Some thoughts on Line6 M13 drives...

[TimH]

I know there is another thread but I wanted some people who aren't in the fan club to hear this. I'm a big fan of this item after having it for a week and using it about 5 times this week for practices and gigs. Here are three things I've noted...2 great and one so-so

1. The Comp Drive is possibly the best drive I've played to get "edge of break up" sounds. The subtle compression makes it feel like your amp is breaking up while the drive does just that. Nice and sparkly. This has a more pleasant feel than anything I've owned including the Timmy. Possibly beaten buy the COT50 on low settings but you've got to love the COT50's eq curve to consider it beaten.

2. The Tube Drive is as good as the Zvex Box of Rock. Had them side by side last night, BOR feeding into the M13 and I managed to make the Tube Driver model sound nearly exactly like the BOR. Like blind fold me and I couldn't have told you which one is which.

3. The Fuzz Face isn't as organic as a real fuzz. So I've bought a Fulltone 70 for that application. I feel it's the only OD model that won't do it for me. I can get all of my other sounds out of the M13.

So if you're like me and totally skeptical of the drives on the M13 and that's why you're not getting one I'd say stop being so stuck and try one out. Take it home (take advantage of GC's 30 days) and try one for yourself. I've owned nearly every piece of cool boutique gear you could imagine and this is just going to do it for me. YMMV of course...but I doubt it

[Scooter]

Originally Posted by TimH

1. The Comp Drive is possibly the best drive I've played to get "edge of break up" sounds. The subtle compression makes it feel like your amp is breaking up while the drive does just that. Nice and sparkly. This has a more pleasant feel than anything I've owned including the Timmy. Possibly beaten buy the COT50 on low settings but you've got to love the COT50's eq curve to consider it beaten.

Do you mean 'Boost Comp'? I just got mine last night and quickly scrolled thru the drive effects and didn't see anything called 'Comp Drive'.

[Mike33]

Originally Posted by TimH

2. The Tube Drive is as good as the Zvex Box of Rock. Had them side by side last night, BOR feeding into the M13 and I managed to make the Tube Driver model sound nearly exactly like the BOR. Like blind fold me and I couldn't have told you which one is which.

Can you share your settings please. Just as a starting point for me...
I really like the M13 for all the effects but on the OD side I still not satisfied 100%.

[Jon Silberman]

He probably means the Boost Comp (example below is in front of my Tron Up to control the peaks)




though my personal fave is the Tube Comp.

I also love the Tube Drive and also the Screamer model with the drive knob zeroed out, the treble knob set low which eliminates all fizz, and the output cranked.

[Wesman61]

Originally Posted by TimH

2. The Tube Drive is as good as the Zvex Box of Rock. Had them side by side last night, BOR feeding into the M13 and I managed to make the Tube Driver model sound nearly exactly like the BOR. Like blind fold me and I couldn't have told you which one is which.

How do they compare if You run the BOR strait into the amp and not through the M13?

[TimH]

Whoops. Yeah obviously I just made up my own pedal name. I meant "boost comp".

I didn't play the BOR through the amp without the M13...but don't think that's a fair playing field anyhow...I'm using the M13 with the buffer bypass so personally I think that should be in the line to get an accurate sense of how they compare. I will try this tomorrow and reports back though.

[michael dukes]

Boost Comp is amazing.:AOK

[rollyfoster]

i love the colordrive, tube drive, and boost comp. had a lot of fun doing som silly smashing pumpkins stuff with the fuzz pi. it's passable for full on fuzz stuff but i still have my huck for my main fuzz tones.

i stacked my keeley rat (middle setting) with the screamer model and it was FIRE.

[mapleneck72]

The boost comp is gold.
Is there a analog pedal out there that sounds like it?
I was using a Zvex SHO with single coils but now I can just use my Cobra's split neck humbucker with the boost comp to get the strat sounds.

I'm also using the Tube Drive and Fuzz Pi.
If you put a filter after the Fuzz Pi, you can get a velcro fuzz sound but I'm still trying to get it just right.

[almogaver]

Originally Posted by mapleneck72

The boost comp is gold.
Is there a analog pedal out there that sounds like it?(...)

In theory, the M13's Boost Comp is based on the MXR Micro Amp.

[fr8_trane]

Originally Posted by almogaver

In theory, the M13's Boost Comp is based on the MXR Micro Amp.

A microamp with compression, drive, treble and bass??? The real micro amp has one knob and is strictly a clean volume boost.

I know what they say in the manual but this seems much more like a unique Line 6 model that has no resemblance to any real pedal. Its more like "What if we crossed the RC booster and a Route 66".

[TimH]

Originally Posted by mapleneck72

The boost comp is gold.
Is there a analog pedal out there that sounds like it?

I've never played one but the Durham SexDrive is the same in principal as this.

[almogaver]

Originally Posted by fr8_trane

A microamp with compression, drive, treble and bass??? The real micro amp has one knob and is strictly a clean volume boost.

I know what they say in the manual but this seems much more like a unique Line 6 model that has no resemblance to any real pedal. Its more like "What if we crossed the RC booster and a Route 66".

I mostly agree with you.
Note that I used the expressions "in theory" and "based on" in my last post.
This is what the M13 Advanced Users Guide says about the Boost Comp: "Based on the MXR® Micro Amp. This effect was used to “push” the front-end of non-master volume tube amps in order to achieve a cranked sound at less than stadium levels. Knob 3 adds Compression similar to that of an MXR® Dyna Comp."

[stilwel]

The Boost Comp model is a combination of the MXR Micro Amp and a Dynacomp in one.

It's a beautiful thing.

[goldie-gold]

I remain unconvinced. I just checked out the demo on the Line 6 site and did not like what I heard at all.

Where can I find some better demos? Could someone point me in right direction please. If it is as good as you say, I am definitely interested.