T1M "The Pearl" thoughts?

http://www.this1smyne.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/thepearl1.jpg

http://www.this1smyne.com/product_list/custom/the-pearl/

I've been considering this pedal but wondering if anyone has actually played one? I hear it's a modded Menatone Fish Factory but not sure.

I really like that you can get it with a switch that can change the order the pedals stack in, cool feature more builders should consider.

Here's a demo video:

iF-SDs22XfE

Not the best quality vid but I like what I hear.

Anybody have one? play one? thoughts??

THANKS!!!

Dan has a nice reputation around TGP but I've never bought from him. I did send him 2 pedals for a 2 in 1 rehouse months ago but I don't have them back yet. Hopefully I receive them soon.

I've got one. It's a very useful dual drive pedal. Left side is very transparent and touch sensitive. you play light, it stays pretty clean...you dig in, it breaks up. I personally love this type of drive. its very natural and amp like. The right side is a more compressed overdrive. It's thick and rich sounding. very nice overdrive. there are also dip switches to alter the clipping that will affect the compression and sound of each side. it's pretty versitile. I used it on several songs while recording our latest record. I currently have way too many dirt pedals, so I am debating if I should keep it or not. I think I'll probably hang on to it unless I need the money. It's a good one to have. I swap it in an out with other drives depending on my mood.

Dan is a great guy to buy from. I have several of his little pedals to make my live rig work better/easier. He's always accomodating, and his prices are extremely reasonable. I've got a Mini Solo Boost, a buffer/preamp, an ABY stomp, as well as a mini volume. he does good work.

The website says lead time is 4 - 5 weeks... well I waited 3 months! Response to e-mail usually took 2 weeks, and in the meantime Dan Burgess of T1M reminds his customers that "patience is a virtue"...LOL!
The pedal finally arrives after an additional 2 weeks in transit. First inspection reveals a huge gob of silicone out of the blue LED hole obscuring the LED, and a thin, sloppy paint job with lots of bubbles... definitely homemade but not boutique. The serial on the outside doesn't match one of the two (!) on the inside, and the soldering of the components on the perfboard and the perfboard arrangement is haphazard, again DIY and definitely not mil-spec or anything.

Plugged into the amp but no guitar plugged into the Pearl there is a high whining noise, with the guitar connected this turns into a darker crackle. Stomp on either switch, and there is pink, white and brown noise almost drowning out the guitar signal which is distorted beyond anything I've ever heard before. Same on the left side, and with both sides engaged it's Armageddon, no matter where you set the knobs. And there's two mini toggles not mentioned before, and they don't do anything either except click when you operate them...

This time no response to my complaints until I raise a PayPal dispute, and Dan promises a refund on return of the Pearl. I'd added 20 USD for shipping to the 220 for the pedal, and what do I get? 195 refund cause This1smyne claim shipping had been 45 Dollars. In fact it had been 15 and a few cents so Dan still owes me 29 (rounded) but you might've guessed it - no more answers to my mails.

The pedal was very well packaged - blister foil inside its box, the shipping carton was padded with styrofoam chips, and T1M claim "it must have gotten damaged in transit"... now that's ridiculous! I've had a dozen pedals and a tube amp (without enclosure!!!) shipped from the States, and they all survived. What could have possibly happened to the Pearl?

So anyone thinking of dealing with Dan Burgess and T1M, good luck to you. Being a minister and doing all this Bible thumping I thought Dan'd be an honest person...

I've got myself a cmatmods Super Signa Drive now, and it's by far the best overdrive I've had since my first TS808 in '78! The first one got lost in the mail, and Chad just sent me another, immediate e-mail response etc. etc.

I've had great experiences with Dan and T1M, i haven't tried "the pearl" but i've heard great things about it. His times may be backed up a little bit right now because i'm pretty sure he just adopted a new baby! I say go for "the pearl" if you've been gassing for it, just plan on it taking a while.
p.s. I'm not affiliated with them at all. Just a happy customer.