PSA: Lovepedal Taking Pre-Orders for 12AX7-Stuffed Zendrive 2

[Menehune]

$279.92 US. Quoting from the Lovepedal site:

Quote

The Zendrive 2 is a variation of the original Zendrive with the addition of a dual triode pre-amp tube. The tube is installed in a socket and can be replaced with other preamp tubes. Different tubes can change the voicing and gain of the pedal. The Zendrive 2 comes with a 12AX7 tube, but can al so use a 12AT7, 7025, 5751 or similar pre-amp tubes. Please contact US if you are unsure of the compatibility of a tube. We prefer the Tung-Sol 12AX7 and these units come shipped with this installed.

More here.

[Saul Goodman]

11 hours ago, Menehune said:

$279.92 US. Quoting from the Lovepedal site:

More here.

That looks like it may be a cool pedal.

[alantig]

Seeing their preference for the Tung-Sol tubes reminds me of something I saw in the manual for my ToneBone pedal (it may have been on their web site).  Someone asked, "What brand of tube do you recommend to make the pedal sound better?"  They replied, "If we thought a different tube made it sound better, don't you think we'd have used it?"

[The Shark]

I had one of the original Hermida pedals, back before Lovepedal took over.  I liked the original Zen much more.  The tube version reminded me of the old Tube Driver that Eric Johnson used.  I could never get it to sound good.  

[Hbom]

This might help confuse you.

 

[golem]

I've soured a bit on Lovepedal. It's really hard to get support on your pedal from him if it doesn't work. I would know. The other thing is he at least once shut down his business due to personal issues and went completely dark for a long period of time. People who had stuff with him for repair were basically SOL. IDK if he found a way to make it up to them offer. 

Basically, I'm saying if you buy something from him treat it as being without any kind of warranty or support. It's less a complaint about the quality of the product. 

Also, I've had something like 7 different zendrives before that shut down. One sounds exactly like an original, and the rest all sound different. It's confusing AF but I kept the one that basically looks and sounds identical. I also still have an OD11 which is basically a Tim with one wrong value according to a dude on TDPRI who analyzes such things. 11gauge I think. 

[Travis]

I had a Lovepedal zendrive a couple years back. Cool pedal. Sounded good. But just not for me and whatever I have that could be considered a “style”….  

This almost makes me want to try it again to see if I could get along with it this time around. Cuz….  Tubes….

[The Shark]

My Lovepedal Zen is very good.  I've had a love hate relationship with Klon's and Zen's.  So, I've had about a half dozen of each including the tube Zen (worth a small fortune for the early one's apparently).  The Zen I have now is more likely a product of my learning how to use it than anything.  Unless there are differences in the extremes of each control, I think you can dial any of them in to sound good.  Same thing with the Klon pedals.  Nothing maxed and nothing exactly the same on the specific one's I've owned.  Just not as easy to get to sound right as people might think.  I read that Robben Ford doesn't look at the controls, when he sets his.  Don't know if that's true, but it makes sense.  

[bubs_42]

The Vanilla Zen was and is my Favorite Zen. I have sworn off all Love Pedal Products do to his service. I bought a bunch of LP”s on SNS buying two to three at a time and had issues with mulitple pedals. That is ONE customer, with mulitple problems. I have had the  Jubillee and other drive pedals with horrible floor noise issues, that was deemed “Part of Circuit”. The Shampooie that I bought used that had horrible crossover between the sides where you could hear the tremolo even when it was off. After contacting LP, he said “That circuit never worked out and they all have similar issues.”.  

I have since moved on and I can’t believe that Hermida hasn’t. That pedal is a goldmine and more players should be using it. 

Jubilee has been replaced with the MXR Duke of Tone

Lovepedal Amp11 has been replaced with MXR TImmy

Echophonics replaced with the MXR Echoplex

Gen 5 replaced with another MXR Echoplex

The best replacement for the Zendrive is the Barber Burn Unit, it’s more flexible, the service is second to none. 
 

Barber has a pedal that will replace any of the above mentioned and they sound fantastic with ANY AMP. 

[Ham Rex]

If anyone ordered an extra or decides not to keep their new Zen Drive 2, please let me know.

I missed the pre-order.

Thanks, 

Ham Rex

Martin

[Hbom]

10 hours ago, bubs_42 said:

The Vanilla Zen was and is my Favorite Zen. I have sworn off all Love Pedal Products do to his service. I bought a bunch of LP”s on SNS buying two to three at a time and had issues with mulitple pedals. That is ONE customer, with mulitple problems. I have had the  Jubillee and other drive pedals with horrible floor noise issues, that was deemed “Part of Circuit”. The Shampooie that I bought used that had horrible crossover between the sides where you could hear the tremolo even when it was off. After contacting LP, he said “That circuit never worked out and they all have similar issues.”.  

I have since moved on and I can’t believe that Hermida hasn’t. That pedal is a goldmine and more players should be using it. 

Jubilee has been replaced with the MXR Duke of Tone

Lovepedal Amp11 has been replaced with MXR TImmy

Echophonics replaced with the MXR Echoplex

Gen 5 replaced with another MXR Echoplex

The best replacement for the Zendrive is the Barber Burn Unit, it’s more flexible, the service is second to none. 
 

Barber has a pedal that will replace any of the above mentioned and they sound fantastic with ANY AMP. 

For a parttime working musician like yourself I suppose that is a fair assessment of Lovepedals.

But for a fumble thumbed old fart goofing in his cave, I have to say that there are lots of options available for 3-5 times as much money as my  Lovepedals. 

Sort of like saying I could get similar results if I replaced my MIM Tele with a Suhr Classic T.

[bubs_42]

50 minutes ago, Hbom said:

For a parttime working musician like yourself I suppose that is a fair assessment of Lovepedals.

But for a fumble thumbed old fart goofing in his cave, I have to say that there are lots of options available for 3-5 times as much money as my  Lovepedals. 

Sort of like saying I could get similar results if I replaced my MIM Tele with a Suhr Classic T.

3 to 5, have you seen his current prices? Plus the pedals I replaced them with are readily available from any GC. 

 

[velorush]

23 hours ago, bubs_42 said:

Lovepedal Amp11 has been replaced with MXR TImmy

Amp11 is one I bought after hearing good things here on the board. For the life of me I don't see it. I can't get a single appealing sound out of it. If anyone would like to give it a whirl let me know. I've had it out of the box no more than twice. eesch! I don't recall which one it is (it's white). It's not the JMP or the 909.

I do still really like the Tchula Black Mamba and Vibronaut and the formerly non-functioning boost @bubs_42 sent me and I fixed (likely one of the three "issues" he referred to, above - my offer stands to send it back to you, Bubs).

[Hbom]

12 hours ago, bubs_42 said:

3 to 5, have you seen his current prices? Plus the pedals I replaced them with are readily available from any GC. 

 

Prices are up on most everything lately and his are still reasonable. I couldn't tell you what's inside a guitar center.

[The Shark]

For the record, my Jubilee, Purple Plexi w/ boost, Eternity and the aforementioned Zen all work well on my board.  No noise problems.  I'm just lucky in that regard apparently.