I never really tried using this amp as a classic pedal platform master volume amp without power scaling engaged. Messed around with it in that mode this weekend and it just ROCKED! It actually sounds better with pedals than dialing in some power scaling. OD pedals retain more clarity, clean tones are briliantly clean, but it still feels like the preamp and power amp are working hard and adding some compression...even at pretty darn low volumes.
Even my Maz 18 and Accomplice don't do that! When the Maz/Accomplice are dialed in the same way, pedals feel a little stiff and in need of more gain. The Maz/Accomplice need a little hair dialed in on hard-strummed clean settings to give OD pedals that feeling of melting right into the amp. I always felt that that was the main drawback to using single-channel amps as pedal platforms - i.e., you couldn't also get really clean, chimey clean tones. But, I was totally surprised this weekend to discover that the Badger overcomes that limitation when operating in full power mode. Cool!
Even my Maz 18 and Accomplice don't do that! When the Maz/Accomplice are dialed in the same way, pedals feel a little stiff and in need of more gain. The Maz/Accomplice need a little hair dialed in on hard-strummed clean settings to give OD pedals that feeling of melting right into the amp. I always felt that that was the main drawback to using single-channel amps as pedal platforms - i.e., you couldn't also get really clean, chimey clean tones. But, I was totally surprised this weekend to discover that the Badger overcomes that limitation when operating in full power mode. Cool!