Michael7
Dr. Squier
Is this a good pedal if I want to get the Marshall Bluesbreaker pedal sound? I already have a Boss Blues Driver and would like to hear the differences.
Anyone familiar with Tomsline ABS-1 Blues pedal, also sold by Aroma and apparently as Monoprice Blues Overdrive?
- Thread starter Michael7
- Start date
I don't have that one, but I do have the Tomsline Bluesy mini pedal, and I think it's fantastic.
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
The Tomsline Bluesy is a Bluesbreaker clone, and is lower gain than the Aroma pedal in question. I've had a couple of both and I actually like the Aroma more. Bluesbreaker type pedals are too low gain for my taste, since I use OD pedals as low gain distortion boxes into clean SS or modeling amps, not as boosters to juice the input stage of a tube amp. I also wouldn't call the BD2 (or the Aroma) a Bluesbreaker style pedal. It is also higher gain, but gets very fuzzy with the gain high, something the Aroma pedal doesn't do. The only thing that all three pedals have in common, IMO, is that they're all quite bright. I also like the red Aroma pedal. The thing I don't like is that I can't see the pointer on the metal knobs to see where they're set. BTW, Aroma is the parent company of Tomsline. The Monoprice is just a rebranded version.
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Michael7
Dr. Squier
This has strayed a bit, since I don't think the ABS-1 Tomsline/Aroma Blues pedal is the same as their ABY-3 Bluesy pedal. It is however apparently the same as the Monoprice Blues Overdrive. I'm asking about the ABS-1 since there is one local to me for $18 used.
Here is a Reddit thread about the ABS-1, but the technical specs are beyond my comprehension and don't really help me get to the understanding if it is a true Bluesbreaker pedal.
Between the Blues Driver, Joyo Sweet Baby, and the Caline Pure Sky which I already have, is there even any need for a Bluesbreaker type? Having listened to a direct comparison of Blues Driver vs the Bluesbreaker, I can't really tell if the same sounds could be achieved with different settings on the Blues Driver.
Here is a Reddit thread about the ABS-1, but the technical specs are beyond my comprehension and don't really help me get to the understanding if it is a true Bluesbreaker pedal.
Between the Blues Driver, Joyo Sweet Baby, and the Caline Pure Sky which I already have, is there even any need for a Bluesbreaker type? Having listened to a direct comparison of Blues Driver vs the Bluesbreaker, I can't really tell if the same sounds could be achieved with different settings on the Blues Driver.
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
The ABS-1 is not the same as the Bluesy, as I said before. The Bluesy mini pedals is a Bluesbreaker clone, but I never thought the Aroma was. The Boss BD2 is VERY similar to a Bluesbreaker, if you use it on lower gain settings. The Aroma/Monoprice is more of a TS variant (but with less mid hump and maybe more treble) from what I remember of it, but for $18 I'd jump on it! However, I'm not sure it'll be that much different than the BD2 either.
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DougMen
Squier-Axpert
Boss pedals are always more complex than most other drive pedals, for the fact that they have FET soft switching and a complex buffer section, if for no other reason.
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
FWIW, Mooer makes both a BD2 clone, the Blues Mood, and a Bluesbreaker clone, the Blues Crab. I don't know what guitar and amp you have, or what kind of sound you want, but of the dozens of OD pedals I've tried, my three favorite Klon klones, the Caline Medusa, Joyo Tauren, and Tone City Bad Horse do the best job of simulating a cranked tube amp (IMO) with a Strat into a clean SS or modeling amp, with their gain high, tone around 10 o'clock, and their level a bit above unity. Of all the Aroma/Tomsline pedals I've tried, the Dumbler is my favorite, and also my favorite of the several "Dumble" style pedals I've tried. It's also good at simulating a cranked amp sound, as are SOME TS types, but not all of them.
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DougMen
Squier-Axpert
Your Pure Sky on lower gain settings is gonna be very similar to a Bluesbreaker too.
Michael7
Dr. Squier
Thanks Doug! I bought the Medusa some time ago, primarily based on your recommendation. I have thought about the Dumbler, and maybe will try that instead so I have a less redundant sounding pedal to what I already have.
I may give up on the Bluesbreaker, but the fairly new DemonFX Breaker Drive is tempting me since it is so cheap, only $26 delivered from Ali Express. Looks nicer than most of the mini pedals too.
I may give up on the Bluesbreaker, but the fairly new DemonFX Breaker Drive is tempting me since it is so cheap, only $26 delivered from Ali Express. Looks nicer than most of the mini pedals too.
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
You don't like the Medusa? I actually like full size pedals more, because it's easier to fine tune the controls than the tiny pots on mini pedals.
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
I pay a bit more for pedals, because I don't buy from China anymore, only from Ebay sellers in the US or Canada. But, they give free shipping always. That Demonfx Bluesbreaker is $50 from the seller in Canada that I buy the vast majority of my pedals from.
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DougMen
Squier-Axpert
They have a bunch of new dual pedals. These two are a Klon on one side, and a TS10 on the other side on the Gravity one, and a Klon and Bluesbreaker on the 83 drive.
The gravity should be the one with the Bluesbreaker, because it has the blue lettering on black of a Bluesbreaker.
The gravity should be the one with the Bluesbreaker, because it has the blue lettering on black of a Bluesbreaker.
