Turning a Metal Zone to an Overdrive

A few years ago Brian Wampler made a few videos that demonstrated some mod ideas. Brian Wampler Might be my spirit animal because the first mod he posted to his YouTube channel was one that changed a BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone into an overdrive. Where are the monuments for this man? He is doing the lords work. However, I know that I'd never perform this mod because I'm not going pause and back up a video the thousand times I'd need to follow his instructions. So I went to transcribe it down.

All credit to Brian Wampler. Please Follow, Subscribe, Like, Comment and generally stalk him on all social medias

link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6aoE3wId3Y&t=627s

Converting MT-2 Metal Zone to overdrive mod:

Remove C35, C25,
Change C34 to .047mf
Remove D003, D004
Change R41 4.7k
Change C30 .047mf
Remove C17 Q007 C25 Q008

Replace C37 with 1n4148 diodes (two inline for asymmetrical or you can make a devils triangle for symmetrical) and cross those with a 100pf Cap

Refer to Brian's video in the link above for additional help/demo.ect.

NAMM 2018: MXR Sugar Drive Overdrive Pedal

MXR make some of the most iconic pedals on the market. I was excited to hear that this year at NAMM they've added several pedals to the line. Addmittedly, the pedal I most excited for is the MXR Sugar Drive. I'm a sucker for a transparent overdrive and this one seem to fit that description to a tee. In fact, several times, the guys at the MXR booth stop just short of calling it a Klone clone by name. So, if you like your pedals tiny and you are also a fan of MXR, then this is right up your ally. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that there are some other pedals strikingly similar to the MXR (Tone City Bad Horse) but the MXR does have a bypass-able buffer, so there is that.

More Information:


This year, MXR is releasing its own take—dubbed the Sugar Drive—on a rare, beloved circuit from the '90s. Packed into a pedalboard-friendly mini chassis, the pedal provides a wide range of tones, from driving boost to lush overdrive.
The pedal's interface is clean, with only three knob controls—Tone, Drive, and Volume—and an on/off footswitch on its face. Despite its simplistic aesthetic, the pedal's finely tuned circuitry is a bit more dynamic than it appears.
Instead of a Drive knob that simply increases the pedal's intensity, it actually grabs your clean, unaffected signal and blends it with the overdrive as you turn the knob. Then, the pedal's "Charge Pump" increases headroom by increasing the operating voltage. This makes for a deeper, more progressive move from clean tone to affected dirty tone and allows your sound to open up more naturally.
On the side of the chassis, you'll find a selectable switch and corresponding LED indicator for choosing between true bypass or MXR's buffered bypass.

NAMM 2018: Outlaw FX Cactus Juice 2-Mode Overdrive

If you are a fan of inexpensive compact guitar pedals, then you probably already know about Outlaw effects. They hit the scene a couple years ago and they have been expanding their line steadily since. Also, if you like your effects western themed, you are defiantly a fan of Outlaw. The Cactus Juice Overdrive is a pretty typical mid-humped Scream-type pedal. The one thing that sets this pedal apart is the switch. Labeled Juiced/Normal, what the switch actually does may be up for debate. But at least we get something more than another tube screamer clone. I'd like to put this next to my other TS pedals and see how it stands up.

From Effects Database:

Classic warm, creamy screamer-inspired drive is tonic for your tone
JUICED/NORMAL toggle switch offers additional versatility, with higher gain setting accessible with a flick of a switch:

• NORMAL: Traditionally warm and creamy breakup, great for rhythm parts, blues guitars, etc
• JUICED:  Ups the gain dosage to extra strength, and lets you tear through even the densest of mixes.

Level, Gain and Tone knobs give you complete control over your sound


More than 23000 guitar effects pedals from 4000 brands:
http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/outlaw/cactusjuice

NAMM 2018: Keeley Aria Compression And Overdrive

Keeley has had a reputation of putting out products that are extremely practical. The Aria Compressor and Overdrive is no different. Natural, sweet sounding sustain married to a light/medium overdrive circuit is a solid option to start you signal chain. The compact form and top-jacks make the form factor a thing of beauty. The demos make this pedal very tempting. If you are a fan of this type of combo pedals, you should check this one out.

From Gear News:




Keeley has announced its new Aria Compressor + Overdrive/Distortion pedal, which, as the name subtly suggests, combines a compression and a drive channel into one pedal.

Keeley Aria

Each side of the effect has dedicated controls. The left side takes care of the Drive part, while the right side is on Compressor duty. ‘Drive’ is equipped with the usual three controls: Volume, Gain and Drive. In addition, there is a small lever that raises the degree of distortion of Overdrive (Low) to Distortion (High).


The Compressor side also has three controls: Level, Blend and Sustain and below, another, small pot for Tone. A lever in the middle of the effect allows the order of the effects can be changed, so either one can go first in the signal chain.


The Aria looks a little bit like a cut-down version of their Tone Workstation, but without Mid Cut, Boost and whatnot. Check out the official Keeley demo video of the Aria below and then you can get an idea of how it sounds. It does look like a useful pedal, but it would have to have two really good sides to that circuit to make me want to part with my existing drive and compression pedals.
Keeley has a good reputation for compressor pedals, so this one could be worth a punt if the price is right. As of the time of writing, we don’t yet have a price or any more information on the Aria, so keep checking their official website closer to the show.

NAMM 2018: Chase Bliss Audio Condor EQ/Pre/Filter

Just ahead of NAMM, Chase Bliss Audio has announced the Condor EQ/Pre/Filter. While Not much about the pedal is known at this point. It looks to be a powerful tone shaping tool. Chase Bliss Audio posted earlier today on Facebook, "No trolling/teasing this year, straight to it. Introducing Condor™: Analog EQ / Pre / Filter. Release: 4/16/18. $349. 100% analog signal path with digital control/presets/midi. Switchable to clean or overdrive. Parametric boost/cut mids control from 150Hz to 5kHz with 3 “Q” settings. Bass boost/cut control with 3 intensity settings. LPF filter with 3 settings: normal, slight resonant, very resonant. Ramping/hold functionality for LFO filter tremolo effects. True bypass or buffered bypass selectable via dip switch. Come try it out at NAMM next week, booth 3744. We are still tweaking the design so customer feedback is desired and appreciated."

100% analog signal path with digital control/presets/midi.
Switchable to clean or overdrive.
Parametric boost/cut mids control from 150Hz to 5kHz with 3 settings.
Bass boost/cut control with 3 intensity settings. 
LPF filter with 3 settings: normal, slight resonant, very resonant.
Ramping/hold functionality for LFO filter tremolo effects.
True bypass or buffered bypass selectable via dip switch.

This is probably one of the more major releases this year at NAMM. I'm looking forward to seeing the full range of its features. Alway exhaustive in their features, Chase Bliss seems to over produce with each of their products. This pedal seems to be no different.

NAMM 2018: Way Huge Pork and Pickle

Way Huge have unveiled the Pork and Pickle Bass Overdrive and Fuzz. For those that aren't a follower of Mr. Tripps, this looks like a combination of the Pork Loin overdrive and the Swollen Pickle fuzz. Bass player rejoice. Although maybe bass players already use Way Huge pedals in their sound, This pedal is designed with them in mind. The two blend knobs give the low-end thumpers the control over just how dirty they want to get. This pedal looks pretty spectacular.

The Details:

-Combines two great bass-friendly effects in a single housing
-The Pork Loin OD circuit provides warm, soft-clipping overdrive
-Russian-Pickle Fuzz provides thick, fatty fuzz
-Blend a sauced up clean signal with either circuit
-Control interface offers a wide range of tweakable tones

The Way Huge® Pork & Pickle™ Bass Overdrive & Fuzz™ serves up a perfectly balanced diet of gnarly tones for bass players who like to get down and dirty. The first ever bass pedal from Way Huge, this delectable dish combines the warm, soft-clipping tones of the Pork Loin Overdrive and the rich, fatty tones of the Russian Pickle Fuzz in a single package. To toggle between the two, just flip the OD/Fuzz switch.

The Volume, Tone, and Drive controls perform their standard functions, applying to whichever dirt circuit is selected. This pedal has the Pork Loin Overdrive’s distinct sauced up clean channel from the Pork Loin Overdrive—a modified classic British style preamp—but it can be used with either mode. That means that, for the first time, you can run the Russian-Pickle Fuzz signal alongside that super sweet sounding clean channel. Stir in as much of the clean signal as you need with the Clean Blend control, and then use the Clean Tone control to season it to taste. If you’re the adventurous type, internal controls allow you to concoct more complex tonal recipes.

The Pork Loin and Russian-Pickle circuits each have a level control so you can set how much overdrive or fuzz is unleashed by external Volume control. Curve and Presence controls let you further refine the tone of the Pork Loin signal.

Ugly Guitar Truth: Mad Professor Little Tweedy

Mad Professor is known for putting out great products. This pedal is no different. It is closely related to the Bid Tweedy, but it goes more the sound and feel of a smaller tweed combo like the Tweed Deluxe. From the demo up on the Mad Professor YouTube page, it nails it pretty well.

From Mad Professor:

The Little Tweedy Drive is voiced after the famous small Tweed amp tone, like the tone on Tweed Deluxe. The Little Tweedy Drive provides a vintage tone that is used on many recordings: big, fat & punchy midrange with a sweet growl reminiscent of the late 50´s amplifiers. The Little Tweedy Drive has a tone that almost purrs!

With the Little Tweedy Drive, you don´t just have the Tweed tone, but also the hard to get dynamics and touch sensitivity that are the qualities that have made the Tweed amps classic and raved about among the players.

This unique pedal it is the most amp-like feeling pedal you have ever experienced.

Adjusting the amount of gain by picking attack or guitar volume and using the tone controls on your instrument, makes the Little Tweedy Drive pedal fit into a surprisingly broad range of genres: from jazz & blues to country and rock´n´roll!

Another great feature is that its gain stacks very well too. You can get more saturated and higher gain tones by placing a booster or another overdrive pedal in front of the Little Tweedy Drive.

The Little Tweedy Drive works equally well in front of a clean amp or an already distorted amp.

Thanks to the nicely balanced internal compression, the Little Tweedy Drive cleans up very well from the guitar´s volume control. Also, just like on the vintage Tweed amp, the output volume will not drop too much.

Controls:

VOLUME: Sets the output level.
DRIVE: Adjusts the amount of distortion.
TREBLE: Adjusts the amount of high frequencies. The range is from a significant high-frequency cut to a slight high-frequency boost.
BASS: Adjusts the amount of low frequencies. The range is from a significant low-frequency cut to a slight low-frequency boost.
Specifications:

Current consumption 15mA at 9VDC
Supply voltage range 7.5V to 18V (9V recommended, the sound of the pedal depends on the supply voltage.
Input impedance 500 kOhm at 1 kHz
Output impedance 1 kOhm
Complete bypass (true bypass)
Power requirements: 6f22 9V battery or DC eliminator 2.1 mm plug, center negative and positive sleeve.

Conclusion:

I dig the pedal. However, I'm a bit of a tightwad. I usually try to pick up pricier pedals on the used market. But, if you are looking for that tweed sound, then you might want to consider picking one of these pedals up. I guess the ugliest truth about this pedal is that you have to wait until April to get your hands on one.

Ugly Guitar Truth: TC Electronic El Mocambo Overdrive

Upon the announcement of the new El Mocambo, Tore himself practically called the new pedal a Tube Screamer. Uncertain whether this is a TS-9 or TS-808 clone, the allusion to "the most ledgendary overdrive circuit ever designed" almost assures it is one of the two.

Why Do We Need Another TS Pedal?


Short answer is that we don't. But, when you are cranking out pedal after pedal for your corporate overlords, a tube screamer is a sure-fire win. It's a simple circuit, so all you have to do is give it a cool name and mount it in a decommission soviet tank and call it a day.


Who really Needs To Buy A Pedal


I own two tube screamers (a TS-9 and TS-808) but I have many more that give me that same feel. Honestly, I prefer an OCD to either of my TS pedals. But, I can't deny the fact that I have a morbid curiosity when it comes to this pedal. I want to know what it sounds like compared to my other mid-humped overdrive. I know it's going to sound the same... but the marketing it too strong.


Conclusion


If you are trying to move to all your pedal having top jacks, or if you need a pedal that you could break a car window or fight out an attacker with, then you might want to check out this pedal. However, if you already have a TS type people, maybe try before you buy. If you've never used a TS or you want a TS but want to spend a little less, then maybe this pedal is for you.

Ugly Guitar Truth: EHX Hot Wax Overdrive

Somehow, EHX was about to the keep the announcement of their new overdrive pedal a secret from me for the last few weeks. They have produced a new dual overdrive pedal that has taken me by surprise. The Hot Wax is not at all what I expected for Electro Harmonix. As it is explained by EHX, the Hot Wax overdrive is basically the Hot Tubes overdrive mated with the Crayon overdrive. Is this a match made in heaven or some hellish concoction? Let's discuss.

It's Probably Not What You'd Expect

Unlike previous match ups, the two drive circuits share some functions. This means the two drives are not independent from one another. Unlike the Turnip Greens and Soul POG, this pedal shares tone controls and does not feature an effects loop. Were these cost cutting measures or lazy design? Maybe neither. Electro Harmonix is, if nothing else, a company that doesn't suppress creation. Does this mean that everything they make is a winner? Hardly. I imagine when something at EHX make Mike Matthews say, "That's cool." it gets produced. At least they aren't telling us that this is the latest and great, brand new, totally original design from EHX. They're honest. They told us that if these two pedal had a baby, then this is the result. It's not two pedals in the same box, it's a product of commingling,

It's Nothing New

I know we discussed how it was the product of two other pedals, but there is a problem whenever you have these situation. These two pedals, respectively, have been on the market a while. I checked out the Hot Tubes when I first noticed it a few years ago. I passed then. I was rather excited about the Crayon during its release, and it continues to be a go to pedal for me. It could be that these pedals sound great together, but that would only prompt me to buy a Hot Tube pedal to test that theory.

Rebranding

What EHX may be doing is branch out into larger, more complected drive pedals. Looking back at the catalog of EHX drive pedals, you'll notice their wasn't much that didn't have MUFF in the name. The popularity of their (for the lack of a better word) clone pedals is allowing them to move in a different direction. Let the Muff return to its fuzz roots and develop overdrive circuits that stand on their own. While most drive options have been compact, three-knob-jobs, the line needs more complete and capable gain stage options. Instead of reinventing the wheel, Eletro Harmonix married two existing circuits. Instead of blowing (cigar) smoke up our collective butts, they gave us the truth. Respect. But this could all just be EHX trying to flesh out there Drive pedals with a more diverse offering.

Conclusion

For me, I already own a Crayon, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to pick up this pedal. I would like to give a run through. For someone looking for a overdrive/boost or dual overdrive pedal, then this might be your thing. The Hot Tubes in my opinion does a fine job at being a mid/light gain, mid-humped overdrive. The Crayon is a good sounding, flexible overdrive. Put them together and what do you get? Magic? Gold? ... Hot Wax...

Support the blog by shopping on Amazon by using my link!

There should be an ad below:

Ugly Guitar Truth: BOSS 40th Anniversary Box Set

BOSS pedals just announced that they are reissuing some of their first pedal they have ever produced. The SP-1 Spectrum, OD-1 Over Drive, and PH-1 Phaser are being produced in a hand-made, small batch manufactured in Japan. Vintage pedal collectors and enthusiasts of vintage effects know the importance of such pedals. Before now, to find and acquire one of these pedal out in the wild would mean throwing down big money. The Spectrum pedal can fetch around $500 on the open market. So is this a treasure to be had or a gimmick to be avoided. Let check it out...

It's A Gamble

There is a phenomenon in the guitar world especially guitar pedals. When a item is discontinued it either fades to obscurity, or rises to near-legendary status. The later happened with the Klon and King of Tone, and the former has happened to many non-nameless pedals. However, rereleasing vintage pedals isn't money in the bank necessarily. The Tuber Screamer is a great case in point. The TS-808 in currently available in a rereleased form, but it bares such a strong resemblance to the TS-9 and is heavily clone and copied that the effect is readily available in countless iterations. So the strongest motivation to by an 808 or this box set is nostalgia.

Money Grab

We have to mention the price of the set. $900 for the three pedals. Yes it comes in a really nice display box. but at today's market value, these pedals would only set you back about $700. The real gem here is the Spectrum. It is a single band parametric EQ. That means you can choose to boost or cut one frequency. You can pick up a brand new Empress Para EQ pedal that blows this out of the water for half the price of the vintage pedal. The OD-1 and PH-1 are both obsolete and replaceable by pedals that no more than what their vintage counterparts fetch. Is this an attempt to capitalize on the vintage pedal market by BOSS? Ehh, well...


Because They Can

If BOSS put out these pedals as a part of their regular run with inflated prices, then I wouldn't hesitate to dismiss this as a cheap money grab. However, they are only made 1,500 of these sets. That probably less than one per each guitar shop in the US let alone the world. This a milestone for BOSS. The set was crafted by hand in Japan in small numbers. BOSS has sold millions of pedals. They don't need to jack up the prices of 1,500 units. Everything about this set is focused towards a serious collector. The price an limited run are to insure exclusivity. I'm sure there are those willing to pay that price for three pedals that will remain in a box.


Conclusion

When I first heard about these pedals, I thought that they were going to be like the WAZA line. But this is something all together different. These are a special collectors item. Pedal Nostalgia has been a thing for a while now, and BOSS is giving the market something that it has wanted for a while now. I'm not going to buy this set. I don't have that kind of money to throw at pedal I don't intend to use. However, if they rerelease the Slow Gear that might be a different story...

Support the blog by shopping on Amazon by using my link!

There should be an ad below:

Klon Announces A New Pedal At NAMM

Klon is surrounded be a mystic cloud that plucks magic and pixie dust out of an another dimension, then mixes them with electronic components and creates other-worldly pedals that entrance the unwitting player. That very same Klon has now bestowed us mere mortals with another creation of pure essence

...and it's a boost.

Klons first 'new' pedal in years and it is basically a Klon overdrive without the overdrive. As it was explained, This is the same pedal, but without the clipping section, so to give you a boost without the drive. This came about from the typical use of Klon pedal. Mostly use to boost the signal in a chain of other effects. Now we have a unit to do just that, but nothing else. May this is a lower cost offering from Klon. Maybe this is just an uninspired follow up to an outragously popular pedal. I don't know.

Support the blog by shopping on Amazon by using my link!

There should be an ad below:

$10 Overdrive vs $200 Overdrive

I've had a small credit sitting around at a music store. I honestly had no idea what I was going to use it for. I'm fairly well off on picks and strings and all that, so it has been sitting their. I noticed they had marked a Behringer Tube Overdrive right in my price range. I purchased the pedal with zero money down. Armed with a new pedal. I took it home and wondered what I was going to do with. I hadn't even tried it out at the store. It hit me. I'll put it out against my vintage Ibanez TS-9. Similar pedals sell for $200+. I thought it would make for a great "David vs Goliath" (kinda like how the Anderton's YouTube channel does) show down.

Long story short, There was a noticeable difference. The difference was present, but surprisingly small. the pedals made similar sounds. The Behringer was directly related to the Tube Screamer if not directly cloned. The biggest difference in the sounds was the amount of bass. The Vintage TS-9 was just a lot fuller sounding. The low end got left out for the most part when the Behringer overdrive was on. Also, the buffer in the Behringer sucked a little top end off. Putting the Behringer in a bypass loop, I was able to hear a little high end loss when it was kicked on. (This was confirmed in a bind sound-test) 2/3 I was able to tel when the pedal was in the loop. I blame the single time I was able to do so to the fact that my tone controls were tuned down accidentally.

The biggest shock of the whole test was the fact that the 30 year pedal was actually more reliable than the brand new one. Turn the Behringer was a hit or miss affair usually taking a few attempts. The Ibanez had no such problem. I have had to replace the switch in the Vintage pedal, but there really isn't any reason to have to repair a brand new effect.

Conclusion:

Did the more expensive pedal sound better? Yes. It also worked better in general. Did it perform 20 times better? No, but there are many pedal that do an excellent job of sounding like an iconic Tube Screamer and performing reliably.

Support the blog by shopping on Amazon by using my link!

There should be an ad below: