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Post by bigben55 on Oct 5, 2020 8:39:15 GMT -7
I have a Z Drive. Its been my main OD pedal into my Z28 for a while now, and I'm totally satisfied with it.
That said, this month marks 3 years on the KoT waiting list, and when my name comes up, I'm going to buy one. Are there any here who have played both side by side into the same amp and can compare these two?
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Post by Lefty on Oct 5, 2020 9:46:12 GMT -7
Can't say side by side. Two different lifetimes. However if my auditory memory serves, they are different animals. The KOT is based off the old Bluesbreaker pedal, Think TS but highly modded-ish. It's IC based. Whereas the Z-Drive is Transistor based, Si or Ge, I can't recall. Both very cool pedals. No over lap IMHO. That being said, I prefer the more natural, less compressed sound of the Z-Drive.
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Post by nixpix on Oct 5, 2020 10:00:20 GMT -7
I had both pedals at the same time, and they are both great. These were my impressions of the two pedals with a Tele and Ghia, using light to medium gain settings...
The Z-Drive is more "lively". Also, there is a lot more volume output available on the Z-Drive. The Z-Drive has more tones available and excellent tweakability. The KOT is easier to dial in and more of a set it and forget it pedal, and it will last longer on a 9v battery. It's also nice to be able to run both sides simultaneously on the KOT. The OD clipping on the KOT seems softer when listening through a totally clean amp.
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Post by Norrin Radd on Oct 5, 2020 12:23:44 GMT -7
The KoT has a very noticeable mid hump (it's supposed to). The Z drives base EQ seems flat. It also has a very powerful EQ where you can really shape the tone to your liking.
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Post by bigben55 on Oct 5, 2020 12:41:55 GMT -7
And thats how I use it. I run my Z28 with a strat at 12-12-12. Its a loud, mostly clean tone with some grit when you dig in. The TMB knobs on the Z Drive are at 3 o'clock, 1 o'clock, and 10 o'clock. Green cut switch up, red down, both drive knobs at 12:30, volume to match. It really does make for a quasi 3 channel amp, BUT I wish the channels were stackable. I need to keep a clean boost on my board to kick either green or red OD levels up for leads. When I DO get a KoT, ill post back after I see if it beats the Z Drive. If it don't, ill sell it and double my money. The KoT has a very noticeable mid hump (it's supposed to). The Z drives base EQ seems flat. It also has a very powerful EQ where you can really shape the tone to your liking.
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Post by Seńor Verde on Oct 5, 2020 14:05:00 GMT -7
I'll probably get a Z Drive at some point, but to me one of the main positive selling features is each mode NOT being stackable. I like one on/off and being able to toggle between the modes. Less tap dancing on the switches and non-stacked drive pedals sound the way they're "supposed to," to me anyway.
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Post by JebusCrebus on Nov 2, 2020 8:36:58 GMT -7
There is nothing that seems to be able to kick the KOT off my board (and I bought the standard release with no modifications), it's been a permanent fixture since I bought it in 2014, my name should be up soon for a second one. I like the Z-Drive and use it from time to time, but my sound IS IN the KOT hands down! The KOT into the ODR-1 into any amp is tone heaven IMHO.
My $0.02
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Post by bigben55 on Nov 2, 2020 14:52:54 GMT -7
Which has MORE gain, the Z Drive or the KoT(with the high gain option)?
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Post by JebusCrebus on Nov 4, 2020 5:31:05 GMT -7
I don't have the high gain option but with the standard gain I would say the Z-drive has more, and more volume too.
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Post by bigben55 on Nov 4, 2020 8:23:07 GMT -7
When I get a KoT, I'm planning on getting the high gain option(which to my ear via YouTube videos) isn't "that" much higher. Ill put the dip switches yellow side OD and red side Distortion, and still have a stand alone clean boost on the board.
Basically, exactly how I use the Z Drive.
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Post by runninwiththerevil (Matthew) on Jan 6, 2021 10:42:00 GMT -7
The nice thing is that the resale on KOT is still so crazy that you can run them side by side and if you aren't happy you can be darn close to breaking even on it.
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