My Favorite Clones

JHS Pedals

26 Sept 201916:33

Summary

TLDRIn this episode, the host explores the world of guitar pedal clones, defining clones as replicas or inspired versions of original pedals. They delve into the history and intricacies of several clones, including the Park Sound Fuzz, Analog Man Chorus, Klon Centaur, Boss RE-20, and the JH S Cheese Ball. The host also shares their personal experiences and preferences, highlighting the unique features and sounds of each clone. Honorable mentions are given to other notable clones, and the episode ends with a tease for a future giveaway and a call to support the channel.

Takeaways

😀 The host humorously introduces the topic of clones in the world of guitar pedals.
🔍 A clone is defined as a pedal that directly copies another's circuit or is inspired by another with possible tweaks.
🎶 The Morning Glory overdrive pedal is mentioned as a source of overdrive sounds without being seen on screen.
🔁 The Park Sound Fuzz is highlighted as a complex clone story involving Marshall, Solo Sound, Earthquaker, and a historical company dissolution and reformation.
🎵 The Analog Man Chorus pedal is praised for its improvements over the original Electro-Harmonix Small Clone, including a potentiometer and other enhancements.
🏆 The Clones Sentaurus Professional Overdrive is recognized for its high-quality replication of a sought-after pedal, despite initial skepticism.
🎥 The Boss RE-20 is commended as a DSP recreation of the classic Roland Space Echo tape delay, with modern features like tap tempo.
🧀 The Lovetone Big Cheese is a pedal the host wishes was cloned, but then reveals the JH S Cheese Ball as a meticulous replication of the original.
🏅 Honorable mentions include the Electro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff, Behringer Vintage Tube Overdrive, and the Shehnai Super Fuzz, all noted for their faithful recreations.
🎉 The episode concludes with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content, participate in giveaways, and support the channel through patronage.

Q & A

What is the definition of a 'clone' in the context of the video?
-In the video, a 'clone' is defined as any pedal that is directly copying another pedal circuit or any pedal that is designed or inspired by another pedal sound or circuit, which may have tweaks or small improvements as noted by the builder.
What is the backstory of the Park Sound fuzz pedal mentioned in the video?
-The Park Sound fuzz pedal has a complex backstory. It originated from a distribution agreement in 1965 between Jim Marshall and Marshall amps, which allowed for another company, Park, to make a Tone Bender. Later, Earthquaker Devices cloned this pedal in cooperation with the new Park company, which was originally making a clone of the Solo Sound Tone Bender.
What modifications did Analog Man make to the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal?
-Analog Man removed the depth toggle switch from the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone and installed a potentiometer, making some other improvements to create his version of the chorus pedal.
Why did the creator of the Clones Centaur overdrive stop making it?
-The creator of the Clones Centaur overdrive stopped making it because he had trouble reliably sourcing parts in quantities that would satisfy the market demand.
What is special about the KTR Professional Overdrive mentioned in the video?
-The KTR Professional Overdrive is an exact copy of the Clones Centaur circuit and is praised for its sound quality. It was reintroduced in 2012 after a brief hiatus.
How does the BOSS RE-20 compare to the original 1974 Roland Space Echo?
-The BOSS RE-20 is a DSP recreation of the original 1974 Roland Space Echo, featuring tap tempo and additional fixes, while maintaining the essence of the original tape delay.
Why does the presenter wish a clone of the Love Tone Big Cheese existed?
-The presenter wishes a clone of the Love Tone Big Cheese existed because it's a highly regarded pedal that has not been replicated perfectly for the mass market, despite its popularity among artists.
What is the JH S Cheese Ball and how is it related to the Love Tone Big Cheese?
-The JH S Cheese Ball is a meticulously replicated version of the original 1995 Love Tone Big Cheese, created with precise detail and not relying on currently available online schematics.
What are some honorable mentions of clones discussed in the video?
-Honorable mentions include the Electro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff, the Behringer Vintage Tube Overdrive, the Robert Keeley Compressor, the Shehnai Octave Fuzz, and the Shehnai Honey Vibe, all of which are clones of classic effects pedals.
How can viewers participate in the giveaway mentioned in the video?
-Viewers can participate in the giveaway by subscribing to the channel and ensuring they have notifications enabled to not miss out when the winner is announced.
What is the benefit of becoming a patron of the channel as mentioned in the video?
-Becoming a patron offers exclusive content, early access to new episodes, and participation in giveaways and merch offers that are not available to the general public.

Outlines

00:00

🎸 'Park Sound Fuzz' - The Clone Conundrum

The host introduces the concept of 'clones' in the world of guitar pedals, explaining that clones are either direct copies or inspired by existing circuits with possible improvements. The first pedal discussed is the Park Sound Fuzz, which has a complex history involving Marshall, Part Sound, and Earthquaker Devices. It's a clone of a clone, originally based on the Solo Sound Tone Bender. The host also mentions the use of a Morning Glory overdrive pedal and Lucky Cat delay for additional sounds during the episode.

05:12

🎶 'Analog Man Chorus' - The Tale of a Timeless Tone

The second paragraph delves into the history of the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone chorus pedal, which was discontinued after the company went bankrupt in 1983. In 1998, Analog Man reintroduced the chorus pedal with improvements, such as the removal of the depth toggle switch and the addition of a potentiometer. The host praises the true analog bucket-brigade chorus for its rotary Leslie-like sound and encourages viewers to listen to its unique effects.

10:23

🏆 'KTR Professional Overdrive' - A Clone Masterpiece

The host discusses the Clonesentour Professional Overdrive, a pedal that has been cloned extensively, including by the host himself. The original creator discontinued the pedal due to production challenges but later reintroduced it in 2012 as the KTR Professional Overdrive. The host shares his affection for the pedal, noting its exact circuit copy and the unique message on the pedal that addresses the hype surrounding it. He recommends the pedal to viewers and mentions its recent return to production.

15:24

🎵 'Boss RE-20' - A DSP Homage to Vintage Echo

In this segment, the host talks about the Boss RE-20 delay pedal, a DSP recreation of the 1974 Roland Space Echo tape delay. He praises the original Space Echo for its unique tape delay sound and appreciates the RE-20 for its modern features like tap tempo. The host encourages viewers to experience the pedal's sound, which he demonstrates with a musical example.

🧀 'Love Tone Big Cheese' - The Dream Clone

The host expresses a wish for a mass-market clone of the Love Tone Big Cheese, a pedal he admires but hasn't seen a perfect replica of. He then humorously 'forgets' about the JH S Cheese Ball, which is a meticulous replication of the 1995 Love Tone Big Cheese. The host celebrates the accuracy of this clone and its detailed craftsmanship.

🏅 Honorable Mentions - The Best of the Rest

The host gives honorable mentions to several other notable clones in the pedal community. He discusses the Electro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff, which replicates the original 1969 version, and the Behringer Vintage Tube Overdrive, an affordable and impressive clone. He also mentions the Robert Keeley Compressor, a boutique version of the Ross Compressor, and the Shehnai Super Fuzz, a relaunch of the original Univox Super Fuzz. The host praises these clones for their quality and historical significance.

🎉 'Not a Surf's Covers' - A Record of Clones

The host brings up the topic of cover songs, like those on the Not a Surf's 2010 album, which features covers of songs by various artists. He encourages viewers to explore the album and share their favorite cover records in the comments. The host also thanks patrons for their support, mentioning exclusive content and early access to episode topics as part of the benefits.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Clone

In the context of the video, 'clone' refers to a pedal that is either a direct copy of another pedal's circuit or is designed and inspired by another pedal. This includes pedals that may have slight tweaks or improvements made by the builder. The video discusses various clones in the world of guitar effects pedals, emphasizing their significance in the music industry and how they often aim to replicate the sound or functionality of a classic or popular pedal. An example from the script is the Earthquaker Devices Park Sound Fuzz, which is a clone of a favorite tone bender.

💡Pedal

A 'pedal' in this video refers to a stompbox or effects pedal used in music, particularly in the context of electric guitars. These devices alter the sound of the guitar when activated by the musician. The script discusses various types of pedals, including fuzz, overdrive, chorus, and delay, and how clones of these pedals are made by different manufacturers.

💡Overdrive

Overdrive is a type of guitar effect that simulates the natural overdriven sound of a tube amplifier. In the video, the script mentions an overdrive pedal that is not physically present but is emulated by the Morning Glory pedal, indicating that the sound of overdrive is being used in the demonstration without the visual presence of the pedal.

💡Delay

Delay is an audio effect that records an input signal to an audio storage medium, and then plays it back after a period of time. In the video, the script refers to the Lucky Cat Delay pedal, which is used to produce echo or delay effects without the pedal being shown on screen, indicating that the sound of delay is being used in the demonstration.

💡DSP

DSP stands for Digital Signal Processing, which is a technology used in audio equipment to process and manipulate digital signals. In the video, the script mentions a DSP recreation of a tape delay, indicating that the pedal emulates the sound of a tape delay using digital processing techniques rather than analog circuitry.

💡Bucket-brigade

A bucket-brigade is a type of analog circuit used in some delay and chorus effects. The term comes from the way the signal is passed along a series of stages, similar to a bucket brigade. In the video, the script praises the Analog Man Chorus pedal for its true analog bucket-brigade design, highlighting the authentic and warm sound it produces.

💡Tone Bender

A 'Tone Bender' is a specific type of fuzz effect pedal known for its distinctive sound, originally produced in the 1960s. The video script discusses the history of a Tone Bender clone made by Park Sound, which was later cloned again by Earthquaker Devices, showcasing the evolution and influence of this iconic pedal.

💡Professional Overdrive

The 'Professional Overdrive' is a pedal mentioned in the script as being so highly regarded that it was cloned by many, including the video's host. The script discusses the KTR Professional Overdrive, which is an exact copy of the original circuit, emphasizing the pedal's high-quality sound and the creator's decision to stop building the original due to production challenges.

💡Vintage

The term 'vintage' in the video refers to equipment or products that are old and of high quality, often sought after for their unique characteristics. The script mentions vintage pedals like the Roland Space Echo and the Ross Compressor, which are highly valued for their sound and are the basis for modern clones.

💡Boutique Builder

A 'boutique builder' is a term used to describe a manufacturer who makes high-quality, often custom, audio equipment in small quantities. The video script mentions Robert Keeley as a boutique builder who has made millions of clones of a specific compressor, indicating the success and popularity of his products within the music community.

💡Univox Super Fuzz

The 'Univox Super Fuzz' is a vintage guitar effect pedal known for its distinctive fuzz sound. The video script discusses the Shehnai Honey Fresh Sounds Super Fuzz Session, which is a clone of the original Univox Super Fuzz, highlighting the efforts to replicate the sound and quality of this classic pedal.

Highlights

Definition of a clone: A direct copy of another pedal circuit or a pedal inspired by another with possible tweaks.

Introduction of Morning Glory pedal as a source of overdrive sound without being seen on screen.

Explanation of the lucky cat delay as the source of echo or delay sounds.

Park Sound Fuzz is a clone of the Solo Sound Tone Bender, which was itself a clone, creating a complex lineage.

Earthquaker Devices collaborated with the new Park company to create the Park Sound Fuzz.

Analog Man Chorus pedal is an improved version of the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone.

Clones Sent Professional Overdrive is a highly sought-after pedal with a cult following.

KTR Professional Overdrive is an exact copy of the Clones Sent Professional Overdrive circuit.

Boss RE-20 is a DSP recreation of the 1974 Roland Space Echo tape delay.

Love Tone Big Cheese is a pedal that the presenter wishes had a perfect mass-market clone.

JH S Cheese Ball is a meticulous replica of the 1995 Love Tone Big Cheese.

Electro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff is a replica of the original 1969 Big Muff.

Behringer Vintage Tube Overdrive is an affordable and impressive replica of a high-end overdrive pedal.

Robert Keeley Compressor is a boutique clone with minor improvements over the original Ross Compressor.

Shehnai Super Fuzz Session is a relaunch that replicates the original Univox Super Fuzz.

Honey Vibe is a replica of the 1967 Univibe with modern features like a removable power cable.

Not a Surf's 2010 release 'If I Had HiFi' is a record of clone cover songs.

Call to action for viewers to subscribe and click the bell icon for notifications of future episodes.

Gratitude expressed to the first 100 patrons for their support in preserving pedal community stories.