David Gilmour's Tube Driver tones - Is this the best clone?

David Gilmour's Tube Driver tones
In this video we'll look at the history of David Gilmour's Tube Driver pedals. From the recording of Division Bell to his last solo tour, Rattle That Lock, in 2016. I'll present a great sounding clone, the TD-Y from Past FX, and show you how you can set up your own Tube Driver tones and cover everything from clean boost to overdrive and distortion.
Download backingtrack (credit: Bjorn Riis/gilmourish.com):
gilmourish.com/backingtracks/...
In this video
Guitar: Fender Stratocaster, with Seymour Duncan SSL5 bridge pickup and D Allen Voodoo 69 neck and middle pickups.
Amp - Reeves Custom 50, Laney Lionheart cabinet with 2x12" Celestion V30 speakers
Amp settings: normal channel 1:00, bright channel 10:30, bass 1:00, mids 1:00, treble 8:30, presence 12:00
Mic - Sennheiser e906 mic
Evidence Audio cables
evidenceaudio.com
Gilmourish Buyer's Gear Guide - Overdrive & distortion
www.gilmourish.com/?page_id=262
Contact: [e-mail]
Support the channel / Paypal: [e-mail]
Follow
www.gilmourish.com
/ gilmourishofficial
www.bjornriis.com
/ bjornriis
www.airbagsound.com
/ airbagsound
Chapters
0:00 Intro jam
1:42 David Gilmour's Tube Drivers
2:41 My Tube Driver
3:19 Past FX TD-Y
4:28 The setup for the video
5:53 End jam

[@bradatherton9369]

How nice it is to hear something from Division Bell. His tone on that whole album was ethereal.

[@CedricsSpecialLP]

Demos like these should become more of a standard for gear reviews. You are doing amazing work, Bjorn.

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@crystallineanthology595]

That closing solo was epic

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@Shoot_and_Scoot]

I absolutely love the neck on that black strat with the binding.

[@gilmourishofficial]

More on my guitar here kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqm9iZRurpKjorssi=DfbN0_59andRhrg4

[@Verzerror]

The guitar looks soooo great, the binding on the neck! Yes!

[@gilmourishofficial]

More on the guitar here kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqm9iZRurpKjorssi=d8JDi_RdMq7O2DWH

[@bennoz2]

I have the PastFX TD-Y, Revolution, Patriarch, Electric Mattress and Power-boost. All are fantastic clones but the TD-Y is truely stunning... PastFX are my favourite boutique pedal makers by far.

[@mikaeledream3335]

Yes !! Love power boost , patriarch, TDy fabulous gilmour sound

[@stevehollx]

Their CE1 is great too!

[@johnmundt7834]

I have the power boost, revolution and stereo 65 chorus. They are all fantastic, great builder

[@geoffreymerrifield5666]

I've got PastFx TD-Y, Patriarch, Electric Mattress and the Crazy Tube Circuits Hi Power pedal. I'm a huge PastFx fan too. Looking forward to their Rockman pedals.

[@deltablues8141]

When you are using your Pastfx TDY then which other pedals are you using and in what order to achieve Gilmour tones?

[@francescodigiuseppe3893]

Bjorn, your guides are useful not only for stomp box pedals and effects, but also for David way of playing guitar! Thank you for that!

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@kidgloves2]

You should do a shootout between this pedal and the BD-2

[@marki7661]

Beautiful! I subscribed for the Gilmour tips, but keep coming back for Bjørn! The ebb and flow of your dynamic choices are always exceptional and your vibrato arm technique is borderline lascivious. It’s almost like your teasing our ears us by restraining the urge to rush to a crescendo, before resolving the track in the most satisfying way. Like an audible innuendo 🫠

[@gilmourishofficial]

Wow! Thank you so much for your kind words! Do check out my solo album on Spotify for more 😉

[@kylecunningham719]

Great tone! Sounds really good, Bjørn!

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@philm0l]

Wonderful demo as always Bjorn! 👍 (I took your advice and now have two TD-y's on my board 😉 ) Thanks also for the fantastic BT 👍

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@bradyd69]

Excellent video, just ordered!

[@douglasalvaradocorrales]

Chills 🥶✨ Great tone, so tasty 💘 Great review (as usual), thank you Bjorn 😎👍🏻

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@Eckarthausen]

Amazing playing, Bjorn.

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@marekbilek1703]

Without the doubt thats the best one. I tried many of the clones and never been satisfy but this one will stay on my pedalboard for sure...whatever i try with this pedal it always sounds good.....every time i play i can not get enough of the sound it produce.... Beautiful playing as usual bjorn i hope one day i will reach that level 🎸🎸🎸

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@ericbouza854]

Awesome sounds!!! 😊👍

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@joumannoe]

Great review and recommendation as always!!!😎👍

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@csgband]

Great info, I just ordered the Past Fx.

[@adamloake]

Amazing tones and great video! I feel a purchase coming on :)

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@absinha6209]

Damn that is spot on. Nice playing.

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@jaimeramirezsolano685]

Nice playing, tone and review. It would be interesting to see you reviewing their power booster!

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you! The Power Booster is slightly darker sounding compared to the original and most of the clones out there. The top end and break up much smoother. Very versatile on a wider range of different amps.

[@GilmourBlackStrat]

Love it! Thanks for the great work.

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@didikyanto974]

Great tones. You are the Man

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@seamdye147]

You opened with Coming Back to Life - my favorite! I'd subscribe on that alone, but already am! Great content as always Bjorn!

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@macsarcule]

I have the TC Electronic Tube Pilot and enjoy it. Great video! ✌️😌🎸

[@daveb1444]

I would love to see a tab for that lead + chords you play to absolutely brilliant 👏

[@benjaminluscombe7199]

Stunning playing in that outro jam Bjorn 👏 Inspired. I've watched you for years, thankyou for sharing your passion, showing us what great great is out there, how it sounds in context. I'm always impressed how you get such great tone from one pedal. I'm certain Gilmour himself would be impressed with this tone, and playing. Oh, great backing track too, if you're able to share...🙏

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thansk for your kind words! There's a link to the track in the description field.

[@benjaminluscombe7199]

@gilmourishofficial Terrific, thanks Bjorn!

[@vinicmag]

outstanding outro jam

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@michaelfowler3187]

Big PastFX fan here and I'm not a gilmour enthusiast by any stretch but just find this to be a really great "front end" overdrive. It provides lovely attack and sustain and glowing tube saturation when hit hard. But in my experience it has a less than preferable result in fuzz pedals that are sounding before it. I do not like this pedal as an amp in a box style approach but as a preamp or early stage it's absolute magic

[@zenzerk]

I have a feeling I'm going to revisit this video frequently just to listen to your 'End Jam'. Any chance you can post that backing track? So good. Cheers!

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you! Here you go gilmourish.com/backingtracks/gilmoursh_davidgilmourtubedriver_backingtrack.mp3

[@zenzerk]

@@gilmourishofficial Thanks Bjørn!

[@Juman498]

Great jam

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@richardlynch5632]

Wish the Butler was still in my possession 🤣 Remember driving crosstown L.A. to get one when they came out.🙄😉 My search for the best OD/Distortion pedals ended when discovering a guitar with natural sustain... When that part of the equation was met, everything else fell into place for me.😎 REALLY like Airbags new release and video...The videographer is outstanding and does you proud Bjorn 👍👍 😎✌👍❤🖖

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thanks for your kind words!

[@johnjames77]

Butler is making the Tube Driver again !

[@richardlynch5632]

@@johnjames77 BITCH'N😎👍👍 $299.00 EXTRA $125.00 For a bias control. 4-7 day build time. Thanks for the heads up👍👍

[@oopavio]

I remember the email I sent to them, requesting another tone stack or to add a pot por mid freqs. Here it is!

[@andremaaskant9432]

got the Bk Butler TD...Telefunken ecc81..no harsh top end, ,best tube for this pedal !!! great channel !

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thanks for the tip!

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

In 1989, I traded a JB Player strat-copy for a Tube Driver. I had a Yamaha amp with awful distortion & the Tube Driver made-it sound the way I wanted.

[@FloydColor]

it is definitely the best clone. In fact, it could be even better by now. Certainly much more versatile, and usable in bedroom setup.

[@Lander-bo2rq]

of course! the td-y. i love it, it is my favorite overdrive. i love it so much that im thinking about buying a second one to dedicate as a boost, so i dont have to constantly change settings. i really dont know much about the clipping stages, but i use v-2 alot. something about it is slightly more dynamic to my ears. i dont use middle. i barely use v-1 anymore.

[@deltablues8141]

Hi Bjorn. Very interested in the Pastfx TDY that you introduce. Beautiful playing and great tones. Which other pedals were you using on your board alongside the Pastfx TDY and in what order? Thanx

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thanks! Nothing apart from a bit of delays and reverb that I added in the mix.

[@Souldoubtrocks]

BK Butler built me one in the early 2000’s. It’s great.

[@ssiowi]

Brilliant Bjorn. Like me, perhaps many here put you on the short list of *One* for which we always, always use our best headphones for your posts. Curious to know if you've peered inside the TD-Y for a comparison with the deceptively-simple Tube Driver circuit. Analog circuit design, thankfully a skill very much again valued, shines in the Tube Driver. Must also add here that my tone chasing--always a blast--will forever come up short. 99% of the heavy lifting there comes from the player--having the gear just right adds the last itty-bitty 'something'. Spectacular as always Sir; carry on! P. S. Helix folks, give the 'Valve Drive' and 'Tube Driver' models a go for a taste of this iconic tone. Thanks again B!

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thanks for your kind words! I haven't opened it up but tonewise they're very close.

[@chrishealton3830]

I just use a tube driver for tube driver tones. You can score a 90s butler real tube used for like 150 USD or less, with a 3 band EQ.

[@laurentperez5229]

It’s interesting, I’ve several TD and 2 BK/Chandler like Gilmour used on Division Bell and I’ve noticed that the TD-y was closest to the BK/Chandler much than the BK911. And you prefer the BK911 version, so it’s a little bit confusing for me 😅 Past FX makes really great stuff for reasonable price, that’s a chance! As always, really great review, always a pleasure seeing your content!

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you! Yes, there are differences and as I also point out in the clip, as much as I love that particular 2006 BK that I have, I often use it with a compressor and EQ to get it closer to a Chandler.

[@laurentperez5229]

⁠@@gilmourishofficial oh sure, the use of compression in front help a lot. I think you use the EQ due to the use of V30? This TD-y is very smooth, I found it very close to my BK Chandler. Thanks for your reply!

[@aornic]

Pastfx make great stuff!

[@marcarlt9980]

Incredible playing and tone Bjorn! I could listen to you all day 🤘🏻 What backing track were you playing to?

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you! I recorded the track for this demo.

[@marcarlt9980]

@@gilmourishofficial Bjorn, you are a legend. Somehow missed it the video description. Thanks for making it freely available!

[@SoulMachine]

Wonderful demo Bjorn 🤩 Would you be willing to make the final backing track available for download? Thank you so much in advance!

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thanks! There is a link in the description.

[@SoulMachine]

@@gilmourishofficial oh great thank you so much Bjorn!

[@christophetourniaire4713]

Excellente thank congratulations

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you!

[@745bob]

nice!

[@ac30helix44]

Great as always Bjorn. I have built 2 x TDX clones and they are amazing pedals. However, I recently got a Fender MTG tube distortion for a steal and OMG tube driver heaven

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thanks for the tip!

[@moosemuseum1853]

I have the V2 PastFX TD-Y. I've never managed to get great tones out of an overdrive pedal so fast. Now it's a battle between my Kingsley Minstrel V3, the TD-Y, and Snouse Black Box Stage Mod... P.S. - I've never really liked the Butler Tube Driver.

[@earlfairbanks6360]

Waiting for this song to drop on iTunes! 🤣🤣

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thanks! Do check out my music on Spotify. My latest EP, Endless River, is a personal homage to Floyd, and based on these tracks I record for reviews.

[@earlfairbanks6360]

@@gilmourishofficial oh I love that EP! It’s fantastic!

[@ravenslaves]

My first OD was a Tube Driver. Since then I've tried many ODs, but I've always returned to a Tube Driver of some sort. Including a rack mount.

[@zenlandzipline]

I also have a rack TD. And a pedal TD with bias knob. I also have the Buffalo FX TD-X, and even an Ibanez Tube King. You can’t go wrong with with any of them. They all sound very similar. I’d say the rack is the most versatile, as not only does it have a midrange and contour control, but also has line level ins and outs if you want to use the TD as a preamp. .

[@ravenslaves]

@@zenlandzipline Nice!!!

[@lucalorenzetti9905]

Fantastic tone! Is it possible to have a link to the backing track of the jam? Thank you for your work

[@gilmourishofficial]

Here you go gilmourish.com/backingtracks/gilmoursh_davidgilmourtubedriver_backingtrack.mp3

[@lucalorenzetti9905]

@@gilmourishofficial thank you so much

[@marekbilek1703]

I always want to ask you if there is any chance you could release some of your backing tracks you made for your videos...they are simply amazing...thanks a lot for all 👍👍👍

[@gilmourishofficial]

Here you go gilmourish.com/backingtracks/gilmoursh_davidgilmourtubedriver_backingtrack.mp3 Do also check out my solo album for more 😉 My latest EP, A Fleeting Glimpse, is very much inspired by Floyd and these backingtracks I make for this channel.

[@mihalygombkoto4551]

Hi bjorn, what song is it in the intro? It appears in every video and its that great that give me goosenboobs.

[@gilmourishofficial]

That's a short piece I wrote probably over a decade ago as an intro for these videos. Check out my solo material on Spotify for more.

[@mihalygombkoto4551]

@@gilmourishofficial Thank you :))

[@titosantana1340]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@mikaeledream3335]

I have past fx and bk buthler bias knob it’s exactly the same sound!

[@franciscoquinones9338]

I have a Line 6 Helix.

[@mirage809]

It's a clone of a clone, with some special sauce. That somewhat illusive Tube Driver is a key component to a lot of post The Wall Gilmour sounds. It might not be as spectacular as a Big Muff dialed in just right, but that solo at the end does not lie. It's the good stuff.

[@BorysOliinyk]

Amazing jam, Bjorn! What’s Celestion v30 in your cabinet? 60W or 70W?

[@gilmourishofficial]

Oh, I can't remember. I think they're 60W.

[@blackstrat7]

Is it normal to have a significant volume boost when switching from standard 4 knob to engaging the button for 5 knob version? I enjoy the standard version so much I’ve yet to really explore the mids engaged because of the volume boost and added noise. I’ve enjoyed pushing it with another of as well. Excellent pedal!

[@gilmourishofficial]

Yes, that’s just the circuit. I’ve talked to Past FX about it without getting a good answer but you need to lower the volume to anout 10 o’clock to get unity gain with the mids engaged.

[@janders3205]

Is Gilmour using compression after the tube driver? Tube driver>eq>compression. Is the td-y different sounding than the td-y? Great videos!

[@gilmourishofficial]

David's using compression first.

[@rafsbio]

Hey Bjorn, have you ever tried the MXR FET Driver?

[@gilmourishofficial]

Yes. Very different. Similar to the Dover Drive, with less low end and headroom. Wouldn't recoomend it for Gilmour's tones.

[@iwiggs6870]

For a while I was using a BK Butler almost as an always-on preamp. It makes everything after it sound glorious. However I find it's a noisy pedal and there's a bit of tone-suck. Keen to try out this clone.

[@jaimeramirezsolano685]

After having the pastfx power booster, and watching you a musty I went for the hi power as well which I must say immediately became my favorite pedal in my board. Now, I’m curious as to know where in the chain orde order I should place my boss rotary Rt20, should it go at the end after the delay and reverb, or before them? Any suggestions on what would work best? Thx a lot

[@gilmourishofficial]

As a mono effect I would place the RT20 after the gain effects and before delays and reverb.

[@mustyguitar]

Sounds a lot better in your hands xD I love the pedal and SKnote Yamaha simulator too!

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thank you! Appreciate that coming from you! Yes, I use the SKNote on almost all of my guitar tracks. It really makes a difference to just have a tiny bit amount to smooth the tone. Sounds great fully cranked as well. It's all over the new Airbag album.

[@markburrows1563]

Hi all… after some guidance. I purchased this pedal and am using it in a buffered loop. The pedal is mighty powerful … is it Germanium based?

[@beyondfloyd]

Bjorn, good job. I have a question, I also use pastfx td-y V2. I know that pressing the mid toggle button will turn off the mid knob, but I find that when I press the mid control toggle button, there is a noticeable decrease in volume. Is this normal? Does this happen to you as well?

[@gilmourishofficial]

Yes, I have talked to Past FX about this as I wanted the stock 4-knob mode to be identical to my 4-knob TDY but I never really figured out why there is a volume drop. The tone is spot on but the volume drop is kind of strange.

[@745bob]

thats the mids being cut i think

[@gilmourishofficial]

Well, yes there will be a drop in volume and presence if the mids control is boosted but there is a difference even with the mids contro all the way down.

[@Indiscriminance]

V2 owner. I have same issue. Button in, 4 knob mode is also a huge volume drop. I think it's really the other way around though, button out, V2 mode is much louder than my other drive pedals. SD-1, BD-2, KO Amps Powerboost clone, Tumnus, Ratsbane, Duke of Tone, Vick Tree of Life. They all need more level to match V2 TD-Y, volume-wise. Seems very hot to me. Not really a complaint though, it's going to take a VERY special pedal to ever kick this thing off my board. Stacks exceptionally well with literally everything we've thrown at it. I like it as last pedal in dirt chain.

[@rikmcrae]

I have both a V1 TD-Y and a Buffalo FX TD-X on my board. They are very close. The TD-X is my all time favourite overdrive.

[@aquilarossa5191]

Hi. Why did you change from 30 watt G12H speaker to the 60 watt V30s? My guess is increased power handing in the 212, but I am just wondering if the choice was tonal.

[@gilmourishofficial]

I swap back and forth between those speakers - between my Laney Lionheart cabinet and a Blackstar S1 212 that I have. I prefer the G12H for Gilmour's tones but right now I'm recording guitars for a new project and I wanted a slightly darker more mid rangy tone from the V30s.

[@brianpost8827]

I have the Dave Allen voodoo 69's in all pick up locations. What change did you hear in using the SSL5 in the bridge location ?

[@gilmourishofficial]

The SSL is much hotter than the 69. Higher output, more mids and low end. Closer to a P90 and PAF.

[@jeanfrancoisheffer6519]

Alh division drive 👌

[@johnnyguitar-uu3zr]

What delay pedal or other pedals are you using ?

[@gilmourishofficial]

I’ve added a bit of delay and reverb in the mix (Apple Logic) and a hint of the SKNote R200 rotary sim plugin on the Muff tone example.

[@briancash6035]

how does this compare to the dover drive? for on an island and coming back to life tones specifically

[@gilmourishofficial]

The Dover is, as the name implies, based on Eric Johnson's Tube Driver tones, with his Marshall amps and usually with the bass and treble controls on the pedal rolled back to bring out the mid range. The Dover sound closer to a Tube Driver with more gain.

[@jamiewhite3703]

Hey Bjorn what gauge strings do you use on your strat?

[@gilmourishofficial]

Ernie Ball 10-46

[@jamiewhite3703]

@@gilmourishofficial cheers Bjorn by the way just while I'm hear with your band airbag are you planning to come to the UK for a tour you guys are great and would love to see you guys live

[@nycshelbygt500]

#EHX released a 50th Anniversary #BigMuff in All Gold in 2024. #Glorious

[@saigonproducer]

Was your amp completely clean for this demo?

[@gilmourishofficial]

It's clean but the amp is pushing the tube to the very edge of breakup.

[@skaboosh]

does it have a valve???

[@gilmourishofficial]

No.

[@orisonsquirrell]

Shut up and take my money!!

[@kjek1]

Brilliant stuff Bjorn! Are you going back to the Albert Hall in October?

[@gilmourishofficial]

Thanks! I'm not sure. I have too much going on this fall so it will probably have to be a spur of the moment thing. Are you?

[@MartinTimothyTimko]

The Effectrode company produces high-quality tube pedal guitar effects. I had also the original Tube Driver by BK Butler, but it did not sounds very well. It was a very clean and charred sound - such an organ sound for keyboards. But Effectrode are very good effects ! :)

[@richhoelscher1102]

I had one and really tried to make it work. Goes from thickly compressed and gainy to obnoxiously so. It doesn’t breathe. It would nail On An Island tones, but not Pulse or Division Bell. Feel the same way about the BD-2, it's particular tone doesn’t rub me right. Too much Raaagggr and not enough Whooooo.

[@gilmourishofficial]

As with all overdrive pedals, how they end up sounding, depends on what pickups and amps you use.

[@richhoelscher1102]

@@gilmourishofficial EMG DG20's and Katana 50 mkii

[@juliencouhault6703]

DONE....