Forget hype think sound and compare (klon, Fulldrive, red snapper)

[moderndrummer]

Ok. I am buying one of these. Price is not an issue as the studio is paying for it for a project. I just want the best sounding unit. These 3 all crossover. I don't care about hype. These are the 3 that appeal to me. Compare if you have experience.

[tinkercity]

I've had both the Red Snapper and Fulldrive.

Red Snapper - Bright and transparent. VERY clear sounding. I really like it for crunchy rhythm tones. It would be a fantastic rock box. It's a little close in purpose to my Timmy so I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it but I really like it.

Fulldrive 2 - A really nice compressed TS sounding OD with a wonderful boost. I would use the boost setting for a solo tone alone. I found I liked the non mosfet, blue toggle version the best.

Haven't tried a Klon but not really into the midrange thang, so I'll probably pass on that financial nightmare lol...

You should put the Timmy/Tim in there unless you already have one. It's fuller and more warm than anything above...

[bobbradley]

all three leave me needing at least one other overdrive. but the klon is killer.

[lukeII]

I have had all three and have kept the Klon and the Snapper.

- Fulldrive is basically a modded TS and except in comp cut sounded to thick and too compressed. In comp cut I didn't find it particularly inspiring.

- Klon is really its own thing it add a little mids and has very light drive.

- Snapper is my favorite of the three but its different than the Klon in that it has more gain and doesn't thicken the sound. It is more in the line of a Timmy than a Klon Great sounding pedal get one.

[jazzandmetal?]

Ok. I am buying one of these. Price is not an issue as the studio is paying for it for a project. I just want the best sounding unit. These 3 all crossover. I don't care about hype. These are the 3 that appeal to me. Compare if you have experience.

Best sounding for what?

These are 3 pedals that aren't really the same aside from being "overdrive pedals".

What are you looking to get out of the pedal?

[moderndrummer]

Best sounding for what?

These are 3 pedals that aren't really the same aside from being "overdrive pedals".

What are you looking to get out of the pedal?


They are pretty similar. The klon is its own thing but vibe wise sounds similar to a fulldrive on 18v from every review I have read. The snapper can do 18v too. I have never been able to compare all 3. The snapper and fulldrive circuits are very similar looking. They are light gain overdrives that boost. So I just want some real world insight.

I am looking for the better choice out of the 3, money is no object. Ears make the decision. I like fender guitars, fender and vox amps and tom petty, rolling stones type of music.

[moderndrummer]

all three leave me needing at least one other overdrive. but the klon is killer.


such as and why?

[jazzandmetal?]

They are pretty similar. The klon is its own thing but vibe wise sounds similar to a fulldrive on 18v from every review I have read. The snapper can do 18v too. I have never been able to compare all 3. The snapper and fulldrive circuits are very similar looking. They are light gain overdrives that boost. So I just want some real world insight.

I am looking for the better choice out of the 3, money is no object. Ears make the decision. I like fender guitars, fender and vox amps and tom petty, rolling stones type of music.

No, not really. The Klon is not really anything like the FD or Red Snapper. As you said it does its own thing. I have had the opportunity as many have hear to compare these pedals to each other......I don't find the Fulldrive in any version to be similar to the Klon.

For your gear and what you like as far as music, I would go with the Klon. It would sound wonderful with your gear. It just has a girth and musicality I don't think the other 2 have. Especially if you are playing a Fender with a Vox. I think the Red Snapper would be too bright.

[moderndrummer]

No, not really. The Klon is not really anything like the FD or Red Snapper. As you said it does its own thing. I have had the opportunity as many have hear to compare these pedals to each other......I don't find the Fulldrive in any version to be similar to the Klon.

For your gear and what you like as far as music, I would go with the Klon. It would sound wonderful with your gear. It just has a girth and musicality I don't think the other 2 have. Especially if you are playing a Fender with a Vox. I think the Red Snapper would be too bright.


Forget my other post. Just give me your overview on them. I am interested in music like the black crowes, rolling stones, tom petty. I like simple amps, simple fenders and I like pushing an amp with a boost with a little bit of gain from time to time, so light overdrive.

[jazzandmetal?]

Forget my other post. Just give me your overview on them. I am interested in music like the black crowes, rolling stones, tom petty. I like simple amps, simple fenders and I like pushing an amp with a boost with a little bit of gain from time to time, so light overdrive.

I am with you man. I still vote Klon. I agree with LukeIIs overview on the pedals 100% except I didn't like the Timmy or Snapper as it was too bright for me with my guitar and el84 amps.

I think the Klon is a pedal that works great with any classic amp especially pushed and at volume. It adds a girth and grit to your sound that not a lot of other pedals can. It also stacks amazingly well.

[jacobhf]

No, not really. The Klon is not really anything like the FD or Red Snapper. As you said it does its own thing. I have had the opportunity as many have hear to compare these pedals to each other......I don't find the Fulldrive in any version to be similar to the Klon.

For your gear and what you like as far as music, I would go with the Klon. It would sound wonderful with your gear. It just has a girth and musicality I don't think the other 2 have. Especially if you are playing a Fender with a Vox. I think the Red Snapper would be too bright.

The 4-knob has a Cut control.

[phoenix 7]

I compared a Snapper side by side with a Timmy for a couple of days. Timmy sounded about 5-10% better to me, so the Snapper went back to the store. Was using them with a Germino Club 40 (JTM 50 clone) and a Victoria Bassman clone. Definitely similarly-flavored pedals.

[Goldwing]

The thing is that with a more "open" and less mid-hump overdrive you just can't push your gain channel enough. You would have to set the pedal as a full clean booster which kills the opportunity to se it as a mild overdrive and besides that use it as a booster.

I think that's why someone said that he needs at least another overdrive.

[Amp360]

If money is no object as you say why not buy all three and use them as needed?

[Boosted]

^^

I'm guessing it's because he can only have one.

I like the Red Snapper a lot and use it with my ac30. It's a great transparent overdrive and can have some crunchy tones if you gain it up.

I don't like the fulldrive as much because its so compressed. If you like TS's circuits, I'd guess you'd like this, but its too nasally for me compared to how open the RS is.

I did like the vintage mode though, on the FD.

No exp. with the Klon. Out of my price allowance. -_-;; (Being a student and all...)

[popinvasion]

I have had all three and have kept the Klon and the Snapper.

- Fulldrive is basically a modded TS and except in comp cut sounded to thick and too compressed. In comp cut I didn't find it particularly inspiring.

- Klon is really its own thing it add a little mids and has very light drive.

- Snapper is my favorite of the three but its different than the Klon in that it has more gain and doesn't thicken the sound. It is more in the line of a Timmy than a Klon Great sounding pedal get one.

Luke, you have a CJ. Can you compare the OCD and the snapper with your CJ. Just curious.

[powermatt99]

These three sound like a pretty good drive section of a pedalboard.

[Crikey]

They are pretty similar. The klon is its own thing but vibe wise sounds similar to a fulldrive on 18v from every review I have read. The snapper can do 18v too. I have never been able to compare all 3. The snapper and fulldrive circuits are very similar looking. They are light gain overdrives that boost. So I just want some real world insight.

I am looking for the better choice out of the 3, money is no object. Ears make the decision. I like fender guitars, fender and vox amps and tom petty, rolling stones type of music.

I've got a few Red Snappers (most recent was $120 used), an older flat-mids FDII with Comp Cut ($75 used), and had and someday will have another Klon. I don't know about "cross over" -- I dial tones out of each that the others can't get.

For Tom Petty tones, the Red Snapper might be the first one to try, but really, price shouldn't be a barrier to owning both a Snapper and a Full Drive II given current used prices. That way you can make your own choice. The Klon is a different story, until the new version comes out.

To reiterate, the Snapper and FDII circuits might look similar on paper, but my pedals don't sound similar at all, unless you're comparing them with a Big Muff. The Snapper's overdrive character is clearer, less veiled and hashy, than most Tube Screamer style pedals. And my FDII won't give me what my Klon did -- though I do like the FDII for what it does. Maybe these reviewers know something I don't, or just dial the Klon differently than I do.

Which one "sounds best" is a question only you can answer, and it depends as an earlier poster said on "for what?".

[KRosser]

I've owned and used all three for a period on gigs; the Snapper is my fave of the three. My favorite overdrive is the Lovepedal Eternity, though, which has been my #1 for about 4 years

[Chazguitar]

I've never tried the Red Snapper so i really can't comment on that. But I've had a Full Drive and Klon Centaur for years now. The Klon has been in my pedal board for some time along with an old 808 TS and I have become very used to this setup. Just lastnight I inserted my Full Drive into my board to get some variety... I took it back out today. I love Fulltone pedals and own several, but for me the FD sounded very muddy and compressed compared to the Klon. I'm very spoiled with the Klon.

[phoenix 7]

I think they all do different stuff really well. I love the Klon as a clean boost. The Snapper is a bright, natural OD, but for that application I prefer the Timmy -- it's the same type of OD as the Snapper, but sounds better to my ears. The Fulldrive is a refined TS. I say get all three if you can, but switch the Snapper out for a Timmy!

[Realfi]

I compared a Snapper side by side with a Timmy for a couple of days. Timmy sounded about 5-10% better to me, so the Snapper went back to the store. Was using them with a Germino Club 40 (JTM 50 clone) and a Victoria Bassman clone. Definitely similarly-flavored pedals.

I think they all do different stuff really well. I love the Klon as a clean boost. The Snapper is a bright, natural OD, but for that application I prefer the Timmy -- it's the same type of OD as the Snapper, but sounds better to my ears. The Fulldrive is a refined TS. I say get all three if you can, but switch the Snapper out for a Timmy!

We seem to be agreeing a lot lately phoenix 7!

I've also had a couple of versions of Red Snappers and heard them as being very much the sort of thing I use my Timmy for I but just preferred my Timmys. The Timmy to me is a fraction more open and truer to the sound of my just clipping AC30. If a pedal virus killed all the world's Timmys I'd probably reach for a Red Snapper for that sound.

I prefer the Fulldrive to most TS variants probably because of the flatter mids and the asymmetrical clipping (does that make it an OD1 variant?). It's not hip these days but it works well with bridge single-coils in particular. Just always wished for a little more bottom end.

The Klon. As a steriodally fat clean or just dirty booster I truly believe despite all the BS that it has no peer.