New Zendrive...ooooooohhhhhhhh!

[Frenster]

Smooth is the word I'm looking for. I think this is the best medium gain drive I've heard. It's not "transparent", so to speak, but it can get pretty close if you want. I don't want. I like how it's not transparent. It makes my amp sound like a different amp, and I like that. It is definitely the smoothest low gain drive on par with my Tim. None of that typical low gain artifacts interfering with the tone, just a nice smooth trail. In fact, I find my Tim into the Zen sounds amazing. There's a clarity to the overdrive, yet you can still push the mids a bit. The Voice control is genius. I think this and my Tim will cover most of my OD needs.

Settings anyone? I'm kinda diggin' Tone at 11oc and Voice around 2oc, gain at noon.

Nice work Alf!!

[giggedy]

try running zen>Tim. Zen with gain around 10:30, Tim's gain around 9:30

[jb1911]

With my rig I like it set at 1:00 on the tone and voice and 9:30 to 10:00 on the volume and gain.

[pullagnm]

[quote=Frenster;3813327]In fact, I find my Tim into the Zen sounds amazing.quote]

Wait tell you run the Zen into a King Of Tone :AOK.

[john b]

I just got mine a few weeks ago and it KILLS. Definitely lives up to the hype. I'm stacking it with an OCD and it's a great combo. It brings a whole midrange thing to the OCD, makes it sound like a different pedal. The combo of the two is like a pedal all it's own.

I got mine in 2 1/2 months. I say support Alf and don't support the price gouging. The wait time will only get less and less.

[Frenster]

The Zendrive is very amp-like and dynamic in it's response to attack. I can see how it really comes into it's own when you're playing with a band.

[Mike52]

Just got the email on mine. Can't wait to try it with the Timmy and the Honey Bee!

[Frenster]

[quote=Frenster;3813327]In fact, I find my Tim into the Zen sounds amazing.quote]

Wait tell you run the Zen into a King Of Tone :AOK.

I'm on the list for one, so COOL! Wonder what my wait time is at this point. Analogman?

[guitarplayaman]

any body try a crunch box into a zen....I know it sounds like an unholy combination....but it's a delicios 80's molten sound...the zen really pumps the mids of the CB....

[giggedy]

how do you set your pedals when running zen>kot? I've found I like the kot>zen, but am always looking for cool settings.

[Caribou]

I really like the Zen. It was hard waiting 15 months for it, and my expectations were probably impossibly high, but it's a very nice box. I can't imagine ever selling it.

[BillyK]

Wait until you run a Zen into a Zen!
Amazing!!!

[slopeshoulder]

try running zen>Tim. Zen with gain around 10:30, Tim's gain around 9:30

+1 Bingo!!

[Snakum]

It's not "transparent", so to speak,

I think my expectation when I got to try one was that it would be transparent (I was told that it was), and so I was dissappointed when it changed the tone of my amp and made it sound a tad 'processed', too. Everyone has their own preferences, I reckon. Just never dug it.

I wish I had. It'd be cheaper than buying a Klon ... which is probably where I'm headed if the Fulltone GT-500 doesn't pan out. :jo

[bramhall774]

How do you know if you're on the list? Do you get an reply back or just assume you're on it once you've sent the email?

[Texsunburst59]

Here's some clips of my Zen in action:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=633883&songID=6334943
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=633883&songID=6328544
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=633883&songID=6022202
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=633883&songID=6011468
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=633883&songID=5956330
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=633883&songID=5831316
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=633883&songID=5798140

[john b]

How do you know if you're on the list? Do you get an reply back or just assume you're on it once you've sent the email?

You won't get a reply back but if you sent an email you're on the list. Next email you receive will tell you how to pay and you'll see the Zen about a week later.

[bramhall774]

Awesome. Thanks john b.

[Frenster]

The Klon isn't transparent either. The most transparent drive I've tried is the Tim. Makes your amp sound like it's clipping in a good way. The Zen sounds like a different amp clipping in a good way. The Klon sounds like an amp you haven't heard of clipping in a good way. I tried a Klon the other day and LOVED it. Didn't want to, but did. Sooner or later I'll have to get one. I have limited space on my board, so it probably won't end up there.

[pullagnm]

how do you set your pedals when running zen>kot? I've found I like the kot>zen, but am always looking for cool settings.


I have the Zendrive set like:

volume: noon
gain: 10:00/10:30
Tone: 1:00
voice: 11:00

With the KOT overdrive side at:

Volume: 1:00
Gain: max
Tone: noon

With just the KOT on it's a nice overdriven rhythm then kick on the Zendrive for leads, or heavy distorted rhythm. :AOK

[Snakum]

umm..isn't the idea with the Zen that it sounds dumbley, thus not transparent?

At the time, I was told the Zen was "Dumbly", but was also told more than twice that it was transparent (and the Klon, too :D ) and would take a good tube amp and magnify it's "good sonic characteristics" and smooth it out. But when I tried it with my usual pedal test: Checking signal change when off, change when on and set to unity, change with each parameter adjusted one at a time, etc. I found that it changed my favorite tube amp in a way I didn't care for. When boosting lead work on an already almost-breaking-up tube amp it was awesome. But I couldn't dial sort of 'processed' tone out on that particular amp (A Peavey Classic 30 with JJs and a Weber Blue), and it also thinned out part of the range of notes just a tad.

It is entirely possible that by trying a new ZenDrive 2 with my Laney, Mesa, or Ceriatone amps that the sky will part ... angels will sing ... and I will be blessed with a permanent woody (all of these things would be equally interesting ... and welcome :D ). And if I had $250 or if someone near me would come over and let me try theirs, I'd like to find out. I am always hopeful that I will find MY own holy grail of toneage one day ... and so I keep looking ... just like everyone else here. :horse

[Grady]

Strat>Landgraff MO'D>Zendrive>Richter Tweed Deluxe.
WOW!!

[giggedy]

sweet, thank you! have you tried the zen after the kot? that's how I have mine set, I'll try it your way later.

[Bo Faulkner]

I like to set my Zen 2 with the voice wide open and the tone off

[abovethewave]

just got my Zen today. it moved my burst to the "post to emporium pile". although i don't have a set opinion on settings yet, i am in love with this thing. very wide range of controllable capabilities. Zen>Tim is the best base, low/mid OD combo I have come across so far. I am so thankful for TGP for leading me to the Zen! :AOK

I love the inspiration that ensues when something comes along that makes a drastic impression on your sound and subsequently honing your capabilities.

Now, when am I gonna come up on the KoT list . . . its like being on the waiting list for season tix to the Red Sox! :(

[Cheebatone]

I think this and my Tim will cover most of my OD needs.

Here a man doth spake that knoweth not the Ethos...

;)

[goldenboy]

just got my Zen today. it moved my burst to the "post to emporium pile". although i don't have a set opinion on settings yet, i am in love with this thing. very wide range of controllable capabilities. Zen>Tim is the best base, low/mid OD combo I have come across so far. I am so thankful for TGP for leading me to the Zen! :AOK

I love the inspiration that ensues when something comes along that makes a drastic impression on your sound and subsequently honing your capabilities.

Now, when am I gonna come up on the KoT list . . . its like being on the waiting list for season tix to the Red Sox! :(

Ha, I just got mine today too. I happened to be home for lunch when the postman arrived. Only had a few minutes to try it out. What exactly does the voice knob control? The mids?

[Frenster]

The Voice control seems to be kind of like a presence control for the mids. Very cool. I'm getting an incredible lead tone from my LDO clone into the Zen. I thought I was on the Zen 2 list, but I haven't heard from Alf yet. And it's been a while.

Alf?

[OOG]

The Klon isn't transparent either. The most transparent drive I've tried is the Tim. Makes your amp sound like it's clipping in a good way. The Zen sounds like a different amp clipping in a good way. The Klon sounds like an amp you haven't heard of clipping in a good way. I tried a Klon the other day and LOVED it. Didn't want to, but did. Sooner or later I'll have to get one. I have limited space on my board, so it probably won't end up there.

very well said

my solution to the Klon is big thing
two boards
trouble is
now i'm wanting a Klon for my other board too