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Post by Hohn on Dec 9, 2006 12:16:27 GMT -7
When I first got this pedal, I was a little unimpressed. I initially thought that it was just totally unexpressive, and the gain was so creamy it was muddy and undefined.
Well, just fiddling around yesterday, I did something that you are all probably smarty enough to do, but I hadn't thought of--- I TURNED IT ALL DOWN.
I set the gain about 3:00, the boost about the same, the tone about 2:00, and volume to unity+ a little.
Then it was like *ping*-- there it was! All of a sudden, but Stang was thinking it was a Fuchs!
I think a big part of my epiphany of this pedal was also just playing style. It's pretty compressed, so if you play hard like I tend to do, then you get ZERO expression from note to note. But if you pick a little lighter, then it gives you somewhere to go, and this thing is quite musical.
I'll try to get a clip of this FD2 with my P-90 Hamer bridge pup-- just so nice it will make you want to cry! No bad for a $500 axe:)
I'm still learning more about this FD2, but my discovery last night changed this pedal from a "not sure I'll keep it" to a "no way in Heck is this thing going."
Justin
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Post by harry on Dec 9, 2006 15:18:36 GMT -7
Hey Justin, I use both the regular FD2 and the Mosfet version and really love them. If you want to get more feel use the Comp cut position and play with the settings. My Maz Sr 38/verb offers awesome sounds while the StingRay also has it's own different sound happening. Different guitars also offer different possibilities. My TAG Cobra has better sounds with the Mosfet while my Gretsch Setzer model sounds better without the Mosfet, go figure. Either way they produce total arse-ripping, smack your mama overdrive that I am looking for. Some folks may not agree and are looking for a different sound but I love pedal. Good luck!
Harry
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Post by ruger9 on Dec 10, 2006 7:25:02 GMT -7
I've found 2 things with the FD2:
1) it prefers being fed into a already pushing amp. If the amp is already on the verge of breakup, the FD2 can send you over the edge as far as you want to go. Also, fed into a semi-clean, already breaking up amp it can send you straight to rocksville.
2) the LESS you use the drive knobs, the better. This goes for most ODs, not just the FD2. I have the volume at about 1:30 on mine, and the drive down at 9:00. I've even went so far as to turn the volume all the way up, and then just nudge the drive up until I got unity volume with the amp...this also yeilds a very cool tone that is very UN-pedalish & more amp-like.
The key with overdrives in general, IMHO, is to NOT use them into a dead-clean amp as a dirty channel. If you set your amp up dead clean & then step on a pedal expecting to get a nice amp-like overdrive out of it, you're barking up the wrong tree. ODs are very useful when used SPARINGLY.
YMMV.
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Post by Hohn on Dec 11, 2006 21:37:22 GMT -7
My 'Ray is a pretty clean amp, and I can't crank it high enough to get much drive from it-- so all the drive comes from the pedal.
I agree that your suggestion is best, but it's not an option for me.
I'm finding satisfying tones in the thing.
Lately, even the Mesa boogie is sounding good! I quit paying attention to the fact that a control "looked" too high or too low and just dialed in with my ears.
Thus far, I'm VERy happy. The Boogie is off the sell list on onto the keep list-- for now, anyway!
jh
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Post by taswegian on Dec 13, 2006 5:41:06 GMT -7
Hey Hohn, have you tried it in comp-cut mode? I find this quite transparent and retains some touch sensativity. It's the only mode I use with the FD-2. Just wondering how it would sound with the ray. I turn the tone knob down to 11-12 oclock with the 66 in this mode. Probably have to watch it even more with the 'ray.
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Post by zdogma on Dec 13, 2006 6:26:52 GMT -7
I'm always finding cool settings in that pedal. At first I only used the FM setting (very compressed, for sure), now i'm finding the comp cut setting (with the mosfet on) into the ghia set at about 11 o clock is just fantastic. I went to a blues jam the other night and used that setting, and never turned the FD off, just adjusted with the volume.
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