Fulltone Full-Drive 2

volume, tone, drive and boost level knobs with pull comp-cut on the volume knob. Two high quality stomp switches, one for the drive and one for the boost. The drive has to be switched on for the boost to work though. Bought second-hand in 2004, I think it was around a year and a bit old when bought from a friend of mine.
With this simplicity, you'd think it was easy but read on as far as getting your sound goes it's pretty complicated in reality.

My usual amps are Fender '65 reissue Twin and Super Reverbs, on a board that at the minute also has (from guitar) a modded (incldng true-bypass) dunlop wah, Boss TU-2 tuner, Roger Mayer Voodoo-Vibe and Boss DD-20 Delay. Fulltone between the Wah and Tuner.
First off, let's look at it with comp-cut OFF. This is a smoother and higher gain sound, unfortunately, it's also a little hissy and the boost adds no noticeable volume increase in this mode, it just seems to add more distortion and loads of really annoying overbearing hissy noise that i've tried and tried to eliminate by using batteries instead of power brick, having it shielded like a space station inside and i've had the circuit and wiring checked out by a guy who repairs and mods pedals to no success. I also find this mode a bit furry and cardboardy sounding with single-coils but a good early-Mesa Boogie type tone with a Les Paul or similar although it makes no odds as far as that noisiness goes sadly.
With the comp-cut pulled ON, which I prefer, the pedal gives a bigger, fatter and cleaner tone, with little actual drive available but it does a good job of pushing the tubes harder and more importantly it's nice and quiet with none of the hiss as before. The Boost does make a big difference in this mode, even with the boost set at nearly zero it makes an unexpectedly very loud difference, it's a great overdrive tone like this but leaves nothing in the middle, volume wise, i've had talkings to over this by bandmates and soundmen alike, leaving me wondering just how versatile this pedal is on stage, ironically this is the setting that this pedal cuts throught the mix with, it just seems to get lost otherwise.
Personally, I think this pedal is great to have around as a studio tool but I'm taking it out of my stage set-up, since it's either smoother (but furrier) with extremely bad noise and only one actual volume level or with comp-cut on you've either got cleanish/quietish or insane volume but a great tone.

Aside from all the noise, a switch failed once before (it would've been about two/three years old then).

In respect of the broken switch, Fulltone sent me not one but two replacement switches free of charge except for postage to Northern Ireland, I think that was pretty neat.

I've been playing for 15 years, had various overdrives, this one was the first "boutique" drive pedal I bought and I am disappointed overall by the bad noise and pretend versatility of this pedal, at least live anyway, only one sound cuts through the band mix live and it's always far too loud in comparison to the other channel on it's own. I think this one is best reserved for the studio, where you can spend time getting different sounds dialled in for specific parts of songs. Don't get me wrong there are some good tones out of this pedal but I haven't time to keep changing it around on stage which is just going to mess up the band's stage sound anyway.
After a bit of thinking I've decided to go down the route of separate, dedicated clean boost and overdrive pedals to give me proper versatility on stage, I just bought the ToadWorks Meat Jr. Clean Boost the other day and I'm thinking of a Maxon OD-9, Crowther HotCake or ToadWorks Texas Flood for the Overdrive. That way, I can have my overdrive tone set one way but with two volume levels OR I can have true clean volume boost from the Meat Jr. on it's own.

Very easy to use this pedal. 4 knobs, 2 foot switches, that's it. But fulltone's black knob is easily moved with light touch.

I usually use fulltone fulldrive 2 with my PRS Hollowbody 1, PRS McCarty Soapbar, PRS McCarty Standard, Sadowsky NYC Stratocaster. I say full drive 2 has a very standard overdrive tone. It's not so unique, not so vintage, not so modern. This has standard sound. Especially there's boost switch, it's useful for soloing. I hoped that that boost switch could operate seperately, but it was impossible.
And it has 3 channel-Compcut, Modern, Vintage. Compcut mode has so loud volume difference that it should not be toggled during playing, but it is really nice comp cut sound with full-tube amps.
In Vintage/Modern modes, there's not much differences. Not so vintage, and not so modern sound. So so...

it's full tone~!

I haven't had any problems with my full drive 2.

Really really standard sound and noiseless, useful boost switch. This pedal match with various music - blues, Rock n'roll, old rocks, etc.
I recommend this pedal for any guitar players.

How easy is it to get a good sound out of it?

Very easy to get gorgeous tube amp like dynamic & tone or tube screamer preamp crunch/compression , takes a bit to get used to the 3 very different choices of sound/dynamics selectable from the 3-way mini toggle switch - which makes it like 3 distinct pedals, and a FOURTH boost pedal - 4 pedals in one

How about Editing patches?
NO PATCHES, or digital diarrhea blur - pure, clean, smooth, real analog sound

Bought it used from craiglist, no manual - don't need one at all, my ears know when it's right (whats left of em)

First off, let me say, this is the best, most versatile overdrive AND BOOST pedal I have ever experienced, I have tried and owned many over the years.

What setup (i.e. what guitars and amps) are you using this with?

Tele Standard MIA or Gibson LP or Ibanez AK??somthing Hollow body > FT2 > Very nice modded VOX AD-30 or All Tube Music Man RD-112 or Marshall AS-80 or Roland AC-60 or Crate Limo TX-50 or Roland Micro Cube.

Is it noisy? On what settings?
NO!

My favorite all around Amp to use it with so far, as strange as it may seem is the ROLAND AC-60, it sounds like the best clean over driven tube amp I have ever heard - my favorite tube amp is a Fender Blues Jr. with good tubes & a good matched AlNiCo speaker. This pedal and the AC-60 sounds better to me, and Roland's reverb (and Chorus)or phenomenal.

My fav artists are Niel Young, Stones, CCR, Dead, Beatles and almost any band that's not to metaled out. To get almost counterfeit close to their heavier guitar sounds, I would usually use the VOX AD-30 and pick and dial in a amp model. On a big stage I would push the Music Man with this pedal - frigin rippin beautful tube heaven (It's got a JBL AlNiCO, like Santana uses). Often I do solo gigs and the Roland AC-60 (it weighs only 21 pounds with this pedal is perfect)!. Musicians come up and look at my rig and say things like "How did you mod that to get THAT INCREDIBLE SOUND?" or "Where is your AMP? How can that have so much Power, sounds like a studio VOX AC-30, etc.."

2 other reviews that I totally agree with on this pedal are :

Submitted 11/24/2005 at 09:22pm by caucajun
Submitted 08/31/2005 at 01:27pm by dub-D

This one is at least 4 years old & the prevous owner had it on his pedal board - and IT WORKS LIKE NEW IN EVERY WAY - THE POTS ARE SMOOTHE - NO CRACKLES - The stomp buttons are dead silent and always click on or off

Other reviews over all say YEA!

??What style of music do you play?
Classic American & Brit rock, contemporary, Folk, Americana.

?Is this a good match?
Like a match made in heaven!

?Did you compare it to other products? Which ones? Why did you choose this one?
My 2nd favorite is a VOX Big Ben, it's very good, but know where near as flexible, it's actually a bit more tube like in it's distortion, but not as tube like in it's dynamic - not very good stomp switch either. Another good simple overdrive pedal - especially if short on money ($40) - is the Rocktron Austin Gold, but it's not as good as the Big Ben or FT2.

I've already reviewed this but I discovered something cool. I bought an Xotic RC Booster a couple of months ago. It works great on it's own but I just found how great it can sound blended with the FD-2. I set the FD as I want and then use the RC to give it an additional kick. I set the drive high on the RC and it gives the FD a more "singing" quality without too much volume. Sounds sort of like a Larry Carlton tone..I am very please with it.Check it out!

Fulltone Fulldrive 2, handmade overdrive until made by Fulltone in California USA. NOT the newest MOSFET version. Simple to use...pretty much plug in and expirament with the various settings. Controls for volume, tone, overdrive, and boost. 3-way mini toggle for compression cut/flat mids/vintage. Nice discernable differences in the 3-way toggle settings, and the controls for vol, tone, overdrive, and boost are very effective and noticable throughout their respective ranges. Controls are self explanatory and actually do what they are designed to do.

If you're looking for a truly musical and usable overdrive, this is the unit. I am currently using a Fender TC-90 with Seymour Duncan P-90's into either a Peavey Classic 30 combo or a Classic 50 head/Fender 4x12. With the overdrive engaged, the sound of my amp and guitar remain true, there's just more of it. The overdrive control adds gain in a subtle yet clear manner, reatining all of the original tone while providing varying amounts of drive and sustain. In the cut-comp mode, the sound is cleaner with alot more sparkle and definition, and a tad more output. In flat-mid mode, the overdrive becomes a little more "saggy" while flattening the e.q just enough (NOT a scoop). Vintage mode is where the good spongy gain starts to happen, with a little bit softer attack. The volume control is very effective in dialing up the amount of difference between on/off settings, and as you pump it a little things really start to sing, with a good push to the tube power section of the amp. The tone control offers fantastic and usable control over high end (much like a presence control or a cut control on an old Vox. Hitting the "boost" switch adds even more volume, but even more of an increase in gain for the really over the top stuff. Put this box in front of your dirty channel and you instantly have 3 channels at your disposal. On the clean channel, the volume boost when you engage the unit is nice for goosing clean lines into subtle break-up and really making clean lead lines stand out. Some noise noted when using the "boost" fucntion with overdrive settings past 12:00. It's really hard to get a bad sound out of this overdrive. Juat for fun I wired up an 18 volt battery adapter, and WOW! This thing REALLY shines when subjected to 18 volts.....HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! The sound just opens up and blossoms, just when you thought it couldn't get any better.

NO experience with any reliability issues thus far. The thing is built like a tank, and the wiring is clean, neat, and spot-on.

No experience here yet either.

I am currently using the Fulltone with a variety of different musical styles....blues/r&b, classic rock, 80's metal stuff, and some current "F.M." popular stuff. I have found the unit to be as versatile as it is effective, and I can generate appropriate tones for each different genre. I have been playing for 25 years, and have run the gamut of gear, from junk to Marshall and everywhere in between. My current setup of an EL 84 tube amp and the P-90 equipped Fender finally have me in tonal nirvana. The Fulltone is just icing on the cake, and takes me from mediocre tone-wise to tone to die for. I have not one negative thing to say about this unit, and if it was stolen i would definately get another. In fact, I may get another just to have around!! I have tried many other overdrive units in the past (Boss, DOD, MXR, Ibanez Tube-KIngs, etc..) but none compare to the musicality og this unit. It truly will help you get that sound you hear on so many records from guys with great tone.

Easy as all the other overdrives meaning that it no brainer to use.

Like all 369 other users YES it's a pleasant sound to hear and to CONTROL.

With this overdrive you will get use to it and with time you will discover all that it can do.

It is a LOT better than a TS-9, and lot better than all overdrive that I got before.

With a Strat and a Fender Reverb it sings like a bird.

I'm using it not at a loud volume since I live in a condo.
The stuff I practice is Deep Purple and some old Rush.And just finished practicing some JEFF BECK Wired,Goodbye Pork Pie Hat song.


And while practicing you noticed older 70's band never uses distortion on album, just a cranked up Marshall and Fender.
So this is the pedal to get for a nice overdriven amp sound.


Go and chech it out....

Looks sturdy....the inside is nicely done, wiring all nicely done.

it is what it is

This is not a great pedal. I have three others that sound better. A ts 9, a barber direct drive ss, and a 808. It just doesn't sound as good as everything else I own. I take it out all the time put it in and turn it off. Just not that good.

Dependable, so what. It sounds thin compared to other pedals. Kind of fuzzy not overdrivy.

It kind of works I'm sure they don't care about what I think.

I play blues/rock, 43 years Ive been playing. I have played many amps. Many pedals.

Fairly simple layout.
Everyone else covered this pretty well.
No need to waste time.
No manual, bought used (Ebay)
If you need a manual for this, you probably stole it because you wouldn't have enough sense to get a good enough job to buy such nice things...let alone have the sense to buy a decent product like this.
So, if you need a manual, you're probably some retarded rich kid and your dad gave it to you.

I did tons of research on overdrive pedals (including reading these reviews) and listened to several sound clips of different boxes.
On the advise of a PRS forum member, I checked out Fulltone.
After hearing the clips, reading the reviews, talking to other forum members and looking on Ebay (Ebay can be very insightful) I decided on a Fulltone (either an OCD or a Full-Drive).
The OCD was actually the one I was focusing on, but I saw the Full-Drive II and felt it would do nearly the same job plus it had the boost switch for leads.
When I went to get one off of Ebay, I found an earlier model (without the Mosfet switch) that was Cream colored (a Custom Shop model).
I took a chance that this was an "extra good" one and I got lucky...it is!
This box has 3 settings;
Vintage: Plain Average Distortion Box fequency range (compressed sound)
FM: Fuller range (more highs but still compressed somewhat)
CompCut: Full Range sound! Wow! Much louder that the other two settings, too. The boost switch is more effective, too. This is gonna be the setting I use. If your rig has lots of highs, this setting will burn you ears up! Be prepared to cut the brightness switch off!
Seriously, this box brings out many of the harmonic overtones that get lost or subdued by other boxes. Also, I'm utterly speachless at the tone of my pickups! That's right, I said my pickups!
I've been playing through the same crap for several years, never truely happy with my sound, but I knew it wasn't the fault of my Seymour Duncan 59er pickups. Now with the Full-Drive, my true pickup sounds are shining through...and it sounds great! (just like they should)
I've owned many boxes and played for 30 years...Fulltone stuff is awesome. I wish I had bought their stuff 15 years ago.

I looked inside to check the build (and install a battery).
Having the battery clip on the opposing side wasn't the best of design ideas, but you do what cha gotta do. (I guess)
The unit is pristine inside, built with top-of-the-line components (it's very obvious) and looks to be fully hand-made.
It's the most impressive looking stomp box I've ever seen.
You get what you pay for, American made, for sure!
Can you depend on it?
Would you use it on a gig without a backup?
These would be questions for other companies products.
I'm sure Mike Fuller would agree.

I wrote Mike just to see if he'd respond, but I posed no burning questions so I doubt he'll reply.
I seriouly doubt I'll ever need his services.

What style of music do you play? Is this a good match?
I bought this box because my Fender "Evil" Twin didn't have the drive sound I wanted (not enough). This box pushes it right to the edge (just right!) No, it's not a Marshall sound, but it's close (and it's better!).
How long have you been playing? What other gear do you own?
I've played for 30 years, my past equipment list is long. My three favorite amps (Fender, Mesa/Boogie and Soldano...all 6L6).
If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else?
I'm planning on buying ONLY Fulltone boxes from now on. ('nuff said?)
What do you love about it?
Love the tone! The boost feature is a plus.
What do you hate? Hate the lack of volume the boost gives. (Need more cowbell)
What is your favorite feature? Other than the CompCut setting, just the sound itself. Having lights on it is a must for me but might be a plus for some people.
Did you compare it to other products? Oh, just every box I've owned since 1978.
Which ones? Boss SD-2, Boss DS-1, Boss Blues Driver, Ibanez TK-999 Tube King, Pro-Co Rat, Rocktron, Fuzz Face, MXR, DOD, Electro Hamonix Big Muff, Rockman, Mesa V-Twin, Digitech, Ibanez Tube Screamer, etc.
Why did you choose this one?
Because I wanted good tone!
Anything you wish it had?
Telepathic switching
Does it help you make music, or does it get in the way?
I bake cookies on it, the non-stick surface works flawlessly.
Anything else you'd like to share?
I played one of those "Epoch" guitars from Target the other day. Not half bad for $100 bucks.

Its easy to use, unless you are handicapped. Mine is the MOSFET edition.

This thing is a rebuilt tube screamer period...with the gain stage altered so that it can have a boost..There is nothing invative about it the drive is terrible IMO it is very well built but as for electronics no where nere the crazy money it cost. That being said the boost when on in the MOFET mode sounds damn good when driving other higher quality pedals. Like a Blue Boy deluxe. Those 2 together sound amazing..But so do any good boost or TS clone in front of the Blue BD..If you are in the market for a flexable Tube screamer clone get a Blue Boy if you need 2 switches get a Diamond J drive...it blows the fulltone out of the water. I build amps and pedals all the time and the Fulltone line is all hype.. with the exception of the wahs and Chorus. Sorry but the truth hurts....alot of guys spend allot of money on gear and then say raving things about them because they just droped 200$ on a tube screamer rebuild..its sad..Even though I can build any pedal I want I still buy after market pedals because there are some really smart inovative guys out there making us all proud. When you are buying a pedal and you are new to the pedal world look for one that will do allot of different tones or do one tone really well. Dont get suckkered in my the "this pedal looks cool" stuff or the hype..
The best OD pedal I ever used wasn't even painted and had 2 knobs..so keep your eyes and ears sharp!

Its well built and works everytime I use it...which is rare unless I need to OD another drive pedal..Very transparent...contrary to what others have said on this site...it IS a transperent effect..

Never dealt with them but they have a reputation in the industry as being
Big A holes...money hungry and Ego driven which is the type of people I stay away from...however since I never met them its unfair to comment..anyway like the last reviewer was saying you don't play them you play the pedals...the Chorus they make is awesome..

Well my pedal was free (got it as a demo for a project I am working on) so I use it I wouldnt buy one now that I have played on it but if you want a TS that is well built and has a Boost (that only works when the overdrive is on...unlike the Diamond J-Drive)
Then you cant go wrong...its not a high gain effect at all and I get less gain from it then all my other TS clones (I have 34 of them =)Yep everyone has made a clone of this pedal..best ones are in this order:

J-Drive- by Diamond (Amazing Drive tones med gain, outstanding boost sounds like my DreamTone Magic BOOst)

Landgraff (not for tones but flexibility everything is socketed!)

Blue Boy Deluxe (can sound like a TS or be very high gained A amazing pedal)

Night Owl by Asonix (i think thats the company they have a loop built into the pedal which is very cool)
Plus a dozen more other great builders that I dont have time to mention shop around before you buy there is normally dozens of people making the same stuff you need with slightly diff features dont jump on what everyone else has..be unique!

Very easy to use.

I Love Stevie Ray Vaughan, since I was 7 years old I'm looking for a way to play something like him, when I was 20 years old I decided that I had to play my thing. So I retired my old TS 808. That day on I started to look for an overdrive that makes me sound like me, but sounds a little bit like tube screamer.
FullDrive 2 covers 4 different pedals when I'm on stage, Usually when I need to have a nice, smooth, shine sound I use Keeley Compressor> Keeley katana > TS 808.
On Stage I only use Fulldrive 2, It covers all the effects I wrote before in only 1 blue box.

My stage set up

Fender mex with texas special pickups,
Whawha > TU-2 Boss > Fulldrive 2 > Chorus > Analogic Delay
Fender Princeton 112

The Boost is not a clean boost, it adds a little gain to your sound.
The compression is too much, and when you use the boost with the comp. on looks like you are using a distorsion effect.

But after a while you get used to this behaviour.

on other hand this is a very good effect. I won't change it for anything in the world. The best stage overdrive I ever heard.

There's no noise at stage, and I'm not using a tube amp !
I have tried also fulldrive 2 with my 72 Silver face Twin reverb, and fulldrive sounds even better.
You can purchase it without fear.

I use the old one with the volume knob push /pull for compression cut. I have it for 4 years and never had any problem.

Never needed

I play Soul/ Funk and Blues. I play for 18 years.
I would purchase it again hands down.
I love have 4 effects at once...
I compare it with TS 808, Keeley Katana, Sparkle Drive, BB-2, Mod BD-2.