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Post by bigben55 on Feb 1, 2019 17:02:00 GMT -7
I know there's a Z Drive subsection but there's not much activity there, so I'm asking here. How popular is it? I know it was moved to the "legacy item" list but then brought back. I'm in the market for a dual overdrive for my Z28, have been researching and watching videos out the wazoo(including the Z Drive) and while I DO have some Z brand loyalty, the Z Drive still seems perfect for me. There's a handful used on Reverb, like 2 on ebay. It's been out a while, figured there be more out there. Either buyers love them and would never sell theirs, or there weren't many sold to begin with. I've had 2 EQD pedals and liked them all, so I KNOW its top quality.
There's SO many great ODs, and even great dual overdrives. And I've looked at most of them. I'm not shelling out King of Tone money(I'm on the list), like some others, but still, the Z Drive is top of the list. I think amps like my Z28 are what it was designed for. Thoughts?
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Post by southmusic70 on Feb 1, 2019 18:31:06 GMT -7
I bought a used Barber Burn Unit EQ from a forum member several years ago, and I’ve been happy with what it can do going into my Cure.
The Z Drive does sound like a good unit, though.
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Post by Stephen on Feb 2, 2019 6:04:49 GMT -7
I’ve had two Z-Drives. I used the green side as a boost and the red side for dirt. Then I went through a “no pedals” stage when I got my Cure and I sold it. Then I joined a classic rock band and got my “all Boss” pedalboard out. I needed a dirtier drive pedal, so I purchased a Boss JB-2 to replace the BD-2 I had on that board. I kept the Blues Driver side on all the time and hit the Angry Charlie side for solos. Last summer I built a new board so my Vox Wah, Radial Twin City ABY, and Shure wireless could be a part of the board. I chose the Z-Drive for that board and I have been really pleased with it. Now I keep the green side on all the time and use the red side for extra dirt. By the way, I got my Z-Drive new from Truetone Music for $225 last summer. (They had several and even let me pick serial number I wanted.) Dr Z Z-Drive Overdrive Guitar Pedal reverb.com/item/14657166-dr-z-z-drive-overdrive-guitar-pedal?utm_source=ios-app&utm_medium=share
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Post by bigben55 on Feb 2, 2019 6:31:00 GMT -7
I'm redoing my Z28 board. I go pedalless often since getting a dual P90 tele with Wolfetone pickups. It screams, and I found an awesome clean to mean via guitar volume setting for the amp. The pedalboard is more for my main 2 guitars(G&L strat and tele). Its gonna be pretty simple: -Strymon Flint -MXR Carbon Copy -Z Drive -Keeley Monterey -Wilson wah on the floor
I got the Flint, CC and wah. I was torn between a good Univibe(Drybell Vibe Machine) and a good Leslie/rotary pedal(Strymon Lex). But then found out about the Monterey, which has BOTH and fuzz and a couple other things I doubt I'll ever use.
But I've been obsessing the most about a dual overdrive. I'll use it most. 8ve played lots of ODs thru my Z28 and as AWESOMELY as it takes pedals, it likes what it likes(the way I set it up). I dont like mid humped TS types with it. I dont like distortions/mega gainers with it. I want EQ control. The whole concept to the Z Drive, on paper, is EXACTLY what I need. A preamp pedal designed with EQ control meant to "add channeks" to the amp.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2019 8:49:25 GMT -7
I've owned a buttload of dirt pedals--pretty much all the standard/classic stuff you can think of except an original Klon, plus a ton of more recent "boutique" small builder pedals from the usual suspects, and then some--but I held off on the Z-Drive for a couple of reasons that probably aren't relevant here. There are several members here who really like them, and I hope they'll chime in. I will say this, though, about the KoT--it's a good pedal into a cooking amp, but you really have to crank the volume past noon to get it to open up--otherwise it sounds pretty strangled--which may require then adjusting your amp to get a useable stage volume, which may end up compromising your preferred amp settings, etc. I know others swear by the KoT and love it--ymmv, always--but I've owned three of them and that's been my experience every time. It's my feeling that there are other pedal guys who do the dual OD thing better, fwiw, without the silly hype and the ridiculous waitlist. But for sure try it out once your name comes up--I think maybe they're caught up to 2016 now. Maybe.
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Post by Joey Beverages on Feb 2, 2019 8:50:10 GMT -7
It’s on my list .... just finishing some other shopping first
Cheers always
Joel
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Post by bigben55 on Feb 7, 2019 20:18:49 GMT -7
Got one, will review it on the a drive forum
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Post by pcns on Feb 7, 2019 20:34:40 GMT -7
My Z Drive is welded to my pedal board. Love it. My youngest has one one too and he uses it all the time.
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Post by zpilot on Feb 7, 2019 21:30:29 GMT -7
I had one. I liked one side but I could not get the other to work for me so I sold it. Others on the forum love it. So the only way to see if it works for you is to get one.
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Post by bigben55 on Feb 7, 2019 21:33:21 GMT -7
If I was to envision THE perfect dirt pedal(for my Z28) it would be the Z Drive with small TMB controls for each side and a 3 way <stack-off-stack> switch. But as is, its 90÷% there thanks to those bass cut switches. It truly sounds and more importantly FEELS like part of the amp. Does exactly what it was designed to do. But my suggestion(-if even possible, IDK) would make it even better.
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Post by bigben55 on Feb 7, 2019 21:36:23 GMT -7
It took some knob tweaking but I got it where I'm happy. I do think I could be even better though. I had one. I liked one side but I could not get the other to work for me so I sold it. Others on the forum love it. So the only way to see if it works for you is to get one.
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Post by big ( Al Z. ) on Feb 8, 2019 18:16:24 GMT -7
Using the Z Drive in conjunction with the Speaker Cranker pretty much gives me any tone I need in my current cover band. It’s just the ideal pedal for the Z-28 - it enhances not changes.
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Post by bigben55 on Feb 9, 2019 8:11:25 GMT -7
Just ordered a CAE Booster/line driver to put right after it. Just a 1 knob transparent boost like your eqd
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Post by LT on Feb 9, 2019 8:39:18 GMT -7
I had one as well. IMO the primary difference between it and some other dual drive pedals is that you can't combine the two sides. Others, such as the KOT, operate where you can use either side independently or run them together, one driving the other.
Keep in mind though that the Z Drive is designed to expand your single channel amp into a "3 channel" setup. Viewed that way, it accomplishes its goal. Good pedal.
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