EarthQuaker Devices Plumes Transparent Overdrive
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Plumes Small Signal Shredder
Plumes is a low to medium gain overdrive based on the trusty lime-green overdrive that has been an industry staple since its inception. This is the kind of overdrive that works in conjunction with a good valve amp to create the warm saturation people like to call "transparent". While this circuit has been the foundation of countless other overdrives available today, we feel the Plumes has a few twists and turns to make it unique enough to stand out.The Plumes does away with the trusted JRC4558 OpAmp and the BJT buffers and replaces them with low noise JFET OpAmps for a more robust and precise signal with a significantly lower noise floor. The 9v power input is internally converted to +/-9v for more headroom and a clarity that is almost three dimensional. The input impedance has been raised to a whopping 10megaohms for a stronger signal with more clarity and chime. Cutoff of the tone control has been adjusted to deliver a more useful range of travel with more booming bass on the low end without sacrificing the cutting midrange and bright top end.
Last, but certainly not least, the Plumes offers three different clipping options to ensure that it will work with a wide variety of gear and playing styles.
Mode 1 is symmetrical clipping utilizing a pair of light emitting diodes; this is the crunchiest setting the Plumes has to offer. When played through a clean amp, itll deliver a reasonable facsimile of that classic crunchy valve amp tone.
Mode 2 is clean boost mode. This eliminates the soft clipping diodes altogether and leaves you with straight OpAmp drive. This is perfect for pushing your clean tone out in front or driving the preamp of an already overdriven amp into tasteful breakup territory.
Mode 3 is an asymmetrical silicon diode arrangement similar to the stock screamer but with more output
and clean clarity; the tone some people describe as "transparent".
Features
• Unique approach to a classic tube-like overdrive circuit offering more headroom, lower noise and far better signal integrity• Features 3 different clipping options: symmetrical LED, asymmetrical silicon, and no diode OpAmp drive
• Reimagined tone control to sculp low end, clear top end, and focused midrange
• True bypass
• Silent relay-based switching
• Features EarthQuaker Devices' proprietary FlexiSwitch Technology
• All-analog signal path
Specifications
- Current Draw: 25 mA- Input impedance: 10M
- Output impedance: 100 ohms
- Dimensions: 4.75" x 2.50" x 2.25"
- Weight: 14 oz
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Q & A
Reviews
I generally run mine on the first mode, with the drive and tone knobs at about 10:30, and the volume just a hair past 9 (the volume output on this pedal is huge). Sounds good on the clean channel, with maybe just a little more compression than I'd like, but it really makes lead lines and percussive riffs on the OD channel POP!
Contrary to what has been stated, it does not take a battery, and I dont recommend pulling the bottom plate, as it is just plain depressing. The internals are almost entirely made up of a single plastic assembly, that likely takes a trained monkey less than 5 minuets to mount in the housing, and you get a sense of exactly how little that "Made in USA" sticker actually means. You know that old Boss pedal you've owned since 97 and it still works? I wouldnt expect that kind of lifespan out of this one. Unfortunately thats about par for the course now so one cant really dock too many points, especially when it sounds this good, at this price.
Chugging was good on others and was quiet on the Dirty Tree pedal I tried but they all sounded similar in a modern way and I found this kept the tone of your amp more.
Rental rates
This product is normally available for rental. Please contact your preferred location for further information.
1 Day from $3.00
1 Week $5.00
1 Month $10.00
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