| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
 Posted - 03/16/2007 : 08:04:46
|
Yesterday I got the new FDR-1 and hurried home to test it out
 .
At first it looks very classy, one of the nicest Boss ever. So just collecting it would be fine
Reading the manual tells it all, nothing special except the adjustment of the vibrato (=tremolo) speed, this is done with tap tempo or adjusting the vibrato knob and have a foot on the pedal.
I did most of my testing on an Ibanez Valbee (5W tube amp, very good clean sound) and used a Strat, a Tele and a Les Paul.
The manual points out that a clean setting on the amp is important, and I found out that the tone curve of the amp should be as flat as possible, maybe a bit lifted mids.
First I played without using the pedals reverb/vibrato, it sounded real nice and real Fenderish, there was a crunch that just Fender has. Fat bottom and crisp highs when used with strat/tele.
Kicking in FDR-1īs reverb sounds very good at lower settings, sounds very much like the spring reverb on RV-5, but not as much plonks. Turning it up too much it doesnīt sound that good. One thing that is a little irritating to me is that when you press the foot switch and turns FDR-1 off, the reverb goes with it.
The vibrato sounds killer to me, very plummy and sedate. Really good!
As I have owned a couple of Deluxes in the 70īs and 80īs I have some memories of the real thing and to my ears FDR-1 sounds a whole lot like a Deluxe, both with humbuckers and single coils. I also tried FDR-1 for a short moment in a Fender Blues Jr, due to the volume of this amp it sounded even better, the power of a Fender set at semi clean is tone heaven for me.
I also tried it on a mediocre transistor amp, and to my surprise the pedal really lifted the amp.
To my ears the Les Paul sounded very, very good with FDR-1 into the Valbee. Not surprisingly as the Deluxe is known as one of the ultimate LP-amps.
In short I like this pedal, important is to use a clean amp with flat frequency response, and not at too low volumes.
If it will find a place on a pedalboard or not, I donīt know, itīs a little bit of a one trick pony and it could be a little difficult to get it together smoothly with a lot of other overdrive/dists.
One thing I think it do really well is to lift a not-so-good amp a big bit.
Oh, I also tried it directly to the power amp, it was no improvement at all, the sound gets duller.
|
Edited by - Goran on 03/16/2007 08:09:18 |
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2007 : 09:10:09
|
Hi Goran
Congratulations, & thanks for the Tone update
I really like the sound-emulation, of both the Deluxe & Bassman pedals.
Thanks also, for testing it into the power amp only.
It seems they have allowed or compensated for the pre amp & tone controls.
Keep us informed of any other tests you do.
Thanks Dr. Bob  |
Edited by - Dr. Bob on 03/16/2007 09:12:39 |
 |
|
|
bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2007 : 10:24:22
|
| Great review, Goran. Thanks! |
|
|
|
SirJackdeFuzz
Bronze Member
South Africa
83 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2007 : 00:29:13
|
Thanx a million Goran 
Question for ya !
Don't know how well (if at all ?) you know the White Stripes and their tone ?
S/C guitar -->Big Muff -->MXR Micro Amp cranked to "10" Twin Reverb.
I have been looking for their tone (on a super strick budget here) for more than 2 years now  )
Do you think the Boss FDR will help me to get that little bit closer !??
I have a S/C guitar, Big Muff, Micro Amp & BLUES Jr. (no money for a Twin Reverb 
DO YOU THINK THE EXTRA TONE THAT THE FDR WILL ADD TO THE MIX, WILL BE ONE STEP CLOSER, OR TWO STEPS BACK ?
I know it is a modulation of the Deluxe Reverb & NOT a Twin Reverb.
Just want to know if it will get me closer top a cranked TR or not !?
(...we all know a BJr. does not sound like a cranked Twin Reverb)
Many thanx
|
Edited by - SirJackdeFuzz on 03/18/2007 00:31:49 |
|
|
|
shortpunks
Copper Member
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2007 : 20:45:38
|
Great review, Goran! I also picked up the FDR-1 this weekend...I got it for $25 after trading a few odds and ends from my home studio, including an old MXR Distortion + and a TR-2. This is the first digital modeling device I have ever owned. I thought it was time to try something different, and I like the idea of eq, overdrive, reverb, and vibrato all in one pedal. The less I have to bring to a gig, the better. And I think I've been spoiled by my RV-3 over the years...I like a pedal which can multitask!
I played a Deluxe Reverb reissue for a couple of years in the late '90s/early '00s, and I have fond memories of that amp, though I prefer the darker, swampier sound of the EL84s in my Peavey Classic. The FDR-1 captures the shimmer of my old Deluxe very well, and is actually much warmer and fuller than I expected. Our next live gig is March 31st--that will be the real test!
Here are a few random thoughts on the FDR-1 after playing it almost non-stop this weekend...
--It packs a LOT of low-end. First I played it through my Peavey...I actually kept my amp settings as they always are--clean channel, volume on 2 or 3, treble on 7, middle on 5 and 1/2, and bass on 11. I kept both tone controls on the FDR-1 at midnight and what a sound! With a little gain dialed in from the FDR-1, I got a tone which reminded me of my Blues Driver, but with a lot more low-end thickness. I had the same results on my solid state Roland Spirit amp...I kept the amp's tone controls as they normally are (about the same as the Peavey), and my Spirit ended up sounded just like my Classic 30...in fact, my wife was in the other room and thought I was practicing through the Peavey because of the fullness of the sound.
--The FDR-1 has a LOT of gain. There's actually more gain on this pedal than I ever remember getting from my Deluxe Reverb amp. The gain knob is very sensitive, and by the time you reach a quarter of the way on the control, you'll start to get some overdrive. I'm not so sure this would happen with a single-coil equipped guitar, however. I'm using two Reverends which both have humbuckers, so I have a feeling with a Strat or Tele you'll get a very different response. But with my Reverend Charger--which has two humbuckers, a maple top, and mahogany body--I was getting a very thick, full overdrive when cranking up the gain to about 12 or so. It reminded me of that warm Sabbath or even Blue Cheer sound...like I said, I'm a little old-school!  What most impressed me was the pedal's responsiveness...much like the BD-2, or like a real amp, it will clean up nicely if you soften your picking technique or use your volume control.
--I really like the reverb and vibrato settings. With the tap-tempo function, you can set the vibrato to your liking, or keep your foot on the pedal and adjust the vibrato speed by hand. I was afraid I might regret selling the TR-2, but I have to say the vibrato on the FDR-1 sounds just as good. As Goran mentioned, the reverb is also very nice at low settings and adds a lot of dimension to the sound.
So I'm really enjoying the pedal. I suspect that like my RV-3 I'm going to find a lot of uses for it live and in the studio. Just a couple of criticisms...
--As I mentioned, there is a lot of gain on tap, and at the very highest settings I noticed some raspiness, but then again I may not be the best judge since I tend to play with only slight overdrive. The gain settings on both my DS-1 and BD-2 are very low. Also, given the very sensitive tone controls on this thing, dialing in a good sound doesn't appear to be problem.
--As Goran pointed out, the "boing" in the reverb starts to sound a bit extreme at higher settings. I seem to recall having the same issue with my old Deluxe...I used the reverb very sparingly. I've noticed, however, that using palm muting helps to tame the reverb at its highest settings--much the same way as it does on a real spring reverb tank. Also, the FDR-1's reverb and my Classic 30's built-in reverb tank didn't work too well together...there was a brittle quality to the sound when I tried to mix the two. This is very different than my RV-3. The plate reverb settings on that pedal mix nicely with the Peavey's own reverb tank. But it's unlikely I would need all that reverb anyway...
--It would be cool to be able to use the vibrato on its own without engaging the tone and drive controls, but then again I suspect a lot of the warmth and presence in the vibrato sound is also coming from the other features of the FDR-1.
As far as the White Stripes sound goes...it might get you closer but you should experiment before buying. I think it depends on what kind of guitar you have, what your playing technique is like, and how the FDR-1 interacts with your other effects and your amp. The pedal certainly has a thickness which might be a good platform for the Big Muff. I preferred the sound of the FDR-1 without any other effects--I didn't think it interacted well with the BD-2 or my DS-1--but I am using humbuckers so it would be interesting to experiment with a single-coil equipped guitar. Doesn't Jack White also use an old Whammy Pedal to thicken his sound?
One last thing...though running this pedal with other overdrives and reverb seemed like overkill to me, the only other effect which sounded awesome when coupled with the FDR-1 is my CE-3. I'm already a fan of the CE-3's tone, but with the FDR-1 I started to hear this thick, soupy chorus which brought to mind Andy Summers or The Icicle Works. (I'm dating myself again with that one...anyone remember the song "Whisper to a Scream"?!).
Okay. So far, so good. I'll see what this thing does in rehearsal in a couple of days... |
Edited by - shortpunks on 03/18/2007 20:51:32 |
|
|
|
mattoqua
Silver Member
Canada
438 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2007 : 22:01:19
|
Thanks for those amazing reviews.
Theres still one thing that Im not sure of yet though, where your chain are you putting the FDR-1?
Is it at the beginning so that all the effects after are working on an improved sound (and can work their best)
Or are you putting it at the end after every pedal has been applied, to change the end result into a deluxe reverb sound (so using the pedal as if it is the amp) |
|
|
|
shortpunks
Copper Member
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2007 : 23:35:34
|
I'm running all of my other effects first with the FDR-1 at the end of the chain, at least for now. So far I think the FDR-1 sounds best on its own without my other overdrives, though as I mentioned I do like the sound of the CE-3/FDR combination. The RV-3 also sounds great in delay-only mode before the FDR-1, but I don't like the sound of the RV-3's reverb or reverb/delay combos combined with the FDR-1's reverb--all that digital reverb starts to sound very artificial. I ought to experiment and see how it would sound at the start of my chain. Live I actually play clean for most of my band's set but I use ovedrive and reverb/delay depending on how good (or bad!) the room I am playing in sounds that night.
Here's my chain. I'll see if I can get a photo this week...I'm actually waiting on a second BCB-30 to come in the mail so I can house the last three pedals (I've been using the lid of my current BCB-30 as a second board for now)...
Reverend Flatroc or Charger guitars --> BD-2 --> CE-3 --> RV-3 --> DS-1 --> FDR-1 --> Peavey Classic 30
Loop Station RC-2 --> Roland Spirit 10A
Though it's at the end of the chain, I usually don't run my guitar signal through the RC-2 since I pre-program all my loops. |
|
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2007 : 07:15:01
|
Hi shortpunks
Thanks for the extensive review & update
I would really love to see your
Reverend Flatroc or Charger guitars
Maybe even the Spirit 10A, I can put it next to my Spirit 40A
so it doesn't get so lonely
Actually thanks to Goran & everyone, for all the great input.
I own a Fender 75, it has reverb, but no Vib-Trem,
you all, now have me hankering for a FDR-1.
I miss the Vibrato.
Regards Dr. Bob  |
|
|
|
Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2007 : 07:40:07
|
This weekend I have tested FDR-1 out more (with a Strat), even used it at a jam with a Peavey Studio 112 (this is not a very good amp, I was too tired to carry my Carvin Vintage 33....) with excellent results. That amp have never ever sounded as good with any pedal. This is one strong point of FDR-1, it makes so-so solid state amps sound much better. Perhaps it sounds its best with a neutral solid state as there are some sort of digital tube emulation inside FDR-1??
My conclusions of how to use FDR-1 is that it should be last in the chain and treated as if it was the amp youīre using (the main amp I look at as just a power stage). Neutral settings and no distortion on the power amp and FDR-1 on all the time. Itīs not a "pedal", itīs an amp-simulator.
You dial in a great clean/crunch tone on FDR-1, just as it had been your main amp. I leave the gain at about 9 oclock the volume at around 12. You donīt want to overdrive the main amps pre-amp with FDR-1.
And now you have something that sounds and react a lot like a Fender Deluxe Reverb, then you can add what pedals you want BEFORE FDR-1, I had good results with DS-1, SD-2, CH-1, DD-2 and Bad Monkey. FDR-1 responded nicely to all of these.
I donīt use a lot of distortion so I donīt know what happens if I would add MD-2 or something, but on the other hand who would use a Deluxe for heavily dirstorted metal????
The more I have used FDR-1 the more I like it!
Regarding the White Stripes sound (I really like them) I have to agree with Shortpunks, it depends on a lot of things from your pick attack, strings, pickups and so on. And Deluxe Reverbs sound quite different to Twins.
|
Edited by - Goran on 03/19/2007 12:19:29 |
|
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2007 : 08:55:13
|
Hi shortpunks
I was wondering if you could test the FDR-1, straight into the power amp section of the Roland Spirit that you have.
Or the main amp in of any other amp, that you have access to?
Goran said, that it didn't work too well with the Peavey, in the effects loop, (main amp in).
It would be interesting to see how it performs with another amps, in the demos, they run the pedals into a Roland JC120
Has anyone tried running this into their home stereo setup?
Now that's would be an interesting experiment.
Regards Dr. Bob |
|
|
|
Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2007 : 09:27:13
|
Dr Bob:
I have tested FDR-1 straight in the power amp (return jack) on Ibanez Valbee, Peavey Studio and Vox DA-5, it didnīt sound good at all.
I also used FDR-1 in the loop of the Valbee (send > FDR-1 > return), it didnīt sound very good.
|
|
|
|
shortpunks
Copper Member
USA
47 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2007 : 22:00:24
|
Hi guys,
Here is a shot of my board with the FDR-1 at the end of the chain. Also, I managed to fit the Spirit 10A into the shot for Dr. Bob!
I have done a little experimenting with the FDR-1 into the effects loop of the Peavey Classic 30 in this photo. It actually sounded really nice, but I had to put all the tone controls on the Peavey at 5 and I also had to turn off the Peavey's own reverb. With the FDR-1 acting as a pre-amp, the Peavey began to take on some of the qualities of a Deluxe Reverb...it really started to sound like a different amp. By itself, the Peavey has a very distinct, very smooth sound, almost like a combination of a Vox and a Fender...the only other tube amp I have ever played which sounds like the Peavey is an Ampeg Jet. It was interesting to bring out more of the Fender-like elements in the Peavey's sound. I'll do some more experiments and let you know how it sounds...
By the way, if you follow this link to the Reverend forum you can see a shot of the board with my two Reverends...
http://www.reverendguitars.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=920&PN=1&TPN=2 |
Edited by - shortpunks on 03/19/2007 23:00:00 |
|
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2007 : 07:47:15
|
Hi shortpunks
Thanks for the pics of your setup AND the Spirit 10A
Just a quick one,
Your CD came today - Thanks - I left you a long PM.
Regards Dr. Bob
Now I know what Rosie is about |
Edited by - Dr. Bob on 03/20/2007 10:44:59 |
|
|
|
Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2007 : 08:24:57
|
Shortpunks and I have different results using FDR-1 in the loop, thatīs a bit strange. Maybe we have different tastes or maybe Peavey Classic is well suited for this. I only tested it in my Valbee`s loop, this is a single ended pure class A amp and maybe it reacts a bit different.
I will, when I have chance to do it, test FDR-1 in the loop of my Carvin, this is a very good all tube amp quite similar to a Fender.
I had suspected that injecting FDR-1 directly to the power amp would be the ultimate place to put it, but in my ears that wasnīt the case. Putting an overdrive (used as a booster) directly into the power amp could usually sound quite good as it a way to get just power tube saturation, but putting an overdrive in the loop donīt sound that good. But the point here is that FDR-1 is not purely an overdrive, itīs more like an effect in general so it should have sounded better than I experienced.
|
|
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2007 : 10:56:45
|
quote:
Originally posted by Goran
Shortpunks and I have different results using FDR-1 in the loop, thatīs a bit strange. Maybe we have different tastes or maybe Peavey Classic is well suited for this. I only tested it in my Valbee`s loop, this is a single ended pure class A amp and maybe it reacts a bit different.
I will, when I have chance to do it, test FDR-1 in the loop of my Carvin, this is a very good all tube amp quite similar to a Fender.
I had suspected that injecting FDR-1 directly to the power amp would be the ultimate place to put it, but in my ears that wasnīt the case. Putting an overdrive (used as a booster) directly into the power amp could usually sound quite good as it a way to get just power tube saturation, but putting an overdrive in the loop donīt sound that good. But the point here is that FDR-1 is not purely an overdrive, itīs more like an effect in general so it should have sounded better than I experienced.
Hi Goran, Shortpunks & Guys
I made the same assumption, about injecting the FDR-1 & FBM-1 into the effects loop - main amp in.
This is why it's so great to have this forum, we get multiple & sometimes very differing subjective results.
Regards Dr. Bob
|
|
|
|
SirJackdeFuzz
Bronze Member
South Africa
83 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2007 : 15:31:26
|
"As far as the White Stripes sound goes...it might get you closer but you should experiment before buying. I think it depends on what kind of guitar you have, what your playing technique is like, and how the FDR-1 interacts with your other effects and your amp. The pedal certainly has a thickness which might be a good platform for the Big Muff. I preferred the sound of the FDR-1 without any other effects--I didn't think it interacted well with the BD-2 or my DS-1--but I am using humbuckers so it would be interesting to experiment with a single-coil equipped guitar. Doesn't Jack White also use an old Whammy Pedal to thicken his sound? " - Shortpunks
Thanx for another great review, Shortpunks
Oh, and thanx a million for giving me an answer to my question.
I was affraid no one will know the White Stripes well enough to give me an answer
Here is a question for anyone & everyone !
IF Boss continues to replicate Fender (...and hopefully other brands) amps, do you guys think they will actually bring ut a Twin Reverb (Boss FTR-1 ?) unit ?
I am asking this, because a Deluxe Reverb is very simmilar in sound than a Twin Reverb, not so ? (OK, lets forget about the extra volume/headroom of the 85W vs. 22W)
How will a pedal-version of a Twin, differ (tone wise) from the allready existing Deluxe Reverb ?
Cheers
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
FDR-1
