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Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:05 am
by Casavettes
So maybe I just regret selling my Crimson Drive
And boy did that thing love to be stacked with other dirt

But maybe I sold it for a reason? I think what initially drew me into it was just the breakup characteristics. It sounded really open but also strangled the signal at the same time. The decay was free of any crackles that I sometimes hear with certain pedals(through my fender concert reverb)

Basically what I'm asking is
Anything similar to this guy?

Also, general germanium appreciation thread.

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:12 am
by Uncle Grandfather
Casavettes wrote:So maybe I just regret selling my Crimson Drive
And boy did that thing love to be stacked with other dirt

But maybe I sold it for a reason? I think what initially drew me into it was just the breakup characteristics. It sounded really open but also strangled the signal at the same time. The decay was free of any crackles that I sometimes hear with certain pedals(through my fender concert reverb)

Basically what I'm asking is
Anything similar to this guy?

Also, general germanium appreciation thread.
Was crimson drive a buzzaround? Awesome circuit if so. Check out dizzy tone for a little more textured buzzaround. Im certain germs are superior to silicon, except when silicon sounds better :lol:

Edit: oh it's a eqd, nevermind but buzzaround is still dope. ;)

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:20 am
by skullservant
That's the Arc Effects guy, the Crimson King. The Crimson Drive was a germanium drive.

I have limited experience with germanium devices. Although the Rangemaster is one of my favorite and most used pedals, period.

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:22 am
by Chankgeez
Uncle Grandfather wrote:Was crimson drive a buzzaround? Awesome circuit if so. Check out dizzy tone for a little more textured buzzaround. Im certain germs are superior to silicon, except when silicon sounds better :lol:
No, he's asking about the EQD Crimson Drive which is a germanium overdrive.

You're thinking of the ARC Crimson King which is a Buzzaround based design.

EDIT: Oh, and skully beat me to it. (I think I may've broken my finger which makes typing kinda slow.)

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:27 am
by sylnau
Never tried it, but Empress have a germanium drive.
Image

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:30 am
by Uncle Grandfather
skullservant wrote:That's the Arc Effects guy, the Crimson King. The Crimson Drive was a germanium drive.

I have limited experience with germanium devices. Although the Rangemaster is one of my favorite and most used pedals, period.
Yeah the rangemaster has always been a welcome tone addition for me too. I'm surprised you have not gotten into building germ circuits, seems like for a builder it would be a lot of fun dealing with the sound/testing germs for what all that it is that builders do to tune a germ circuit. For all I know which isn't much it could be no different than deling with silicon, but soething tells me there is more involved? I just know that I love love love germs.

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:32 am
by skullservant
It's funny cause I have a decent amount of different germaniums just chilling in my parts bin. I need to test them to get hfe and the like.

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:50 am
by friendship
I'd like to try EHX Germanium 4, it sounds like it has a lot of interesting textures and is a germanium drive/distortion.

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 10:03 am
by Casavettes
skullservant wrote:That's the Arc Effects guy, the Crimson King. The Crimson Drive was a germanium drive.

I have limited experience with germanium devices. Although the Rangemaster is one of my favorite and most used pedals, period.
Maybe I need to try a sparkle motion out

And I forgot about empress germ drive syl

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 10:07 am
by sylnau
Casavettes wrote:
skullservant wrote:That's the Arc Effects guy, the Crimson King. The Crimson Drive was a germanium drive.

I have limited experience with germanium devices. Although the Rangemaster is one of my favorite and most used pedals, period.
Maybe I need to try a sparkle motion out

And I forgot about empress germ drive syl
With the EQ it's probably versatile.

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:01 pm
by Doctor X
superpuzzle - switch between silicon and germanium + octave footswitch + voltage starve + diff amp flip switch

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:03 pm
by Uncle Grandfather
Doctor X wrote:superpuzzle - switch between silicon and germanium + octave footswitch + voltage starve + diff amp flip switch
+1, great superfuzz variant

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:06 pm
by Doctor X
aye, my maths maybe incorrect ..... but just with the switches that gives you 8 different base circuits, then add the texture/voltage starve to that

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:43 pm
by LaoWiz
Superfuzz aint no germanium drive, though. Totally diff. That switch is fo GE or Silicon clipping.

Re: Crimson Drive/Germanium Drives in General

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 3:02 pm
by bigchiefbc
I loved the EHX Germanium OD. Between the VOLTS and BIAS knobs, you can get all kinds of weird breakup and decay artifacts. In fact, that's one of a handful that I'll definitely re-buy someday if I can get my $$$ situation squared away.