Power Screamer - Homebrew Electronics

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Power Screamer - Homebrew Electronics

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Power Screamer - Homebrew Electronics - 5/8/2006 5:03:28 PM

DougieLove

Posts: 3621
Joined: 2/5/2003
From: Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
Status: offline

Overdrive pedal from a guy in Arizona. Has the typical "Gain", "Tone", and "Level" controls along with a 3-way "Diode Select" switch. The 3 positions offer the following:
1 - A tight, controlled overdrive
2 - A little more bass, gain and level...with a small bit of compression
3 - Very compressed overdrive...a lot like a small amp pushed hard.

Also has a Boost switch with a "Fat Boost" option. The little card that came with the pedal says the boost adds about 10dB. The Fat Boost increases the low end and a little gain.

The pedal is true bypass. It's also built like a tank, very sturdy and rugged. Turquiose color. On/Off switch. LEDs for both On/Off and Boost. 9v battery or AC powered (AC cord not included).

This pedal is awesome! I've been dinking around with overdrives for years, looking for one that fits my style of playing. The Power Screamer can give you the TS-9 sound with the 1st diode position, but better. This pedal's other 2 diode position are unbelievable. Extremely smooth overdrive through all settings. There was no drastic "jump" in drive when rotating the "Gain" knob. The "Tone" knob was neutral at the 12 o'clock position, but I wound up liking it best around 2 o'clock. The overdrive on this pedal is very natural...if you didn't see the turquoise piece of metal on the floor, you'd never know it wasn't the amp.

I A/B'd this pedal side by side with a TS-9, Keeley modded Boss Blues Driver, Route 66, and Fulltone 2. I used my Tele with stock '02 AmStd pickups through a Peavey Classic 50 head and a Blankenship Little 18, both EL84 amps.

I personally felt this pedal destroyed every overdrive I ever played. There was no mid-range "honk", like with the TS-9. The Power Screamer was smoother and "rounder" than the Keeley-modded Blues Driver. It was more versitle than the Route 66 (which I also think is a good pedal). The Fulltone 2 didn't sound "right" through the EL84 amp. This was something I read before, that the Fulltone was better for Fender amps with different tubes. But anyway, I can't say enough about how natural and smooth this pedal is. It can get you anywhere from a slight push for country, grit for southern rock, or enough drive for Led Zeppelin. It WILL NOT get you heavy distorition. After about the 3rd hour in the store (Cowtown Guitars in LV, NV), I had this pedal set as an in-between overdrive used with my amp: Dirtier than my clean channel, cleaner than my dirty channel. I wound up using the 2nd diode position the most. All notes were clear and definable while playing rhythm...both full and partial chords. I played the riff to "Long Train Running" by the Doobie Brothers, and there was no muddiness or "noise"...you could hear all notes nicely. Played a few Stones tunes, Black Crowes, Whiskey Downs, Faces, Waylon, Skynyrd...this pedal provided just the bite needed.
The FAT BOOST was very helpful, just clicking on it for leads. It did fatten up the sound a little bit. Filled out the Tele's bridge pickup without taking away it's bite. It still sounded like a single-coil and it still sounded like a Tele.

The MSRP was $215. I paid $175. Worth every penny.

http://www.homebrewelectronics.com