Zendrive pedal~has anyone tried it?

[Lucidology]

Finally received my Zendrive pedal... and, without-a-doubt, can easily say it's the smoothest overdrive/distortion pedal I've ever used (believe me, there's not many I haven't tried or don't own...)

In truth, I did not expect it to be so smooth... It's like living in a dream, as I simply can't believe an overdrive/distortion pedal could sound so musical... feel so effortless to play. This little tiny box is (IMHO) the holy grail

Now it's very smooth, yes, but it's still has plenty of articulation, touch sensitiviy and cut's through a loud band without a problem...

I have the Seymour Duncan Twin Tube which I just love... and I thought this was the best on the market... but the tiny little Zendrive is even better in my opinion (and it doesn't even have a tube...)

(Now with all that being said, I'm sure there's players out there who would find this pedal too smooth for their tastes...)

Anyhow, was wondering if anyone else on the MusicMan forum uses the Zendrive pedal as part of their arsenal..

Or if anyone has used it and would like to share their opinion and/or evaluation of the Zendrive pedal...

(Always curious what the EB's have to say ...?)

 

[GHWelles]

What about the TS-808?

 

[candyredsilo]

I'll let you know in about 2 more months.....hopefully
It's good to hear someone say that it's worth the hype, makes me look forward to receiving mine even more.
Bill

 

[robelinda2]

will look out for a zendrive for sure now!

 

[Lucidology]

The Zendrive will sound wonderful with your Candy Red Silo, Candyredsilo


Oh and GHwells... it's entirely different then a TS-808... in that it doesn't boost the mid's as hard or as strongly as an 808 does... the 808 is a much more agressive sounding pedal.

That's why I state that the Zendrive may not be for every one. Especially for those who like a lot of cutting 'grit' in their lead tone ...

So in comparison, it's much smoother than my Fulltone 2, OCD, modified BS-1, modified Rat, Tonebone Classic, Chandler Tube Driver, SD Twin tube, Mesa V-Twin, etc. etc. etc.

The Zendrive is supposedly the closest thing you can get to a Dumble overdrive with out actually having to use/by a $5000 to 10,000 Dumble amp...

 

[fsmith]

Smoother than the Fulltone2? Hmmmmmm... Got my attention now.

What amp are you running it into?

What's the wait like these days? I see that they're going for insane prices on eBay.

thanks,
fred

 

[Norrin Radd]

I have heard clips of the Zendrive before and it IS an amazing sounding pedal. Isn't there quite a waiting list to get one?

Souns samples here:

http://www.hermidaaudio.com/

Click on "Products", scroll down to Zendrive.

 

[DaveB]

How does it compare to the Klon - I have found that to be the most organic smooth sounding OD so far......

Dave

 

[Dodgeball]

comparisons to Crowther HotCake please.

They'll be prying the HC out of my cold dead hands!

 

[kbaim]

Finally received my Zendrive pedal... and, without-a-doubt, can easily say it's the smoothest overdrive/distortion pedal I've ever used (believe me, there's not many I haven't tried or don't own...)

Which Ernieball are you playing it with?

Safe to say Lucidos impressions are those of a really fantastic guitar player who's versatile as hell.

 

[Lucidology]

fsmith,,, Admittedly my setup is not typical... I run a Maxon Compressor into the Zendrive, into a GNX3000, into a Bose L1...

Yes, very true about the aftermarket price mark-up. Some people are buying them simply to turn 'em around on E-Bay for about $75 to 100 %. Others are just trying them out, knowing they can make a profit by selling them if they don't like 'em.

Norrin Radd... Yes, the wait can be a long one as each unit is made entirely by hand. The wait is also a long one because so many players are falling in love with this pedal and have lined up to purchase one...

DavidB ...the Zendrive is very, very different then a Klon. The Zendrive is a particular sound all to it's own. In fact, you'd probably would want to keep both a Klon and a Zendrive in your pedal chain. I agree with your assessment that a Klon is organic in it's breakup, but compared to the Zendrive, the Klon is a much rawer tone.. (I had a Klon for about two years...)

Dodgeball.. If you are in love with your Crowther HotCake, you may be one of those who would find the Zendrive to be just a little too tame for your tastes. The Zendrive cannot get crunchy as an HC can... The really cool thing about the HC is it probably has some of the longest sustain of any pedal out there. But I never could tame the initial note attack enough for my tastes...

(Thanks for the kind words Keith...)

 

[candid_x]

Hi Lucid,

Sweet tone pedal. To my ears, it’s got a Fuchs amp tone, in their distortion mode. IE:

http://www.fuchsaudiotechnology.com/SLX30Fusion1.mp3

Cleans are something else:

http://www.fuchsaudiotechnology.com/html/sound_files.html

 

[Lucidology]

Yes exactly Candid... many say the Zendrive sounds like a Fuch's amp.. though I've never played through one, I've heard great things about 'em.. and have heard many good players use 'em..

That's just it in a nutshell... imagine a tiny little tubeless pedal that can get a Fuch's or Dumble type of overdrive through most any amp... wow!

 

[candid_x]

Yes exactly Candid... many say the Zendrive sounds like a Fuch's amp.. though I've never played through one, I've heard great things about 'em.. and have heard many good players use 'em..

That's just it in a nutshell... imagine a tiny little tubeless pedal that can get a Fuch's or Dumble type of overdrive through most any amp... wow!

And for a few grand less.

 

[freeman]

Congrats Lucidology

Zendrive is nothing but smooth, great pedal! I owned one before, it does sound like Fuch amps.

 

[Lucidology]

Thanks Freeman...

Can I ask why you don't own a Zendrive anymore...?

(just curious..)

 

[robelinda2]

Have you tried the zendrive 2? pretty awesome clip of it at the site

http://www.hermidaaudio.com/products.html

i'm looking at getting one of them and they both sound amazing!