Strymon Iridium & Real Amps: What Do We Think? - That Pedal Show

We demo the Strymon Iridium amp, cab and room simulator pedal alongside Vox AC30 and Fender Super Reverb guitar amplifiers. We use a selection of effects pedals including overdrive, fuzz & delay.
Life too short for long KZbin videos? See ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ below.
Welcome! Regular viewers will know that Dan and I aren’t enthusiastic users of digital modelling amps and cabs. Why? Well, because we own pretty much all the real stuff and we absolutely love playing it for a whole host of reasons.
Nevertheless, we are genuinely intrigued by the Strymon Iridium because of its simplicity, form factor and adaptability into traditional pedalboards. That is what this video is about, plus some comparisons with some ‘real’ amps. Thus…
WHAT AM I HEARING?
The actual valve amps are mic’d with Sontronics Delta 2 ribbon mics on the cabs, plus a pair of AKG C414 XLS mid-side for stereo room mics. They go into a Universal Audio Apollo 8p interface running Neve 1073 mic preamp plugins.
The Iridium is going direct to stereo channels in the Apollo 8p with no additional preamps. It is a purely direct signal: no microphones. In the studio we are hearing the Iridium’s direct sound through 1500-watt EV PA speakers.
WHY DIDN’T YOU USE A FENDER DELUXE REVERB?
We don’t own one. We do have a Super Reverb which isn’t the same thing, but it is close enough for an interesting comparison.
We will do a VCQ this Monday to discuss the reaction and comments. Should be fun. Enjoy the episode!
Pedals etc in this episode…
TheGigRig Three2One
www.thegigrig.com/three2one
• Peterson StroboStomp HD
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2Ozf60o
USA: imp.i114863.net/rdY5Q
Australia: bit.ly/2lM39so
• Strymon Iridium
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2qEAlnA
Australia: bit.ly/36XmmKq
• Keeley D&M Drive
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2oTblU1
USA: bit.ly/3E2Eqmw
Australia: bit.ly/2pUDUAE
• ZVEX Fuzz Factory 7
www.zvex.com/guitar-pedals/fu...
• Analogman King Of Tone
www.analogman.com/kingtone.htm
• Jam Pedals Ripply Fall
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2PoxKu0
• Diamond Memory Lane Jr
www.diamondpedals.com/products...
• Walrus Audio Fathom
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2Jxexiz
USA: bit.ly/3DO2yIB
Australia: bit.ly/2JsVFRM
• Fender Newport Bluetooth Speaker
USA: imp.i114863.net/JP7DR
• TheGigRig G2
www.thegigrig.com/g2
* Why the preferred retailer links? Read this: www.thatpedalshow.com/partners
Interesting bits & go-to sections…
- Intro playing: 0:00
- What are we doing?: 2:50
- The excuses begin: 3:52
- Why no Kemper/Helix?: 4:32
- …why make an exception for Iridium?: 5:37
- Big up Pete Celi!
- What is it?: 7:35
- TWO MAIN QUESTIONS?: 8:48
- Today’s pedalboard: 09:53
- Where does Iridium go on my board?: 10:41
- FRFR: full range flat response: 11:03
- Stereo Iridium and IRs?: 11:23
- Delay and reverb after Iridium?: 11:50
- ’65 Deluxe Reverb: 13:34
- …and with Room: 15:48
- Comparing three cabs on the Deluxe Reverb: 17:20
- Sounds like a recorded guitar: 18:50
- Things a loud valve amp can’t do:19:55
- What about a bluetooth speaker?: 20:28
- You’re using the wrong IRs! 24:15
- Iridium Vox AC30 model and various IRs: 24:30
- Iridium 100-watt Marshall Plexi and various IR’s: 28:15
- The Room control is fab! 31:46
- Cabs on the Marshall model: 32:45
- Marshall model with Strat: 33:16
- That guitar! 35:30
- What’s missing? 36:30
- Additional features: 38:23
- Inputs and outputs: 40:33
- Compared to the ‘real’ thing?: 41:25
- What you’re hearing now: 42:35
- ’61 Vox AC30 & Iridium’s AC30: 43:00
- Thoughts on the above: 44:15
- Real AC30 & Iridium with Strat: 45:10
- Thoughts after playing: 47:55
- Fender Super Reverb & Iridium - Strat (yes we know it’s not the same amp!): 49:08
- Thoughts on the above: 52:16
- More Super Reverb & Iridium - Tele: 53:26
- Both real amps together: 56:40
- Yet more thoughts: 58:16
- 3,000 watts?! 1:00:30
- Applications of Iridium?: 1:01:09
- Why don’t you just get a Helix or a Kemper?: 1:03:34
- The problem facing digital technology: 1:03:57
- We are entirely spoilt: 1:05:10
- Would we use it instead of our amps?: 1:06:00
- People want valve amps dead: 1:06:38
Guitars:
• Fender Custom Shop 1963 Telecaster - Dan’s video at bit.ly/2dlZJ6K
• Gibson Memphis 1958 ES-335 - Mick’s video at bit.ly/2mpJA8X
1961 Fender Stratocaster - no video yet
Amps in this episode
• Fender Super Reverb (reissue) with 4 x 10-inch Jensen P10R speakers
• 1961 Vox AC30 with Celestion Alnico Blue speakers
Enjoy this episode. Please subscribe to our channel.
Buy TPS merch to support our efforts www.thatpedalshowstore.com
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/ thatpedalshow
Visit our preferred retailers!
UK & Europe: Andertons Music bit.ly/2cRvIvt
Australia: Pedal Empire bit.ly/2mWmJQf
USA: That Pedal Shop www.thatpedalshop.com/

[@bobbreckenkamp4641]

For the past 4 years we have toured with an ampless setup, except for drums. I started out with a rack mount Kemper. We were playing an old theatre in the pacific northwest and there were some power issues. The Kemper was very sensitive and would not operate properly. Fortunately I always carry an "emergency pedal board" which saved the day plugged into an old deluxe that was laying around. That was an eye opening experience. I was determined to get back to at least a semblance of old school, and that meant playing with a traditional pedal board. But what about an amp? Well, I bought the Iridium and stuck it on my board, last in line....and never looked back. I will tell you I am NOT a fan of IEMs, but it is today's reality. And the rig I now have using the Iridium sounds great, is durable and solid, and importantly easy to dial in. Do I miss my Badcats, Victorias, etc. on stage??? Hell yes...but if it means playing or not playing, the Iridium is a solid alternative. Sorry this was so long....

[@bobbreckenkamp4641]

@Theo Chi I don't think anyone is forgetting it's a pedal that emulates. I'm not saying it's the best resolution for an amp free stage. But it is a simple and good sounding unit if you have to go ampless. I can guarantee you can't tell standing out front if I'm using a Victoria or the Iridium.

[@bobbreckenkamp4641]

@Theo Chi Oh yeah, the Deluxe is always a solid choice!! It is sad how things have migrated over the last few years....and I suspect there's no slowing that train down. It does have some solid advantages. Maybe the biggest is the weather factor is now taken out of the fear factor/equation. I used to dread playing hi humidity shows down in Florida, or even here in Virginia, but with the Iridium/pedal board rig, it sounds the same show after show. Extremely easy to get your sound. Same for Quilter amps that I have used and still own. They are bullit proof from show to show. Oh well.....trudge forward into the brave new abyss of digital!!

[@bobbreckenkamp4641]

@Theo Chi Absolutely!! It's a great feature and I use it every show. When we roll on stage and are setting up, after I have everything situated and we are getting ready to do actual soundcheck, I plug my IEMs directly into the Iridium with all pedals fired up as well. This way I can make sure everything is working, I can tune up, and can reset all the setting that TSA has kindly adjusted for me without anyone hearing anything. Nothing bothers sound engineers and even other band members more than the guitar guy cranking his shit up for 5 - 10 minutes!! This way I can get my sound, check all connections, etc. silently....and of course for late night at home playing it's perfect, I think anyway....

[@bobbreckenkamp4641]

@Theo Chi enjoyed it, too!

[@lichking23]

Long? Dude, it was very informative. Thank you!

[@mattsnyder4754]

Just remember folks. It’s called harsh and digital if you don’t want it. It’s called clarity and note separation if you do.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Love this!

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

In all seriousness, I think most average music listeners wouldn't be able to tell the difference between digital and analog, and even some snobby audiophiles. I've been recording direct ever since the original Tech21 Sansamp came out (around 1992-ish??), and haven't turned back.

[@Eliguitar1]

It's also called "my neighbors just called the police on me again" if you crank your AC30 above 1.

[@CentaurusRelax314]

It's called "sag" when it's analog and "latency" when it's digital. Is that right?

[@mal2ksc]

No, sag compresses and clips, but it does so immediately. Latency is the delay between doing something to your guitar, and getting a sound out the other end of the chain, and high latency makes any instrument feel very unresponsive, requiring the player to force the issue by "rushing" and thoroughly blowing the groove.

[@Cottonrocket]

“Just use what you want to use man, don’t sweat about what other people are using.” Words to live by Mick. Perfectly stated.

[@SimonSawal]

Yes, exactly. So many different situations, so many different solutions.

[@dahliafiend]

That’s cool and all but we wouldn’t have a piano or an electric guitar or electric bass if everyone took that attitude.

[@mslenthall]

Fascinating. I’ve watched almost all TPS episodes, and have never seen Mick looking and sounding so clearly uncomfortable in the early stages. It was interesting to see how you both were wrestling with something that challenges your sound values. Great episode. This genie is out of the bottle and will only become more and more prevalent.

[@davidkieltyka9]

The Iridium sounds pretty darn good IMO. If I lived in an apartment (flat) and had to keep the volume down while still getting something like a turned-up sound, it’d be a really good solution. And if my ears ever protest against my preferred vol levels (left ear does get cranky at times with brighter guitars) I’ll be fine switching over to it or something else like it. Thanks as always, guys, for the detailed presentation!

[@mattofthemountain]

I'm intrigued by this pedal for sure. The room reverb makes ALL the difference in my opinion. I regularly play in a church setting with a miced amp with in-ear monitors, and my biggest frustration is the directness of the sound, the lack of ambiance. I'm so much more inspired hearing an amp in a space!

[@JohnnyCarvin]

So enjoy everything you guys do! Dan, Mick and everyone involved in making these great videos, thank you so much for making these every week!

[@marcuschild2988]

So glad you guys did this. As soon as the iridium came out I started waiting for this episode. Can’t wait to watch.

[@cottontails1837]

Dang, every week your great playing, especially Mick’s, gets better and better; TPS has been years long practice sessions … Thank you for discussing FRFR and this, “In the studio we are hearing the Iridium’s direct sound through 1500-watt EV PA speakers” and “You’ve got to plug it into something to make sound.” The inference being that in addition to the Iridium, you may have £ outlays for speakers and an interface. One thing I’d like is an XLR output, eliminating the need for a DI box. Cheers!

[@eskilseter]

The guitar magazines have blues guys on the cover because they know what kind of guitar players still buy physical guitar magazines 😆

[@DroneCorpse]

Blues lawyers with money.

[@fossilmatic]

Word in the business is that physical magazines are on a knife edge in regards to continuation. So, perhaps you are right. Then again, they said the same about guitars a few times since 1960.

[@benlogan430]

The magazines are usually much better than the online sites. The writing online seems unedited and 1st draft at times. But, the writing in the mags is also going down hill. Most everything is just a direct ad nowadays. IMHO

[@swissarmyknight4306]

@@fossilmatic The last time I read a guitar magazine I was stuck in a small town and bored. The first article was the editor reading the audience the riot act and telling them "if you don't like what we're covering, piss off." So yeah, probably not going to last much longer lol.

[@qiuz51]

@@DroneCorpse I believe the term is "tone attorney."

[@michael_crean]

Thanks guys! This was incredibly insightful. Very grateful for the good work you two do. Cheers!

[@JayKughan]

That strat & fuzz combo sounds absolutely brilliant 🤘🏽

[@pedalscapes]

Great show, good tones all round, valves still clearly win the day...

[@blendathon]

Valve amps will never die mick! 😆 great job boys. We appreciate your efforts to educate us! Keep on rocking 🤟🏻

[@matthewjames_pnw]

Well done Gents... another thorough and fun investigation... and good on 'ya for comments about different approaches not being better or worse... just different... to just play what you are in to... I'm new to electric after 30+ years of acoustic only... for cost and convenience I went the Helix/FRFR route and it is working out great.. but eventually I'll build my own amp and build a board with a G2... love the show overall btw.

[@isaacjohnson.]

It sounded really good. You guys got some great tones with the Iridium. Enjoyed it.

[@Atttuner]

Its not an amp but it just sounds killer - awesome run thru guys you're hitting it out of the park in a way other reviews just can't get near

[@MrCarlzohn]

"We need to play and stop talking." I always love Mick talking, because I always learn something new.

[@dorianford6227]

Yeah it’s funny when they say that. I don’t mind them talking that’s what I mainly watch the show for. They spit ample amount of wisdom of stuff.

[@miksilplik]

I just love your show so much. You guys have a great way of explaining stuff, and this video finally made something click for me.. now I want one. Cheers!

[@salsabilahmedshrestho960]

Yay! one of my requests got made! THANK YOU to Mr Dan and Mr mick, I have already ordered it but don't know if I'll regret it. Lets see!

[@rangerdoc1029]

I love my tube amps, but I'm so sick of fighting the volume beast.

[@landon.cunningham]

Great job guys - everything sounds wonderful (tube and tech alike).

[@rs700910]

Great vid lads, a really in depth review and comparison... Excellent.

[@sybamunki]

So glad you’ve done this show. Have seen some demos and think it would be good as a backup for gigs. I’ve got an HX Stomp but am having troubles getting sounding good through a PA. Like you I just prefer the feel and sound of a tube amp.

[@MartinCliffe]

When this came out, I was convinced it was the one Strymon pedal I would have absolutely no use for. After this, I'm not so sure. Great show guys.

[@bluesoverlord]

Valve amps will never die as long as there are those of us who would like to try Marty McFly’s CRM-114 amp with the 8 foot speaker!!!

[@JBurtonTenor]

I kinda got choked up at the end. Brilliant. Happy new year guys, and crew, and Katherine, and all. Love and hugs.

[@RichardLeverton]

This is why I love TPS - not just “how does it work and does it sound good?” but looking at where it sits in the real world of creating and performing music, and what does it bring out of you as a musician. Stellar work as always guys, appreciate what you do so much.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thank you Richard! That is the hope and it’s edifying to know that there are humans out there who get it! Thanks for watching!

[@thomashogan1985]

Totally this, think I may need to get one. Especially as most gigs now require IEMs

[@cabbage9398]

Sounded better than I expected. I think it's worth remembering that these sorts of things aren't aiming to be the best possible sound a solo guitar player can get while playing on their own. They're trying to do a job for the gigging musician who has to deal with limitations.

[@lunchpin403]

The thing about it sounding like a recorded guitar is that it's trying to replicate a mic as well, which is where the extra compression comes in

[@andrewrwhitfield]

Great episode guys!!!! Appreciate how objective you were. I don't think anything can replace tube amps! I've got a few that I love. Also have owned the Iridium for a couple of weeks. It'll never replace my 'real' amps. But it does offer a lot of convenience and a great sound as you mentioned. Haven't gigged with it... But I think I would. Also great as a backup for my amps. Recording... Definitely. Lastly, cant over state this... Try different cab ir's... For me was the difference between thinking it was ok and really liking it. All the best! 🤗

[@thomaseich8505]

I watch the video and all I want really is to try out that HIWATT amp. I guess this is what Mick means by 'inspiration'. Cheers anyway. It is such a relief to watch a video about a new product and then concluding 'No, not for me'.

[@pangloss9]

If you already own a bunch of pedals, which you love, I think the Iridium is a great option. I own one and the first thing I noticed is that it takes drive pedals more naturally and organically than other digital options I've tried. Not saying that you can't dial in similar results with a FAS or Line6 system BUT my drive pedals instantly sounded like they should in front of a real amp. Strymon really cooked up something special with this product and personally, I'm impressed.

[@Nicko30able]

Nicely done, and I know how hard that was for y'all, especially with a room full of some of the best amps money can buy. I thought it sounded fantastic, and it def has a place, plus you can use the same pedals....all good. Peace!

[@chucktac]

Good god. That Plexi-tone thru the MESA cabs is all I have ever wanted.

[@RabeaMassaad]

My theory is... the ones who are anti valve amp, clearly haven’t spent enough time in a room with one turned up. Because when you do that... it’s the end of the argument

[@ThatPedalShow]

Bea! X

[@davidhughes3518]

absolutely agree, i love playing with my collection of amps at home i even use one live a peavey 30 because of its lightness but i run a roland vg88 into the power amp section because it models guitars aswell as amps and effects and in a cover band it covers alot of ground, so it best of both worlds. valve warmth that fills the room with the versatility of amp modelling

[@dorianford6227]

I am a tube purist but I would definitely love to just plug in directly front of the house instead of lugging around an amplifier everywhere I go

[@JimWelniak]

I don't think there are many anti-valve people. Plenty of anti-modeling though. Personally I am a "tube guy" but modeling outperforms when recording.

[@gilh3947]

And the ones who did get deaf after x years and still pretend to hear every nuance in the sound palette. :-) ;-)

[@jamesapfairlie]

“It sounds like the people who named those have been playing Dungeons & Dragons a lot” That, sir, is a sign of quality if ever I heard one.

[@AdrianJames28]

That comment alone made me want to throw out all my analogue gear and exclusively use D&D-themed IR's

[@ezm69]

I swore I wasn't going to comment and risk pissing Mick off (again? lol) but......... 🤠 That sounded better than I expected. The simplicity and sound is certainly there and if I needed something small and simple, and the amps covered what I wanted, it seems like a good compact choice. Pro's and cons versus a Kemper or Helix (and I have both) as well as real tube amps (and I have plenty of those as well). Between the last go-round with Mick on the subject and this video, I did give the whole "thing" a lot more thought and I actually have drawn some conclusions on why I use the Kemper a lot (the Helix I use just for bass) when I could easily enough use tube amps for everything (it just kind of evolved over time for me). First, my days of lugging around a Twin Reverb are just over (and killing small animals with a single power chord as well). That gets to the second part of it which is not just the volume issues at a gig, but also just the volume in the room as well. I get the whole amp in the room thing and I love it. Something like a Twin Reverb where it really starts cooking (and many other higher power amps) just is not good for your ears. At 50yo and 35+ years of playing, my ears still work pretty well, and I don't think they would if I'd kept going with those types of rigs (I started looking for alternatives in the '90s and went all rack then). If I'm going to really crank up a tube amp, I want it in an isolation room and me not in that room with it. So that's a decision I made decades ago. The last bit is that as a multi-instrumentalist and singer (though primarily guitar and vocals), being able to hear everything the way you want it in the mix is just incredible (something you rarely get with wedges and real amps on stage). So with those things in mind as well as the silent stage things etc, I took the time and made the effort to get used to headphones and now in ears etc. I still love throwing some pedals in front of a '57 Champ or Deluxe, I love the sound of my Bassbreaker 15 and I'll be getting a SSS clone soon enough (50 not 100) as well as probably a Vibrolux Reverb. I love that stuff and I do still use it. But if I want to throw down something quick, I have working with the Kemper down so that it's almost as fast to get up and going as breaking out the Champ etc., and MUCH easier to record with at all hours and anywhere. So it's all about trade-offs. Some are bigger than others but everything IS a tradeoff of some sort. For the most part, healthy ears and a good vocal mix mean more to me than having to have a tube amp on stage. I can still appreciate (and indulge in) the other options as well. 😉 Great show as always guys! PS: you need more "All you need is Fuzz" shirts in different colors! 🤠

[@dannyshortmusic]

This is a really great video. Very impressive demo/comparison

[@quietisthenewloud7588]

great video, thx for all the information, this is the first very clean and complete video about this pedal

[@Darota529]

Already one of my favourite episodes, not just bc of that insane Strat sound but hearing Mick and Dan genuinely try on a product they are on the other side of the argument with made for some very substantive viewing material. And the discussion about the nature of bedroom players/KZbinrs/most gear demo people needing different options to massive amps is fantastic. Love the relevance of that sort of talk. Cheers, boys!

[@alguitarchristie]

Sounds pretty great to me! I will definitely consider this as my next purchase, as i like the ease of use with no menus. I have a Victory V30 and a hot rod deluxe and also a Blug, but this is so small, it would be great for duo gigs with a small pedalboard. Cheers guys :)

[@MyNameIsRich]

Dan & Mick, your pedal show is awesome, I’ve been watching for ages and learned so much! I was real amp and pedal focussed for years, however, that changed when we had a baby.... I now have a ‘digital’ rig and a couple of ‘real rigs’ so I can run silent practice and recording. Recently I placed my ‘digital’ pedal board in line with my traditional rig (based around the Orange OMEC Teleport) and was blown away with what I could achieve. So I guess what I’m saying is, opening up your mid to move away from pre conceived ideas (especially as tech is improving exponentially every year) can often be great for your creativity... just saying. Keep up the good work... still love the show and your playing too ; )

[@bleeknoir]

Since 2017, I've recorded and released around 13 records, many of which I've recorded from home. I've gotten so tired of the bad-room issues and general mic-ing issues that occur at home. You have just sold this to me gents, like so many things. Arriving Thursday for lockdown releases! Thanks again.

[@jesselandreth4497]

Definitely a valuable tool live. Especially if you're gigging and usually rely on backline amps. I play at a church and no amps on stage allowed. I used to run a vox ac15hw1x side of stage micd up but every week it sounded different. Having to carry a 30kg amp only to have mono and no other amp options is pretty annoying. I use an hx stomp now and my normal preset is an ac30 and a matchless in stereo and it sounds better, more consistent, setup is literally two cables into a stage snake, my sound is consistent and my back is way happier

[@janvandalen3992]

Jesse Landreth I play for my church as well, I want this pedal so bad for that application. My tone varies from week too week. We’re a portable church, and this would make things so much easier.

[@aardvark__2552]

Iridium is great... But what this video really taught me is that I need a fender super reverb.

[@jasoncobb7427]

Aardvark __ same

[@joniofark2042]

I have a fender blues deville volume stays at around 1 but it’s enough for the Lounge in a street

[@prodgozu]

Hard to match that chime.

[@alantracy6757]

Joni Ofark amazing amp I have one also and it’s never been above 2. I’ve never changed a single valve in 20 yrs

[@alexmurphy5289]

I want a fender very badly

[@petercampbell9840]

Half the time, I feel like I'm tuning in to hear the Geezer play the blues. Geezer Blues. That's how I understand guitar. Thanks for that. More please!

[@djsica83]

i just bought an VOX MV 50 ,two days ago, and this is the first thing that i play close to a valve amp, i have to say as good a modelling amp can sound ,OMG that little thing sounds amassing . My point is.... you have to try the real thing , and plait loud , it will change you perspective . Great show guys :)

[@1upfx281]

I had a Kemper and sold it a couple of years ago because I wanted to get back to recording with tube amps. The Kemper sounded great but I wanted to go "traditional". I've found that over the last 2 years I've done very little real recording though. After spending a bunch of time working on mic placements, mic types, preamps pairings and other related techniques I found that I had run of time to be creative. It's also hard to crank up tube amps in the space I have without someone else getting annoyed so I was limited to certain times of day I could record. I went back to a Kemper a few weeks ago and couldn't be happier!

[@ThatPedalShow]

You speak for a lot of people. Unless you know the space, it sounds goof and can have it set up all time, mic’ing can be a pain in the butt. That’s most people. Cheers!

[@ezm69]

It's always about the right tool for the job (situation) at hand! 🤠

[@plmr127]

Hi Have you used pedals with your kemper ? I’m tempted to go that route but every time I ask about pedals + kemper, the answer I get is “why would you use pedal with the kemper” but no real reviews

[@ezm69]

@@plmr127 I use my full pedalboard with my Kemper as well as pedals in the loop. I've found they almost all work the same as with a traditional amp. The one exception being Klon style pedals but I think the issue there may be that I tend towards amps on the Kemper with that same type of clarity and the two combined start to sound harsh. Otherwise, it takes pedals very well.

[@TheVigilantStewards]

I'm also curious Iridium vs Kemper, I hope it's in this video

[@BakisProductions]

Two things can't happen in this world at the same time. 1. My banking account going up 2. Watching That Pedal Show awesome epidode. Thank you guys!

[@CatharticGuitar]

Thanks. Strymon built the Iridiom just for me, and you made this video just for me.

[@ChrisHendrix117]

So much goodness. Agreed on the point of parameter paralysis. I’ve found I like to start with stock and tweak lightly on my HX Stomp. I’m sad this wasn’t available when I bought the Stomp. The only benefit to the Kemper or Helix is the added stuff. I.E. you don’t have any effects or what have you. Iridium is “Just the amp” section and not an “all in one” pedalboard solution. Sounds brilliant! Great jams fellas!!!

[@grega1207]

Mick, I've been in contact with Hugo from Strymon and I believe I have some possible setups to consider. Try coming out of the Iridium with one output to the FX return of your dry tube amp, the other output back into your board for the wet chain and then out. You'll need to insert what Strymon calls a "null cab IR" for the dry amp side. With that you could have a wet/dry setup, or if you're feeling sporty, you can take your dry side of the board out to an ABY with one output to your lovely tube amp for dry and the other ABY output back to the board for the wet side and then to the Iridium out in stereo and voila you have a wet/dry/wet setup! Happy days :-) ... or just enjoy it at the end of your chain as you guys have done.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Sounds like a workable solution Greg. But I think I’d still go for two Pro Juniors over any digital solution for portability and sensible volume.

[@grega1207]

Mick, new t-shirt: " '61 Strat... forevermore" :-)

[@joshuacarpenter4456]

Mick, saw you sigh from that whole introduction, rightfully so, it was a lot... but you nailed it as always... making the complex understandable that is. Well done!

[@petercampbell9840]

Thank you very much for this episode. I enjoy them all (well, most of them!) but this one particularly hits home. I can't tell you how valuable the information is for me. As difficult as it might be for you "valve" guys, MORE if you can stomach it! My vote is that, through the headphones, the Iridium sounds awesome (even if it sounds "brittle" through the flat response PA speakers).

[@horizontalblanking]

Mark this day on your calendar.... D&M were BOTH impressed with a modeling device! The end is nigh! ;) In all seriousness... this was a great episode and really spot on: "Use what you want to use." Words to live by.

[@mattroberts4201]

I think that to use the convenience and flexibility of a digital amp sim, you have to know that your on stage experience will be like running your isolated miced-up amp (which is located out behind or under the stage) into your monitors. If dialled in well, it will sound almost exactly the same to the audience and sound techs (in a big room), but won’t and can’t feel like standing in front of your amp.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Yep.

[@timchalmers1700]

Yet another super great show. For lots of us who can't afford amps, this just might work.

[@scot-combs]

I LOVE FRIDAYS! I've recently gone to modeling to save the wear and tear on my arthritic back and knees. It's doing the trick. I'm using a Helix Stomp on my main board and an Ampli-Firebox on my Church/backup board. Both give me nearly all of what I'm looking for. Once I got used to the idea that modeling boxes reproduce the sound of a mic'd amp through studio monitors, I was able to wrap my head around their tone shaping. It's not the same as cranking my old analog amps but now I've got them to a place where the sound is, well, rather inspiring.

[@MrTimMifsud]

I think Mick’s comment that he felt like he was playing guitar and not through FRFR, says it all. I can see a few great uses for this. Of course the recording and silent practice aspect, but also as a throw in your gig bag for backup in case your amp fails at a gig, or for the quick jam or last minute sit in session. Great pedal.

[@grega1207]

2:02 "Geezer playin' blooming' blues" ..... and that's why we love you Mick :-)

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thank you Greg! If you could just tell the rest of the internet.... ;0)

[@stanislawcronberg3271]

This video convinced me to buy and I am anxiously waiting for my speakers to arrive!

[@ThatPedalShow]

Hooray!

[@MrGoogy007]

Awesome playing guys! You both would make a TEAK stereo sound brilliant if you played through it! Magic fingers guys love your channel keep up the good work✌️

[@mstenberg8288]

Would love if you could bring the WCQ back for this episode, where you comment the recorded sound of the episode as well :) Much love from sweden

[@ThatPedalShow]

Yep. Although we suspect there will be exactly zero surprises in our reactions!

[@3mstudiospalmdesert]

It might not sound exactly like any specific amp, but it is a professional tool that sounds better than any thing of its kind that I've ever tried. The room sound is pretty unique and really useful as well.

[@stevieboy444]

Cool that you did this. Really useful video!

[@CCHDanbury]

I play in church, so silent stage. I have a traditional pedal board that I put an HX Stomp on the end of for amp & cab. I also recently purchased a Helix. There is much to like about it in the setting I play, but if given the chance to use amps, I would - wet/dry into Fender Blues Jr. and Mesa Subway Blues. The Iridium is such a simple and solid sounding pedal. Appreciate you guys taking the time to critique it, like some parts, dislike others and stay open-minded about where it works. Didn’t think you’d review this, but glad you did. Btw, love Strymon stuff but have bought and sold the Timeline, Blue Sky, DIG, and Flint. I like it simpler, so Helix is still a decision about whether I will keep it or not. And, we’ve all seen digital stuff go obsolete, but analog keeps going.

[@telecastersRthebest]

Advancements in the digital modeling world is a godsend to folks like me who live in apartments (Japan) and do not have the luxury of cranking a tube amp then mic’ing it to record. That said, I would still love to own a tube amp someday.

[@dimensionstomorrow]

Yep. I’ve been in Japan for 20+ years and totally understand. FYI, the only tube amp that I’ve found to be satisfying at Japan home volumes is 1970s Vibrochamp. The speaker is small and inefficient so it’s much quieter than even 1W amps I’ve owned in the past and it sounds fantastic even at low volume. If you get an old Fender spring reverb tank to put in front of it, it is a great authentic alternative to the bigger Fenders. Not a super cheap option but I’ve wasted a lot of time, energy, and money over the years to figure that out, so I figured I’d share.

[@ZigbertD]

Got one right after it was released, really strictly for recording at home, and it's the best guitar amp/cabinet modeller I've ever used. And I like the Line 6 stuff for that application quite a lot, always have, but this is much better to my ear. It takes pedals so much better, IMO, stick it at the end of my pedalboard and it sounds like very close to what I'm used to (and no, they don't react exactly the same as when hitting the front of a tube amp). The other thing is the simplicity and intuitive/tactile nature of just twisting a few knobs to get a sound rather than a lot of menu diving, etc. is also much more appealing. Dan mentions the flexibilty of plugins for tweaking or completely changing the sound after the fact, which is certainly true, but...it can also lead some of us into total option paralysis. Having to set up a sound outside of the box and commit to it is actually a huge plus to me. Not to mention freeing up a lot of CPU in my DAW workstation by NOT processing every guitar track in the box (or having to bounce it down, etc). But as you say, I'd never use it at a gig instead of an actual amp because I don't need to. Most of the gigs I play, on a 12 x 15 foot stage in a small room, your amp IS the front of house sound anyway.

[@tcw8287]

I would buy this in a heart beat if it wasn't 400 quid. Have you had any experience with the atomic amplifier box?

[@mattgilbert7347]

I want to move to wherever it is you live/gig. The vast majority of local venues in Sydney with a stage comparable (and larger, thru to a medium-sized venue) to the one you describe would not allow an amp in through the door. Most everyone has to DI in this godforsaken town. The music scene here is moribund. Getting to use a real valve amp on a 12 x 15 ft stage in a small room would be like paradise to me. Haven't done that since the early '00s.

[@mattgilbert7347]

@@tcw8287 The NU>X Solid Studio is a decent bet for the money. All you need is some sort of preamp pedal, like one of the Mooer Micro Preamps or Joyo "sound" series (American, British, etc). I won't spend any more than I have to for DI/IR/Cab Em etc. Once you reach the level of 1's and 0's, and being able to load 3rd-part or create your own IRs. most of these units will do a good job. The NU>X has a similar design to the Iridium. It has a bunch of features - including being able to send to amp *and* FOH. It's not stereo, but a stereo room reverb after the unit works well (as mentioned early on in the video regarding time-based effects post-Iridium).

[@DominicHalpin]

Thats what I would be looking to use it for, recording at home, so your really happy with what your hearing back in the mix then ?

[@dahliafiend]

@@tcw8287 get the Joyo American

[@scottw9732]

okay, so I really did like the real amps better, but honestly the strymon seemed to do exactly what it claims to do. Always a sure selling point. I think it's an awesome tool for the right players. As a side note, I tell you Mick that was some of the most glorious guitar tone on TPS to date. Maybe there will be an opportunity presented that will allow you to claim that Strat truly for your own. I for one dearly hope so. one last thing, Dan are we going to be seeing any more practice vlogs? they were great, and have helped me quite a bit. Thanks for all you guys do. Best show on You Tube!

[@tedparkinson6892]

Great analysis and playing guys! Thanks for this. I think I will get an Iridium because I want to practise guitar parts for recording and this is a great tool and sounds amazing. It is awesome to play a tube amp loud, but the Roland Jazz Chorus is not a tube amp and sounds totally great as well. I love how this gives you so many options and eliminates the need for micing amps. It's one thing to love the sound of your tube amp, quite another to mic it and get that same sound recorded. I think the whole digital/analog debate can be relegated to the dust bin of history. If you want to crank your Fender tube amp, go for it! If you want to use the Iridium, that is awesome as well because it is a very flexible tool with tons of uses and rock solid sounds.

[@sandrews7760]

Johnnathancordy has been doing great daily KZbin videos on this pedal, I asked him if it was possible to send one channel to a cab on stage and one to front of house... he did some research and came back that you could upload a blank ir slot to one of the channels which you could then send to a power amp and cab or effects return of your amp on stage and then the other mono channel with a stock ir or uploaded one to front of house.... great bit of problem solving, and a lovely bloke as it turns out. Love the show as always thought this might be useful and massive kudos to Johnathancordy and his channel for solid work around.

[@Atttuner]

Sound and mix are particularly awesome lately

[@ThatPedalShow]

Big up Fraser!

[@Atttuner]

That Pedal Show seems to be same mics maybe it’s just the mix and post work but it’s significantly noticeable improvement - well done kid

[@guitarsimon1]

My heart smiles every time I hear a Spinal Tap reference ❤️

[@trevecho]

I play an Ethos Clean ii into a Torpedo CAB M, and really love it for a small church stage and headphone practice with my iPad. Only thing you miss with direct is feedback, and the natural air between the speakers and strings.

[@hulkslayer626]

Mick has to keep saying "Is on loan to me" because his wife watches TPS Hahahahaha

[@ThatPedalShow]

You got it. :0)

[@ezm69]

@@ThatPedalShow you need to take up a collection! A go fund me? I'll throw in $20!

[@goswo]

ezm69 yes its about time that Mic gets his dream Strat, stop talking. I am ready to support it :-)

[@robertwellington2616]

Hulk Slayer if I can afford it I’m sure Mick can. And I’m using it in the return input of my amp. It can be used that way. That’s right. And to make everyone more upset I leave the cab sims on 1x12 thru a 1x12 and it sounds fine to me. Although, very expensive and I could just use a pedal. I can plug this into my least favorite amp and get 3 different amps now.

[@hulkslayer626]

@@robertwellington2616 ....um, we were all talking about the vintage strat...

[@heybuddy6794]

A note re splitting the signal: one could send the main outs to FOH and send the headphone out to own stage monitor or mixer, rather than having to send it to one and then the other.

[@1Mong0]

The out has to go through a DI anyway. Just take the 1/4” parallel on the DI input and send it to the FRFR monitor. The DI XLR still goes to the house. Not sure why this was an issue.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

The thing about the Iridium is it's sound quality. Having a great basic Fender, Vox and Marshall sound as good as it in one box is a luxury. As I pointed out one can turn it into replacing your backline amp very easily with a pedal pre and amp then putting it thru even a Celestion 12" in an open back cab.

[@gcvrsa]

Really great and fair treatment of these types of products. High on my list for my next acquisitions is a DSMnoisemaker OmniCabSim Deluxe, or possibly the new DSM/Humboldt Simplifier, because I want to build a fly rig/hotel pedalboard for headphone practicing, mobile recording, and direct-to-PA usage.

[@charlesbassiste]

holly molly that 61 strat sounds insane! I was listening and thought man, that guitar has a particularly good sound, then you said it was 61... Mick, you have to buy it ! Sell a kidney or something, but we need that guitar on your show !

[@SirVicc]

Yup. I didn't even know it was vintage. Thought he may have picked up a used custom shop. Thought it sounded amazing. So a blind test in my case.

[@restingbassface23]

You could also use this to add amps to your setup without having to actually bring them. If you wanted to have two stereo wet amps, and one dry, you could split your signal before your wet effects and send that to your single stage amp, then run some stereo delay/reverb into the iridium into a stereo DI to get a add a nice stereo wet amp tone. All those multi amp dream rigs that are too much of a hassle, are a little more accessible now.

[@mattgilbert7347]

1 year on and I'm revisiting this because it's relevant to my current re-evaluation of my rig - but what about latency? The Iridium is all DSP.

[@AbcDino843]

@@mattgilbert7347 If any latency is there, it would only be detectable by Eric Johnson and Yngwie Malmsteen.

[@TrailOfSound]

I think they both sounded really great through my speakers, I would love to try the Iridium in person (more as a replacement of amp sims on the PC). But.. in the end I don't think it's about the sound anymore, it's more about what makes you want to play more. To me the amps sounded a bit better to me because you enjoyed them more! Anyway Iridium sounds great and now I have to try one myself!

[@eschatts1]

I just ordered this to try out. This channel made my buy it. Sometimes we play through JamHub. Problem with some of my friends they hate fiddling with stuff like the Helix (I have Floor and HX Stomp). This also seems like it would be a good backup for a gig if you did not want to haul around another whole amp. You could just go direct and then have routed to monitor speakers in a pinch. This demo sounds pretty legit as far as amps go. I agree with Rebea, there is no replacement for Tube Amp. I have a Fender Concert and Marshall DSL40CR. They sound so much better than modeling and things like the Boss Katana MK II.

[@andreweasombentley4703]

The list that Mick runs off at about 5:31 is the exact reason why this product might appeal to me. I'm no technophobe but I personally hate having a zillion options to play around with. I just can't stop myself from tweaking sounds and it paralysis my real objective of actually playing the guitar.

[@KipCount]

Exactly why I love the Strymon stuff, or just regular minimally knobbed pedals. Software Amp sims are a nightmare for me. Comes with a Zillion amps! *spends hours tweaking.... man, time for bed, no recording done.

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

I just bought a Mooer TresCab. Only 5 cans, hi/lo eq, or mocha placement and that's it. In a tiny pedal. Works great.

[@horaciococcioni8538]

Great show!! Is like you said, digital is convinience, specially for recording some demos, or for playing quiet and live with in ears. Is light, cheaper than a tube amp and stereo wich can work nicely with other Strymon pedals. I won't sell any of my amps for the iridium, and it doesn't replace them at all, but is a great tool to have, to use it when it should be used. Probably, if you want to "replace" your tube amps, you can ran the iridium (without ir emulation) thru something like the fryette power station into a real guitar cab. The other way around, if you want to record your real amps but quietly, you can use a tube amp with a reactive load, into iridium (with amp off) and take advantage of the great room reverb. I read in the manual that you can even upload IR of acoustic guitars, so in a live context you can have a direct tone that sounds more like an acoustic miced, rather than the normal piezo sound. Is a great tool, and one that I'm sure I'll get. Thank you

[@TheVigilantStewards]

FRFR cabs still weigh 50-60 pounds but at least you can let your band mates throw them around and not care

[@horaciococcioni8538]

@@TheVigilantStewards I personally would never use it with an frfr (other than the house PA off course - that is not always good). To me this shines if you use it with headphones late at night, or live with in ears, or just to record some quick demo when inspiration strikes. I rather carry a tube amp for anything else. But that are just my thoughts, everyone is different.

[@TheVigilantStewards]

@@horaciococcioni8538 Thank you. I still use tube amps also, I was just hoping that I would gain more convenience and control with the rise of Kemper and Iridium quality sounds.... seems like it's still not there

[@horaciococcioni8538]

@@TheVigilantStewards yes, I don't think that is there yet. I think that eventually it will, and something like the powered Kemper with a cab is really really close and sounds great, but I love the way tube amps just give you the sound you want without a lot of tweaking, they look good, they are timeless and you don't have to wait for them to "get there". I mean, Dan's AC30 and Mick's loaned 61 strat are almost 60 years old and they are the most amazing piece of equipement ever, timeless. That's the beauty of it. But iridium is great for me for what it is, and I'm kind of tired of expecting digital to "be there". Is just a great tool that inspires people to make good music and that's good enough for me. That's why I don't think of replacing any of my amps with digital technology, but adding digital tools to make life as a musician easier. The good thing is that we have a lot of options to choose from!

[@TheVigilantStewards]

@@horaciococcioni8538 Yeah... the best option is to have enough money to buy everything... that's the lesson I always learn with guitar lol. To me if it's 98% as good on stage (I would run through an FRFR to emulate actually playing an amp , I usually use my amp without a PA) but it gives me more control, flexibility, and sounds I think I would be ok with that.... but those transients and upper mid range openness need to be there. Sounds like the Kemper just has more a more realistic sound. Iridium sounds good though from what I can hear

[@guitarnut6144]

I recently purchased the Mooer Cali 3 on a whim; it is supposed to sound like a Mesa Boogie Mark iii and while I can't vouch for the accuracy of the modeling, I can say it sounds amazing to my ears. It is the only modeling gear that I have actually enjoyed playing enough to get lost in the sound. I'm still resistant but the tech undoubtedly has improved by leaps and bounds since the early days. Love the show. Thx.

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

I have the Mooer 005 Brown sound and 002 UK Gold, and I think they work better with the Cab Sim on direct to my interface. Cab sims have come a long way, and are vital to the small home studio.

[@TheLadsBandLive]

I love the “practice anywhere w/headphones” potential of this little device (especially, late night at home, without waking the wife and kids). Plus, plugging this into my Xitone would be the ultimate grab ‘n’ go setup.

[@housemouse5856]

I practice guitare a lot more since i bought a software amp sim because I can play late at night. I'm happy to lose tone quality if it allows me to actually play the guitar.

[@gilouch8975]

Sorry I am a noob, what is a software amp and can you name a few so I can research ?

[@oisinmcphillips2090]

@@gilouch8975 What I'm thinking he's referring too is something like the Neural DSP plugins. They are plugins that you run in your computer, with your guitar plugged in via a audio interface. The Plini Neural DSP plugin is very popular

[@vladimirpavlovic9488]

Very valid point. Little orange crush 20 did it for me (and yeah, you have to.compensate with lower ppwer, less headroom,little speaker, but it does the job).

[@thesphericalguy9018]

With some amp sims there isn't even any tonal loss imo.

[@thesphericalguy9018]

@nimrodian What are you on about mate? I was replying to House Mouse when he said "I'm happy to lose tone quality". My point was that some amp sims are so good that you don't have to "lose" anything. Perhaps you are not reading hard enough.

[@rangerdoc1029]

I would love to see this thing head to head against the Ampli-Firebox. And more importantly.... Your opinions on the comparison.

[@coryloveless6526]

It is very good for someone (read: me) who can't afford the real thing... I love for $400 I can have so many great amp tones that (while not fully replicating) get close. Thanks for always doing such a great job reviewing these - super helpful!

[@morganbaker3808]

I bought the iridium pretty soon after this video came out, and for the record I love it live. With in ears, it feels awesome. Without, it's lacking considerably. I also love it in the studio. The manual says power it with 500 ma, but I only power it with 300. Works just fine.

[@NatedogsYouchoob]

So interesting. I've just bought one. It might not hold up to Dans vintage ac30 cranked. But I bought the best vox I could afford, ac30HW, I can't play it loud enough at home for me too enjoy it. Live it sounds amazing standing in front of it but once its mic'd through a 57 and put in to my in ears, it sounds nothing like my amp. I used the Iridium for the fist time this weekend and It sounded more like I was standing in front of my amp in my in ears then actually the real thing! With the Iridium I got the full sound of an amp, as aposed to the sm57 taking a snapshot of it, if that makes sense?

[@7Boots]

Nathan Holmes Don’t use SM-57’s on VOXes. e906 is much better for this type of sound, brings out the amp chime much better and more natural. I stopped using microphone when I got my OX though - it’s phenomenal. But Iridium as well, different purpose...

[@antnips]

This is also why people love the Kemper

[@gerbenkieviet6397]

Jeah, this is a thing. It's extremely important how you mic a speaker and what kind of microfone you choose. I also have an AC30hw and I found that when using dynamic mics (sm57, audix i5) it sounds most like the amp in the room when placed off axis aimed at the middle of the speaker. Record your amp en try different mic positions, or multiple mics. Especially when you play big rooms and festivals. Enjoy!

[@KelsterVonShredster]

@@antnips oh yes!

[@Jason-kv7cm]

7Boots agreed. I also prefer the e906 on my deluxe.

[@thomasprice3887]

It depends on which church you play at (from Mick's comment near the end of the video). The one's I've played at I have been lucky enough to crank both small Fenders to a Mesa. However, between the Iridium or a Helix/Kemper/AxeFx/etc, I would choose the Iridium. It's practically idiot proof, doesn't blind you with LEDs and touchscreens on a blacked out stage, and (to my ears) sounds better. Sure, it's pricey and takes a whopping 500 mA, but it's a very nice pedal to emulate amps/cabs well.

[@unfinishedworship3173]

Thank you. I love our amps, but our sound tech has been over the moon with our bassist using a Tone Hammer DI and in small/medium venues our drummer using Roland drums. The two guitarists in our band are now looking at Iridiums for the small/medium venues. A lot of churches are fine with our volume levels, but this should really smooth out our sound. I’m excited to try this!

[@sihall1975]

Great video guys, I think it sounds really good. It would be interesting to compare the tones with the same amps through an OX with similar speaker/mic types.

[@tylershaw3968]

Proud of you fellas for taking on amp modeling with an open mind. I think one thing we as guitarists get hung up on is the whole 'does this sound like the real thing', when the real question we should be asking is 'does it sound good'. In reality I'd wager the fast majority of people one might play in front of wouldn't be able to tell the sonic differences between a Princeton and an AC30. They do know the difference between what their ears perceive as 'good' or 'bad', and I've played plenty of gigs where a front of house tech that didn't know how to properly mic or eq an amp turned a good sound bad. It's pretty rare in the 'real world' that anyone lets you crank up an amp to its happy place anymore... Point is that stuff like Iridium (or HX/Helix/Kemper/etc) allows you to set up a sound you know sounds good (maybe not 'accurate' but good to the listener) and have it be consistent night after night while keeping the bar owners happy that the patrons get to retain their hearing :)

[@tunaXonXtoast]

This would make a great mini practice board with just headphones.

[@j_drichmond]

That strat and fuzz... is truly wonderful.

[@TheVigilantStewards]

Here's the blockbuster of iridium videos! Grabbing my studio phones and tea...