G2D Cream-Tone Overdrive

Very easy to use. Controls are intuitive and you can't get a bad sound out of it if you tried. There's controls for Volume, Tone, Solo and Drive along with 2 footswitches, one to engage the unit and the other to toggle between Blues mode (normal) and Solo mode (boost).
It comes with a manual with operation instructions, trouble shooting and contact info.

This is simply the best overdrive I've ever tried. I play Fender CS Relic Strat, CS 50th Anniversay '54 Strat and a '57 Vintage Reissue Strat through several Fender tube amps and it sounds fantastic through all of them. The Cream-tone is very transparent and really lets the tone of your guitar come through. It is a very quiet unit also, no perceptable noise.

With the Volume turned up and the Drive set low I can get a nice clean boost. With the Drive dimed I get a very nice blues crunch ala ZZ Tops LaGrange. And in between is the sweetest mild blues tone reminicent of a slightly overdriven tube amp. The Solo boost also gives your tone a little more hair to cut through a loud band mix if you have to. Like I said, you can't get a bad sound out of this thing.

It seems to built very sturdy. All steel box. The switches feel like high quality and the pots have a nice feel to them. Nothing flimsy on this box at all. I wouldn't think anyone would have any problems gigging with this.

The customer support is great. I dealt with Dave Manning through emails and he was very prompt and responsive to any questions that I had. He even arranged for a different form of payment other than PayPal which is listed on their website. He also sent me status emails of my order while it was being built and shipped.

I've been playing for about 20 yrs and play a lot of blues and classic R & R. Everything from SRV,Clapton to the Stones. This seems to cover it all for this type of music. Just don't expect this pedal to do the Metal thing though. It was not desighned to do so. It will however give you a amazing transparent overdrive tone for classic rock and blues. I've had most of the Tube Screamer and clones, TS 9, TS 808, Route 66, Bad Monkey, Sparkle Drive etc...and they all seem to color the sound or over emohasis the midrange. Not the Cream-Tone. My bandmate uses a Full Drive II and he can't believe how good the Cream-Tone sounds(his Full Drive is now up for sale).

If it were stolen I would instantly be sending an email to Dave and Grant asking them to build me another one.

Highly Recommended.

Simple controls that do what they say. Volume, Tone, Solo (Boost) and Drive.
1 switch for True Bypass, and 1 to select Blues or Solo when the effect is engaged.
There are no tricks once you understand how the LEDs work (see other reviews below. The manual is minimal.
This pedal doesn't have a bad sound in it.

Absolutely AWESOME tone.
I am using it with a PRS SE Soapbar through a Peavey Classic 20 valve amp.
If you are looking for a warm, smooth overdrive that will stay true to the natural sound of your guitar and pickups - this is the one. Nothing else I have tried even comes close. The bass response on this pedal just blows me away. Full transparent bass without going fuzzy - how come no other pedal (that I've heard) can do that.
Very responsive to playing technique.
The Cream Tone has ended my search for THE overdrive pedal because I can't imagine anything sounding better than this. There's nothing I would change about the way it sounds, and that's the highest recommendation I can give.

It's a quiet pedal - very slight hum from when engaged, but better than most overdrives. Switching is silent.

Very solid case, and the workmanship and components look top notch from what I can see without disassembling it (which is not a lot).

Haven't had to deal with them apart from the purchase. They kept me informed on progress and shipping which took about 2 weeks.
Comes with a 7 day satisfaction guarantee and a 12 month warranty.

For a sweet Blues, Jazz, Light Rock style overdrive - this is definitely the one. If you want a lot of overdrive, or really dirty sounds, this is not your pedal.
It looks good and sounds unbelievable. Very fairly priced I would say for what you get.
I have been through a number of TS9 TS808 style pedals including an Analog Man modded TS9-DSX, several TS9s w/ TS808 mod, STL (Super Tube Screamer), Aria Tube Overdrive, modded BD-2. I also have a V-Stack, and a Banzai Fireball II (another great pedal).
The Cream Tone has the sustain and warmth of a good 808 without the excessive mids and weak bass response and without the over compressed sound. Much more transparent and musical.

If this were stolen, I would replace it as quickly as the guys in New Zealand could build me another one.

What would I change if I could - maybe just a little more volume boost on the Solo side.

This is as user friendly as a pedal can get. four knobs with real names like volume, tone, solo and drive. Two switches on/bypass and blues/solo. If you can't figure it out then tell whoever is reading this to you to stop.

First let me say if I have ever had a great effect pedal this is it. It does exactly what it advertises. Pure blues tone heaven.

That said....the Creme-Tone is pretty much a one trick pony. If you're looking for ZZ Top or heavy metal....then you have made a mistake in buying this pedal. It is a light overdrive with a smooth texture that is very transparent. It is somewhat like an 808 without the big mid hump. The big difference is that most effects color your sound, while the Creme-tone just provides an edge without a radical change in the EQ. The tone knob is more of a hi-cut than anything else. Even set at the lowest setting there is no big woofy increase in bass response and at the highest setting there are not ice-pick highs and shrill thin sounding tones. I guess you could say that this pedal just enhances what you already have.

I use a variety of guitars with the Creme-tone. Some have said that this pedal is more at home with single coils. I give no argument to that but if you have much experience.....nearly all pedals are more at home with single coils. What impressed me was what it would do with humbuckers. It still sounded transparent and focused. Now that is impressive. It's great with my McInturff or my 335...and very few that have been. Or course it sings with the Suhr Strat.

I also use a variety of amps and this pedal is completely amp neutral. It's as much at home with a Matchless as it is with an ol' 59 Bassman.

Seems to be built like a tank.

Never used them for service......never needed to.....but I have E-mailed them a couple times and they quickly responded and seem to be nice people.

I'm primarily a blues player, influenced by the three Kings, Albert, BB and Freddie, Albert Collins,Buddy Guy, Luther Allison and a host of others. I also do a little classic and southern rock. I have been playing about 40 years and I have had a ton of equipment in that time including about every tube amp Fender ever made as well as many boutique amps. I own several guitars at present and have had many others over the years. Not that any of that matters, but for some reason you're supposed to talk about it.

Bottom line is this is a great pedal and a huge asset to your gear. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

VERY easy to use. Two modes, Blues and Solo. Volume, Tone, Solo, and Drive knobs, coupled with a Bypass and a Blues/Solo switch. True bypass to boot. Volume sets the overall volume (output when engaged), tone...well...sets the "Tone," Solo sets the amount of volume/girth boost when the Solo switch is engaged, and Drive sets the amount of...well...Drive in the Blues mode. The Solo mode doesn't really add any more gain, but it adds a volume increase, (setable), and a REALLY nice girth to the notes that makes your solo stand out in the mix.
One thing that takes a few minutes to get used to are the LED lights. When you first plug the pedal in, the Yellow LED (far left) and the Blue LED (middle) light up. It doesn't take long to figure out that the Yellow LED is signifying that the unit is in THE BYPASS MODE, because as soon as you step on the Bypass switch the Blues mode engages and the Yellow LED goes out. This would be OK, but you still have the Blue light ON signifying that the pedal is in the "Blues" mode, yet when you step on the Blues/Solo button the Blue light goes out and the Red LED (far right) goes on now signifying that you are in the Solo mode. (??)

This is really a GREAT sounding pedal that is VERY transparent. If you already like your "Clean" tone and just want a pedal that will give you everything from a slight "Bluesy" edge to light "Rock," then the G2D Cream Tone is one of the best I've tried. If you are looking for a pedal to get you into the "Hard Rock" or "Metal" zones, or for a pedal that will turn your Fender into a Marshall, then look elsewhere, as those tones are NOT in this pedal. I use the G2D Cream Tone in front of my Fender 57 Tweed Twin, with my Heritage Classic 535 (Seth Lover pickups) and my Epiphone Les Paul Standard. (also with Seth Lovers) The tones range from Claptonesque Blues with my Heritage to Allman Bros. approved tones with my Les Paul. This pedal is NEVER harsh, and although it does have a "slight" mid hump and compression, (just enough to CUT) there is an inherant "sweetness" about the tonality that makes is VERY pleasing to the ears and never stereotypical.

So far so good. Comes with a decent warranty, and looks like it's built like a tank. I ALWAYS have a backup.

Dave Manning is GREAT to deal with. He always answered my e-mails promply, and when the pedal took a "little" longer to make than originally anticipated, he was quick with an apology and thanful for my patience.

This pedal seems to be in the price range of most of the other so called "boutique" pedals, but unlike some others I've tried, this pedal actually delivered the "tonal" goods I was looking for. Works equally as well with my ES-335 style guitar or my Les Paul, and is my "go-to" pedal when Blues or light Rock is called for. I'm actually considering one of the G2D Classic pedals for that "Plexi" sound.

I bought this pedal 2nd hand without packaging or a manual, but it is absolute childsplay to use.
It looks like a piece of Soviet millitary equipment with it's bulky mid-brown, definately built-to-last, metal casing, and four "vintage cream" rotary knobs which operate the volume, tone, solo and drive controls.
There are three status LEDs (yellow, blue and red) operated by two footswitches; one to switch between; bypass on (yellow LED on) and bypass off (yellow LED off), and one to switch between blues (blue LED on, red LED off) or solo (blue LED off, red LED on). How easy is that? No? Ok, have another read of the last sentence and it WILL make sense, I promise you!

In my experience, and that's 40 years of playing, there are far, far, too many pedals flooding the market today that are built to buy the manufacturing company's director a second "new" house in Florida, and to pay for his, or her, champagne bill and comfortable early retirement. I name no names! And then there are the very, very few, genuinely useful and well thought out pedals that are actualy designed and built to enhance the harminics of your playing, and the tone of your guitar and your amplifier; and what's more, so of 'em actualy do!

This one does!

It is my opinion that the good people at G2D in Newzealand (where they definately have no need for a second house in Miami) have built, for us and themselves, a pedal that is genuinely useful, and does actually do the job of enhancing the tone of your guitar and amplifier. And unfortunately, because G2D's pedals are not mass produced, and are not swamping guitar mags with their glossy adverts, and are not piled in artistic pyramid like constructions flanked by scantily-clad nubiles at any of the "Euro-Muso-Fairs"; the good people at G2D ain't gonna make a bucket of money!

What they have made is a damn good reputaion based on a few, select, worthwhile, and very usable, not to mention affordable, pedals. The components, construction and sound quality are as good as any of the "Rob Keeley" USA products, and if you have to wait, like I did, to get your hands on a G2D pedal outside of the Southern Hemisphere, then for Gawds-sake, try harder!

I use Humbuckers, single-coils and P90's through "Dennis Cornell" class A, valve amps, and the G2D Cream Tone pedal, coupled with my superb "Holy Trinity" of Rob Keeley pedals (Compressor, Katana and Java) give me my "Holy-Grail" of tone!

Thank you G2D, and of course, Rob Keeley!

It's built like a Soviet Military Industrial Tool, so of course it will last, and having opened it up ( nosey, ain't I ? ) it's easy enough to work on if it should go "tech" on me!

I've conferred with the people at G2D by email and they are wonderfully helpful and quick to reply.

I play mainly 60's British (and US) Blues Boom material, in my own, some say pathetic, others say Innovative - but they're usualy the drunks, style.
Been playing 40 years plus.

If it ain't worth replacing, why would I use it?
(By the way, for those that don't know, there's a pro-forma for filling in one of these reviews)!

What do I love about it? The construction, the look, the harmonics, and the very useful tones of the thing!

I compared this to 40 years of wasting far too much money on far too much useles crap!

very easy and intuitive to use.. Volume, Tone, Solo and Drive controls. 3 status LEDs (yellow, blue and red) Bypass switch, and Blues and Solo switch..

The Bypass switch tells you when it is in bypass, not engaged like most are used to.. It took a little bit fo me to get used to it, but now to me it makes perfect sense.. Light on it's bypassed!! The blue and red LEDs register "blues" or "solo" status..

All controls are smooth and have a LOT of useable range. Takes batteries or external power source (9VDC center neg, just like everybody else)

I use a variety of guitars, Gibsons and Fenders.. And play thru mostly tweed Fenders, although, I'll drag out an occasional Marshall too.

In terms of tone, This is where this pedal shines brightly.. This definitely is a "Blues" or "Country" pedal, where ever you'd want just a taste of distortion.. This is not a "do-all" pedal. It is very specific and reaches DEEPER into areas where most general purpose pedals try to do too much, and don't have a lot of defining character, IMHO

The gain is just enough to do a nice breakup, but not over the top.. Guitar's character REALLY comes thru on all settings, and does not have the effect of being muffled or altered drastically. In-between sounds on a Strat, still sound like in-between sounds on a Strat.

This is the FIRST pedal for me, that really fits the bill as far as I'm concerned in respects to tone.. And I've tried pretty much all of "the" pedals.

I especially had trouble with the other two stage pedals out there, as I'd like one half of the equation (settings), but disliked the other half (setting, be it the unboosted or boosted signal..

What G2D has done very successfully IMHO, they have made the solo channel a "MORE" of the "blues" channel. What you set the blues channel to tonally, is what you're going to get out of the "solo" channel, just "MORE" of it.. Not necessarily louder (although it is) but a bit nastier, but the same timbres and colorations as the lower gain settings, a bit more raunchier, but still rich and deep and VERY 3-D..

Noise level was lower than most of my other effects.

Also, this is the FIRST opedal were I was able to match my bypassed signal with the engaged signal.. I haven't found an overdrive pedal yet were I could do that.. There was always something added to the signal..

Top notch construction. I wouldn't hesitate to gig with it..

Dave has always responded in a timely masnner and has been helpful with my insane ramblings about what I wanted in tone.. I highly recommend them.. My pedal got to the US way ahead of when they thought it would arrive as well..

If this was lost or stolen, I'd be on Dave and Grant's page ordering another ASAP..

Definitely check these guys out.. I think they're going to be a reckoning force in the not too distant future..

Very intuitive. Tone control is very active and affects the overall gain characteristic which is a little different from most pedals.

I am going to cut to the chase. I have bought countless OD pedals over the years and have liked many but never found "the one". This is THE ONE. Buy this pedal and be done with the insanity of pedal OCD. I have had it for a few months now and more pleased than ever with it. I CONSTANTLY get compliments on my tone wheneverI play. I am not going to wax poetic, rather, in summation, if you are a good player and know what good tone is about, this is the one.

Flawless performance.

The guys at G2D are great and answered all my questions before I bought. They offer a money-back 7-day trial (minuis shipping) which is more than fair. I seriously doubt anyone has taken them up on the offer.

Again, this is THE BEST I have ever played--PERIOD. I bought mine directly from G2D in New Zealand and it took 10 days to my door in Georgia, USA.

4 knobs, volume, "tone" more of a fattening feature than tone, solo, and drive. Very simple, but effective setup. Not to mention a very cool blue LED for the blues channel!

I don't give 10s, but if there was a pedal that comes real close, this is it. I own, and have owned, quite a few boutique OD pedals in the past. Such as Fulltone FD II, Barber Tone Pump, Barber Burn Unit II, Ibanez TK99, and various Boss units. This one, along with the Burn Unit, are the keepers. The GD2 pedal has the most transparent tone I've ever heard. You can actually feel the wood of your guitar coming through. The gain is mild to mid high, but not harsh. To put it simply, this pedal just sits on the mix and pleases everyone around it. Very smooth and musical. I love it!

Haven't owned it long enough to comment, but it looks to be built very well.

Have never dealt with Grant or Dave so I have no comment here either. However, from reading other reviews, I feel confident that these guys stand behind what they build.

Once again, no 10s. I've seen Boss pedals with 10s and scratch my head in disbelief. But that's another story. I can only speak from practical experience with other gear. This pedal sounds awesome with both single coils, Fender Strat Plus with Kinman AVNs, and Humbuckers, PRS McCarty Standard. My main amps are a Fender BF Pro Reverb and Boogie 22+ running in tandem where needed. The Cream Tone is sure to become a signature pedal for me. And that says a bunch seeming how much gear I've "sampled" over the years. This sound may not be for you. But for me, it's what I've heard between the ears for a long time, but could never quite capture in a pedal. My Burn Unit II is also a great pedal, but has a different, more compressed, rock tone to it. But the Cream Tone lives up to it's name. It's a Blues players creamy delight!

It works a bit different than other pedals since the tone-control is not really a tone-control. According to the manual it adds fatness to single coils....and that ain't no lie :-)
Just pre-set the volume level, then pre-set the solo-level and you're ready to go.
Anyway; it takes about a minute to figure out how this pedal works so let's just give it a 10 here.

I use it with a Holland Little Jimi amp (for gigs) and a Fender ProJunior at home. I use Tele's with Suhr pickups and a couple of G&L Asats. Asats are very picky when it comes to pedals but they seem to love the Creamtone.
Best of all it adds much fatness to the tone without sounding muddy (unlike many other overdrives) and sounds transparent. Your playing dynamics remain intact. It doesn't do the high gain thing but this pedal wasn't made for that anyway.

Haven't had problems so far. It looks pretty solid.

I had a question about this pedal, sent them an email and got a reply a couple of hours later........on sunday actually. That's pretty good customerservice.

I play Blues, Country, Rockabilly and some Jazz. I've been playing for 25 years. If I loose this pedal I will buy it again...no doubt about that. I buy quite a lot of pedals and this one was one of the biggest surprises. (Another big surprise are the T-Rex pedals). Stunning sound quality, the solo-volumeboost function is very handy and last but not least the pedal looks very cool.

This has a very simple 4 knob layout with 2 footswitches. They are labeled as follows: Volume - Tone - Solo - Drive

Solo adjusts for a stomp on boost which is what the second footswitch does. this boost does not affect gain, only volume.

I was able to dial up a great blues tone in seconds.

I am using this in my rack rig with a CAE 3+SE preamp and a Engl EL34 loaded poweramp. I playing thru an Ernie Ball Musicman Luke guitar. First of all, this pedal is super quiet. It is like an old Fender amp in a stomp box. Nice sweet, warm gain with out even a hint of buzziness. Sounds alot like poweramp distortion. It sounds great at all gain levels. You will not get high gain sounds out of this pedal, but you will get a great blues tone ala Larry Carlton or Robben Ford.

Looks to be built like a tank so i can't imagine having any problems with it.

They are very responsive to email.

I was looking for a stomp on blues sound to compliment my 3+ and this did the trick. I have been playing for 20 yrs and this is one of the best overdrive pedals I have ever heard.