Fulltone Full-Drive 2

This Product has four knobs, Volume, Tone, Overdrive, and Boost. for most people it will be very easy to get a nice overdriven tone out of this box, and the boost is a nice touch for a more hard edge, I use it mainly for a hot lead channel.

The sound rating is a little low because I have tried it through some amplifiers and it doesn't sound as good. I like it alot with my PRS custom 22, I usually never use the boost with humbuckers, but it really works wonders with my custom shop strat. I can get almost any type of blues, classic rock tone that I need out of this box.
I have tried it through a couple of solid state fender amplifiers(red knob chorus style) and found the tone not quite as pleasing, a little harsh. But it works extremely well with tube amplifiers. I have played it with a '65 BF Super Reverb and it almost always sounded great to every one I play with. But recently I purchased a Mesa/Boogie Blue angel amp, and this box works great with this amp and eiter of the two above metioned guitars. I can get a great Chicago or Texas style blues out of this combo almost effertlessly.
There is one thing about the tone contol, about four o'clock on the dail their seems to be a jump to accent the higher frequencies, it's not huge but it seems that all the way up until then you get a nice warm tone, and then it seems to get bright to fast. Maybe I'm just hearing things. You might want to check it out?

I have used this box for almost a year and a half, and have had no problems with it except for the occasional forgetting to change the battery.

I have e-mailed the guys at Fulltone about upgrading my box to the new style with the push/pull circuit, and I received a response within a half an hour.
And according to what I was told he has great turn around times.

Overall this pedal is my personnal favorite distortion type pedal I have ever used. If it were stollen I would purchase one again in a heartbeat!
This pedal does blow away my Tube-Screamer reissue, but my pedal is stock as compared to some people who have the TS-808 mod.
I've had the other guitar players I play with try this box, with a Laney amplifier( I can't recall model), and also his '66 BF Super Reverb, with and Ibanez AS-80, and an Older model Gibson SG and say how nice this pedal is.
If you are in the market for a good distortion box put this one on your list and give it a try.

this is very easy to use, as there are no bad sounds in it

strat hollow body guild electrics ampeg jet vibrolux reverb it doesn't matter, brings out the best in all of the above i immediately began playing stuff that i've never played before, it;'s inspirational

i have no cause to doubt it's reliability

mr. fuller responded to my email within 5 minutes i have heard of others recieving excellent treatment from fulltone

blues jazz rock electric folk spacejazz-traded my boogie v-twin for this now the boogie is a fine thing, but this is devine, and its alot lighter and easier to truck around anybody wanna buy a tube screamer?

Very easy to use, the owner's manual gives good starting points. Four knobs make it simple (but does take a little tweaking to find right tones).

I'm using this with a Fender Lonestar, a Rivera BM60-212, and a reissue '59 Bassman, and I have to say not a lot of noise, unless you have the distortion all the way up. After playing this unit for 6 months, I've put away my TS-9, this is exactly the sounds (blues, Stevie Ray) I was looking for. The clean boost is so transparent, but the bell like tones from the Texas Specials ring beautifully (great for Lenny Breu harmonics. The overdrive / volume boost can be LOUD (the manual comes with a warning)but extremely smooth.

This thing is built like a tank, once I have the funds I'm getting a second (not so much for backup, but to run together - oooohhh I can just hear my amps crying "uncle" nw).

I've never had to deal with Fultone, but from the feedback on the newsgroups, all the comments have been very positive.

For playing blues through a Bassman this pedal rules! Through the Rivera on the "M" channel with the Slavemaster engaged I've got Eric Johnson's lead tone down. This pedal is exactly what I was looking for, wihtout having to radically alter the tone of my guitar and amp combanations. It's enogh to push it over the top, with out destrying or mudding the signal. I would highly recommend this pedal to any one looking for a boost in their tone and sound.

Like most stompboxes, the Fulldrive is very easy to use. It has four knobs (output, tone, overdrive & boost) and two footswitches (on/off & boost). The boost knob works with the boost switch and provides a second footswitchable distortion sound with more gain and sustain. Also, the output knob can be pulled to engage a "no-compression" mode. Some people have said that they would like the no-comp mode to be footswitchable, but I can't imagine why -- you really need to adjust the knobs when going to that mode because the output will invariably be *much* higher than the normal mode. I have the latest version with the sky blue casing. I'm giving it an "8" in the ease of use category since it does have a couple more functions you have to learn how to use (compared to most overdrive pedals) and it takes a bit of experimentation to find the really optimal knob settings for each mode.

This thing is simply awesome. Its distortion sound is very smooth and musical -- not at all harsh or grainy. In terms of the amount of gain, the overdrive mode is basically in the Tube Screamer range, while the boost mode goes beyond that a ways (Fulltone claims 3X more gain, but its *sounds* like less than that). I find the Fulldrive to be more transparent than a Tube Screamer -- not forcing its own sonic agenda on your guitar sound. The boost mode does provide more gain and sustain than the overdrive mode, but make no mistake, this isn't "high-gain" in the 90s sense of the words -- its not hard rock/heavy metal kind of distortion. If you dime the boost knob, its just a bit less gain than, say, Eric Johnson's lead sound.
The no-compression mode? Just think Fender blackface. More dynamic than the normal mode, reacting to picking dynamics and guitar volume changes much more dramatically. I've found that if I just put it in the boost/no-compression mode with fairly high output settings and run that into a clean tube amp, I can get all the distortion variations I need for blues and classic rock by just using the volume control on my guitar. Very cool.
At high gain settings, it is a bit noisy -- not as bad as some overdrives, but worse than others. Its not unreasonably noisy though -- its definately in the liveable range.

I've had it for less than 6 months so I feel its premature to assign a rating, but I can say this: Its built very ruggedly and the components are top quality. The circuit is hand-wired and incredibly simple. I gig without back up for it all the time.

Mike Fuller is very opinionated. But when it comes to backing up his products he's reputed to be completely on the ball. I haven't had to have my Fulldrive serviced, but if I do, I'm comfortable that it will be handled professionally.

I bought the Fulldrive to go with a couple Fender and Marshall amps for blues and classic rock. Its been a real winner with every guitar and amp I've tried. In fact, I've used it on several gigs with a Fender HR Deluxe that I bought for transportability reasons and the combination of that amp with the Fulldrive II just sounds better than it has any right to given the really reasonable amount of money invested. It honestly sounds darn near as good as a blackface Fender that I have -- and its alot easier to live with since it doesn't have to be turned up so darn loud and its much easier to lug around.
When I bought the Fulldrive II, I auditioned it against a Carl Martin Hot Drive 'n Boost II. Truthfully, the Martin pedal is more versatile since it has more gain on tap -- you can go deep into fuzz territory with it. But the Fulldrive does the low- to mid-gain thing better IMO, and its easier to get serviced since its not from Europe and has better distribution. And the Martin *requires* A/C power.

I have been looking for an overdrive that would do justice with a Fender Dual Professional, THIS PUPPY IS IT! Most of the other pedals that I have tried lacked the warmth that I've been looking for.

Have no way to tell. The pedal is brand new. Seems to be well built.

This pedal nearly brought a tear to my eye when I first heard it. You see the Fender Professional will not distort even if you beg. All of the other pedals that I tried were just way too harsh for my liking. This pedal has just the bluesy kind of drive that I've been looking for.

Like most stompboxes, this one is easy to use. Dialing in the right tone only takes a little tweaking. The manual discusses the controls sufficiently. My only beef is that it uses a pull-pot to access uncompressed overdrive, I would prefer a switch.

I should preface this by saying that I am happy with the tone of my current gear (Fender Roadhouse Strat & Groove Tubes Soul-o 75) without any additions. The reason I mention this is because the FDII seems to be a transparent addition to my setup. When the pedal is bypassed is doesn't color my tone at all.
But the fun is when I engage the pedal and it sounds like my tone but WAY BIGGER. I love the range of tones the FDII produces, from "clean with some grit" to "mid-scooped TS-808 distortion" to "near-fuzz". When I add the variable Boost I get just the right amount of added volume, gain, and sustain (so sweet!). I haven't even mentioned the uncompressed mode that ranges in tone from "just a little bit punchier" to "molten tube overdrive".
All of the tones this pedal produces are very musical.

I could easily take out the chickenhead knobs. But the rest would withstand all of the abuse I can dish out.

I have had nothing but good dealings with Michael Fuller with regards to my direct communications with him. I may have disagreed with him on a Usenet newsgroup or Harmony Central Forum but it has been a real pleasure to do business with him. He understands what it means to be a guitar player looking for a dependable pedal that faithfully produces "The Tone".

Yes, it is a premium priced pedal. Yes, it is painted Corvette Orange. "Yes honey, it is a necessity." Yes, I would purchase it again. Yes, I would recommend it to a friend. YES ... YES ... OH BABY, YES!!!

It's hard to get a bad sound out of it; most of the range of all the knobs is usable. The fact that it can footswitch between two drive settings makes it even easier to use, for switching between, say, rhythm and lead, or (using the guitar's volume control and/or pickup selector) two volume and lead settings. There's some overlap between the two channels' ranges, so you're not locked into using two radically different sounds. The two channels share volume and tone knobs. LEDs show the bypass status and channel (even when bypassed).

Using a Boss AC adaptor, there's a slight hum when it's on; not objectionably loud (though you might notice it if recording; try a battery), and gone when bypassed. This pedal can get a wide range of distortion sounds, especially "classic" era sounds (late 60s-mid 70s). The overdrive channel is better than other overdrives I've tried because it doesn't attenuate the high and low frequencies. In other words, it preserves the character and settings of the guitar and amp. The boost channel is good for thick, sustaining leads, and all the way up, it approaches fuzz intensity. In the uncompressed mode, it cleans up nicely when you turn down the volume on the guitar, and it's good for adding a bit of grit to thicken country leads (the Eagles would love it). It has true bypass.

No problems in 3 months of light use; it feels well built.

I mainly use it with Fender tube amps, playing rock/blues/country. I don't really need to have any other overdrive or distortion pedals, because this one does it all excellently. For metal, it's probably not quite tight and scooped enough (but I don't play that style).

as simple as it gets, three knobs-volume, gain, and tone. every sound that comes out of it is good.

this is my favorite overdrive, and was the main lead solo tone on a great deal of my last CD "LVX NOVA"...it is much like a ts-808 era tube screamer, but MUCH bigger and fuller sounding (no pun intended, mike!). it is the best overdrive i have ever used, the only other one that is as good is the Klon Centaur, but that was TOO clean for me...the Fulldrive will get nice and dirty, if you know what i mean :-)

i bought Fulldrive I, #34, back when they came out, and currently have #101...it is over 2 years old, and i have never had a problem with either of the Fulldrives i have owned. it has been on countless gigs and sessions. i used to worry about the switches, but mike was right, they ARE sturdy!

mike is great to work with. never had a problem with him. he's VERY confident of his products, so much so that many take it the wrong way...but i happen to think his pedals are the best custom effects that one can buy, bar none....my experiences with him and his effects have been 10 all the way. that's why he gets 10's all across the board for my review. my favorite effects, period!

this is the one for overdrive, sweet, warm, round, and dynamic. it's the BIG tone...sounds GREAT into a Fender combo amp...this is no high-gain RATT tone pedal....think Ts-808...but this thing KILLED my TS-808, i have a/b'd my Fulldrives with all sorts of overdrive pedals, and the Fulldrive has always been THE BEST for me....just my opinion. but you owe it to yourself to check one out. i haven't even heard a Fulldrive II yet, i still have the old Fulldrive I!

This pedal is idiotproof. If you need a manual for it, you should quit guitar playing right now! You really can't get a bad sound out of it. It is very warm sounding for a solid state unit. I have the one with the pull drive knob, which really fattens the sound. There is a tone knob, which I set to 2'o clock with my LP Standard, a volume knob (I max this one out) and boost knob. The boost knob controls the boost channel' This pedal in general is not too bright sounding, which suits me fine. I use it with a 1987X Plexi Marshall hooked up to a Power Brake. It is not a metal sound, but it is very toneful, and I get people asking and complimenting me about my sound.

I use to punch the front end of my Marshall. I set the drive at 10'o clock and pull the knob. I don't use the boost channel as it mushes the sound too much. I plug into the BOTTOM left input in my Marshall and set the high treble volume to 2'o clock. I control my stage volume with the Power Brake. The problem with the power brake is that it cuts high frequencies too much at high attenuation. Anyway, it's an awesome sounding set-up. It is not a metal set-up, but the combination of the fulldrive tone and the Marshall power section adding its own compression makes it a very "creamy" sustaining sound, specially when playing lead. It has a very forgiving feel. Kinda like a good Mesa/Boogie, but with a Marshall-like tone. The fulldrive tone doesn't mess with the Marshall character, which is why I like it. When I use the fulldrive's boost channel as the only source of gain, ie: with the Marshall clean, I don't like the sound as much. It sounds just like an TS-9, good sound but no hard-on! That's why I gave it a 9. As far as solid state pedals, I think it is the best one, along with the TS-9. I think this pedal is at its best when you use to complement the sound of your existing amp, assuming you have a good one!

Hasn't let me down yet in 6 months. I am getting a backup, though.

Never dealt with them.

It is a good overdrive pedal. Probably the best solid state one. A little bit pricey, but definitely worth it. i'd like to compare it to the Matchless tube overdrive or the Boogie V-twin. Different price ranges, though.

It's easy to get a great sound. Versatile controls.

This is a very good overdrive pedal and it's ability to bypass much of the compression is very cool. What this pedal will not do though some have claimed it will is do the tube screamer 808 thing. It will get in the ballpark, but it sounds much more like a TS5 soundtank pedal. The edge it produces is harder and more edgy than an 808. The 808 has a beautiful sweetness that the Fulldrive 2 could not duplicate in an AB test. Conversely, the Fulldrive 2 had more different sounds and a wider gain range than the 808.

Looks well made. I wouldn't worry about a backup.

No knowledge

I didn't buy it. I took it home to test it out through a Matchless Chieftain with a PRS McCarty and a Fender Strat with Fralins. It is a great sound, but the lack of sweetness that the 808 has kept me from buying it. If I wanted a little more rocking sound though, I'd definitely give it a listen. I loved the uncompressed sound and the boost control did a great job of sending the sound over the top. It's just a little too hard edged for my blues-based sound....