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Post by dongiesen on Oct 15, 2006 16:18:05 GMT -7
Been reading up on this rig and sounds like a natural for getting that recorded sound of the combination of direct to board and miked. Any opinons on this from an owner or knowledge of another product that offers the 2 cannel effect of clean+dirt with dirt being adjustable. Will be using with a Maz Jr verb 210 with a 63 vintage strat and a Nashville tele. Waiting for any possible feed back before I pull the trigger. Thanks in advance
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Post by johnnyl on Oct 16, 2006 8:48:11 GMT -7
I've heard the Keeley modded Spakle Drive sounds great. It might be worth looking at as well.
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Post by marsellus on Oct 16, 2006 9:15:34 GMT -7
I own this pedal and I like it. It's a nice pedal for a "dirty clean" sound or for a nice distortion sound, depending on how you have the settings.
However, on my board, I use this and an OCD, because the OCD has more gain/boost/volume and sounds thicker.
The Sparkle Drive would be more for a rhythm distortion and the OCD for a lead boost distortion, in my opinion.
I'm also using these with a Route 66, so I'm not sure about the sound with other amps.
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Post by dongiesen on Oct 16, 2006 18:43:40 GMT -7
Thanks guys. Curious about the sound of a keeley mod. Maybe they have a sound clip on their site. Have to check that out. I've only heard the Voodoo Lab sound clips off their site so far and was impressed. Also coincidentally have an OCD available to try out that suggestion as well. Also seems that until very recently there was a bum switch in the unit as per a lot of reviews I've read. Sounds like the way to go is like Musicians friend or reasonable fact simile so you get the better price as well as a good return or exchange policy. Saw some on ebay but would worry about the switch problem from the used versions. Have a Maz 18 and a 74 twin reverb ( sitting in the corner-origional owner) Wish I hadn't sold my 63 Bassman when I was young and needed money to get my chevy wagon running. hindsight.
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Oct 16, 2006 19:22:02 GMT -7
I own this pedal, and no matter what other pedals I add to the board, I keep coming back to the Sparkle Drive. It is really a smooth ovd pedal. The Pedal sounds very nice with my Sr. and Ghia.
I had it for about two years then developed the switch problem, but their cust. service is top notch. I sent it back and they sorted it out for me.
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Post by dongiesen on Oct 18, 2006 16:53:40 GMT -7
Just read up on the Keeley mod proceedure and sounds like it could only make it better. It states that they get into the drive side and expand it so at 0 it is ultra clean and at 10 has twice the drive. They leave the blend alone, continue to use the same high quality caps and resistors, add a diode to give a more tube like effect, and change the LED light to blue. All for $59.00. So I guess the bottom line is since it retails in the 169. zone but Musicians Friend type dicounters sell for 129 you end up with an improved pedal for about the same price range as suggested retail.
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Post by tele1962 on Oct 19, 2006 22:24:39 GMT -7
The Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive may very well be the best overall pedal I've ever heard with Dr Z Amps. The amps have a very complex, thick tone, and this pedal allows the amp to come through despite a pedal. Most pedals add to much coloration to the amps natural sounds.
It's the one pedal I recommend because of this, and I don't recommend many! This is a handbuilt boutique style pedal, and I'm almost surprised that it's name came up!
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Post by tele1962 on Oct 19, 2006 22:28:55 GMT -7
"Will be using with a Maz Jr verb 210 with a 63 vintage strat and a Nashville tele."
dongiesen: What a beautiful little rig you've got! Love the thought of that '63 with the Verb 210. damn near perfection there, my friend, and what a breathe of fresh air your choices are!!! Good on ya!!! ( with that rig, go Sparkle Drive...it will compliment you're tone nicely!!)
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daz
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by daz on Oct 20, 2006 14:22:37 GMT -7
I use the sparkledrive at the end of my chain as a solo level boost and it works great. I second the nod to their customer service reputation.My switch was replaced within a couple of weeks without question.Great personal service by phone and email.Plus I picked up a spare switch just in case.
Daz
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Post by dongiesen on Oct 20, 2006 17:27:56 GMT -7
Thanks Tele 62. That's what I was wanting to hear as that's what I had envisioned after reading up on the pedal. Also thought it would be cool to have that fuller double sort of sound you hear on recorings from double tracking. Was considering doing it with 2 amps but that's really overkill for the small venues and in looking at all sorts of pedals, I stumbled on to this one by accident. All I have to hope now is that the switch issue has really been addressed as claimed. Think I'm gonna go for the Keeley mod as well as a finishing touch and would hate to have to send it in for repair after that in the event that they exchanged instead of repaired and I'd be out the mod
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Post by real oldster on Oct 21, 2006 8:16:40 GMT -7
The Sparkle Drive does everything everyone describes but my guess is it won't give you the double-tracked sound you hear on recordings. A more complex sound perhaps but not doubled. IMO
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Post by dongiesen on Oct 22, 2006 11:39:38 GMT -7
I probably overstated what I was going for as no doubt the direct to board trak is further manipulated and at the same time mixed different in rtelation to the miked track. guess I'm just expecting a bigger sound with the dirt and clean intertwined. Maybe thicker is a better word?
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Post by real oldster on Oct 24, 2006 22:32:26 GMT -7
I think the clean/direct aspect of the SD makes the overall sound more articulate than the effect would otherwise be. It's a great idea.
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Post by dongiesen on Oct 27, 2006 17:32:13 GMT -7
Ordered that Sparkle Drive today as I noticed Musician's Friend is out of stock until 11-6. Figured that way I'd get a new one with a good foot switch without taking the chance of an older one still on the shelf with possible problems. (crossing fingers). Once it gets here I'm gonna ship it off real soon to Robert Keeley and get that mod treatment. Looks like about 6 weeks before I can offer any feedback.
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