IMHO, The zendrive pedal is not a Dumble pedal. Its really Larry Carlton and Robben Ford in a box. It just so happens that these guys were using Dumbles. Anybody will sound different through a Dumble....just like any other amp.....that explains Firemodels experience.
Face it, we are attracted to that elusive RF and LC sound. I was attracted to LC then RF's tone. I researched and found out that both of em were using Dumbles. Because, I can't afford to get one, I see amp mfg who are looking for that LC and RF sound too and I found Brownote. Hermida invented the zendrive with RFs and LCs tone in his head. So it is right to say, its really a LC and RF pedal tone in a box but not a Dumble. Robben Ford one time played without his Dumble and sounded like he was using his Dumble. Guess what he was using? yes... a zendrive plugged into a Twin amp.
I have a friend ,Chuck, jazz guitarist extraordinaire who loves that tone too and you can hear it in his music. Like me, his a Dlite owner. but he uses a Made in CHIna Hofner 335 clone and can sound like LC's tone.
Watch and listen.....
In this case jmorrerro is so fond of Brad Paisley and Brad is using a zendrive.
His pedal is really a Brad Paisley tone in a box.
on that note (with my penchant for nerdy trivia added just coz i'm in the mood to type despite the lingering flu)... rf was using a banzai fireball before hermida handed him an early 3 knob zendrive. it evolved into the 4 knob version that has gathered popularity now. i wish i had pulled the trigger when the first version came out (i nearly did but was reluctant! damn reluctance!) as rf carries those two with him sometimes, despite the changes alf has made in the circuit. rf has also been spotted recently using an ulbrick 12axe in his rig, no zen in sight. though i recently read that he was using the zen as a booster for his ods. damn, like a dumble ods needs one! but who can complain?
like us commoners, he too changes his flavor once in a blue moon. but yes phil, when he does the euro tours and doesnt want to haul his ods's, i read that he rents red knob twins, jumpers them and pummels the input with the zen. the zen is a phenomenal pedal, and the clones are enough evidence of its sonic impact
larry at one stage had a duo of keeley modded boss bd-2's. i have an old dvd where he was even playing a solid state yamaha amp. still amazing!
there were reports about his ods's blowing up quite a few times recently and at some gigs, one with robben, and LC used a bludotone amp as a back up.
well before the dumble episode for these two, they were fender amp boys, (steeley dan era up to the earlt 80's for LC and "the inside story / yellow jackets" for RF). we're at wavelength about how these guys seemingly carry the sound with them no matter what scenario or period.
while i do agree with you at some point that the zen is a LC/RC pedal in a box (though brad paisley, scott lerner and a whole heap of folks use one, including our very own joey puyat who either plugs into that, a gsr or back to his trusty rat, among the bevy of pedals he owns) i dont think we can seperate the dumble entity from the pedal's conception and inspiration, its the house the pedal was built upon. just my opinion
nearly dove for the SE too the other night, btw, but i regained my senses coz i figured i do have better things to throw my hard earned moolah at. i've opted for something alittle below the radar, but equally as righteous based on reports...
i can only imagine how a real ods would feel and react to touch. phil, do find the time to give one a shot if you can, you have much better access there, and based on what i have heard on your clips and send us a report
i know you have a brownote, i'm sure its righteous, yet i'm sure that for the heck of the experience you must be itching to feel its big mama
