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Le Mouk
Published on 05/08/07 at 07:43
Value For Money :
Excellent
The Silver Dragon is a tube distortion pedal.
It has two switches. The first, "awaken", uses only the distortion of the 12AX7 and the second, "slayer", a mixture distortion of the lamp with the transistors, to gain a huge contribution.
Controls (which are ridiculous names referring to dragons, which does not detract from the quality of the product) are:
Canal Awaken (lamp): "Fire" (saturation level of the lamp)
"Shriek" (treble EQ)
"Roar" (EQ bass)
Canal Slayer (lamp + transistor): "Intensity" (saturation level transistor)
"Breath" (symmetry of the distortion of the signal)
"Level" (output)
Too bad there is no EQ of mediums, but the sound is not too "scoop", however.
It is powered by a 13V transformer included (9V not enough to the lamp driver, although I doubt that enough 13V!).
UTILIZATION
Configuration is very simple, it's a pedal, not a multi-effects with 128 presets! As far as research sound very typical metal, it is very easy to find her convincing. Personally, I put the gain at 5 on channel lamp, and at 9 on channel transistor. This way the sound is ultra-precise, if you push too of the gain channel transistor, the sound becomes a bit messy. The EQ for treble and 13h to 12h for low. Control "Breath" has a very subtle influence, barely audible. It acts on the symmetry of the distortion, and if pushed to the bottom, he adds harmonics, especially in play rhythm rather than lead.
SOUND QUALITY
Well, for starters, if you want a subtle overdrive or a slight crunch, go your way, here it is in the realm of big nasty distortion, even with the gain to a minimum on the channel tube.
I use a Washburn WI68 and SeymourDuncan in a Les Paul Custom also SeymourDuncan. I use a JCM800 in stereo on in KT88 Engl Vintage 4x12 cabinet, and a Sovtek MIG-50 in Marshall 1960A cabinet of 6L6. I play metal in all its forms (power, thrash, heavy ...) and I have still not found a better distortion pedal, and it really is not for lack of trying!
The sound is super sharp, very precise, although there are KT88's not for nothing. However, do not push too sharp, otherwise the sound can quickly become shrill or strident! (Hence the appellation "shriek" for the treble!).
It is clear that the discovery of this pedal does not end my quest for the Grail sound, but until they can afford the mini-rack-Nasa home VHT, it satisfies me, especially coupled with two amps all lamps in stereo ...
OVERALL OPINION
I use it for almost two years. I tried dozens of distortion pedals (Boss MT2/MD2/XT2/HM2, DOD death metal, Rocktron Rampage / Zombie / Metal Planet, ProCo Rat, Bixonic Expandora, Digitech Weapon, Marshall Jackhammer, ElectroHarmonix MetalMuff, Line6 Ubermetal , etc..), but after trying the pedals a little higher-end (Damage Control demonize, Vox Bulldog, MXR Dime / DoubleShot, Guyatone MetalMonster, T-Rex Bloody Mary / Dr.Swamp, Radial Engineering Tri-Mode / Classic, etc.). I decided to post this notice.
What I like about this pedal is its almost total lack of breath and / or feedback effects. It is the only all distos hi-gain that I tested (except for the Damage Control demonize that costs double, and Ubermetal of Line6 has a built-in noise-gate), which do not require mandatory the use of a noise-gate. It is also one that attacks the most dynamic and cutting the entire list, perfect for fast rhythmic much trash!
What I like least is making a little "cheap" and light, and the mercantile aspect of the product: names to the con for the controls, and above all, the light visible through a small grid between the controls for each channel, to be sure we can clearly see the (marketing oblige!) we have added a little more orange LED behind the lamp, to "as-if-she-would-come-in -fusion-by-the-force-of-dragon-money! " Anyway, it is not at all protected from dust, which is pretty silly for a product whose purpose is to drag the ground!
In conclusion, I would say that the Silver Dragon has a very good price / quality ratio, and it may well be enthroned in the center of my pedalboard to purchase a preamp + Poweramp more upscale. In any case, I have not found one yet that I fit better distortion than this ... Thank you for reading!
It has two switches. The first, "awaken", uses only the distortion of the 12AX7 and the second, "slayer", a mixture distortion of the lamp with the transistors, to gain a huge contribution.
Controls (which are ridiculous names referring to dragons, which does not detract from the quality of the product) are:
Canal Awaken (lamp): "Fire" (saturation level of the lamp)
"Shriek" (treble EQ)
"Roar" (EQ bass)
Canal Slayer (lamp + transistor): "Intensity" (saturation level transistor)
"Breath" (symmetry of the distortion of the signal)
"Level" (output)
Too bad there is no EQ of mediums, but the sound is not too "scoop", however.
It is powered by a 13V transformer included (9V not enough to the lamp driver, although I doubt that enough 13V!).
UTILIZATION
Configuration is very simple, it's a pedal, not a multi-effects with 128 presets! As far as research sound very typical metal, it is very easy to find her convincing. Personally, I put the gain at 5 on channel lamp, and at 9 on channel transistor. This way the sound is ultra-precise, if you push too of the gain channel transistor, the sound becomes a bit messy. The EQ for treble and 13h to 12h for low. Control "Breath" has a very subtle influence, barely audible. It acts on the symmetry of the distortion, and if pushed to the bottom, he adds harmonics, especially in play rhythm rather than lead.
SOUND QUALITY
Well, for starters, if you want a subtle overdrive or a slight crunch, go your way, here it is in the realm of big nasty distortion, even with the gain to a minimum on the channel tube.
I use a Washburn WI68 and SeymourDuncan in a Les Paul Custom also SeymourDuncan. I use a JCM800 in stereo on in KT88 Engl Vintage 4x12 cabinet, and a Sovtek MIG-50 in Marshall 1960A cabinet of 6L6. I play metal in all its forms (power, thrash, heavy ...) and I have still not found a better distortion pedal, and it really is not for lack of trying!
The sound is super sharp, very precise, although there are KT88's not for nothing. However, do not push too sharp, otherwise the sound can quickly become shrill or strident! (Hence the appellation "shriek" for the treble!).
It is clear that the discovery of this pedal does not end my quest for the Grail sound, but until they can afford the mini-rack-Nasa home VHT, it satisfies me, especially coupled with two amps all lamps in stereo ...
OVERALL OPINION
I use it for almost two years. I tried dozens of distortion pedals (Boss MT2/MD2/XT2/HM2, DOD death metal, Rocktron Rampage / Zombie / Metal Planet, ProCo Rat, Bixonic Expandora, Digitech Weapon, Marshall Jackhammer, ElectroHarmonix MetalMuff, Line6 Ubermetal , etc..), but after trying the pedals a little higher-end (Damage Control demonize, Vox Bulldog, MXR Dime / DoubleShot, Guyatone MetalMonster, T-Rex Bloody Mary / Dr.Swamp, Radial Engineering Tri-Mode / Classic, etc.). I decided to post this notice.
What I like about this pedal is its almost total lack of breath and / or feedback effects. It is the only all distos hi-gain that I tested (except for the Damage Control demonize that costs double, and Ubermetal of Line6 has a built-in noise-gate), which do not require mandatory the use of a noise-gate. It is also one that attacks the most dynamic and cutting the entire list, perfect for fast rhythmic much trash!
What I like least is making a little "cheap" and light, and the mercantile aspect of the product: names to the con for the controls, and above all, the light visible through a small grid between the controls for each channel, to be sure we can clearly see the (marketing oblige!) we have added a little more orange LED behind the lamp, to "as-if-she-would-come-in -fusion-by-the-force-of-dragon-money! " Anyway, it is not at all protected from dust, which is pretty silly for a product whose purpose is to drag the ground!
In conclusion, I would say that the Silver Dragon has a very good price / quality ratio, and it may well be enthroned in the center of my pedalboard to purchase a preamp + Poweramp more upscale. In any case, I have not found one yet that I fit better distortion than this ... Thank you for reading!