Fortin Grind vs 33... The mystery is over...

[LCW]

If you want to skip most of the beginning talk... fast forward to 11:25 and go from there...

 

[crankyrayhanky]

That is eye opening.
Compelling as people seem to be getting top dollar for that 33.

 

[psychodave]

It’s almost like they are the same pedal? At least the graph was reading like they are.

I’d like to see a video of those Fortin pedals vs the VFE Standout. I owned both the Grind and 33 and didn’t like them at all. I almost gave up on the whole “tighten up” pedal thing then I tried the Standout.

 

[stratjacket]

That was an interesting video. It's about what I figured, my Grind pedal is good, but like an OD with an EQ pedal better.

 

[scottosan]

The are both are both a 1 knob version of the TC Integrated Preamp Pedal. Bass control hardwired all the way down and trebled wired all the way up

 

[braintheory]

It’s almost like they are the same pedal? At least the graph was reading like they are.

I’d like to see a video of those Fortin pedals vs the VFE Standout. I owned both the Grind and 33 and didn’t like them at all. I almost gave up on the whole “tighten up” pedal thing then I tried the Standout.

I had my Standout at the same time as I had a Grind, 33 and precision drive and I felt it smoked all of them. It was tighter than all of them as well yet still bigger sounding somehow. I liked my 33 quite a bit for what it was until I got the Standout. Now I think the 33 may possibly be the most overrated pedal ever, while the Standout has been very underlooked until lately

The only pedal I’ve had that can match the Standout’s tightness is surprisingly the Ethos TLE, but it’s a very different style pedal and way more expensive

 

[errrrrl]

That was a great vid. I definitely thought my 33 and grind pedal sound alike except the 33 was a bit brighter... Now I know why lol. Truth is I hardly use either and also prefer a good od and eq over it. I wonder if I should sell them before this vid starts getting attention lol

 

[nightlight]

I have a friend who has a Fortin Grind pedal and a 33. He tells me he prefers the Grind over the 33.

When I boost, I use a really old TS-9 that has acquired some strange sonic voodoo over the last three decades.

 

[LCW]

I have a friend who has a Fortin Grind pedal and a 33. He tells me he prefers the Grind over the 33.

When I boost, I use a really old TS-9 that has acquired some strange sonic voodoo over the last three decades.

I have a Grind which I love but it's not for everything... I have a Maxon OD-9 that has the same 4558 chip as the original TS-9 that I love dearly and will never get rid of.

 

[DeathbyButterslax]

To be fair these pedals were made to do that specific grind/quack sound Mike Fortin and crew seem to love so much, so it's not surprising they EQ pretty identically. People nitpick every single possible thing when it comes to pickups too, and I can't imagine the EQ curves are really that different either.

 

[napalmdeath]

I've been running an MXR 10-Band in front of an Airis Effects Savage Drive. Pretty killer, actually. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why people are ssking $500+ for the 33. It seems like it's nothing special.

 

[LCW]

I've been running an MXR 10-Band in front of an Airis Effects Savage Drive. Pretty killer, actually. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why people are ssking $500+ for the 33. It seems like it's nothing special.

You ever try the Savage Boost before getting the Savage Drive? Just curious... I had a Savage Boost... Loved it especially for the price (half of what a Grind costs)... BUT... it was VERY noisy... that was my only issue with it. Sold it but would get another if the noise got addressed, and Richard put the jacks in the top like he has for the v3 Savage Drive...

 

[napalmdeath]

I've been running an MXR 10-Band in front of an Airis Effects Savage Drive. Pretty killer, actually. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why people are ssking $500+ for the 33. It seems like it's nothing special.

You ever try the Savage Boost before getting the Savage Drive? Just curious... I had a Savage Boost... Loved it especially for the price (half of what a Grind costs)... BUT... it was VERY noisy... that was my only issue with it. Sold it but would get another if the noise got addressed, and Richard put the jacks in the top like he has for the v3 Savage Drive...

The Savage Drive is as quiet as a church mouse. No complaints with mine.

 

[braintheory]

To be fair these pedals were made to do that specific grind/quack sound Mike Fortin and crew seem to love so much, so it's not surprising they EQ pretty identically. People nitpick every single possible thing when it comes to pickups too, and I can't imagine the EQ curves are really that different either.

The Standout though I feel can outdo both the grind and 33 at that specific grind/quack thing they have going on, but is also more versatile than just doing that and on top of that is much more reasonably priced than the Fortins

I’m still somewhat curious about the new Fortin Blade, but as far as I’m concerned the Standout made the grind, 33 and precision drive obsolete imo

 

[DeathbyButterslax]

To be fair these pedals were made to do that specific grind/quack sound Mike Fortin and crew seem to love so much, so it's not surprising they EQ pretty identically. People nitpick every single possible thing when it comes to pickups too, and I can't imagine the EQ curves are really that different either.

The Standout though I feel can outdo both the grind and 33 at that specific grind/quack thing they have going on, but is also more versatile than just doing that and on top of that is much more reasonably priced than the Fortins

I’m still somewhat curious about the new Fortin Blade, but as far as I’m concerned the Standout made the grind, 33 and precision drive obsolete imo

haha yeah I agree, I think I recommended it to you

I am curious about the blade too but I don't want to spend Fortin prices on another boost pedal

 

[1meanplexi]

I have the 33 and the Grind. I hear just a very slight difference with the Grind adding just a touch of bottom end. The Blade....I was going to order it but the clips killed it for me. I would like to try the Empress Para EQ.

 

[braintheory]

To be fair these pedals were made to do that specific grind/quack sound Mike Fortin and crew seem to love so much, so it's not surprising they EQ pretty identically. People nitpick every single possible thing when it comes to pickups too, and I can't imagine the EQ curves are really that different either.

The Standout though I feel can outdo both the grind and 33 at that specific grind/quack thing they have going on, but is also more versatile than just doing that and on top of that is much more reasonably priced than the Fortins

I’m still somewhat curious about the new Fortin Blade, but as far as I’m concerned the Standout made the grind, 33 and precision drive obsolete imo

haha yeah I agree, I think I recommended it to you

I am curious about the blade too but I don't want to spend Fortin prices on another boost pedal

Yes you did, much appreciated! It’s very nice not to need the Fortins or precision drive in my arsenal

 

[psychodave]

To be fair these pedals were made to do that specific grind/quack sound Mike Fortin and crew seem to love so much, so it's not surprising they EQ pretty identically. People nitpick every single possible thing when it comes to pickups too, and I can't imagine the EQ curves are really that different either.

The Standout though I feel can outdo both the grind and 33 at that specific grind/quack thing they have going on, but is also more versatile than just doing that and on top of that is much more reasonably priced than the Fortins

I’m still somewhat curious about the new Fortin Blade, but as far as I’m concerned the Standout made the grind, 33 and precision drive obsolete imo

haha yeah I agree, I think I recommended it to you

I am curious about the blade too but I don't want to spend Fortin prices on another boost pedal

Yes you did, much appreciated! It’s very nice not to need the Fortins or precision drive in my arsenal

The Standout is only $150 as well...

 

[ericb]

I've been running an MXR 10-Band in front of an Airis Effects Savage Drive. Pretty killer, actually. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why people are ssking $500+ for the 33. It seems like it's nothing special.

You ever try the Savage Boost before getting the Savage Drive? Just curious... I had a Savage Boost... Loved it especially for the price (half of what a Grind costs)... BUT... it was VERY noisy... that was my only issue with it. Sold it but would get another if the noise got addressed, and Richard put the jacks in the top like he has for the v3 Savage Drive...

The Savage Drive is as quiet as a church mouse. No complaints with mine.

I have 2 Savage Drives and they are absolutely quiet as a church mouse.. Never heard a church mouse, but yea, I have many many pedals and Savage Drive is as quiet as it gets. . The other funny thing about the pedal is it has very LITTLE drive , although described as a brutal drive pedal. . It just totally tightens up certain amps and has GREAT tone. . It's made some of my amps sound much better. . An Engl Screamer, a Baron K2, a modded 70's Marshall JMP,etc. . Beautiful pedal. By the descriptions I'm thinknig it's very similar to the Standout in design with different labeling,etc. . Maybe I'm wrong
Eric

 

[Shask]

I've been running an MXR 10-Band in front of an Airis Effects Savage Drive. Pretty killer, actually. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why people are ssking $500+ for the 33. It seems like it's nothing special.

You ever try the Savage Boost before getting the Savage Drive? Just curious... I had a Savage Boost... Loved it especially for the price (half of what a Grind costs)... BUT... it was VERY noisy... that was my only issue with it. Sold it but would get another if the noise got addressed, and Richard put the jacks in the top like he has for the v3 Savage Drive...

The Savage Drive is as quiet as a church mouse. No complaints with mine.

I have 2 Savage Drives and they are absolutely quiet as a church mouse.. Never heard a church mouse, but yea, I have many many pedals and Savage Drive is as quiet as it gets. . The other funny thing about the pedal is it has very LITTLE drive , although described as a brutal drive pedal. . It just totally tightens up certain amps and has GREAT tone. . It's made some of my amps sound much better. . An Engl Screamer, a Baron K2, a modded 70's Marshall JMP,etc. . Beautiful pedal. By the descriptions I'm thinknig it's very similar to the Standout in design with different labeling,etc. . Maybe I'm wrong
Eric

I have read that the Savage drive is Tubescreamer-based, but without clipping diodes, so it has more volume instead of gain.

I haven't confirmed that myself though.....