• From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Topic: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

For you old school forumites you may recall the 100 or so posts ive made regarding the Fulldrive 2 as the best "Bonamassa-in-a-box" pedal out there. Well I'm here to tell you if you haven't tried a Zendrive 2 into a great old Blackface Fender amp you really really REALLY should. My Les Paul--Zendrive---'67 Twin Reverb rig absolutely crushes my old Marshall/Ceriatone OTS rig in every way. For blues stuff, especially in the Robben Ford/Joe Bonamassa vein the Zendrive 2 murders everything else I've ever tried and then takes the competition's girlfriend out for a nice steak dinner. I don't post as much anymore but for the guys chasing the JB tone on a budget I wanted to share my "holy crap" moment. It's an unreal pedal that rendered my dual amp JB rig obsolete IMO.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

Wow that good?? Anxious to hear if you do a demo, you always have good tone in yours. Haven't convinced myself to buy a Dumble clone pedal yet..possibly at some point.

I too had somewhat of a 'holy crap' moment a few months back when I set up my small "open mic" rig. I ran a mxr compressor (sustain off, level up) into a mjm red london fuzz (fuzz off, level up) into a ts 808 and it gave me a thick Bonamassa'ish tone that baffled me.. Though not as simple and direct as the Hermida.

  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • Registered: 2011-04-16
  • Posts: 36

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

Wow

Dems fightin' words from you whom I'd already thought had pretty nailed the Joe Tone, especially in your "Stop" lesson (which was great).

Off I goes to Hermida to check out the Zen world.

Thanks for sharing.

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

helrazr84 wrote:

Wow that good?? Anxious to hear if you do a demo, you always have good tone in yours. Haven't convinced myself to buy a Dumble clone pedal yet..possibly at some point.

I too had somewhat of a 'holy crap' moment a few months back when I set up my small "open mic" rig. I ran a mxr compressor (sustain off, level up) into a mjm red london fuzz (fuzz off, level up) into a ts 808 and it gave me a thick Bonamassa'ish tone that baffled me.. Though not as simple and direct as the Hermida.


Thanks guys. I'm going to probably shoot a video of the Zendrive when I restring my Les Paul. Just to be clear I have no experience with the smaller Zendrive, only the Zendrive 2. The Zen 2 is fat, compressed (because of the tubes I'm told), singing, spongy, and yet extremely clear. I never thought that a pedal could encompass pretty much my ideal lead sound with a clean bright amp!

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: New Hampshire, USA
  • Registered: 2010-12-21
  • Posts: 3,650

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

stratpaulguy86 wrote:
helrazr84 wrote:

Wow that good?? Anxious to hear if you do a demo, you always have good tone in yours. Haven't convinced myself to buy a Dumble clone pedal yet..possibly at some point.

I too had somewhat of a 'holy crap' moment a few months back when I set up my small "open mic" rig. I ran a mxr compressor (sustain off, level up) into a mjm red london fuzz (fuzz off, level up) into a ts 808 and it gave me a thick Bonamassa'ish tone that baffled me.. Though not as simple and direct as the Hermida.


Thanks guys. I'm going to probably shoot a video of the Zendrive when I restring my Les Paul. Just to be clear I have no experience with the smaller Zendrive, only the Zendrive 2. The Zen 2 is fat, compressed (because of the tubes I'm told), singing, spongy, and yet extremely clear. I never thought that a pedal could encompass pretty much my ideal lead sound with a clean bright amp!

Hi I have the Zendrive, the smaller one, and yeah it is one mean tone machine. I have not tried a Zendrive 2 looking forward to hear it.
Cheers Ron

"Joe B saved my soul, forever grateful Ron"
"Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them"
Skinner #1,JBLP 145(aged),252, (unaged),#285HM, Bburst #026, Joes 052 BCC black LP, Strat> RT,EC Gilmour,Beck,Lenny LP> PK 83,CC#2,3,4,9,Amps>Carol Ann RAH JB-100 SN 001,JB100 Red SN02,OD2, OD3,Tucana 2&3 Triptix,Twinkle land, Plexi ,JB Jub, Jubs,Plexi,Satch,Two Rock>others
  • Registered: 2011-03-15
  • Posts: 120

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

I've been using the zendrive for a couple of years and although it's unbeatable in the Ford/Carlton range, it does a lot more than just that.
For me, it gets the most out of a crappy or semi-crappy amp, you know like ancient solid state Crates, Hughes & Kettner and the likes. It tames the highs in a trebly Marshall, it brightens a Bassy Fender and basicly makes me sound good tru any amp. It's on all the time, set pretty loud and gainy and use the guitar volume to clean it up. 
When I'm not bringing my own amps, it is my go to pedal.

www.raysguitarstraps.com
'12 Teye La India Mora 2P, '10 Teye La India S 2P, '64 Fiesta Red Strat, '14 Les Paul CC#18, '14 Les Paul R0ltd, '13 Les Paul R7, '12 Les Paul CC#3, '07 Les Paul CR8 x2, '04 Les Paul R9, '65 Super Reverb, '93 Koch KC50dlx, JB Fuzzface #775
  • Registered: 2009-10-10
  • Posts: 438

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

All I use are old blackface Fenders.  I am very interested in a Zendrive or a Zendrive 2.  What are the differences between a Zendrive 2 and a B.K. Butler Tube Driver?

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

HoosierRock wrote:

All I use are old blackface Fenders.  I am very interested in a Zendrive or a Zendrive 2.  What are the differences between a Zendrive 2 and a B.K. Butler Tube Driver?

They have totally different voicings and feeling. The Zendrive 2 is way easier to play, higher gain at lower settings, and less transparent. The Tube Driver has perhaps less gain, more low end, and works better in front of old Marshalls IMO. I feel really lucky to have 2 Tube Drivers and a Zen 2!!!

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2009-01-01
  • Posts: 665

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

I use the small (regular?) Zendrive set cleanish as one of my boost pedals in front of my Ceriatone 2550. Great lead tone.

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

Justin, are you able to replicate your former Ceriatone HRM tone with the ZD2?

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

helrazr84 wrote:

Justin, are you able to replicate your former Ceriatone HRM tone with the ZD2?

I personally dig my Zendrive 2 + '67 Twin Reverb rig way more than my old HRM. The HRM had a stiffer, more aggressive attack going on whereas the Zendrive has this incredible feel to it that you have to play to understand. The Zen2 also breaks into harmonic sustaining feedback and has these incredible overtones that I don't remember my HRM having...that said my '67 Twin is by far the finest Fender amp I've ever owned or played so a lot of the magic is the old Twin. It seems that I can also get the Zendrive to hit a sweet spot easier at low volumes, my old HRM really liked to be cranked up for that kinda sound... I cannot give the Zendrive any higher accolades, really really recommended!

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2009-10-10
  • Posts: 438

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

I think I am going to have to give one of these a shot.  Currently I have been stacking various overdrives with my old Fenders, chasing the violin tones.  I have never quite got there with my Butler Tube Driver into a Fender amp.  It sounds good. but just doesn't quite get the EJ Austin City Limits tone of 88' or 89' if you know what I mean.  There is a certain feel I am after where you feel the steel in the strings as the amp/pedals respond and sing in unison.  (Sorry if I got a little deep there.)  However, it may be more of a volume issue as I don't get a chance to open my amps up very often.

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

For the best '88 ACL tone with a Fender amp try this:

Strat---echoplex(or el cap + clinch EP pre)---Butler TD---VoodooLab Giggity---Fender Twin (or any old blackface really). That should get you damn close. My current setup gets close:

Strat w/ dimarzio HS-2---crybaby classic---Echoplex---BK Butler Tube Driver---Alesis rack reverb---Marshall 100w Superlead dimed and plugged into both channels via a Y cord. Volume really is a huge part of that tone, it's hard to get that explosive lead sound without some, well...explosion!

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: Missoula, Montana
  • Registered: 2008-08-18
  • Posts: 308

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

Justin.....where you been man?? I will have to give the Zendrive a listen. I bought the Mosfet and love it

#275 JB LP

tmcguire's Website

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

tmcguire wrote:

Justin.....where you been man?? I will have to give the Zendrive a listen. I bought the Mosfet and love it

What's up dude! I've been here and there, working, getting married in a month, planning the honeymoon, working some crazy OT to pay for said honeymoon, started working another job this year (on top of my old one lol)....all that and when I have the time I fire up the rig for an hour or so to jam, hang out with family/friends, play a few blues gigs here and there, do a little fishing, and of coarse give my beautiful bride to be my undivided attention lol! How you been brother?

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2012-06-14
  • Posts: 6

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

Coming late to the party but what the hell...

I recently finished a ZD clone, using a kit from Musikding in Germany - really impressed with the product and the service.  I'm also working on a Big Muff Pi (ram's head) clone from General Guitar Gadgets:

https://twitter.com/rossedwards/status/ … 40/photo/1

The ZD will take the place of my booster pedal, and will drive my Marshall Vibratrem nicely :-)

  • mbcl
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2008-05-01
  • Posts: 1,491

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

stratpaulguy86 wrote:

Volume really is a huge part of that tone, it's hard to get that explosive lead sound without some, well...explosion!

Yes! Amazing how sound engineers fail to understand this! Morons!,,,

Martin
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  • synchu
  • Silver Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-06-15
  • Posts: 60

Re: Yeah the Zendrive really is all that...

Yeah, completely agree on the above, chatted with a friend who does live gigs and on the last one the sound guy wanted to have his TSL on less than 3, yes that is bellow 9 o'clock. Everyone knows that Marshalls sound sad with volume below noon. I think this is even engraved somewhere on the head shell? Isn't it? wink
And not to be completely out of topic - Fuchs plush drive is what I am using for this kind of tones here. Fattens everything you throw it at and the touch knob on it is pure bliss.