Varna Sankar (PPCB Wonder Drive)

Asdrael

Well-known member
So in my search of a perfect clean ish boost for high gain tones on my amps, next in line was a PPCB Wonder Drive / Airis Savage Drive. No mods.

Build was uneventful (although I am preparing for the hate by saying I think PPCB pads are a taaaaad too small), everything was easy to fit, nothing exploded and I think for the first time ever my soldering iron didn't touch any caps when I was doing the lead dressing. And first time I did all the wire soldering outside of the enclosure so that might be linked :ROFLMAO: Went with a golden enclosure and purple LED, as my as my backplate light. Hindsight 20/20, should have kept the LED resistor for the front LED at 4.7k instead of bringing it down to 2k thinking 4.7k is always too dim. With those leads it's sunlight inside. Glad I went with a 470R for the backlight to balance it.

Sound wise, it's surprisingly good! Every setting somewhat useful. The volume is more or less equal at noon and well tapered. The overdrive is not crazy and doesn't completely overtake your signal. More importantly, the Bite and Tight do exactly what they say but in a pleasing and useful way. The Tight works on the real lows without cutting the low mids and thinning out the signal (which is my may complain with pedals that have a "tight" type of setting). The bite adds well, bite, without shrill or unpleasing piercing highs. Honestly, a very nicely voiced pedal. I don't currently feel the need to mod it. On a clean channel, it acts a little bit like an OCD surprisingly. Adds some kind of harmonic richness without feeling like it takes over your signal. Could almost be an always on pedal for me, at least with a seven string.

Pics:
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This one has flown under my radar

Then you said
The Tight works on the real lows without cutting the low mids and thinning out the signal (which is my may complain with pedals that have a "tight" type of setting
I’m in the same camp. I really like the Dwarven hammer/ horizon device’s precision drive but the idea of not having a rotary switch I really like for dialing in the “tight” settings… I always feel like what I’m looking for is “in between clicks.”
 
I’m in the same camp. I really like the Dwarven hammer/ horizon device’s precision drive but the idea of not having a rotary switch I really like for dialing in the “tight” settings… I always feel like what I’m looking for is “in between clicks.”
I have a Joyo clone of the precision drive and the same problem. Either position 1 or 2 (ideally in between) or then it’s full on caricature. I also have an AionFx Blaze that is pretty good but too much gain at all times and the settings are way too aggressive- you need to setup your amp for the pedal, not the other way around imo. So this Wonder Drive is great for my use really: a bit of boost, minimal amount of dirt for texture and some tone shaping options.
 
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