Unobtania. And Just What Is A Transparent Drive Anyway?

In this episode Daniel and Mick grapple with the concept of 'transparent overdrives' and why you might want one.
The idea is an overdrive pedal that adds some gain and compression, but that changes the EQ minimally. So the questions are: how much gain and compression is too much, and what constitutes minimal EQ changes?
Inevitably, the pedals that are most renowned for doing these jobs the best tend to be expensive and hard to find. They also don't necessarily do it! Hence we've enlisted the services of…
• Klon Centaur
• Analogman King Of Tone
• Timmy Overdrive
These three Unobtania are ably put into context with a Keeley-modded Boss BD-2 Blues Driver and an Analogman Prince Of Tone.
Amps today are a Marshall JTM45 into a 2x12 Marshall 2061cx with Celestion G12H-Anniversary speaker, and a Two-Rock Studio Pro 35 into a custom Zilla 1x12 with a Celestion G12H-75 Creamback.
We also switch in a little delay from the Strymon TimeLine here and there.
As always, amp and effects switching and routing is handled effortlessly by TheGigRig G2.
Enjoy this video, and for more on TheGigRig, see www.thegigrig.com

[@frasersurfs]

New favourite channel, thanks guys. Love the way you share information that allows us to make informed choices about the right gear for our personal setups, rather than just product reviews. Awesome stuff

[@faisalzaidin9769]

Smashed it again! Last week's show was a revelation. Been using 2 delays all week, and now this??!!! Great job guys. Thank you for sharing the knowledge

[@JakeWildMusic]

It always makes me smile when Dan and Mick gaze lovingly into each others eyes unconsciously.

[@earthlyguitars]

Hahahahah that’s what I thought watching again! They are in love in a way.

[@squirelova1815]

It's the pedal intoxication. Very dangerous stuff.

[@Gbhbbgvsbnjhhdchhb]

Calm down....nothing homo -erotic on this channel..... it's all in the eye of the beholder. One day when and if you reach their level of ability and understanding, you will see beyond....

[@Dovvik]

@@Gbhbbgvsbnjhhdchhb bla bla bla, you just sucks and wanted that everyone knows it, you polically correct know-it-all...

[@Rockitrider]

Just wow. I love your channel guys. Not only are you super informative, but watching you guys interact is hilarious. I love it when you both get your minds blown by a sound and just start to groove. Keep it up.

[@orcristwielder]

I just love coming back from a gig on a Friday night (Saturday morning actually) and watching your show...awesome way to unwind :)

[@rigorhead01]

Love this channel! After watching a few videos, I went back and watched them all! So great to hear pedals in complete isolation in G2, and to hear how they work in different style amplifiers. I also love the videos about delay. I'm crazy for overdrive and delay!

[@subtlesystem88]

Best show yet!!! Just lovely playing and lovely sounding guitars and pedals... Thanks guys...!

[@raphael_vierlinger]

One of the most informative as well as entertaining shows on youtube, keep it up guys!

[@korrelics]

Please don't ever stop doing what you guys do!

[@howdy2053]

I’m here from the future, they haven’t stopped.

[@alexmurphy5289]

Blues driver is incredible. I don't know why I keep looking for other pedals lol

[@dostacos1]

Alex Murphy do you run it on a lower voltage? I can only stand it around 4 volts.

[@kimmolingonheimo]

I call the Boss Blues Driver the blues pedal and the Boss OD-3 the jazz pedal...😎both have FET transisters which is always a good sign, to top my tone ( Mad Prof Simble always on...) I stomp on the DOD Looking Glass( also FET transistors!)

[@Leo_Fender]

@Daniel TheGigRig I highly suggest you check out the true king of transparent drives, the korg miku. Living room demos does a comparison side by side with an original klon. Everyone should hear the brilliant transparency!

[@rayg3116]

...

[@klehmentine1332]

I agree, you can really hear how the clipping diodes just slightly compress the attack, and it has a wonderful little bump around 500hz. It's not true bypass, but I have to say, it's probably the best buffer I've ever heard. There's also an internal trim-pot to adjust the bias of the diodes, in case you want to get some hairier tones.

[@jackk9366]

Well said.

[@joseph-ow1hf]

I do some work as a part time FoH sound engineer. I think I have pretty good ears, but these guys really give me a lesson in how to listen. Love it.

[@saousexu]

Best guitar show on KZbin, bar none. Such a great mix of education and entertainment

[@thomashogan1985]

Love these videos, light hearted and informative Keep it up!

[@danishpete]

Thanks for the shout out ;).... Sounds great ;)

[@timchalmers1700]

Great show! Still relevant 5 years later.

[@krautcomputing891]

Thanks guys! Awesome show, I had some light bulb moments. The transient response of the KoT and the Centaur are indeed amazing. And I really get now, why I used to hate pedals that I loved soundwise...

[@PaisleyWilde]

Super cool video! I have been curious about the Timmy for a while and am glad to hear it next to the KOT and the centaur!

[@jdl2180]

That blues driver sure does sound good!

[@alexw4590]

Just placed my order for my KOT. I could of ordered back in July as my name came up, but just didn't find the funds for it. I'll be enjoying it through my two rock studio pro 22. Excellent video for me!!!! Thanks! For pushing me over the edge

[@smiley4288]

Very cool!! Got my KOT coming next week and now I'm evan more excited, it's def going to be worth the long wait now!!!!

[@boybitzprod]

Pls continue doing a fine job! More power to you guys!

[@livingthedream137]

I’m listening on headphones. When Dan first plugged the Les Paul in and strummed a chord. The sound of those amps together was GLORIOUS!!!!!

[@seenochasm7101]

hahahahaha when Mick makes SURE the editor cuts this video so that everyone can hear @daniel the gigrig's impressed "ahh mann..." at 0:23. These guys are the greatest. It is one of (if not THE) best demo channel I've ever been subb'd to. Best Regards & Happy New Year to all!

[@eltonarch]

The best youtube channel ever... Thanks

[@victortheguitarnerd]

The Klon into the Marshall truly is a thing of beauty.

[@seancelli3092]

Great show today guys. Loved the comparisons to the revered Klon. KOT as always is a winner.

[@rrben29]

Have to admit, I really look forward to these videos coming out.. keep up the awesome work! Hopefully you guys can have some kind of leslie sim shootout vid soon...

[@patrickmcmanus5373]

The klon sounds like an amp in a box. The Steel Stringer etc sounds similar but the way the klon goes from boost to distortion makes it unique. The king of tone is another great pedal

[@seanms35]

Awesome as always guys! @Daniel , you look really tired brother. Rest up well!

[@brianpatrick6102]

I think your final point is spot on: Its not until you compare pedals side by side that the best are clearly recognized. I just did this myself with my collection of OD's. Wampler Euphoria and the Bogner Blue were my favs. As for transparent OD's, I have never really liked any that Ive played. Always a pleasure and highlight of the week.

[@philipdowns4176]

Eye opening stuff yet again. Still can't watch a fuzz pedal review without thinking that sounds awful aw that's right your using a super clean fender amp! Haha! But really one of the most honest and informative shows on KZbin!!!! Can't wait for the next show!

[@stevelightfoot2859]

Great video. Learnt a lot. As a Fender player who uses Vox, am rather annoyed to say the LP into the Klon into the Marshall sounded fantastic.

[@DansGuitarCorner888]

Awesome Video! You guys are great! Thanks so much!

[@treynobles]

The price of tone has switches underneath that can change how much midrange you want in the pedal. I mean I'm pretty sure y'all tried to match the Prince of Tone with the King of Tone as best as y'all could. Love this video! Keep up the good work

[@minisurfbanana]

This show is making me buy more pedals....damn it...love it!!!!

[@alanredversangel]

It's not often you learn so many new things about guitar tone in one go. Cheers.

[@stuartphelps3293]

I would love to see you two play around with the Palisades by Earthquaker Devices. Your explanations on clipping modes and buffers and things of that nature are always so helpful. Thanks for all the videos!

[@AlexOliveira-vb8qq]

That strat tone in the beginning is so beautiful

[@NickGranville]

The is so nerdy; love it! Thanks chaps.

[@jakestewartmusic]

I'd really like to see a pair of Prince of Tone pedals vs the King of Tone. Guys, please make a video of this and end the myths. It would be more fair to compare them after trying the internal switches in the POT to match the sound of the KOT more closely and then setting the two with comparable drive settings. POT is supposed to be like a high gain side of a KOT, so you'd have to set the levels a few notches lower on the POT to match the sound of the KOT. According to the Analogman site, the POT is really supposed to sound like a high gain side of a KOT and the high gain mod is only really supposed to change the range on the gain control. In theory, two of them side by side should be nearly identical in sound.

[@richardherzberg2006]

Jake Stewart Music i

[@BackSeatDriver68]

To D&M at TPS - love your channel, just discovered your prior channel. When I watched this episode, I had the same Q that Jake did a few years ago, namely, how would 2 PoTs, properly configured, sound next to the KoT. Or one PoT against 1/2 of the KoT. Given the ready availability of PoTs, it would be interesting to know if one could bypass the KoT wait list (without paying the ridiculous markups on Reverb) with 2 KoTs. P.s. that begs another interesting Q - if the PoT is truly 1/2 a KoT, then why the dramatic difference in wait times? Thanks, and keep up the great work. Us guitar wannabes really appreciate it!!

[@adrianr2312]

I think you just predicted one of their recent videos 😂

[@phladjki]

amazingly - they have finally done this

[@TravisKeenan]

LOVE this channel guys, keep up the great work. I'd like to hear what Dan thinks of the Tone City King of Blues, as well as the Wampler Tumnus.

[@Piplodocus]

Interesting how you discuss how important the initial transient it to the tone. I've previously figured that's exactly why I never gel with any modelling things properly. The front edge of the notes are never quite right.

[@ralvknights]

Im a fan of That Pedal Show. I like your style of doing the demos, the details you guys give like the origin of an effect, sound explanations and your honest reviews. I am an Overdrive enthuast and have several OD which I chose after many research. Eventhough sound is subjective we can all appreciate good tones. My suggestion is that given the large amount of great OD pedals in existence, please try to do more OD demos of the best ones. THis Friday choices are good but you could also try testing the best OD pedals of each country. FOr example the best Japanese OD, the best German OD etc.. I have the following OD which areof good breed: Egnater Goldsmith, Lovepedal AMP 11, Vahlbruch Sapphire Drive,Earthquaker Hoof (a muff variant but liquid tones like an OD specially stack with an OD) among other babe pedals. Hope you consider my suggestion: Best Overdrives by each country. Live long and Prosper. Your show is like a renaissance of joy and learning experience. Rock on!!!

[@mattyk112]

G'day from Oz! Awesome show again! would love to see a show on the different eq's of as many different amps as possible (bad cat, matchless, fender, vox, two rock, marshall, etc) PLUS the eq's of as many different guitars as possible (gretsch, gibson, fender, epiphone, prs, etc etc)

[@HarryAndAGuitar]

Favourite time of the week hehe

[@braydenjones603]

Great channel guys. Subscribed! And I've got my KoT arriving next week after 14 months! Can't wait!

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

Nice, remember, a KoT is for life, not just for Christmas :)

[@braydenjones603]

Thanks. The search for tone is a journey rather than a destination. I hope for the inspiration to continue my travels :)

[@Jewdly]

Daniel TheGigRig, you have your KOT setup OD into Clean, right? The reason I ask, is because I was experiencing some weird midrange issues with the KOT into a Hiwatt Custom 50.

[@LukeJackandWill]

Incredible playing around the 19.00 part mick!

[@robkhoo4642]

Hotcake! The original transparent overdrive.

[@shannonhooge6241]

As a guy who makes pickups, this is always a big issue for me; I want to demo overdrive without drowning out the character of the guitar and pickups that I have painstakingly crafted. I love how intelligently you guys are talking about the full spectrum of tone, attack, and what "transparent" really means. Thanks for this! Now on to the Klon clone video!

[@aaronbrooks3913]

I’m gonna start off by saying, I love you guys keep doing what you’re doing. But the concept of a transparent overdrive isn’t to push all frequencies into compression evenly. The “transparent” concept is meant to emulate your amp when broken up to where you like it but not always can we have our amp that loud. So the transparent overdrive is to keep your amps qualities and tonalities and just adding gain onto it as if the amp itself was cranked to 7-10 when the tubes are cooking and the amp is breaking up. That’s what the “transparent” overdrive is for, not to boost all frequencies into compression but just to add gain on top of what you already have without altering tone. Thanks for the video guys!

[@Beizeiten78]

The finish of that Les Paul is perfect.

[@Grant_Ferstat]

That 9 > 10'clock gain setting was always my Klon sweet spot. A little bit of dirt. Nice low mids and presence not too much compression.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I Love This Show. I can talk about Pedals & Effects Forever. I have done some extensive research on: Low Gain & Transparent Overdrives. I Love (in no particular order) J. Rockett Pedals = Blue Note Overdrive, Barber = Gain Changer, Sarno Music Solutions = Earth Drive. These are 3 Fantastic Pedals.

[@jordandedomusic]

Great episode guys! Btw, Mick is ridiculous on a strat! Great touch! His Silver Jubilee demo is one of the best things on KZbin. Just got on the list for a KOT about a month ago. Got rid of my BB+ (great pedal but I traded for an AM chorus:) so I'm going with the best to fill the void.

[@JohnW335andTele]

Have you gotten the KOT yet? Ha ha

[@OverJam52]

Would love you guys to talk about envelope filters! So much to tell and so much gems out there (DOD 440, Funkzilla, Keeley Neutrino, Proton...). Please make that happen!!! Love you guys, keep it up!

[@gabe2869]

I agree, and add in the Source Audio Stingray. that has a great envelope sound in it.

[@Alltherightmoves421]

a great episode. Thanks again

[@ryanspencerlauderdale687]

For me, the Timmy does the clean boost thing very well. That and a OB1 was my clean sound for a long time.

[@bradleystroup1457]

an interesting thing you should check out, the Seymour Duncan pickup booster and/or the lotus pedals underdrive. the idea being that rather than pushing the amp into overdrive, you are driving your guitar's tone. that would probably answer the question for Mick's point 1 versus keeping the amps sound but elevated. maybe you could do a video on that in relation to this. anyways, love the channel. really cool and greatly informative

[@CharcoaI]

No! You missed the chance to hear the best sound of all! Set the Timmy to a very low push (3~ treble, 5/6 bass, 4 drive and unity level) and push it into the Klon set to what OD you'd like

[@shaner499]

I wish my musician friends found guitar gear as interesting as you guys. I could just talk about this stuff for days but you can tell when I start talking about frequencies & how different guitars react differently to different amps and pedals, you can just see the look on their faces that says "I don't care!!"

[@TheVigilantStewards]

"YES!!" To the end of the video - ... I wish we got to hear more tidbits in there with multiple amps going at the same time, that is one of the biggest draws of the G2 for me is signal routing and valve stacking. Would have been curious to hear what the strat sounded like. Seemed like there was too much mid aggression in the marshal and not enough of the two rock being goosed to really mesh and a bit much on the gain knob, strat with boost to two rock might have been sweet. I get so much out of these videos, great for board planning I watch them all.

[@mutantboy8888]

I will run a Klon with Lower Gain Grit on one Marshall, then on another Marshall, run a Peach Fuzz with a Plexi pedal at higher gain. I will layer both. That way I get a cleaner KLON Attack/Transient Response but I get the Fuzz Box Growl for the body of the note.

[@nopala]

Mids... mids everywhere! Great vids guys, love my KoT! :)

[@ai4nlp]

OMG! This became most favorite That Pedal Show episode! This should be renamed how to sound epic, WITH KLON!

[@richab88]

Love your series guys! Please do a vibe shootout!

[@satch4u3]

Another win with this video! Daniel, whats your favorite settings for the Strymon timeline??

[@3PH]

Ahh, Friday at last!

[@KristofGuitar]

Great show, as always, guys! I'm planning on buying a Quartermaster QM6, but I have a question. Could anyone tell me if (and how) you can combine two amps with that pedal? So, in other words, can it work as an ABY-switch and if so, how? Thanks Dan and Mick, this is awesome!

[@jahjah67]

Right. I love the tone of the KOT, but I find the Morning Glory as a slightly more transparent pedal. Maybe just my imagination. I did know they were both based on the Bluesbreaker pedal but I appreciate you chiming in.

[@moo3992]

Dudes I dig this show. Thanx!

[@TheGigRigDaniel]

Cheers matey

[@bluecollarshred6311]

Dear god, if I’d seen this vid when it first came out- it would’ve saved me a whole bunch of time and money. That insight about how some of these od’s clip and compress the initial attack of the note; damn. I knew I was hearing that, I knew I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t put my finger on what exactly it was. If I tried to compensate with brightening up the eq, it got brittle and unpleasant. Y’all are frikkin brilliant.

[@raypolakovic1290]

Timmy sounds like an AC30 in a box, at least with the Les Paul rig. Very nice and chimey. The Klon is insane on all rigs.

[@npinero1]

Best videos from these guys.

[@IPushHard]

Someone loves the King of Tone. I say that it's so subtly different than a lot of other stuff that nobody would ever notice it. Especially in a live band setting. The point about pedals compressing in different ways than one another is well taken, but I look at that just like head-room on an amp. Because that's essentially what we are hearing is different amounts of clean head-room. The one thing I found odd about this is that you never mentioned a compressor which are probably the best at providing a transparent boost to a guitar sound. Certainly better than most overdrives. Thanks

[@FatihPekbas]

Thanks for that great video which made me put my name on that KoT waiting list as well. Would you mind reviewing that Jan Ray overdrive pedal everyone is talking about?

[@LFC2011]

Great video as always. Interested to know what timeline settings you had when you kicked in the delay at the end ?

[@guitarolm]

Hey Daniel, can you tell me about that fawn Vox behind you? Looks old! I was also curious about what kind of suggestions you'd have for using a Tele (I've got a CS 67, which I believe has the same bridge pickup as your CS 63) that I mostly use the bridge pickup on into a Vox normal channel. I love the chime and crunch of that sound, but I'm finding it's lacking some mids and I was wondering what kind of mods you ended up doing to your 63 Tele to be happy with it (especially in a mix). Thanks for your time!

[@dannyblau3850]

Mick, Although you both demonstrated how the Prince Of Tone isn't going to give you the same as the KOT for obvious reasons, have you messed with the dip switches inside? fiddling with 1st dip witch is the lo-mid lift might get the boost to where the boost is on the KOT. Assuming you still have the pedal. Love the show!

[@onlinemrwats]

Nice work lads

[@johnr3275]

Hey Daniel, wondering if you can give me the specifics on your red Tele. Curious on what pickups, model, and type+gauge of strings you use. I love it's sounds.

[@stevenkatien3292]

hey guys... love every interaction you have had so far. really great to watch you guys in action. why aren''t you comparing these pedals to some really NON-transparent pedals as an example or a reference point... I think that would help a lot. The KOT and POT, anything Keeley modded, and Klon are all famously transparent... I would like you guys to show how some bog-standard distortions (DS-1 etc) are NOT transparent (maybe cover the names etc.) to show how those pedals could also be useful? I am very interested in some pedals which have great reputations on the net, ("boutique" names from the US like Wampler, Earthquaker, Wren and Cuff, Mr. Black, Rockett, even Mesa boogie pedals etc...) and after I tried them or got them, was unpleasantly surprised by their responsiveness or whatever, BUT I AM a pretty unimpressive player. Would love to see your take on some other brands like those and see what your impression is of them... and especially stuff that is endorsed, or very favorably reviewed by some players... and why YOU think those endorsers might like them...

[@jaggerunicorn]

That two rock into the les paul sounds glorious !

[@JasonFiske]

Love it. Thank you.

[@simonbeckwith]

Any chance you could do a video on your favourite dirt pedals that work well specifically with a Les Paul and Vox AC30 please? :) keep up the great work!

[@heartattackmack2]

Great fun, guys. Man, I really love That Pedal Show. I thought the Klon sounded amazing into the Two Rock. Is it just me?

[@micktaylor8350]

No, it's me too. That's why I bought them both. :0)

[@jahjah67]

Wonderful as always. I'm surprised you guys didn't demo the JHS Morning Glory as a transparent overdrive here. Imo, one of the very best in this category. Keep up the great work guys.

[@nunocarmona]

+Jamey Stevens JHS and KoT are based on the Marshall Bluesbraker pedal. So, I fnd it logical they picked the KoT as it is percieved as a more desirable pedal. Just my 2 c

[@ofoburbano]

Hi guys. I've got an OCD, it works great on my Tele, but i don't find it as good with my Les Paul. With the gain set from mid way onward, the tone becomes flubby on the bottom end and even icepicky on the top end with some amps. What OD pedal would you recomend for a more defined tone with a Les Paul?

[@KaeptnKeks]

a video about pedal-legends and budget-copys that actually come quite close tonewise would be killer

[@anthonygallucci6942]

Give the Emerson EM Drive a try. I use it as a lead boost. It's only got a volume and a gain knob no tone stack resulting in truly transparent. It's what ever tone you put into it just more of that. It can get a bit of drive with the gain maxed but it's very clean. It's awesome!

[@ForViewingOnly]

I think I'm going to love this channel! I subscribed yesterday after seeing your video on EQ pedals. Just one question: did Mick work for Guitarist magazine? He looks very familiar!

[@nitemunky76]

+ForViewingOnly Yes, he used to edit it.

[@micktaylor8350]

Hello! Yes, I used to edit Guitarist and still do bits and bobs for them. The very same. But not the same geezer who was in The Rolling Stones. :0) Cheers, Mick

[@bradleystroup1457]

+Mick Taylor I was wondering if you guys have tried the Seymour Duncan pickup booster or the lotus pedals underdrive. those would closer answer you one side of the argument for keeping the guitars tone because the booster the guitar rather than the amp. that would be a cool topic in relation to transparent boost which I think the idea is to not color you amps tone. love the Chanel and the in depth info you guys give.

[@michaelcraig9449]

Hey I did not even think of that.. to get the way huge tone, but not change it too much. How about some info on what this guy is mentioning here?

[@iwannacuddleurbutt]

Lots of close up shots in this video :o I like it , looks like a tv show lol.

[@amonmakesoriginalnoises]

Hi Mick and Dan! How does the KOT stack up against the JHS Morning Glory? Especially since both are based off the BB circuit? Can the overdrive/boost side of the KOT match the MG or only when both sides of the KOT are turned on?

[@stevendobias2960]

Love that King of Tone!

[@larsfrederiksen3005]

Great show as usual guys. I feel that my Providence Stampede SOV-2 is very transparent (at least it's able to do a very clean boost when the drive is turned down). I'm in love with the JTM45 and the Klon, though.. :-)

[@micktaylor8350]

Hey Lars, I have the Providence SOV and the Free The Tone one too. You've reminded me I should use them more!

[@larsfrederiksen3005]

Glad to be of assistance 😊

[@thecrob19]

I would love to see more Kingsley stuff

[@richardharris5577]

I'd say that the best, and perhaps only truly "clean boost" that exists, is a compressor pedal with the level set higher than the off level. Dialling in the amount of compression you want can assist in fluid soloing and sustain to taste. I've been using my Boss CS3 in this way for years, whilst my OCD and fuzz are there to actually colour and create the tone itself.

[@MrBingping]

The prince and the king are the same circuit with the same components, however there is a mid-lift dip switch in the prince. Was that maybe on? Accounting for the difference in sound?

[@DanEtch]

Zombie video! I recently picked up a Prince of Tone as the cost of a King of Tone was a little prohibitive. Using it as a second stage overdrive following a Wampler Tumnus in my signal path was an incredible move. Don't be put off the Prince if the King is unavailable!

[@dudicoco]

There's a fly flying into Danie's beard at 23:34 :)