• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Calling all PD7 users!

D

DarkArwen

Oct 29, 2009
161
0
#1
So, I think I have decided on this being my first pedal. I'll probably only ever use two as I am considering a chorus as well. (in a power trio now)
I am hoping to get some feedback on current PD7 (or former for that matter) users. I just learned about this thing called true bypass. I looked on the Ibanez site and couldn't find what kind of bypass the PD7 has, though I guess it was true they would have advertised this. So I guess it's a FET (whatever that is).
For PD7 users, do you find this to be a "noisy" pedal when it is switched off? Right now I have a silent set-up and I am hoping to keep it that way. Not that I get any breaks in three piece.
If it matters, I am using a Hartke 2500 with a Hartke 410 (with emminence speakers) and a GK 210. Thanks :bassist:
 
#2
I am a former owner.

I used it in a trashmetal powertrio and a hardrock band.
Overall, I would say this is a good pedal, especially for the price.

I initially bought it as distortion pedal, but I got tired of the distortion mode pretty quickly. A bit to noisy and tonesucking in that mode IMO and IME.
I used it mostly used it in overdrive-mode... which with my Trace Elliot rig at high volume leaned toward the distortion side.
So it was somewhere between overdrive and distortion... in overdrive mode, overdrive and distortion can be a very thin line sometimes.

Many people here on the forum report that the VOID switch is utterly useless.
I personally don't think so. I always used it in VOID mode 1.
It's sort of an enhancer, it adds emphasis on the higher harmonics or something.
Most bassist think of an enhancer as a noise generator.
I actually liked it on the PD7, no unpleasant noise and it made the pedal shine for me.

The sound of the PD7 is on the metallic side, rather than a warm overdrive.
A bit more on the bright side while at the same time it is very good to keep the lowend present.


I gave my PD7 away to a fellow TBer, because I vowed never to use an overdrive or distortion pedal anymore.

But I am currently in the market for another overdrive pedal. (My needs and tastes changed again ;))
And although I had positive experiences with the PD7 in the past, I'm not going to buy that pedal again.
I want something a bit more warmer... more tube-sim, not metallic cold and bright as the PD7.

I am looking myself for something in the Tubescreamer variety. Although with the PD7 being a product of Ibanez I expect it is based on a Tubescreamer.

Based on experiences I read I am going to give the Digitech Bad Monkey a shot.

So, the PD7 is good, but there are probably dozens overdrive pedals that are better. But at higher price points of course.
Many people can suggest pedals that would be better (although that is subjective) and probably cost more.

The Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive is a Tubescreamer clone and gets a lot of praise for example.


I hope this was helpful. :)

I had one, liked it.... now I am looking for something else.
How I used it: overdrive, high gain and VOID mode 1, it did something special and awesome only the PD7 could. And it was awesome for my taste. YMMV
 
#3
There is no better pedal for the money.
It is versatile, sounds and feels solid.
No true bypass indeed but really, who cares?
Harmonic switches are great in clean mode to bring old strings back to life. Dist is raw, borderline fuzzy and overdrive is warm enough for most uses.
A really well thought little tool.
 
#4
I had an MXR M80, crapped out on me right after the warranty was up. Went to the local music shop. Saw one of the PD7's. Tried it out, and bought it. I liked to clean, OD, and distortion sounds it made, but not the attack settings. I ended up selling most of my gear last year, but kept this. I recently bought replacements for what I sold and went to try it out. Nothing. Switched power supplies. Still nothing. Changed Batteries. Still nothing. Got a new power supply. Saw the LED light up. Wiggled the cable. Smelled burning. I just fried the pedal. If you're looking into this pedal, get the proper power supply, or always have new batteries on hand.
 
#5
Best you can get for that money. Digitech Bad Monkey is good too, but it is different sounding, more overdrive than distortion. If you need versatile (from harsh in-your-face distortion to mild overdrive/grit) and you are on budget, PD7 is best you can buy for money.
However, my personal choice is modded Turbo Rat, but you will need blend pedal for that, and also some electronics skills or friend who can do it.
 
#6
owner of a PD7 longer than any of my other dirt pedals, and it has never come off the board,... always use it in the OD mode though.

always looked for something to replace it but never found anything just right, didn't like the tube screamer clones and most other distortions/overdrives didnt fit in the mix like this did...

currently use it on OD mode with switches off and pretty much everything set to noon,... changes the sound of my fretless to a deep buzzy sound, not always good for every moment but very useful for songs when need a hard egde to it or for laying down some sound under a guitar solo etc.

also sounds very well when put before a wah to get that nice cliff burton type sound out of it :)


edit: when need be I also run a blended devi ever hyperion on my board so that takes care of the more psycho tones I may need ;)
 
#7
I just got a PD7 because of the clean mode sound I heard in this video:
But when I use it in clean mode there is no overdrive at all... (it seems to just bypass the drive knob)
Is there any way I could still get the sound it provides in that video?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Crystalman85
#8
Former user here, Its fuzzy

Clean mode: its just clean, you can use it as a clean boost or 2 band eq, very usable.

Overdrive: start from a lot of drive A LOT, to fuzz. I use to love this sound, creamy and lots of fun here. You can get lost in the mix use the drive with care. Depending on your band and room.

Distortion: its a hell of distortion not very usable for my taste.

Atack: 3 positions, off, noisy, noisier. Cuts the lows and volume drop. Its the crap side of the pedal. Dont engage this switch.
 
Last edited:
#9
I love what this pedal COULD be as opposed to what it is. The attack switch is stupid noisy, which is too bad because what it does is-to me- incredible....a very scooped SVT-like overdrive. Matched with an octaver it becomes a badass synth, and having EQ control is helpful for those lost lows mentioned above. Unfortunately mine got kicked off of the board because the noise was untamable.
 
#13
I used to have the PD7, and it was Ok. To be honest, I thought the Boss Bass Overdrive pedal was far superior in all tone except one, which was the Korn Like ultra high presence sound. I am sure it has a more technical term, but if you think of Korn's bass tone, you have that sound right out of this pedal. Would I buy one again? No.
 
#14
I have a PD7, and it has done probably 200 gigs in the last three years without missing a beat. I love that it gives me two distortion pedals in one. I use the overdrive for older style rock (think 70s or earlier) and the distortion sound for modern rock. I solved ALL of the noise issues by sorting out my power supply. Prior to that it had been sensitive to the bad electricity that you get at some venues. I doubt that I will ever take this off my board. If it dies I will try and find another.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back