Pigtronix - Fat Drive

Pigtronix Fat Drive

The effect pedal has become almost as big of part of a musician as the guitar itself. With such a huge ton of Reverbs, Delays, Flangers, Overdrives, Distortions and Wah's it really is hard to know what is best for your style and budget. Digital effects have been taking the world by storm and have been getting more crisp and more of a analog sound to them but many artists are very much loyal to analog effects. Many musicians use a vast array of effects to spruce up there sound and tone while some just need a pedal to add a bit of sparkle. There really is no wrong thing to do when it comes to your tone and trying new things can always unlock new sounds.

Pigtronix is second generation of American boutique pedal makers. They have jumped to the front of the pack in many ways with using high end components and designs gigging and studio musicians drool after. I have tried out and used a few different Pigtronix pedals over the past few years and had nothing but great success. Today we are going to talk about the Pigtronix Fat Drive.


Features

100% Analog wide range overdrive
Multi-Stage Tube Emulated Clipping
Passive LPF Tone Control
True Bypass Switching
Voltage 9-18v DC
Current Draw 38ma @ 9v 120ma @18v

Layout

Volume Knob
Gain Knob
Tone Knob
Hi/Lo Gain Switch  


Sound

The Pigtronix Fat Drive has only a few knobs but loaded with a massive tone. Using the 9 volt battery feature a musician can take a bit of time and dial in gritty blues and southern rock to a brilliant classic rock with a full bold sound. When plugged in using a 18 volt power cable the pedal takes on another whole brilliance, It is almost like a whole new pedal in its own rights. Taking a bit of time I can get a nice rounded southern rock all the way up to a bold hard rock and even metal tone. The Fat Drive really can satisfy the Ibanez Tube Screamer fans supplying the same crispness and tight end guitar players worship. It is very hard to really put into words to explain how versatile this pedal is but using what I can I will say Bold, Brilliant, Heavy, Bluesy, Gritty, Tasteful and Full. I would recomend using a noise suppressor with it like all overdrives/distortion pedals when cranked all the way up cause of unwanted feedback etc. This pedal is a lot quieter with the unwanted sounds then most of this style of pedals I have used.




My Opinion

Pigtronix has really hit a home run with this pedal taking all the great parts of many great pedals over the years and stuffing them into a small analog stomp box that will thrill even the most picky of players. From just needing a bit of boost or needing tube sounding saturation this pedal is one of the greatest I have ever used. I am one of them players that love to play everything from blues to brutal styles of music and this pedal has me covered on all fronts. Stomping this to make distortion a bit more robust or taking your clean channel and adding a bit of spice is easily no problem with this pedal. I have run this pedal with many other style of pedals and it blends very well what can sometimes be a issue. The price is also appealing cause pedals that usually cannot do half of what this one does usually can cost twice the price.


Contact
www.facebook.com/pages/Pigtronix/113556637539
http://www.pigtronix.com/

                                                                            

NSX Engineering - Delay Pedal

NSX Engineering
Some time ago I was contacted by a friend and was told there was a new company hand making effect pedals. I contacted NSX Engineering cause I was excited cause gear makers are very far and few here in the valley.
NSX Engineering is from Idaho Falls Idaho with Nathan Slade at the helm taking a bit of a different take on full on hand wired all analog pedals. When Nathan and I talked on the phone it almost sounded way to good to be true a pedal of my choosing with the skin of my choosing all the entire way I want it for under a 100 bucks but he said that was totally how it would happen. I ordered a Delay pedal but wanted it worded really different so went with D-Laid and a orange simple skin on it. It took about a week and a half and then Nathan said it was ready so I made the hour long trip to Idaho falls and took a quick look around his setup. Nathan had some pedals that he made all setup and played a bunch of them from all styles some that had some of the most beautiful skins on them I had ever seen. Nathan's setup was everything I had hoped it to be from all the components and parts and a bit messy (I like messy). I got this pedal home and it was time to give it a whirl in my own settings and guitars.

Layout & Features
The pedal has three knobs Delay, Mix, Repeats and a toggle Infinity. The layout is basic with a In and Out and Infinity toggle with a simple switch on and off.

Sound
I honestly was not expecting a lot for 100 bucks with most import pedals being close to 200 and high end reaching 500 dollars but this pedal would give any boutique Delay pedal a run for there money. I can get that rich full sounding Pink Floyd sound to the Prog Metal sounds of Dream Theater without a lot of dialing. I could dial in them 80's leads clear to modern day shredding with a quiet on and off what really surprised me This Delay pedal really was bold when it needed to be and it was purring like a baby kitten when the music called for it. I used my Carvin V3 and V3m heads with it mixing it with the amps reverb and I was getting such beautiful sounds that a pedal costing three times the amount would only deliver. I can hear a change with  the Infinity toggle but have not really been in a situation that required me to change it back and forth cause I am getting all the sounds I need without it.   

My Opinion
This pedal can perform up with pedals costing three times or more and who does not like custom features on skin and name of the pedal. While talking to Nathan he was up for making new pedals and new designs of any kind shape or sound. It impressed me this day in age of having products made in other countries using sub par parts and made in huge patches that a person right here in the United States would offer such options and not take the rent money to do so. I would and will use and support this company cause not just cause of the amazing products but honestly Nathan is one of the nicest guys I have ever met and is willing to go up and beyond at a moments notice to keep his customers happy.

Contact
https://www.facebook.com/NSXmusicaltechnology