Throbak Overdrive/Booster, demo by Pete Thorn/Vintage King

A demonstration of the Throbak Overdrive/Booster pedal
for more info: vintageking.com...

[@jnh73]

Are. You. Kidding. Me? From 0:21 to 1:06 is the PRIME example of why Pete rules. It's a demo, but in a beautiful, musical context - a lost concept on far, far too many "reviewers". Way to go!

[@bigleemac]

Feel so lucky when a pete demo pops in my subs box!

[@gangtwanger249]

One thing I noticed about this pedal, ... it rips out that vicious Nashville twang better than anything I've ever heard. Same thing with the tones of blues telecaster guys like Albert Collins and Roy Buchanan (I can't remember what Buchanan used, but I remember one of the big guitar magazines talking about Albert King in a certain issue and mentioning a "quad preamp" or "quad something"). Plus, you get the tones of basically anybody who used an Overdriver/Powerboost. True amp-in-a-box tones, from warm, neck-p/u cleans to full-on, 'amp-turned-to-10', 'yank-hard-on-the-B-string'' guitarmageddon. This pedal can dish out those super-dynamic, cranked amp tones like nobody's business. I've also heard somewhat mention Neil Young's "Rust" period" before. And yet it can do those smooth, Klon-like clean boost tones with the same ease. And if you have an amp (or guitar) that really-enjoys it's harmonic content, this pedal will become your best friend (I think I already mentioned, but the O/D Boost and the Fender Custom Vibrolux make perfect partners). It's more-neutral than the Sola Sound Powerboost reissue (Macari's), I think, at least judging by that comparison video, but it also doesn't leave as big a footprint. The Powerboost reissue is noticeably-warmer at similar EQ/gain settings, but they could very-well have slightly-different bass & treble voicings (In other words, setting them at 12:00 may not produce the same sounds). That pre-gain switch makes a BIG difference because it turns this pedal into a two-stage, footswitchable boost/overdrive/silicon fuzz/amp-in-a-box all in one enclosure (not to mention a great Powerboost/Overdriver clone). It's expensive, but worth it for what you can get out of it.

[@stevensmith6019]

Pete's basic formula: Start with the best guitars and amps ever made, dial in the best possible "clean tone" and then trick everything up with a stomp box of some sort. Mix in some monster f--kin' playing for good measure.

[@williamspinelli6601]

Pete, these videos are awesome! I feel like I have my own personal gear consultant. I could (and have) listened to these demos for hours. Thanks for all of this!

[@gangtwanger249]

This thing doesn't rob the tone of bass response and dynamics the way most dirt pedals do. This thing ADDS it... Plus, those bass and treble controls are totally-interactive. It will enhance pick attack if you need it to, plus you can really drive the front end of your amp with this thing, especially with that master volume knob. You can crank it and use it like you would an original Powerboost/Overdriver pedal. Get your amp working. It really is many pedals in one (amp-in-a-box included).

[@gangtwanger249]

I assume the 30-watt Suhr amp (the one you used with the Tele for clean & dirty boosting) is kind of a vintage, Vox-sounding thing. The one you used with the Strat (I LOVE that Strat) is obviously a plexi kind of sound. I noticed that the Overdrive Boost responds well to bloomy-sounding amps (I bet it would sound great with a late '80's/early '90's Bassman reissue, which I assume had alnico 10's in it). If the amp has really-nice, bloomy mids, the Overdrive Boost should take it and run. In other words, you'll get an overdrive version of said bloom. It's really-cool in that way. And it loves alnico 10's for some reason, like the ones used in the '57 Bassman and the Custom Vibrolux (Like I said before, it's a beautiful match for the Custom Vibrolux... The O/D Boost LOVES that amp and those alnico 10's... For whatever reasons, the stars align with that setup). The Fuzz Haze is more-amp-friendly than the Overdrive Boost. With germanium versus silicon circuits, it's not surprising, but the Overdrive Boost was kind of designed for certain amps, I think. In other words, same as those original treble boosters were designed to brighten up certain darker-sounding British guitar amps of the '60's, I think the Colorsound Powerboost was designed to pull those great overdrive tones out of those same amps, but in more of an 'amp-in-a-box' sort of way rather than simply boosting the highs. It's just a matter of simple evolution of the classic British overdrive sound, which is kinda' scary considering how popular the Powerboost/Overdriver circuit remains today. I mean, how much have we truly-evolved beyond those classic days of rock & roll amps and effects? Whatever the case, the O/D Boost really-maximizes the classic Powerboost/Overdriver design and then some. It can do the whole Beck/Gilmour/Bolan thing, but there is so much more to this pedal. First of all, it doesn't seem to leave as big a footprint as the Colorsound reissue (I think it has a flatter frequency response than the reissue, which seems to have a bigger bump in the upper-bass & lower-mid frequencies... Loudspeaker designers will often do the same thing when they're trying to make them sound bigger/fuller and/or warmer), and yet somehow, the O/D Boost has no trouble kickin' out those classic '70's Beck tones. Best part is, the pedal gets warmer as you turn up the master. There are some really-sweet-sounding Klon-type tones available with the gain below 12:00 and the master turned way up. A very, very-cool pedal that has battled many a boost and/or overdrive and kicked them off the pedalboard (That's the consensus if you read the threads on TGP and elsewhere... The O/D Boost met contenders such as the Klon and various klones, all those great Xotic boosts like the RC and others, and I've even heard at least one person choosing it over the mighty King Of Tone... Everybody has their personal preferences though... I happen to prefer the old British boosts and overdrives over the TS9 and 808 kind of thing... Some people prefer the latter... Everybody's different).

[@Overwatch93]

Pete can make anything sound good

[@hiway52]

Pete I don't know how you do it! I have a similar guitar, similar plexi-type amp and I can't get this pedal or the sTonebender to sound good, no matter what I do. different settings, different channels, nothing. You sound great here! Well done-

[@hiway52]

***** Thanks Keven! But if you listen at 0.23, before he turns the pedal on at 0.25, Pete doesn't start with a clean tone- it's dirtyish before he turns the OD/Boost on. With my Marshall I use a keeley-modded Boss SD-1 and a Vox Valvetone, 2 OD pedals that give me get tones I really dig, but with this pedal and the sTonebender I couldn't get sounds that I thought were any good. Ever try a Colorsound Tonebender? I love mine! I just wish I could get good sounds with this pedal, or with any Mark I or II tonebender pedals for that matter-

[@SeeMick1]

Happy Canada Day, Pete!

[@rictube11]

Pete makes em' all sound good. Hard to tell which one is the "best". Don't have enough funds to get all of them.

[@sattercaster1]

That sounds amazing, awesome demo and playing, as always. I'm hoping to find a used one I can afford to put on my board. Thanks!!!!

[@perr1983]

He should be called Midas Thorn! Every pedal he tries becomes gold to me!

[@Eliguitar1]

tuning down a half step today? another killer demo!

[@Dnaq1]

Maaan, that SL68 sounds awesome!

[@sattercaster1]

Really like this one!!

[@mattgilbert7347]

Makes everything sound bigger.

[@ThisIsMusicEnjoy]

There's just something wonderful about that 335...

[@Stratocasterfreak]

Keep It Up Pete Rock On !

[@RonCharlton]

Not sure if this video is the same, but in past demos he stated he was using Steven Slate Drums.

[@terrybourcy9423]

Pete: Could you tell (or show) me what this pedal sounds like through your bassman? I have a '64 and a '65 blackface and I'm really interested in the tone combinations I might be able to get. Love all your work. Best demos on the net. Thanks!

[@Dotpsych]

Pete LOOKS like "rock'n'roll" lol bad ass as always \m/

[@Erickchicas]

Great demo and playing! the Eq is a bit glassy for my taste though!

[@rikh78]

aah the 335, my fave PT guitar :D

[@MartinKlajaVideo]

Hi Pete. As always a cool demo! Any chance you could show your ampsettings and perhaps tell which speakers you use in the given demo? Regards Martin

[@Greenballed]

Pete can make your shoelaces sound great. After he tunes them of course.

[@mrshiney2]

The ThroBak stuff always sounds to fizzy to me, I settled on Keeley Fuzz head

[@ZeezyC]

Love the slide, Pete! Use it more! :)

[@loveguitars]

Hey Pete, Excellent. Any chance for some lessons? Thank you

[@rockinchippy]

Killer!

[@SeeMick1]

I think Pete has some lessons on his channel. They go back a ways though.

[@n05liw]

Ok Pete, what are you playing from about 04.33 onwards. I've played it over and over, and have been racking my brains. It sounds really familiar !!

[@mccraejeremy]

wow... sure beats a Tubescreamer!

[@thefilmandmusic]

It is crazy expensive..

[@LordHar]

You should really start building some shelves or drawers for all those stacked pedals ;)

[@middle_pickup]

That things sounds so good, but the PRICE!

[@gangtwanger249]

It's not an easy build. First off, it's a more-complicated circuit than the Fuzz Face or Rangemaster thing. I think it's got three silicon transistors plus an additional, switchable germanium transistor, plus that pre/gain footswitch, all in a hand-built pedal. You get what you pay for with this one. Check out the price of the British-made Colorsound Powerboost (Overdriver) reissue sometime.

[@rogeriosartori555]

Ridiculous expensive. Let's go to the next one, please...

[@pepachet]

Dude, you could make a fart sound great!

[@PeteThorn]

oops.. I farted! It sounded like angels!

[@pepachet]

+Pete Thorn Can't wait to see the video!! 😂

[@LesterPaul01]

magnets do not respond to wood.

[@keylearning5746]

Strings connect the wood and magnets.

[@PedalScience]

Physical matter responds to vibration... wood resonates (vibrates) due to energy (vibration) transferred by the strings due to the physical connections at the bridge and nut. This transfers back to the strings, and into the pickups - as you mentioned.