Gearmanndude Luther Drive

[denfelo]

Does anyone have any experience with the Luther Drive pedal? I have seen the Youtube videos, but the comparisons sound too close due to all the compression. Is it basically a tubescreamer clone? Is it better than a tubescreamer? In what way. I am kind of GASing for the pedal but I would like more info before I add it to my crapload of overdrives. Thanks

[markxander]

I have the special gold painted edition (made to look like the Analogman Sunface) and its my go-to overdrive.

A lot like a tubescreamer. Very warm, really keeps my Tele+TR combination reasonable. It's definitely a low gain overdrive, and doesn't offer much of a volume boost, but I think that's why it works so well just to add some hair to a clean tone. It makes 2 on my Twin sound like 4 or 5, with the gain on the pedal around 2 o'clock.

[denfelo]

Originally Posted by markxander

I have the special gold painted edition (made to look like the Analogman Sunface) and its my go-to overdrive.

A lot like a tubescreamer. Very warm, really keeps my Tele+TR combination reasonable. It's definitely a low gain overdrive, and doesn't offer much of a volume boost, but I think that's why it works so well just to add some hair to a clean tone. It makes 2 on my Twin sound like 4 or 5, with the gain on the pedal around 2 o'clock.

Does he charge extra for the different colors or are they all the same price- $107? Is it voiced a little dark like the Fulltone OCD? Are there a lot of harmonic overtones with the pedal? The reason I ask these questions is that I don't want to duplicate what I already have. Thanks

[dalandan]

Originally Posted by denfelo

Does he charge extra for the different colors or are they all the same price- $107? Is it voiced a little dark like the Fulltone OCD? Are there a lot of harmonic overtones with the pedal? The reason I ask these questions is that I don't want to duplicate what I already have. Thanks

watch the videos!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf6x3FS4A8U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA4pHeMvhBw

[markxander]

He just puts out a special colour every once in a while, same price. He'd probably also custom-paint one for you, he makes them all by hand.

It's dark but the EQ is really functional, you can get some bright Albert Collins kind of sounds pretty easily.

I've never had a Fulldrive 2 so I can't really compare the two. It sounds absolutely nothing like an OCD. I think the best pedal to compare it to sound-wise is the Diamond J-Drive.

[denfelo]

Originally Posted by dalandan

watch the videos!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf6x3FS4A8U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA4pHeMvhBw

Does anybody else have one of these that has a-b'd them with other Tubescreamer type pedals ? I watched everyone of his youtube reviews and I have to admit, while the Luther sounded good, sometimes the other pedals, including a BBE Green Screamer, Maxon OD808, and Boss SD-1 sounded better. But I also know that youtube is not the best way to hear differences in tone. As someone has said on another forum, a lot of the reviews sound the same. Thanks.

[markxander]

The other tubescreamers I've compared it with are an old 80s TS10 (they actually sound really similar, the Ibanez has more gain but the Luther is clearer) and a Visual Sound Route 66, which I just plain don't really like the sound of.

I just got a mic preamp, so I may do some recordings with it sometime this week. Only overdrive I have to compare it with is my Dano Cool Cat drive, though, and those two couldn't be more different.

[mistermullens]

I bet if you asked him to A/B it against a Tubescreamer he'd do it.

[dalandan]

you know, the luther doesn't cost as much as other boutique pedals. It's a win-win situation either way, as far as i see it.

[denfelo]

Originally Posted by dalandan

you know, the luther doesn't cost as much as other boutique pedals. It's a win-win situation either way, as far as i see it.

There is only about a 25$ to 30$ difference between the majority of the boutique type overdrive pedals, besides if saving money was the issue, I would get a cheaper hobby.
I watched the Gearmanndude video last night comparing the Cmatmods Signa Drive to the Luther Drive, and by his own admission, the Signa Drive kicked the Luther's butt. I think I may get the Signa drive instead. In fairness to the Luther drive, it may be comparing apples to oranges like comparing an OCD to the Luther, even though the Luther and Signa are TS808 derived circuits. I have to admire Gearmanndude's honesty. I may still get a Luther in the future.

[JohnK24]

I find the gearman videos almost worthless - he spends too much time with the gain cranked on every OD pedal he demos...how about rolling through the range of the gain knob just once ? I appreciate his time and efforts (and is he part of tunnelvision ?) but most of the time the ODs all sound the same.

[mistermullens]

Just came across this video where he puts the Luther up against the Maxom 808. Pretty similar, but I think I like the Luther a little better.