Kinda Gassing for a Pork Loin

Had the hots for one for a while to get light drive, and having the clean blend is just neat.

I have 3 distortion/ fuzz/ overdrives and I'm just trying to find just the right sound, without having to crank the amp. Derek Trucks-ish, but in a pedal.

Worth it?

Try the Used Gear section at Guitarcenter.com. Should find one for a good price.

And I've heard nothing but good things about the PL

I use one and really like it. I've got all the tone controls set to their most trebly settings as it can be a bit murky.

The clean blend really does help when you're trying to get that tone w/o cranking the amp. Give it a try, it's a good pedal. I've owned it twice (and don't own it know), because I too had problems with it being a bit murky, BUT at the time I was running my rid differently than I am now. IMO it's got the best clean blend in the business, because it ISN'T clean, which is why it works so well.... it doesn't sound like clean being mixed in with dirty, it sounds like what you get as you turn the amp up (power tube distortion).

I would say, that PL shines in live situation. On lower volume at home it sounds a little weak and muddy. But on higher levels of volume it gives full and natural sound.

Joe Bonamassa had some interesting thoughts on the Pork Loin in the most recent issue of Guitar Player. He said it adds "weight" to his sound, as if he was running it through a Neve console.

Of course, he also calls his rig "The Wall of Dull," because he runs the treble controls on his amp so low, so take his opinion for what it's worth.

I was talked out of getting one at my local store. The place has a stack of used ones that people GAS for and sell back within the first year according to the owner.

Try the Used Gear section at Guitarcenter.com. Should find one for a good price.

And I've heard nothing but good things about the PL

Yep. +1

One thing I've noticed about the PL is that it kind of doesn't have any character... it feels good to play, but it ends up sounding pretty dull when you A/B it with pretty much any other OD. Not trying to dissuade you- just a heads up that maybe you should compare it head to head with a few other drives on the market.

From the Derek Trucks live album I have, it almost sounds like you could get his tone with a humbucker axe and a Zendrive. It has that smoothness to it.

One thing I've noticed about the PL is that it kind of doesn't have any character...

Guys on TGP would say transparent. :roll:

"Bluesy" and "transparent"... that's just how I like my tone, man! :roll:

Joe Bonamassa had some interesting thoughts on the Pork Loin in the most recent issue of Guitar Player. He said it adds "weight" to his sound, as if he was running it through a Neve console.

Of course, he also calls his rig "The Wall of Dull," because he runs the treble controls on his amp so low, so take his opinion for what it's worth.

Two comments...I thought the PL was muddy and dull. Never could dial in a good dynamic tone using all the internal and external controls.

Regarding Joe Bo...with a "wall" of 100 watt amps and four 4x12s - why does he even use pedals...it's just a mass of volume.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Love my pork loin. Anybody that doesn't like theirs, I'm about ready to buy a back-up...:cool: Or maybe even a second on the board. :mrgreen:

Takes time to dial, and the internal trimmers are important.

Also, remember that the tone is a high-frequency roll-off, so anything but all the way up is losing treble.

A/B it with a Sparkle Drive. I would be interested in those results.

A/B it with a Sparkle Drive. I would be interested in those results.

I have, but the old version of the SD. I don't know if the new one was changed...

the clean blend on the SD id DEAD CLEAN... and personally, I don't think it blends as well as the "dirty clean" blend does on the PL.

the clean blend on the SD id DEAD CLEAN... and personally, I don't think it blends as well as the "dirty clean" blend does on the PL.

+1, my experience as well, having owned both. The SD's clean sounded, I don't know, layered on top of or underneath the drive sound - they sounded separate, distinct, and to me, kind of unnatural. The PL's blended sound are more cohesive - less like two amps, one dirty, one clean, which is how the SD sounds to me - and I found the PL to be more sensitive to picking dynamics in general, which I think helps too.

I generally run my clean nearly all the way up on the PL, with dirt at about 11 o'clock.

I have a newer SD but from I like the demos I've heard from the PL better. But you know how that goes.

I generally run my clean nearly all the way up on the PL, with dirt at about 11 o'clock.

That's how I ran my clean blend on the PL too.

The SD's clean sounded, I don't know, layered on top of or underneath the drive sound - they sounded separate, distinct, and to me, kind of unnatural. The PL's blended sound are more cohesive - less like two amps, one dirty, one clean...

That's an excellent explanation.

The SD simply has a unity gain op amp stage that is run in parallel with the TS circuit.

A "soft clipping" OD pedal has the clipping diodes in its negative feedback loop, which also means that there is a unity gain signal mixed in as well!

The stock clipping threshold of a TS (in this case it's the TS9, basically) is kinda congested and overly compressed IMO, especially with all the bass below ~700Hz rolled off...

Anyway - the PL actually has a separate circuit comprised of "discrete" transistor stages for the clean side, and the OD side gets "summed" with the clean at a "post level/volume" op amp gain stage. And - the PL's OD circuit isn't really a TS9. For starters, the clipping threshold is greater because of the set of series diodes (2 series pairs, IIRC).

So...when you start to open up the clipping threshold and there's an actual "preamp summing stage," the blend is going to sound more...uh...blended! :razz:

IIRC, the clean preamp is two pairs of bipolar transistors in a sort of push-pull arrangement to give the max headroom, but give kind of a dark/warm sort of clipping if pushed really hard. And by clipping, I don't mean buzzy distortion, obviously. But since they aren't op amp stages or some kinda jFET/mosFET preamp, you don't get all that sparkly/bright kinda stuff, either.

I have often thought...the type of sound Im truely looking for doesn't, or can't exist in a pedal. I have been looking for that kind of sound for a while.

Derek's tone is pretty much cranked amp.. I think he's using a super reverb and a custom PRS, and he is just plugging in that SG reissue straight in and cranking...it isn't really dirty, it's just a thick clean...

I know how to get the tone, I have sufficient quality gear, but I can never play with my toys at a sufficient level to get there because of my living situation. I wish I had a sound proof man cave.

I have an itch I can't scratch:cry:

I had been looking at the PL as a good possibility, to maybe get there.

besides, it never hurts to have another dirt pedal. :razz:

the Catalinbread stuff looks good too, but I might check out the tried and true Boss BLues Driver..

0.011, you inspire me. you are gonna have me pulling out my old college texts.

.it isn't really dirty, it's just a thick clean...

Good news, that this is how I actually feel PL. And, how it was mentioned, great thing with PL, that clean path is also go through FET preamp and some EQ-ing, so it feels more organic, then just direct signal blended with overdrive.

I used to have a Pork Loin. Big mistake trading it away. I need to get another one again. Wonderful clean thickening toneful boost of love and soul. It really is a magic pedal.

I loved reading how Joe B is now using one too.

It's a great pedal. If you don't like it, you haven't spent enough time with it.

I'm in the same place. I have Way Huge Swollen Pickle and a Digitech Grunge. Both pedals are great with my amp (silvertone 1484) and guitars (mostly single coils), but I'm having a hard time finding the right pedal to get the more subtle OD without going to the amp volume.

I just tried a Green Rhino. It might be a good fit, but the thing was faulty so it's being shipped back for a replacement. I also have a Fat Sandwich coming to try out.

I'll find the right pedal, someday. Hopefully before I buy a mountain of gear.

I have 3 distortion/ fuzz/ overdrives and I'm just trying to find just the right sound, without having to crank the amp.

I'll find the right pedal, someday. Hopefully before I buy a mountain of gear.

I've been trying for years, and all I ended up with is a mountain of pedals! :lol:

The clean blend really does help when you're trying to get that tone w/o cranking the amp.

It also works great for 'stacking'. Run another dirt pedal in front of it and you get a nice mix of two dirty sounds. It's a really neat feature.

I took the plunge, got one today.

I can see what some of you guys are saying about murkey, but then I haven't played with it enough yet.. I only seems a bit on the murkey side with my neck pickup...

I'm using a Epi Dot with SD '59s in it and a custom wiring harness with NOS PIO caps; normally a very bright guitar...

that kind of murkeyness I think is a function of design. It probably would sound fine at gig volumes, whereas here in the house at low volume it is overly thick. I think it is completely tweakable though. This might get me where I want to go.

Any suggested settings guys?? include internal trim pot settings too please?

Two comments...I thought the PL was muddy and dull. Never could dial in a good dynamic tone using all the internal and external controls.

Regarding Joe Bo...with a "wall" of 100 watt amps and four 4x12s - why does he even use pedals...it's just a mass of volume.

Thinking your mixing Joe with Yngwie:razz:

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I was at that show at the HoB Chitown btw :mrgreen:

Joes' sound is very thought out and very much his own. His set up is a Marshall Jubilee, Category 5, Carroll Ann and Von Weeldon Twinkleland that is mixed and matched depending on the song. Its ran into 2 4x12 which is split into 4 2x12's so there are 2 12's per amp running. Think there is a Bogner thrown in from time to time as well.

If I was to copy anyones sound it would be his (although his setup is worth more then what I make in a year lol). I love the darker, warmers sound he tends to have with tons of delay. Seeing Yngwie Malmsteen live really brought that home with his ear bleedingly loud trebble filled shredding solo's. I love Yngwie but next time ear plugs:grin:.

O.K. I have searched this forum for as many references to Pork Loin settings I can find...

Watched many youtube videos, enough to understand the controls, I think I know about what to set it at, I just need some time alone with it (when the wife and daughter aren't asleep).

OK, now I'm having a little bit of buyers remorse about the pedal because; since I changed the tubes and tweaked my HRD a little earlier this week (improving the drive channel), I think I can get a very similar OD sound from the drive channel on my amp..only a bit brighter.

but, what the "F"; I like dirt pedals...:twisted:

His set up is [includes] a Marshall Jubilee...

That is interesting, since the Jubilees use diode clipping for both the "Rhythm Clip" and "Lead" settings. So unless he has those switched off, he's mixing in an amp that kinda has a stompbox (actually two) built into it!

OK, now I'm having a little bit of buyers remorse about the pedal because; since I changed the tubes and tweaked my HRD a little earlier this week (improving the drive channel), I think I can get a very similar OD sound from the drive channel on my amp..only a bit brighter.

but, what the "F"; I like dirt pedals...:twisted:

Are you selling your WH PL?