FET Dream pedal

[stelligan]

I've been testing a prototype medium gain distortion pedal from some friends. It's called a "FET Dream" by Cause & Effect pedals. It has mid and low-end shaping going into the drive section and high-end tailoring coming out. Called "girth" and "lean" respectively. Very versatile. Here is a clip:
http://www.jonesin.org/Dave/FETdream/FETminor.mp3

1968 ES-345 with Seymour Duncans
Fender Super 60 amp head clean channel
2 x 12 cabinet with DeltaPro 12a & WGS CL80
echo & verb added to mix

More info here:
http://www.cepedals.com/

[Twin63]

Sounds nice. Where did you have the gain set on the pedal for that clip?

[stelligan]

Originally Posted by Twin63

Sounds nice. Where did you have the gain set on the pedal for that clip?

Thanks, it's a cool pedal. Drive and Level just past straight up - if i recall. Controls and signal path read: Girth > Drive > Lean > Level

[leodiditright]

Looks there's a new kid on the block in the D style camp overdrives...

[odourboy]

I hope this is cool with forum etiquette and all.. I want to publicly thank Stelligan profusely for doing this and several other excellent clips of the FET dream to help us showcase the pedal. We've received a boatload of compliments on them!

You're the man!!

Cheers, Brian

[davetcan]

Great sounding pedal. Some other great clips on the website also. I'm on the list.

[stelligan]

Not usually my thing to dime anything but, here's this FETdream pedal with a Strat. Clip is:
Rosewood board Strat with pickups from my long gone '65
modified Crate v33 amp(4 x EL84) clean channel
Alesis Nanoverb(echo) in amp loop
CAD Trion 7000 ribbon mic
Pedal setup Girth 10:00 Drive *maxed Lean 1:00 Level 11:00

Live noodles with no computer processing. First bit of clip with no pedal.

http://www.jonesin.org/Dave/FETdream/stratDIMED.mp3

**for disclosure's sake: manufacturer is internet buddy that sent me a prototype pedal to demo. I dig it and plan on keeping it - free or otherwise. Thanks Brian!

[david henman]

...i was able to convince brian to send me a prototype of his FET Dream, since we are practically neighbours. as well, i have done extensive product reviews as a music journalist and music magazine editor.

the pedal arrived on thursday. i played with it a little at low volumes on thursday night and thought, hmmm, this is interesting. not as sweet and creamy as my plush extreme cream, but i immediately liked the "lean" and "girth" controls.

friday night was the beginning of a weekend "rehearsathon". at the beginning of the night, i plugged in and turned the fet dream on. and then...

...i never turned it off!

this pedal does that thing that many pedals claim to be able to do: retain your essential tone, so that you can turn the guitar volume down for your clean tone, then turn it up for as much growl and scream as you can stand.

i set the "lean" and "girth" controls to about 2:30, and dialed the gain and level back to 11:00.

this is absolutely the most inspiring pedal i've used. i think blues guitarists, especially, are going to see this as "essential", although i think it is ideal for most genres.

i really am impressed. this pedal inspires my playing like no other piece of equipment i've ever tried. i could easily play an entire night with just a guitar, amp and this pedal. in fact, over the weekend, i found that i was far less likely to go to my reverbs and delays for added enhancement.

no apologies for my enthusiasm. had i not been blown away, i would have simply returned it to brian with apologies that "its just not for me".

i'm not going to take that leap and claim that this pedal is for you. that's for you to decide.

i am sorry that i am unable to post clips, but happy to answer any questions anyone might have...

-dh

[davetcan]

Originally Posted by david henman

...i was able to convince brian to send me a prototype of his FET Dream, since we are practically neighbours. as well, i have done extensive product reviews as a music journalist and music magazine editor.

the pedal arrived on thursday. i played with it a little at low volumes on thursday night and thought, hmmm, this is interesting. not as sweet and creamy as my plush extreme cream, but i immediately liked the "lean" and "girth" controls.

friday night was the beginning of a weekend "rehearsathon". at the beginning of the night, i plugged in and turned the fet dream on. and then...

...i never turned it off!

this pedal does that thing that many pedals claim to be able to do: retain your essential tone, so that you can turn the guitar volume down for your clean tone, then turn it up for as much growl and scream as you can stand.

i set the "lean" and "girth" controls to about 2:30, and dialed the gain and level back to 11:00.

this is absolutely the most inspiring pedal i've used. i think blues guitarists, especially, are going to see this as "essential", although i think it is ideal for most genres.

i really am impressed. this pedal inspires my playing like no other piece of equipment i've ever tried. i could easily play an entire night with just a guitar, amp and this pedal. in fact, over the weekend, i found that i was far less likely to go to my reverbs and delays for added enhancement.

no apologies for my enthusiasm. had i not been blown away, i would have simply returned it to brian with apologies that "its just not for me".

i'm not going to take that leap and claim that this pedal is for you. that's for you to decide.

i am sorry that i am unable to post clips, but happy to answer any questions anyone might have...

-dh

Thanks for the review David, can't wait to get mine, thank God I'm already on the list.

[Macaroni]

Has a "girth" knob that controls how much bass goes into the "drive"

Actually, it's not exactly the 'bass', but the low mids...

"The FET Dream also features a unique and innovative pre-distortion equalization control. The Girth circuit provides a wide range of adjustment to balance the low/mids prior to distortion generation. The adjustment range can accommodate a wide variety of pickups and player's tastes to support whatever degree of 'fat' you prefer in the overall tone of the pedal. Careful management of the bass and avoiding the muddying mid-hump are a couple of the key secrets to the openness and clarity of the FET Dream."

I like this pedal a lot - very unique. There is no harshness on the high end on this pedal at all - must be something else.

[fig]

Perhaps 'harsh' isn't the right word. Maybe it's a 'chirp.' It's just on certain high notes, but it's not real pleasant to my ears.
However, like I said, the overall tone is good.

Greg

[james russell]

Originally Posted by Macaroni

Actually, it's not exactly the 'bass', but the low mids...

"The FET Dream also features a unique and innovative pre-distortion equalization control. The Girth circuit provides a wide range of adjustment to balance the low/mids prior to distortion generation. The adjustment range can accommodate a wide variety of pickups and player's tastes to support whatever degree of 'fat' you prefer in the overall tone of the pedal. Careful management of the bass and avoiding the muddying mid-hump are a couple of the key secrets to the openness and clarity of the FET Dream."

I like this pedal a lot - very unique. There is no harshness on the high end on this pedal at all - must be something else.

Hey guys,

How does the FET Dream respond to changes in picking dynamics, and does it clean up well with guitar volume knob roll-off?

James

[stelligan]

Originally Posted by james russell

Hey guys,

How does the FET Dream respond to changes in picking dynamics, and does it clean up well with guitar volume knob roll-off?

James

James,

Did this simple demo for you this am.
Telecaster bridge pickup into Black Tweed Special clean Black channel. First part and last part - no pedal. Middle bits pedal at 2:00 gain backing the volume off and back up. Wanking ZZ top riff. A little verb from computer - no other fiddles:

http://www.jonesin.org/Dave/FETrolloff.mp3

[james russell]

Originally Posted by stelligan

James,

Did this simple demo for you this am.
Telecaster bridge pickup into Black Tweed Special clean Black channel. First part and last part - no pedal. Middle bits pedal at 2:00 gain backing the volume off and back up. Wanking ZZ top riff. A little verb from computer - no other fiddles:

http://www.jonesin.org/Dave/FETrolloff.mp3

stelligan, Thanks so much! Excellent demo off the roll-off. You guys are the best. Of course, you've also cost me a ton of money, but as a result I have some really inspiring gear that makes me play more.

James

[fyrwyr]

Originally Posted by stelligan

James,

Did this simple demo for you this am.
Telecaster bridge pickup into Black Tweed Special clean Black channel. First part and last part - no pedal. Middle bits pedal at 2:00 gain backing the volume off and back up. Wanking ZZ top riff. A little verb from computer - no other fiddles:

http://www.jonesin.org/Dave/FETrolloff.mp3

Very nice demo, killer pedal and nice playing too!!!