EGDM & EGDM 4K Comparison

[thetoneseeker]

Hey All,

I've been comparing both EGDM & it's 4K counterpart recently.
Before doing so I tried to adjust the internal trimmer pot of the EGDM to be as close as possible to what is set on my 4K's T knob.

Felt that the EGDM was more raw and a bit more open sounding.
The 4K sounded more modern to me and a bit more compressed.

The EGDMs are both new and only made this year so I'm not sure how they are compared to an old one.

Wanted to know everyone's opinion on this.

Cheers!

[thesjkexperience]

That is interesting! My EGDM3k is 5 or more years old and it sounds a bit bigger, has more distortion earlier and feels a bit more amp like than the EGDM4k. I still have the EGDM4k on my board because I tend to play with my amp a bit dirty and being able to adjust the Trimmer on top to match the guitar and amp a bit better is worth it to me.

I did not try and match the trimmers and to try and match sounds the knobs needed to be in rather different places on each pedal. Remember the EGDM works from 7.5 to 18 Volts and changing the Voltage, even a little, can really change the character of the pedal!

Going into a clean amp, like a back line at a blues jam, the EGDM3k run on batteries is hard to beat!

[Logan]

Interesting.

I passed up my slot on the 4k this last round since I own an older 3k... now that more EGDM have made their way into the world I too am interested in how people are using the EGDM (3k and 4k), context, gear setups, general settings & who else can compare.

I'm on the fence to keep mine as something has caught my attention and I typically only use my PGC and HBOD for drive. Perhaps some dialogue and new settings/context can reinvigorate my ears?

Typically I run my EGDM fuzzy & loose; Volume @10, Voice @ 9 or less and Distortion @ 1+. Internal knob trimmed to less highend, I can control the distortion with pick/finger attack at these settings and can give harmonic-fuzzy-hair to notes in arpeggio's. With the 4k, I was intrigued if I was going to be able to tweak the internal trimmer at these settings to tighten up the looseness?

[Donner]

...interesting ..... there are always parts tolerances to contend with...

whats important in comparisons is if they will make the same sound perhaps at different knob settings...

set one at your favorite setting and then see if you can get the same noise out of the other irregaurdless of knob position...

[rasputin1176]

+1 to Donner, I mentioned that myself. I've seen so many pedal demos on YouTube comparing using identical settings without taking into account tolerances on the parts especially the pots. Granted many good builders test and use what spec they want.
I even saw a demo that bugged me of 2 vintage pedals that were not true bypass & definitely alter guitar dry tone significantly, we're running one wired into other in series.....rather than a true bypass loop for each. And of course person says one's darker, yeah because it's not getting equal guitar signal. Not to mention these pedal's parts we're not to spec so tolerances are factor too. By the way not directing that comment to anyone on this forum, just some stuff I've seen.
That said if knob settings have to be drastically different or there's just other things you are hearing than can't discredit that. People hear what they hear, subjective.
Back to the EGDM though. I say awesome, keep the info coming. I'm still waiting myself. My new 4K is stuck in NY (ISC) since last week. I'm a little concerned, and I only live in NJ so it's an hour away at this point and nothing. I don't know why it was sent with registered instead of priority? I just got a package this weekend sent at same time from same country Priority and no problem. I know registered is lock & key but I also think its treated last with respect to getting it out fast on time.
So fingers crossed it gets here safe. I'll compare to my 3k which is also new. I'm hoping to keep the 4k to help blend with other amps easier. If I had a really old 3k based on the descriptions I've heard I think I would choose that. Since the mentioning of "thicker".
From what was just mentioned comparing a new 3k & 4k I may prefer the 4k sound wise not just versatility. I like the slight compression it does, reminds me of pushed amp compressing & rolling little top end bite off, rounding out. I think maybe by end of this week I'll know

[rasputin1176]

Well this is day #2 comparing a year old EGDM 3K & brand new EGDM 4K
I did this as accurate as possible. I used my MM to measure the voltage from different pedal power 2+ outputs to find matching voltages like 9.31v & 9.30v were as close as I got from two different outs. I also did the same for 12v outs. I did not take the reading inside the pedal to see what the pedal was drawing however I even tried running pedals at different non matching voltages, one slightly higher one slightly lower and vice versa.
I also used my true bypass looper so that one pedal wasn't feeding into the other, even though they are true bypass pedals, that way i didn't have step on the stomp switches a million times.
Did not set knobs the same, I mean i did try that, but 1) the knobs don't zero out at the same point between pedals so it's pointless to match settings really. 2) any parts tolerances if at all would affect pots as well. So I went by ear mostly.

Verdict: I do hear a difference, though it's slight. The original 3K seems to have little different character to it, maybe little fatter in the mids. It's seems to be little more natural amp sounding. The 4K almost sounds a little more modern (saw that was mentioned already). It depends on what you are playing. Like chords on the 3K seemed to have little more top end no matter where trim pot set. Playing single note runs you hear the 3K having little more thickness on the strings. Obviously they have more in common than not, both definitely sound like EGDM's. I have become very used to the sound of my EGDM 3K from using it so much so I prefer it's character right now. Plus it still has the trim pot inside to adjust for different amps. It's not on the fly but I never seem to have more than 2 amps (unfortunately). I originally said that I would pick sound over versatility. I had to see for myself or I would have always wondered so I'm still glad I took the opportunity to get a 4K. Having access to the trim pot on the outside is very handy. If I wasn't so used to mine I'd never know the difference anyway.
I need to take these to the studio this weekend to try with a bunch of amps. I want to see how much I could use the extra control and of course see if i hear anything else. Then I have to make my final decision since i can't keep both of these and had a buyer already lined up to buy which ever i didn't want. This has been a tough choice. Both are great pedals. It sounds like I hear what others heard but with the really early # 3k's sounds like people found the difference more apparent. I think I have pretty good ears and It's not hard to hear difference between mine but I still think its more subtle. Almost like it could just be a one pedal different from the next thing. Who knows?
The EGDM is such a killer pedal!! It's the reason i've grown so attached to my 3k, I know every little detail of it's sound. Love it!

[rockeroo]

I own both and use both regularly and differently. I found the EGDM 4K to be quite suitable as a fat boost. Having the trim readily available makes adjusting the scope of the EQ enhancement quick and easy when switching guitars/amps. I have not heard many others using their Emerald Green DISTORTION Machine as a boost device, but I like it very well.

My EGDM 3K is #010 or 012 (I forget which), and I would agree that the discrepancy is more apparent than with a newer (#2XX) one I compared against the 4K -- then again, my sample size is 2, so it should be globally and irrefutably accepted as truth.

I am curious to hear from 4K owners in their opinion of its boost capabilities. I usually use mine with a Strat or Tele into and old Deluxe Reverb.

Cheers!

[rasputin1176]

It's so hard not to keep both. Especially since I just got the 4k & its technically rarer since less made, not to mention more expensive. There's a lot of really great but different amps at the studio I work at that I'm hoping to test things even more. Hoping to have as little regret with which ever I sell.
EGDM as boost can work really good. There's plenty of volume in tap, and with voice & trim there's a lot of tone shaping possibilities. I like a fat boost too.

[thetoneseeker]

I totally agree. I was planning on keeping only the EGDM4K for it's convenience but the EGDM3K is hard to let go off. So much raw sound coming from it. I love how it sounds so natural.

It's always so difficult to choose which pedal to sell off.

[thesjkexperience]

I think thetoneseeker nailed it! The 3k is RAW! I too planned on selling my 3k when the 4k arrived as I initially found them very much the same save for a little less toppy with 4k. But, it was my first BJFE and even with the EGDM selling for $700 plus I just couldnt do it! I also thought if they were going to become crazy expensive I might not be able to get another.

I do find that I use each rather differently and some of it has to do with now having both a PGC and PH in front and a SBEQ at the rear. I am getting a really "produced" sound with the 4k because it is a bit more polite and I will more often use the three seasoning pedals around it than when using the RAWer 3k. When I use the 3k I think more of stacking with my Honey Beeatch, or using the PGC or SBEQ as slight boosts.

I guess the other difference is I have drifted away from cloned Fender tweed designs since getting a Swart over 3 years ago and one of my amps actually has a Master Volume!