Stunned by Fulltone Fulldrive 2
Jack A. Zucker
Fulldrive 2. For my tastes, this is absolutely the best overdrive
pedal I have ever heard. Apparently the 2003 version has a slight mod
to the FM mode (flat mids) making it a bit more transparent. Whether
this is marketing hype or not, I don't know but I can tell you that
it's sweeter and lets more of the guitar's tone and dynamics "shine"
through than the previous versions.
At lower distortion settings, complex altered chords (including some
with 1/2 steps ala: http://www.jackzucker.com/JazGuitar/lessons/chords.htm)
sounded wonderful without the raspyness of other overdrive pedals I've
tried.
Boost mode yields a gorgeous Robbin Ford meets Eric Johnson type of
tone. Very dynamic and smooth and yet, little things like pick squeaks
are very prominant making this pedal really shine in comparison to
many of the others I've tried.
Additionally, it sounds equally great in front of a tube or solid
state amp. It turned a Transtube Peavey Bandit's clean channel into a
very tube-like amp. Several folks in the store came up and were
shocked at the tone that was coming out of a solid state amp! Contrary
to some folks' comments, I don't hear much if any bass roll-off
either. If the bass rolloff was occuring, it's very minimal.
Check this pedal out if you get a chance.
Jaz
paul
wrote:
>I just had a cosmic experience with a newly aquired 2003 Fulltone
>Fulldrive 2. For my tastes, this is absolutely the best overdrive
>pedal I have ever heard.
sounds good. lemme know before you sell it :).
--paul
Pt
Pt
Steve
(snip)
>Additionally, it sounds equally great in front of a tube or solid
>state amp. It turned a Transtube Peavey Bandit's clean channel into a
>very tube-like amp. Several folks in the store came up and were
>shocked at the tone that was coming out of a solid state amp!
I'm using a solid-state amp for gigs now--started purely as a save-my-back
weight consideration--and the Fulldrive2 doesn;t just make it sound good, it
sounds GREAT.
For almost-clean tones, I often engage the pedal in non-boosted mode, then kick
in a boost pedal AFTER the Fulldrive 2...then roll the guitar volume off. This
gives an 'old tube amp' situation; turn down, and it's pretty clean; turn up
or, say, dig in hard with a double stop, and it smears...hit the boost and turn
up, and it sings.
Very nice pedal.
SEFSTRAT
solo webpage: http://members.aol.com/sefstrat/index.html/sefpage.html
band webpage: www.timebanditsrock.com
Richard
> j...@jackzucker.com (Jack A. Zucker) wrote:
>
> >I just had a cosmic experience with a newly aquired 2003 Fulltone
> >Fulldrive 2. For my tastes, this is absolutely the best overdrive
> >pedal I have ever heard.
>
> sounds good. lemme know before you sell it :).
LOL.
--
For email, put NOT SPAM in Subject or I won't see your msg.
<><
"Jazz is the teacher, Funk is the preacher"
Road Warrior
"Jack A. Zucker" <j...@jackzucker.com> wrote in message
news:2f33c43f.03053...@posting.google.com...
> Check this pedal out if you get a chance.
I like my old NON FM version better. I have both. Can't tell you why, but
the new one doesn't have the personality the older ones have, but that may
be the reason you like it.
--
Jeff
http://www.mp3.com/JeffLiberatore
http://www.onlinerock.com/musicians/jl130/
http://www.thejack.com
Jack A. Zucker
away!
"Road Warrior" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:bb8g5i$6mpul$1...@ID-70176.news.dfncis.de...
Jack A. Zucker
"paul" <pcsa...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:3ed798ad....@News.CIS.DFN.DE...
Jack A. Zucker
"Steve" <sefs...@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20030530135733...@mb-m02.aol.com...
Road Warrior
> It's very subjective. My new one blows my old non-fm and my old fm
>version away!
Yeah, is IS very subjective. You called the new pedal more "transparent"
than the old FM model (and I agree), but I personally like the non FM model
better to begin with beCAUSE of the mid boost. The new pedal doesn't do the
"non compressed", or "non flat mids" thing very well (IMO). Still, I retired
my old one to the studio, and use the new one for gigs. Can't live without
it, even though I like the old one better. If that tells you anything.
Have you tried a Fat Boost yet? It's great in combination with the FD's...
Carlfia
Nobody
Jack A. Zucker <j...@jackzucker.com> wrote in article <2f33c43f.03053...@posting.google.com>...
> I just had a cosmic experience with a newly aquired 2003 Fulltone
> Fulldrive 2. For my tastes, this is absolutely the best overdrive
> pedal I have ever heard. Apparently the 2003 version has a slight mod
> to the FM mode (flat mids) making it a bit more transparent. Whether
> this is marketing hype or not, I don't know but I can tell you that
> it's sweeter and lets more of the guitar's tone and dynamics "shine"
> through than the previous versions.
Glad you found an OD pedal you like!
Nobody
Richard <rh...@hotmail.com> wrote in article <MPG.1941661d7...@199.45.49.11>...
> pcsa...@pobox.com wrote:
> > j...@jackzucker.com (Jack A. Zucker) wrote:
> >
> > >I just had a cosmic experience with a newly aquired 2003 Fulltone
> > >Fulldrive 2. For my tastes, this is absolutely the best overdrive
> > >pedal I have ever heard.
> >
> > sounds good. lemme know before you sell it :).
>
> LOL.
I give it until just before the refund date expires :o)
Hey...am I the only dude here that *does not* use any od or distortion or boost pedals?
Richard
> Hey...am I the only dude here that *does not* use any od or distortion
> or boost pedals?
You and Thompson, I guess.
Robert Cooney
"Nobody " <NobodyU...@aDELETEol.com> wrote in message
news:01c326fb$5f404480$e4c9...@715162529worldnet.att.net...
I don't use mine anymore. Just leave my toob amp cranked and use the
guitar's volume to dial in more rawk.
Rob
JMK
news:01c326fb$5f404480$e4c9...@715162529worldnet.att.net:
I don't but that isn't a long term thing.
JMK
--
jMkaihatu AT bellsouthNOPE DOT net
(remove caps and do the usual to reply)
Jack A. Zucker
out of the plastic housing) and they said it was my fault and wanted $100 to
fix it.
"Carlfia" <car...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:RRQBa.2326$Hf5.7...@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...
Carlfia
--
"Jack A. Zucker" <j...@jackzucker.com> wrote in message
news:ADSBa.666$xM5.9...@news2.news.adelphia.net...
> I had an early nobels product and it went bad in the first week (jack
broke
> out of the plastic housing) and they said it was my fault and wanted $100
to
> fix it.
Yes, it's cheap but sounds great.
I had a yellow Custom Shop FD-II with the new features. Pretty good, but
not enough gain for me.
ruel24
> I just had a cosmic experience with a newly aquired 2003 Fulltone
> Fulldrive 2. For my tastes, this is absolutely the best overdrive
> pedal I have ever heard. Apparently the 2003 version has a slight mod
> to the FM mode (flat mids) making it a bit more transparent. Whether
> this is marketing hype or not, I don't know but I can tell you that
> it's sweeter and lets more of the guitar's tone and dynamics "shine"
> through than the previous versions.
<snip>
> Check this pedal out if you get a chance.
After getting sick and tired of the thin sound of the Digitech RP200, I
decided to take the plunge and buy a real OD pedal. I just ordered a Radial
Tonebone Classic from Musicians Friend. I looked into getting a nice Blues
Driver or TS9/808 from AnalogMan or the Fulltone Fulldrive, but after
reading such great reviews from Guitar One and Harmony Central of this OD
pedal, I just had to try it. It should be here in a couple of days.
I'm just learning, but I like to buy with the future in mind. I don't like
shelling out for $40 effects pedals that I'll just want to ditch and
replace later. I prefer to shell out $229 for something that I'll keep for
a long time. I wish I hadn't abandoned that idea when I bought the Digtech
RP200, but it was on sale and it had an instant rebate to boot when I
bought it and I took the plunge. Oh well... I'll slowly build up my pedal
collection in time, but all I think I need for awhile is a good OD pedal.
However, a Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor and a TU-2 tuner pedal would be nice
too. While I'm at it, a Boss CS-3 Compression/Sustainer... I guess it never
ends.
--
Jeep
o_o_o_o
/| ,[_____],
|ŻŻŻL --O|||||||O-
()_)Ż()_) ŻŻŻŻŻ )_)
There's only one...
Ross M Stites
>Hey...am I the only dude here that *does not* use any od or distortion or boost pedals?
There's not much need for them if you already have a high gain amp. I
suspect most of these guys are working with a single channel or at least a
"vintage" voiced amp.
FYI, I don't use pedals in most setups either. I do when I take the Champ
out though since it's single channel.
Ross
Jack A. Zucker
tastes which run from SRV/Hendrix type blues stuff to Eric Johnson or Frank
Gambale fusiony stuff. The problem with most amps these days is that their
high-gain channels have too much compression and not enough transparency.
I'm not making a value judgement on that. It's just my personal taste. The
great thing about the fulldrive is that you can plug into almost any amp's
clean channel and get a great sound. Great for jam sessions, etc...
"Ross M Stites" <stit...@garnet.tc.umn.edu> wrote in message
news:bb92ie$ap7$1...@garnet.tc.umn.edu...
Nil
news:smUBa.689$xM5.9...@news2.news.adelphia.net:
> The great thing about the fulldrive is that you can plug into
> almost any amp's clean channel and get a great sound. Great for
> jam sessions, etc...
That's what I found, too. I was very sorry when my FDII was stolen a
couple of years ago. I replaced it with a Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde. I
like the design of the J&H better, but it doesn't sound quite as nice.
Ross M Stites
>I find that most amps distorted channel don't sound good for my particular
>tastes which run from SRV/Hendrix type blues stuff to Eric Johnson or Frank
>Gambale fusiony stuff. The problem with most amps these days is that their
>high-gain channels have too much compression and not enough transparency.
>I'm not making a value judgement on that. It's just my personal taste. The
>great thing about the fulldrive is that you can plug into almost any amp's
>clean channel and get a great sound. Great for jam sessions, etc...
Understood. I already know you're after something completely different
than I am. I was just responding to Jason (aka Nobody) because I know he
uses a Mesa Subway Rocket amp that has a high gain channel in it, and he's
been very vocal about liking it's sound. I'm the same way with my amps.
I've found most pedals to be too mid-heavy and too unfocused on the bass
for my tastes, but I'm definitely after a more modern and fairly heavy
sound.
For reference, I owned one of the blue FDII's and didn't find it pushed
the front end of my Marshall 2203 enough for my tastes. I don't know if I
had a bit of a dud one, or if that pedal just lacked enough gain for my
tastes. Unfortunately, anything with enough gain sounded too unnatural
for me. It's a never-end battle, huh! :)
Ross
Ross M Stites
I just got a J&H for when I use my little Champ, and so far really like
it. It seems to me that the overdrive on the J&H is about the same as the
boosted side of the FDII, and of course the distortion side of the J&H is
way beyond the FDII. Is that your experience too? I'm just curious if my
expectations are just different from other people when I hear them talk
about how much gain the FDII boost has or if I really did have a dud?
Ross
Nil
news:bb9b6n$t43$1...@garnet.tc.umn.edu:
> I just got a J&H for when I use my little Champ, and so far really
> like it. It seems to me that the overdrive on the J&H is about
> the same as the boosted side of the FDII, and of course the
> distortion side of the J&H is way beyond the FDII. Is that your
> experience too? I'm just curious if my expectations are just
> different from other people when I hear them talk about how much
> gain the FDII boost has or if I really did have a dud?
I never had the Fulldrive and J&H together to compare them, so I'm not
really sure how to answer that. The FDII had enough gain for me,
usually, and I liked how smooth it sounded, and it was reasonably
quiet. I liked the clean gain control, but was always sorry that you
couldn't control it with the foot - pulling up the knob wasn't really
practical whilst playing.
With the J&H, I like being able to set up two different gain channels
and being able to switch between them or cascade them. The right-side
channel reminds me of the FD, the left-side sounds similar to a Tube
Screamer... maybe a bit too much - I wish it weren't so mid-rangy and
bass-shy, but it is a usable sound. I find the pedal to be a bit noisy.
Really like it's ergonomics.
Maybe you did have a dud FD. While it wasn't a super hi-gain thing, I
rarely, if ever wanted more oomph from it.
Ross M Stites
>I never had the Fulldrive and J&H together to compare them, so I'm not
>really sure how to answer that. The FDII had enough gain for me,
>usually, and I liked how smooth it sounded, and it was reasonably
>quiet. I liked the clean gain control, but was always sorry that you
>couldn't control it with the foot - pulling up the knob wasn't really
>practical whilst playing.
Well, I haven't had the FDII in 4-5 years and just got the J&H so it's not
like I'm even close to A/Bing them either...5-6 different amps later, too.
>With the J&H, I like being able to set up two different gain channels
>and being able to switch between them or cascade them. The right-side
>channel reminds me of the FD, the left-side sounds similar to a Tube
>Screamer... maybe a bit too much - I wish it weren't so mid-rangy and
>bass-shy, but it is a usable sound. I find the pedal to be a bit noisy.
>Really like it's ergonomics.
>Maybe you did have a dud FD. While it wasn't a super hi-gain thing, I
>rarely, if ever wanted more oomph from it.
I did, if you can get the right side of the J&H to sound like the FDII.
My FDII wasn't close to that kind of gain. I'll have to try one again
sometime. I'm not a pedal guy most of the time since I have a couple of
nice high gain amps, but I've been using the little Champ more and more
lately (getting old and lazy - actually just a different group where it's
appropriate). The lack of bass isn't an issue with this amp since it
already has very little with the tiny OT and 8" speaker.
Ross
Nobody
Richard <rh...@hotmail.com> wrote in article <MPG.1941a8ca9...@199.45.49.11>...
> NobodyU...@aDELETEol.com wrote:
>
> > Hey...am I the only dude here that *does not* use any od or distortion
> > or boost pedals?
>
> You and Thompson, I guess.
Heh.
Nobody
Robert Cooney <robert...@sympatico.ca> wrote in article <iTRBa.6518$ik4.7...@news20.bellglobal.com>...
> > Hey...am I the only dude here that *does not* use any od or distortion or
> boost pedals?
> >
>
> I don't use mine anymore. Just leave my toob amp cranked and use the
> guitar's volume to dial in more rawk.
>
> Rob
Me too....that's the easiest way, IMO, and sounds the best to my ears.
And WHADDAP, ROB !!!
Nobody
Ross M Stites <stit...@garnet.tc.umn.edu> wrote in article <bb98m3$o56$1...@garnet.tc.umn.edu>...
> Understood. I already know you're after something completely different
> than I am. I was just responding to Jason (aka Nobody) because I know he
> uses a Mesa Subway Rocket amp that has a high gain channel in it, and he's
> been very vocal about liking it's sound.
I don't know what it is, but I love my amp...which has been *slightly* modified:
http://www.geocities.com/nobody_upstairs/VerticalRectifier2x12.JPG
>I'm the same way with my amps. I've found most pedals to be too mid-heavy and too unfocused on the bass for my tastes, but I'm
definitely after a more modern and fairly heavy sound.>
I agree.
> For reference, I owned one of the blue FDII's and didn't find it pushed
> the front end of my Marshall 2203 enough for my tastes. I don't know if I
> had a bit of a dud one, or if that pedal just lacked enough gain for my
> tastes. Unfortunately, anything with enough gain sounded too unnatural
> for me. It's a never-end battle, huh! :)
>
> Ross
Except for me, 'cause I already can do all the same stuff with just my Les Paul, amp, and how I play.
--
Jason
http://www.geocities.com/nobody_upstairs
David Eidelberg
My FDII wasn't close to that kind of gain. <<
No, the FD is not a high gain pedal. It will make your guitar sing very
nicely in boost mode, but the gain structure is nowhere near the high gain
side of the J&H. Very different animals.
Jack A. Zucker
Nil
news:L%0Ca.733$xM5.1...@news2.news.adelphia.net:
> What's the J&H?
Jekyll & Hyde Overdrive pedal, made by Visual Sound
It's like two overdrives in one housing. One is similar to a Tube
Screamer, the other is higher-gain, more scooped-sounding. You can
select either channel, or combine the two. They sell new for about
$120.
LarryV
my Evans and my Trace Elliot Tube amp and it sounds excellent through
either amp. For my needs, this unit just sings.
http://www.barberelectronics.com/burnunit.html
ruel24 <non...@youfigure.net> wrote in message news:<3ed80780$0$8425$a046...@nnrp.fuse.net>...
icarusi
news:smUBa.689$xM5.9...@news2.news.adelphia.net...
> I find that most amps distorted channel don't sound good for my
particular
> tastes which run from SRV/Hendrix type blues stuff to Eric Johnson
or Frank
> Gambale fusiony stuff. The problem with most amps these days is that
their
> high-gain channels have too much compression and not enough
transparency.
> I'm not making a value judgement on that. It's just my personal
taste. The
> great thing about the fulldrive is that you can plug into almost any
amp's
> clean channel and get a great sound. Great for jam sessions, etc...
I'm using an Award Session JD10 for that sort of purpose. It has 3
band eq, boost switch, and Celestion speaker 'tone shaper'. Have you
tried the current MXR Double Shot with the separate 3 band eqs on each
channel?
Icarusi
--
remove the 00 to reply
thom_j.
Marshall amp heads. Plus my AVT150-Amp head has
tons of eXtras goodies and FXs++... I need'eth no FX
pedals no more.. cheers tee'jay
"Nobody " <NobodyU...@aDELETEol.com> wrote in message
news:01c3275f$d9271760$c9c5...@715162529worldnet.att.net...
Ross M Stites
>Ross M Stites <stit...@garnet.tc.umn.edu> wrote in article <bb98m3$o56$1...@garnet.tc.umn.edu>...
>> tastes. Unfortunately, anything with enough gain sounded too unnatural
>> for me. It's a never-end battle, huh! :)
>Except for me, 'cause I already can do all the same stuff with just my Les Paul, amp, and how I play.
In reference to getting distortion out of pedals, I'm there too. I have
gone through several different high-gain amps over the years. Several of
them worked very well for me for some time, but then I just wanted a
change in sound so moved on.
Ross
Jack A. Zucker
"LarryV" <lar...@rcn.com> wrote in message
news:68514a82.0305...@posting.google.com...
Steve
>> I'm using a solid-state amp for gigs now--started purely as a save-my-back
>> weight consideration--and the Fulldrive2 doesn;t just make it sound good,
>it
>> sounds GREAT.
>>
>> For almost-clean tones, I often engage the pedal in non-boosted mode, then
>kick
>> in a boost pedal AFTER the Fulldrive 2...then roll the guitar volume off.
>This
>> gives an 'old tube amp' situation; turn down, and it's pretty clean; turn
>up
>> or, say, dig in hard with a double stop, and it smears...hit the boost and
>turn
>> up, and it sings.
>>
>> Very nice pedal.
Then Jack said:
>That's exactly how I'm using it Steve...What amp are you playing through?
Hee, hee...A prototype ART solid state 1x12 combo amp (never sold in the US)
with a power stage built by Dan Pearce. Got it when I beta-tested for them
duing Dan's tenure there. It has all the onboard efects and model-type stuff,
none of which I use. I set it clean and get the tones form the pedalboard.
The amp's got a very musical-sounding balanced (XLR) direct out that I run
straight to the board; no more miking the amp. Nice tough: the signal to the
board is tapped after the preamp, but before the master section, so I always
send the same feed to the FOH regardless of stage volume. Of course, preamp
dynamics still come through (playing hard/soft, guitar volume, pedal boosts).
It's just nice to be able to turn the amp's master up or down without having to
worry about screwing up the feed to the board.
I also use a Tech 21 Trademark 60 sometimes now. Really impressive little
solid-state beast. Same direct out situation.
As I recover from my back surgery, a tube amp's out of the question. Funny
thing, though; I'm starting to be convinced that I no longer need the tubes.
SEFSTRAT
solo webpage: http://members.aol.com/sefstrat/index.html/sefpage.html
band webpage: www.timebanditsrock.com
Steve
boost pedals?
There's not much need for them if you already have a high gain amp. I
suspect most of these guys are working with a single channel or at least a
"vintage" voiced amp.>>
I did the peal thing even when I used higher gain amps...once I tired of the
volume needed to sound good on the amp's hot channel.
Ross M Stites
><>Hey...am I the only dude here that *does not* use any od or distortion or
>boost pedals?
>There's not much need for them if you already have a high gain amp. I
>suspect most of these guys are working with a single channel or at least a
>"vintage" voiced amp.>>
>I did the peal thing even when I used higher gain amps...once I tired of the
>volume needed to sound good on the amp's hot channel.
What high gain amps have you used? Since you've been around here, I only
remember hearing about the single channels amps. Just curious what your
reference is...
I do think most amps sound better with the volume up, but both my Soldano
and Egnater sound better on their lead channels than any pedal I've ever
heard at any volume. The same was true of the Soldano and Kasha preamp I
used in the rack system. My older Marshalls did need some volume (even
the Jubilees) to sound really good, but it was still no worse than typical
gig volumes (masters 3-5 range on a typical 100 W head).
Ross
LarryV
I couldn't find one locally, but the unit was highly recommended, and
the reviews on Harmony Central are excellent (see Burn Unit 2). I love
it, and a friend of mine heard it and ordered one the next day. The
sound through my Evans AE200 is excellent, sounds like a tube amp. Big
and fat. Doesn't do the full shred distortion thing, but that's not
what I was looking for. It does do a nice creamy, sustaining
distortion. I really dig it, and everyone who hears it comments about
how great it sounds.
Larry
"Jack A. Zucker" <j...@jackzucker.com> wrote in message news:<hzlCa.1416$xM5.1...@news2.news.adelphia.net>...
Zorro_2K
"Carlfia" <car...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:RRQBa.2326$Hf5.7...@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...
> You really want to be stunned, A/B it with a $40 Nobels ODR-1
>
>
>
......are you saying that the ODR-1 is better, or worse ?
Carlfia
--
"Zorro_2K" <pcolle...@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:eLbDa.71605$vL5.1...@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
Sounds clearer, IMO, but it's built real cheap, and they vary from pedal to
pedal. Too bad
Zorro_2K
I did some 'net-research on these and read about the pedal-to-pedal variance
issue.
Zorro_2K
"jimmyd" <jjdo...@enter.net> wrote in message
news:9o3gdvo6tan0g9oid...@4ax.com...
> On 30 May 2003 10:04:38 -0700, j...@jackzucker.com (Jack A. Zucker)
> wrote:
>
> >
> >Check this pedal out if you get a chance.
> >
> Ah yes the FD2. I'll never forget the first time I plugged into mine
> and smiled a smile as wide as my face allowed. Talk about a cosmic
> experience. Kinda like peyote, only gentler yet just as mean. This
> is truly a classic pedal.
>
> Jimmyd
>
The first time I plugged into an FD2/FM I picked up radio stations..I
returned it.
But I'm ready to try one again.