|
Post by JChance on Mar 30, 2006 10:13:19 GMT -7
I just posted my Zen Drive for sale in the want ads...
Great pedal, but I was already content with the overdrives i was using (Keeley TS9 and BD2).
Overall, I don't have a single bad thing to say about the Zen, and certainly would recommend it to anyone looking for a great overdrive for their amp.
It will do wonderful, moderate breakup sounds, as well as violin-type lead stuff. Hats off to Alf for making a great pedal...
But, my advice to folks out there- if you are already happy with your dirt boxes, there's really no need to keep looking....unless, of course, you are just an "eternal tweaker." I went through the phase myself until I started using Dr. Z's. Funny how a great amp can end a quest, huh?
And by the way, I still haven't found anything that sounds any better than a Keeley BD2 for moderate drive, slight hair "amp type" sounds....
JC
|
|
|
Post by Greg G. on Mar 30, 2006 10:31:16 GMT -7
Jayson,
I've found myself at the same place as you, I'm pretty happy with my dirt boxes (TS808 RI and Keeley BD-2), but I'm always wondering if there's something better out there. I'm contemplating replacing the TS808 with an MJM Blues Devil, but I really don't have any problems with the TS808.
Also, Jayson, how do you run your Screamer and BD-2? I run the BD-2 before the TS808 in the signal chain, sounds great if I need to "phatten" up the TS808, you know, make it a little more "girthy" ;D.
-Greg
|
|
|
Post by JChance on Mar 30, 2006 10:42:02 GMT -7
Jayson, I've found myself at the same place as you, I'm pretty happy with my dirt boxes (TS808 RI and Keeley BD-2), but I'm always wondering if there's something better out there. I'm contemplating replacing the TS808 with an MJM Blues Devil, but I really don't have any problems with the TS808. Also, Jayson, how do you run your Screamer and BD-2? I run the BD-2 before the TS808 in the signal chain, sounds great if I need to "phatten" up the TS808, you know, make it a little more "girthy" ;D. -Greg That's *exactly* how I run mine... I have them set up for three levels of dirt- Keeley BD2- all knobs at 10 o'clock, phat switch off. This is great for dirty rhythm stuff, and great for R&B tones with a neck pickup.. TS-9 is set for leads, sort of "violin-ish" EJ style. Gain at 2 o'clock, tone at 9:00 and level at 11:00. Keep in mind my Keeley comp is always on (both knobs at 11:00.) The TS-9 set like that works for a great, more "controlled", comercial sounding overdrive. Nice for ballad solos with a bit of delay. Then, if I want to go "over the top", I'll turn them both on for gainier, classic rock type sounds. Can get into Gibbons territory that way- J
|
|
|
Post by Greg G. on Mar 30, 2006 11:33:37 GMT -7
JC,
Cool. You know, I've never used a compressor, could never figure out how to incorporate it into a useful sound. Might have to try that Keeley Comp and see what happens. Comps are kind of a mysterious thing, seems like there use is so sublte and can make such big differences. I guess I'm just not very knowledgeable when it comes to how to use them. What does the Keeley Comp do for your sound?
-Greg
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Mar 30, 2006 12:49:54 GMT -7
If you play slide, or like to hold chords with a Leslie, a compressor is a happenin' thing.
|
|
|
Post by JChance on Mar 30, 2006 12:57:22 GMT -7
Well... My theory about compressors is that you *don't* want to know that it's on, until you turn it off... I CAN'T STAND squashed guitar sound. The cool thing about the Keeley is that it seems to simply add a touch of color to the note, like adding some extra harmonics. It's weird, but I hear it's effect more as an "enhancer"-type than real hard compression. I run mine so that it matches the level of the guitar straight in, with just a slight boost. This seems to be at around 11:00-12:00 for most folks' setups. Then I have the sustain set at about the same spot, but no higher than 11:00. After that, it adds excellent sustain, but begins to "sound" like a compressor, if that makes sense... The thing I really dig about the Keeley is that, for me at least, it just seems to add a little bit of life to the sound. Subtle, but I can't hardly live without it. Does a great job of not creating the "pumping," "sucking" type sound associated with Boss, DOD, etc. J
|
|
|
Post by Curt on Mar 30, 2006 13:20:24 GMT -7
Greg, I'm uninformed when it comes to comp's also, picked up a CS=2 Boss from Ronnie a few weeks ago. So far I know this, some amps like it some do not....I was not into the comp....UNTIL I got the MAZ Sr, on a whim I set the comp as a Slight clean Boost type thingy, and WHAM Man with a Tele and the way I set the Sr, just took it to another level, the other player just had this look .... Like what the hell did you just do ?!?! That sounds GOOOOD ! LOL FWIW, YMMV. I think an amp that has natural compression at all the comp is a waste, but the Sr loved it ! Curt FWIW I too used Keeley baked BD-2/TS-9, That BD-2 w/Phat is a dern good pedal IMO.
|
|
|
Post by Greg G. on Mar 30, 2006 13:22:12 GMT -7
cool. thanks for the description.
|
|
|
Post by hdahs143 on Mar 31, 2006 4:45:43 GMT -7
I just got my BD-2 back from Keeley after sending it to him for the Phat Mod. ;D ;D ;D. Compared to my Fulldrive this thing is a breath of fresh air. Very open, airy, and almost scary transparent. Definitely sounds best with the gain below 12:00. It has the perfect amount of breakup, and adds some nice harmonics to the sound. I still need to get a higher gain/lead pedal to replace the Fulldrive. I'm leaning toward a Keeley TS9, or possibly a Boss SD-1, modded by Keeley, or another modder. It seems like a ts9, but with more gain and flexibility, and asymmetrical clipping. I'm not sure if that is what makes the BD2 sound so good, but if it is, I LIKE IT! JC, I'm with you on the Keeley compressor. Mine is on all the time with controls at 10-11 oclock. You nailed it when you said it was like an enhancement. Like one of those BBE Sonic Maximizers. Or when Dorothy opens the door in The Wizard of OZ, and it goes from B&W to vivid color!
|
|