Credit to EBS: The Multidrive

spiker · #1 10-31-2011, 03:16 PM

Folks,

Just thought i'd put a little message here about my satisfaction with my latest purchase: The EBS Multidrive.

Finally, a 'useable' distortion !

You get three settings, all with a perfect combination of distortion/overdrive colouring to your tone, without transforming your tone into something completely different. No loss of low end either.

3 different settings in a nutshell are modern distortion (standard), tube overdrive (tubesim) and fuzz (flat).

This pedal is simple to use with two knobs and craps all over anything i've ever used. No hiss or ground noise when gain cranked which is terrific. Also i get a terrific amount of clarity on all places of the neck with massive gain. It emulates a tube amp breaking up better than a VT as well in my opinion, and sounds better to 'My' ears as it keeps the original tone in tact.

* The main benefit i've found with this pedal is that it has 'useable distortion'. Meaning that there are many great distortion/overdrive pedals out there that sound great on Youtube or in the bedroom but honestly, they get so lost in the mix that the only way to jusitfy their use is to have them louder than the guitar. Many distortion pedals i've used (many, trust me) just don't sound good in a band mix.
Many sound great on Youtube because they have this volcanic roar that might only be useful for one style of music (death rock). I was reluctant to purchase the multidrive at firsy as it sounded a bit too mild but honestly it's got some balls, and just enough for me for the many different types of rock i play.

Get one if no other pedal is serving you justice on my above points !!!!

*insertcoolname · #2 10-31-2011, 03:22 PM

Agree with most of the above points, but I've had some issues with EBS's reliability. Still, excellent sounding pedal.

spiker · #3 10-31-2011, 05:18 PM

Greta to hear some reinforcement on my comments, it's good to know that i'm not the only one with my experiences.

I'd honestly get one just for the 'flat' setting, that's the most awesome fuzz i've heard! it doesn't create a wall of bland noise either, very clever those EBS folk

I haven't had any reliability issues with EBS yet, and i've had the multicomp for a while too which still serves me well.

Another point to note: The natural compression is awesome with the Multidrive: Sounds so fat n creamy....mmmmm...

crguti · #4 11-01-2011, 07:29 AM

The EBS Multidrive is an overdrive pedal... not a distortion. A distortion pedal is the EBS Metaldrive.
Flat mode is not fuzz. you're getting it all wrong.

BassBrass · #5 11-01-2011, 08:53 AM

No, You are getting it all wrong. ALL of it! Wrong!

Around these parts, calling an overdrive a fuzz is not a capital offense. Especially not when it sounds like a fuzz on the flat setting.

JimmyM · #6 11-01-2011, 08:50 PM

If the Multidrive is the same as what's in the Microbass II (I've been told it is), that ain't no overdrive. Not quite a fuzz, but it's full-on distortion. Reminded me a lot of a Rat pedal. Sold my Microbass but I do miss that distortion.

spiker · #7 11-01-2011, 10:05 PM

There's no way that the Multidrive is a distortion. It is capable of creating heavy overdrive that may be on the lower end of a distortion pedals capability with the drive fully cranked, but it aint no distortion. It's tube breakup overdrive and it sounds great.

Re the flat setting: It's fuzz! Simple....you crank that drive on the flat setting and you get fuzz. I know what fuzz is and it's fuzz peeps. It's good fuzz too, no crappy wall of bland like a big muff or excess noise, it's 'Hysteria Fuzz' too

trust me, it's versatile - don't trust them Youtube vids - try one

spiker · #8 11-01-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crguti

The EBS Multidrive is an overdrive pedal... not a distortion. A distortion pedal is the EBS Metaldrive.
Flat mode is not fuzz. you're getting it all wrong.

it is an overdrive pedal but these ears don't lie: You switch that middle switch to 'flat' and you get fuzz. come back and see me when you've tried one...

JimmyM · #9 11-01-2011, 11:26 PM

My Microbass could get pretty brutal. Again, don't know if it's the same, but it did mild overdrive plus full on rage.

Aquila0507 · #10 11-01-2011, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiker

It's good fuzz too, no crappy wall of bland like a big muff

Thems is fightin' words! But seriously if you have a jazz pup configuration roll the neck pup back a bit and the muff starts to bite back. More highs and clarity cracks through said wall.

Fab Savage · #11 11-02-2011, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiker

There's no way that the Multidrive is a distortion. It is capable of creating heavy overdrive that may be on the lower end of a distortion pedals capability with the drive fully cranked, but it aint no distortion. It's tube breakup overdrive and it sounds great.

Re the flat setting: It's fuzz! Simple....you crank that drive on the flat setting and you get fuzz. I know what fuzz is and it's fuzz peeps. It's good fuzz too, no crappy wall of bland like a big muff or excess noise, it's 'Hysteria Fuzz' too

trust me, it's versatile - don't trust them Youtube vids - try one

Just great. Thanks a lot Spiker, now I have to try one. Bastard.

G.Bisson · #12 11-02-2011, 07:53 AM

Huge MultiDrive fan here. I agree with many of spiker's statements. This overdrive always sounds good in a mix. It doesn't color your tone with a disproportionate boost or cut at any frequency range, meaning, no loss of lows or overbearing highs. Wouldn't consider the MultiDrive to be a distortion pedal though. That may mislead some folks. Although the MDrive is excellent at pushing an amp into distortion, maybe that's why you hear it as a distortion.

I'm a fan of EBS pedals because their "2 knobs and switch" formula makes them very easy to set.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiker

3 different settings in a nutshell are modern distortion (standard), tube overdrive (tubesim) and fuzz (flat).

^ this is a helpful way to remember the different modes.

I think of the modes as:
'Std' - most lows, least intrusive. I tend to use this mode as a dirty boost.
'Tube' - more compressed version of 'std' mode. More grit. More of what i think of as a typical overdrive.
'Flat' - some low end loss in exchange for a lot more grind. This mode could be considered distortion/fuzz. It's no replacement for a muff fuzz though.

cubanbass · #13 11-02-2011, 09:40 AM

Great thread, I loved the multi-drive. I will get another one someday.

spiker · #14 11-02-2011, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G.Bisson

I'm a fan of EBS pedals because their "2 knobs and switch" formula makes them very easy to set.

I think of the modes as:
'Std' - most lows, least intrusive. I tend to use this mode as a dirty boost.
'Tube' - more compressed version of 'std' mode. More grit. More of what i think of as a typical overdrive.
'Flat' - some low end loss in exchange for a lot more grind. This mode could be considered distortion/fuzz. It's no replacement for a muff fuzz though.

I think the above is accurate enough. I can see how the 'flat' setting is fuzz, but not big muff fuzz. Big muff is a monstrous wall of craziness, the multidrive again in my opinion delivers a more useable fuzz on standard rock applications, but it's no big muff.
Standard setting definately has a low boost, & when cranked you get a very modern sounding distortion-like sound that sounds great.
I love the tubesim: I jammed with an acoustic/funky act yesterday for the first time & with that setting always on with a low drive I got that mild woolliness reminiscent of Jamerson's tone when you listen to an isolated bass track.