Digitech Hardwire CM 2 Tube Overdrive: Review

kaputsport · #1 10-09-2008, 05:46 AM

I searched, but only found talk of Digitech discontinuing the bad monkey... So.

I got to play through this guy with my rig last night. My Brother, our guitarist bought one sight unseen at GC.

All I ahve to say is WOW!!!!!

This is the best overdrive pedal I have played. Chaotic to subdued is the only way I know how to describe it.

I A/Bed the bass in my amp and this overdrive pedal with an actual Marshall DSL Head and 4x12 cab... If I were blind, I wouldn't really know the difference.

The pedal can give you incredible gain, and feedback, to melt faces in the first few rows, while retaining TONS of lowend, or can be used as a subtle OD. Not Blueberry subtle, but subtle enough that if you left it on, and turned the gain down, you may forget it is there.

It is a very transparent pedal, in that your tone will come through, just driven hard.

Another test we did after hearing the bass through it was A/Bed this and the Human Gear Animato, just to see if we could get a close enough tone from it.

It was pretty close I have to say. Not as nasal as the animato, but close enough.

I am going to go down and say this. Buy it. If you want distortion/overdrive and want a pallette of tangible tones, and some money left in your pocket, get this pedal.

There is a cover to protect your settings from being changed from stepping on it. The pedal is built like a brick sh!t house, and will last forever...

Bad Monkey, move over... There is a better OD in town...

If this pedal could change it's name... It would call itself Samual L. Jackson, cause it is one Bad Motha.....

**DosiYanarchy** · #2 10-09-2008, 06:56 AM

sweet, its a shame that i've actually got all the od/drive/fuzz i want now, but im glad that the pedal retains the low end, most people say that they dont notice a loss of lowend in some guitar pedals, but i pretty much always do, although my Cream Pie holds the bass beautifully, especially at the lowest tone settings.
and the fact that you've actually compared it to a real tube amp, and that it compares favorably an expensive, niche distortion as well makes me think that they're onto a winner.

People raved about the Bad monkey, and i almost bought one once, but if it was so great on bass, there wouldn't be a market for the modded Badder Bass Monkey, would there?
I was considering the Animato, pretty much coz like every Chris Wolstenholme fanboy, i want what he uses (wolstenhome fanboy, not a muse fanboy). If it compares so well to the animato, would it be too much to ask for some clips? of the CM2 in general and in particular in comparison to the Animato?

thanks
Theo

kaputsport · #3 10-09-2008, 07:21 AM

I should get around to doing that...

Maybe I'll do it this saturday, and show off a few clips for people, like my Hysteria sound with the Animato and Deep Impact for the Fanbois as well as this comparison.

Could be fun.

**DosiYanarchy** · #4 10-09-2008, 07:26 AM

I want your gear.

I mean im really happy with what i've got, but unless Akai re-issue the DI for a reasonable price (unlikely) and the Animato becomes cheaper and easier to get hold of, im always gonna have my dreams of Hysteria and that's all they'll ever be

kaputsport · #5 10-09-2008, 07:32 AM

Off topic... Here is the full list...

Akai Deep Impact
Human Gear Animato
Akai Intelliphase
MJM BritBender Fuzz
ZVEX Woolly Mammoth
Boss OC-2
Boss LS-2
Boss DD-3
Didgitech Bass Synth Wah

All fed from a Pedulla Rature 5 string JJ into a Marshall DBS head and a custom built 4x10...

I would have the Hardwire pedal, but I don't need it.

**DosiYanarchy** · #6 10-09-2008, 10:33 AM

NIIIIIICEEEEEEEEEEEEE,
and its your thread, and its only me and you here so derail ahoy

I've heard the wooly mammoth before, but ive never used one, i've never even consciouly heard a Animato (i've listened to a fair bit of muse, but no one's ever said 'that's the animato.')

im just wondering if any comparisson can be made between those two and the MXR blowtorch, with which im very happy with for Synth fuzz tones. obviously the Wooly mammoth is capable of synth-like tones, and id assume the Animato is, but how do you see it?

how do you use both the animato and the woolly mammoth? are they quite similar?
I had a Silicon B:assmaster and while more organic than the Blowtorch, it actually was quite similar in the sonic territory it took up.

Obvouisly I've got GAS for the Animato, but its not really informed GAS, I just want it coz its rare, but if the Animato is like the tone from 'Starlight' by muse, then I think i can pull that off with the blowtorch and my GAS is assuaged

kaputsport · #7 10-09-2008, 10:54 AM

Listen to "hyper Music". That is the Animato.

The Woolly Mammoth I use for my originals live, not recorded. I like it. It is what the Blowtorch wants to be running at 12volts.

The Blowtorch is fantastic for the price, and the execution, but I could not get it to do what I wanted, but everyone else can.

I use the MJM Britbender fuzz alot, and the animato to add tons of grinding distortion while still retaining the bass with the other loop clean.

I have Hystria nailed down using the Deep Impact on setting 2, and the animato, both on different loops, and the Deep Impact passes clean through as well as the synth. And incase anyone is looking at this thread and wonders my settings, and looks up Depp Impact settings, they have changed.

kaputsport · #8 10-09-2008, 10:56 AM

I have owned the MXR Blow torch, Big muff, little big muff, and a few other pedals for dirt. I am nost happy with the Brit Bender, Animato and Wolly Mammoth. There is enough tonal differences between them to really make each one worthy of being on the board, and they fit my style very well.

santucci218 · #9 10-09-2008, 10:59 AM

Again, the digitech hardwire series is really great! the other pedals are good too! Only thing i didnt like about the Tube Overdrive was the lack of a mid control =[

kaputsport · #10 10-09-2008, 11:10 AM

True, but the nice part about it is the fact that you can get really great sounding overdrive out of it, with out the Muff mid scoop....

I know, apples to oragnes, but it sounds better and more expensive than it is... and retains the lows.

judas jedermann · #11 10-12-2008, 05:02 AM

Clips maybe?

PunkRocker33133 · #12 10-12-2008, 10:06 AM

Price? I'm going to GC today, so I'll demo this (buy maybe?) and then report back.

PunkRocker33133 · #13 10-12-2008, 02:10 PM

Well, I'm back from GC. I tried all the Hardwires and didn't like any of them. I am now the proud owner of a Russian Big Muff though.