Transparent pedals comparison

Which circuit would you use into a clean amp?

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    26
  • Poll closed .
I like Klons to boost a Marshall style amp with the gain low and level medium (they always have tons of output). Nobels are good for adding drive to a clean amp, especially leaner or brighter sounding ones. Timmy is good to add a really transparent subtle overdrive to an amp. I haven't found a great use for a Bluesbreaker yet to be honest.
 
newpedals said:
We had set the amp a little past break up. The Klone sounded amazing.
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So the goal is to go from Gain a little past breakup to … just a little more. My Clean channel has a Lead switch – as does the Crunch.

But then
newpedals said:
It had quite some gain, and we turned down the drive on the amp. It sounded glorious.

If we had to chose one pedal, if plugging into a clean amp - undoubtedly we would chose the Nobleman.
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That means you are using the pedal for all the Gain on the Clean channel. Not a Boost, nor Transparent – it’s all the Gain.

In that case, I’d use my AmpTweaker Tight Drive Pro and/or Big Rock Pro that can go from clean to full bore Distortion, have their own FX loops, Boost, noise gates etc. and were built by an amp designer who made the 5150 with and for Eddie.

But no one would call them Transparent. Just really good Drives and Distortions.

Pedal terminology can be all over the place, and learning it in person can cost $$$. This seems more of a general OD thread.
:beer
 
Amp EQ was set flat. We had dialed in the overdrive on the amp a little past breaking up. We retained these settings while trying other pedals, but then we liked to see how the Nobels clone sounded.

The Nobels seemed to have quite some gain, and also seemed to boost the bass frequencies, so we turned down the gain on the amp.
 
Both the Klone and the bluesbreaker clones seemed to remove some bass frequencies from the sound.

My ears may have deceived me but the Bluesbreaker clone seemed to retain more Bass frequencies than the Klone. I am guessing every clone is built differently, and electronic components may differ from one pedal to the next.
 
The timmy seems to be the most versatile from an EQ point of view. The bass knob will help a user kind of fine tune their sound.
 
Many people will use their amp footswitches to change their sound while practicing.

But sometimes it's not possible to carry an amp to venues, maybe because one doesn't have a car.

Backline amp users will like to have some options at their feet, and pedals provide these.
 
I've used two that I really like:

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1744169492813.png


One or both of these is always on my board. The RC is nice because it has a second gain stage too should I want to use it.
 
newpedals said:
Amp EQ was set flat. We had dialed in the overdrive on the amp a little past breaking up. We retained these settings while trying other pedals, but then we liked to see how the Nobels clone sounded.

The Nobels seemed to have quite some gain, and also seemed to boost the bass frequencies, so we turned down the gain on the amp.
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If by flat you mean knobs at noon...that's not flat unless the amp has an active EQ. Most don't.

The ODR-1 either boosts bass and treble, or midrange depending on where the Spectrum control points.

newpedals said:
Both the Klone and the bluesbreaker clones seemed to remove some bass frequencies from the sound.

My ears may have deceived me but the Bluesbreaker clone seemed to retain more Bass frequencies than the Klone. I am guessing every clone is built differently, and electronic components may differ from one pedal to the next.
Click to expand...
Most drive pedals remove bass, because if they didn't your sound would get tubby and farty if you keep pushing more gain. How much, depends on the pedal.

https://rhpfelectronics.com/rhpf-electronics-handmade-guitar-pedals-in-switzerland/rhpf-nerd-lab/ might be a fun resource for you. Whoever made this plotted the behavior of the knobs of a bunch of pedals.

Now it's not necessarily accurate as it ignores any interaction the knobs might have in the circuit, but still fun to get an idea.
 
newpedals said:
Thank you for replying.

How does this Mesa pedal differ from their flux circuit? They have the same color scheme.

Two footswitches so close on the RC must require quite some tap dancing skills.
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The flux is a tubescreamer type, more similar to the grid slammer. The tone burst even at maximum gain is still clean. It's just a circuit that adds depth and sparkle to your sound. I think it's just amazing for the type of gain it adds.
 
Desertdweller said:
The flux is a tubescreamer type, more similar to the grid slammer. The tone burst even at maximum gain is still clean. It's just a circuit that adds depth and sparkle to your sound. I think it's just amazing for the type of gain it adds.
Click to expand...

I am guessing the tone burst belongs to the RC Booster family, sound-wise. The circuit may or may not be similar.
 
the swede said:
Timmy was always my favorite OD pedal since its EQ is so useful. I very much liked it as a standalone dirt pedal to, into a clean amp.
I do remember preferring the toggle in the assym. position.

for the time being ive got a Honey Bee by One Control on the way. It will be my first foray into the Björn Juhl stuff (Mad Professor, Bearfoot, BJFE, One Control). The Honey Bee drive has quite the reputation for being very "amp like" and dynamic, being a "amp in the box" type of design, so it will be interesting. Mainly because i was searching for a mini drive pedal, had my sights on Timmy mini or Duke of Tone, but i quickly found myself listening to all the Honey Bee videos i could find.

The One Control versions






Bearfoot version
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Whoa, I was just checking BJFE and used prices have exploded! Is there some story there? They used to be reasonably inexpensive

A Honey Bee had been on my list for a while
 
metropolis_4 said:
Whoa, I was just checking BJFE and used prices have exploded! Is there some story there? They used to be reasonably inexpensive

A Honey Bee had been on my list for a while
Click to expand...

I always thought the BJFE stuff was super expensive used. There is the Handwired and pcb versions, the hand wired are the ones that I always thought went for a lot of money.
 
metropolis_4 said:
Whoa, I was just checking BJFE and used prices have exploded! Is there some story there? They used to be reasonably inexpensive

A Honey Bee had been on my list for a while
Click to expand...
im salivating over a One Control Honey Bee 4K right now, arrived today.
I don't know what to say, it's awesome.... instant love, perfection.... quality!

I think the story is somewhat complicated, but luckily Björn always has pushed for availability wether its by Mad Professor, Bearfoot, BJFE, One Control.... his designs is all over and prices have gone up and down depending on hype or his relationship with manufacturers (I think). I know the people at OC worships him and he seem to have been able to do everything he wanted through them, including taking care of his own designs and further develop them.

must say... the Honey Bee is awesome stuff. By far the best drive pedal I´ve laid my hands on. People praise the Barber Gain Changer (wich I also have) but damn.... if this Honey Bee stuff isn't a notch up in terms of "feel" and dynamics. Brilliant stuff indeed.
 
the swede said:
im salivating over a One Control Honey Bee 4K right now, arrived today.
I don't know what to say, it's awesome.... instant love, perfection.... quality!

I think the story is somewhat complicated, but luckily Björn always has pushed for availability wether its by Mad Professor, Bearfoot, BJFE, One Control.... his designs is all over and prices have gone up and down depending on hype or his relationship with manufacturers (I think). I know the people at OC worships him and he seem to have been able to do everything he wanted through them, including taking care of his own designs and further develop them.

must say... the Honey Bee is awesome stuff. By far the best drive pedal I´ve laid my hands on. People praise the Barber Gain Changer (wich I also have) but damn.... if this Honey Bee stuff isn't a notch up in terms of "feel" and dynamics. Brilliant stuff indeed.
Click to expand...

I'm a big fun of the Honey Bee and sweet honey into Fenders.
 
The only stomp I use that is truly transparent is my MXR CAE Boost/Line Driver

www.jimdunlop.com

MXR® CAE BOOST/LINE DRIVER

From picks to pedals and every accessory in between, Dunlop Manufacturing has been creating world-class gear for musicians for over 50 years. We consistently create the best selling picks and analog electronics, and carry a large line of accessories that set industry standards in their...
www.jimdunlop.com www.jimdunlop.com

It's sole purpose is boost; up to 20dB


...I have a J Rockett Archer IKON and it's cool, but I wouldn't call it transparent.
 
newpedals said:
I am guessing the tone burst belongs to the RC Booster family, sound-wise. The circuit may or may not be similar.
Click to expand...
Might be why I like these two over all the others for making a clean sound really sparkle. The Tone Burst sounds a little better than the RC, but the RC has the second gain stage optionally, so it’s on my board right now instead of the Tone Burst for that reason.
 
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