EarthQuaker Devices Plumes

116
GUITARIST JANUARY 2020
Plumes
A refreshing take on a Tube Screamer-style overdrive
MANUFACTUR ER
EARTHQUAKER DEVICES
MODEL
PLUMES
CONTACT
WWW.EARTHQUAKERDEVICES.COM
PRICE
£105
PEDALBOARD
PROS Broad range of sounds; lots of
headroom; excellent signal clarity and detail
CONS No battery-power option
Words Rod Brakes Photography Phil Barker
R
eleased more than 40 years ago,
the original Maxon OD808/
Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer
circuit is still considered a benchmark
among overdrives. Tube Screamers
and Tube Screamer-style pedals have
endured as a pedalboard staple, with
many builders compelled to put their
own spin on the design. It can be tricky
to navigate the marketing hyperbole, but
in the overpopulated world of overdrive,
EarthQuaker Devices’ Plumes stands
out as a straightforward and genuinely
worthy addition.
Right now, EarthQuaker’s 808 kudos
couldn’t be much stronger following
Maxon’s official seal of approval. Soon
after the Akron, Ohio firm released
the Plumes ‘Small Signal Shredder’, a
collaboration with Maxon was announced
in the form of a limited run of 400
‘Signal Shredder’ modified OD808-40E
Overdrives to commemorate the original
pedal’s 40th anniversary.
Clearly, the Plumes is a variation on
a theme – and EarthQuaker makes
no bones about the pedal’s obvious
comparisons – but with three clipping
modes (symmetrical, asymmetrical and
no clipping) along with an enhanced tone
control and plenty of volume and gain,
the ability to push into further overdrive
territory is enhanced.
With the Plumes in mode 1, symmetrical
clipping is produced using a pair of LEDs
giving a crunchier, more compressed tone.
In mode 3, asymmetrical silicon diode
clipping provides a more ‘transparent’
sound; the processed signal sounds
more natural and less coloured. Mode 2
bypasses both types of diode clipping and
is essentially a JFET op-amp clean boost,
great for coaxing out natural overdrive
from the front end of the amp. Using the
Plumes alone or gain-stacked with other
drive pedals, the above options deliver an
extensive palette of sounds to choose from.
VERDICT
Boasting a broad range of low-medium
gain overdrive tones, outstanding signal
quality and a sturdy build, EarthQuaker
Devices’ Plumes punches well above
its weight in terms of price and is a
genuinely useful tool for a wide variety of
applications from stage to studio.
EARTHQUAKER DEVICES
Resplendent with the much-lauded JRC4558D
op-amp, Ibanez’s official TS808 Tube Screamer
reissue features the same analogue circuit as the
endlessly imitated and highly collectible original
pedal – which now fetches several hundred pounds
on the vintage market!
A super-versatile Tube Screamer-style pedal, the
Bonsai from JHS Pedals features nine modes,
each providing a unique variation of overdrive,
including Boss OD-1, TS808, TS9, MSL, TS10,
Exar OD-1, TS-7 (+ mode), Keeley Mod Plus and
JHS Strong Mod.
Bonsai £219
NOBELS
JHS PEDALS
An underdog of sorts, the Nobels ODR-1 has been
hailed a firm favourite by the likes of Graham
Coxon, Lee Anderton and Walrus Audio president
Colt Westbrook, and is prized for its amp-like
overdrive sounds, ranging from gentle breakup
to gritty crunch.
ODR-1 Natural Overdrive £79.99
WWW.IBANEZ.COM
HTTPS://NOBELS.DE
WWW.GEAR4MUSIC.COM
ALSO TRY...
TS808 Tube Screamer reissue £162
IBANEZ
VIDEO DEMO http://bit.ly/guitaristextra
GIT454.peds_earthq.indd 116 28/11/2019 12:12