Fat, Mean & Kinda Clean | Vertex Steel String Supreme SRV Demo & Review | Stompbox Saturday

[@jamesprice6381]

Very nice to pay Homage n Respect to Alexander..Not many have either the fortitude, nor the disposition...

[@aaronabubo]

That sounds dope. I really like that compressed clean sound at the beginning.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Thanks duder! Yeah, this thing really excels at that FAT, compressed clean.

[@EricMakingWaves]

Finally around 16:40 I heard what I was looking for. That's SRV in a box. Period. Holy crap. Buying this right now.

[@coffeedudeguy]

Nice detailed rundown! Would be nice to hear how this sounds in a band context with another guitarist

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

thanks! it would be nice but sadly not something i can devote the time to arranging. i don't doubt it would sound good.

[@ryangunwitch-black]

Who needs another guitarist!? Lol

[@DjNorbax]

Thank you! Finally someone who shows the gain range on this thing. I had the Steel String mk2, but ended trading it because i felt it didn’t had enough drive/gain. This version seems to be a bit gainier but so far every demo shows different settings, and not the full range of sounds the pots give. Excellent demo.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

thanks!

[@SIXX6XXIS]

Great review! Great tones I’m convinced

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Thanks! Well, it is Black Friday…if you want to get one, use my Sweetwater link please? I get a small commission to support the channel: imp.i114863.net/2rer2A

[@Stepinto]

Incredible! CLEAN-tone Shaper…a real must have. GREAT! Sound & Tone-video…good job thnx 🎸🎶👍

[@sassycat]

With all the speaker cranker videos yesterday, it's easy to forget pedals like these. The humbucker tones were surprising.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Thanks buddy! Good to see you around again. Yeah, this version of the pedal is really humbucker friendly. the EQ is really what makes the HBs shine

[@claessorensson225]

Great clear presentation and cool playing!

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Thank you my friend!

[@VinnieBlues1]

Amazing sounds !

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Thank you 🙏

[@thegeardad]

Great work! Really enjoyed this demo

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

thanks Gear Dad! glad you dug it

[@JaniceLalla]

I love your intensity!

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Thanks Janice! I just decided to let go and get into the tone and music.

[@jasonmusic9938]

cool color on that strat

[@NotonlyMusik]

Great video Sean! I've seen that you've used the ENGL Cabloader with the SSS. A couple of questions here: 1)How do you manage pedal order? SSS>Mod/Delay/Reverb>ENGL Cabloader? Or Mod/Delay/Reverb>SSS>ENGL Cabloader? 2)Do you set ENGL Cabloader input as Instrument or as Line? Thanks in advance :)

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Thanks! Yes I did and usually, this is how I run thing: Comp>Drives>Mods>SSS>Delay>Verb>CabLoader. I set the input level as instrument. Hope this all helps!

[@NotonlyMusik]

@@SeanPierceJohnson thanks for your answer Sean! My actual setup is same as your suggestion :) I've just talked with Vertex right now and they've suggested SSS>ENGL Cabloader>Mod/Delay/Reverb. As always, there's no right way of doing it. I'll keep experimenting. Peace!

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@NotonlyMusik happy to offer any tips! cheers

[@mitchmason8386]

Dumble was a genius

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

indeed he was

[@johnbrown1851]

Great sounds and playing. The reverb sounds good. What are you using for reverb?

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Thanks! I sent a little overboard on the reverb pedal for this one: it’s the Chase Bliss CXM 1978

[@ph6376]

Good demo but it would help Strat players to know what switch position you're in during the demo. I'm guessing you were on the bridge pup? I got this pedal recently and am still trying to see what I can get out of it.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@ph6376 during which part? Im generally switching pickups to try to show the range so I may not stay on one long enough to make a note of what you’re hearing.

[@ph6376]

@@SeanPierceJohnson , during a lot of the guitar parts your switch is just out of frame. It's not a big deal, the video was still helpful. I spent some more time with this pedal today and the biggest difference I got was cranking up that output. Normally, I like clean Strat tones so I don't use much gain on my amp, but this pedal is also mostly clean. Once I pushed up the Output along with the SSS side, then I started getting some nice cleanish dirty tones. Thanks.

[@eddiesigerexperience9803]

Awesome demo! Am I hearing an ever so slight chorus effect from this pedal?

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

No, there’s no chorus coming from this. Maybe some subtle modulation from either the Hall reverb I’m using or the MXR carbon copy.

[@ScottyBrockway]

Nice pedal. I'll buy the Demonfx version first to see if I like it before I buy the real deal.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

I did see they clones the standard version. I have mixed feelings on Demon but I can’t fault anyone for wanting to save money.

[@ScottyBrockway]

@@SeanPierceJohnson I actually their tube screamer better than my real ones and I have 3. :)

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@ScottyBrockway interesting

[@ChrsGuit]

@@ScottyBrockway I had their T.S and A-B'd it with my reissue Ibanez ts-808. Sounds the same with only the SLIGHTEST loss of fidelity. A super guitar nerd could tell, but not sure anyone else would. The only issue I see with the other "clones" like the NUX Steel Singer is that it uses a T.S circuit... As for Vertex, Mason Marangella claims the SSS was an original circuit design developed by sitting down with a real Dumble amp and A/B'ing them... Unfortunately this isn't true. The circuit is taken from a boost and has been traced by many DIY pedal suppliers as a near-exact copy of Jack Orman’s classic Mini Booster circuit with Aron Nelson’s mods and RG Keen’s improved biasing scheme, with a few minor tweaks... This is a pretty harsh claim, however, Marangella built his company off the backs of other people's work, claiming it as his own and charging significantly more. Several years ago ge commissioned a pedalboard build from a well-known southern California builder, then created Vertex and claimed it as his own work... Then he took a bulk of BBE wahs, slapped his label on them and resold them as his own unique custom-made product. He jumped through hoops trying to get out from under the backlash, until he had to fess up... He claimed to have built a board for Joe Bonamassa and that Joe loved it and endorsed it... Joe had to write a big scathing rebuttle to show that wasn't true... Feel free to look up the details of that... I stumbled onto this information after a buddy let me try his SSS pedal. I've done a recent bit of DIY pedal building, and I wanted to find any info on the circuit... cause I have been duped WAY too many times by affordable pedals that just end up being tubescreamer pcb's pretending to be something else... I started looking into it and found the info I presented above... I have no problem with clones or people's modding of circuits so long as the builder/company is clear as to what the essence of the circuit is... however... I'm not paying top dollar for a "unique and totally original design" that is just an upcharged clone kit...

[@radovalente379]

Great video, thanks! When you pair it with the overdrive pedals, do you go guitar+overdrive+sss? Or guitar+sss+overdrive? I'm in doubt cause I got a lot of distortion/od pedals and I feel like and SSS before them in the chain might change the response of the distortion/od pedals for bad.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

hey man! thanks for watching. personally, I run the OD pedals into the SSS SRV. The SSS acts as a general tone shaper for my clean tone, almost always on. So I'll run drives into as if it were the front end of an amp.

[@kenl9413]

Hi, i would like to ask: If I have a klon, ts10, and bluesbreaker, where does this pedal should be in the pedal chain? Also How should I adjust the button to get a SRV tone? Thank you!!!

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

You’d want to run the drives into the SSS. As far as an SRV style sound I’d say look up the Vertex videos in this as they do more “tone capture” settings there. But for my taste, which leans towards what SRVs sound is, I run the Supreme EQ with a decent amount of output (around 12 o’clock) and the Rock switch on. The Steel String side is about mid gain and with the filter around 2-3 o’clock.

[@ryangunwitch-black]

I can get all of these tones with a couple combinations of all my gear but I'm still buying one ASAP. Everything about this thing is cool. Even down to the graphics which never actually sway my opinion on a pedal purchase.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

truly you could get these sounds from quite a lot but having everything RIGHT THERE is a big help.

[@DJ7tringGuitar]

How does it sound when paired with something gainier? Like the Fat Sandwich for instance

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Just tried it...sounds alright by me. Did FS>SSS SRV>ENGL CabLoader just gotta be careful with the output of the FS cuz its HUGE!

[@DJ7tringGuitar]

@@SeanPierceJohnson just huge? Or WAY huge? 😏🤣

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

well played

[@DJ7tringGuitar]

@@SeanPierceJohnson well you did t-up the ball so nicely for me, how could I not swing?

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Swung for the fences!

[@bikersoncall]

Why did they not unambiguously mark the lower knobs, either end of those 'slots' could be 9 oclock or 3 O'clock 11: 30 or or 5: 30 etc..

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Yeah that’s a bit of a miss. Was thinking about putting some tiny knobs on it so I can really make out the positions.

[@bikersoncall]

@@SeanPierceJohnson Good solution, that would definitely take care of it.

[@64north20west]

I am completely serious when I say that SRV himself would be using this pedal heavily if he were around today. Great video as always, and kudos for your salute to Mr. Dumble.

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Wow…that’s a pretty bold statement! And thanks man. I really like that photo of him. So funny to think he’s surrounded by these high-dollar amps shredding on a Squier Strat 🤣

[@64north20west]

@@SeanPierceJohnson He was probably trying to prove that the amps are so good that they even make a cheap guitar sound great👍

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

i'm sure anything would sound great through a Dumble

[@dustinarnold79]

Yea i wonder if the Vaughn family received any money for vertex slapping srvs name on a pedal ,which I had it's nothing more than a damn clean boost

[@bikersoncall]

Time stamp for the SRV Tone?

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

I didn’t really shoot for the SRV sound. More, what can I get out of this that suits me.

[@bikersoncall]

@@SeanPierceJohnson Well as you know the SRV isn't just his sound, it's shared but Duane Allman, Johnny Winter, Hendrix and a host of others, 'SRV' is just what everyone seems to call that sound. Hope, you're getting out of it something you like. Thanks for the reply..

[@inkblotgaming5080]

Is the TS before or after?

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

Before. Like running it into the front of an amp

[@Jaysteenn]

👍👍👍

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

✌️❤️🤘

[@internetmoney221]

Doing business with Mason is Cancer

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

I didn’t do business with Mason. I did business with Sweetwater.

[@internetmoney221]

@GOD&GUNS Vertex has had many scandals. They relabel cheap products etc. Mason is a known liar

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@GODS&GUNS ok...there's some lack of detail here so allow me to help paint a picture: Vertex was caught re-branding a BBE Ben Wah with his branding, marketing it as a modded wah of his own design and charging a premium. Reality was, most of those Axis Wahs were just the same BBE wah without any of the stated mods and gooped the circuit. He tried to deny it at first but it was unavoidable. He admitted what everyone knew and spent the better part of 2-3 years refunding dealers and private buyers for various Vertex products including the Boost pedal, volume pedals and, of course, the wah pedal. He lost a lot of money and clients. People also claimed he made claims about the old Vertex cables being directional and being something they weren't when I got one under the impression it was Neutrik plugs and Belden cable, which is exactly what it is. As far as the "relabel cheap products" claim: he released a Michael Landau Signature Chorus prior to the Axis wah debacle, which was very clearly a modded Arion Stereo Chorus. It was obvious that's what it was. He also modded Boss Volume Pedals and sold them as Vertex Volume Pedals. But again, it was pretty obvious what it was and when I asked him (pre Axis wah debacle) he was very open about it being a modded Boss pedal. And the BBE Ben Wah (which he re-branded the Axis Wah) originally sold BRAND NEW for $150-200. I'd hardly call that cheap but the Vertex was being sold for +/- $250 if I remember correctly. I find myself in a unique position as Mason and I were in contact BEFORE the Axis Wah was exposed. We became closer friends as the whole ordeal was going down. I didn't want to play party to the public stoning he was receiving but I did not think folks weren't justified. All these years later, Mason is still someone I keep in touch with and his pedals are still enjoyable to me. The Vertex Boost is THE BEST CLEAN BOOST I've ever used. He's worked hard to make good and atone for his "sins". As someone who is a follower of Christ, a faith built on redemption and forgiveness, he's gone through the shaming and admitting. And so I chose to support those who work hard to be better and change. He's done that and I give him a lot of credit.

[@internetmoney221]

@@SeanPierceJohnson how about his new Dumble amp?

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@internetmoney221 what? you mean the hundredth attempt by an amp builder from VHT to Fuchs to Amplified Nation to Ceriatone to Two-Rock to clone an Overdrive Special? or maybe the newer crop of Dumble preamp pedals like the Ethos or the Shin's Music Dumbloid or even the new company Peace Hill FX doing tube preamps based on the ODS and the Steel String Singer. it's not the first and not the last time a builder will be attempting to cash in on the Dumble hype.

[@straightmanforever69]

My favorite homosexual guitar pedal channel, keep up the good work? 🌈

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

"keep up the good work?"??? is that a question

[@straightmanforever69]

@@SeanPierceJohnson sorry I meant ' keep up the good work!' 🌈🤠

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@straightmanforever69 well, I’m happy you enjoyed it. I’ve gotten plenty of comments that say such in a sarcastic/condescending way. As long as you’re sincere. But referring to my channel as a “homosexual” channel did throw my perception off seeing as I’m not gay.

[@straightmanforever69]

@@SeanPierceJohnson don't listen to the haters man!

[@SeanPierceJohnson]

@@straightmanforever69 it’s easy some days and not so easy others. But you can see how I might be confused but the OG comment: am I dealing w/ a troll or not? I appreciate the support 👍