CMATMODS Signa Comp-Drive

The Signa Comp-Drive isn't as easy as a one-knob fuzz pedal, but it is still a piece of cake to use. It doesn't come with a manual, but the only reason I could see needing one is for sample sound settings or perhaps instructions about how to use it in relation to other pedals or different types of amplifiers. If you had these types of questions, you could email Chad and he'd help out. It is actually hard to get an unusable sound out of this pedal, so I give it high marks here.

I've tried it with my '92 Les Paul, '68 Strat reissue, and '62 Tele reissue. I've run it into a low-power Twin clone, a Mesa Heartbreaker, and a Bedrock BC-52. I was able to dial in a pretty damn sweet tone in seconds. If you're looking for comparisons, The closest pedal I've owned (to the Signa Drive side) is the Fulltone OCD, but, the Signa Comp-Drive isn't voiced the same and is a pretty original-sounding box. It has a very smooth drive, and a very transparent quality that doesn't add a mid hump or strong boost to any particular freqencies. The noise level of either side by itself is very low, and stacked together, you get an expected increase in the noise level but still pretty low as far as pedals go. The 3-way switch is this pedal's secret weapon, as it pretty much gives you 3 different voicings in one pedal. I did find that I get a change in volume with each switch setting when running through the front end of the Mesa (the middle setting being the loudest), but there was very little volume jump when running into the Twin clone. This is inherent in the design according to Chad, but it really doesn't present a problem since not many people are going to be switching voicings on the fly. If you're not a fan of compression, you really should try this pedal anyway, as the compressor side ranges from really squished country pickin' tones, to just some light sustain/boost qualities. The tone knob is a great addition, since I
feel that compression darkens the tone of some guitars or amps, and you can counteract that nicely with the tone knob. For clean playing, the compressor is so sweet, as it livens the signal and adds a dynamic quality. For solos, all you need is to engage both sides of the pedal, and you're in singing sustain land. Fun for days!

I'd gig with it without a single concern, but I'd also drag along my OCD just in case. The OCD covers everything from clean boost to ripping Marshall tones, so it's a good all purpose pedal. Chad's stuff is built to last, and you shouldn't worry because the parts are quality, and the build is solid.

Chad is very responsive, and he will get back to you and answer all your pedal geek questions. I have 3 of his pedals, but I haven't had to deal with repairs or returns. He has pride in his work and I feel pretty confident that he'd fix anything that broke due to an error in his build or parts.

I play rock that requires mid gain and low gain distortion tones. This pedal pretty much covers all the territory I need. I've been playing 24 years, and I've been through tons of pedals since the 80's. I've tried vintage pedals, vintage reissue pedals, modern boutique stuff, etc. All I can say is that I have paid a LOT more for pedals and gotten a LOT less in tone from them. For the price, you just can't go wrong. The Signa Comp-Drive is the most expensive one of the bunch, but it really is two pedals in one, which makes it worth the cost. If this one were stolen, I would buy another one without thinking twice. Better act now on these pedals or you'll be paying Lovepedal or Skreddy prices soon.

There is no manual but it really easy to use. When using both effects you really need to play with it. When you get it plan on spending some time with it there are lots of great tones.

When I plugged this thing in I left it one the setting it was on and man o man what an awesome tone! I could not believe the OD side it was the best I had ever heard it was just amazing tone and sustain like I have never heard. I emailed the builder and he said it was an overdrive but I got some great distortion tones. He said it was everything from a clean boost up to a higher gain overdrive and that is true it can be an amazing clean boost on the overdrive side. He also told me I could run the compressor with the overdrive and the more I turned the sustain up the more the overdrive would sustain so I played with this and there was unlimited sustain. My guitar would sustain effortlessly in any note forever I have never heard a pedal do this before. The overdrive kicked my Tim off the board. I really like the compressor side as well I can use it a boost for the overdrive side or both together for another amazing tone or I can use the compressor by itself. This is the best compressor I have ever heard as well. It is nice and fat it doesnt thin out your tone. I have used this with all of my amps with amazing results and humbucker and single coil guitars and it works so well with each. CMATMODS really has a winner here the best I have ever had.

I looked inside and it was a very neat build the wiring was very tidy and the solder joints were very neat. He really know what he is doing. I have only had it a few weeks but I have used it at several gigs with no probelm I relly believe I can depend on this. Another great thing is it is true bypass

I sent CMATMODS a ton of emails and he was so nice and answered all of my questions honestly and in a timely manner and the shipping was very fast. One of the nicest guys I have dealt with.

I play all kinds of music and this pedal delievers is spades it works with everything and all music styles I am so glad I found this I will never be without it. I have a Tim and I am going to sell it now this is so much better. It is really a great tone tool that inspires me to play.

This is Chad's very latest Comp/OD pedal all in one and it is amazing.
Pretty easy to use. Volume, Gain, Tone and a three way switch for OD and Volume and Sustain for the Compressor.
Both channels are true bypass and independent
The three way switch determines the clipping and varies the available gain and volume a little.
Not a bad sound in this pedal!

I can set this up in a variety of ways, with the OD side, clean boost, phat boost, dirty boost, always on. OD, light Crunch, heavy crunch. If you bring your amp towards break up, you can go into metal land.
With the Comp side I can set it to run as a Pre or Post stacked with the OD channel, they work together great. By itself I have a nice comp that can either do a loud boost with fat sustain or a nice light always on style boost/comp.
When you engage them together, either you can just have a really nice lively fat fat fat sound or super high gainy overdrive with sustain that lasts forever, or even a light OD with super sustain.
Very wide realm of sounds and genres!
I've used this pedal with Single coils and P-90s
The sounds just keep being amazing, lively and full.
Also both volume levels do interact so you can set it up in a variety of ways.
Pedal isn't noisy at all unless you start to go all the way up on it (and remember I play single coil guitars!) and of course it is true bypass.
I've played this into my Maven Peal Zeeta and a Wreck Clone and a Princeton Reverb.
One difference with the Signa Comp - The three way switch doesn't alter the OD and Volume realm as much as with the Signa Comp

So far totally reliable. I've had other pedals from Chad and they last!

Chad is a tone nut and great to talk to and ask questions, very responsive.

I play worship at church and I go from needing light stuff to liven up the sound to heavy duty stuff to catch some of those Hillsongs like tunes. Great pedal, does it all in the full OD realm, the only pedal that trumps this pedal .. is his Signa Comp-Drive (because it adds the compressor side!)
Stolen ... I'd get another right away.
I've compared this to a ClinchFX Mosfet classic, Gaspedal Carb and the Tubeslammer. The tubeslammer is left in the dust. The other two are great pedals for what they do, but the Signa Drive can cover both of those areas! Amazing pedal.
Oh and it stacks well with other pedals
(You'll see similar raves about the Signa Drive because I have both)

This is a fairly easy pedal to use. It has 5 knobs and a toggle switch. There is no manual so I had to play with it for a while. It is a little tricky when using both effects but it is really easy once you get the hang of it.

After I was playing with this pedal for a while I really love its tone. This has 2 effects in it a compressor and an OD. The OD side is the best OD that I have ever heard hands down just simply amazing so much tone and sustain. Chad says this is an OD pedal but I was able to get everything from clean boost to a very nice distortion.

On the compressor side it was really fat sounding with great tone. You can also use this side as a boost for the OD side the more you crank the sustain up the more singing sutain you will have. It is really nice that you can use both effects at the same time it is really usefull.

I tried this with my twin reverb and my Marshall. This pedal was just amazing with both amps when my Marshall was breaking up I could some nice heavy metal sounds. With the Twin I could get everything from boost to Stevie all the way to a tone very similar to my Marshall cranked very nice.

This pedal is definatly a keeper I think I will order another for my other board.

I have several pedals from cmatmods and they have all been very reliable. I have had a tube slammer for about 2 years and I have never had a problem. I have looked inside of all of the pedals I have bought from him and they are very neat he does great work.

Chad always answers my emails in just a few hours and he is alway very profesional. He answers all of my questions with no problem. He really deserves a 12 here

I play in 2 cover bands and I need very versatile effects that can handle getting used several nights a week. This is a very usefull tone tool. If it ever got stolen I would definatly buy another.