Just three basic controls give you the sound, Drive, Volume, and Treble. This unit could be the best supplement to other dirt pedals on your pedalboard and could drive your tube pedal with exceptional sound quality. It is also not an accident that it is still rated as a favorite pedal by many guitarists. I want some good dirt that is responsive and has something special. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It becomes an ego thing, which causes the price to go crazy. JavaScript is disabled. The original had the treble control, of course, that gave the higher frequencies plenty of boost. Let me list down some of the best benefits of owning the best transparent overdrive pedals below. Does this remind you of anything? It then gets overdriven before going out again. !king love this pedal the most) and the Delay Workstation (a very scary brilliant device tha see details, Jared demo-ing this pedal at 3:00. Two original single-coils, on his Stratocaster, helped along by a Seymour Duncan pick up. The point is dont choose your pedal on what others say. The tone control is an interesting option. It would be a boring musical world if that wasnt the case. Make sure that you still have available space in your pedalboard for another guitar gear. JHS is no stranger to transparent overdrive, and the Morning Glory has a few elements that other pedals dont. There is no need for you to waste too much time modifying or shaping the tone. It isnt often on a pedal you get an EQ situated like this on the top of a pedal. In fact, so good you really must consider it as one of the best pedals on our list. It doesnt get very dirty, but thats kind of the point. Remember that you are looking for a transparent sound to boost the original EQ of your instrument. Can boost at mid-range and reduce bass response for a more natural tone. If you do, consider the size of the overdrive you want to buy. Thats the reason the modified pedal has stayed on peoples boards for nearly 15 years. But be warned as some of the best brands can be very costly. You get the same great sound but with a few added extras. So, if you are looking for a Transparent Overdrive pedal, what should you look for? They will give you a clean boost without disturbing the purity of the guitars signal. No overlay of effects and other noises. Low gain, which means is it not too loud. It is quite hard to describe a pedal like Morning Glory. So incidentally is the price point, which makes it extremely good value. First, let me define what a transparent overdrive is. As the drive control increases, it lends a slight boost to the treble frequencies. To put this in the context of art, a transparent overdrive is a paint or color, you are the paintbrush, and your guitar is your canvas. Although it might be expensive for some. The brand claims to be an authentic-sounding overdrive that is true to its transparency. Not is simply not the case. We would like to consider the title that is sometimes given to this pedal. The best transparent overdrive pedals gives you a true tone color of your guitar. Would be killer to throw a POT in there as well. I use a wampler plexi drive and a big box rat. It was done to give players two modes of bass response. Audio chain is designed to have more headroom. By understanding the significance of these actions, you will certainly find the best unit that suits your preference and level of expertise. Named after another mythical beast, this is one of the more accurate Centaur alternatives, though it uses silicon instead of germanium diodes. No complicated groups of controls or buttons. Honestly, this is one of my personal favorites. In fact, most sounds that complement your style of playing can be achieved with this pedal. It has echoes of days gone by in its look and design in that it is easy to use. MmmmTele/LP doing Blues & Classic Rock into a Princeton Reverb? * Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. The Keeley BD-2 was the first mod that had a switch. It can be used as a simple stand-alone pedal for overdrive. Find out how you can get your hands on the best transparent overdrive pedals and discover the benefits of owning one by reading this article. Hence, the gain feature of a transparent overdrive specializes in mid boost, which is appropriate. Well, after all these years Craighton Hale stumbled upon a Toshiba device that had the magic. Also built-in are low-frequency modes that are switchable. Many guitarists love to use this drive because it lets the lead solo cut through. The Katana Blues Drive still retained the active bass and treble controls but smoothed out the highs and increased the gain range slightly. All the way to a chimey sound, so reminiscent of some 60s tube amps. It is even finished in a rather unique green they call Seafoam. I am looking for an overdrive to add to my board. Depending on what your guitar specifications are, the sound may differ. Or you can pull it back a little, and it will go soft with you. Our choice would reflect what we have just said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 4. Therefore, it is going to be able to take life on the road. There are two modes to choose from flat and phat. It also provides the option of buffered or true bypass. Circuit characteristics are similar to the classic Tubescreamer. Until next time, may the music make you merry. The Super Phat Mod pedal now has incredible dynamics. The sustain and gain functions work perfectly well with my Fender. Most of todays transparent overdrives attempt to create a similar sound to what many consider the King of overdrive, the Klon Centaur, which is one of the most desired pedals anywhere on the planet. Controls are super manageable - even for a beginner. Allows a wide range of subtle to dramatic breakup. This transparent overdrive is capable of reducing bass response while enabling mid boost. This classic-looking overdrive could provide an excellent definition of your guitar tone. May produce hissing sound when not properly setup. It focuses the lows and mids while providing an open sound with headroom to spare. You can easily tweak the sound and gain of your guitar using a transparent overdrive. Listed on Simon's official Keeley artist page. You want a pedal that will take the natural tone and enhance it. Just in case you think the above list is not helpful enough, take note of the things to do before buying your transparent overboard. A good option at a very attractive price point from a respected manufacturer. Sweeten up your tone with the Sugar Drive, MXRs take on transparent overdrive tones. It shows its true value in its superb tones and almost unbeatable boost. There is so little to choose between them. I would say this is perfect for guitar solos in blues and funk music, which are my kind of genres. The result is a similar sound to a tube amp that is being pushed hard. This is becoming a little like a whos who of great overdrive pedal manufacturers. There are lots of those. He considers his writing as a way to share what he has learned over the decades with younger generations ad always can't wait to get his hands on the latest gear. Whatever you use it for, it will prove itself more than just another Klon copy pedal. This type of pedal is called transparent because its primary purpose is not to add tone color to your guitar. Let us move on to another manufacturer with a big reputation. They are able to add a gentle warmth to the gain that more formal overdrive pedals cannot do without muddying the waters.. What added to the mystery was that when the enclosure to the Centaur was opened and people tried to reverse engineer it to uncover the magic within, all they found was a glob of epoxy hiding the circuit. But we have to choose one, and we are going to buck the trend. There are some great manufacturers on that list, but we are going for one that is lesser-known. It also offers either a true or buffered bypass. You will not get too much noise from layers and layers of effect. Learn more here. I would love to have this on my pedalboard. The circuit provides a great platform for mods, the most famous being the JHS mod. Your email address will not be published. You expect to see Electro-Harmonix pedals when people compile a list of their favorite overdrives. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. Whatever setting you use, it excels. You should only be looking for the appropriate controls - the ones that will not produce too much coloration and layers of noise. Its that natural break-up that just feels good and lets you express yourself. You can achieve a heavyweight crunch or a warmer tone. You can be aggressive, and it will respond to you. Keeley Electronics - Super Phat Mod Full Range Overdrive, Keeley Electronics - Super Phat Mod Full Range Overdrive - Settings Demo. It feels like it is designed to be exactly that. I know this is subjective but would like to hear what others are liking. You can add a bit of distortion to the mids or low frequencies that will sit neatly with the cleanest of tones. Simply request a demo from an attendant or test it yourself. But not as soft as a clean boost. > I have a Keeley Super Phat Mod that is kind of like a tube screamer type sound. Being a boutique shop, the waiting list to order a Timmy was usually pretty extensive. There are some excellent pedals at prices that are very attractive and will do the job well. Once this gear is set up on your pedalboard with a bunch of other dirt pedals, you may notice an improvement in sound quality. You need to get to know your pedal. It isnt like that. And if the tone is too bright for your rig, there is a cut switch on the side. Effects pedals have had an input into that. If you find this content useful, please do not hesitate to comment and share. JHS Morning Glory V4 Overdrive Guitar Effects Pedal, The Benefits Of Owning A Transparent Overdrive, Best Transparent Overdrive Pedals Buying Guide, Heres How You Can Effectively Learn And Memorize Classical Guitar Chords, How to Use Your DAW to Improve Your Guitar Playing. Get all the latest reviews straight to your inbox. I believe its based on the Keeley-Mod Boss BD-2 (?). The robust, transparent tone that allows guitar lead solos to cut through the record or live mix. For example, if you are using the same brand, model, or quality of transparent overdrive, you will get a distinct sound for every pickup type. It can be pricey, but it has an incredible set of controls including the bypass footswitch. It could be one of the best selling brands online because it can preserve the original voice of your guitar but enhances its gain. Therefore, it is easy to use and operate. From country pickin, to blues and rock wailing, the Phat Mod is the choice for those not wanting the over-refined sound of a common Screamer. This is a classic overdrive pedal, but it is much more than just an overdrive. Not all overdrives have this feature, which ultimately gives it an edge. What are the Best Transparent Overdrive Pedals? It also allows the option to choose between buffered or true bypass. Supplements amp and other dirt pedals well. I highly discourage any guitar player of any level of expertise to go for the most expensive ones. He lives just outside New York with his wife Barbara and their two German Shepherds, Ziggy and Iggy. There is often the idea that the more expensive the pedal, the better it must be. The range is wide and full and what you have is a pedal that is very responsive to how you play. Be familiar with its sound and its level of transparency. It is not too big either, and at 6.75 by 4.25 by 3.25 inches will fit comfortably on your pedalboard. Best to use for screaming leads and harmonics. Lets move on to what many people see as a classic overdrive pedal. Specifically, it retains the main quality of the sound. With Super Phat Mod in an old, Blackface-style logo and the metal-flake clear-sparkle on gold, we feel it will look incredible in any rig. These controls are located just in the face of the gear, so it allows for ease of manipulation. If the harmonic content and grain of the distortion and overdrive werent exactly right, we moved on and waited to try out other devices. It is a fraction larger than the average overdrive pedal at 8.5 by 3.8 by 4.2 inches. The boost from the Gain can be worked with the Output control. That could lead to some interesting results. Level, Tone, and Drive are your three choices. With over 40 years of giving us quality effects, you can expect something good. Gain simply refers to the volume of your guitars tone. But it is one thing creating a look alike. The new Super Phat Mod takes off by duplicating the Keeley Phat Mod part-for-part with the exception of our new super JFETs. And we think youll enjoy this incredible tone we have crafted for you. This pedal will boost your basic crunchy sound into a much thicker sustain. However, this benefit also has a major drawback. We had found the magic device that pushed it over the top. It can support other types of dirt pedals and can even drive an amp. Corey is a multi-instrumentalist who has played in numerous bands over the years, some good, some not so good. But the sound is quite extraordinary. I sold my RAT2 and really miss it, I can highly recommend it. Sounds smooth so it is perfect for blues, jazz, soul, and funk. Hence, it is perfect for both live performances and recording. It may not be what you need. But what many guitarists say about this pedal is that the break-up feels right. But it is not going to disturb your original tone. Paul Cochranes Timmy is also one of the ubiquitous transparent overdrive pedals that is beloved in the guitar world, and while fairly inexpensive (especially compared to the Centaur) each pedal is handmade and the wait times to order one were usually months long. When you decide to buy in physical stores, you have to test the sound quality of your chosen unit first. +1 on the Rat, with LM308 if possible, but current production is fine. It adds a very special harmonic excellence to your sound. And because it has a tube-like sound, it is going to enhance even the most basic of amps. The Archer Overdrive is a simple and basic pedal that is designed with a circuit to reproduce some great sounds. Some pickup types include P-90, humbuckers, and singles. That takes you from that clean sound that may be your amp cant provide. If you are looking for that gain that is harmonically rich, with the character of a tube amp, take a listen. Perhaps that is a subliminal confirmation that it isnt going to color your tone either. Between the low and high points on the Gain control are a myriad of sounds. So, lets get started with the. Best $40 you'll ever spend. The original Tumnus from Wampler was a pedal that created some interest. Always focus on sound quality while still keeping the budget at the back of your mind. And being so clean and precise it was the antithesis of the era of music that preceded it. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Everyone was seeking an overdrive sound that didnt totally replace a guitar players tone, but rather would complement what was already there. Possibly the sounds are not as sophisticated as some. Amazon | Guitar Center | Sam Ash | Musicians Friend | Reverb. This allows you to take all little top off if you are using single-coils.