Freekish Blues Alpha Driver versus Joyo Ultimate Drive comparison

[leftofzeroofficial]

damn, that Joyo sounds fantastic ! Ive been looking for a nice dirt box to throw in front of my Mustang III, think I found it.

[immaninja56]

Wow, the JoYo pedal actually sounds really good. I'm going to have to look into them when I start putting a pedal board together. Annnnd he still sounds like Jack Black to me lol

[drbob1]

It's actually pretty simple. Joyo is a manufacturer in China. The original ADs were badly modded UDs. If you look at the new circuit, it's identical. FB has taken advantage of the Chinese plant's willingness to print anything you want on the PCB, and finish the pedal any way you want. So, yes, it's still built by Joyo, on a slightly modded UD platform. And the price isn't terrible. But you're not getting much more than you would from Joyo and 3 parts and some solder. Your choice.

[MrPigstail]

@drbob1

You are another FSB nut job spreading lies and deceit.

PIG!

[rnfr]

oh yeah, GMD- a big thank you for not disabling comments on this video!! free speech = truth, and the truth will set you free. ;)

[rnfr]

woah, piggy! what a nutjob!!

yeah, they sound different because of the shitty mods. 2 caps and a resistor? I didn't know this was still even an issue.

[MrPigstail]

ANALOG MAN = THIEF!

PEOPLE BE AWARE!

[MrPigstail]

Where is Analog MIKEY! Another bullshitting circuit stealing pig!

Come here Mikey, lets talk you thief!

People, this guy is screwing folks all over the place for his $30 pedals. STAY AWAY!

[MrPigstail]

SuperMarioZombies,

SUCK THY COCK

MR COCKSUCKER

[MazeGuitarMan]

Joyo is better! ha!

[SuperMarioZombies]

MrPigstail is a major spammer here. DO NOT believe anything he posts here.

[MrPigstail]

Johan?.?.?.?



[Brapulp]

What is up with TONE MONK?

luv this guy madbean pedals.

Madbeam is thief in the night and Tone Monk is his disciple.

madbeam pedal man says, I have the right to steal from all the legit pedal manufactures, but none can steal from me. I should say Tone Monk paid for his purchase.

this must be the FSB creed.

agree with Mr. Pigstail, FSB will need to be shut down.

[naazrael]

@Brapulp How is madbean stealing? You should familiarize yourself with the law.

[YoOo0oToOo0ob]

Meh, people pay a bunch extra for modded pedals (Keeley DS-1), they sound different, if you like the modded version whatever. I guess it's bad business practice to claim it's your own circuit though lol.

[ravenslaves]

@YoOo0oToOo0ob That's really it, that's where the problem started. Had they not done that, no one would care. Had they been honest from the start, no one would be able to complain. Freekish Blues looks like they're on track now, but the troll army (of one) and his sock accounts, makes FB look like shit all over again.

Which is a shame, I thought the Betty Boost was a great mod for an otherwise useless BBE pedal, at a pretty fair price. Still do.

[TheGearWhore]

The Alpha Drive II Red Dot replaced by Two-Rock......  Just a great buy at $99-. Thumbs Up! GMD!

[Eimyrock]

Satchel, is that you?

[triviani1234]

unsuscribed

[thearkantigers]

Latest news... today MrPigstail enter Guitar center and kill all the overdrive and distortion pedals with his teeth out of rage, the workers only said that he was crying and screaming ¨why freakish blues whyyyyyy¨ more on this at your local news at 11, now back with you gearmanndude....

[MrPigstail]

denealways,

What mess? The video is listed above. Very Clear to me and the public. Mess is all Clear and in order.

Alpha Drive II is an incredible, affordable built like a tank overdrive.

$99 USD.

WOW!

Ken,

Emailed me and asked me to calm down and I will. Sorry if I offended anybody but ravenslave.

Ken also mentioned that a major artist will be signing with Freekish Blues. I can't wait.

He also stated the original Alpha is in the works to be reissued by his USA Custom Shop.

WOW! WOW!

[ravenslaves]

@MrPigstail Fear not. You NEVER offended me. It's only the internet. :)

[definealways]

What a mess, where is GMD? GMD, you must have the resources to obtain the original pedal, and hopefully a friend you could trust who knows enough to compare the circuits? The comments seem to have gotten out of control at this point.

[ravenslaves]

freekishblues(dot)com/pedals

There's your confession from Freekish Blues that the TH Alpha Drive 1, is a modded pedal (Joyo). Look at all the other pedals on the page while you're there.

And note, the ONLY pedal they claim is "Hand Assembled In The USA." is the Alpha Drive II+ USA Custom Shop. NOT the standard, or Red Dot, Alpha Drive II.

If you have a problem with any of it, take it up with Freekish Blues.

This should be the end of it.

[VintageGear1969]

I do not aprove of Pigstail's language, I did buy into the hype over the TH Alpha Drive (Colored Knobs) and did buy the pedal. I sold the pedal and had Joyo Ultimate Drive. The

pedals are night and day. The Original Alpha I had was in a league by itself. It was a true Amp Like pedal. I would try the new Alpha II, I am starting to think that this discussion is going beyond right and wrong & now is a witch hunt. Seems whatever FB does will not be satisfy the lynch mob.

[MrPigstail]

Ravenslut,Again you speak lies. Again you reach into your bag of deception. Clearly you can't see and hear the video above. I have not heard one clone even come close. Do you know why?Because we know, I know , the public knows, it was you and your clan that posted fake pictures, constructed lies to deceive and destroy.You and buddies like Tim Hulio. What a a characer this guy is. He owns Fredric Effects, makes copies of the Klon and many others pedals and has the balls to be Mr.Righteous

[ravenslaves]

...and think of all the money I could save if I just paid $30 for the Joyo. I could spend another $5 in caps and resistors, $2 in paint, about 15 minutes, and I'd still have an Alpha Drive. For under $40...that's about $60-$120 that I'd have extra to spend on Murphy's Stout, that I would have wasted by buying the Freekish Blues Alpha Drive. The savings never stop.

Thanks for the great idea!

[MrPigstail]

Hey Gorgonzola Breath, I mean raveslave, Have another Guinness on me. Oh yes, you don't drink Irish beer, because you are to good for the Irish.

I think I am going to have a Guinness as My Broncos are falling apart.You say why buy an Alpha Drive? I say go spend all your hard earned cash on and EThos or a Two Rock or Zendrive.Plug in the Alpha into a good ole Fender and call it a day.SAVE MONEY FOR BEER! BEST REASON IS WRITTEN ABOVE Mr. GORGONZOLA BREATH

It all about BEER, and u drink too much.

[DecemberSean]

I have an idea. There a 1 million other pedals. Id just prefer not to "question" my pedals.

I dont "need" a freakish blues so bad, that I would risk it.

Also,it worries me people like Mr. Pig (the the 2 others) find the need to tell you 1000 times over and over its "great". Why would a normal people care. Ive got other problems.

[ravenslaves]

Another sock account...figures.

Aside from just being a slightly annoying troll, I see no reason to dispute what Freekish Blues has addmitted to, on their own website. The Alpha Drive 1, and TH version, is a modified Joyo. Which they used to lie about. So what is the Alpha Drive 2? We know it uses the same parts, and comes from the same factory as the modded Joyo. So are we to trust FB that it isn't another modded Joyo? No we're not. Not again.

[zappstarr]

@MrPigstail Hey, calm down. Why is this such a big deal to you? Do you have some financial interest in FB or something? I'm just pointing out some pix of the two pedals that someone else has posted because people are interested. I have no intention of buying either of these units because, unlike you pussies, I turn everything on my amp up to 10 to get my overdrive.

[zappstarr]

The original Alpha Drives with the three different colour knobs are the ones that are modified Joyos, not these later ones. Elsewhere in internetland (on a Gibson forum) there's pix of the guts of the Joyo and the original AD side by side (Google 'joyo freekish gibson' for the link, the pix are about half way down the forum page).

[MrPigstail]

TGP, DR. Agitator = MR C? Where are u?

Come here, and lets discuss.

[MrPigstail]

HUUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIII­IIIIIIIIIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Where are you my friend?

[MrPigstail]

Let Truth be known.

The TRUTH will Set you FREE!

Ravenslave, admit your guilt and I will assist with your mental retardation.

Did you hit the bottle again last night?

Did your demons surface again?

Tell me, I can help you overcome.

[MrPigstail]

Nice try Mr. PigstaLL,

People,

This is the type of stuff that comes from the people at Free Stomp Box. They are a disgusting group of individuals, actually a sorry bunch of mentally RETARDED individuals. Just think, "The One Who Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest". Nothing but a bunch of misfits.

Please note their tactics, of LIES and DECEPTION.

They LIED to the PUBLIC and me about Freekish BLUES.

Please go look at their history.

They tried to Blackmail Analogman, buy breaking into his server.

[MrPigstall]

you WISH I am ken

Ken is strong hairy MAN

NOT smooth happy boy lik YOU

I would make the sex with ken in rubbr pants!

LIARS, I can see you lie to me and public

The TRUTH is here

[Sick1982]

Hi GMD! I got a 2nd UD today and noticed while A/Bing that the "True Bypass" is a TRUE tone/volume killer!! Maybe this is why you had to max out the volume.

[MrPigstail]

@Sick1982

Keep reaching!

Garbage & Lies

[Sick1982]

@MrPigstail Thanks Ken!!

[ravenslaves]

A shootout between the different versions of the Joyo Ultimate Overdrive could be interesting also. As stated, they have different PCB's and layouts. I wonder how they sound stock.

I'm not sure how that translates into Engrish. Maybe someone could help out with that.

[seasonedtoker]

ppl just stfu, everybody's got an opinion on this video, just shhhhh and listen

[goodoldpatrick]

FYI, they are not identical, but only because of a couple of resistors tacked onto the pots on the FB version. Additionally, that version of the Alpha Drive has been updated with a slightly changed layout. The original FB pedal just had the names scratched off the PCB. It has been verified on numerous occasions by numerous people who have traced units that, at least until the new versions, Ken was clearly repainting the Joyos, tacking on resistors, and marking it up.

Fact.

[krispatel1]

@goodoldpatrick I dont know why but 2 days ago I randomly found joyo on ebay and did some research on them. Its weird how its been on forums for 6 months but hardly anyone knows yet

[MrPigstail]

@goodoldpatrick

How much is JOYO paying you.

another shit suck pig!

[ravenslaves]

I'd like to see some more demo's of the cheap pedals. There's tons of Chinese goodies out there. Some might be less than...well...crap. but there might be some real gems out there as well. GFS pedals, which I think are Biyang. Moen pedals. Joyo, of course. And lots of others to choose from. Which all together might be cost the same as a Box of Rocks, or another boutique-like goody.

[MrPigstail]

Mr Thomas Brolin,

Are you shure you did not do the scratching and posting of fake photos?

[MrThomasBrolin]

@MrPigstail

I have a job, Im a joyo PCB scratcher, shhhh keep it quiet though.

[ShreddyGnarGnar]

I wonder if Freakish Blues secretly owns Joyo and this is just how they decided to fade out the Freakish Blues line and become extremely successful as Joyo - the inexpensive pedal that everyone thought was a boutique.

[barbwirebats]

GMD, can you do all of us all a favor here and block "MrPigstail"? I'm sure no one will miss his foul-mouthed comments and anger.

[seicheberlin]

@barbwirebats that's ken's plan, getting GMD do disable comments so no one sees what we have to say.

[barbwirebats]

@seicheberlin

I didn't think of that, you could be right : )~

[fooschmack]

I've seen a side-by-side of the Joyo Ultimate OD next to a first run Alpha, and they do sound WAY more similar than the Alpha II. *shrug* Oh well, I just ordered an Ultimate OD for $30, so I don't really give a shit.

[ravenslaves]

@fooschmack I'm going to have to order one or two, just to play with. It looks like a simple enough circuit to tweak and mod...if needed...they sound pretty good as they are.

[Gettothechopperband]

@MrPigstail

I would say the 44-9 is more to do with the excellent review and has nothing to do with the publics opinion of FB pedals.

[seicheberlin]

@MrPigstail what does being a US citizen have to do with anything? There are more guitar players / potential buyers outside of the US then inside.

[MrPigstail]

@seicheberlin It has everything to do with it Kraut.

[seicheberlin]

@MrPigstail oh wow, thanks Ken!

[MrPigstail]

@seicheberlin

I am not Ken, but I am glad I could be of help Kraut.

Liar!

[cyke74]

Funny demo. Yeah the Joyo sounds very different. Not better or worse - just different. I own a Joyo Vintage Overdrive and it's my #1 pedal.

[ravenslaves]

@cyke74 From what I can tell, they're easy to mod. You know the difference a few well placed caps can make in tone. And the Joyo's are cheap enough to experiment on. So if one catches fire, you're not out of alot of money.

[ravenslaves]

@MrPigstail Sorry Mr. Troll/Sir Spamalot, time for a diet. Have a Joyo and relax. :)

[MrPigstail]

@ravenslave

Did you know when your mom made you, she had one look and she spit a hawker on ya.

Go away evil prick.

Your a waste of life.

I know your mentally retarded.

Admit it pig.Please.

Pig

[ravenslaves]

@MrPigstail Back under your bridge, troll. The daylight is no place for you to be. *Back* *Back*

[definealways]

@MrPigstail Are you by chance a Nigerian prince looking for my personal information to send large sums of money I'm entitled to? You seem about as believable.

[MrPigstail]

GMD,

GREAT DEMO!

[elavationchild]

Great Demo GMD.

Thanks for keeping it real and now I know the truth.

I feel bad for Ken.

[aektzis91]

@elavationchild the original alpha drives (black with multi-coloured knobs) were the gooped fraudulent pedals, not the latest ones.

[ravenslaves]

@aektzis91 Maybe...the last gut shot I saw of the newer, revised, Joyo, looked alot like the Alpha Drive 2. Is anyone really surprised at this point?

[DarkItachi1]

I Like the way you Review the Gear because you Compare Gear in a Way I would do it and play it. but to this pedal I would like the Ibanez TS10 more or even my beloved Maxon TS9 style pedal to this my new Fulltone 69 fuzz I bought because of the sound on you videos in my Fender Super sonic 22 combo and there it is a sound from Nashvill to AC/DC is born

[definealways]

@MrPigsTail why would you troll the comments on a Youtube video basically talking to yourself in defense of a fraudulent company, calling people out with bad language? You come off as a spam email, all random gobbledygook.

[ravenslaves]

@MrPigstail Why won't you answer my question? What exactly is the lie? If I'm a liar, then what is the lie? I'd like to know.

I've asked you this several times. I know you've seen them. So what is it? What is the lie?

For anybody that doubts the origin of the Alpha Drive, check out the FB website under the "Modster line" and read the description of the pedals there.

[camelwalk97]

i like red dot

[ravenslaves]

@MrPigstail Once again, what EXACTLY is the lie? The Alpha Drive (TH) is listed on the FB website as a modded pedal. Let me repeat that, a MODDED pedal. That comes directly from the FREEKISH BLUES web page under the "Modster" line. Is this a lie too?

[HarryRhodes]

(My point being, that even if there were dozens of shoot outs of the original 2 pedals available, regardless of review quality, they're both going to sound different thanks to the component changes. The point alot of people are missing, isn't how alike these pedals do or do not sound, it's the dishonest business practices that were going on at FB at the time.)

[definealways]

Funny how many false Youtube accounts are created to defend what are arguably unethical business practices. Very suspicious...

[ravenslaves]

Just on its own merits, the Joyo does pretty well. Add with the price (plus shipping, as always) and I can't see how a person could go wrong.

Hmmm....I wonder what it'd take to mod it into a fuzz?

[ADeadHeaDz]

@ravenslaves Joyo does make a fuzz pedal also, if that's what you had in mind.

[ravenslaves]

@ADeadHeaDz Ah yes...that pedal is called the "Chubb Up" also available at FB under the Modster line.

[elavationchild]

Joyo sounds horrid. Thanks for posting. Truth final is out.

[Brapulp]

GMD,

Thanks for keeping this honest.

Great sounding pedals played by a great person.

Wish you health, success and happiness.

[97MrSlash]

Germanndude, your reviews are the best in the whole Youtube! Keep it up bro ;)

[gearmanndude]

I'm trying to keep up with the comments, and am removing anything that looks like a suspicious account stirring up the comments...once I can't keep up with it anymore, I'll remove the comment option all together....ROCK OUT!!

[nochix96isnuts]

@gearmanndude GMD Do whatever you want and have a Happy new year!

[popicavlad]

@gearmanndude You rock!

[wazhyp]

Yes, The modified one is must better.

[dogwithawigon]

Have just noticed the skulls on GMD's rug!

[kobebeef1977]

Man...it is funny...Appreciate for this review and respect to your honest!!! keep it up!!

[DecepticonDuck]

GMD. Love your reviews. Keep up the good work. I suck and have been playing for 10 years... You have an awesome style. Like the presentation. I picked up the Swollen Pickle over the Fuzz Face because of your review. I like the range in sound you demo (typically). I understand the controversy on FB but people gotta listen to the sound and vote with their money. If it sounds good to you and you decide to buy it its worth the money.

[Darndez]

i would like to know Gearmanndude's preference: the Joyo or the FB?

[ravenslaves]

@utipram Perhaps you'd like to explain why the Alpha Drive 1 (TH) is listed on the Freekish Blues website as a modded pedal, under the "Modster" section? Exactly what is there to disagree with, unless you also disagree with the Freekish blues website?

[smoss469]

@utipram If you believe Ken then you're a sheep who didn't look into the situation. Copyright 2006? Why wasn't it on the original Alpha Drives? Oh, can't add silk screens to SOMEONE ELSES PCB. You're obviously 1 of his many local friends who's sole job is to apparently go around the internet and praise his products in a feeble attempt to salvage his business. Copyright means something? Did you actually research the copyright to see if it exists? Just another mindless follower. Sad.

[cheesedude5050]

"And by both, I mean all three." I freaking love you jack

[goalieblues]

I think Gearmandude is actually Jack Black

[smoss469]

@utipram You may disagree but you can't agrue with a degooped circuit board that even says J WONG on it. Again, I don't know about the new version however the ORIGINAL is a rip off of a Joyo. They can't go after anyone because they know they were accused accurately with the facts. Can't hide behind a 1 to 1 comparison.

[SuperMarioZombies]

MrPigstail is a fake account created only to reply to FB review done by GMD. Check out the date the account was created and the activity. Nice try but you'be been caught.

[heitorvrb]

You have not failed, GMD. People said that the pedals were the same, and you showed them that they are not. Now just let the trolls troll, the haters hate and move on...

[aektzis91]

@heitorvrb the original Alpha Drives (black coloured with multi-coloured knobs) were the ones with the gooped Joyo pcb's. these are alpha drive 2 pedals, which are different to the original pedals which caused all the fuss. GMD would really have to compare the original alpha drive to the joyo in order to end the debate.

[smoss469]

@heitorvrb Ken at FB changed a cap on the Joyo and changed the pot taper on his 1st run Alpha Drives by soldering a resistor across the pots which altered them. The rest of the circuit, including the case, jacks, circuit board etc are JOYO made. Learn the facts and stop going by 1 demo on youtube. They should sound different thanks to the 2 minor changes he made.

[thinkillers]

Excellent job Gearmanndude. Congratulations.



[TeleGuitar1]

Joyo = Original Alpha, not the new one.

[hawg427]

Yes, The path to Hell is a Wide one. ;-) Why were you using 2 Alpha drives to start with? I do think the Ultimate sounded better to my ears. Always enjoy your videos.

[MrLeonBV]

Love it, Jack!



[hepone]

hey Gearmandude, are you going to do a review of the new VOX V846-HW WAH? not really any good reviews of that thing out there yet. Thanks!

[ADeadHeaDz]

That volume thing sucks, but I must say that I prefer the Alpha Drives with max gain.

[iagobroxado]

Someone HAD to do this demo, and this someone is GMD! Buuut, you should have tried a really low gain setting and adding a little more treble to the Joyo and comparing it to the FBs. Bet it would sound pretty much alike.

[SuperMarioZombies]

Here we go again.......

[ravenslaves]

NOT a GMD fail. But you did compare the wrong pedals. The Joyo UO pedal is the base for the modded Alpha Drive 1. The Alpha Drive 2 is still a modded *revised* Joyo UO. Either way...Joyo.

[MrPigstail]

@ravenslaves Keep up the bullshit.

You have been caught! LIAR!

[ravenslaves]

@MrPigstail Ok...I'll bite.

What EXACTLY is "the lie"?....don't be shy, spell it out exactly.

[MrPigstail]

@ravenslaves

Were you not the liar that spouted on HC and TGP, FSB that the Alpha Drive II was an exact Ultimate Drive?

Can we say EXPOSED

[ravenslaves]

@MrPigstail Can you say "IDIOT"?

I've never posted on any of those sites. I never bothered to sign up.

Point of fact, YOU are the one that pointed me there in the first place. Were it not for YOU, I would have paid this "controversy" no attention what-so-ever. You changed all that.

And I never said they were exact. I said they were MODDED Joyo's, after I saw the gut shots. It seems that FB came around to agreeing with me.

[definealways]

Haha GMD you seem to have muddied everything up even more, at least for me. I've seen photos of FB boards that looked identical. The originals were apparently just slightly modded Joyos, but maybe they got wise and had their own PCBs made? I wonder how the circuits compare now.

[StraitUpSuburbanite]

The Joyo has overall more grit to it, but the FB's have more overall clarity. Hmmm. Even with my FB Betty Boost, my friend got a BBE Boosta Grande for Christmas, we did a comparison, my Betty Boost had overall more clarity, and I still liked the Double D and B cup options. You can think of it as a modified Boosta Grande. Good comparison GMD.