comments above, I have just tried using the FullDrive2 followed by the BD2 and a T-Rex Replica delay. This is sounding very nice!! Dynacomp in the front making things even more interesting! I got the idea of this combination and settings by reading various articles on this site. What a site you have turned this into Bjorn. God bless you..
[Great! That’s pretty much what I wrote in the previous comment. I think this should give you a better basis :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Hope Gilmouring is going well at your end! I am from Bangladesh and don’t have the luxury of going to nice guitar shops to try out different pedals. Your site has been an immense resource for me. I have a Boss DS1, Fulltone FullDrive2, Boss BD-2 in the front. Using a Fender Deville and a 65 Deluxe Reverb amp. Do you think it will be possible to get a decent time/comf numb/ echoes from remember the night kind of tone tone from these pedals? My tone is becoming too thin when I am using the DS1 in front of the fulldrive to get dynamics/harmonic content.
I am using a diamond compressor for shine on, which works really well and lot less noisy than the dynacomp. We will be doing a big Pink Floyd Tribute concert in Jan. You are most welcome to join me on stage!!
Thanks,
Fahim
Thanks Fahim! Glad you enjoy my site :) You should be able to get a nice tone with these pedals although a RAT or Muff would perhaps get you even closer. Keep in mind that the secret to David’s smooth punchy tones is his volume. You really need to play loud and push that clean tube amp to get those tones. Most importantly you should set your amp up for a warm punchy clean tone just on the edge of break up. Try these settings (use the normal clean channel): bass 50%, treble 50-60%, mid 40%, presence 50% and set the master volume at about 1/3 of the channel volume. I guess the Fulltone alone would give you a nice distortion tone with the boost engaged. The Boss DS1 needs to have the tone control all the way down when you crank the volume. I usually set the tone “off, the volume at around 60% and the distortion at about 75%. Place the BD2 behind it set up for a clean volume boost (try: gain 9:00, tone 10:00, volume 1:00 o’clock). This should do for the main distortion set up and use the Fulltone for overdrives… or replace the DS1 with it. I wouldn’t use the Fulltone as a booster because its pronounced mid range will make the DS muddy. I’d also get a delay. Hope this helped. Good luck with the show! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn!
Thank you for advices, it realy helps!!!
Best wishes from Ukraine! Hope to see Air Bag concert here!!!
[Cheers Semyon! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
this site is amazing, you do always great articles!
I’d like to ask you if you know the difference between RAT II and Turbo RAT and if the last one fits the muffish tones on a solid state amp combined with a BD-2.
Cheers from Italy!!
Luca
[Thanks Luca! The Turbo has a bit more gain and a generally more aggressive tone. IMO the RAT II is better for David’s tones. – Bjorn]
Hi. I really love the 70’s tones of David in Dark side and Wish you…
For me it was an incredible work of experimentation and creativity.
I was a teenager in 1975 and Pink Floyd was my main influence. ( I am a musician and play the guitar for living now. Thanks, David). But each one of us has something different that has to be expressed. I always say to my students: Try to be yourself. Show me your soul…
Well, David Gilmour is a big example of this. He is continually changing his gear and always expressing the same prodigious soul. My advice: Find some decent gear (all the pedals and amps named here are perfect) and seek your own way to express yourself. Your tone will improve tones as you grow as musician and human being.
Meet me here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwNyT8VE4_A
[Totally agree Milo. It’s all about finding your own style and soul. As you say, David is a master at this… perhaps more so than most guitarists and IMO at great inspiration and a study to learn how to develop a unique style. I always urge people to not getting caught in trying to copy too much but rather learn from others to develop your own tone. Cheers! – Bjorn]
here is some info for people ho dont know this. You can get on Ebay and buy Keeley DIY mod kits for the Ts9 and BD-2.Exact same parts and mods, except you do them yourself , for how muh? at least $16!!! I didnt feel like paying $50+ and hassle fo sending keely my pedals so i just found these on ebay and did them myself, Did a A/B test with store bought keeley pedals and they are EXACTLY the same, all you gotta know is how to solder. I figuerd someone out there might ind this useful, hope it helps. Cheers Bjorn!
[Thanks for the tip! – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
What delay unit would you recomend with the rat and the boss bd2 backing it up?
[Anything would do really. My fav delay at the moment is the old Boss DD2. The T-Rex Replica is great and you should check out the TC Electronics Repeater as well. – Bjorn]
hello bjor,
i tried sending this earlier but dunno if it sent of my phone. anyways, im doing Monte Allums trigain mod to my RAT 2, and an optional part is to remove a diode and eaither leave it empty for a more compressed gain, or put in montes replacement and get a more smooth less compressed gain. so basicly which do you think be best for my gilmour tone (I use a keeley modded BD-2 as a clean boost for my RAT which i treat as a big muff since im useing a 100w transistor amp.
[I’ve never done this myself or heard the different options but I’d say as much compression as possible for the best RAT tone. – Bjorn]
Thanks for answering my second question….My Guitar Teacher recommended saving for “Better” Pedals such as FullTone etc…with True bypass…So where would the Full Drive 2 Mosfet and the Pig Mine (skreddy) fit in in the idea of subbing and 808 and Rat for the above two pedals? Wish I could find a Pink Flesh as they seem to be really well regarded…
[The FullDrive 2 is kind of like a mix between a Tube Driver and a 808. Classic overdrive with lots of different tones. I haven’t tried the Pig Mine my self but it’s based on a Muff… slightly different than a RAT but should go well with most tube amps. – Bjorn]
Thanks for the fast reply, I have been looking for them already on ebay etc..are the TS-808 Reissue’s worth it or should I look for vintage, I also notice the Maxon 0d-808 is a reissue with some factory mods to prevent static/noise…the proco rat 2 is it ok, or again should i look for vintage…I am fine finding the right choices, but I don’t know if those recent versions are worth looking at…I think I am going thru reading overload on here!!
[The Maxon 808 is great and a bit smoother than the current Ibanez version. The new RAT pedals are not as warm and smooth as the older models. Be sure to get one with the LM308 chip. That’s about pre-2000. – Bjorn]
Hi…Been lurking and reading on your site…I am building a black strat(all black….except for the neck, based on a 2010 American Std Strat, and a pre loaded pickguard from a custom outfit in the US…)
I have a Fender Twin Reverb 65 Reissue (2 yr old) and want to know what the best two pedals would be as a start for a Gilmour Tone…I love all the albums but want to play similar to Delicate sounds and earlier albums (dark side, animals, etc…)
What do you recommend…I also have a GDEC 30 as a practice amp which as some cool presets for Floyd type sounds, but I want to transition to the Tube amp…
I was thinking the Maxon OD-808 and the Rat or RatII if I can find them…But what is your thoughts…I do want to be economical but I also want the most bang for the buck…I am confused as to all the above posts as when I thought I knew which route to go, it all changed from reading everyone’s opionions…
Thanks in advance…Awesome site by the way!!
Cheers from Austin Texas!!
[As I’ve tried to explain in this article the 808 and RAT seems to work with almost anything. You can’t go wrong and they do sound great as well. Classic pedals that’s been used on countless albums. They shouldn’t set you back too much either. Both will easily cover any Gilmour period with some tweaking but keep in mind that these are alternatives to David’s more demaning pedals so you need to live with 90% of his tones (baring in mind that your guitar and amp also plays a significant role in shaping the tone). I’d go for these two or something similar like a Fulltone OCD as an alternative to the 808 and an AnalogMan Boss DS-1 for the RAT. – Bjorn]
First of all, I LOVE your website. Im a huge Pink Floyd fan and specially of David’s tone and playing
Have you tried Danelectro’s Transparent Overdrive? Few people try it because Danelectro is knwon for cheap pedals biult very poorly and with not very good sound, but this pedal comes in a metal enclosure, its true bypass and it’s built very strong
The tone is amazing, it is a mild overdrive and is a great clean booster that doesnt color your sound, unlike a tube screamer that adds a lot of mids
I think this would be a great budget alternative for a TS 808
Best regards from Mexico!
[Thanks for your kind words and the tip! I haven’t tried the pedal my self but I will! Cheers! – Bjorn]
Really ,really awesome .. THE ICECREAMER, WICH IS A BROWN ELECTRONICS HOCHEE MAMA CLONE WITH new 220NF INPUT AND OUTPUT CAPACITORS .THE ORIGINAL S WERE 100NF. ALSO BETTER THAN ZENDRIVE IS ZENKUDO.I’M A BIG FAN OF AMERICAN STOMPBOXES BUT THIS IMPROVEMENTS DONE BY THE JAPS MADE THEEM MUCH MORE USEFUL. ALSO , SAY HELLO TO VALVETTE OVERDRIVE BUILT BY A YOUNG GIFTED MAN FROM UK.THERE ARE ALSO SOME AMERICANS LIKE CLAY JONES , WHO MADE WONDERFUL TS -808 CLONES. I LOVE THIS YOUNG BRAVE HEROES.PLEASE CONTACTME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.. DON’T FORGET BILL FINNEGAN .. KLON CENTAUR IS THE BEST CLEAN BOOSTER EVER MADE ON THIS PLANET.
[Thanks for the tips! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, thanks for the tips!!
I’m experimenting: at this moment I removed Holy Grail, SD-1and OD-3 for the TS 808(OD) and zendrive clone (boost). It seems to work well with both HDR deluxe and VC 30. I think I will also try the java boost before the RAT. Some problems with the Beaver, the RAT seems to sound better to my ear.
I had the time to check deeply your site: GREAT! lots of useful informations. Thanks to your advices I amazed my band with the – I admit, not yet perfect :-) – waving part of CN. Thank you|
[Cheers Rudy! Glad I can help :) – Bjorn]
so would you suggest Guitar>RAT>TS9(OD)>BD-2(cleanboost) to make best use out the three? I’m just trying to get the right idea of how i should set my pedals up, when it comes to the tS9 andBD-2 ive been useing you Pulse Shine On Video as reference because i’m beliveing your have the BD-2 going into the TS9. lol when it comes to ODs im still learning exactly how to use them.
[I always keep the booster last. My suggestion was RAT+BD2 for distortions and TS9+BD2 for overdrives. – Bjorn]
So would is be possible or recommended to have a OD acting as a clean boost and another OD for overdrive being used for boosting/driveing distortion all at the same time?
For instance a Rat (dist.) going into a BD-2 (clean boost) then into a TS9 for overdriv with all pedals used at once.
[I wouldn’t recommend it. Even though the BD-2 is set for a clean boost it’s still a gain pedal and it will colour your tone. I also would be careful using the RAT and TS9 together since they both have a lot of mid range which often results in a muddy, oversaturated tone. My advice is to always keep things a basic as possible. Use the BD2 as a clean boost with just a hint of crunch as a basis for either the RAT on distortions or the TS9 for overdrives. As always though – try different combos, settings and arrangements and trust your ears. If it works for your then go for it! – Bjorn]
Hello Bjorn,
Im still new on useing Distortions and OD together.
Right now im just useing the basic solid state at home setup,
with a ProCO Rat II and TS9 and my new BD-2 (and a CS-2 and line 6 podxt but tehyre not part of my queestion). Any ways I\’ve found some good settings for diffrent songs and eara.
But i was wanting your opinion and reccomendation on what settings i should be useing or rule of thumb. I set my Rat to Dist.2 o’clock,flitrer. 2-3 o’clock and the level 12-3. for my Muff tones and just set the Dist/filter to 12-1 for fuzz tone. then i combine the Rat with eatiher the BD-2 or Ts9, When i’m useing the Ts9 i’m usually useing (combined with Rat) 11:00-11:30 tone, drive 1-2 o’clock and level 2-3 (for my 80s-present tone). I just got my BD-2 and been playing around with it, so far ive found with (by the way on the BD-2 dose the level effect he volume of the pedal and gain the “drive”?) Level at 12ish,Tone im not sure yet, suggestions?, and Gain at 7-8 o’clock, combined after the RAT in muff status I get a real nice tone that sounds a little like OAI and a little pit pulseish , cant quite determine yet. anyways i’m also trying to learn aboout findeing the “sweet” spot and useing an OD as a clean boost.
So any setting suggestions for diffrent eras would be nice as well as any helpful tips would be appreciated for this Effects Noob.
Thank You!
[It’s always hard to suggest settings because just a hair on the knob might have completely different results on two different rigs. A pedal will always interact with your amp, guitar/pickups, cables, other pedals, technique etc so what works for me might be way off for you. I like to keep the BD2 fairly clean as a booster for my cleans, overdrives and distortions. Normally i set the volume slightly above unity gain, tone 10:00 and gain 9:00 right before it breaks (mine is modified and has a wider clean range than the stock model). The volume has an effect on the gain. The higher the volume on the pedal the bighter and more punchy the gain stage gets. A lot of people tend to forget that volume is a vital part of the tone. Hope this helped. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Hi, congratulations! Your website is awesome!
I’ve read your entire site and I’m having doubts about the boost / overdrive. This guide helped me choose the RAT for distortion.
I have a Squier Stratocaster with Fender Custom ’69 pickups and a big handmaked transistor amp (140w). I’ve fixed the following pedals to buy (100% real clones):
1. Compressor: MXR Dynacomp (Clone).
2. Distortion: ProCo RAT (Clone with LM308).
3. Booster / Overdrive: ?
4. Uni-Vibe: Dunlop Univibe (Clone).
5. Delay: A simple analog delay. Sounds similar to MXR Carbon Copy.
Well, there are some booster / overdrive options that I could choose for similar prices, here they are:
1. Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808 (Clone).
2. Fulltone OCD (Clone).
3. Xotic BB Preamp (Clone).
4. Klon Centaur (Clone).
5. Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive (Clone).
Which of these would be the best choice for my guitar and my transistor amp?
Greetings from Brazil!
[Based on your setup I’d go for something versatile like the RAT. The Sparkle Drive is flat and dull in my oppinion. The OCD sounds better on tube amps. Never tried the Xotic so I can’t tell. The Klon is probably the best booster pedal on the market. Warm clean boost with lots of character and capable of producing some really creamy overdrive tones. The 808 is a classic and you can’t really go wrong. It might lack some gain though so I recommend the MJM Phantom Overdrive which is a clone with a fat switch. Hope this helped. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I just want to say that this is perhaps the most comprehensive and helpful of all the Gilmour websites that I’ve come across. Not only are you patient and thorough with helping others, but you have insane guitar skills to top it off. Thank you for maintaining such a valuable resource for Gilmour lovers!
For a bedroom guitar player like me, chasing the Gilmour tone is extremely difficult. I can never crank my Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue past volume 3, so I can only strive to get as close to the Gilmour tone as possible. So far, my signal chain consists of a Fender Strat with Duncan antiquities Texas Hot (neck, mid) and Duncan SSL-5 (bridge) into a Barber Tone Press, HBE Power Screamer (Tube Screamer clone), BYOC Large Beaver (Triangle), BK Butler Tube Driver (on loan from a friend), DLS Chorus~Vib, MXR Carbon Copy, finally into the Fender Deluxe Reverb.
With my setup I can confirm that the Tube Driver, although being everyone’s “dream” pedal, does not work well at low volume. Neither does the BYOC Larve Beaver. It sounds too harsh. For this very reason, I’ve ordered a Barber LTD SR which is a transparent overdrive with a flat EQ response similar to the BOSS BD-2. I hope that it will make my amp come alive at bedroom volumes, and also smooth out the BYOC Large Beaver.
So Bjorn, do you have any experience with the Fender DRRI amp? I’m having trouble dialing a very basic clean tone at such low volumes. The amp does not have a “mid” knob, only treble and bass. To my ears, the amp is slightly muddy with my Celestion Vintage 30 cabinet. Any possible suggestions to get rid of the muddiness?
[Thanks for your kind words! Glad you enjoy my site :) Playing at home at low levels is a challenge. Some amps works better than others but it will have to be a compromise in most cases. I don’t have that much experience with your amp but you should be able to dial in som decent tones. Since the amp doesn’t have a mid range control it can be useful to add an equalizer like the Boss GE7 to boost the mids. That’ll smooth out some of the harsh overtones. You might also need to roll off the treble a bit more than normal and set the channel quite high and lower the master. I usually recommend pedals that are a bit more versatile than a Muff and Tube Driver for playing at home – someone with a bit more mid range for a warmer and smoother tone like the RAT and Tube Screamer. – Bjorn]
i only want to bring to your attention a new excellent ovedrive .. made by brown electronics , hoochee mama
Hi Bjorn, greetings from Italy! :-)
My compliments for your website, that I recently found, and my thanks for the time you spend to keep it great.
I recently started playing in a pink floyd tribute band and since then I’m living in a costant desire to improve my tone and make it as close as possible to the pulse tone that I prefer over all (but I have to admit that the ’70 sound is great too).
Over the years – I’m a vintage guy :-) – I collected different pedals and guitars and amps.
My rig today is:
Fender USA ‘89 strat with fat ’50 pups and jacaranda (italian luthier) strat with duncan antiquity pups
Crybaby wha/ scarlata buffer / planet waves tuner / mxr dynacomp / vintage RAT / BYOC big muff (thanks to your advice, great pedal) / Boss OD3 / Boss SD1 jap/ Danelectro vibe / Ehx small stone / Ibanez CS9 / Tc- Electronic nova delay / Ehx holy grail reverb.
Fender hotrod deluxe or a Laney VC 30.
Other pedals that I have: BOSS DD3 jap / DD3 / CS3
Ehx electric mistress deluxe – broken :-(
Ibanez TS5 Mod / TS 7 / TS808
Keeley javaboost – lot of noise, want to sell it!
Pro Co RAT II
Zendrive clone
Starting from your experience, can you suggest some changes in my rig? Too much pedals? I’m planning to place the TS808 instead of the OD3 but I’m afraid to get a muddier tone (OD3 is brighter ) and maybe add the boss DD3 jap. And, of course, repair or buy the Electric Mistress.
Sorry for the long post and thank again for your time.
Cheers!
Rudy
[Since you ask, I think I’d replace the OD3 with either a Tube Screamer or a Tube Driver. Both are, in my opinion, much better sounding pedals… at least in terms of Gilmour’s tone. I’d also ditch the SD1. Don’t think you’ll need it. I’m also not a big fan of adding reverb in the chain. Check out this article for some tips. A good pedal board is often a collection of just the most basic stuff. Try to keep things simple and choose pedals that not only sound good on their own, but also suits your guitar and amp. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
Ugh, I’m awful at this tone thing, (Ive gotten better though, a million times thanks to you!!!!) This is actually for the designing the rig article, but whats a compressor? I thought I had all this stuff down until I read about it (I know it helps the distortion and stuff, I just need a little more info.)
P.S. Sorry for all these stupid questions, Im just trying to achieve the 70`s Gimour tone, Ill get better at this someday :)
[No worries Michael! No stupid questions :) Check out this article for some tips. Let me know if you’re still not sure. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Got to admit, that I’m a little bit confused (Dogs LOL). I have a few questions. If I use RAT as my main distortion pedal what should I place behind it for a bit more aggression, Maxon OD808 or Keeley BD-2? Since I’m starting from scratch what do you think I should buy first BD-2 or OD 808, and is there a need for both of them?
I’m planning on getting Boss CS-2 as a compressor, Rat as a distortion, BD-2/OD808 (or both of them) for overdrive, MXR Phase 90, and MXR Carbon Copy for start. Since I’m home player I would listen to your advice and get Peavey Classic 30 for my amp. Again if I buy both OD808 and BD-2 what should I use them for and is there a need for both of them in this effects chain above?
Thanks,
Jova.
[I think the BD2 is better for boosting the RAT with its bright, transparent tone. Both the RAT and TS9/OD808 has a lot of mid range and if you combine these the tone tends to get oversaturated and muddy. I’d get the RAT for distortions, the BD2 for boosting both your clean tones and the RAT and a TS9/OD808 for warmer overdrives. That should be a very versatile setup covering most tones. – Bjorn]
Hi
Just discovered your amazing website, and was hoping you could give me some advice on a boost pedal. I’m looking for a clean-boost pedal to leave on all the time, to brighten up my dark-sounding Metro JTM45. Amp is set fairly clean, volume around 5, and I’m about to change the rectifier for a ss plug-in for more punch and clearity. I’m currently using a BSM treblebooster for the purpose, and I’m getting a really good, cutting, sparkly clean rythm sound when I roll off the volume on my strat to around 7-8. It also does an amazing job in front of my Vox big ben OD. However, on it’s own, the BSM get harsh and brittle with guitar volume on 10. I’ve also got an analogmodded maxon OD808 for lead boost and a sunface NKT , but the bsm doesn`t work that well together with the 808 and the fuzz. I’m looking for a pedal with the same sparkling cleans for Gilmore and Knopfler rythms (I find most OD pedals gets to dark and muddy when lowering guitar volume), but a little more versatile on it’s own and with my other pedals. I understand that the colorsound PB can be used much in the same way, but is it worth the price? Also concidering the Colordrive, Keeley Boss BD-2 and Xotic RC. What are your opinion on theese pedals for my set-up?
[A treble boost is not the same as a traditional scooped mids type of overdrive like the Colorsound Pwerboost and Tube Driver. A treble boost is essentially an EQ boosting the treble frequencies and this will make your amp sound brighter and make the tubes distort. I guess what you’re looking for, is an overdrive that can produce some of David’s rhythm and warmer lead tones. The Colorsound Powerboost is an excellent booster and overdrive with a bright, transparent tone capable of producing punchy cleans and near fuzz. The Colourdrive is based on the Powerboost but it’s voiced for a much cleaner tone, so this might be a better choice if you only want to brighten up your amp and still maintain it’s tone. The Tube Driver is very similar to the Powerboost with a bit more bit and a slightly warmer tone. I also recommend the Boss BD2 as a great budget model, although it’s worth checking out the Keeley or Analogman modified versions. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
Do you know of any budget solid states ($200) that are good for gilmour tones? I’m working on an ultra-low budget.
Thanks
[I’d go for something used, like a Peavey Classic 30 or a Marshall 5210. Check out the Fender Champoin as well. It’s small but loud with a great tube tone. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
Ive been searching on e-bay and I came across some vintage RAT pedals, (they all look the same as the one in the picture at the beginning of the article),however, some say 89 proco rat, some say 90s proco rat, but they all look the same. Is there a difference?
[As far as I know the vintage RAT or Big Box RAT wasn’t produced in 89. The first and original line was between 79-81 and it was released between 91-05. I think all of these has the LM308 chip… also the newer ones. The chip has much warmer tone than the new versions. – Bjorn]
I wanna have some tips to combine my TS9 and my RAT II to play time, confortably numb with my CS2 and DD3 delay. I have a boutic amp with black strat with SSL5 and CS69 pickups.
Thx
Alex from france
[CS2 > RAT > TS9 > DD3. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
Reading your article, a great one by the way, i’m convinced to buying the RAT and Maxon as my overdrive and distortion pedals. I just have one question, you said that the RAT is best when backed by a boost or EQ pedal, I’m not sure what these are, so do you have any suggestions.
[The RAT is a bit thin in the lower frequiencies so you might want to add an overdrive or EQ unit after it boosting the bass. You could use the Tube Screamer but this is not ideal since both pedals has a lot of mid range. You’ll end up with a muddy, over saturated tone. I recommend a transparant overdrive like the Boss BD2. This has a fat lower end and a great clean tone for boosting distortions. It’s also a great overdrive for those 70’s tones. The Tube Screamer is ideal for the 80 and 90s overdrives (Delicate and PULSE). – Bjorn]
Hey bjorn,
I’ve been trying to figuer out what kind of mod to get for a BD-2 im getting soon. Ive actually read alot of bum reviews about keeleys mods and ive found that Monte Allum offers better mods for less the price (becuase they’re DIY kits). Im not sure if your famillar with Monte’s mods but he has several mods for the BD-2, some im sure you’ve heard of. What im wondering is wich of two of his mods would be good for Gilmour tone.
one is the BD-2 H20+ mod and the other is his Blues Stack mod. The H20+ is definitely the brighter sounding pedal, and seems to generate more signal distortion when the gain is cranked up past halfway. I would consider it slightly more transparent sounding than the BSP mod, though they are both among the most transparent OD’s I’ve heard. this mod has a much flatter EQ also.
The BSP version is definitely a warmer and bluesier sounding pedal, as the name would indicate it should be. The character of the distortion when the gain is cranked is also smoother–again in keeping with the “blues” theme. At the same tone pot settings, it generates very noticeably less treble end than the H2O+, and this is why I suspect it sounds a wee bit less transparent and open sounding when compared side-by-side with that version. Ive listened to their mp3 samples of both sound good, ive even e-mailed Monte on his opinion on which will give me the btter Gilmour tone and he suggest the Blues Stack Mod (his site recommends this mod for SRV,Hendrix,Zeppelin,ect as well) but ive also read the H20+ works better. Anyways i was wanting your opinion on wich of these sound best. ( im useing a MIM strat with CS69’s and SSL-5) Heres their site link if your wanting more info
or anyone els reading: http://www.monteallums.com/pedal_mods.html
[Depends a little on your amp. In either case I’d go for the BSP. It’s much closer to the Tube Driver that David’s using. The H20+ can be a bit bright and aggressive, especially on high gain settings. If you have a Fender amp or similar this can be quite nasty. The BSP is very close to the Keeley and AnalogMan mods (and my Danish C-mod). – Bjorn]
I would like to spend a few good words for the infamous RAT2. I don’t mean to dispute if the reissue or the vintage RAT is better (I trust the old RATs are better), but in my opinion, even the China made RATs are still a great pedal to have. There’s a lot of hype about the RAT White Face ’85 reissue and as a result, last week I was able to get a new RAT2 for only 55 US bucks on ebay. For that price you barely get a Behringer clone of a clone. Now, that’s what I call a bargain!
The RAT2 does wonders to my little 15w Highwatt and delivers even with just my Zoom G2 digital sims and headphones. Now I can get pretty convincing overdrive, muff, fuzz & even metal tones. Not quite ‘THE’ muff or fuzz face tone, but without a good tube amp I can’t go very far anyway.
I must admit the RAT2 can sound a bit harsh sometimes, but when I boost it with a TS clone (a behringer), things sound a lot smoother and nicer.
Now I wonder if the White Face reissue is four times better than the RAT2? And in any case. I am not sure how much difference would I would be able to appreciate on my small rig.
Finally, I am considering to add the Blues Driver to my collection of pedals, do you think RAT2 & BD2 are a nice pair to build a gilmour tone?
Is the BD2 Keeley mod a must for small rigs? Is it really worth it?
Cheers
[I agree Giorgio. The RAT in general is a great pedal and, as you point out, you can do some really good bargains. There is a difference with the LM308 though. The tone is noticeably warmer and smoother. Still, I’d get a new RAT over a Boss DS1 or a MXR Distortion + (reissue). Not sure if you’d notice the difference on a smaller rig though. Haven’t compared that my self. The BD2 is a great versatile pedal ideal for replicating David’s Colorsound Powerboost and Tube Driver tones with it’s transparent, classic scooped mids sound. The Keeley and other mods has a more balanced lower end and a much smoother break up. Highly recommended although the stock Boss is a great budget option. The BD2 also works much better as a booster for a distortion than the TS, since this one can oversaturate with the boosted mid range. – Bjorn]
The lm308 can still be had at a reasonable price. Swapping it out on newer rats makes a hybrid of the tone stack of the newer rats with the magic of the vintage. You can change a few other components to make it exactly like a whiteface but I found it sounded great with just the chip change. Without modding the rest my whiteface still beats it in sound tests but the slight change in the tone stack makes the hybrid perhaps a bit more versatile. Perhaps a bit more beefy and less shrill on the high end (although I never really did any comprehensive sound tests).
That being said, the whiteface is the one that sits on my board…
Thanks for the tip. I got LM308 chip already. I have a vintage re-issue but it is from the model after they switched to the new chip. I’ll swap with with LM308 see how it sounds. I found out that the high-mid frequency swells a bit too much in my setup. I think I need to use another overdrive (mild setting) downstream of RAT, of a kind that beefs up the tone (to make up for minimal low-end frequencies in my RAT), and smooth it out. I have Jitter Red that has that characteristic. I think any pedal player should have three category of mild overdrive pedals just for sound shaping, 1- to open up the sound and add sparkle, 2- to make it thicker and enhance low end, 3- to increase mid-range and tame the highs and lows, and get used to stacking pedals. When I like to smooth out the sound or create more expression, I don’t just tweak the tone and drive amount of the downstream pedal, but I try increasing the output volume in the upstream pedal to see if saturating the input of downstream pedal smooths out the sound. This way if we like that tighter dynamic range, we can achieve some frequency shaping at the same time, and add to the sustain. This way I can leave the amp tone stack in its optimum setting for expression, being balanced, etc. and if I’m switching from neck to bridge pickup, I takes less than two seconds to switch one downstream stacked sound shaping OD pedal to the other, rather than tweaking amp tone stack again.
So are you driving the rat and the Tube Screamer at the same time and if so where do they fit in the order of the rig.
[You can use the TS to boost the RAT but in most cases on a smaller amp, you’d get a better tone with just one of them and not a combo. Check out this article for pedal setups etc. – Bjorn]
Hi there, great article, love the website. Would just like to offer a word of warning: The Rat 2 is no longer made in America. Since May 2003 they started being manufactured in China, so all Rat 2 units with a serial no. above 300,000 are Chinese and use a different chip (NOT the classic LM308 chip.) These units sound NO WHERE NEAR as good as the classics from the 80s. I bought my Rat 2 new last year and have been extremely disappointed with it. Robert Keeley, however, does Rat Mods and will install the old chip.
On another note, the Danelectro Cool Cat CT-2 is a wonderful transparent overdrive unit for little money. It has a treble and bass boost so is very versatile for boosting a distortion unit, and sounds great on its on for crisp, early Gilmour overdrive sounds. In my humble opintion, anyway.
[Thanks for the tips. The RAT has lost some of it mojo with the shift of production to China and the exclusion of the LM 308 chip. As you say, the Keeley is a great alternative and I also recommend the Might Mouse from BYOC. ProCo has just released a reissue of the old ’85 RAT though with the LM308 chip intact. It’s also worth checking out the Boss DS-1 AnalogMan version for a similar tone. – Bjorn]
litlle off topic i know, but what settings are you useing on your Boss CS-2 for young lust? i just got mine today and im stille trying to figure the attack knob and what not haha
[Depends entirely on your rig – guitar/pickups, amp and the other pedals. I usually set mine with the level at 2:00, attack, 12:00 and sustain 11:00 but when I play at home at low volume where I need to squeeze the tones for more sustain I roll the sustain up to 12:00 and sometimes 1:00 (o’clock). – Bjorn]
HI,
Have you ever tried a Ibanez/Maxon Sonic Distortion SD9? If you have, what’s your opinion on it?
Also, if you have had the chance to try one of Lovepedal ‘s Eternity, I would love to hear your opinion on those too… Thanks!!!
[The SD9 is very similar to the classic distortion pedals like the RAT, Marshall Shredmaster and the MXR Distortion +. Very vintage Marshall 800 sound. It has a bit more gain and output perhaps compared to the others. Never tried the but I understand it can produce tones covering a range of pedals like the Tube Screamer, RAT and Cornish SS. It has a warm overdrive/distortion with rich compression and lots of sustain. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn! Love the site. I have my mini-Gilmour rig thanks to your knowledge and advice. CS3, Rat 2, BD-2, Phase 90, and Carbon Copy.
But now im looking into getting a new Strat. I was looking at the American Vintage ’57 Reissue series. I saw in your guitar article that other than the pickups, its a pretty good guitar. But i am a little confused about the neck. It comes with a V-neck. But Gilmour’s Black Strat has a neck from a ’57 reissue that is a C-neck. Im sure it is a dumb question, but could you shed some light on this. I ask because i’ve always played a C-neck, and feel a little awkward playing a V. Any advice is much appreciated.
Much Thanks!
[David’s 57 neck comes from one of the cream/blonde Strats he bought in the early 1980’s. Fender made these reissues with a couple of modifications including using a C neck instead of the classic V neck that the 57s were known for. Some find the V a bit too fat while others – me included – likes them very much. It’s all taste and preference. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn and Gilmourish mates ^^
Great sound clips, as always. Love the pinch harmo at the beginning of the demo of the RAT ! I got my RAT2 last week and it sounds really good, thanks for your advices and help.
About the OD, do you (or anyone else) know about the Belcat OVD-302 or newer OVD-502 pedals ? They seem to be a really good budget choice, including the same famous JRC-4558 op-amp chip as the 808’s ?
Thanks a lot, Gilmourishdotcom is the best website ever !
Sly
[Thanks for your kind words Sly! Glad you enjoy my site :) I’ve never tried the Belcat pedals so I really can’t tell. Perhaps someone else here can assist? – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn. I’ve emailed you about this before, and I just had another question to ask you :)
So, before, I asked you if I should keep my big muff and also get a rat or not, and you told me if I only needed one, to get the rat. Well, now I’m at the point where my big muff sounds great, but not without melting people’s brains. Soo, I caved in and ordered a rat. I’ve had it sent to a buddy who’s gonna mod it for me. It’s a USA vintage reissue rat that I managed to catch for $60. Do these already have the LM308 chip in it? And do you know how big of a difference, if any, the normal chip LM308 sounds for the tin pot version? Anddd just a last question, do you power your gain pedals by battery or PSU? Because I’ve heard that some fuzz pedals like the “mushyness” of a dying battery, and the consistant flow of power, while other pedals like having that odd flowing current going into it, etc, etc.
:)
[The Vintage RAT has the LM308 chip. As a rule I’d use carbon non-alkaline batteries on fuzz and old boosters (like Colorsound Powerboost) and power adaptors on anything else (incl Muffs and RATs). – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn hows things.Just listened to the Young Lust clip on this thread,yet again.Its a realy fantastic tone mate.Im using a dynacomp but apart from that we are the same set up.Would you say that the cs2 is better suited than the Dynacomp for use with the rat as im starting to think that my noise problems with my Rat 2 ( I hope you dont remember my whinging about it period to much) could have been made worse by the Dynacomp.Anyway after listening to the clip ive got to get back to the Rat.This solo sure would make a good you tube vid ;)Take care mate .
[I prefer the Dynacomp over the CS2 in any case but that’s just my taste. The Dyna can be a bit noisy though and the RAT, with the boosted mid range, is quite noisy in it self, so you might want to back down the compression a bit. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Danelectro Daddy-O od pedal. $59 new. Best od I’ve ever heard.
Hey, i have a big doubt here? I’m about to buy a Vintage Rat, but I’ve read that the ones with the VT- serial number are considered to have a poor sound… Do you guys know anything about it?Sshould I look for another one?
Thanks a lot
Micke
[Never heard about that but make sure that the pedal feature the LM308N chip for the best tone. – Bjorn]
Brilliant as always, Bjorn, you’ve always been an inspiration; alas, I’ve taken the long road to Gilmourtown, straight through humkbucker country: I’ve bought an Ibanez AG75 Artcore. Plays like a dream, no doubt about that, and its stock humbuckers sound mellow and sweet, neck one a bit twangy – I dare think it might be Gilmourizable. Would a Regular Rat help them stay nice and transparent like single-coils, or would mostly any fuzz/distortion make them irrevoacbly sound like the buckers they are? And what about a contemporary Marshall Guv’nor on your list? Played one through a Highway One Strat and managed to wrangle out a nice Childood’s End tone.
All the best, you know you rule the roost
[Humbuckers aren’t the best option for replicating David’s tones. His cleans and most of the overdrives are very much the tone of a Strat with single coils. However, it’s easier to get the humbuckers to work with distortions and in my experience at least I’ve managed to get quite convincing 80s and 90s tones with especially a RAT. David’s EMG pickups are almost like a mix between humbuckers and single coils so you kind of have the clean tones from a single coil (or near a P90) and the distortion ones from a humbucker. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
thanks a lot for your great an inspiring work.
I have spent a lot of time on your brilliant site, but I haven’t found any comments on the Proco Solo yet. It’s supposed to be even more versatile and to have more bottom end than the regular rat – similar to the keeley mod? Is it worth the higher price and can I get gilmourish rat sounds out of it?
And what about the ‘you dirty rat’? (It’s supposed to sound more vintage and compressed).
Do you think the H&K Tube Factor is a good substitute for the tube driver?
What is your opinion about Marshall pedals, say Blues Driver and Regenerator?
Just one more question, what do you think of the Fender Blues Deville 410 amp – can I get Bassman-like and gilmourish sounds out of it?
Thanks and many greetings from Germany
Michael
[A lot of questions here :) I’ve never tried the Solo so I can’t really tell. The You Dirty Rat is OK but I prefer the vintage Rat or the Rat 2 (preferably the Keeley mod). Personally I think the TD is way better than the HK. Not really a fan of Marshall pedals. The old Shredmaster is a classic though… very similar to the RAT. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
How r u friend,
I m trying to just see what should i buy,a skreddy screwdriver or an AA ratzo…..i can’t just set myself on this…….
[Depends on what tone you’re after. They’re two entirely different beasts. The Screwdriver is somewhere between a Colorsound Powerboost and a Tube Driver. Very bright and transparent transparent overdrive with a typical scopped mids tone (the AA Fits would be its equivalent). The Ratzo is a clone of the RAT distortion. Creamy, warm tone with lots of mid range. – Bjorn]
Bjorn,
After stumbing upon your site by accident, I must say that YOU are what makes this site so great. Taking the time to answer each and every question has to take alot of your time but really reflects the class A, generous person that you must be!
My question has to do with overdrive distortion. I am starting from scratch on my pedal board. I have a American standard strat with the Tex Mex pu’s and a fender Hot Rod Deuxe tube amp. If this was your equipment, what (2 or 3) overdrive/distortion pedals would you buy to try and recreate Gilmour’s sound. I’m pretty sold on the Keeley BD2 but what other two would you buy for clean and dirty tones? Thanks again for the wonderful site.
[Glad you enjoy my site Dan! The BD2 is very similar to the old Colorsound Powerboost David used in the 70’s for both clean boost and overdrive rhythms like Time, Have a Cigar, Pigs etc. It’s transparent tone is ideal for boosting your distortions. It can also produce fairly convincing Tube Driver tones. I strongly recommend the Keeley over the stock Boss. For a versatile tone, I’d go for a Tube Screamer as the second overdrive. My favoruite is the Maxon 808. The MJM Phantom Overdrive is an excellent option. This one has true bypass and a fat switch for more gain and bass. This type of overdrive with a pronounced mid range will get to closer to David’s 80’s and 90’s tones when he used the active EMG pickups’ SPC feature to boost the overall mid range for those creamy tones. What kind of distortion you should choose depends on what kind of tone you want. Obviously the Big Muff has been David’s main unit since Animals but it can be tricky to dial in on some amps leaving a buzzy harsh tone. My favoruite is the “triangle” 1971 Big Muff for it’s pure tone and rich sustain. BYOC offers excellent clones. Don’t get tempted by the new reissues from Electro Harmonix or Sovtek. For a more versatile tone that seems to work nicely on any setup I’d go for a RAT. Hope this helped. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn got one for you.Have you had any experiance with the Analogman King of tone V4.Its a dual overdrive pedal.Many goodys in one box.To Quote from the Quicktest from Guitarist issue 312,As delivered one side is set up as a clean boost,while the other is set as an overdrive.Sounds interesting,well to me anywa.Now the thing is,is this sort of pedal specifically for valve amps or would it suit my 5210.Any ideas mate.Cheers
[I’ve never tried the pedal so I have no clue really. The 5210 seems to get along very well with most pedals although some of the more demanding overdrives can sound a bit harsh on it. – Bjorn]
-Budget Rat /Rat Substitute-
Bjorn:
The MXR Distortion III or Classic Distortion (Same Circuit – Different Color Boxes) are similar both circuit & tone wise to the Rat.
Hi Bjorn,
Do you have any comments or opinion on the Tim Pedal as a clean boost/overdrive?
Thanks,
Laurent
[I’ve never tried the pedal so I really can’t say… – Bjorn]
Hey, first I must tell you that your website is the best. Also, I just found something on the internet. You said David Gilmour added a Triangle Muff and the T-Rex delay during the 2006 tour but I found another picture where he added also a Ram’s head Muff. Don’t know if you already knew but I just wanted to tell you just in case so you have even more precise information.
[Yeah, it’s in the 2006 Tour section :) David is seen trying out a Ram’s Head Muff during the rehearsals for the Albert Hall gigs in May 2006 but it was never used on the shows. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I have a question reguarding your opinion on my board only as far as overdrives and distortions go. I have a boss bd-2, ibanez Ts-9, AAA green russian, and a RAT2. I play through CS69’s and a fender hotrod deville. If this were YOUR set up, seeing as how i dont have enough room on my board for both, would you keep the RAT2 on the board as the main distortion or the AAA green russian?
Thanks for your help!
[I guess that depends entirely on what you think really. In any case, the a Muff would be more authentic for replicating David’s sounds because that’s the pedal he’s been using since 1977. But, on some setups it can be a bit tricky to dial in the desired tone. That’s the purpose of this article – to give you some alternatives. The RAT is an extremely versatile pedal that works nicely on any setup and it will cover most of David’s lead tones quite convincingly but it’s not a Big Muff. If you feel that your AA gives you the tones you want then stick with it. If it sounds harsh, thin and not quite what you expected then go with the RAT. Keep in mind that the settings I’ve listed throughout this site should only be used as guidelines. If the suggested Muff (or any other pedal) settings doesn’t sound right to you then do your own adjustments. David keeps the tone on the Muff around 11:00 (as do I). On some amps this may produce a harsh, fuzzy tone. Roll off the tone until you get the desired sound. If you end up with settings that are completely different from David’s then fine… as long as it sounds good on your amp. If nothing works, then go with the RAT. Hope this helped :) – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn! I love the site, it is extremely helpful for the gilmour info i am fascinated by!
Anyway i was just asking your opinion on the fulltone overdrives, the OCD and the Fulldrive II. I was wanting to know your thoughts on these two because i am currently looking for an overdrive pedal and i was comparing these two to the od808 and a couple of others.
I am looking to use the pedal as a boost on my clean channel, a boost with my proco rat and as an overdrive sound as well. My guitar is an epiphone firebird but i am thinking on buying a strat and putting in CS69 pickups. I have a peavey classic 30.
So what would you recommend or suggest i try. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!
[Glad you like my site Alex :) You can’t really go wrong with Fulltone pedals. Great quality and great tone. Which one to chose depends on what tone you want. Both the OCD and the Fulldrive lies somewhere between a Tube Driver or Colorsound Powerboost and the 808/TS9. The OCD sounds very much like a cranked Marshall with little compression and a very transparent scooped mids tone… not unlike the Tube Driver/Colorsound but a bit more tube amp-ish. You can also get it to produce a clean volume boost although I think the Colorsound is much better at this. The Fulldrive has a couple of different tone options ranging from a transparent scooped mids tone like the OCD to a more mid rangy 808 tone. Perhaps a bit more versatile than the OCD in terms of Gilmour’s tones. I think the Fulldrive would better suit a Peavey Classic. Hope this helped. – Bjorn]
wait,
one more question, what would be a good delay and chorus pedal to merry with the rat and 808, thanks!
[Depends on what tones you want. I recommend that you have two delays on your board. One analog echo (TRex Replica, MXR Carbon Copy, EH Memory Man etc) for the early pre-Animals stuff and a digital delay (Boss DD2 is my favorite but anything would do really) for the more accurate settings. David’s been using the deleted Boss CE2 chorus on and off since Wall. Great sounding analog unit and easy to fint on EBay. Alternatively you can check out the AnalogMan Chorus, Ibanez CS9 or the EH Small Stone for a similar tone. – Bjorn]
Bjorn,
Great article. I have both of these pedals and they are extremely versitile. I run them both through a peavey classic 30 at home and they are wonderful. The peavey classic series of amps are great too, very underrated. And you can’t beat the price either! If anybody is looking for a vintage rat i see them all the time on ebay…
You do a great job bjorn, i’m thankful i have somewhere to go for gilmour knowledge, can never get enough of it! Nice Work.
[Thanks! Glad you enjoy my site :) I agree regarding the Peavey amps. Great tone and value. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Have you checked out the TC Electronic Nova Drive? A 100% analog, digital control, true bypass
Distortion and Overdrive in one pedal, can reverse order and put in parallel.
Currently 249.00 US
[Haven’t been able to try it yet but it sounds cool! – Bjorn]
In my opinion, the RAT II is garbage outta the box. But for its price, and after adding mod switch to eliminate its low end undistinguishable mud, this pedal ROCKS! Anyone who has a virgin RAT II is swimming upstream. Clip that resistance and let this “new” pedal slap the vintage model in the face.
[I wouldn’t say that the RAT is garbage but the current models is not as good sounding as the originals with the LM308 chip. I do recommend a modified version though, either you do it your self or get a Keeley or similar. – Bjorn]
Hi, Bjorn,
Very interesting article! I would like to ask you something. My amp is a Fender Deluxe Reverb 65 and I have a TS 808 Keeley modded. I play mostly at home, where I can’t play too loud. I was thinking of getting a BYOC triangle or ram’s head as my main distortion. You don’t recomend them with small solid state amps. What can you tell me about the combination big muff, TS808 and small tube amp? I’d have to play it really loud to get a nice Gilmour tone?
Congratulations on your fantastic site!
Thanks,
Ari
[As mentioned, the Big Muff and older fuzz pedals are designed to be used with loud powerful tube amps. The louder you play, the more you crank those tubes, the smoother the pedal gets. On a small stransistor amp, a Big Muff can sound thin and harsh and have little in common with David’s huge tone. However, it depends very much on your amp and how you use the pedal. I’m woriking on an in debth article on the matter but I think that in any case, you should be able to get some really cool sounds with your setup and a Muff. The TS could also be placed after the Muff acting as a “pre-amp” to smooth the tone. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Thanks for all the helpful tips and content on your website keep it up. I have a question for you regarding RAT pedal clones. I am finding it hard to get a RAT 2 where I live. However I was contemplating buying a Mi Audio Crunch Box Distortion pedal, how good of a clone is it in comparence to the RAT and have you tried it? Or should I just wait and get a RAT (maybe ebay or online order perhaps).
Thanks
Alex
[I haven’t tried the MI so I really can’t tell. Other options would be the Mouse from BYOC or a modded RAT from Keeley. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Thanks again for all the excellent tips on the effects pedals. I have a question for you regarding the “Keeley Fuzz Head” vs. “Analogman Sunface” vs. “Hartman Germanium”? You have the Analogman Sunface on your board, but have you compared it with the Keeley Fuzz Head by chance? The Keeley has both germanium and silcon switches.
I’m getting ready to order one of the three but wanted your expertise on these first, if possible.
Congrats on the new CD by the way! Best, Dave
[Thanks Dave! The Sunface that I have is the silicon model, which has a different sound compared to the Hartman. Depends on what tone you’re after. Unless you want that late 60s/ early 70s tone I’d go for a silicon, which imo is a bit more versatile for most of David’s tones. The Sunface BC108 is my favourite by far. The Keeley sounds a bit too modern for my taste. The MJM London Fuzz that I just reviewed can also be used for both germanium and silicon tones as it has a lot more gain than the average germanium fuzz… but still, I’d go for the SunFace BC108. -Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
Fantastic site,by the way.
I just wanted to mention Maxon OD9, which has the same circuit as od808, but with a better building quality and true bypass. Just have a look on analog Man site about it!
The settings have to be different (lower distortion and higher tone) compare to OD 808.
Christophe
[Thanks for the tip! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn
Have you ever tried out the MJM Foxey Fuzz? Although the names says its a fuzz, it actually a vintage 70’s big muff.
If you have, what are your thoughts on it??
Phil
[Never tried it but yes, it’s a clone of the early Guild Foxey Lady/ EH Triangle model. – Bjorn]
Thanks for the reply.
I play a reverse headstock Strat ( mex ) with vintage pickups.
The amp is 75W with all types of Amp and cab Models.
Maybee it is too complex I am not sure.I have now managed a realy good clean ( Gilmour Tone ) which I am very happy with .Maybee I will try a Rat or Overdrive in front of this clean tone.
I read your article about the Boss GT and wondered if that may be a good idea,any thoughts ?
Once again thanks and good luck with the new CD.
Regards
Steve B
[As I said, I’m not familiar with the amp and how the different sims work but I think you should be able to get great tones with the right setup and your guitar. The GT boards are incredibly versatile and in my opinion the best multi boards for live use. It’s been awhile since I used one in my rig and I recommend pedals for a more natural tone but again, – if you’re considering a multi board I’d go with Boss GT. – Bjorn]
OK its fine because its generally the leads in terms of sounding like guilour; the fat ditorted ones as well. I’m not as worried about the rhythms as much because thats where i like to mix it up between trying to sound like Johnny Marr, Pete Townshend, The Edge, Neil Young or whoever.
So, thanks for the advice.
Thanks – im relatively small potatoes at the minute; i play the epiphone LP special2, ive got a noname 50w amp (the clean sound is alright and if i get another amp [probably a fender FM] id still keep it to get stereo sounds) for me its not a case of sounding the same as gilmour just a little more like him because its really beyond my means.
Now I’ve got a full pedalboard I usually sell to buy but i think maybe you are right that i should see what i still like/dislike until i make that decision. I did think youd say the RAT and i wanted it confirmed, am i right in thinking Jeff Beck use this; hes another fave of mine largely because of Amused To Death.
I will have to take my chances on the regualar BD-2 because i cant really afford the mod. Do you know what the best settings for these ODs are especially Tone?
[The LP has humbucker pickups and as you know, they do sound a lot different than single coils. It’s easier to make the leads work in terms of David’s sound but I think you’ll have a hard time nailing the cleans and milder overdrives. Depends on how close you want your tone. Difficult to suggest settings as I don’t know your guitar and amp but normally you need to keep the tone control on Boss pedals quite low to take off some of the bright overtones. I usually keep it aouround 9:00. – Bjorn]
I’m thinking of changing my ods and distortion set up; i curently have a modtone speedbox distortion, a boss sd-1 and a behringer to800. I put the to800 up for sale but im not sure if I should after hearing how useful it could be as a booster/TS clone. I’m thinking of buying a a little big muff or a RAT as my primary distortion (leaving the modtone on the bench); i also wonder whether the bd-2 would be a good colorsound alternative for me (the CS is too big and too dear for my board) – so basically i want to know what i should go with:
little big muff/RAT?
SD-1/to800/BD-1?
[This depends very much on what amp and guitar/pickups you have. As explained in the article I recommend the RAT and Tube Screamer for smaller amps and lower volume because pedals like Muffs, Tube Drivers etc are designed for powerful tube stacks and they can be hard to dial in on smaller rigs. The RAT and Tueb Screamer are incredibly versatile and there are different models, clones and similar pedals to choose from. Among those you suggest, I think I’d go for a RAT and stick with both the SD-1 and 808… or at least one of them. I’d also considered a BD-2, which is very similar to the transparent Colorsound… although I strongly recommend a modified version for a better tone if you can afford it. – Bjorn]
I have read all the above with interest but I do need help.
I am trying to get a Gilmour tone, I have just purchased a Line 6 Flextone 111 amp and have tried to get some form of distorted or overdriven Gilmourish tone with no luck.
The amp gives a very good clean tone with lots of reverb and delay choice buy I have a real headache with the distorted thing-I tried a BYOC big muff and it just sounds a big mess.I did try the Behringer vintage overdrive and that gives some good tone but nothing like what I am after.Can you or any visitors to the site help.Just a note on the Web site ,ITS FANTASTIC thanks for all your hard work.
Regards
Steve B
[Hi Steve! Thanks for your kind words! Glad you enjoy my site :) I’m not familiar with the Flextone. How’s your settings? If you’re using pedals with it you should clean channel only and use different combinations of overdrive and distortion to create your gain sounds. Try these settings on your amp: bass 50%, treble 40-50%, mids 40% and set the master to about 1/3 of the channel volume. What kind of guitar do you have? Pickups?
As I’ve tried to explain in the article, a Big Muff and the Tube Driver might not be the best choice for smaller amps as these are basically designed to drive powerful tube stacks. In any case they will sound different on smaller amps and lower volume. As suggested, I’d check out a RAT for distortions and a Tube Screamer or a Blues Driver for overdrives. They’re all ideal for “home rigs” and tehy should fit most budgets.
Keep in mind that tone isn’t just stompboxes. You can have a duplicate of David’s rig (if that’s your goal) but the amp and guitar/pickups also need to be similar to his. I’ve tried to cover this in the Buyer’s Gear Guide articles. Please check out the Designing The Rig article too for some general tone tips. Hope this helped. – Bjorn]
Hello again Bjorn,
Just to let you know I went for a reissue Power Boost from Macari’s in the end.
Thought you might like to know that the man in the shop said they had just started making it in a new version these last few months. They have changed the circuit to include an additional preamp transistor, presumeably like in the throbak, although it can’t be turned off.
This worried me at first after what you’d said about changing a super simple circuit. However when the man said they’d done this redesign “for Dave Gilmour” I was reassured!
Haven’t had time to explore it fully but will be having fun with it this week!
[Interesting info! Thanks! – Bjorn]
Thanks for your reply,
I use Fender CS60 strats so pickups are the stock ones. Maybe too boomy for David’s tone (I didn’t try the 69 or 54). Concerning my Super Reverb, as you say it may be not appropriate as it quickly reaches its natural overdrive zone (for a very nice bluesy sound !).
Ok, let’s keep the Throbak at home… and find a good”gilmourish” amp.
Thanks again
PS: great article on “Dogs”, please watch my version (and my pig).
[Thanks for sharing the clip! Nice playing and tone. If I can give you a tip you need to work on your timing a bit but all in all very good! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
First of all, thanks so much for your amazing site and all these precious information you share. You do fantastic job, thank you !
I’m have the Throbak overdrive boost and I’m a little bit disapointed with it, sound is very “agressive”, especially when when gain is set high: I have difficulties to describe it, but it seems there are “bad” harmonics (see this guy at 1min45 for an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPoLt89onkI ). Finaly, I’m not able to color the the BYOC large beaver I have before the throbak. I don’t have a colorsound so I can’t compare with it.
When I put my maxon808 after the Throbak, the sound is very sweet, but I lose the flexibility that the throbak give me with its treble and bass setting.
Do you think it’s due to the pedal itself ? Can it come from my amps (Fender Super reverb reissue, so with 10 inches speakers) ? I have to precise I play at home so with “home level” (to loud for my wife… ;-)).
Thanks Bjorn,
And “longue vie a Gilmourish”
[Thanks for your kind words! Glad you like my site :) I’ve only tried the ThroBak a couple of times but it’s pretty close to the original Colorsound. What kind of guitar/pickups do you have? As you can hear on the YouTube clip, the pedal sounds a lot different compared to David’s tones with humbuckers and other hot pickups. The Fender amp you have might also be a bit too small for the tones you want. There’s nothing wrong with the pedal but to get that fat, smooth clean boost David has on many of the songs he used it you really need an amp with as much headroom as possible… which is described in the article. I mainly use my Colorsound as a clean boost with the bass at 12:00, gain around 11:00 and the treble at 9:00. The master on the side of the pedal is set around 50-60%. This should produce a nice loud clean boost with a slight crunch. Adjust the gain for more or less overdrive. As I’ve explained in the article, a Boss BD2 (preferably modified for a better tone) or similar might be a better choice for smaller amps and lower volume. – Bjorn]
Hello again Bjorn!
Well I built the byoc overdrive 2 and am very happy. It is very nice to be able to change the eq with a switch.
I built the boost to silicon specs for the brighter more powerboost-like tone. I must say it sounds really good boosting my muff, now I can see where Mr. Gilmour is coming from.
I like it so much I am thinking of getting a proper power boost. I live in England and I popped into Macari’s the other day but they are now selling for £169! I’m sure it is worth it but it’s lucky you got yours when you did!
I am wondering what your reasons would be for recommending one of these reissues over say the Throbak Overdrive Boost clone. Surely as a straight clone it should sound identical? I am no expert however! It just seems a good option with it’s smaller case and switchable additional features.
[Well, getting a real Colorsound is definitely worth it but the best clone I’ve come across is the VintageFX Colordrive, which also features the master volume knob for more boost. The Absolutely Analog is a straight clone of the original Powerboost without the master volume. The Throbak is also good but I’d still go for the VintageFX. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, thanks for your reply!
Good to hear you agree with analogman, I was close to getting the keeley at one point but I’m glad I didn’t as I don’t want to lose that classic tone. I’m sure it is still a great pedal but not for me.
I was wondering if you had an opinion on the choice of MOSFET or silicon boost for the BYOC overdrive. This is a new feature of the kit since this January. I presume it’s similar to two of the options on their triboost kit (the third being a germanium rangemaster clone). Which would you recommend for boosting a big muff?
Thanks again!
[It’s apples and oranges really. Both works fine and it’s not a huge difference between the two. Mosfet has a bit more mdi range and silicon has a brighter tone like the Colorsound Powerboost. In terms of a modern style overdrive pedal, the mostfet would be more fitting I guess. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn!
Thankyou for your wonderful site, I have very much enjoyed your insights!
I have been looking into getting an overdrive or booster for a while now. I am a student on a budget, but I don’t want to compromise! I was looking at both the keeley and analogman true bypass modded tube screamers, but could not decide. The keeley has a more balanced eq with less mid range hump and the drive can be turned lower for a better clean boost. However analogman says changing the eq in this way loses a lot of the tube screamer character. You can get the analogman with an extra “bad bob” boost circuit inside but it is even more expensive and looks a bit weird.
I’ve been looking for a “third way” and I think I may have found it in the new byoc overdrive 2 kit. This can be built to ts-808 specs and has a switch to change the eq from normal mid hump to balanced to fat, a switch to change between 3 different clipping modes, and internal trim pots to change the drive range to be stock like the analogman or extended like the keeley! It even has an extra independant boost circuit and being a kit is much cheaper too!
What do you think Bjorn, is this too good to be true?
The boost circuit can be built as either a silicon or MOSFET circuit. It is possible to run the MOSFET circuit at 18V too. Which would you recommend for boosting a big muff/RAT or fuzz? I know it is not quite a colorsound powerboost but it is a start right?
Thanks for your help!
[I must agree with Analogman that the Keeley mod takes away much of the Tube Screamer character. There’s a lot of pedals copying the screamer but the very essence of teh screamer is the mid range – like it or not. The BYOC kits are very good and as you say the overdriver is an excellent option for a straight clone with several cool features. Just be sure to know what you do if you decide to solder your self or get a preassmbled pedal. There’s a link on the BYOC site to a licensed dealer. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Thanks for your reply – which modded BD 2 do u suggest i go for? Keeley or Analogueman?
Thanks
[I like the Keeley. It’s a bit warmer than the Analogman. – Bjorn]
Hi, Just got a Crowther Hot Cake fantastic overdrive pedal..great if used as a boost too! also using Danelectro Cool Cat Vibe check that out…it only cost me £40 new!!..does Gilmour..and Hendrix!! :)
[Thanks for the tip! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn
I was wondering if u could advise me on an overdrive pedal. Currently I am using a Fender EJ strat, all stock, going into an SD-1,AA Green Russian, and MXR Carbon Copy, all going into the front of a Fender Deluxe Reissue. I am looking to upgrade the SD1 as I feel its not the best overdrive pedal in the world. I am looking for something that could cover The Wall and especially DSOT and PULSE. I have narrowed it down to 2 pedals, both being roughly in the same price range – the Maxon OD 808, and the Keeley Blues Driver, both of which, I feel are very good pedals, however, I am unable to choose between, I am thinking about the OD808 though. Also, have you had any experience with the EJ guitar? I find that the neck PU is very bassy and boomy with the Green Russian, and am hoping that the OD can balance that out.
Thanks in Advance
Phil
[First of all I don’t think you should base your pickups on using the neck with a Big Muff. That rarely sounds good so I’d use mostly the bridge for pedals as bassy as the Muff. The Maxon is perhaps the most versatile of the two and it can cover most of David’s tones – PULSE especially with boosted mid range. However, the BD-2 is a much better choice for David’s ealier tones and the modified version do have a much more balanced tone that could fit nicely as a substitute for David’s Tube Driver. Based on the amp you’re using I think I’d go for the BD-2. – Bjorn]
Hello! Thanks for this article.
It’s know that, in order to get a natural overdrive from a tube amp with a booster (not an O/D pedal), we need to crack it.
Is this still true when we use power attuators to put the amp on the maximum volume wthout blowing windows away?
Thanks by advance! Bye.
[I don’t have much experience with power attenuators but the whole idea is to lower the volume without loosing any tone or character. However, the tone you get from an amp isn’t just the tubes it’s also very much from the speakers and the dynamics caused by volume. – Bjorn]
Hi, Thank you for this fantstic site! I have a question for you.. Have you ever tried the Fulltone OCD?? What do you think about this pedal? Can I use this pedal like a boost for a BYOC Large Beaver? Thank you,Bye
[The OCD is very similar to the Colorsound Powerboost. I’m not sure if it’s actually based on it but they’re very similar. It has a nice range from clean volume boost to warm overdrive. Works very well as a booster for distortions etc. – Bjorn]
Hi there!
im a big fan of the web, is really cool to make a site like this.
i just came to give you a small tip on a clone of the pro co rat.
I own a carl martin crush zone which in my little experience sound pretty much the same, i would try to upload a video to give an example
I dont know how much it cost in dollars but in my country is about a hundrer dollars
good luck and keep up the good work :)
[Thanks for your kind words and for the tip! – Bjorn]
Hi ! First of all, thanks a lot for this wonderfull website.
I don’t see the MXR GT-OD (overdrive) in your website ans I tried it in a shop. I found it rather good and I “compared” it to TS808, TS7/9 and Maxon OD-808 thanks to Youtube, even if it’s not the best way. Does anyone know if MXR match/correspond with Gilmour sound ?
[I’ve never tried the GT-OD so I can’t tell. In general, MXR is definitely a match for David’s sounds. His 70’s boards included a Dynacomp and Phase 90 and he has been using MXR delay rack units since 1977. The Carbon Copy makes a great analog delay for those Binson sounds and the Distortion + goes well with some of the milder distortions and overdrives around Delicate and PUSLE. The new Fuzz is excellent for that Pompeii tone. – Bjorn]
Check this out..anyone ever heard or used one????
Unfortunately the Red Army Overdrive was bid up to $300 and the reserve was not met :( . Luckily though, there was a green muff that was in pristine condition that I went for:) .
[As far as I know there’s not much difference between the two. I love my green Muff! – Bjorn]
On the serious budget end, I picked up a Danelectro Cool Cat Fuzz..for only £40!..you can get them for around $29! in U.S. metal casing..true bypass..and a great thick lead tone thats very articulate and responsive..been using it alot live…gonna check out the Cool Cat Vibe soon!
[Thanks for the tip! – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn! Thanks for the response. There is a Red Army overdrive muff in Civil War clothes in mint condition on ebay. Is that the same as the green muff and the civil war muff and is it worth going for? Once again I have the JVM 210.
[I’ve never tried the Red Army model but I assume it’s pretty close to both the Civil War and Green models. It’s the very first Muff reissue Mike Matthews made after closing down Electro Harmonix and starting Sovtek sometime around 1990. The pedal is very rare so I wouldn’t hesitate! – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, i really learned alot from this very informative website. Anyway, i have a question: Which should come first in the BD-2/OD808 setup??? the BD-2 or the Maxon OD-808???
[Thanks for your kind words! I like to have the BD-2 setup for a clean volume boost placed first since it has much more bass that the OD808. You’ll get the warmt and fat lower end from the BD-2 and the crisp smooth overdrive from the OD808. – Bjorn]
So if the new models are lesser in quality, I was wondering if the MXR distortion 3 would be a better choice? That one’s getting rave reviews.
[Haven’t tried it. Anyone? – Bjorn]
I have a Marshall JVM 210 with a 1960A Lead Cab. I am trying to decide which muff I should get. I am deciding between: BYOC Triangle and Ram’s head, Sovtek muff, or an actual vintage ram’s head. Any suggestions?
[I’ve never tried the 210 but set it up for the cleanest tone possible and I think I’d go for a Sovtek preferably a Ciwil War or green model. – Bjorn]
Hey, great website! I was looking at getting a Rat 2, but on Robert Keeley’s website he says the latest ones getting made in China aren’t great at all; have you tried any Rat 2 models produced in 2008 with a serial # above 300,000? Notice if there is a lack of quality distortion compared to other models?
[I haven’t tried the new models no. I recommend getting a Kelley version though. – Bjorn]
Well I have a Epiphone Les Paul Standard w/ Bigsby w/ stock pickups,(isn’t the best for Gilmour tone) and a Canadian made Traynor 40w tube amp, which is similiar to many Fender tube amps, I appreciate the help!
[I think I’d go for a Tube Screamer. Ibanez TS9 or Maxon OD808. They’re a bit more versatile for this kind of setup than a Tube Driver. You might also want to check out a Robert Keeley Boss BD-2. – Bjorn]
Have you ever tried the boss OD-20? its one of those twin pedals and three of the simulations are a RAT, a Big Muff and a Fuzz Face. If so, do you think the simulations sound accurate?
[Hei Eirik! I don’t own the OD20 my self but from memory I remember that the Muff sim was very similar to the new US model. Perhaps even a little closer to the green Sovtek. The RAT sounded great although I couldn’t hear much difference between the RAT and the Distortion + sims. The Fuzz is based on the germanium Fuzz Face. – Bjorn]
Bjorn-
I would like to achieve a gilmourish tone that was heard on the recent live recordings (Remember that Night, Live in Gdansk, and On an Island) I have an EH Big Muff, in your opinion, which overdrive, or other pedals will I need in combination with the Muff, to achieve that sound?
Thanks for all the work you’ve put into this site.
[That depends very much on what guitar/pickups and amp you have. Let me know and I’ll try to help. – Bjorn]
Rick / Bjorn,
I own an EJ Strat and I would say it’s fine for producing Gilmour-like tones, especially the more vintage 70s-era tones. It’s definitely not going to be mistaken for David’s EMG Strat, but the guitar is actually amazingly flexible in terms of the type of sounds you can get out of it.
Besides that, it plays like a dream. I love it and would highly recommend it to anyone considering it.
Marc
Hi Bjorn,
Great content, as usual. Quick question for you on pedal order:
I have a RAT 2, Maxon OD808, and a EH Soul Preacher Compressor. Can you tell me your suggested order of arrangement?
I saw your earlier suggestion of (guitar->RAT->OD808->amp) but I’m wondering where the compressor should go in this chain. I’m guessing before the RAT?
Thanks a lot,
Marc
[Hi Marc. I recommend this order: guitar > comp > rat > od808 > amp. Please see this article for more basic tone tips. Cheers! – Bjorn]
I have the DG-20 emg set could not resist and I really dig them. Thanks for your help again, by any chance have you ever tried the Demeter Fuzz-1 ? I listen to some clips and read reviews seems to be a nice alternative to ss3/G2 with some stacking and tweaking with other pedals of course. -Thanks Again-
[I’ve tried the Demeter fuzz a couple of times. Great pedal and very versatile. I think it’s a bit too “fuzzy” to be compared with the SS3 but it can produce some nice Fuzz Face/G2 sounds. Check out this review. – Bjorn]
Bjorn-
Any thoughts about whether the pick-ups on an Eric Johnson Strat will work for a “Gilmour” sound or are the too “hot”?
I appreciate the work you have put into this site.
Rick
[I don’t have any experience with those… Anyone? – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
I had a question about the BK butler TD with the bias knob. I know you have the standard model but I was wondering if you had any experience with the bias knob model? Basically all I want to know is if I were to get the bias knob one, could I still get it to sound like the standard one?
Thanks,
Bryce
[I haven’t tried the one with bias control but I think it’s the same as the standard just that you can adjust the amount of gain with the bias trim pot. I would imagine that setting the bias at either 0 or 10 will make sound as the standard. – Bjorn]
Well Thank you again for your time. At one time I had the BK Butler TD and changed the tube and placed the JJ 12AU7 inside. Very warm sound but sold the dam thing. I always check your videos out on youtube and I like the boss bd-2 sound with your maxon od808 just sounds fantastic. I ordered the analogman Boss BD-2 because I was not feeling Keeleys Mod sounded to brittle and weak. So my question is I love pulse era and On an Island sound just amazing sound. If you have extra time to read this is my setup any suggestions please let me know. 2= T-rex Replicas Delays, Absoultley Analog Ratzo, AA GREEN RUSSIAN, MAXON 808, AA FIST, Howard Davis Mod Deluxe ElectRic Mistress, Boss CE-2, NANO PHASER, Boss TU-2. I love Absolutley Analog pedals thanks for the info on your website. I play through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.
PS Do I need a Boss GE-7?
[I think you should be able to get a nice OAI tone with this setup. What kind of guitar/pickups do you use? Try these settings on your amp: bass 50%, treble 50-60%, mids 40%. The BD-2 and Fist are great alternatives for the Tube Driver and I think I’d go for the Green Russian as the main distortion unit. You could also use the Maxon for smoother PULSE type of overdrives. I don’t think EQs are a must but check out this article for some tips. – Bjorn]
hi bjorn!I’ve just bought the hartman distortion (rat-clone) cos’ it seemed to me really interesting but I’m still waiting it to arrive and I was wondering what you think about it. Have you ever heard it?I’m in the perpetual research of a gilomurish-tone so it would be great if the hartman can nail it. Anyway thx for the great work you do cos you allow lot of people (me too :P) to feel like a little gilmour, even if only for the time of a solo. You’re great. Sorry for my terrible english but I’m Italian.
Best wishes,
Gae.
[Thanks for your kind words Gae! I’ve never tried the Hartman but it’s based on the RAT with some new mods and I think it will be perfect for many of David’s tones. The RAT is one of my favorite distortion pedals. Extremely versatile. Let us know what you think when you’ve tried it! – Bjorn]
hey Bjorn,
I got the vintage S model assembly fitted on my lite ash strat and damn it sound Goooooooood.
I wanted to ask you tht u made ur bridge float a bit.So could u explain wat to do after i tighten the screws down to the plate.
Plz lemme know…..
thanks & regards,
Anmol
[Mine is slightly floating… I can’t pull it upwards but there’s a 2-3mm gab when you see it from behind. I’ve tightened all the 6 plate screws and adjusted the two claw screws in the back all the way until the plate is flat on the body. Then I loosen them until the arm feels as smooth as possible. – Bjorn]
Personally I just picked up a Fulltone OCD pedal and love the sound of it. It’s listed as a overdrive/distortion unit as clarified on the box.
hi bjorn!
love the site!
in your opinion…i have a Little Big Muff reissue and a RAT2…i am boosting one of them with a BD2 and a keeley TS9/808 plus mod…if you were to pick just one to keep on the board for a strickly all around gilmourish tone which one would you put on the board the LBM or the RAT2?
thanks alot!
[Depends entirely on your amp and pickups… and your ears. Both pedals can sound wonderful on the right setup and like crap on another rig. Personally I think the RAT is much more versatile than the Big Muff, but it can also be a bit dull and average. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I just had the chance to compare the OD808 and the OD-9 by Maxon. They are nearly identical sonically, but – to my surprise – not completely! To my ears, the OD808 sounds just a bit smoother, rounder, and more open than the OD-9, which is slightly grittier. Contrary to what is said on Maxon’s website, both pedals have the same amount of gain.
All in all, the difference between them is very small, but I actually like the OD808 a tiny better, even though it doesn’t have a true bypass. Both are great sounding pedals, though.
I also tested the Maxon D&S and I absolutely love it! It produces really smooth, slightly aggressive transistor distortion that never sounds thin or too fuzzy. With an overdrive behind it becomes even smoother. It sounds great with a tube amp and it is one of the really few distortions that my ears can stand in front of a transistor amp.
I think that the D&S would definitely deserve a place on your list of Big Muff replacements. I even like it better than the Skreddy Top Fuel because the distortion of the D&S sounds more complex.
I can highly recomment all three pedals! (I should probably add that I’m in no way affiliated with Maxon – I’m just enthusiastic about these pieces of gear)
Keep on with your great work on this site! I hope your Richard Wright tribute was a success; I would love to read something about it… (maybe including some sounds?)
Best wishes,
Holger
[Thanks for the info Holger! I agree that Maxon pedals have a great tone. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
First of all I want to say thank you so much for this site. I’ve been quite obsessed with it the past couple months. I started a band not too long ago that is going in the more Pink Floyd/King Crimson/ Mahavishnu Orchestra vein and its really been a watershed for my playing. I’ve always been all about amp distortion, but my tastes and understandings of tone are changing now thanks to your in depth site.
I am trying to use pedals now instead of amp distortion as I want a pristine clean sound as well (my Mesa .50 cal has a unified eq, it sounds fantastic as a clean amp btw). I am starting to slowly amass my new pedal based rig and I recently bought a maxon 808. I am pairing that with a Rocktron Blackjack distortion/booster pedal for now and I have a couple questions about volume adjustment as well as an in general question for how to use an od/dist setup.
First off, I am trying to figure out how accurately set my volumes with my other guitarist who for now uses his amp distortion. The trouble is that I basically have three different volumes to adjust now whenever we need to turn down or anything (the clean amp volume, the OD, and the pedal dist). So without pissing off the rest of my band mates, what is the best way to set all three accurately on the fly so that they are at unity volume?
My second question is how do you use your boosters/od in general? Do you always have the OD/booster on for a dirty sound and turn on the distortion only for leads? Or do you have the distortion as your crunch tone and then use the OD/booster for leads?
Thanks so much!
-Bryce
[I think you should set the amp volume to the desired level and find the unity level from the two stomboxes. Or get a volume pedal. I base all my sounds on one booster or overdrive, either a clean volume boost or regular overdrive depending on the song and tone that I want. Then I add the distortion for solos. Clean volume boost + distortion = smooth punchy distortion. Overdrive + distortion = aggressive tone with lots of sustain. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Very, very intresting article, Bjorn!!
I like a lot he sound of the RAT, it’s a fat distorion and very versitile. Combined with a Tube Driver, it must scream.
I have another of my annoying questions (xD):
Does that RAT sound like an Marshall overdrive, or you can make a Marshall sound like the RAT?
Thanks!
[Glad you enjoyed the article :) The RAT was originally based on the tone you get from a germanium Fuzz Face and humbucker pickups. Kind of a hot wired Fuzz Face, although not technically based on it. The RAT is in the same tone family as the MXR Distortion + and the Marshall Shredmaster pedals and the Marshall JCM 800 amps. I have a small 50w 5210 Marshall combo at home, which is the transistor version of the JCM800 series and I’m having a hard time hearing the differences between its gain channel and the RAT. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn
Can you tell me what settings you would recommend for the lead in “Comfortably Numb” for a Rat and an OD808? Or do you recommend a Big Muff in the mix or somthing else? I’m using a 10 watt Hiwatt amp.
Thanks,
Jesse
[Settings depends very much on the pickups and the guitar in general as well as the amp and its settings… among other things. I usually set mine like this: RAT all knobs at about 2:00 o’clock – OD808 gain 10:00, tone 9:00 and volume at 3:00. Use this as a reference and find a setup that sounds OK for your rig. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
I there a specific reason why you chose the OD808 instead of the OD-9, which, according to Maxon’s web site, is sonically indentical to the OD808, but has a true bypass switch instead of a FET switch?
Cheers,
Holger
[No specific reason really. I bought it used… It’s on my backup board with a mix of true bypass and buffered pedals so it really doesn’t matter. – Bjorn]
Can someone enlighten me on the proper hookup of the RAT to the OD8808 to the guitar and amp?
Thanks,
Jess
[guitar > rat > od808 > amp. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn
Have you tried the new Jekyll and Hyde V2 pedal? i hear that its very good, and if you have, do you think that it could cover some of the later David tones? Its 2 pedals in one, a OD based on the OD-808 and a distortion of some kind – and in England, its all that for the cost of less than a TS-808, just wondered what your views on the pedal could be if you have tried tested it in the process of making your new buyers gear guide, which i must say, is fantastic
Thanks for any help you give me
Phil
[Hi Phil! I haven’t tried it… Heard many positive comments but I really can’t tell. – Bjorn]
Bjorn, is it true that by changing Circuits at the TS7 you can get the sound of a 808?
Cheers, Gabriel!
[I have no clue… probably… but they’re very similar anyway. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn! I was wondering, on the B.Y.O.C. what is the main difference in the triangle and ram’s head version? I can’t decide which one I like more!
[The triangle was the first Muff released in ’71. It has a brighter tone and more sustain compared to the ’73 ram’s head, which has more gain. David used the ram’s head on Animals, DG78, Wall, Final Cut but either will give you a great tone. Personally I prefer the triangle. – Bjorn]
Hi there, I have recently got a BYOC large beaver as per your recomendation, however, i am not sure which spec to do it as, i am trying to re create the Gdansk tone, and i wondered what u think which spec would re-create that tone the best
Thanks in advance
Phil
[David mainly used the G2 and P1 on the tour and a triangle Big Muff that was mainly used on Echoes. The closest match would be a “ram’s head” clone. – Bjorn]
Well, I guess you’re right. The OD-808 isn’t true bypass.
But the Maxon AD-9 (similar to the Ibanez TS-9) is true bypass, according to Maxon site and AnalogMan’s faq.
That’s why I got confused.
Cheers.
Luciano.
Hi, I’ve got another question for you. You said that if I put the Maxon wich is a buffered pedal after the fuzz it’s not good. But in another artical you suggest to put a buffered delay pedal a the end. Won’t it fuck the fuzz??
[Well, yes but not all rigs have a fuzz. I was talking generally. Fuzz units are some strange creatures and they tend too loose much of their character when you introduce buffered pedals. Some goes better than others tho. As an example – the Sun Face that I have works nicely with the Japanese Boss pedals and the Ibanez Tube Works DE-7. However, it can’t stand newer Boss pedals, vintage style Ibanez and Maxon. – Bjorn]
Well, regarding Antoine’s issue, isn’t the Maxon true-bypass???
But I have yet another question for you, Bjorn.
It’s about the Boss HM-2.
On About Face gear page you say that “it sounds very much like a RAT with a classic Marshall distortion. Very fat and compressed”.
But you haven’t mentioned the HM-2 on this article, neither on the new Buyer’s Gear Guide, as an alternative to the Rat.
I know you couldn’t list everything on the buyer’s guide, but what do you think about it?
I must say that I’ve just got an used HM-2 a couple of weeks ago and I’m finding it very easy to achieve good tones with it.
Cheers,
Luciano.
[Nope. The Maxon is buffered. The HM-2 has indeed a tone similar to the RAT but I do prefer the RAT. The HM-2 can be a bit too bright and hars I think without an overdrive placed behind it. Another reason I didn’t mention it is the fact that it’s deleted. Anyway, cool pedal. – Bjorn]
Hi, I have a Fender Stratocaster Highway One from 2006 and I just got a Fender Twin Reverb Reissue. The tone from Gilmour I like the more is from the live at Gdansk. I can play loud with my amp something la 5 if it can tells you how loud it is. I’m looking for a fuzz and an overdrive. You said that non true-bypass or buffer pedal fucks up the fuzz. I’ve read that it’s only for the germanium fuzz so I don’t know who to trust. But if the buffer pedals fucks silicon fuzz face then I don’t think the Maxon would be a good idea. If so do you think the Fulltone OCD wich is true-bypass would be good for me? (I can’t afford a Tube Driver) And for the fuzz I’ve heard good thing about the dunlop Hendrix Fuzz (not the red one the like blue one) wich is a reproduction of the BC108 fuzz face. What do you think about it?
[All vintage style fuzz units will be affected by buffered pedals. Germanium transistors are a bit more sensitive but the silicons are no better. As goes for vintage style overdrives and boosters too really. My Colorsound Power Boost can’t stand buffered pedals. The OCD will work much better than the Maxon although it’s a slightly different sound. You should also check out the BYOC Overdrive and BBE Green Screamer, which both are true bypass clones of the Maxon/Ibanez 808. – Bjorn]
Fantastic article as always Bjorn, really good read, nice tone and playing in your clips also!
Phil
[Thanks! – Bjorn]
Hi, Bjorn — I just bought a US ’57 Reissue strat (I’m thinking about getting the CS ’69 pickups) and a Fender Blues Junior amp. I primarily play at home in my apartment (and don’t want to blow my neighbors heads off). Which effects pedals should I be looking at: 1) BYOC Large Beaver and Colorsound Power Boost or 2) the RAT and the Maxon? Thanks for the help.
[I’d definitely go for the RAT/Maxon combo. It’s not impossible to get great tones with a Muff and Colorsound but they tend to get a bit too agressive and boomy for a smaller rig. The RAT and Maxon will produce great tone no matter what… – Bjorn]
Wow thanks for the great review and awesome playing of yours really impressive!!!
I don’t play guitar that long but I love the sounds of Pink Floyd and try to play as much as my ability to play allows me until now.
I just have one question this more a general understanding question than technical but if I understand right what you say in your article you say that the combination of a tube screamer and Big muff or rat give a very power full combination. So it’s either a Big Muff or a rat not both?
Oh and one more question is the Ibanez TS9 really that differentiable from the Maxxon or the TS808? it is really a lot cheaper so I am just asking myself if it is worth spending a little more?
thanks for your help!!!
I love your website,
Jan
[Use only one distortion at a time, – Muff + overdrive or RAT + overdrive. The TS9 is very similar to the Maxon. – Bjorn]
Bjorn,
And yet another question… if I’m boosting my RAT should the volume on my TS9 be louder than the RAT? I’m not totally sure how to actually “boost” it. Also, have you ever thought of expanding the webpage to include other artists like Clapton, Hendrix etc?
[Clapton who? Nope, this is a Gilmour site… How the volume should be set depends on what tone you’re looking for. For a bright Animals/Island kind of tone I’d set the RAT to around 2:00 and the TS at 3:00. For a warmer PULSE tone you can roll off the TS volume to around 1:00. Try different settings and decide on what sounds best for your rig. – Bjorn]
hey bjorn hope your good,regaurding noise problems and picking up interference from every bloody thing else i was hoping some one out there could help.im living in sweden and the plugs have only two pins so i take it that means there is no direct earth,when i put my finger on the meteal plug of a patch cable and then touch the radiater all the hum hiss and crap disappears.now is there any way of overcomng this problem saftley surely i cant be the only one to have this problem.anyone came across the same problem.heres a bag of worms im gonna be searching for a reasonably priced amp for the bedroom,any ideas.say between 150 to 300 pounds.by the way nice comfortably numb tuturiol that bjorn.ever thought about a pedal use tutoriol,now im sure that would be popular.what do you recon,todays tutorial the numb solo tone.all the best mate and thanks
[Well, I’m no expert on noise but I think the best way to eliminate noise is to use shielded cables, including patch cables, shield the inside of your guitar and the pickups should be waxed or potted. Don’t play in a room with TVs, radios, computers etc and turn off your mobile phone. Be careful with which pedals you combine and keep in mind that the more effects you add the more hum and hiss you’ll get. It’s hard to get around that… even with the most expensive gear. – Bjorn]
hey bjorn just read all your pickup info so got your reccomendations mate.still would like to know if anyone knows about that noise problem though,cheers again
hi bjorn!
on my board at the moment i have a rat2 and im using the throbak overdrive boost which at times i switchout with my actual coloursound powerbooster/overdriver and a keeley ts9 plus modded tubescreamer…they sound great together but.. i also have a little big muff reissue and a ronsound modded big muff…i was thinking about puting one of the muffs on my board along with the rat2 and if so which one?…i also on the other hand have a BOSS GE7 boosting the low frequencies for the rat2… so is it really necessary to put the big muff on the board along with the rat2 or not? and also if there is anyway possible to give me a good setting for the BOSS GE7 to tone the rat up to big muff standards could you please send me somthing to show me the proper settings on the GE7 or try to tell me the settings?
thanks alot! you have been of great help to me in my gilmour tone quest. :) i would SERIOUSLY be lost without your site!
-hunter
[I think it’s up to you to decide whether you want both the Muffs and the RAT on your board. If you think they all need to be there then go for it. I often recommend the RAT if you’re only playing at home because it much easier to get great tones with it compared to a Muff, which usually needs a cranked tube amp to reach its full potential.
I can’t really suggest any EQ settings because the nature of such an effect is to adjust certain frequencies depending on your rig – guitar/pickups, amp and effects. You might also realize that some situations requires more adjustment that others, like playing at home compared to on a large stage. You need to find the settings and frequencies that fits your rig. In general I think that the RAT needs more bass and a Muff could do with some mids for a typical PULSE tone. Please read more about creating your tone in this article. Thanks for your support! – Bjorn]
Hey bjorn hows things,so then off i went and got that rat,oh yes and that maxon,having much fun with this pedal lark i can tell you.Cheers for your time and recomemdations my friend although i still donr know to much about wahat im doing im getting hours of fun out of it.I have also aquired one mistress delux,dynacomp and that giga boss delay thing,only because it lets me dial in the delay timings,a godsend wouldnt have had a clue otherwise,think im getting his bleeding pedal bug though as am wanting to try that nova thingy now hehe,and to think a couple of months ago i thought you lot were all mad.i picked up an oldish strat 86 i think or 84 whit colour,maple neck from that japan place.Love it…..for now hehe.So heres the tip im after,bloody noisey when alls on i can tell ya,hiss hum you name it,if ts not ment to be there i can tell you it is,any tips on how to reduce this noise,i know my playing is not good so i get loads of finger scraping noises and string notes when i touch them when bending i gotta expect that but bloody hell are these pedal things ment to amplifi every thing i do,so will this noise reduction pedal thingy actually help as ive noticed there isnt one on any of your boards,any thoughts .Keep this site going bjorn its great.Good luck to you
[Thanks for your kind words! Glad you find my site useful… even if it costs you a lot of money :) Noise is caused by a number of things. Vintage style single coil pickups are noisy by nature. You can shield the inside of the guitar with some copper foil, which will reduce some of the noise. Cheap instrument and patch cables are often the biggest source of noise. I always recommend spending a little extra on some good quality shielded cables. When you’re using a lot of pedals you’re bound to experience some noise… even when they’re off. Using high gain distortions and compressors will enhance noise and especially when you combine them. You should also make sure that the power cables aren’t touching the instruments cables and that you don’t have too many pedals on the same power loop. Also, if you’re playing at home you’ll get interference from all kinds of things, – mobile phones, TV, radio, lights, computers etc… Using a noise suppressor will take away some noise but it’s not an ideal solution because it will also drain some signal and cut some sustain. – Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, the RAT settings you described are they mend for the original RAT or for the RAT 2??
[Erm… Both I guess. They’re not that different. Depends on your pickups and whether you use a booster/overdrive with it or not. You might want to roll off the gain a bit if you’re using EMGs or other hot pickups. – Bjorn]
hey bjorn, evan. re. the byoc pickle mod.
it doesnt refer to the switching, it refers to a mod that gives it waaaay more distortion: ala smashing pumpkins. not recomended for gilmour tones is what i read at the forum. the forum over there is really helpful, ive posted there a bit.
also are you just using your in-built mac microphone to record all this Bjorn? no mic or anything? or plugging giutar into your mac? (i dunno how its done haha) – oh yeh, really nice playing as always. very ummm gilmourish… haha
[Yep, it’s the built in mic and camera. – Bjorn]
Thanks for the article !
The Rat is an overdrive but can be used as a distortion, and I would like to know which one to choose between a Fuzz Face and a Rat (I already have a green sovtek “triangle knobs” Big Muff) ?
I love David’s sound but I want a thin disto pedal (the Big Muff is a good one but with a too “big” sound) to play all kind of stuff.
Cheers.
[ I wouldn’t say that the RAT is an overdrive. It’s a distortion it the truest sense… You can’t really compare a Fuzz Face with the RAT. Although the RAT originates from a Fuzz Face they’re two different beasts. As I say in the article, I think that the RAT is one of the most versatile distortions out there and you should be able to cover most of David’s lead tones and any other musical style. Cheers! – Bjorn]
Great article. I have a Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive (TS808 clone) and I’m absolutely happy with the way it sounds. Great for bluesy leads and ryhtems.
[That’s because of the buffers in the Boss pedals] Bjorn.
… I absolutely agree! I did remove my BOSS CS3 and now my Triangle BYOC can “communicate” directly to the pups of my strat. The Muff feels much more interactive and most of all: sweet classic Gilmour sound!
My only BOSS pedal left on my board is the GE7, at the end of the chain (before my Delay). I did bypass it and didn’t notice any difference when the GE7 is in the chain (when OFF).
So I guess it’s a big issue not having a BOSS buffer before a vintage FUZZ/distortion like the Muff.
By the way, is this GE7 mod really a big deal? I don’t use extreme settings with it. …it does provide a nice finishing touch (using the Gilmour settings).
[I haven’t tried a modded GE7 so I really don’t know… I stopped using EQs with my main board because having either the Colorsound PB or the Tube Driver on for any tone does the same job I think. – Bjorn]
Hi,
i love your site……it’s amazing and Gilmour for me is a God
I am an italian guy and i have one Fender american stratocaster with emg dg-20 and my desire is reply the Gilmour sound of pulse live.
I need for 2 pedals in this moment:
1) a real pedal distorsion for have a suond like a comfortably numb (SOLO), sorrow……..
2) a pedal for have a clean creamy sound like a shine on (SOLO), another brick in the wall (SOLO), coming back to life….
basically 2 pedals for have 2 different sounds for a solos
I hope for your answer and i am thankful for this one
Sorry for my English but i belive you understand my question
Thank you very mouch, bye bye
[Thanks for your kind words! Glad you enjoy my site :) I think that both the RAT and the Maxon is the answer to your question. They’ll give you the tone you need and versatile enough to cover most of David’s tones. If you want to take it up a notch, I suggest a Big Muff (I recommend the BYOC Large Beaver) and a BK Tube Driver. – Bjorn]
Picked up a Rat today for $50. It’s one of the early versions with the LM308 IC in it. Its a little noisy but what distortion/fuzz isn’t. Great harmonics with this pedal! I’ve got the modded GE-7 behind it cuz the bass is def lacking without. With? A mandolin and one picture have already fallen off of the wall. Oh the neighbors will love thee!
[Ha ha! That’s what rock n roll is all about :) – Bjorn]
Well, thanks man. I’ll get my dad to pick it up for me as soon as he can, then. I can always send it in to Keeley later on, if I find I don’t like it as is.
Maybe I’ll record some stuff once I get ahold of it.
Love the site, man. Can’t wait for the next “Early Years” article, the Meddle/Obscured by Clouds era has always held my interest…
[Thanks Evan! – Bjorn]
Hm, okay. Thanks for the additional information, Adrian. I’ll have to do further research….how much do those Bluesbreakers typically go for?
And, uh, Bjorn, I need your opinion on something.
I know you’ve told me in the past that the Boss BD-2 won’t work terribly well with a pedal like the Fuzz Face. However, I’ve found a BD-2 (presumably used) in a local music shop for only $50. I feel like I shouldn’t pass up on it, even if it means I lose the Fuzz Face for a while. Think it’s worth getting before someone else does?
[The BD-2 is a great pedal and a very nice sounding Colorsound-ish budget model. A modified model is to prefer but I definitely think you’ll enjoy the stock one too. It’s not that the BD-2 fucks up the fuzz but you’ll hear that the character of the fuzz tone changes slightly and gets brighter and a bit more fuzz if you like. That’s because of the buffers in the Boss pedals. Some doesn’t mind or enjoys the tone while others hates it. I guess you just have to figure it out yourself. The BD-2 is very versatile and great for many things so I definitely think it’s worth $50 :) – Bjorn]
Sorry Evan lol
umm the gretsch has mini humbuckers it is part of there electromatic models.
It is for someone who doesn’t want to pay $2000 for a gretsch.
here is a link
all the electromatics sound about the same but the shape of that one gives a different sound but it is harder to play sitting down. But I get that tone from Meltdown concert perfectly!!
Dimarzio also makes a humbucker size P-90 called the Bluesbucker it looks like a humbucker but has a dummy coil to cancel noise!!
Great job man! Very impressive clips and nice reading. Cheers!
[Thanks! – Bjorn]
Amazing amazing website!
I own an Analog Man modified TS-9 (the silver mod) and I think it sounds really really good as an 808 clone, I suppose you could add it to your list.
[Thanks Romain! Glad you enjoy the site :) – Bjorn]
First off, Adrian, it’s Evan. ;)
Secondly, uh, yeah, I was considering a pickup in the same vein of a P-94, called the Mean 90. supposed to be quite good for the price, since I’m on a budget and all. look it up, if you’re interested. If
Then again, I might instead put new humbuckers in my Dot, and get a Danelectro for my single-coil needs. it’s hard to say.
Also, thanks for that info on the Double Jet. I hope to have some sort of Gretsch at some point, I’ll have to check out that one. Which sort of pickups does that one have, exactly?
Anaon- Please email me at frails@hotmail.com if you are interested in trading your Rat for another Gilmouresque pedal. I have a few pedals to pick from.
Hey, great clips. That Marshall amp sounds great. What mic do you use to record with GarageBand? And do you use an interface or just straight in?
thanks!
[Thanks! It’s a SM58. I didn’t use an interface on these… hence the noise problems. – Bjorn]
I got me a current duo jet with filtertrons a few months ago, made of european and amercian parts, assembled in japan. although the bigsby is a bit of a nightmare to restring, especially with the lower E string, I love the guitar to bits. it’s perfectly made, and despite everything seems a little loose on the guitar at first (such as the bridge), it’s a very reliable and easy to handle thing.
b.
hi bjorn,
can’t remember if I ever pointed this out to you, but as a fellow U2 head you might know anyway, the sobbat db-1 is also a very decent od/fuzz pedal, super versatile, very much between a muff and a fuzz face also. I use it on my home board, I sometimes switch around, but mostly I’m using the db-1 there, it’s great to regulate, also got for lighter od sounds if you are not using too much compression on it! just a thought…
cheers,
bernhard
[Thanks for the tip! – Bjorn]
Well I think I can clear up a Couple things!!
For Ernest I highly recommend the P-94. It is a P-90 in Humbucker Size. It sorta gives you a PULSE Tone but still that wall tone or OAI. It is great I only use the one cuz I have a 500t in the bridge position.
As for The Gretsch I have an Electromatic Double Jet and I can get the exact same tone as David. They have the same mini-buckers and are very well made. One of the best purchases I’ve made!!!
Hope I cleared up some confusion.
Hi Bjorn!
Another great article!! Thanks! I just received a Rat II but I was so disapointed! Not because it’s bad, but because it’s really similar to my MI Audio Crunchbox (Have you ever tried this distortion pedal, I’d love to have your opinion about it), the Rat is maybe darker. So I just keep my Crunchbox, it seems that it’s my favourite distortion anyway :)
I plan to change my Bad Monkey for a better model so maybe a Maxon 808… I hesitate with a BD2. I search for a warm overdrive for my Fender clean channel ;)
Thanks again ;)
[Well that’s basically the essence of this article, the RAT is one of the most popular distortions made and one of the most copied. The MI Crunch Box is a great sounding boutique clone. The BD-2 is one of my favourite Boss pedals but I think it should be compared to the old boosters like the Colorsound because of its bridght, glassy tone. The 808 is a slightly different pedal, much warmer and compressed. – Bjorn]
Evan:
Gretsch use floating bridges on most of their models, the G6128 included. David’s tune-o-matic seem to be mounted onto the body, just as on all Les Paul models. There’s definitely no reason to have a floating tune-o-matic as the bridge is possible to intonate without moving it.
Gretsch have used a lot of different bridges over the years; Tune-o-matic, Space control bridge (roller bridge), “rocking” bar bridge etc. Some better than others. I think tune-o-matic works best.
I really don’t like the Electromatic Pro Jet. I don’t think they have anything but the name in common with Gretsch. A big part of the Gretsch sound too me is in the Filter’tron pickups, which are a very good sounding pickup, preferably TV Jones Filter’trons.
I wouldn’t go for a vintage Duo Jet. Gretsch is owned by FMIC these days and made in Japan while Electromatic is made in Korea. I think they’re building better guitars than ever since Fender bought them.
Ah, thanks Johan.
Now, what would I have to do to, say, the current Electromatic Duo Jet model to get it in the same tonal ballpark as a vintage Duo Jet? If I were to model one of my guitars after David’s, it’d probably be his Gretsch (and maybe the #0001 Strat. Love the color scheme on that one), so I’m just asking out of curiosity.
What was Gretsch using beforehand, if not the Tune-O-Matic? some sort of roller bridge, maybe?
Just a thought about the ProCo Rat…I have the Digitech DF7 Distortion Factory in my board. It models 7 different distortion/overdrive pedals. It does a good job of modeling the Rat, for those of you looking for a budget Rat. I just sent a pic of my pedalboard, so you can check it out once it gets posted. Thanks for the great articles!
[Thanks for the tip David! I’ll post your picture soon. – Bjorn]
Franck Machu, you should use the first position (to the left) for the classic Triangle Muff sound.
It’s a great pedal!
Ernest
“…how much info is there floating around about David’s Gretsch Duo Jet?”
From what I can see, based on the Meltdown DVD and various pictures, David’s Duo Jet is probably a 1958 Gretsch G6128 model which has been modified with a tune-o-matic bridge mounted onto the body.
1958 was the first year Gretsch used “neo-classic” fretboard markers on the Duo Jets, aswell as replacing Dearmond pickups for Filter’trons. The tone knob was also introduced 1958 on this model. In 1959 Gretsch added a zero fret, which David’s guitar doesn’t have.
Question to Enerst Peske :
Ernest, I have the 4 knobs version of large beaver. What position do you use to get the classic Triangle Big Muff sound, I mean the one that the previous 3 knobs version of large beaver only offers.
Thanks.
Hey Bjorn I see you got yourself a vintage EH Deluxe Memory Man (70s one, right?)…. I was surprised to see that it’s not on your main board…why is that?
Anyway…..congrats for this new gem!
Leandro
[No, this one’s from the mid 90’s. It’s a great sounding echo unit but I’m a bit ambivalent about it… The tone is very very nice but it has a terrible volume drop. – Bjorn]
Here a clip (just a demo: bad timing/double tracking!) with the Triangle version
first you’ll hear only the Triangle with delay,
then thew Triangle, TD, Mistress and delay.
I believe, the triangle does sound very authentic and seems very easy to combine with other pedals…
who now about the applause pedals?
i have a superd distortion i like a boss
but you know aobut applause?
thanks!
[Nope… Anyone? – Bjorn]
[I guess the “pickle mod†is the EQ switcher allowing 4 different types of Muff tones]
This is what BYOC says:
1. standard
2. flat mid
3. mid boost
4. bypassing the tone control (resulting in volume boost)
Here’s a little soundclip of me using the BYOC R.H.
I used the switch in second position (= “flat” mid)
Cheers,
Ernest
Well, P-90s may not sound exactly like a Strat, but it sounded shockingly close on Remember That Night, wouldn’t you agree? Really surprised me when I first watched “This Heaven” or whatever the song was….
Also, just as a general question, how much info is there floating around about David’s Gretsch Duo Jet? That guitar was always intriguing to me, and I’d love to find out more about it.
[I don’t have too much info on the Gretsch. As far as I know it’s a pretty standard 1950’s model with Bigsby tremolo. David also used the guitar on the 2001/02 semi-acoustic performances and on his firs solo album in 1978. – Bjorn]
“Well, both Fender and Marshall are American. ”
In fact, Marshall is British… unless you’re talking about tone, not the actual origin, then I don’t know.
And I was wondering, don’t you think Boss DS-1 and Boss SD-1 could be good and a bit cheaper replacements for the RAT and the Tubescreamer?
[Yeah… my bad. Of course Marshall is British. I generally think that Boss pedals has a bit too much mid range and a brighter tone compared to the RAT and TS. The many mods are great tho. – Bjorn]
Well, Marshall is in fact british. And probably the most classic british amp of all. The british sound is sometimes refered to as a “brown sound”.
It’s called a dark sound, or “brown sound”, because of the british amp’s pronounced mids. Fender amps have a kind of shimmer in the high treble area. One of the biggest difference is probably due to what output tubes where used; Marshall and Hiwatt both use El34 while Fender use 6L6.
[Oops! Sorry… Of course Marshall is British. I typed without thinking. Thanks for clearing it up. – Bjorn]
Bjorn, I’m a little confused about Blach Strat’s selector of today; is it still a 3-way or was it updated to a 5 way? Thank you
[It’s a 3-way. – Bjorn]
Hm. Well, your constant praise for the Colorsound has pretty much convinced me to go for it. Or, at least, a clone of one. A slight deviation, but I’ve heard Jeff Beck used one during the 70s, do you know if there’s any truth to that? I’d like to get in on some of his “Blow by Blow” tone in addition to Gilmour’s…
The Rat, though, is rather intriguing to me. I’m considering getting a Big Muff of some sort, whenever I go about upgrading my gear, but maybe I should try the Rat as well? I’m not really looking for a tone identical to Gilmour’s, though he IS the general basis of my tone, but maybe some additional range would be a good idea? should I at least try out a Rat the next time I go into Guitar Center (basically, the Wal-Mart for guitars here in the States, in case you weren’t aware)?
Then, um, just some general questions.
I’ve been considering both adding a Bigsby to my Epiphone Dot, and putting in at least one humbucker-sized P-90, possibly two. Speaking solely from the Gilmour-tone perspective, any problems with that idea?
Secondly, I’m considering the current run of the Vox AC15 as my next amp, to replace my current Valve Jr. From the Gilmour perspective, any issue with that?
Lastly, do you think you could recommend me a volume pedal of some sort?
And to finish it all off, what the hell is this “Pickle Mod” BYOC is advertising with their Large Beaver? http://buildyourownclone.com/beaver.html ?
*fingers seize up from the typing*
[I’m not sure if Jeff Beck used one but the Colorsound was widely used by many guitarists during the 1970’s. I think you’ll find the RAT a bit more versatile than the Muff. I prefer the Muff, but it works well for Gilmour tones but it’s not really a classic rock kind of pedal. The RAT is a better choice IMO. David’s Les Pauls has P-90 pickups. The tone is like a blend of humbuckers and single coil. I don’t think you should expect them to sound like a Strat tho… I’m using Ernie Ball volume pedals. They can stand a lot of abuse :) I haven’t tried the Vox AC15 so I really can’t tell. The Vox in general should give you nice tone. I guess the “pickle mod” is the EQ switcher allowing 4 different types of Muff tones. – Bjorn]
Great clips, Bjorn!
Young Lust is one of my favorites (thank god Roger have just said that he’s working on the original Wall concerts for future video release) and you nailed it!
Your conversation with Zarek got me a bit puzzled though(especially ’cause I’m no amp expert).
Of course Hiwatts and Sound Citys are british, but when I read about “British Amps” I think about Marshalls or something like that. On the other hand, I always relate the clean Hiwatts to something more similar to Fenders – yet not so bright.
In that sense, I would think the Hiwatts have a bit more “american” tone than a “british” tone.
Or am I completely wrong?
Luciano
[Thanks Luciano! Well, both Fender and Marshall are American. Hiwatt and Sound City should be regarded as the same amp… both designed by Dave Reeves (that’s another topic right there..). I guess what one means by dark sounding British amps is that they don’t distort as easily as the American Equivalents. The old Marshall Plexi’s were easy to overdrive but the Hiwatts stayed clean no matter what. The treble boosters was designed to make the tubes distort for the same kind of sound. The Colorsound is a step further as the pedal both boosts the volume by 30db or so and acts as an overdrive, which is different from the treble boosters… horrible grammar here but I hope you get the picture. – Bjorn]
Hi!!
What doyou think about the BYOC Large Beaver. Do they sound better than the EH Big muff?
[I did some A/B testing with my Learge Beaver and a friend’s EH “triangle” Big Muff and they sounded identical. I couldn’t hear the difference. It should be added that there are many variations among the early Muffs because EH didn’t use the same parts in every pedal but by large they’re identical. IMO the Large Beaver is the best “triangle” Muff clone out there. – Bjorn]
Glad to hear that about the Colorsound and SC combo, Bjorn. I just bought a SC 120 PA amp and am converting the preamp to an early 70’s Hiwatt DR103 4-holer. I simply cannot wait to plug in for the first time with the Colordrive in front. Ho-Chee-mamma!!
[I think you may misunderstood. What I meant was that I sometimes use the Colorsound for boosting the Maxon. That way the Maxon sounds more like the old Chandler. Still, for my main setup I basically use the Colorsound as a basis for all my sounds. I normally set it for a clean volume boost to get that warm, punchy tone and then add the Tube Driver, Large Beaver, Sun Face on top of that for harder rhythms, solos etc (not all at once of course LOL). The Colorsound is one of my all time fav pedals. The tone is just amazing… so unique. – Bjorn]
About the Tube Driver:
It was a rack Chandler. It’s an abandoned version but I’ve read mr. Butler’s reviews and he recommended this one. It was manufactured in 80’s. The tube was old. I tried a new one and it sounded simillar. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just my amp – it’s a bright one, totally different from the typical brit stuff. Maybe they just didn’t like each other. :) Or maybe the unit was broken (but I doubt).
Oh, and another thing – I found one OD that absolutely blown my mind: Cornish SS-2. Perfect for me! But it’s soooo expensive! Have you tried it?
[I’ve only tried the Tube Driver on my Sound City, which is british and more or less identical to the Hiwatts and I guess that as with the Colorsound, this pedal is designed to push these dark, clean amps for a slightly brighter tube overdrive. I think you need that powerful, bouncy clean tone as a basis for these pedals. A typical modern American amp will sound differently I guess. I’ve tried the SS-2. It’s a modified MXR Distortion + really with Cornish’ top quality components. There are several great alternatives out there… one of them is the Skreddy Top Fuel. You’ll also get similar tones with a RAT or even a Marshall Shredmaster. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjørn, long time!
Especially this time I really think you captured the big essence of Gilmours guitar! You nailed it as close as one can possibly get. And you proved for all those unexperienced Gilmourheads out there that you don`t need a PULSE-rig to get THE TONE, impressive!
In June I´m taking a trip to “Tigerstaden” heading for Bon Jovi!..
[Hi Thomas! Hope all is well! Thanks for your kind words! Glad you like my clips :) Bon Jovi… that’s June 18. right? We’re doing an Airbag show on the 7th. Perhaps next time :) Cheers! – Bjorn]
Where do you think Gilmour used his Tubescreamer for in the 1988-1990 tour? Maybe it was for Dogs Of War? Or Another Brick In The Wall?
I own a Digitech Bad Monkey and it’s a stunning pedal. Definatly as good as a “real” Ibanez or Maxon. They seem to have a bit more gain as well and they are slightly more transparant. Bought it for 30 euro and now my current live setup is just my Les Paul/Strat, the Monkey and my amp. It’s a great box for a fat clean boost or a soloboost on the overdrive channel of my amp (that’s where I use it mainly for) but I’ve never really tried it as an overdrive on the clean channel. Now I heard your clip of the Maxon TS, I will give it a try…
The Rat really seems as a nice and versatile alternative to the Big Muff. Those pedals are sometimes just a bit too noisy and really not what I call versatile.
I really liked your clips and I nearly got a temptation to look for a Rat…
[I have no idea really. The Momentary/Delicate tour was a time of experimentation and a lot of gear swapping. It could have been used for many things, – booster, ovedrive or perhaps just a spare for the TC Booster. There are several Tube Screamer songs on Delicate, – Shine On, Learning to Fly, Dogs of War, Another Brick… – Bjorn]
Hey, Bjorn! Great article and nice clips.
I must say that I’ve been looking for an overdrive unit for a year and still did not found anything satisfying. I had bought the Chandler TD and then sold it, couse it sounded terrible. It was awfully harsh (even supplied with a 12AU7 tube). Just a lo-fi, thin sounded unit. I don’t know what you guys love about it. Maybe I had gotten a wrong version. It was the rack Chandler. The TS sounds nice and I’m considering buying one but there’s still something wrong about it. I think that it’s a little to weak and it steals a lot of guitar attack. Am I right? Have you tried the King of Tone? The samples from the Analogman website sounds very fine.
I’ve got the Large Beaver and Sun Face and both sounds heavenly. I use them at home and don’t hear anything wrong about them on the low volume settings. Highly recommended! But they’re fuzzes and I still want an OD. :)
Cheers
Żarek
[I definitely agree that the Large Beaver and Sun Face are two much better pedals… at least to me they are. Which amp and what kind of pickups did you use with the Chandler? Sounds strange… if you found it thin and lowfi it must have been something wrong. It’s everything else than that. Keep in mind too that as with all tube drives stuff you need to let the tube break in for a while. After some weeks the tone cleans up and get much more headroom. – Bjorn]
Very nice article, I actually found the DS-1 to be a fairly decent budget pedal at low volumes. It’s not the best but for $40 it’s gotten a wide range of Gilmour-esque tones for someone who’s just getting into David’s guitar playing.
This isn’t my video but I think it’s a nice example of what the pedal can do when paired with some delay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ1fWTDMUwY
I can also consider recording some clips of it.
[Personally I think the DS-1 has a bit too much mid range and a bit harsh tone. But I’m sure with some tweaking or perhaps a modified version you’ll be able to get some great sounds. – Bjorn]
Boss DS-1 is a classic but you’re right it does have a harsh tone that some guitar playing may not enjoy. For it’s price however it is a great choice for new guitar players i’d say. I found some great info on the DS-1 amongst others here.. http://guitareffectspedalz.com/10-best-overdrive-pedals-best-overdrive-pedals-for-guitar-players-2017
Nice one! The rat is probably the most versatile pedal I’ve ever tried….with some tweaking you can achieve almost every sound you can think of….
Do you think any Tube Screamer could get the job done….or the Ts808 is the one to get?
Cheers!
Leandro
[I’ve tried a handful of Screamers and I must say the the Maxon sounded a bit smoother than most of them. I guess it’s a matter of taste… The ToneLok TS7 is too muddy while the BBE Green Screamer is a surprisingly great sounding budget model. If you’ve never tried a Screamer before you should keep in mind that they’re not as powerful or boomy as the Colorsound or Tube Driver. In comparison it might sound weak but that’s what makes the tone too. They’re really different types of overdrive. – Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn. Another great article, thank you. I used to own a Tube Screamer and unless it was used to overdrive my Bassman amp, I just couldn’t get on with it. In that respect, I agree with what Fred said. I’ve always been tempted to buy a Rat and now I think I may. Way to stimulate the economy….LOL. I have to say that I can get so many different sounds out of the Large Beaver with the mids toggle mod. But I’m willing to give the Rat a try now.
[I just got home from rehearsals. My ears are still ringing :) The Large Beaver is by far my fav distortion unit although I haven’t tried the mids toggle version. The Maxon OD808 sounds better alone on my Marshall solid state than on my Sound City but I sometimes have the Colorsound set in front of it with a warm clean boost and the tone is dead on David’s Shine On, Another Brick, Coming Back etc from PULSE. Very much like the BK Butler with the 12AU7 tube but a bit more creamy and not as boomy. Perhaps more like the Chandler. – Bjorn]
Nice article Bjorn,
I totally agree about the RAT – extremely versatile unit, i adore the RAT so much that I have two of them. One, a duecetone RAT (basically two RATs in one pedal) on my board that can be seen in the gallery, and another vintage RAT that I have hanging around for studio use and for a future pedalboard project.
For a cheap RAT clone, you can try the Behringer DM100 Distortion Modeller. I have the usual complaints about behringer pedals (cheap plastic cases etc.) but the RAT setting on this pedal while not an exact match, does a very good job indeed.
On a side note, has anybody has a chance to try the behringer PH9 phaser and DC9 compressor pedals? They seem to be aimed at cloning the MXR pedals.
Cheers
Dean
[Thanks for the tip abut the DM100. I haven’t tried the PH9 or DC9… Anyone? – Bjorn]
Once again, great guitar lesson Bjorn ! And one another pedal to buy for my gear. I have difficulties to get a great sound from my byoc large beaver at home, it sounds too tricky, with not enough “rough medium grain”. You convinced me that the RAT should be the one for low volume home work. Thank you very much indeed.
[Yeah, the Large Beaver is my main distortion but as you describe it doesn’t sound that good on a small practice amp. The RAT is a perfect alternative. – Bjorn]
i use the byoc large beaver and behringer to800 and i have to say, the large beaver is my favourite dirt pedal.. very smooth with a tube amp.. still have not found a good setting for the to800 though.. keep messing around with it.. but great article bjorn, was wondering if the to800 is less worthy than its high end cousins and i guess i found my answer!
[Glad you enjoyed the article :) Thanks! – Bjorn]
Hi!
I own a Rat 2 and I was thinking of selling it! It’s very versatile: from Nirvana to Eagles, even metal… It´s a pedal that give us much variety of sound (Overdrive to fuzz) and make a dull amp come alive with less volume!… But, the mix of Rat with a muff or fuzz is to forget (even at low gain settings) I don’t know why! I’ve tried to put the pedal in different places (in pedal chain) and it doesn’t work either! :(
I’ve used the TS9 and TS10 (from Ibanez) and I found no problem with it! It really warm the sound with no extra noise! And… mix very well with the Rat!
In my page I have a clip with Rat + Leslie and analog delay. It’s a damn good pedal, but to be honest I prefer the Coloursound with the muff and Butler with fuzz…
Again… thank you for your spectacular work! Greetings from Portugal! ;-)
[Thanks João! I don’t think you should blend two distortion pedals. You’ll get a lot of feedback and noise problems because of the high gain. It’s much better to use a booster or overdrive for boosting the distortion. – Bjorn]
Interesting guide… I have both the pedals, a rat DIY with 6 different types of clipping and a TS9 /808. it is true that with these two pedals you have so many types of sounds… from the light overdrive to the hell of distortion!!!
Thank you very much…
Hi Bjorn, interesting article even though I don’t like the TS9 and derived pedals at all. Their excessive midrange and lack of bass response are better suited for driving an already breaking up amp, the same way SRV used it. Alone in a clean Hiwatt amp the sound is way too boxy. All I said IMHO clearly.
About the Rat, sorry but the term modified Fuzz Face is odd, they’re completely 2 different beasts, both sonically and circuit wise. I guess the Rat could be better described as a “overmaxed Tube Screamer” even though it’s definitely a distortion box on it’s own.
Cheers!
[The RAT is not a modified Fuzz Face but Scott Burnham and Steve Kiraly who designed the RAT used to fix, modify and enhance Fuzz Face pedals in their workshop in the early 1970’s. From that experience they build the RAT with the idea of creating a unique distortion pedal. – Bjorn]
Interresting article indeed. I’m not familiar with ProCo Rat at all, even though I’ve seen them on pedal boards all over the world and a lot of people seem to adore them. I’m planning to pick on up someday.
I’ve owned a lot of different Tubescreamers over the years. My favorite is definitely T-Rex Engineering Alberta, a great clone with a little enhancement regarding the bass response. But I think most Tubescreamers and it’s clones are a little bit too weak. I’ve even replaced my Alberta with a Xotic AC Booster, which I really adore. It’s absolutly faboulous.
But I strongly recommend a Alberta for anyone looking for a TS808, that’s in fact slightly better than the original.
Keep up the great work, Björn!
[Thanks for the tip Johan! – Bjorn]
Impressives soundlips, Bjorn.
Lovely TS sounds coming from your first clip. It is totally this end 80’s sound that David Gilmour used to have.
A great listening, thank you very much.
[Thanks Deck! – Bjorn]
Great review and soundclips(!) of two amazing pedals!
Also, I like the philosophy behind your story.
This way you can get a sound / EQ(!) of the recordings we all know and love in “home situations”.
However, it must have been a (slightly) different tone that was comming out of the amp 30 years ago, during the recording sessions. I believe, the actual producer (mixing desk) did alter the overall EQ of the tracks quite a bit. These albums were masterpieces of the whole studio team. (from sound engineer to producer and end-mastering).
Good to read some advice on a topic like this, because not everybody has all the gear of David…
I’ve just received my BYOC Ram’s Head, it has an extra switch allowing to select the classic Muff “mid scooped” sound or adding more mid to the tone.
Somehow I like it the classic way.
I’ll have to test it within context (within an actual mix).
I will make some recordings soon.
Cheers,
Ernest
[Thanks Ernest! I think both pedals are an excellent choice especially when you’re only sitting at home playing. They will sound great on almost any setup. I think most recordings are altered or mixed.. some more than others. On an Island and Fin Cut seems to be fairly clean but Dark Side, WYWH, Animals and Wall especially is the result of some heavy studio tricker. Not to mention PULSE. Keep me posted on your new BYOC :) Cheers! – Bjorn]
I know everyone will think this is crazy but the Behringer T0800 (Vintage Tube Overdrive) is actually a decent sounding overdrive. It is by far the cheapest thing on my board (plastic housing, super cheap knobs, weak, pcb mounted switch, etc) but it sounds dead on to the tube screamers and clones I have tried. For the price ($20) I just keep a spare around.
I’m also considering the GGG tube screamer kit that is on sale this month. I’m a sucker for diy pedals these days.
[I’ve done some pretty convincing A/B testing of the Maxon and the Behringer T0800. They sound very similar and the TO800 is a great budget alternative. – Bjorn]
Not crazy, Mark. The TO800 sounds great and it’s amazingly quiet for a $25 pedal!
I like the way it adds presence and brings out wonderful harmonics (takes the blanket off the amp). Plus, its 4558 opamp and other choice of components make it a very good, inexpensive clone of the Ibanez 808 Tube Screamer.
I’m thinking about adding a second one to set for rhythm and all the time on playing. Then setting the other one to kick on for leads. I’ve read that SRV did that at times with 2 Tube Screamers.
On the Dogs of War demo can you get that sound with a Strat!!
Cuz that is the sound i’ve always wanted!!
[Yep. Don’t know why I used the Telecaster but I get the same tone from my Strat. – Bjorn]
Nice picks! I’ve got a Digitech Bad Monkey and it suits my OD needs perfectly (and I hated Digitech before I tried one out). Highly recommended!
Totally agree mate…i flip flop between a BAd MOnkey, a Tube Screamer, and the Allan holdsworth overdrive pedal by rockett….(depending on the guitars i use and pickups) and the Bad monkey is easily my fav…and the cheapest of the 3 ! But i highly recommend the Tube screamer by ibanze and the new Allan Holdsworth pedal by Rockett.
Hi there, the very last thing you said about these two pedals is true. They’re much more versatile than Fuzz Faces or Big Muffs besides being a little cheaper too.
Personally, I got a recent RAT II (60 euros used) and with a very little money I can get David-like tones (combining and alternating it with a Chandler Tube Driver and a BYOC Large Beaver muff clone) as well as more heavy and “modern” tones like the Foo Fighters one (from what I know they’re RAT users too).
I believe this is one of the pedals that fits many guitarists needs, not only for Gilmour-addicted ones!
[Agree. While the Big Muff may sound better or more interesting or whatever, it’s not very versatile and it can sound horrible in some situations. The RAT seems to fit any musical style. As does the Tube Screamer. – Bjorn]