OK guys and gals some of you followed my recent overdrive adventure (See Thread entitled "Overdrive by McGroovin')
Now that I have had a few days to play with my new pedal i thought i would give a more concise review of my purchase
Digital Music Corp. Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive $129.99
This is an overdrive pedal based on the vintage TS808 format, it includes the original JRC4558 opamp, but has been modded with metal resistors and polyester capacitors which creates a tighter midrange, a crsiper high, and overall IMHO a far better capacity for note definition than the original 808. They have also added a clean boost channel which allows you to blend the clean signal with the overdrive circut. This allows you to boost the direct clean signal which in turn restores the attack and feel which is usually lost in most pedals when the signal is compressed in the ovedrive circut. The boost claims to be a 20db boost, i have not measured this claim but i can tell you you notice a huge difference when its on and when its not...lol
You have four knobs (which i wish were metal but oh well cant have your cake and it it too...lol)
first is the Gain knob this as you figured sets the gian level of the overdrive and the overdrive only, it does not affect the clean boost signal in any way.
Next the Tone knob turn it up for a bright sound and down for a darker sound. It works only with the ovedrive circut and does not affect the clean boost channel
Third there is the Clean Boost knob This blends the boosted clean signal with the overdrive, essentially acting like layering two amps, one clean and one saturated...when it is turned all the way down you get straight overdrive, with it turned up it begins to bleed away the overdrive sound once you reach the three o' clock or 75% position most of the overdrive signal begins to fades away. In between you get a nice blend of both.
Last is the Volume knob this obviously sets the output level of the unit...lol
The box is solid aluminum, has a heavy duty switch and true bypass....and i can attest to no loss of signal when it is turned off. A red LED lets you know the unit is on.
You must have a screwdriver handy as you must take the entire back off of the unit to replace the 9 volt battery
you can also power the unit externally with a 9 volt adapter.
It comes with a 5 year warranty and is made and assembled in the U.S.
This is my favorite setting currently
Gain at 95%, Tone at 75%, Clean Boost at 60%, and volume at about 65%
overall i love the unit, as i said basically the only drawbacks seem to be a slight loss of drive with the boost over 60% and the fact that the entire back must be removed to replace the battery (but this is better IMHO than those silly plastic battery covers).
The back comes with a heavy rubber "no slip" pad. The unit measures roughly 4 1/2 inches long by 3 1/2 inches wide which fits very nice on most pedal boards. the color scheme is not "out there" like some pedals, and it can also be used as a boost pedal alone sans the overdrive (which is a huge plus in my book)
If you want a nice overdrive unit that is not obnoxious and is very "tweekable" buy this you won't regeret it..... i think its been the one of the best investments i have made into "my sound"
hope that helps somebody and for those of you currently looking for an overdrive unit happy hunting!! (but start here)
Now that I have had a few days to play with my new pedal i thought i would give a more concise review of my purchase
Digital Music Corp. Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive $129.99
This is an overdrive pedal based on the vintage TS808 format, it includes the original JRC4558 opamp, but has been modded with metal resistors and polyester capacitors which creates a tighter midrange, a crsiper high, and overall IMHO a far better capacity for note definition than the original 808. They have also added a clean boost channel which allows you to blend the clean signal with the overdrive circut. This allows you to boost the direct clean signal which in turn restores the attack and feel which is usually lost in most pedals when the signal is compressed in the ovedrive circut. The boost claims to be a 20db boost, i have not measured this claim but i can tell you you notice a huge difference when its on and when its not...lol
You have four knobs (which i wish were metal but oh well cant have your cake and it it too...lol)
first is the Gain knob this as you figured sets the gian level of the overdrive and the overdrive only, it does not affect the clean boost signal in any way.
Next the Tone knob turn it up for a bright sound and down for a darker sound. It works only with the ovedrive circut and does not affect the clean boost channel
Third there is the Clean Boost knob This blends the boosted clean signal with the overdrive, essentially acting like layering two amps, one clean and one saturated...when it is turned all the way down you get straight overdrive, with it turned up it begins to bleed away the overdrive sound once you reach the three o' clock or 75% position most of the overdrive signal begins to fades away. In between you get a nice blend of both.
Last is the Volume knob this obviously sets the output level of the unit...lol
The box is solid aluminum, has a heavy duty switch and true bypass....and i can attest to no loss of signal when it is turned off. A red LED lets you know the unit is on.
You must have a screwdriver handy as you must take the entire back off of the unit to replace the 9 volt battery
you can also power the unit externally with a 9 volt adapter.
It comes with a 5 year warranty and is made and assembled in the U.S.
This is my favorite setting currently
Gain at 95%, Tone at 75%, Clean Boost at 60%, and volume at about 65%
overall i love the unit, as i said basically the only drawbacks seem to be a slight loss of drive with the boost over 60% and the fact that the entire back must be removed to replace the battery (but this is better IMHO than those silly plastic battery covers).
The back comes with a heavy rubber "no slip" pad. The unit measures roughly 4 1/2 inches long by 3 1/2 inches wide which fits very nice on most pedal boards. the color scheme is not "out there" like some pedals, and it can also be used as a boost pedal alone sans the overdrive (which is a huge plus in my book)
If you want a nice overdrive unit that is not obnoxious and is very "tweekable" buy this you won't regeret it..... i think its been the one of the best investments i have made into "my sound"
hope that helps somebody and for those of you currently looking for an overdrive unit happy hunting!! (but start here)
