Robben Ford Discussion

[Alienlovefreak69]

Hi Dave, new here on the RF Forum. I could not find anything on here of a previous post so forgive me if this subject has been covered already, but was curious if Robben has ever tried out the Ethos Pedal & what his thoughts on it might have been. Seems like a nice pedal to run through a tube amps efxs return & use for a preamp. Appreciate your comments. Thanks

Alien

[tedro]

i have an Ethos, but the way see it is if you have a Dumble you don't need an Ethos. however, if you don't you can compare Ethos to Zendrive, but Ethos gives you both channnels (Dumble preamp "clone"), and boost on the OD channel. ...and few other features.

[Alienlovefreak69]

WOW! Someone actually replied after 554 view!
Thanks tedro!

I do agree, if you have a Dumble or a Dumble Style Amp you already have that sound, but my question was because I know Robben uses a Zendrive when he uses other amps when he doesn't take his Dumble to certain shows. This is why I was curious if he'd tried one before or not. Looks like a very nice pedal to run through an efx loop to mimic the Dumble style tone. In actuallity, that is what alot of players do running a Zendrive through a Fender style amp's input. Sounds really cool online, but $400 plus is alot to fork out without hearing & trying something in person. No one had one to check out at NAMM this year. I did see it at one booth last year, but didn't know what it was at the time. I figure Robben's opinion on it would be of interest since the Overdrive Special's overall main tone was basically designed with him in mind. I was hopeing Dave would chime in, but nothing so far. :-(

Which model of Ethos do you have?

[tedro]

i hope this is legible:

from what i read is RF uses the Zendrive with Twins or Supers, where you can get great clean crunch straight from the amp using a[ny] volume control (also noted one of the video links below), and touch. i.e., you need touch sensitive stuff all around, another sort of "setup" of everything together... if one linik in the chain (guitar controls or preamp and spkr) don't perform then none of it works well no matter how how good your hands are.... it's that much MORE difficult if not down right unpleasant or impossible.

the Ethos is killer. i have a [obligatory: crap] peavey bandit, and no one believes "it doesn't have tubes?!"

i used Boogies heavily once upon a time so i'm familiar with the tone that's being gone for, e.g., Boogie, 335 (Santanaesque, etc., Carlton, Ford... Gambale... Connors).

also, all i have right now is a strat (albeit a custom shop 57 Special/TX spec pups). i wired the bottom knob dedicated to the bridge pup so i can turn it way down.

this is also how i set up (not exactly the sound though)... watch it through to the end... cause when youcarnk the tone on a strat bridge pup you have to balance it, a tricky situation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRsdADcJXww

here's a good Ethos demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4I5tN9_Mrc

i happen to have strat now, never really been a strat player, i like LPs and Teles... i'm just out right now and cannot sell (or trade) this strat. :-(
my strat:
http://www.math.fsu.edu/~trogers/data/photos/57Special/
(no more whammy though), but when i do whammy i do so alla Carl Verheyen's setup or Ray Gomez's bar setup.

[tedro]

TLE, but now they have one with both... or you can get a classic switch put in the TLE.

i would have considered classic if i currently played humbuckers.

i'd rather have an amp that had this functionality and sound.
check out Ceriatone amps... Overtone Special and Overtone HRM.

i'll probably get one of these.

[Alienlovefreak69]

The TLE seems to be the most favored one. I agree, having a Dstyle amp would be better, but in my situation for instance, The Dstyle amp just doens't cut it for all the various styles & tones I need to achieve at gigs. I use to own an actual Dumble Overdrive Sp. years ago. I really loved the amp, but it I found it was just too limited for my needs. It got that Robben tone great, but just didn't work with the chicken pickin' stuff or the nice crunch rock tones either. I have a clone Dstyle amp I use now, but I only find myself using it for that Ford type tone on leads. I rely on my Marshall & Fender tones way more for the various tones I use. When I do straight Blues & Jazz type gigs, the Dstyle works fine, but not for much else. Don't get me wrong, I love that tone! But i also love various other tones as well & most of them come from a Marshall or Fender type amps. I am just thinking the Ethos could work out nicely for me so I wouldn't have to haul 3 or 4 amps all the time. I could reduce it down to 2 or 3 instead & use the Dstyle amp more for recording. Gotta maybe find someone in my area who has one I could tryout.

[Daved]

Sorry A, been away for awhile and, frankly, didn't have a knowledgable answer for you.

Tho I myself have never seen him try one, my feelings are that he probably is not interested... way too many knobs, switches, buttons, and processing. He prefers to let the amp do the work sculpting his sound rather than the pedal. He usually shuns having to tweak lots of controls to design a satisfactory sound.

He typically likes his gear simple and "natural", so to speak. The most complicated thing he has is his TC and he ONLY uses it for 3 extremely basic delay patches, of which he has not edited in over 2 decades.

And he only uses the Zen pedal when he doesn't have a Dumble available, and even then, the Zen is used really only for a bit of boost. It is designed simply to work with an amp rather than for an amp. If he doesn't like the amp, then he is not going to like using the Zen pedal (or any other pedal, for that matter) in front of it.
It's the amp that the Zen is playing into that is of the most import to him rather than having a pedal attempt to make the amp sound good, which is what he usually sees as the reason for lots of switches, knobs, and buttons.

He has tried many 'complicated' pedals in the past and has ALWAYS hated them... they are unnatural and "trying too hard" in his opinion.
_________________
B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

[Alienlovefreak69]

Thanks for the chime in Dave! I appreciate it.
You know, it's funny, up until tedro posted that pic of the midi mouse & figured Robben pretty much just left the TC in one simple setting as I don't recall ever seeing any kind of unit before that he used on the floor to switch patches. Although the Ethos does have alot of switches, the reason I thought maybe he might have tried it is because all its's swtiches are setup just like the Dumble OD amp. Anyway, thanks for the info Dave! I appreciate your time.

Alien

[tedro]

yep, i too am totally into one button type thing (channel switching).

having the Ethos is like having my preamp on the floor in front of me.

i asked Robbie (maker) is i could extend the wiring so all i'd have up there are the two buttons (channel/boost). he said not do it or NO. so i have to live with that.

Zens are great, but i need the "better than what i got" clean channel of the Ethos. i have to say, other than having "all those knobs" (virtually a whole front end) in front of me -- but i'm way used to it -- it is absolutely awesome.

everyday someone comments on my tone with STRAT and solid-state BANDIT... then they discuss how they hate soild state and hate peavey.
yeah, well, me too! but then, they never had an Acoustic 150! the pedal cost more than the Bandit! took me about a year to get this stuff happening... but i drive the heck out the bandit (i plug the Ethos into its clean channel) i get great clean sounds (volume knob) and kick in yhe OD channel on the Ethos just as a boost --hard to tell it got turned it on; then when i want that sustain feedback/hold, it use the boost (OD channel only).

another thing, you can take this to a "jam night" without an amp and plug into a PA (tell them to set it flat) and it works really well.

when i get '65 Deluxe reissue i may just use the Zen... BUT DEPENDING on having a guitar that gets a great clean blues sound out of the Deluxe.... probaby a no brainer, everyone i've used had it with a variety of guitars.

all i had was start and bandit... i serached Zen, Exotic -- chose the Ethos... and boy am i glad i did.

[tedro]

the bandit also has built in power brake that i keep at 10 - 60%, usually 20.

i crank the gain on the Ethos clean channel.
(the high cut knob on the side is magical, really carried me (loads of cut) while i learned it all.)

[Cheebatone]

The Ethos is the greatest single guitar-related purchase I ever made. The clean channel has helped me discover (in over three decades of playing) 'my' tone for the very first time.

I'm going to be buried with it.
_________________
I first started to play guitar 35 years ago... Trouble is, I had 20 years off in the middle.

[VanZapp]

Interesting thread. I can tell you Tedro that the 65DRRI is a great Blues amp (I have one and its a keeper). To get the D sound as I could never afford a Dumble amp I recently picked up a used Fuchs Plush Drive pedal. Bought it without playing one from Fleabay and its great. Very natural sounding to my ears and only 4 knobs! This gives a little idea.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry4-4-3LoWo&feature=related

My Guitars are a Custom Shop Custom Deluxe Strat and a Gibbo 359.

[Special Overdrive]

Somebody right now is making an Ethos style pedal with tubes.A reputable company who know thier "stuff" in regards to ODS style amps.

I am not that person.I am not spamming, nor have a vested interest or recieveing a benefit.

I am just an tone enthusiast who happened to come accross the info by accident.

I will never be mentioning names.

I am just sincerely enthusiastic about this product since I always felt the Ethos should've been a tube preamp.

I felt that this would be of interest for people on this forum.