Pastfx Td-y
Melia Hazinski
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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?
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?
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
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.
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 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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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