So who's rockin' the Empress Multidrive?

[Clean Channel]

I'm completely smitten with this pedal; twiddling through the huge range of great drive tones is an incredibly satisfying experience for me!

So in typical love-fest style, wondering if there are any other TGP folks rockin' this thing as hard as I am.

Cheers!

[Heady Jam Fan]

Looks cool, I have heard mixed reviews.

[Clean Channel]

Originally Posted by Heady Jam Fan

Looks cool, I have heard mixed reviews.

I think that some people thought this pedal was designed to be a all-in-one dirt replacement. If however you approach it with the idea that you will use it primarily as an overdrive (an extremely tweakable overdrive), then the pedal makes a lot more sense.

The 'overdrive' and 'distortion' sections of the pedal are essentially four different OD pedals, which could have all been excellent pedals if sold in separate enclosures. Combine them with the ability to mix the 'overdrive' section with one of the three 'distortion' drives, AND the option of blending in the 'fuzz' circuit as well, and you have a veritable buffet of drive sounds to enjoy!

The pedal is still quite small, and can (I think oftentimes should) be complimented by other dirt pedals. Keep the Multidrive as your OD, and stick in your favorite fuzz etc, etc.

I've been bouncing through OD for quite a while, and the Multidrive sounds excellent in so many different ways. For me, the really tweakable pedals kill the GAS, and no OD I've ever played has been anywhere as much fun as this!

At the risk of submitting an overly long-winded post, I'll include my thoughts on this pedal from another thread:

I'm really (REALLY!) loving the Multidrive! For quite some time now my main dirt has been the BE Twosome and some other overdrive pedal. I got the Multidrive to be my primary overdrive.

I've had some other drives that I thought sounded excellent, but found that they did one sound very well, but that was all. I hoped that the Multidrive would not only sound great, but sound great in many different ways.

I think there has been some resistance to this pedal because it looks like it's supposed to be a all-in-one dirt replacement. The idea however is that you dial in the one or two sounds that you're looking for in any given situation, and stick with that until the next gig. Although it looks overly complicated, it's really quite easy to imagine the sound you want, and to then shape it into reality using the Multidrive.

Also, the pedal is really quite small, and could be easily complimented with other dirt (hence my Twosome) for someone looking for a variety of sounds on the fly.

I mainly use the overdrive section, which alone, is an absolutely top notch circuit. It goes from extremely light gain to just mid/high gain. It doesn't colour my tone, and stacks well with my Twosome.

Second to that, I use the distortion most. As you may or may not know, the distortion actually has three switchable settings: Mild (a Marshall voiced light drive), Crunch (a Marshall voiced heavy drive), and Lead (a very high gain drive).

I use the fuzz only to blend in to the other two drives. I think it sounds great, but I already have an excellent dedicated fuzz pedal in the chain.

Anyway, I could write so much more about the Multidrive, but this post is already too long for a pedalboard thread. Suffice it to say, the Multidrive is an incredibly tweakable and excellent sounding pedal!

[Heady Jam Fan]

Yea, I entered into some contest to win one (SHHH!) so that would be awesome. The review I read said its versatility was incredible and offers something totally unique, but that the effects on their own did not stand out. I guess suggesting standalones would beat it out - though that was just one persons review. It seems to me that the fuzz wasn't too fuzzy. Which makes sense I guess with your suggestions of keeping it as a versatile OD and rocking a separate Fuzz. Although, I doubt it could compare to a Timmy as an OD? And if I got a distortion, I would go with a Pinnacle. Now if you say this can beat a Timmy for OD and a Pinnacle for distortion, then hell, everyone should have one.

That size is good to know too cuz that shape enclosure often looks bigger than it is.

[Clean Channel]

In terms of the OD, I've had a Timmy (I've also had a FET Dream which was basically designed to be a Timmy plus) and you're right, it sounds great. It does the whole transparent, hair on your clean, low-gain drive, respond like an amp thing beautifully.

That said, the OD section of the Multidrive also does this spectacularly well. Just like the Timmy, it sounds organic and true, and goes from the lightest possible clipping through to medium gain (a bit more gain on the upper range than the Timmy). BUT, add to that a full 3-band EQ that can both boost and cut all three bands. Also add to that the ability to alter the hump of the mid band (makes an enormous difference both when boosting and cutting, I use this switch far more often than I ever expected), and the 'overdrive' section of the Multidrive does so much more than a Timmy! To me it sounds just as good (and I played and gigged the Timmy daily) and the Multidrive also has the potential to sound good in so many more ways!

In the case of the Pinnacle, I've never played one. But remember, don't think of the 'distortion' section of the Multidrive as a distortion at all. Two of the settings, 'mild' and 'crunch' are essentially Marshall voiced ODs (one light to mid gain, and one with much more gain on tap). I would only classify the 'lead' setting (this highest gain setting in the 'distortion' circuit) as a possible distortion pedal.

Although I think the 'lead' setting is excellent (especially in it's mid-low to mid-high gain range), if I were really looking for an ideal distortion sound, I might be inclined to seek it out in a separate pedal. I would pair that pedal with the Multidrive which is my super-tweakable super-blendable OD.

I know it's TGP sacrilege to say anything can compare to a Timmy, so this is all humble opinion of course. So again, loved the Timmy a lot, but gotta say, for OD, the Multidrive beats it hands down in my book.

PS: (SHHH!) I'm entered in a contest to try and win an Empress Compressor.

[scolfax]

This pedal is still on my list of potential pedals. Also on the list:

- Rat Whiteface Reissue
- MP Stone Grey
- Suhr Riot

Thing is, at $300, I could get two of these instead of the multidrive.

[Heady Jam Fan]

I love the Timmy and have had nothing bad to say, but I would say it would be sacrilegious not to give your opinion. So it sounds like something I would definitely want to try sometime. Especially if I won it

I suspect I would use the Multi on the Lead setting just to have that versatility (I am a set it and forget it guy, so the Multi is almost sacrileg to my style anyway).

Having mid control is definitely great, but I must say, if I set the switch on my Timmy to the upright position (compressed), turn the gain up all the way, bass down and treble at 3, I get a great smooth lead tone. It rivals my TS and Alpha, just a different flavor.

Glad your enjoying the Multi! I suspect this thread will lead a few people to take a look at it.

[JeffOlson]

I have one, too, and really like it. Now that I've had it for a while, it really is not all that complicated. Set everything at noon, all drives on, and tweak to taste. (Everything at noon sounds really good, so don't tweak if you don't want to! )

[Clean Channel]

Originally Posted by JeffOlson

I have one, too, and really like it. Now that I've had it for a while, it really is not all that complicated. Set everything at noon, all drives on, and tweak to taste. (Everything at noon sounds really good, so don't tweak if you don't want to! )

Great, I'm not alone!

Bump for more Multidrive love!

[Brian Johnston]

I did an extensive review if you do a search on the product... it's somewhere on this site. I have one and use it regularly. I do prefer the sound from my SolidGoldFX SuperDrive, but the Multidrive offers more variation in tone. Then I like my DrNo-Effects Madfly Distortion and Kafuzz!! because they are so extreme. Thus, I tend to put the Multidrive somewhere between the two ends of the spectrum (more diverse as the SuperDrive, but not crazy in effect like the DrNo stuff).

[Clean Channel]

Originally Posted by Brian Johnston

I did an extensive review if you do a search on the product... it's somewhere on this site. I have one and use it regularly. I do prefer the sound from my SolidGoldFX SuperDrive, but the Multidrive offers more variation in tone. Then I like my DrNo-Effects Madfly Distortion and Kafuzz!! because they are so extreme. Thus, I tend to put the Multidrive somewhere between the two ends of the spectrum (more diverse as the SuperDrive, but not crazy in effect like the DrNo stuff).

Hey Brian, just read through your beautifully written review of the Multidrive! For anyone else interested, you can find it here:

http://www.musicgearreview.com/artic...play/4206.html

Glad to hear the Multidrive has found a place on your board between the Superdrive and the Madfly. I compliment my Multidrive with a Blackout Effectors Very Special Twosome. Between the Fix'd Fuzz, the Musket Fuzz, and the stacking possibilities, it gives me a myriad of fuzz, high gain, and even overdrive(ish) tones to dial in.

I also had a SolidgoldFX Superdrive which I thought sounded absolutely wonderful. When testing the two side by side I found however that I liked the overdrive portion of the Multidrive just as much, and would really have no use for the Superdrive on the board. I debated keeping the Superdrive just for that go-to excellent OD sound (would be nice to just have it there and all dialed in ready to go), but really, between the massive tonal options provided by the Empress and the Blackout Effectors, it just made sense to keep it down to two dirt pedals instead of three. It only takes a few seconds to twist a few knobs on the Multidrive and I'm in OD heaven.

Again, thanks for taking the time to write that excellent review, and glad to hear from another Multidrive user!

[Clean Channel]

Bumpin it up in search of more Multidrive converts!

Spent some time playing with the Multidrive today, and again dialed in more beautiful tones that I hadn't yet thought up! One that I really liked was the 'overdrive' circuit (Fender tweed voiced) set to very light gain in parallel with the 'crunch' circuit (heavier Marshall voiced) also on very light gain. Gave a lovely edge-of-breakup clean that was also very tonally complex.

There is so much to explore with the Multidrive; it's unlike any other OD I've ever tried. I can't say it enough: I love this pedal!

[earwax]

you almost have me converted. trying to sell me gaspedals carb to fund this baby or the dr scientist elements. one thing that has me concerned is the distortion part of the pedal. clean channel seems to recommend thinking of it as an overdrive pedal and that the distortion element may not be that strong?

[((TechnicolorSkyline))]

Lots of multidrive love here! It even booted off my beloved Barber Dual Discrete that has been a mainstay on my board for years now!

[MrMuzik]

Sold it after a couple of days. Love Empress but this drive just didn't work for me no matter how hard I tried. Too harsh sounding...