My most used drive EVER - 1981 Inventions DRV | Secret Weapons Demo & Review

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Secret Weapons drinking game: a drink every time I say articulate, apparently.

[@peesmithy]

Or the word, “really!”

[@The_fuzz_buzz]

But I’ll drink water so I’ll actually stay hydrated 😩

[@TheRareDirt]

Don't beat yourself up over it, mang. Great channel for us gear nerds!needs! Thank you

[@joshuamiranda1825]

Or obfuscate

[@MegaChoo2]

@@joshuamiranda1825 never obfuscate in public man.

[@GeorgeFN]

These might be some of the best tones I've heard in any video. I wanna buy two of these immediately.

[@revbaxter3681]

The used market over-priced these for a hot minute, but these are great pedals. Beautifully built and sound great. I'll never let mine go.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

And also pretty consistently in stock through their website these days, which is a very nice change of pace.

[@djc5897]

Just bought one brand new it was pushing like 400 bucks with shipping LOL we'll give it a whirl I guess

[@revbaxter3681]

@@djc5897 Have you had a chance to give it a whirl?

[@patchpittman4981]

Mark, I just picked this pedal up yesterday ordered it direct and I have to say everything you said about it is just on point , it is just super quiet and the tone and clarity is just studio quality so thank you for the great videos and content and introducing me to this amazing pedal!!!

[@gregsacks8720]

That...is a lot of content in a really short time, wow. Thanks for your work, man, these secret weapon vids are really great

[@markjohnstonofficial]

This is the first and only time I’ve ever been accused of a solid “content to time” ratio so thank you.

[@marcusfogle202]

One of the best reviews i've seen on anything, thanks man

[@ABdominator66]

Good Sir, you are a professional. Thanks for bringing such high quality and tasteful content.

[@ishancooper]

I used a modded Rat with a boost in front for many years .. the 1981 DRV totally nailed what I was going for, and then some! Props to Matthew Hoopes for making my fave drive pedal! Thanks for the great deep dive too Mark! 🤘🏼

[@BleedBlueNYR1994]

For the lower gain stuff you’re almost using it as a compressor. Really brings it all together. Just ordered my second one because I foolishly sold my first one. Also ordered the new lvl pedal too. Excited for that one. Killer playing dude.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

The DRV is vastly more flexible than people who label it as “a 250 rat”. It’s over engineered for a reason and its well earned its spot as a mainstay in my set up all these years.

[@BleedBlueNYR1994]

@@markjohnstonofficial that’s what I did with my first one. Was expecting rat. It’s not that. I mean the DNA is there but it’s it’s own thing. Excited for it to get here. Really pumped for the lvl too.

[@taylornutt]

I have been obsessed with that Baum Wingman ever since seeing this video.

[@matt_ess153]

Thank you. Your work is greatly appreciated.

[@patrickkrenz515]

That intro song is amazing! I love the vibe.

[@TorqueWagon]

I’ve been window shopping on this pedal for a couple of years now and finally pulled the trigger on one today. I already have a JHS double barrel on my board and have been looking for something that will do high gain a little better than the moonshine (808) side of that pedal. It also helps that I’ve been a Relient K fan for more than 20 years.

[@RCGC01]

Thank you Mark. The 1981 brand is a new brand for me to aquire...

[@aleonyohan6745]

Best review of this pedal I've seen. I just ordered mine. I hear it pairs really well with a Brown Protein which I just got and love. I'm wondering in which order I should stack them.

[@Hamppzah]

Love that you made this video! Bought this a few weeks ago from their website at a discount. Finally pulled the plug since I'm visiting in the US and shipping costs aren't as high as when I'm in Europe. Anyway, I've been obsessed with the pedal, it sounds wonderful no matter where I set the gain, as long as I tweak the cut knob just right!

[@valdon116]

Just bought this pedal and 2 others because of your demos. 👍🏽

[@heikohesse4666]

Hi - I just recently came across your channel and I saw your video (Great Ambient Guitar Tone on a Budget w/ FLAMMA) - since my budget is also rather limited I bought the Flamma Reverb and Delay and they sounds so great, absolutely fantastic - so a huge thank you for your great videos - and I love your music - greetings from germany

[@aaronsmith5613]

Great and thorough review. Loved it! Bought one off of Reverb today as a result 😂 Thanks, Mark!

[@Rondoggy67]

Sweet zombie Jesus, that's a great sounding pedal, and a great demo.

[@elijah-wilson-music]

I'm super pumped for this pedal.

[@Subtle-System]

I also use the 1981 drv gain all the way down.... one of my foundation tone along with my cali76, EP Booster, klone and protein

[@koonsickgreen6272]

the first cream guitar is just beautiful, dude

[@kylehowdy]

Great video dude, absolutely killer tones!

[@starshineraiser6729]

Great video. I just ordered one. I’m a jangly overdrive person and I’ve never played a rat that I like, so what was I thinking… something tells me I’ll love it.

[@PedalPlayhouse]

My fav and go to distortion for years too! Thank you for this, I really enjoyed it mark!

[@LP-123]

Damn - that is one helluva beautiful axe in the intro clip. Wow.

[@wabwabb8798]

Totally agree on its clean boost sound. I bought it because of its distortion sound, but when tested it with clean boost setting then I cannot move out from clean boost setting 😂

[@markjohnstonofficial]

And herein lies why I have 2

[@lofijunky]

loooved this one. i’ve owned this pedal for a while now and the only thing that could get me to take it off my board would be a DRV dual drive

[@ediththeband]

loved this format!

[@john808welk]

Did you just use a Benson amp as a stand for two DRV's? That's a massive power move and I love it.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Gotta flex that I've got one of the now discontinued striped swaps. Even if it's just a Vinny

[@LanceKonnerth]

Great deep review Mark! I've always been curious and wanted to try this pedal. My fav tone is probably that first gtr set on the lowest drive, almost boost setting. Really adds something cool and comes harmonically alive. Plus in the intro track sounded great! Next fav is the strat on the higher gain w boost. Real nice!

[@jamiedavis6666]

you sound so good bro

[@chaipup7045]

Excellent pedal. I have the claret and blue one, blame Andertons :)

[@JBRRecordings]

Great review, thank you!

[@usagi2988]

Eff. Me. Your Wingman through that low-gain DRV is what I want all day, e'ery day... dang.

[@nealpike6611]

Oh no this sounds great

[@existDFN]

Nice riffs. It’s funny to see that the most drv players do something modern while for example real klon players still do the same old bluesy stuff

[@nicholasrella6904]

The description says 1891 inventions. Now I’m thinking it would be cool if the pedal was a lightbulb.

[@holmanconde]

I seriously cannot find anything that I love as much as the 1981 for high gain sounds. You know of anything else similar to this for higher gain stuff? I really might have to follow in your steps and get a 2nd one for the mini board.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I’ve got a handful of drives that I love and swear by these days but for this kind of rat flavor in higher gains I stick here. If you want “similar but different” I’d recommend checking out the Black Mass 1312 (go watch Ambient trash’s video on that) or for a totally different kind of high gain goodness the Bondi Sick As High Shredroom. It’s basically Bondi’s take on the klon architecture but modified into a Marshall in a box and it slays at that high mid pushed heavy drive sound.

[@holmanconde]

@@markjohnstonofficial I did end up getting the 1312. I’m loving it so far. Its a solid distortion and pretty versatile. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@vanderloo1978]

Hi, Now that MixWave has an emulation of this plugin will you please consider doing a comparison the hardware and the plugin. I am debating and I need a second opinion as I may be too inexperienced to tell the difference, but I still want to invest my money wisely.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

It’s so beautiful for low gain just beneath breakup. Prefer it to Klones & i will never sell mine. Also it looks gorgeous.

[@matthewchristian8274]

I'm trying to decided between the 1981 and the Longsword as my only Distortion pedal. Has anyone tried both or can recommend one over the other? It will go on the board next to a Greer Lightspeed.

[@stevehurleydesign]

I’m in the same exact boat, I’d love to hear others thoughts as well

[@tendingtropic7778]

hmm interesting, using the UA ruby and dream as stereo! does that mean the last stereo pedal in line, and taking the L and put it in dream, and R in ruby?

[@mr.marquez8887]

You are genius men

[@pippydog28]

Sounds good . I can't gel with mine . Seems like I do too much fiddlin' ..

[@evsp8048]

Your videos are amazing! I’m doubting between the 1981 and the flwr… which one do you think is more versatile?

[@alexfletcher9915]

Cannot beat the glassy gain structure of the DRV!

[@markjohnstonofficial]

So smooth. I love it

[@josephbenz4913]

1981 DRV is good, but you should try a Kingsley Harlot V3…that took the DRV right off my board. Plus, you don’t need two of them to get a low gain and high gain sound out of it.

[@LetYourselfBeHuge]

What are some of your favorite drives to stack with the DRV?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I dont do a lot of gain stacking, really. I prefer to just set up individual drives as targeted amounts of gain. Having said that; boost pedals. The built in boost in the Strat is amazing and I really like the Milkman Pop Top for hitting a drive harder.

[@timothyselby7549]

​@@markjohnstonofficial I run an EAE Limelight into the DRV. In combination, they'll do GAIN-ANYTHING. In fact, I left the room with them plugged in...got back and they filed my taxes and fed my dogs. :)

[@RogeriodeSouzaLima]

Sou brasileiro e curti muito o seu vídeo Estou me inscrevendo no seu canal. Eu tenho um pedal clone desse feito no Brasil e adoro Parabéns pelo vídeo. Adorei a sua guitarra com p90

[@db_on_drums]

Hey man thank you for that video, I do want one. How do you think compares it for your uses to a JHS Kilt I cant really afford a DRV Have a nice week

[@MrKadidle51]

I just wish they would make one in a smaller enclosure. My board is so full lol

[@philidornews4055]

Hey! Would anyone know what these patch cables are?

[@jameshoney8088]

Opinions on this VS benson Germanium fuzz to pair with the benson preamp? I’m obviously leaning towards benson pairing with benson, but the lower gain stuff outta this with the clear glassy mid gain has me intrigued.

[@RobFlaxMusic]

Interesting how you used it with Cabzeus... I'm still using a Cabzeus on my board, but wonder what you've switched over to instead? Violin is a tricky beast anyway-is it supposed to be amp-like? Do I want all that preamp and power amp saturation and presence, or just a clean platform?-so I haven't ever messed with the Iridium, ASC1, Simplifier, etc. I did just buy an HX Stomp though... Would be curious to hear what your take is on that.

[@RobFlaxMusic]

Aaaand now you're explaining the signal chain. Ruby and Dream in stereo! Sounds amazing! Thanks for making these deep dives!

[@rocksully]

What power supply are you using to power your DRV? Mine is VERY noisy and has a constant Hiss that I cannot seem to get rid of when the pedal is engaged.

[@felipemorapalma]

Curious about this as I have the same issue, I use a 1 spot CS12 and none of my other drives is noisy. Did you solve the problem?

[@StillAGreatNight]

Any opinion on the DRV vs. The JHS Pack Rat?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I haven’t played the PackRat but I tend to love the DRV more than any other rats I’ve played so my instinct is… probably this?

[@Rainy78]

Sounds great! No more Benson pre amp pedal?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Still have it, still love it. It’s probably my second most used drive of all time.

[@Rainy78]

@@markjohnstonofficial I love mine. Got mine based on your sound. Thanks!!

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I’ve used mine so much that my footswitch is starting to fail. I should probably send it in

[@rikkousa]

@@Rainy78 me too. I wonder how many others have bought gear that Mark has featured and revealed to so many players. Not just because he like the pedal but because he built it into his won and it has stayed on his board . He doesn’t just demo a pedal, he writes music that reveal the best of what the pedal can deliver. two boards now-both are large, but my MJ Ambient board was built to replicate his tones and capabilities. Mark totally opened my eyes to makers like 29 pedals, Pinstripe etc that I would have never considered (OAMP and EUNA) that said, I have migrated to a temple Audio which has allowed me to plug and play more easily when I have run out of space .I do not have the time, patience, or intelligence to add any midi

[@Rainy78]

@@markjohnstonofficial haha Now thats used! 🤣

[@BITESIZEJONES]

I use it as a boost. Drive all the way down the other two knobs almost all the way up. Any other setting sounds not so good to my ears.

[@beukems]

Just curious, is the reason you played without the Cali76 for humbuckers and the DRV is just too much compression?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I generally am not super wild about compression into drive these days. Often when I’m building a board the DRV will actually go first in the chain, ahead of my compressor.

[@drewnorth3816]

Did i understand correctly, you are using the dream and ruby as a stereo pair in this video? So, both wired up in mono, with one panned hard left, and one hard right? Or did i misinterpret your statement?Thanks!

[@rootedinmindfulness1900]

Curious about this too. I'd really appreciate learning more about your Ruby and Dream setup and settings. Also a bit about your NEVE 1073 setting. BTW, I'm extreamly grateful for your channel. You've taught me a lot!

[@johnnozzi-photovideo6543]

Do you run your delays and verbs into the ruby and dream?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I do but that’s subject to change

[@AATTYYRR]

Umm sorry Mark, we're still waiting on that Volante video!!!

[@aproperhouse]

Great intro! Is that a Rabbits for God Times song?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

One might even say it's THE RFGT song

[@joelnegus]

Yeah man. Important one there!

[@Sagerydian]

Mark, I am looking for a pedal that makes my guitar signal sound like it's recorded with an old tape machine - the Deco is close, but it doesn't give that "vintage tone feel". Can you suggest anything?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

3 degrees audio bygones, CBA Gen loss, strymon el cap

[@Sagerydian]

@@markjohnstonofficial Thanks!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@ethanr.8280]

Love these deep dives! The DRV has been on and off my board a couple of times and every time I’ve sold it I’ve came back. Don’t see letting this most recent one go and loved how you highlighted it with low gain, adding sparkle and some harmonics to your tone. Big fan of the channel! How is that Baum Guitar, looks right up my alley? I have a J Mascis that’s stock right now, how would they compare?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

The Baum is killer. I’m not sure what it is about those pickups but they’re just so perfectly dialed in for the DRV sound. Really was kind of inciting incident that caused this video to finally get put together. I’ve also got a J Mascis that I put Lambertones Ristrettos into and it’s GREAT.

[@ethanr.8280]

@@markjohnstonofficial I’ll have to check out those pickups for sure! Been wanting to upgrade that guitar a bit. Great platform, especially the neck.

[@stoneysdead689]

LOL- I saw this and was like "oh yeah, I remember that pedal- why haven't I tried one of those?" Went and looked it up on eBay- I see why, it's super expensive. 229$ for a used one in rough shape? Ouch!

[@grimlyfiendish7474]

I picked one up for $150 on Reverb. Killer drive pedal!

[@cmadelaide56]

‘This is my Johnny Marr Jazzmaster…’ Um, I’m not sure that’s what you meant!

[@MrShredarg]

Govan, is that you?

[@jonset70]

Thank for that I check one out I see one my Local guitar shop they might have it ??? . I try Benson's preamp omg it fantastic dynamic touch on volume my set up big Pedalboard 40"or42"? Trailer trash Pedalboard. Run two blueamp1 mercury in wet/dry use source audio eq 2 in op comp gurus in to drv fuzz to Benson's stock in Benson's preamp in prs Flange strymon timeline flint el cap there phase jhs unicorn in bigsky. Big sky in fx one amp 1 and amp 2 got el cap . Watch this video try 1981 I try one out if like I get one fit between comp and Benson's fuzz 2. . I'm starting run out room on Pedalboard some big pedal think move on with two big strymon I like they but there opinion sounds I'm Basically Simple one or two sounds delay + revb I got bluesky on another Pedalboard that cool small pedal . Strymon clouds burst that small but powerful, and other two could help . Thanks for great in Is depth how 1981 works you use two . It's same like Benson's preamp sounds cool when it Max out Natural Max out amp it's fuzz out type thing be roll off vol on guitar it's dynamic clean up . The standard clean on blueamp goid add Benson's preamp add bit magic like A Treble boost on vox or EP boost on amp this 1981 adds same but in overdrive dirt mix at your fringer Tips ok. That's mark. I love sounds all your pedals and pedal. have you try, blueamp mercury 1, it's must

[@wolfsoto]

Sounds a lot better with humbuckers than it does with single coil. There's not enough body, in fact it's a thin sound with single coil. Especially when compared to other high end Rat clones pedals like Big Ear Woodcutter, Jam Pedal Rattler, Snobel Ratatouille, and Walrus Audio Iron Horse.

[@adamcontreras9710]

I bought 3, sold them all. Too damn bright. I had the Bondi Sickas OD, I sold it due to its growing value, but I played the Bondi way more.

[@AmbientEndeavors]

First.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

John who?

[@AmbientEndeavors]

@@markjohnstonofficial beating him at his own game. Feels pretty good.

[@CC-fi3pp]

Sounds like a cheap clone of RAT to me, why?

[@thesaj1110]

This pedal is nothing but hype! There are tons of better rat pedals out there for sure. I sold mine right away!!

[@markjohnstonofficial]

There are* Bad opinions should at least have good grammar.

[@thesaj1110]

Thanks for the correction, LoL. You know, English is not my 1st language! I speak 3 languages! And you?

[@thesaj1110]

I was subscribed to your channel. No more!

[@desolationsoundsystem]

Thrice already wrote all the edgy post-worshipcore riffs, time to pack it up

[@markjohnstonofficial]

It’s called recycling and it’s good for the environment

[@LOZi175]

It’s basically a RAT

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I hope you make detective someday, you’ve earned it.

[@LOZi175]

@@markjohnstonofficial I hope you make a good guitar player someday

[@markjohnstonofficial]

The fact that you think it’s a revelation that the DRV is a rat and that you think I have ANY aspirations of being a good guitar player really shows that you didn’t watch the video.

[@LOZi175]

@@markjohnstonofficial ✌🏼 good luck!