I dub thee the Lil' Jovi overdrive. [Review]

Chronicle · #1 04-19-2008, 11:26 AM

On my way to the post office, ironically i saw that shadow under my door. Package!!! And it was from Poland... so i put that mail i was mailing out to the side and decided to play with this little bugger!

I got this pedal in response to 40 hertz's thread. 50$ for a cool sounding OD pedal? Let me tell you guys, it was worth every penny.

Construction is TOP NOTCH. This guy is using TONKA-TOUGH steel enclosures. It's kind of heavy because of this but it is built like a brick. Probably would kill someone like a brick too...and still work!

There's 2 knobs, 1 switch, and one bypass switch. The first knob is Volume and the second is gain. The little switch is Boost/Normal.

This thing is a gain MONSTER. My Tonebender doesn't even push out this much gain..my GK was clipping like crazy! I only had the Gain at 12oc too.. Well, I must say it has a little too much gain if you ask me but I won't be boosting gain that high anyways. I like the grit it has and the medium distortion.

...And that's only in normal mode...

It loses a LITTLE low end, but not bad. It has a little more low end than the bass drive in my opinion.

So since this pedal doesn't have a name, i named mine after myself....

The Lil' Jovi!

Soundclips:

Rickenbacker 4003 -> Lil' Jovi -> Soundcard

Clean for reference:
http://media.putfile.com/LILJOVII1

Gain at 7oc Volume at 9oc Normal Mode
http://media.putfile.com/LILJOVII2

Gain at 9oc (turning volume down a tad)
http://media.putfile.com/LILJOVII3

Gain at 12oc
http://media.putfile.com/LILJOVII4

Gain at 3oc
http://media.putfile.com/LILJOVII5

Gain maxed!
http://media.putfile.com/LILJOVII6

Boost mode on Volume at 9oc (Gain knob does not do anything in Boost mode)
Turn your volume down! It gets crazy!
http://media.putfile.com/LILJOVII7

Mic'd clip!
http://media.putfile.com/LILJOVIIMICD

Ryan Mohr · #2 04-19-2008, 11:30 AM

So this pedal is more of a distortion that an overdrive?

Chronicle · #3 04-19-2008, 11:34 AM

That's a tough one. It has a lot of gain. I think i'm gonna say a very high gain overdrive.

nad · #4 04-19-2008, 11:41 AM

Nice. Mine was shipped a few days ago, looking forward to the Polish Package!

I'm convinced that all overdrive pedals lose a bit of the booty due to the natural compression of it all, as long as it isn't drastic it bothers me not. Even those with massive bottom end (Woolly Mammoth, Blue Berry, etc.) seem to EQ the bass back in, rather than retaining it. If it ever bothers me I'll start blending, but honestly these days my tone is all in the upper and lower mids anyhow. Just like geese, HONK HONK HONK.

Chronicle · #5 04-19-2008, 11:43 AM

It's a great pedal. Well worth the 50$ for it. What are you gonna call yours mate? :P

nad · #6 04-19-2008, 11:46 AM

Wee Nad, perhaps.

Chronicle · #7 04-19-2008, 11:51 AM

Hah, awesome.

wdinc01 · #8 04-19-2008, 11:54 AM

This sounds interesting. Is there anyplace I can get more information on it?

**5stringwonder** · #9 04-19-2008, 12:16 PM

here....my new overdrive

mine's in the mail too...can't wait. got mine in a black enclosure with the blue led!!

Toasted · #10 04-19-2008, 12:35 PM

Can I see a gutshot?

Chronicle · #11 04-19-2008, 12:38 PM

black with blue led?! dude that must look awesome

Chronicle · #12 04-19-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasted

Can I see a gutshot?

Funny thing, i was going to post one but the builder mounted the board on the back plate! maybe i'll do it later for ya bud.

Btw, clips are up... It sounds like a Devi Ever effect towards the end... i'll do mic'd clips later

I think some of that distortion could be coming from my soundcard as well haha.

Chronicle · #13 04-19-2008, 03:47 PM

Oh man.. this is embarrassing... I got the knobs mixed up!!! I was turning the volume knob instead of gain...

Sorry TB, new clips are being made! :]

Chronicle · #14 04-19-2008, 04:37 PM

New clips up and a mic'd clip!

Sorry for the bumps!! >_<

Ryan Mohr · #15 04-19-2008, 05:15 PM

It doesn't seem like there is much range of gain, but that sure sounds good. Sounds like a gritty heavy OD.

**5stringwonder** · #16 04-19-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

black with blue led?! dude that must look awesome

yep. can't wait for it to arrive

and everyone knows that blue leds sound better...

Chronicle · #17 04-19-2008, 06:28 PM

I forgot to mention that this pedal responds to your "attack". The harder you play, the more different it sounds. Just like an autowah.

Ryan Mohr · #18 04-19-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

I forgot to mention that this pedal responds to your "attack". The harder you play, the more different it sounds. Just like an envelope filter.

Fixed it for you

Chronicle · #19 04-19-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

Fixed it for you

Nope, i meant an autowah. They are different things

Mark Olson · #20 04-19-2008, 10:51 PM

I like the sound mic'd up. Sounds like you got a screamin' deal! Not too fond of the direct sound. I find a lot of overdrives don't sound so hot direct to a soundcard.