Is this a Snowdrift or a Fingerprint?

[DhanoSuzuki]

So on a whim, I made an offer on a Secret Seasons "Snowdrift/Fingerprint" pedal on Reverb. I don't have it yet so I can't post a gutshot, but maybe somebody here knows what it is anyway...

So the listing calls it a Secret Seasons Snowdrift/Fingerprint 2008, and from what I understand somebody assembled it from a kit they bought (I'm assuming from like Secret Seasons? I know they ended up crapping out, so did they ever end up selling any pedals/kits?)

Whoever built it wrote "Snowdrift" on the top, but it only has three knobs and one footswitch and all of the pics I've seen of the Snowdrifts have 4 knobs and two footswitches, so it looks more like an early Fingerprint to me (before they added the second footswitch to the FP).

Description from the listing:
"Built from a long discontinued FuzzHugger/Secret Seasons kit of an even longer (at the time) discontinued fuzz from Penny Pedals . The Fingerprint Fuzz is a unique circuit that uses both transistors and an opamp to create fuzz, along with a blue LED, which functions as a clipping diode and lights up as you play, depending on the setting and the intensity of your pick attack. Very dynamic and cool sounding fuzz. Controls are Level, Gain, and Texture. The Texture controls the amount of LED clipping."

Notice that the description refers to it as a Fingerprint with no mention of Snowdrift.

I mean either way I'd be happy with it. I thought I was buying a Fingerprint, so if it ends up being a Snowdrift that'd be cool too.

Pics attached

[D.o.S.]

fuzzhugger sold Snowflake kits a few years ago. Like 2012ish?

Tom also built a similar effect with some special sauce as the fuzzprint:
http://fuzzhugger.com/pedal-fuzzprint.html

You can read more about that whole thing here:
http://www.ilovefuzz.com/viewtopic.php? ... =snowdrift
and here:
viewtopic.php?f=149&t=31357

But basically:

The Snowdrift is a Fingerprint with a footswitchable fuzz in front of it. That fuzz was based on a stripped-down, non-oscillating AB-Synth (per Mike's request).

Worth noting, too, that the last run of the fingerprint also had two stomps and three knobs:


But that was a boost, so I'm guessing that you have what would presumably be an OG fingerprint from a kit?

[DhanoSuzuki]

Thanks

That's what I was thinking, based on the features. The only thing different about it is the blue LED that lights up when you play. Doesn't seem to be on the Penny Pedals ones:



Though I suppose if the LED is used for clipping then the Penny Pedals originals might have just kept it inside the enclosure.

Any idea if the claim about the texture knob controlling the LED clipping is true? For some reason I was under the impression that the "texture" control was a feedback loop or something. Though I can't remember where I read that, so I'm probably mistaken.

[D.o.S.]

I have no idea -- never played one, just watched them surface and disappear.

[peaches]

Irrelevant I know but heck those painted pedals are gorgeous.

[DhanoSuzuki]

Irrelevant I know but heck those painted pedals are gorgeous.

Heckin right. Laura Bennett does me an aesthetically pleasing, bork bork.

Looks like she got her hands on a Wolf Computer at one point too:


I'd kill something for a custom painted WC. Literally kill, with a knife.

[kbit]

Whoa. That's probably my favorite of hers. So clean.

[ThurberMingus]

An OG Bennett painted Fingerprint is one of my holy grail pedals. I have a clone a friend built, but something tells me that I'm missing some of the magic.

[sylnau]

Snowdrift had four knobs and where built by Julie Dalton (from what I recall).

[Eric!]

Is a Snowflake kit yah

[Chankgeez]

… or it could be a Snowprint or a Fingerdrift.

[coupleonapkins]

[sylnau]

Is a Snowflake kit yah

[DhanoSuzuki]

Alright, well it came a couple days ago and I've played with it a bit.

Definitely do not see how it could be a Snowdrift. Lacks the AB-Synth circuit that was supposed to be in the SD.

Pretty sure that whoever made it didn't put it together exactly right. I'm guessing something is messed up with the amount of gain. You're supposed to be able to dial in glitchy octave stuff with the texture knob, but that doesn't even come close to happening.

However, if I put it after my EHX Germanium OD pedal, it gets crazy glitchy and octavey. So, I guess it works like it's supposed to with the aid of another pedal.

With the supplemental pedal engaged, reminds me a little bit of the Wolf Computer's melting Atari toanz, but with its own flavor - more chewy, less videogamey.

Is fun.