I just recieved my new FD-II. This one has a swich to go from "flat-mids" to "mids" (old style)
I played it with a CS Strat thru my SLO's Clean channel with the SRV mod on (mid cut makes it sound mote like a Marshall)

Also, none of my tests used the Comp-Cut feature, which I never use and really have no use for. It's a cool feature but not for me.

The differences: I don't find them subtle at all. The "mids" mode has more gain and volume than the flat mids. More TS-like.When you hit that switch, you instantly hear the gain increase.
I can see how guys who play live like this mode. The mids help you cut thru better.

That said, the flat-mids is just as nice in it's own right. It's brighter, smoother. I believe Trower is using the flat-mids version, because, damn, it sounds just like his recent live cd. The one with a show from '74 and a show from '98.
This pedal is super versatile set up this way.

The FD-II also sounded really good driving my SLO's lead channel. I put the gain at noon, and drove it with the pedal and had amazing sound and sustain.

Mike said it's a wire snip to change modes....please don't barrage him with
a million FD-II's at his door!!!

Also, the new '70 Pedal. Comes in a cool blue color.
There are BC-183L in there or something close to it....some special transistors. This version has some new tricks and I can hear it. The low end and sustain is absolutely the best I've heard so far for a silicon fuzz.
While the Sobbat silicon is great with nice tone, this '70 was the shit. Much more bottom and sustain. The Sobbat has it's own thing, treblier, nice tone, less gain.
This was the closest to Woodstock and BOG I've played. It cleans up really well too.
There is a part in the BOG's Machine Gun, midway thru the solo, where Hendrix switches back to his neck pu and plays some devistatingly fast licks that , to me, sound
like a synth or something. This box was getting that. The harmonics, low end, and sustain was amazing.
Hats off to Mike.

How does the mids mode affect the boost end of it?

I set my FD-II up like a TS9-comp cut off; med-low in gain with vol boost and then the boost control on 10 for more compression/sustain. DOes the extra mid make the boost too compressed or nasally?

I keep bouncing between the ts9 reissue that I put the 808 stuff in and the Fulldrive. The FUlldrive is more refined but takes up alot of space...and I dig using my DS-1 for higher gains moreso than the boost on the FUlldrive due to it being less compressed.

Looking forward to Mike's distortion pro..

Daniel

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DHuff:
[B]How does the mids mode affect the boost end of it?

I set my FD-II up like a TS9-comp cut off; med-low in gain with vol boost and then the boost control on 10 for more compression/sustain. DOes the extra mid make the boost too compressed or nasally?


I plugged in to give an accurate opinion.
I set the Volume 11:00, Tone-noon, and both gain- full up. In the "normal" compressed mode (volume knob down)

Using the Boost mode (switched to Flat Mids).....still has that sweet, no-mids tone. The highs are sweet sounding....pick attack is very clear. Switching to the "Mids"
the sound gets fuller, less pick attack. To bring the pick attack back, I put the Tone knob on 2:00. Sound is thicker.
I tell you, both sounds rock. Different but equally valid. One doesn't "blow the other away"...they are just different.
The mids are not naselly either.


I keep bouncing between the ts9 reissue that I put the 808 stuff in and the Fulldrive. The FUlldrive is more refined but takes up alot of space...and I dig using my DS-1 for higher gains moreso than the boost on the FUlldrive due to it being less compressed.


Yup, the DS-1 has more gain than the FD even in the boost mode, but the DS-1 is not very toneful.

Looking forward to Mike's distortion pro..

You and me both. I hear end of July.


Carl

cool-thanks for the input. Might try lifting the wire..if its cool I'll put in a switch.

As for the DS-1, it gets the gain I want w/out over-compressing or getting too wierd, but it has kind of a 'blah' unremarkable thing about itself.
That distortion pro sounds sweet.

On the Fulltone website,you can sign up to win a Distortion Pro. If I'm not mistaken it would be serial number 1. I think it's http://www.fulltone.com

Do you guys think this mod (adding the switch) is fairly easy, able to be done by someone with basic soldering skills? Would I need a special bit to drill the hole in the metal for the switch, or any other considerations? Would I need to take the circuit board out to do it (mine appears glued in) or could I just snip that wire from the top and splice to the wires going to the switch? Thanks for any help, I think I'm gonna try it this weekend, hope I don't butcher it!!!