NPD Subdecay Liquid Sunshine

[MCgardyloo]

I didn't want to write a review a few weeks ago when I first got it because I instantly fell in love with the Liquid Sunshine and didn't want to gush too much and then find some shortcomings later.

The only shortcoming as far as I can tell is that it has a sweet spot that makes me want to say its not very versatile, and it sounds fine with the neck or middle position of a tele but so sublime with the bridge that if I turn the pedal on when I'm not on the bridge pickup I just have to flick the selector over.

It's also a very low gain pedal, it has a lot of volume but turn both drive knobs all the way up and it's not anything like most all pedals I can think of. It's maybe the equivalent of turning an OCD's gain up to 10:30 or 11. So it goes from clean boost to barely medium overdrive, and nothing more unless you're boosting the volume to goose your amp.

The LS does what the Timmy is known for, at least when I park it between my tele and AC15. (haven't used it with other amps yet) I just mean that it you can really tailor the way the pedal distorts so that it still sounds like your setup, just overdriven. I have a Timmy too, and I'm a big a fan of it as many others on this and other forums, but the one thing I think the LS does better is clean up with your picking dynamics. The Timmy has more gain available, so if you like to crank yours the LS may not be for you, but as of today I prefer the LS.

Anyway, I highly recommend this pedal to anyone who has an AC15, and for many other amps, I'd imagine. Big thanks to 11 Gauge for always sharing his knowledge and recommending cool pedals he has nothing to do with. I may never have considered or even heard of a subdecay pedal if it weren't for his posts on this site, i think they're actually really ugly pedals haha! I think these are discontinued but I didn't have much trouble finding one to trade for.

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by MCgardyloo

I didn't want to write a review a few weeks ago when I first got it because I instantly fell in love with the Liquid Sunshine and didn't want to gush too much and then find some shortcomings later.

Such a rare thing - self restraint, wanting to make clear observations. Thanks be to you, sir!

Originally Posted by MCgardyloo

...a very low gain pedal, it has a lot of volume but turn both drive knobs all the way up and it's not anything like most all pedals I can think of...goes from clean boost to barely medium overdrive.

It really has the potential to be "the answer" for a lot of users, for a lot of uses. But it's a little too unorthodox to typically warrant anything other than a glance, at least relative to pedals that are flat out advertised as either boosts or OD's.

Bottom line - the LS can excel at TWO things that many folks really want in a pedal. I saw a thread here recently of someone running THREE boosters in a row? That is sort of what is hardwired inside the LS.

Originally Posted by MCgardyloo

...you can really tailor the way the pedal distorts so that it still sounds like your setup, just overdriven. I have a Timmy too, and I'm a big a fan of it as many others on this and other forums, but the one thing I think the LS does better is clean up with your picking dynamics.

The LS circuit is very different from most boosts and all OD's. It actually has more to do with a lot of these currently very popular amp sims, and was a precursor to most of them.

Unlike the amp sims, the LS was designed to "not override your amp," if that makes sense. It will typically come off as underwhelming to the casual user, and may not provide any sort of instant gratification like many drive boxes will.

Originally Posted by MCgardyloo

Big thanks to 11 Gauge for always sharing his knowledge and recommending cool pedals he has nothing to do with. I may never have considered or even heard of a subdecay pedal.

Brian Marshall is an absolute master at pedal design, and was actually one of the "founding architects" of the newer wave of current builders/companies. He is one of those "brightest of the bright," like J Tripps, IMO.

The LS uses a series of transistors that are each individually biased in class A configuration. It is rare to see something like this in a production pedal. He has excluded all of the traditional elements and methods, and IMO it makes for the exact thing that is popularly asked about here - great clean boost, drives the amp to give you a "more amp sound."

IMO, there is a whole category of pedals that cannot be pigeonholed, and target specific tasks that folks have asked for. But their specialization eliminates the instant gratification factor.

OTOH, it is strange that something like the Sex Drive or Honeybee are as popular as they are (the "is this thing on?" category of pedals), when the LS just might be a better choice for that "crowd of users." The SD and HB have a traditional appearance, so they will have the popular appeal.

I remember a conversation some time back about "pedal evolution beyond the Klon Centaur," since it has been a good decade or so since the KC made its debut. Since lots of KC owners tend to only use it for a bit of boosting that really shines when an amp starts to "give up the good stuff," they could find that the LS is an evolution of that application.

I commend Brian Marshall, and anyone who offers something that is specialized in its purpose, to the point of having exacting design that makes for a professional application.

Marshall is a really brilliant guy regarding complete pedal design and production, and has either had all productions functions performed in-house at some point, or in other instances, he brought them back in-house. He was having issues with his sources doing a consistent job of powdercoating the boxes, so (last I heard) it is again being done in-house!

You also tend to see many companies pumping out new pedals in record time. As cool as many of them might be, it makes for a lot of redundancy/overlap, and can make it harder for a potential owner to pick the best choice from them. Marshall is very methodical, with intensive testing and design methods. They can be somewhat similar to what is involved with designing a new car, or a new piece of software. The Subdecay pedals take a lot longer to design before they are ready for production. It makes for a smaller line of pedals, but there is no overlap in the line, and each one is absolutely specialized in what it does.

I love pedals like the ProCo Rat and OD-3, but it is much more rare that you have access to the vision of one person, and the design specialization/evolution separates them from other pedals. So a huge kudos to Brian Marshall/Subdecay, simply for offering the Liquid Sunshine alone, not to mention everything else in the Subdecay line.

[Inuitdream]

this thread has revived my gas for one!

[MCgardyloo]

The other cool thing about the LS is that the used market for them seems to me very reasonable. I think if you're gassing for one and think it could fit into your rig you probably ought to just try it!

And 11 Gauge is right, this is a specialized pedal, I wish I had thought of it that way first, haha. But as a result it is also a very special pedal, and it truly excels at its intended purpose. Major props to Mr. Marshall for this circuit, I know nothing about circuitry, but I do know the results are fantastic and my ears are very pleased. The bandmates were also very complimentary, and they've all heard me cycle through my collection.

I get the impression that the LS will stack well with others, I think at some point today I'll dust off some pedals and mess around with a lot of knobs and placement.

[ChipOnly]

I love mine. Great dirtbox. Boost, dirty boost, drive, all points in between, multiple sweet spots, gets along with every amp I've tried it with. It is definitely a low-gainer but it still gets dirty enough for 80% of what I do. And most importantly, the drive sound is excellent IMO, smooth and tubey.

I also have a Timmy (also love it!) and I agree with your observations.

I figure the unusual controls - "Two drive pots? No tone control? WTF?" - on the liquid sunshine puts some players off but if you spend just five minutes tweaking, it is not difficult to dial in at all. Honestly, I think the Timmy with the treble/bass cut/boost style controls - working "backwards" as I've heard others describe it - is harder to get accustomed to than the LS. Of course, both are totally worth getting to know.

I guess there is a new one coming out - saw pics of it on Subdecay's facebook. It is chrome and there is an "emphasis" control where the top overdrive pot was located. Maybe that's to help it connect with players who are used to a more conventional scheme. I wouldn't want to change a thing about how my LS operates or sounds.

[Pajama]

The Liquid Sunshine is the perfect pedal for the middle position on a Tele. It sounds perfect.

PJ

[Pajama]

Get yours while they last. I don't believe Subdecay is producing them anymore.

=-( PJ

[smoss469]

I saw on TGP that there was a picture on I think his FB page of a new model being worked on.

[Mr. Jinx]

The write-up from Subdecay on the new version has my attention. I've one on the way and hopefully will remember enough about the most recent version to give a decent comparison of the two.

[Tee1]

Did you get the new version or the previous one? Apparently the new one has a bit more gain to it.

[MCgardyloo]

I'd be very interested in a review of the newer version. I don't think I'll go out and buy it because I don't need it to have more gain, but I'm still curious. still digging mine very much!

[FranklyVulgar]

Had one of these for a couple of years and it's a great pedal with my Tele. Pretty much as stated.

My only problem was that it doesnt put you into a dirty enough tone (for my personal playing it does about 75% of what i need) Also with my blues Jnr amp people complain (band members) that my treble is too great (hell it's a tele and i love that treble) so basically i've paired it with another OD, the Kalamazoo by Love Pedal.

Now i know next to nothing about pairing ODs but if i put the Kalamazoo in before the LS i can basically get everything i need, i can play with just the LS and keep all the tone and twang i like or with some tweaking double up with the Kalamazoo to get it really blowing, taking a bit of the treble out but giving it alot more bite and bang.

Anyway i am an amature but I love the LS, i think Subdecay make fantastic pedals.

[6ixstring]

I have been thinking about trying one of these, but unsure of which version. Can anyone compare the mkI,II, and III for me? I can't find many demos online of the different versions.

[damaged]

There's one of these at a local shop marked down, I've never played or heard one before.. Maybe I should check it out??