SIB yah or nah

[Cary Chilton]

Has anyone tried the varia drive by SIB? is it amazing ? average? or the pits?

 

[Big Bob]

Most definately NOT the pits, and way above average...the best? Only you can answer that.

There have been different models over the years. Mine was an early one and though its not on my board right now I've never had the guts to sell it. I know I'd have to just go out and get another.

Good luck
Bob

 

[teefus]

imho, the sib effects are top notch. very high build quality, very versatile and well though out. my echo drive (red, digital) is a permanent fixture on my gigging pedal board. i would buy one of the other sib pedals if i needed it sight unseen, no problem. the lower level effects, (mr echo, etc) are pretty good too. great values for the money. best sounding delay for around $100 that i could find.

 

[Shakermaker]

Originally posted by teefus
imho, the sib effects are top notch. very high build quality, very versatile and well though out. my echo drive (red, digital) is a permanent fixture on my gigging pedal board. i would buy one of the other sib pedals if i needed it sight unseen, no problem. the lower level effects, (mr echo, etc) are pretty good too. great values for the money. best sounding delay for around $100 that i could find.

Sorry to go slightly off topic...

Have you compared the red Echodrive with the older blue (analog) one? Is there much of a difference in tone/delay time?

Thanks,

Mike.

 

[teefus]

Originally posted by Shakermaker
Sorry to go slightly off topic...

Have you compared the red Echodrive with the older blue (analog) one? Is there much of a difference in tone/delay time?

Thanks,

Mike.

nope. i had an opportunity to buy and original blue analog unit early on but passed on it. owners say they can be warmer but that sounds funny to me. the key tothe echodrive is the ability to add the warmth with the echodrive control. i don't turn mine up too much because it gets REAL warm real fast. my favorite thing about the echodrive is the sound of the echodrive. i know that sounds funny but it has a very musical sound to it. i got rid of 5 other brands of delays when i found the echodrive. they jsut didn't sound as musical. sib pedals are definitely worth a test drive. pretty reasonably priced for what they are too.

 

[Loop-Master]

I've used the Varidrive on stage for the last three years.

I have the Tubester and a Tubedriver 911 and after I use them for a while, I always go back to the Varidrive.

 

[jkr]

I've had most of the legendary tube ods and solid state ods out there (you know, original Tube Driver, orginal TS-808, blah blah blah). After much experimenting, the dirt pedals on my gigging and recording pedalboard are a TIM and a Klon that feeds a Varidrive. I'd say the Klon into the Varidrive gets used 90% of the time for my od/distortion needs. It's way more open than a solidstate pedal. The key is to use a 12au7 (per the designer's suggestion). I find that the pedal prefers humbuckers, so I pump it with a klon when I'm using single coils. I've got songs I've recorded I can email you that is mostly a Les Paul into the Varidrive into a vintage Marshall, with the Marshall running clean at low volume. It's darn close to sticking a preamp front end in your amp. Once again, the key I've found is the 12au7 tube and keeping the gain at medium levels to cut back on the compression.

 

[HBob]

Very nice stuff. I have the Varidrive, the Fatdrive and the Butt Face fuzz. They're all very cool. The Varidrive is probably the most outstanding of the three. It's really like adding a new front end to your amp - not just a pedal. I have the older version (blue) and have never had a problem with it.

 

[Idlewilde]

I have all four SIB pedals.All of them is a keeper.I agree with what everybody else said.Use a 12au7 for the Varidirve.The analog delay is alot differant from the red.It sounds warmer and more echoplex.The red reminds me of a warm Boss DD-3.I truely like them both.It kind of freaks me out to see people selling them.Their such great pedals.