JAKE’S GEAR PICKS 2020

DRIVE

As a fan of D-Style overdrive, the J Rockett Dude will never be too far from my board. The amount of compression it adds is sweet enough that I can hang on notes as long as I want, and it doesn’t sound over-the-top gainy when I crank up the drive. The Dude will knock out the DMBL, the Overrated Special, and the Euphoria any day. I have a Dumbloid clone, and it’s a close second, but the Dude is special.

Benson’s Preamp pedal has been calling my name lately. So many drive pedals have that boxed-in sound or the hash that tells my ears I am hearing a pedal and not a cranked amp. The Benson Preamp has an open weightyness to it that sounds like a loud, loud amplifier. It can add sparkle to country licks and a 10,000 decibel punch to the punk rock rippers. It’s a little spendy, but the build of the pedal is outstanding.

I’ve also been using a Lovepedal Mosferatu. It’s thick. It’s crunchy.

FUZZ

Fuzz is so absolutely subjective to different players that many choose not to engage with this category of pedal. Fresh off the truck the Catalinbread Giygas caught my eye. It fits squarely in the modern/thick/fuzz-stortion lane, and feels heavy and complex. The combination of active Mid and EQ controls with the “Blend” knob might be enough to get fuzz-reluctant players to give it a shot.

BOOST

When I need a boost I reach for MXR’s Micro Amp. The more you turn up the knob, the louder it gets. Easy.

DELAY

I was lucky enough to use a ‘50s Echoplex while recording a few years ago, but unlucky enough that it ruined most analog delays. The real Echoplex is massively thick and modulated, something I don’t hear in many delays that remain crisp and clean. The Catalinbread Belle Epoch, specifically the Deluxe unit, does exactly that.

REVERB

Even though it's a digital ‘verb and only $40, the Deadbeat Sound VOID Reverb is everything I like in a reverb. The VOID modulates slightly and is far from hi-fi, but it never washes out or eats into my signal. The owner of Deadbeat is retiring, so get ‘em while you can.

TREMOLO

My trem taste are simple, and while I love the Monument and others, the JHS Tidewater Mini-Tremolo is the one on my board.

STRINGS

Curt Mangan Pure Nickel .09-.42