In summary, for drive pedals run at 18v if you want it louder and you want less of the actual effect. With volumes set the same, I just hear less gain. In my experience with drive pedals, the more interesting effect of the higher headroom of 18v is how a pedal handles what you stack into it. I have a Catalinbread DLS I run near the end of my chain to get my Marshally sounds, and I stack several different ODs in front of it (including a D&M - awesome). Some years ago I swapped the DLS to 18v as an experiment, and I was shocked how much better it sounded when hit with other drives. By itself it was much, much louder, and much cleaner - not exactly what I want in a drive pedal. The change in the stacked sound was a revelation though, so it's stayed that way since.
There’s some degree of that too (less clipping, more volume) with 18v versions of the Colorsound Power Boost compared to 9v versions, but also the 18v versions are much more interactive with guitar volume pots (and are meant to be placed first in a pedal chain). This could be just that the 18vs have lower input impedance by design…dunno.
Agreed, each of the Catalinbread amp-in-a-box pedals I’ve used generally perform better (more open, more headroom, more amp-like) when run at the full 18V.
Completely agree! I have a DLS at 18V at the end of the drive chain. In some cases I run fuzz into it. Then I have an EQD Tone Job last after drive and wet I run at 18V so I can get my EQ I want but not squash the signal.
I remember many moons ago on the VCPI episode when Dan declared his favourite voltage of the Analogman Bi-Chorus to be 15V. I think most viewers agreed that was fairly cork-sniffer level of tweakage but after hearing the obvious difference between 15V and 18V level of the effected signal, I think we all stand corrected.
Geoff Nightingale sounds (and looks) more like a Hudson Broadcast with a variable voltage control. They already make them in 9v and 24v versions, so it would make sense.
The Cali76 uses relays that switch around the 11V mark, running the 76 around the 11V mark will cause the relays to open and close rapidly, causing that fluttery gross distortion. Origin recommends running the pedal between 9-10 and 13-19 volts to avoid this.
@@JonathanGasper lol then run it at 12v. I gotta warn you though it's really not a nice sound Imo. It's more of an artifact that distortion, but if your still moved to make it musical that makes u that much more talented
I learned this lesson the hard way - went to a Guitar Center a few years ago to try out a Rat, and fried it by giving it 18V. I got the heck outta there after it started smoking.
Good to see you overcame the troubles of yesterday! I’m going to save this one for my commute on Tuesday morning, actually looking forward to my journey now!
Try buying a Miller video tripod. My wife has several Millers and then add fluid heads on top of that.........THOUSANDS of dollars just on one tripod and mounting head. It is why I get to buy all my guitar/music gear.....we both have expensive hobbies.
I have to promote my favourite overdrive pedal, the GH Diablo from Okko. You can adjust the voltage continuously from 6 to 18 volts. This is feature is just awesome.
Now I see. I have the orange (earlier) version with the HI⚡️LO switch. So the GH Diablo is unique with its variable voltage control. The Okko overdrive’s are very overlooked. Its a shame. They are great overdrives if not the best.
Just want to congratulate you on the show this year it really has been another level of greatness. The guests, the gear, the insight, it really is unparalleled.
Watched this in 4K on my new TV with surround sound for the first time. Mick's intro was 👌 Think I'm gonna have to rewatch EVERYTHING!!! Keep it up guys 👍
Worth noting when discussing headroom in overdrives: if a pedal uses diodes to achieve clipping, changing the power supply voltage won’t affect the threshold of the diodes. That’s why switching to Comp Cut mode makes such a huge difference: it takes the diodes out, so the only clipping comes from the op amp, which now has higher headroom. But in a diode clipping setting, if say the forward voltage of the diodes is .5V, it will always clip the signal it receives at .5V, no matter the power supply voltage. I see a couple other commenters mentioning the Dirty Little Secret (which, I agree, really opens up at 18V!), same scenario there: all transistors to achieve the clipping, so you see a greater difference when changing voltage than with a diode setup. Maybe a bit too in the weeds for the scope of this video, but thought I’d add it here. Anyway, this was a really excellent showcase of voltage differences AND a good hammering home of the main point: go against manufacturer recommendations at your own risk. Cheers, keep up the great work!
Thanks for the timely episode! On a new board I’d been running my Snouse Black Box 2 at 18v and Xotic SP Compressor at 9v. Wasn’t perfectly happy with the way the Snouse was sounding and the SP Comp was sounding a little dark. After watching the video I reversed them and it’s a big improvement to my ears! Love the openness of the SP at 18v and the “chewiness” (as Mick referred to overdrive feel) of the Snouse at 9v. Great topic!
@Rian Snuff Im also into bending and mods... All my pedals have mods.. we all fucked up something at least once... But messing with power sounds like cooked pedals
Anyway I have boxes of little capacitors I can upgrade wire lead circuits and my iron allegedly is up for surface mounting new bits.😌 *but I exercise my skills at opening the box first and reading the component specifications. (email the manufacturer? 🙉)
This video is perfect timing for me, I recently bought a Friedman be od pedal for my 80s tones in the cover band I play in. Changed it to 18v and voila! It was so much more dynamic and amp like. Great pedal!
I was so upset yesterday when I got to work and checked to see if a new video was uploaded. It gets me through the last day of the work week to see a TPS episode will be waiting for when I get home. But better late then never. Thank you gents.
I recently bought an isolated power supply which allowed me to put my EQD talons up to 18V and holy tone balls. Super interesting episode guys. Hope all the TPS crew is doing well.
I have an OCD. I love it but selling it because I do not have enough room in my pedalboard. Bought a Clover after last week’s video. My guess is that I will get $10 more from my OCD just because of this video.
Have always been a mad headroom chaser, but this inspired me to stick to the lower voltage into my high headroom amp and more easily get the gain stacking I was after. Thanks again lads.
Yay! A science-y episode! The guest spots are cool, and I’m sure they are way more exciting to shoot, but I just love these episodes that show off the in-depth technical knowledge that makes this show so special. Thanks again guys! Keep up the hard work.
Totally depends what sound you want. Mick here. I always prefer just the tiniest amount of break up in the front end and the master as loud as the situation will allow. Mmmmmmmm
THANKS! Perfect timing for this one! Massive Secret..... sounds GREAT and I absolutely preferred it at 18 volts. Seemed to really open up the sound going from 9 to 18 but above that seemed almost brittle. OCD..... this one was odd, on the more driven tones the 18 sounded more open and sweet but as the gain was decreased I preferred the 9 volts. Cali76 (the one I have real questions on)...... I’m not a fan of compression in general. At 9 it sounds like a very transparent compressor (which is why I have one). At 18 it just opens up completely and gets so transparent (but you can still hear it’s doing it’s thing) that you lose that “he’s using a compressor” thing. LOVE it at 18! Chorus...... yea definitely differences but none that did much for me. I kind of felt like most of the changes could be had in the controls to begin with. The fuzz..... I wasn’t impressed which surprised me. I’d stick with 9v. The other Fulltone...... they definitely chose the right voltage at 9. The differences were subtle beyond that. Great episode, and Dan, you sold more doublers! 🤠 Now you just need a switchable 9 to 18 doubler with a variable knob to decrease from the setting for easy experimentation! 😁 I’ll forgo my royalties for that idea! 😏
Great show on this long overdue topic. I expected you guys to demonstrate what over feeding a pedal would look/sound like. Burn through a tone city TS clone or something of similar ilk. Also, I contacted a couple of manufacturers about voltages on their pedals. For instance the Supro tremolo supports 18v but they say it just doesn’t sound very good. Another manufacturer said that there should be NO sound difference on a pedal capable of 18v. No change in headroom or noise floor. But they stated specifically that because components get warmer due to higher voltage they’re actually more susceptible to noise.
Weird. I'm not a basement dweller, but I genuinely look forward to seeing you guys every week HA! Thanks for another great show guys. Hope the Compression show has the Xotic SP featured. I used one for years on the road in an alternative old-time/jazz act, and it never ever failed me. Kept my tone intact, helped me punch through, and when I didn't add it to my most recent board, it took me months of technique altering to adjust to its absence. Xotic make truly stunning stuff, the RC was also on the road, never turned off.
Fantastic episode!! I personally love running my ODs @18V precisely for headroom and it also "sounds & feels " more natural to me. Great job, guys. Keep it up!
I got a Pigtronix Fat Drive recently that can run at up to 18v, and I was amazed at the difference it makes! I've always been curious about this. Thanks for filling us in! Cheers!
Right at 41:57 as Mick takes off, I've been experiencing that crackling from my Cali76 at higher settings as well. Good to know its not just mine. Seems to be only past 2 o'clock. Its never set that high for me normally anyhow. TPS, always useful
I have yet to listen to a TH-cam video with a Cali76 that does not crackle or have noise in one form or another. I don't understand how a pedal that is in such high regard can have noise like that. For acoustic guitar work that is simply unacceptable. I hope Dan and Mick will look into this in more depth and compare it to the Keeley Compressor Pro model. I have not heard any YT vids with the Keeley that have noise which is why it's still on my short list. I'd love to have the new Cali76 stacked but the noise issues I'm hearing thus far are keeping me from getting it. I'm hoping for another in depth compressor video from TPS to look into this further.
This is a topic I’ve never understood. Friends of mine would tell me to run my ODs on batteries so the battery could run down. This never made any sense. But I get it now. I didn’t believe them before when they said it sounded different. But it does. Thanks again guys.
I was already happy for Dan's new home run The Wetter Box. It is destinied to be a classic and essential pedal to make players sound their best. Now with the Wetter do film an episode of Hard Rock Guitar into Fuzz >compressor>Overdrive>Noise Gate> Crunchy Marshall using the Wetter pedal. Heavy metal Gods hear my request!!! Use humbucker guitars. Hard Rock Episode for best overall Crunchy and lead tones.
By far my fav episode so far. I just started running a couple of my pedals a the higher voltage. What a difference it makes. thanks gents for all the hard work you do. cheers.
Where is the Dan pedalboard episode? He teases us with it here and there, and then got us all wet over the wetter box... PUT US OUT OF OUR MISERY, MAN!! Show us what’s under the lid! 😂
Mick’s “stank face” at 45:45: “Whatever those settings are are good... I like this stack, and this riff..” Cut to “were you changing it?” That’s one of the reasons I love this show... There are moments when you abandon the mission and just revel in the sheer joy of good guitar tones! Thanks
Hi guys, TPS fans, passers-by: I have one of the Blackstar HT Dual pedals that runs on AC (16v). There are two kinds, the one I have and one at 22v DC. Not sure I can afford the entire GigRig Modular PS, but I assume it has an AC option, maybe with variable voltage? I'm used to running a Strymon Ojai and Zuma R3000. The only other option I can think of is Truetone CS7/12 - I believe they have an AC output, idk about variable voltage (I think Cioks and Voodoo Lab make AC Bricks, but it's a lot for just one pedal) - or just use the adapter that Blackstar provides with the pedal, which works perfectly. I really like the pedal but hate having adapters everywhere. Thanking in advance, great show as always! (NB: Manual is explicit: 16v AC)
58:22 that's why I watch this show every friday (& saturday); you read my mind and my thoughts, Mick. And that's why I like to change the battery on my Sunface NKT275 when I feel my cleanup is not clean as I want...
Hi Dan Hi Mick my name is Koen Leliveld and I’m from Sauble Beach Ontario Canada. Thank you ever so much for this episode. I’m now running my FullTone OCD and 18 Volts and it sounds amazing.
TPS is my new favorite show! Before buying any pedal this year, I've searched for a TPS show that demos it first. My favorite purchase inspired by TPS is the Seymour Duncan PowerStage, but that's only one of 10 pedals I've bought based on TPS recommendations. Thank you for this show on Voltage. You've both brought it up before, and that got me to be sure my digital pedals are properly powered (some were not). I am about to start experimenting with 18v vs 9v on my OCD and Vapor Trail.
Love these kinds of videos that don't just get into the different types of pedals on offer, but also the how to of using the gear that exists. I find it's a subtle but often missed detail and it's why TPS videos have been a steady diet for me for a long while. Kind've unrelated and probably hard to test note, it'd be interesting to see you guys try different types of ear protection to see which ones keep the sound the best while still providing the most protection
Wow, 9v on the Massive Secret sounded like constant fizzy noise and flatness, but when you moved it up to 24 volts that totally cleared up. Too pedaly at 9V. I have a Siegmund Double Drive which operates off wall power and microtubes, no wonder it feels so much better than pedals most of the time... if the voltage makes that big of a difference I'm sure having an actual hand wired preamp basically is totally different. Sometimes you want that pedal though - it's all good! I tried 9 vs 12 vs 18 volt on a Wampler Euphoria when I was putting all my stuff together with the power supply. It's kind of voiced with the 9v idea in mind and doesn't scale well, but I do like the way gain pedals seem to be smoother or more well behaved/natural at higher voltage. It's just not a guaranteed win in my experienced.
Another amazing episode! The rotary voltage selection on the super top secret pedal was incredibly interesting. Sorry if I missed this being mentioned in the video, but one thing to consider with 18v is bass usage. In general, I think the low end of the bass sucks up so much more headroom. I have an OCD and a Cali76 on my bass board and _love_ both at 18v, due to that headroom for the low end to blossom a bit before hitting the top of the headroom. Cheers!
Since the fulldrive is a tube screamer, and I think the switch is something like silicon/led/diode lift clipping, it makes sense that in diode lift the voltage makes a much bigger difference: in that case the op amp clipping can be heard, and it's very prominent below 9V, almost absent at 18. In the other cases the effect of more or less headroom is masked by the diode clipping
Hi Dan and Mick, love the show, the Ed episode was above and beyond. One thing about using 18v that I'm not sure you highlighted was that it can dramatically increase your playing dynamics. The OCD and the FD2 were my mainstays for a looooog time, ran both at 18v. The OCD at 18v, in the uncompressed mode, is just amazing and very amp-like. You play softly and you get clean tones, you dig in a bit more you break up, you dig in a lot and it's balls out overdriven heaven, all without touching the volume knob on the guitar, all just from playing dynamics.When the OCD came out (mid-late 90's?) amp-like pedals didn't really exist in the pedal market, so the OCD was an amazing development. Also the FD2 in comp cut mode @18v is something to behold, especially if it's going into an amp just on the edge of breakup. So yeah, for me, beyond volume and tonal differences, it's the dynamics that really keep me using 18v where I can.
episode on shopping for pickups? so many companies make similar style pickups (e.g 'vintage') but it's not very easy to demo different pickups practically speaking. I don't like to buy based on reviews or product descriptions but rather how it feels when I play it. Thanks
Plus 1 from me for episode on battery types!! 🙏 Also, wanted to make a point someone has already made in comments. The higher voltage comes in handy when gain stacking pedals. I run a DLS at 18V at the end of my drive chain in a wet dry setup. I have fuzzes, drives, (D&M drive), boosts, compressors before it. Since signals hitting it are higher it gives me the character of the DLS without getting too squashy. Then I have a GE7 (modded) at 18V at the end of my wet signal chain and an EQD Tone Job at 18V at the end of dry signal chain both just before each amp. Gives me just EQ control over each amp, on the overall sound without getting clippy! Just a matter of what you need to achieve and understanding the concepts which this video does excellently! 🤜🤘👏
For those curious about fuzz. In pedals that are accurate clones of fuzz pedals from the 60/70's (or the originals from that time period) , it is recommended to use a carbon zinc battery because when those pedals were invented, they were made with carbon zinc batteries in mind. Using an alkaline battery is the same as using a power supply & changes the sound in some rigs more than others. Pedals that benefit from carbon zinc are Tone Benders MKI, I.5 & II (unsure of III) Fuzz Faces like the FullTone 60's & 70's and a bunch of others. (Not sure about modern Dunlops). Maestro Fuzz clones. the Selmer Buzz Tone. Color Sound Overdrivers & Treble Boosters. This really only applies to very accurate clones. I'm sure there are more. In my rigs, which basically consist of single coils and all major food groups of amps ie. Marshall, Fender, Vox, & vintage Supro, carbon zink batteries make an audible difference with my Fulltone 60's & 70's, my LIC Pedals clone of MKI & MKII & Treble Booster (Check him out, he lives for GE transistors and Nerds out on em) as well as my Jimmy Behan Vox Tonebender MKI.5. & my Tru-Fi Colordriver. I have A/B'd all these pedals with CZ batteries vs either alkaline or power supplies and happen to like them better with carbon zinc batteries but you should check yourself. Pedals that don't care, Rats, Big Muffs, DS-1, Z-Vex, EQD and a bunch of others. I have A/B'd with a Black Russian Muff, DS-1, Fuzz Factory, NYC Muff, Rams Head clone & my modern Rat. I could hear no difference & that seemed to line up with the info I learned, and stated above, after. Carbon zinc batteries are cheaper & often found in Dollar Tree's so I say load up. Hope this helps. Tell Me there aint a show in the stated information.
I’m not sure if this is what happens to Mick when Dan explains technical details, but I found myself pondering a weekly show where you guys talk about gardening and flowers, which you could call That Petal Show. Then I told my brain to stop being so silly and focus on what Dan was saying because it sounded important.
If you want to see what happens to a pedal that is not designed to take more than 9 volts then check Brian Wampler's video on the danger of running the tumnus at 18 volts.... It blew up. His Tumnus takes 9 volts and converts it to 18 volts internally. Great show guys. I loved the dream show on Friday. Great tone and made me laugh. Keep up the great work.
I own Wampler Ethereal and….couldn’t be happier (I guess)...only if its chip had more “headroom”, since I’m permanently facing issues with digital clipping noise when picking/hitting/strumming strings heavily. I’ve great SG Special with pair of 490 Alnico IIs, so I would not assume that the issue is “outstandingly high output” or smth like that. And when adding the subtlest amount of my Echoplex Pre gain before Ethereal, things get even worse. I’ve never experienced problems like that with any of my delay or reverb pedals (even the cheapest Chinese $30-$50 Joyo gear doesn't have this sort of problem). I‘ve researched that the “problem” is probably related to that sensitive chip in Ethereal and that this pedal appreciates 18V to start working as designed, so I bought great Decibel Eleven power unit hoping this would resolve power issues. I connected two 9V in series and got 18V at last!..Things improved slightly, but there is STILL not enough headroom to stop this awful digital clipping when classic Alnico II humbuckers (not modern hi-gain ones) are hitting Ethereal "too hard". I want to return this device. Completely disappointed.
Another great show! Headroom is something I've only ever associated with overdrives. It was so interesting to see how it affected the modulated guitar sounds. The more you know eh. Cheers gents!
Great video as always Gents. I just tried my Fulldrive 3 on 18v last week and was surprised how different it felt and responded. But I definitely looking forward to some experiments with starving my FF-mini and messing around with the bias trimpot. Thank you guys for everything you do for the TPS community!! Cheers from the States🎸
from a bassist perspective, I find that using a compressor before an envelope follower allows me to better control and fine tune the note. it also allows very easily definable audible differences between different compressors. I think it would make presenting differences between compressors easier to hear. cheers, happy days
Brian Wampler has done a whole video on what happens when you overload a pedal. He destroys a Tumnus deluxe. It is really painful to watch so difficult to recommend but t you wanna know what will happen he makes it very clear.
I have a Cali76 TX model (large format with transformer) and when it's 18v it has the iron on, when it's 9v it switches it off. There's even a high gain setting on it for the transformer. It's amazing. I bought it USED for 650 USD!! I can't believe they stopped making their large ones, I really wanted the same one with the parallel blend too but luckily I only use it for very slight limiting so it's not as necessary to have a clean signal. I wouldn't want to use the Wetter box because it's not the same - blending a dry signal with that vs the two signals both passing through the preamp of the compressor and then being blended together with the parallel section.
I live in California wine country. This like how people try to describe wine. It is important to try and create a dialog, knowing that everyone will experience it in their own way. Well done.
interesting how it works.From my stereo, the headroom manifest in more space/definition making it sounds a little "thinner". I suppose it also depends on pickup output, each pedal's input capacity and the amp's ability to cope with/render the sound. nice work.
There’s geeking out...and then there’s TPS....holy cow. Breaking out the electronics measuring and testing equipment. I was just teleported to my grandfather’s garage as he was working with old CRT TVs..... Nice!!! Amazing how dynamic pedals can be just by tweaking voltage. Whole ew world of options....
Dan, what a sweet playing as of 29.00 with the single line impro! Soulful and beautifully ringing....would have loved to hear the same thing through your 60w Hamstead: loads of headroom into more loads of headroom!
Andy Martin did a demo of the Catalinbread Dirty LIttle Secret, and said the difference in that pedal was really akin to the difference in a 50 and 100 watt Marshall. A number of Catalinbread pedals can run at either voltage.
Waggle your stick ALL you want sir. It’s your show. Love you both already! Cheers.
5 ปีที่แล้ว +1
Hi guys, You’re awesome. I’ve recently embarked on a modding adventure and I was thinking that you two might like to give your thoughts about it? Pickups, coil splitting and wiring, winding, pots, capacitors, selector switches, fret dressing, nut, tuners, saddles, etc.? Rock on from Canada!
Great episode. Your discussing and demonstrating the things that effect our gear such as voltage is many levels of depth above other similar shows. You guys are ace, the TCM of guitar shows. Don’t you just love the crystal clarity and pure tone of the Jazzmaster? As you are discovering, it sounds great in all kinds of amps and with all kinds of pedals and is really nice when driven hard. The JM is so terribly underrated and you may help to bring it to its proper place. Condolences for your bereavement. Carry on my wayward sons.
What's interesting about the fuzz at the end is that I was expecting it to become more gated and mis-bias sputtery at low V (like the 'Massive Secret' pedal), gating out completely with the guitar's volume rolled back (which I guess is what Mick expected too?) - but all the low V really did was affect the pedal's output volume.. I wonder if that's down to the configuration of the circuit and how it actually clips the signal? It's as if it was attenuating the gain stage (volume gain; not to be confused with distortion gain) without affecting the clipping stage (distortion gain) - I wonder if trying different fuzzes which do or don't use diode clipping, have different numbers of gain stages, or have different feedback networks to bias their transistors, will behave in different ways to voltage starvation? I'm a few months into designing (read: learning) my own fuzz which has a fixed bias point in terms of voltage-to-base (though the current can be varied) and it seems very much dependent on the output from the pickups to 'switch on' and function properly.. entirely different to what you're experiencing here when rolling back the volume for clean-up but possibly similar in how it's output level would change independently of it's biasing with voltage starvation. Definitely more investigation needed - I'm not sure there is a general rule the effect voltage has on a fuzz - though like you say; it's a whole other thing :)
4:40 to 6:52 could have been explained better. Increasing the operating voltage changes the sonic behavior, but whether or not it’s “better” is subjective. I’ve designed audio products for 20 years, including pedals, compressors, preamps, and much more. One surprise I had was testing a design on both a +/-5v supply and a +/-24v supply. My entire team preferred the lower voltage. The sound was more dense, more compressed on lower voltage.
When I saw the title for this video I figured batteries would be a talking point... as addressed at the 56th minute I look forward to the video when you discuss pedal power vs battery for fuzz. I have a sunface red dot i think ... not sure what's in there
A 9 volt supply gives you +/- 4.5 volts of voltage swing. 18 volts gives you +/- 9 volts. More headroom gives you more dynamic range so it sounds less compressed.
I had the Hudson Electronics Sidecar for a while and I preferred it at around 7 volts. When I bought it I had assumed I would prefer it at 24v because I have the Hudson Electronics Broadcast (best pedal ever) and I love that at 24v.
![12 Ways To Use Your Guitar’s Controls [Volume, Tone & Pickup Selection] - That Pedal Show](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/oh6LHxrXR8E/mqdefault.jpg)
Love how engaged TPS is with their community! Thanks for all the work you do! Hard working, humble mates 👍 🍻
In summary, for drive pedals run at 18v if you want it louder and you want less of the actual effect. With volumes set the same, I just hear less gain. In my experience with drive pedals, the more interesting effect of the higher headroom of 18v is how a pedal handles what you stack into it. I have a Catalinbread DLS I run near the end of my chain to get my Marshally sounds, and I stack several different ODs in front of it (including a D&M - awesome). Some years ago I swapped the DLS to 18v as an experiment, and I was shocked how much better it sounded when hit with other drives. By itself it was much, much louder, and much cleaner - not exactly what I want in a drive pedal. The change in the stacked sound was a revelation though, so it's stayed that way since.
Greg Comfort same experiences with the DLS
I know three people running an Xotic EP Booster. Two at 9v, front of the chain, one guy doing 18v at the end of the chain. Different needs.
There’s some degree of that too (less clipping, more volume) with 18v versions of the Colorsound Power Boost compared to 9v versions, but also the 18v versions are much more interactive with guitar volume pots (and are meant to be placed first in a pedal chain). This could be just that the 18vs have lower input impedance by design…dunno.
Agreed, each of the Catalinbread amp-in-a-box pedals I’ve used generally perform better (more open, more headroom, more amp-like) when run at the full 18V.
Completely agree! I have a DLS at 18V at the end of the drive chain. In some cases I run fuzz into it. Then I have an EQD Tone Job last after drive and wet I run at 18V so I can get my EQ I want but not squash the signal.
I run my fuzz pedal at 1.21 Gigawatts.
Love the show
Sincerely Dr. Emmett Brown.
It’s important to have your own thermo-nuclear reactor to run some of the older pedals 👍
Sounds like you need a Delayrean in your collection. Also could you put a Flux Capacitor tone bleed circuit in my strat?
I remember many moons ago on the VCPI episode when Dan declared his favourite voltage of the Analogman Bi-Chorus to be 15V. I think most viewers agreed that was fairly cork-sniffer level of tweakage but after hearing the obvious difference between 15V and 18V level of the effected signal, I think we all stand corrected.
I love this comment. Mick here. We don’t say this stuff just to be assholes y’know! There is often lots of method in the apparent madness. :0)
Massive Secret sounds like the soon to be sold out TPS Power Booster.. killer !
Geoff Nightingale sounds (and looks) more like a Hudson Broadcast with a variable voltage control. They already make them in 9v and 24v versions, so it would make sense.
The Cali76 uses relays that switch around the 11V mark, running the 76 around the 11V mark will cause the relays to open and close rapidly, causing that fluttery gross distortion. Origin recommends running the pedal between 9-10 and 13-19 volts to avoid this.
What if I like fluttery gross distortion?🤪
@@JonathanGasper lol then run it at 12v. I gotta warn you though it's really not a nice sound Imo. It's more of an artifact that distortion, but if your still moved to make it musical that makes u that much more talented
I learned this lesson the hard way - went to a Guitar Center a few years ago to try out a Rat, and fried it by giving it 18V. I got the heck outta there after it started smoking.
Good to see you overcame the troubles of yesterday! I’m going to save this one for my commute on Tuesday morning, actually looking forward to my journey now!
Just woke up sleep deprived after gigging last night. This cured my Schwangover! Great topic. Thanks.
2000 quid for a tripod... “Imagine how many pedals you could get for that?”
One Klon.
Are you talking about a camera tripod? I have a RRS Really Right Stuff and the legs & the ball head cost me about $1400 USD
😂👍
I am trying to budget a thing and the cables are breaking me.
Try buying a Miller video tripod. My wife has several Millers and then add fluid heads on top of that.........THOUSANDS of dollars just on one tripod and mounting head. It is why I get to buy all my guitar/music gear.....we both have expensive hobbies.
Snap. Sorry commented before seeing your post.
I have to promote my favourite overdrive pedal, the GH Diablo from Okko. You can adjust the voltage continuously from 6 to 18 volts. This is feature is just awesome.
Frank Fionn please explain. Do you mean the LO⚡️HI switch?
@@jimnewearthblues1672 I have the GH (Gregor Hilden)-Version. There you can adjust the voltage with a knob.
Now I see. I have the orange (earlier) version with the HI⚡️LO switch. So the GH Diablo is unique with its variable voltage control.
The Okko overdrive’s are very overlooked. Its a shame. They are great overdrives if not the best.
@@jimnewearthblues1672 Yes, they are. I think so, too.
BTW the wetter box vids are awesome Andys ,Petes and Dans first class guys👏👏👏👏
I second that. Awesome sounds.
Just want to congratulate you on the show this year it really has been another level of greatness. The guests, the gear, the insight, it really is unparalleled.
Watched this in 4K on my new TV with surround sound for the first time. Mick's intro was 👌 Think I'm gonna have to rewatch EVERYTHING!!! Keep it up guys 👍
Hooray! And thank you! :0)
The MXR Iso Brick power supply has two outputs with variable voltage from 6v to 15v. great video!
Hit the like button at less than 1 minute because of Micks playing. Superb :) ... Now i'll watch the rest of the vid haha
Worth noting when discussing headroom in overdrives: if a pedal uses diodes to achieve clipping, changing the power supply voltage won’t affect the threshold of the diodes. That’s why switching to Comp Cut mode makes such a huge difference: it takes the diodes out, so the only clipping comes from the op amp, which now has higher headroom. But in a diode clipping setting, if say the forward voltage of the diodes is .5V, it will always clip the signal it receives at .5V, no matter the power supply voltage. I see a couple other commenters mentioning the Dirty Little Secret (which, I agree, really opens up at 18V!), same scenario there: all transistors to achieve the clipping, so you see a greater difference when changing voltage than with a diode setup. Maybe a bit too in the weeds for the scope of this video, but thought I’d add it here. Anyway, this was a really excellent showcase of voltage differences AND a good hammering home of the main point: go against manufacturer recommendations at your own risk. Cheers, keep up the great work!
Thanks for the timely episode! On a new board I’d been running my Snouse Black Box 2 at 18v and Xotic SP Compressor at 9v. Wasn’t perfectly happy with the way the Snouse was sounding and the SP Comp was sounding a little dark. After watching the video I reversed them and it’s a big improvement to my ears! Love the openness of the SP at 18v and the “chewiness” (as Mick referred to overdrive feel) of the Snouse at 9v. Great topic!
R.I.P all the pedals that are going to blow up after this episode... People don't believe disclaimers
@Rian Snuff Im also into bending and mods... All my pedals have mods.. we all fucked up something at least once... But messing with power sounds like cooked pedals
@inaki font magic blue smoke with a hint of progress.
Anyway I have boxes of little capacitors I can upgrade wire lead circuits and my iron allegedly is up for surface mounting new bits.😌
*but I exercise my skills at opening the box first and reading the component specifications. (email the manufacturer? 🙉)
This video is perfect timing for me, I recently bought a Friedman be od pedal for my 80s tones in the cover band I play in. Changed it to 18v and voila! It was so much more dynamic and amp like. Great pedal!
I was so upset yesterday when I got to work and checked to see if a new video was uploaded. It gets me through the last day of the work week to see a TPS episode will be waiting for when I get home. But better late then never. Thank you gents.
You have amped things up with this high voltage episode and it was electric !!, but you should have called it "Current Affairs" LOL , great episode :)
LOVE the Strat and Tele... but I also need moar of that JM in my life plz
Yes. Why is it that since the arrival of the JM on TPS, I suddenly have a burning desire for one...
I recently bought an isolated power supply which allowed me to put my EQD talons up to 18V and holy tone balls. Super interesting episode guys. Hope all the TPS crew is doing well.
I have an OCD. I love it but selling it because I do not have enough room in my pedalboard. Bought a Clover after last week’s video. My guess is that I will get $10 more from my OCD just because of this video.
Have always been a mad headroom chaser, but this inspired me to stick to the lower voltage into my high headroom amp and more easily get the gain stacking I was after. Thanks again lads.
Yay! A science-y episode! The guest spots are cool, and I’m sure they are way more exciting to shoot, but I just love these episodes that show off the in-depth technical knowledge that makes this show so special. Thanks again guys! Keep up the hard work.
Totally depends what sound you want. Mick here. I always prefer just the tiniest amount of break up in the front end and the master as loud as the situation will allow. Mmmmmmmm
THANKS! Perfect timing for this one!
Massive Secret..... sounds GREAT and I absolutely preferred it at 18 volts. Seemed to really open up the sound going from 9 to 18 but above that seemed almost brittle.
OCD..... this one was odd, on the more driven tones the 18 sounded more open and sweet but as the gain was decreased I preferred the 9 volts.
Cali76 (the one I have real questions on)...... I’m not a fan of compression in general. At 9 it sounds like a very transparent compressor (which is why I have one). At 18 it just opens up completely and gets so transparent (but you can still hear it’s doing it’s thing) that you lose that “he’s using a compressor” thing. LOVE it at 18!
Chorus...... yea definitely differences but none that did much for me. I kind of felt like most of the changes could be had in the controls to begin with.
The fuzz..... I wasn’t impressed which surprised me. I’d stick with 9v.
The other Fulltone...... they definitely chose the right voltage at 9. The differences were subtle beyond that.
Great episode, and Dan, you sold more doublers! 🤠 Now you just need a switchable 9 to 18 doubler with a variable knob to decrease from the setting for easy experimentation! 😁 I’ll forgo my royalties for that idea! 😏
Great show on this long overdue topic.
I expected you guys to demonstrate what over feeding a pedal would look/sound like. Burn through a tone city TS clone or something of similar ilk.
Also, I contacted a couple of manufacturers about voltages on their pedals. For instance the Supro tremolo supports 18v but they say it just doesn’t sound very good.
Another manufacturer said that there should be NO sound difference on a pedal capable of 18v. No change in headroom or noise floor. But they stated specifically that because components get warmer due to higher voltage they’re actually more susceptible to noise.
Weird. I'm not a basement dweller, but I genuinely look forward to seeing you guys every week HA! Thanks for another great show guys. Hope the Compression show has the Xotic SP featured. I used one for years on the road in an alternative old-time/jazz act, and it never ever failed me. Kept my tone intact, helped me punch through, and when I didn't add it to my most recent board, it took me months of technique altering to adjust to its absence. Xotic make truly stunning stuff, the RC was also on the road, never turned off.
Fantastic episode!! I personally love running my ODs @18V precisely for headroom and it also "sounds & feels " more natural to me. Great job, guys. Keep it up!
When Mick start to adjust the OCD - it started messing with my OCD!!! The irony is just awesome!!!
same here
I got a Pigtronix Fat Drive recently that can run at up to 18v, and I was amazed at the difference it makes! I've always been curious about this. Thanks for filling us in! Cheers!
Right at 41:57 as Mick takes off, I've been experiencing that crackling from my Cali76 at higher settings as well. Good to know its not just mine. Seems to be only past 2 o'clock. Its never set that high for me normally anyhow. TPS, always useful
I have yet to listen to a TH-cam video with a Cali76 that does not crackle or have noise in one form or another. I don't understand how a pedal that is in such high regard can have noise like that. For acoustic guitar work that is simply unacceptable. I hope Dan and Mick will look into this in more depth and compare it to the Keeley Compressor Pro model. I have not heard any YT vids with the Keeley that have noise which is why it's still on my short list. I'd love to have the new Cali76 stacked but the noise issues I'm hearing thus far are keeping me from getting it. I'm hoping for another in depth compressor video from TPS to look into this further.
This is a topic I’ve never understood. Friends of mine would tell me to run my ODs on batteries so the battery could run down. This never made any sense.
But I get it now. I didn’t believe them before when they said it sounded different. But it does.
Thanks again guys.
My guess: The Massive Secret is a version of the Hudson Broadcast with variable voltage, bass and treble controls, and possibly a TPS theme.
I was already happy for Dan's new home run The Wetter Box. It is destinied to be a classic and essential pedal to make players sound their best.
Now with the Wetter do film an episode of Hard Rock Guitar into Fuzz >compressor>Overdrive>Noise Gate> Crunchy Marshall using the Wetter pedal. Heavy metal Gods hear my request!!! Use humbucker guitars. Hard Rock Episode for best overall Crunchy and lead tones.
Brian Wampler did a great video on running 18v in the Tumnus. He let out the magic smoke. Awesome and sad at the same time.
By far my fav episode so far. I just started running a couple of my pedals a the higher voltage. What a difference it makes. thanks gents for all the hard work you do. cheers.
Where is the Dan pedalboard episode? He teases us with it here and there, and then got us all wet over the wetter box... PUT US OUT OF OUR MISERY, MAN!! Show us what’s under the lid! 😂
It was supposed to be yesterday. But there was a problem with various things. Ha!
Mick’s “stank face” at 45:45: “Whatever those settings are are good... I like this stack, and this riff..” Cut to “were you changing it?”
That’s one of the reasons I love this show... There are moments when you abandon the mission and just revel in the sheer joy of good guitar tones! Thanks
Hi guys, TPS fans, passers-by: I have one of the Blackstar HT Dual pedals that runs on AC (16v). There are two kinds, the one I have and one at 22v DC.
Not sure I can afford the entire GigRig Modular PS, but I assume it has an AC option, maybe with variable voltage? I'm used to running a Strymon Ojai and Zuma R3000. The only other option I can think of is Truetone CS7/12 - I believe they have an AC output, idk about variable voltage (I think Cioks and Voodoo Lab make AC Bricks, but it's a lot for just one pedal) - or just use the adapter that Blackstar provides with the pedal, which works perfectly. I really like the pedal but hate having adapters everywhere.
Thanking in advance, great show as always!
(NB: Manual is explicit: 16v AC)
58:22 that's why I watch this show every friday (& saturday); you read my mind and my thoughts, Mick. And that's why I like to change the battery on my Sunface NKT275 when I feel my cleanup is not clean as I want...
Hi Dan Hi Mick my name is Koen Leliveld and I’m from Sauble Beach Ontario Canada. Thank you ever so much for this episode. I’m now running my FullTone OCD and 18 Volts and it sounds amazing.
New T-Shirt design: “With increased headroom comes increased responsibility.” Shut up and take my money!
That's excellent.
Great show guys, I`m off now to put 480 volts into my amp, think of the headroom!
You're head will be all over the room alright :)
@@oisinmcphillips2090 Beat me to it. It'd be a "Scanners" Rock 'n Roll moment!
Make sure your running that in 3-phase for optimum performance at 480 volts. No need to ground anything ⚡️✨💥
TPS is my new favorite show! Before buying any pedal this year, I've searched for a TPS show that demos it first. My favorite purchase inspired by TPS is the Seymour Duncan PowerStage, but that's only one of 10 pedals I've bought based on TPS recommendations.
Thank you for this show on Voltage. You've both brought it up before, and that got me to be sure my digital pedals are properly powered (some were not). I am about to start experimenting with 18v vs 9v on my OCD and Vapor Trail.
Love these kinds of videos that don't just get into the different types of pedals on offer, but also the how to of using the gear that exists. I find it's a subtle but often missed detail and it's why TPS videos have been a steady diet for me for a long while. Kind've unrelated and probably hard to test note, it'd be interesting to see you guys try different types of ear protection to see which ones keep the sound the best while still providing the most protection
Wow, 9v on the Massive Secret sounded like constant fizzy noise and flatness, but when you moved it up to 24 volts that totally cleared up. Too pedaly at 9V. I have a Siegmund Double Drive which operates off wall power and microtubes, no wonder it feels so much better than pedals most of the time... if the voltage makes that big of a difference I'm sure having an actual hand wired preamp basically is totally different. Sometimes you want that pedal though - it's all good!
I tried 9 vs 12 vs 18 volt on a Wampler Euphoria when I was putting all my stuff together with the power supply. It's kind of voiced with the 9v idea in mind and doesn't scale well, but I do like the way gain pedals seem to be smoother or more well behaved/natural at higher voltage. It's just not a guaranteed win in my experienced.
Another amazing episode! The rotary voltage selection on the super top secret pedal was incredibly interesting. Sorry if I missed this being mentioned in the video, but one thing to consider with 18v is bass usage. In general, I think the low end of the bass sucks up so much more headroom. I have an OCD and a Cali76 on my bass board and _love_ both at 18v, due to that headroom for the low end to blossom a bit before hitting the top of the headroom. Cheers!
"Up for 4 minutes" - I've never seen a TPS this fresh! One personal advantage to Saturday publication. :))
Since the fulldrive is a tube screamer, and I think the switch is something like silicon/led/diode lift clipping, it makes sense that in diode lift the voltage makes a much bigger difference: in that case the op amp clipping can be heard, and it's very prominent below 9V, almost absent at 18. In the other cases the effect of more or less headroom is masked by the diode clipping
Hi Dan and Mick, love the show, the Ed episode was above and beyond. One thing about using 18v that I'm not sure you highlighted was that it can dramatically increase your playing dynamics. The OCD and the FD2 were my mainstays for a looooog time, ran both at 18v. The OCD at 18v, in the uncompressed mode, is just amazing and very amp-like. You play softly and you get clean tones, you dig in a bit more you break up, you dig in a lot and it's balls out overdriven heaven, all without touching the volume knob on the guitar, all just from playing dynamics.When the OCD came out (mid-late 90's?) amp-like pedals didn't really exist in the pedal market, so the OCD was an amazing development. Also the FD2 in comp cut mode @18v is something to behold, especially if it's going into an amp just on the edge of breakup. So yeah, for me, beyond volume and tonal differences, it's the dynamics that really keep me using 18v where I can.
Always ran my OCD at 18v loved the way it sounded.
I came pretty close to flipping it until I tried the 18V adapter.....WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!
I'm guessing the Massive Secret is a new version of the Hudson Broadcast, possibly a limited edition TPS graphic?
The real “Massive Secret” is Dan’s Pedalboard 😂 😝 😉
Great stuff boys. I miss my Cali76. I'm using a Jackson Audio Bloom now. I love the EQ/Boost on the Bloom, but I miss the 18v headroom of the Cali76.
Thats also A Great Pedal the Jackson Audio Bloom.
episode on shopping for pickups? so many companies make similar style pickups (e.g 'vintage') but it's not very easy to demo different pickups practically speaking. I don't like to buy based on reviews or product descriptions but rather how it feels when I play it. Thanks
Massive Secret has flavors of Hudson Broadcast... methinks
I've also seen limited edition 24v variants of the Broadcast too (so adding to the speculation!)
For me the thing that screamed Hudson was the blinding green LED.
That amp imploding sound, the box, the LED just has to be a Hudson dunnit?
Plus 1 from me for episode on battery types!! 🙏 Also, wanted to make a point someone has already made in comments. The higher voltage comes in handy when gain stacking pedals. I run a DLS at 18V at the end of my drive chain in a wet dry setup. I have fuzzes, drives, (D&M drive), boosts, compressors before it. Since signals hitting it are higher it gives me the character of the DLS without getting too squashy. Then I have a GE7 (modded) at 18V at the end of my wet signal chain and an EQD Tone Job at 18V at the end of dry signal chain both just before each amp. Gives me just EQ control over each amp, on the overall sound without getting clippy! Just a matter of what you need to achieve and understanding the concepts which this video does excellently! 🤜🤘👏
For those curious about fuzz. In pedals that are accurate clones of fuzz pedals from the 60/70's (or the originals from that time period) , it is recommended to use a carbon zinc battery because when those pedals were invented, they were made with carbon zinc batteries in mind. Using an alkaline battery is the same as using a power supply & changes the sound in some rigs more than others. Pedals that benefit from carbon zinc are Tone Benders MKI, I.5 & II (unsure of III) Fuzz Faces like the FullTone 60's & 70's and a bunch of others. (Not sure about modern Dunlops). Maestro Fuzz clones. the Selmer Buzz Tone. Color Sound Overdrivers & Treble Boosters. This really only applies to very accurate clones. I'm sure there are more.
In my rigs, which basically consist of single coils and all major food groups of amps ie. Marshall, Fender, Vox, & vintage Supro, carbon zink batteries make an audible difference with my Fulltone 60's & 70's, my LIC Pedals clone of MKI & MKII & Treble Booster (Check him out, he lives for GE transistors and Nerds out on em) as well as my Jimmy Behan Vox Tonebender MKI.5. & my Tru-Fi Colordriver. I have A/B'd all these pedals with CZ batteries vs either alkaline or power supplies and happen to like them better with carbon zinc batteries but you should check yourself.
Pedals that don't care, Rats, Big Muffs, DS-1, Z-Vex, EQD and a bunch of others.
I have A/B'd with a Black Russian Muff, DS-1, Fuzz Factory, NYC Muff, Rams Head clone & my modern Rat. I could hear no difference & that seemed to line up with the info I learned, and stated above, after.
Carbon zinc batteries are cheaper & often found in Dollar Tree's so I say load up. Hope this helps.
Tell Me there aint a show in the stated information.
Mick, thanks for uploading and then going back to write out the go to section later. You work very hard
Thank you sir!
Really glad to see some “fulldrive in como cut mode” love on this channel. It sounds so good!
Next Gigrig product.....an expression pedal controlled power supply....
Phew. My TPS withdrawals were getting that bad I was thinking of taking up drugs again. Thanks Mick. :)
I’m not sure if this is what happens to Mick when Dan explains technical details, but I found myself pondering a weekly show where you guys talk about gardening and flowers, which you could call That Petal Show. Then I told my brain to stop being so silly and focus on what Dan was saying because it sounded important.
Bloomin' important!
I'll get me coat.
@@pd4165 Good on ya mate, you rose to the occasion! ;)
Intro was beautiful. Play it again, Mick.
Wouldn't it be fun to have a second footswitch on a fuzz so you could swap between full power and starved?
I see a Stone Deaf Tremotron behind Dan's right shoulder. Swoooooooooooooon!
If you want to see what happens to a pedal that is not designed to take more than 9 volts then check Brian Wampler's video on the danger of running the tumnus at 18 volts.... It blew up. His Tumnus takes 9 volts and converts it to 18 volts internally. Great show guys. I loved the dream show on Friday. Great tone and made me laugh. Keep up the great work.
Yeah, and who knew that tumnus came with firecrackers installed. At least they are NOS.
That guitar intro by Mick was inspiring.
Thank you!
I own Wampler Ethereal and….couldn’t be happier (I guess)...only if its chip had more “headroom”, since I’m permanently facing issues with digital clipping noise when picking/hitting/strumming strings heavily. I’ve great SG Special with pair of 490 Alnico IIs, so I would not assume that the issue is “outstandingly high output” or smth like that. And when adding the subtlest amount of my Echoplex Pre gain before Ethereal, things get even worse. I’ve never experienced problems like that with any of my delay or reverb pedals (even the cheapest Chinese $30-$50 Joyo gear doesn't have this sort of problem). I‘ve researched that the “problem” is probably related to that sensitive chip in Ethereal and that this pedal appreciates 18V to start working as designed, so I bought great Decibel Eleven power unit hoping this would resolve power issues. I connected two 9V in series and got 18V at last!..Things improved slightly, but there is STILL not enough headroom to stop this awful digital clipping when classic Alnico II humbuckers (not modern hi-gain ones) are hitting Ethereal "too hard". I want to return this device. Completely disappointed.
Another 6 weeks and you will hit 200k subscribers. Well done! Well deserved! loving it.
Another great show! Headroom is something I've only ever associated with overdrives. It was so interesting to see how it affected the modulated guitar sounds. The more you know eh. Cheers gents!
Great video as always Gents. I just tried my Fulldrive 3 on 18v last week and was surprised how different it felt and responded. But I definitely looking forward to some experiments with starving my FF-mini and messing around with the bias trimpot. Thank you guys for everything you do for the TPS community!! Cheers from the States🎸
from a bassist perspective, I find that using a compressor before an envelope follower allows me to better control and fine tune the note. it also allows very easily definable audible differences between different compressors. I think it would make presenting differences between compressors easier to hear. cheers, happy days
Brian Wampler has done a whole video on what happens when you overload a pedal. He destroys a Tumnus deluxe. It is really painful to watch so difficult to recommend but t you wanna know what will happen he makes it very clear.
Excellent theme!! Thanks for all the great content and specially the laughs. Huge honk to both of you guys!!
Dan, the Wetter Box... need it!!!!
I have a Cali76 TX model (large format with transformer) and when it's 18v it has the iron on, when it's 9v it switches it off. There's even a high gain setting on it for the transformer. It's amazing. I bought it USED for 650 USD!! I can't believe they stopped making their large ones, I really wanted the same one with the parallel blend too but luckily I only use it for very slight limiting so it's not as necessary to have a clean signal. I wouldn't want to use the Wetter box because it's not the same - blending a dry signal with that vs the two signals both passing through the preamp of the compressor and then being blended together with the parallel section.
Really appreciated this edition, answered a lot of questions. Loved the varying voltage stuff. Thanks gents!
Love me some waggle-stick action! Also, really appreciate the amount of work and the incredibly clear explanations throughout this video! :)
You still had a video ready
I live in California wine country. This like how people try to describe wine. It is important to try and create a dialog, knowing that everyone will experience it in their own way. Well done.
Yet another “must watch” video from the men at TPS - Thank you!
interesting how it works.From my stereo, the headroom manifest in more space/definition making it sounds a little "thinner".
I suppose it also depends on pickup output, each pedal's input capacity and the amp's ability to cope with/render the sound.
nice work.
There’s geeking out...and then there’s TPS....holy cow. Breaking out the electronics measuring and testing equipment. I was just teleported to my grandfather’s garage as he was working with old CRT TVs..... Nice!!! Amazing how dynamic pedals can be just by tweaking voltage. Whole ew world of options....
I think it's safe to say as soon as it's not such a massive secret I'll be buying one. My God that thing sounds great.
Mick hasn't said I'm no longer in a dream, am I still in a dream? Is this limbo? HAVE I DIED?????
rip
Dan, what a sweet playing as of 29.00 with the single line impro! Soulful and beautifully ringing....would have loved to hear the same thing through your 60w Hamstead: loads of headroom into more loads of headroom!
Andy Martin did a demo of the Catalinbread Dirty LIttle Secret, and said the difference in that pedal was really akin to the difference in a 50 and 100 watt Marshall. A number of Catalinbread pedals can run at either voltage.
Waggle your stick ALL you want sir. It’s your show. Love you both already! Cheers.
Hi guys,
You’re awesome.
I’ve recently embarked on a modding adventure and I was thinking that you two might like to give your thoughts about it? Pickups, coil splitting and wiring, winding, pots, capacitors, selector switches, fret dressing, nut, tuners, saddles, etc.?
Rock on from Canada!
Great episode. Your discussing and demonstrating the things that effect our gear such as voltage is many levels of depth above other similar shows. You guys are ace, the TCM of guitar shows.
Don’t you just love the crystal clarity and pure tone of the Jazzmaster? As you are discovering, it sounds great in all kinds of amps and with all kinds of pedals and is really nice when driven hard. The JM is so terribly underrated and you may help to bring it to its proper place.
Condolences for your bereavement. Carry on my wayward sons.
What's interesting about the fuzz at the end is that I was expecting it to become more gated and mis-bias sputtery at low V (like the 'Massive Secret' pedal), gating out completely with the guitar's volume rolled back (which I guess is what Mick expected too?) - but all the low V really did was affect the pedal's output volume..
I wonder if that's down to the configuration of the circuit and how it actually clips the signal? It's as if it was attenuating the gain stage (volume gain; not to be confused with distortion gain) without affecting the clipping stage (distortion gain) - I wonder if trying different fuzzes which do or don't use diode clipping, have different numbers of gain stages, or have different feedback networks to bias their transistors, will behave in different ways to voltage starvation?
I'm a few months into designing (read: learning) my own fuzz which has a fixed bias point in terms of voltage-to-base (though the current can be varied) and it seems very much dependent on the output from the pickups to 'switch on' and function properly.. entirely different to what you're experiencing here when rolling back the volume for clean-up but possibly similar in how it's output level would change independently of it's biasing with voltage starvation.
Definitely more investigation needed - I'm not sure there is a general rule the effect voltage has on a fuzz - though like you say; it's a whole other thing :)
4:40 to 6:52 could have been explained better. Increasing the operating voltage changes the sonic behavior, but whether or not it’s “better” is subjective. I’ve designed audio products for 20 years, including pedals, compressors, preamps, and much more. One surprise I had was testing a design on both a +/-5v supply and a +/-24v supply. My entire team preferred the lower voltage. The sound was more dense, more compressed on lower voltage.
The GigRig secret preamp pedal. Nice.
Didn't know what to do with myself when I woke up on a Saturday with no TPS to watch. Thanks for posting, guys!
When I saw the title for this video I figured batteries would be a talking point... as addressed at the 56th minute I look forward to the video when you discuss pedal power vs battery for fuzz. I have a sunface red dot i think ... not sure what's in there
I second an episode for this!
@@JasonClute Thank you, or just a 15 minute blog video! It wouldn't take long to go through
A 9 volt supply gives you +/- 4.5 volts of voltage swing. 18 volts gives you +/- 9 volts. More headroom gives you more dynamic range so it sounds less compressed.
Mate,- you just saved me an hour of lost time of my life,- thanks ! :)
I had the Hudson Electronics Sidecar for a while and I preferred it at around 7 volts. When I bought it I had assumed I would prefer it at 24v because I have the Hudson Electronics Broadcast (best pedal ever) and I love that at 24v.