ShortScale.org

I've just found out about this brand, and I'm intrigued. HAving never used either a Tubescreamer or an OCD, these seem like a good place to get an idea of what they're like (Ultimate Drive=OCD and Vintage Overdrive=Tubescreamer).

There's been a slight mention of the brand here, so I was wondering what folks thought of these. They're really cheap, and look pretty cool (well, the Vintage OD does at least).

Since pics are always good, here they are:





I have the Zoom PD-01 as my main drive, but I could do with something with a bit more gain for my rhythm playing. I use an IC Big Muff for solos, so I'm thinking the midhump of a TS clone could be useful? But for rhythm playing the OCD might allow for some more drive, which I'd like.

I was looking at the tuner earlier. Half the price of the Korg pitchblack and it looks almost identical. I've read some poor reviews of cheaper tuners on the net though. Which I guess I shouldn't actually hold against them as most people on the internet are idiots.

Very decent quality for the price. In fact there was a "boutique" builder that repainted them and gooped/hid the insides and any identifying markings and tried to pass them off as his own creations. I'd get them and try them out if I were you. Get them and let us know what you think!

Yep Freekish Blues, the massive fraudsters.

That's them. I couldn't remember the name.

Bill Oakley wrote:Very decent quality for the price. In fact there was a "boutique" builder that repainted them and gooped/hid the insides and any identifying markings and tried to pass them off as his own creations.

To be fair, I believe he replaced a couple of components with some he'd scattered magic pixy dust on.

I have that Vintage Overdrive pedal. I never use it but it's not an indictment against the pedal. I just don't use overdrive pedals much, I prefer a straight up boost. The pedal is actually quite good, I'm definitely not going to sell it or anything. If I were reassembling a pedal board to use an overdrive pedal, I'd gladly use it. I like the Boss OD-3 a bit better sonically but I like the Joyo form factor better and it's cheaper, too.

Joyo has a line of preamp style dirt pedals as well, in the spirit of Tech 21 Character Series pedals. Don't ever believe anybody who says they are on the same level as Tech 21. They're just not. I have a British style pedal from Joyo and Oxford from Tech 21 and yes, they're different animals since the Joyo is more Marshall and the Tech 21 is more Orange, but the fact remains, the Tech 21 sounds beautiful recorded, plugged into my Magnum 44 power amp, or my powered speakers. The Joyo sounds like glitchy digital bullshit through the PA, sounds like muffled shit through my Magnum 44 except with certain guitars that seem to make it somewhat decent, and I would never want to record that thing. And the noise floor is clearly higher and not pleasing. And I really tried to make it work. I used it for several rehearsals, trying every combination of guitars and knobs. Then, on the day of the show, I swapped in my Tech 21 Oxford, set everything to 12 o'clock, the sound guy told me to get a bit more brightness, so I did, and it sounded magical.

I have the Harley Benton American Pedal (I believe made by Joyo) and run it through my EHX 22 Calibre and it sounds ace.

My British pedal actually sounds decent into my Magnum 44 + cabinet, but put it through a hi-fi system or good full-range powered speakers and it's far more glitchy. A Tech 21 preamp stays pleasant through any high end system.

Loving this. Sounds nasty as all fuck. Possibly a little bit better than my French Toast...? A little more versatile at least with the ability to switch the octave in and out.

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after you mentioned it watts, i like the look of that tuner. wonder if it works better than my GFS pitchblack lookalike.

It looks awfully like the exact same display and therefore guts as the Pitchblack, potentially just slapped into a different case. Having seen various different products and bits pop up in other Chinese-produced pieces of equipment I wouldn't say it's too crazy to imagine that might be the case. Of course, it could just be a very good copy.

ekwatts wrote:Loving this. Sounds nasty as all fuck. Possibly a little bit better than my French Toast...? A little more versatile at least with the ability to switch the octave in and out.

[youtube][/youtube]

The way it's set up is like the Fulltone Ultimate Octave. If you flip the polarity of C9 and C15, you get closer to the Foxx Tone Machine. Flipping these caps makes it better in my opinion. Much more usable.

That octave sounds great. I would also say it sounds better than my french toast, or at least more usable.

ekwatts wrote:It looks awfully like the exact same display and therefore guts as the Pitchblack, potentially just slapped into a different case. Having seen various different products and bits pop up in other Chinese-produced pieces of equipment I wouldn't say it's too crazy to imagine that might be the case. Of course, it could just be a very good copy.

yeah, looks like the case is just different.
would love to have a go on one.

Korg Pitchblack is my favorite tuner. I also have a TU-2 and a PolyTune, which are both decent tuners but they're no Pitchblack. So if that thing only looks like a Pitchblack and isn't 100% as good as a Pitchblack, then it's the same as any other tuner but that's not necessarily a bad thing.