NPD - Carl Martin Hot Drive N Boost MK2

[JohnnyGuitar]

Got a good deal for it - the first piece of gear I have ever bought without plugging in first so I was a little worried about how it would work out.




And,

I love the sound.

It's a very hot and very full sounding overdrive-distortion. Great harmonics, nice hard rocking tones - to my ears it's great for 70's to early 80's hard rock, NWOBHM etc... made me GAS for a Flying V and a Marshall.

The boost is very warm on its own, sends the amp to distortion very quickly...

Only thing I dislike is that you need to set the volume pretty high on the overdrive side to get unity gain, so it limits the possibilities a little - which is OK for me - I need one sweat spot in a pedal. So far it's on everything on 1 o'clock..


I need to check it out in a gig - but so far it's a keeper. :cool2:

 

[Hoss]

Re: NPD - Carl Martin Hot Drive N Boost MK2

sweet man...NEW STUFF ROCKS!!! :headbang:

sounds like a winner to me?!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: NPD - Carl Martin Hot Drive N Boost MK2

The lack of volume is an easy fix...
Alot of things is an easy fix on that one
Did you get the flat box version?

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: NPD - Carl Martin Hot Drive N Boost MK2

sweet man...NEW STUFF ROCKS!!! :headbang:

sounds like a winner to me?!

New stuff rocks indeed. Even if I buy it used...

So far it's a definite winner.

The lack of volume is an easy fix...
Alot of things is an easy fix on that one
Did you get the flat box version?

Never noticed any differences between the boxes. It's a very tall box if that's what you mean - looks like a cube.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: NPD - Carl Martin Hot Drive N Boost MK2

Heh ok old one then
We have used flat ones for the last two years now, on most of the effects that could be used in one.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: NPD - Carl Martin Hot Drive N Boost MK2

:cool2:

So how can I take care of the low volume?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: NPD - Carl Martin Hot Drive N Boost MK2

Changing a resistor
I will get a picture for you, and the value as well.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: NPD - Carl Martin Hot Drive N Boost MK2

Thanks.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: NPD - Carl Martin Hot Drive N Boost MK2

Well the pedal has been tried in a rehearsal. NICE... I love the way pinch harmonics sound with it... never could do it with the Rat or Muff.
Getting unity gain was still the only issue though but I just loved the tone.
The boost, on 1, fattens everything up and gives you enough volume to cut through anything. Gets totally crazy when you get past 3...

I've tried it at home through the Big Muff... great way to get that "melting" feeling but it was really not practical at rehearsal - you need a little more presence when you're playing with a band. I'm still considering keeping the Big Muff as the combination between the two is so much fun but I do need the cash...