How To: Foundation Overdrives

[@lynyrddeville]

After playing for about a million years, I watched this video about six years ago, and this is the video that unlocked the whole world of stacking gains and amps in a box. Thank you more times than you know….

[@karlboman]

Very enjoyable! Keep 'em coming! I'd love a similar special on the RAH where the pedal as pedal is showcased, not just how it can sound like a Page's rig - which is selling it short IMO.

[@fuzzalo2113]

Still fairly new to pedals/tube amps and this is probably the most helpful of the bazillion demos I've watched. Looking at my current pedals in a whole new light and the DLS is at the top of my "must have" list. Would love to see more like this with foundation drives, very interested in the Galileo too!

[@xb5883]

This is awesome. Super informative and to the point. Better than any episode of That Pedal Show.

[@gradypurtilo8863]

Great info on using all those knobs and pickups and it makes it so much more efficient.With better clean boost too!! Two thumbs up!!

[@johnlenz420]

Awesome thanks for explaining that. I bought a 2011 hand painted super chili picoso off reverb and it has been an essential part of my board since. Thanks for all the work you guys are doing!

[@SuperEffCee]

Another great video, Howard, this is very informative. It's cool how you guys share so much info via videos and product manuals. Knowing how everything works together is fantastic. The net effect, for me, is that I end up wanting everything you guys make!

[@checkeredpasttag64]

Wow I'm impressed for damn sure!That solves a huge conundrum for the majority of us that play rock & roll...I guess your stuff's next on my list of "must haves" to get my friend;)

[@alexmurphy5289]

Your explanations of the importance of a foundation pedal is awesome! Yes a Marshall would be great but if we can’t crank it...

[@davidwolfe9391]

Nice products, And Great Demo!!! Howard is a good dynamic player - like like like. I’m definitely subscribing 👍

[@Gruntle]

What a great sounding guitar, even before the pedals are turned on. Those pickups are so sweet.

[@TSWerewolf]

Lil Devil by The Cult!!! That sounded incredible, Howard!

[@bradcarroll3719]

That's a pretty badass setup you made there! I can't believe I just discovered you guy's videos, I've only got like 8 of your pedals. I usually trade pedals after trying them out or using for a couple of months, but all of yours are keepers! Even though I only have maybe 6-8 spots on my board, I like to switch it up, plus my home rig is ridiculous.

[@CatalinbreadMechanismsofMusic]

+Brad Carroll Thanks for the love and watching, Brad!

[@EAveryGtrBass]

How about running two Foundation pedals in Stereo! Like the SFT/5F6, or the DLS /Sabbra Cadabbra!

[@michaelneal8384]

Nice, I definitely learned some good stuff here

Fantastic presentation and examples. Must see for every guitar players. Thank you!

[@Ojoe2010]

Howard = very informative coolness on 6 strings :)

[@rbkmusic9307]

Thank you🙏👍 Awesome video... very informative... loved it...DLS mkiii my fav. pedal👍

[@SaintsCheat]

Little late on the comment but since this is a old video, is that why the delay and reverb were chained after the distortion? Maybe the send and effect was not on that amp/ or invented yet? But ya super cool idea

[@ljgaines8170]

I have a dirty little secret running with my 2 50 watt vintage Tweed Peavey classic with some Reverb and delay and it sounds great couldn't do without it love your products and love your playing catch you later brother

[@sboistan]

Hey what speaker do you have in that Princeton? Trying to ape some of the same great sounds with mine

[@gstyle11]

Thanx, what mic are U using for the Princeton?

[@t.j.fuller9531]

Great video ! big fan of Catalinbread Effects - have the Belle Epoch ...RAH is next .......

[@lfrc2006]

Fantastic. More of this please!!!

[@f674]

I’ve been lucky enough to have some really fine vintage amps and modern boutique amps. I must say that these demos present some of the finest sounds and presentations that I’ve heard! Well done!!!

[@GuyNarnarian]

I'm interested in the DLS to help me get the early VH tone. I also have a Princeton Reverb 65' reissue, but with the 12" Jensen PQ12 speaker. I also have a Blues Jr. with a Greenback which is actually probably closer to a "British" tone with the El84s and the Greenback. But anyway, the VH tone has a lot of reverb, and the spring reverb from the Princeton is so deep and lush that anything above 3 when distorted starts sounding kinda muddy, or at least not like the reverb on the first album or early live shows. I think most people use a plate reverb for the early VH tones but this demo really helps as its right through a Princeton. But the DLS does seem like a good foundation pedal, there are just so many out there, hard to choose.

[@cyrildia]

If I get it well, a foundation pedal acts like a preamp, right? So where am I supposed to plug it, amp in or FX loop? Thanks!

[@theshadowlands14]

Amp in! Save your effects loop for delays and modulation (except if your delay is a catalinbread echorec, that sounds wicked and should honestly be in the amp in and not effects loop.)

[@hockeyman2274]

Wow - i know what i buying myself for Christmas.

[@user-kt7hq9hn9f]

@@theshadowlands14 Echorec is soooo awesome!!!! I lost a whole year and half off my life playing around with that pedal - it does so much cool stuff you lose yourself in it for extended periods of time....

[@ShiningTrapezoid]

can i run the DLS into an effects return and expect maximum rock n roll ?!?!?

[@shatteredsquare]

dude you need to recreate the mesa studio preamp

[@AndreTenenbaum1972]

great video guys! I have a Dirt Little secret and This video really helps how to find our way into using the pedal. I found out that with my Blues Jr III Humbolt special edition, I have to use the volume (gain) really low and the master as loud as I can. if I use to much Volume (gain) the DLS (and every other dirt pedals) gets mushy and too distorted. can you do a demo like this with a Blues Jr or give some good starting points settings with the 2 together? cheers and keep rocking

[@04softail70]

Liked and subscribed... Great stuff. Is there a particular Marshall circuit that the DLS was modeled after? I was looking hard at a Wampler Plexi-Drive Deluxe (JTM-45-sort of / clone), but now I'm just dig'n this pedal.

[@sparksnguitarsmike]

outstanding. awesome presentation!

[@davidrees1840]

Hi, will the foundation pedals (I'm esp. interested in the RAH) work with a modeling amp (Line6 Amplifi)? Thanks for your help.

[@jobckts682]

Delay/Reverb =Salt/Pepper. Love That. It IS. Dirt box is Main course, modulation is Side dish. Great analogy for Italians.(everything is food).

[@johnk7147]

Howard.. I use your DLS as a foundation pedal as you describe..love it...I have a Mesa amp with an FX loop. Would you recommend I still use the loop for my delay/reverb, to keep the main signal as pure as possible. Or should I just put them in line after the DLS.

[@Aditya_Paliwal_9]

John K hey! Warm Greetings from India!! That’s a good question bro. Have you noticed any difference in the quality of the signal by trying both ways? If yes, was it significant? Thanks and Cheers!🤘🏾

[@stevenorton9438]

Put the dsl in the loop big change

[@wgb01001]

My favorite pedal company in America, but why, oh WHY do they put the power input on the side below the instrument out?? It's so inconvenient. The top would be so much nicer.

[@jackoo666]

i had a DLS that I loved but had issues with the power supply spot. think it just got worn out and then it would have weird volume fluctuations. sent it in recently and they were very nice over email but I have no idea if and when ill get it back lol

[@randydandy7571]

I bought the Sabbra Cadrabba and they didnt send a power supply. how the hell are you supposed to power it? they dont tell you anything and there are no instructions. I am going back to just playing accoustic.

[@bernarddoherty2303]

@@randydandy7571 grab a one spot (just the plug its like 18 bux) and a 5 pedal daisy chain. This will power the sabbra and the next 4 pedals you buy afterwards

[@mmarshall7701]

@@bernarddoherty2303 or just put a 9v battery in there!

[@bernarddoherty2303]

@@mmarshall7701 thats bad for the environment you MONSTER

[@Jameskeith1972]

Now I want to learn Cult songs again! I learned all of Electric when I was younger ..much much younger

[@CharlesKlutts]

Awesome setup!

[@blakemckibben7339]

Great sound.

[@dinmentor]

Hi Howard, which of the voltage options do you prefer? 9V or 18V ? Thanks :)

[@StealthParrot]

Very interesting. Thanks Howard.

[@AngelGiannakos]

A really cool pedal to make our dreams come true! Does anybody know how it reacts to being plugged into a line6's clean channel...We are talking really tight budget staff at the time being...

[@GameLevelEditor]

I like the concept of foundation pedals capturing the essence of the particular amps and the artists! How Alex Lifeson achieved his glorious tone on the song Hemispheres :) I still wonder.

[@TheRealcdawg22]

The Deluxe Electric Mistress from Electro Harmonix.

[@alexmurphy5289]

It’s a jazz chorus 120 using the amps chorus and his “higher gain” stuff is mixed in with a hiwatt amp. Basically, a boss chorus will get you close but you need some grit too. Your answer is a jazz chorus though, a solid state amplifier which is fantastic

[@mortsonk]

DLS the only overdrive I need! I’d like an RAH, but Howard hasn’t sent it to me yet

[@RobCabreraCh]

I really love your pedals guys, I want a RAH so much. I was about to buy it, buuuut I bought a bass two days ago so...... Next time.

[@tomz1989]

So no compressor? These days im about on getting rid of it. Kills all my pathos and dynamics. Using a boss ds1 as always on pedal and work with vokume to clean it up... Can anyone help me please?

[@ladysnowblood352]

Would this trick work with a solid state amp like vintage Simms-Watts transistor head?

[@jurimusic]

Sounds really really good.. Sold!!

[@CatalinbreadMechanismsofMusic]

If you liked these foundation overdrives, we just released a new one today! The Formula No.55 is inspired by the 5E3 Tweed Deluxe. It's got huge range - from Grant Green to Crazy Horse! Fn55:bit.ly/2ipbP3i Thanks for your comment and support!

[@mottosierra1372]

which foundation one for the slash afd tone ? great video

[@thejimmymeister]

Slash uses JCM800s, I think. You should be able to get close by pushing the DLS in Super Lead mode with an overdrive like the Fulltone OCD.

[@jk_905]

Friedman BE OD, Marvel Ramble Drive, Wampler Plextortion, Catalinbread DLS

[@Fuzzbot71]

Is the DLS running at 9 or 18 volts?

[@alexryhanen9227]

18v

[@jorgejorgelandia]

Great video.

[@CatalinbreadMechanismsofMusic]

+Jorge Fernández Escobar thanks Jorge!

[@tricko2286]

What I don’t understand about using guitar volume (with amp in a box pedal) is: Turning guitar volume down cleans it up but also reduces volume a lot (bad if you want decent volume cleans). Turning guitar volume up blasts out anyone listening. Seems a bit problematic to be jumping volumes down and up drastically (live, recording, etc). and wouldn’t it sound best to actually saturate your tubes instead of transistors.

[@amritjanardhanan]

Yes but not everyone can crank their tube amp. If you want quieter dirt turn down the master, and if you want louder cleans use a boost after your drives

[@TheHumppaidiootti]

After certain point volume does not get higher, sound only gets progressively more distorted. That is what volume knob users are exploiting. They setup their amps or overdrives so volume rolled down gives max volume but cleanish sound, and then rolling up volume can't get any louder, as all the headroom is used. Then it is just distorting more.

[@danielskrivan6921]

Since the amp is usually at the end of the stack, is there any reason to not put the amp emulator at the end of the stack?

[@TheRealcdawg22]

The wet or time-based effects would normally go in the effects loop which is after the amp's preamp so that's why they would be last in the chain.

[@karlhenrikarendt]

If you have a clean Marshall. Can a Tweed-foundation pedal then give you a clean Tweed amp or are they dirt pedals only?

[@LeviBulger]

I had this same question. In case anyone else stumbes upon this and is curious, the answer is no, not really. The el34 or el84 Marshall tubes kinda prevent anything from sounding like 6v6 fender tubes. The best way to do it is with a really good EQ pedal in the fx loop. Anything with at least 5 bands and you should be able to dial out some of the mids to sorta emulate a tweed or blackface. Things like the Tech21 blonde basically do this, but also introduce their own inherent clipping sounds when driven. That old addage is true. You can make fenders sound like Marshalls, but not really the other way around. But EQ pedals will get close.

[@AndreTenenbaum1972]

ah.. what are the amp setting on this video?

[@JCBigCat]

Hi, anyone has an idea on how this DLS would sound on a transistor amp?

[@TheRealcdawg22]

It would depend on how the amp sounds itself. Not all solid state amps have the same sound. How could they? What a stupid assumption and an equally stupid question.

[@gitarboi6760]

Please bring back the WIIO

[@cenovita]

do you have a treble bleed on the guitar volume pots?

[@strat3]

I don't have treble-bleeds on any of my guitars!

[@cenovita]

+Howard Gee (kittycaster) another star to the DLS then.... G.A.S..... so far enjoying my belle epoch

[@strat3]

+Daniel Salinas Thanks! Glad you're enjoying the Belle!

[@slash2808]

Hi' everybody, what about : Guitar --> DLS --> Return Fx Loop ??

[@antonioaleman1123]

Manu seems like I’ll have to try that after getting my DLS

[@paniccleo]

guitar into overdrive, into foundation pedal, into slightly driver tube amp. SO MANY GAIN FLAVORS.

[@PieIX]

I just saw a review of the RAH wherein the guy said it should be placed at the end of your board because the pedal is in fact emulating the preamp of the amp in question. Does the same apply to the SFT(original)?

[@astro2069]

I should give the DLS another go, I never did get that level of gain out of it before

[@astro2069]

+astro2069 How hot are those humbuckers Howard?

[@bassplayinggoalie]

Awesome t shirt.

[@bpy4073]

Yes but when playing live the clean sound is not loud enough.

[@loicrechard]

you can add a boost at the end

[@off711]

how do you push a deluxe reverb into overdrive?

[@subtractivemagic]

+off711 Turn it all the way up and hits the strings hard on the guitar.

[@skeene_6824]

Boost it up

[@kingsofrocknroll]

Awsome😊like the holy grail to me👍👍

[@thomasd9237]

👍👍

[@mikealwelches7567]

Moioste unfountainante

[@BostonWhoFan515]

Dude, you sound exactly like Reggie Miller.

[@endezeichengrimm]

Too much talking.