***Official Direct Drive LG thread***

[David Barber]

The Direct Drive Low Gain was born when Ronni had a request at B-Custom to shift the gain character of our Direct Drive to a very early British style sound, more of the KT66 vibe with lots of fatness and clarity. Ronni and I tweaked this design over a few months in 2007 (I think) until we got to the version that we sell now through B-Custom, We pushed a little more bottom through the overdrive circuit to make the G string "cough" just a bit like those early KT66 tube amps do when pushed. The extra clarity, sweetness and fat response add up to the Direct Drive Low Gain (DDLG in web talk)....we can talk about the pedal at length in this thread.

[Thazy]

I got one from the first run or so. No push-pull harmonics on the tone control. If I could only take one OD to a gig, this would be it.

[sternobob]

I recently picked up a DDLG and I like it a lot!

I generally play with my amps turned up to around 4:00, so that they're overdriving a bit and set my ODs above unity gain. The old DD always sounded a little too wooly with this setup. The LG, on the other hand, really works for me. Even with the harmonics switch engaged and the gain set very high, the LG maintains a clarity that I love.

[David Barber]

I recently picked up a DDLG and I like it a lot!

I generally play with my amps turned up to around 4:00, so that they're overdriving a bit and set my ODs above unity gain. The old DD always sounded a little too wooly with this setup. The LG, on the other hand, really works for me. Even with the harmonics switch engaged and the gain set very high, the LG maintains a clarity that I love.

Thanks for the field report, glad to see the LG is working out well!.

[sternobob]

I trust that the phrase "too wooly" was especially useful to you.

[ringmod]

Can you install a mod pcb in the Direct Drive LG?

[David Barber]

Can you install a mod pcb in the Direct Drive LG?

yes, you would lose the push/pull to make room.

[hobbyist789]

Can you install a mod pcb in the Direct Drive LG?

yes, you would lose the push/pull to make room.

My DD-LG is shipping back to David & crew today for exactly that!

I've always liked the pedal a tad more than the DD-SS (I like the clarity of the -LG), but always wanted to tweak the harmonics a little more carefully than either the "full-on" or "full-off" push/pull tone pot could provide. (Plus, I never liked stepping near the "pulled-up" tone pot on my pedalboard, as it's easy to knock down. Though I suppose I could've easily installed a rubber washer under it, as I'd heard somebody suggest in the past.) I'll provide my thoughts on the MOD PCB upgrade when it's back home on the 'board...

[Festus]

I just picked up a DD Low Gain, used it on a gig Saturday night. Great pedal. The description of it being in the old school British camp is right on. Super good jtm45-type sounds out of this pedal. Props to David and Ronni!

[hamerman]

I have one of the first DDLG, which doesn't have a push-pull pot. Do the more recent ones have this, like the DD?