Carl Martin Crunch Drive

Really easy to use - just play around with it til you get the sound you want - lots of really usable tones are hidden within this pedal. Its not the most complex of pedals and it does exactly what it says on the tin - crunch! Great for blues, stones, 60s rock etc. Dead easy, put it on the floor stamp on when you want to crunch, stamp off to clean up again.

I'm using this with a Fender Deluxe Reverb and either a Fender Strat or Warmoth Tele. As stated before, I can nail Stones rhythms and chunky blues riffs with it. Heavy overdrive it isn't but then again, you wouldn't buy it for that!

The pedal isn't particularly noisy (I think sombody has stated earlier that when the gain is up there is some noise - but nothing you wouldn't expect from a pedal of this nature) and being true bypass, your guitar's sound doesn't suffer whilst the effect is off.

In a word, this pedal is... GREAT! (and not many pedals are) - I won't give it a 10 because I am still looking at other pedals and I believe there are a lot of pedals to check out before dishing out 10s here there and everywhere!

The pedal is of a solid construction... no risk of breaking battery covers although having said that, it is a right pain searching for a screwdriver ever time you want to swap the battery. (I must admit, BOSS got that bit nailed!)

I would like a chunkier switch on it though... it just seems a bit too small to me but then again, if it doesn't break then is it a problem?

I would have no problems going to a gig without a backup. Hell, you could probably spill beer on it and it would still work (although I wouldn't test it...)

I've never had to use them so I can't really comment. But if they are anything like their pedals... In the nicest possible way, I hope I never have to speak to them.

For the songs I play, this is a good addition to my pedal collection. I have been playing nearly 18 years and have become a self confessed gear freak. No, Carl Martin aren't the most boutique brand out, but to be honest, I have boutique pedals that to be frank, really are not worth the hype.

Its a good pedal - it compliments and Boss SD-1 or Tubescreamer wannabe - in fact, the two (CD+TS) in series make for a good lead sound. I think it is different enough not to be classed as a TS with the gain down... they are much two different beasts.

I would definately keep hold of this pedal and would have no problems going out and buying it again. Just wish I had found it earlier - there seems to be very few Carl Martin dealers around... and those who are stockists don't always carry a comprehensive stock. A real shame really as I feel Carl Martin are an untapped gem.

I won't go on, but generally, this is a good no frills pedal which does the job. I like it, you might not so I suggest just give it a whirl and see what it does for you. For the money, I think its great.

Well its just a pedal with 4 knobs, no big deal to dial in a sound you like and play...

I like the fact that the whole pedal is optimised for dialing in lower gain distortion sounds rather than trying to cover all the bases - makes fine adjustment a lot easier.

I use this with various Fender amps and guitars. it allows me to get an 'inbetween' sound at any level. This is not a high gain distortion pedal and so you have to judge it based on what it is designed to do - which it does very well indeed. there is crunch galore available, and plenty of EQ options.

I have owned more distortion, overdrive, fuzz, metal and whatever pedals than is probably healthy over the years. This one is a keeper because it does great, natural sounding inbetween sounds without any effort. Its easy to dial in a sound to taste. It cuts a bit of bass compared to the clean signal but that seems to work especially well with my Telecaster for a raunchy crunch sound.

To be picky there is there is slight noise from the pedal, which increases as the gain and EQ knobs are cranked, but even flat out it isn't really relevant when playing so I'm not going to knock a mark off.

I usually set it with gain at 12 o'clock, attack at 9'oclock and edge at 3 o'clock - attck is really mid EQ and edge is high EQ - I find I don't need too much 'attack'.

With that kind of setting, the guitar's character is preserved - it works great on neck or bridge, chords and lead work. What's not to like?

It is well made, in a die cast box with a metal footswitch - I don't expect problems.

Never dealt with them although their web site is distinctly average. They really ought to have more sound clips! I bought this pedal mail order without ever hearing it - fortunately no regrets but Carl Martin really should have demos - I can't understand a pedal manufacturer puts all that work into designing a pedal and then doesn't show it off with some neat mp3's.

You need to know what you are buying here - I also have a Boss DS-1 for example - that also calls itself a distortion effect but they are chalk and cheese, the boss has far more gain available, but it can't get the same matrual transparency of inbetween tones as the Crunch Drive

The Crunch Drive does exacly what is says on the box, no less, no more. I'd suggest try before you buy if you can - you may find it lacking in gain if it is your only distortion pedal depending on your music style - but otherwise I can recommend it wholeheartedly.

OK it is not as good value as a Boss so I'll knock a mark off for price but the main thing is I can find all sorts of sounds whan I engage this pedal - all of them good. Stones, SRV, Springsteen...

Takes a little time to figure out "attack" and "edge", but when you get them dialed in its fairly straight forward to make adjustments from there. The suggested settings are a great place to start.

I have been through a bunce of overdrive pedals looking for a specific sound. I was looking for a good adjustable slight to med overdrivin tube amp sound with out sounding all thin and lifeless. I tried BD-2, marshall bluesbreaker (which is a pretty good pedal and was the one I used for quite awhile.) After a bunch of pedals I came across one of these and was very surprised. I mainly use a G&L ASAT classic hollow body into a fender blues deluxe or Tech21 Trademark 60. I use an Aramat effects greenmachine in front for boost. This pedal is great at allowing the original tone to come through which is were most others I have tried had failed. Maybe the proper phrase is "transparent", it is that for sure. Now I get a very nice class A type overdrive sound that I had been looking for. Does a great "Start me up" tone. Gives my TM60 a third channel, perfect. One thing to note, its not an overdrive/ booster as such, at least I didn't think it was. Really doesn't work great at that for me. I also tried a tech21 double drive and found it to be very good as well but chose CM in the end. I give it a 9 as I think there probably is something better, but I haven't found it yet. I would like to try a Voodoo lab sparkle drive, but none available where I live. Oh Well.

I think I could depend on it,I'm not hard on gear so I don't see why not, but time will tell so for now no opinion.

I have been playing quitar for years, but the electric more for the last 5. I am a worship leader and mostly play acoustic. Electric is mostly recreational. I am at the popint where the kids are grown up and I can spend a little more money now on my hobbies. I like to buy good stuff if I can. I have a bunch of guitars effects etc, slowly I am weeding out the so so stuff and replacing it. Guess I'm getting more particular. Anyway this is a great pedal, and for me is perfect at what it was designed to do. I work part time at a friends guitar shop and I take all new pedals home to play. I found that the Carl Martin products are very well designed and quite musical. Definately more for professional musicians. I would replace this pedal of lost or stolen.

NO PROBLEN TO GET A GOOD SOUND

I USE WITH MAINLY MARSHALL JCM-800 50 WATT HEAD WITH 2-12 MESA BOOGIE CABINET WITH VINTAGE 30 SPEAKERS.I SET AMP ON CRUNCH WITH DRIVE ON 3:00.ALSO WORKS GREAT FOR DRIVING EFFECTS.CARL MARTIN 2X CHORUS/VINTAGE SMALLSTONE/BOSS DD-3/DUNLOP ROTOVIBE

TOURING 1 YAER WITH NO PROBLEMS.NO BACKUP. I HAVE READ SWITCHES WERE A PROBLEM BUT I NEVER HAD ONE

E=MAILS RETURNED WITHIN 2 BUSINESS DAYS. VERY HELPFULL. LIKE HAVING A PERSONAL SOUND TECH.

I PLAY BLUES AND CLASSIC ROCK. PLAYING 35 YEARS. CRUNCH DRIVE GIVES M JCM-800 JUST ENOUGH TO BRING THE CRUNCE OVER THE TOP.ALMOST NOISE FREE.GOOD FOR RACK GEAR AS WELL.HAVE USED IN FRONT OF BOOGIE STUDIO PREAMP WITH TC- 2290 AS WELL. IF LOST OR STOLDEN I WOULD GET ANOTHER ONE.