The big change was the MH4k. The original, that was in the box before me, was meant to be better at lower gain as some say the MH has too much dirt, so Donner being a great listener, gave the people what they wanted. The trouble was it no longer sounded like a MH and was rather skinny in the low end and mids, which could have been a good deal for those with high output humbuckers or fat 'N dirty amps, but not my cup of tea. The new one currently in the box is much closer to the MHvT though the Treble knob does not function exactly like the trimmer (in my) MHvT as it seems to boost a slightly higher frequency than the trimmer (in mine). And, it sounds clear in the high end where the MHvT have a more complex harmonically rich top end. Also, the MHvT has a fat ass
where the Bearfoot MH4k is more balanced and airier. In a nutshell: MHvT probably best for low output pickups and/or brighter amps, BF MH4k probably better for mid to high output pickups and/or darker/dirtier amps.I liked the DRDh a lot! But, like the CHII I had, I just don't play with that much distortion and when I do I reach for something fuzzy in Ge or Si. That said, the DRDh might be the most pedal bard and buffer friendly fuzz ever made. It would be fun to mate the CAF and the DRDh and hope for a CAF with a 4th knob like the Treble control on the DRDh. I wanted to like the CAF so bad, but the high end hurt.
The BeesT is another pedal I would like to own, but I do not have a huge place for it. I guess if I were still playing a bunch of Alt Country like old Son Volt it would be about perfect, but overall the OD wasn't as harmonically rich as I would prefer except when going into an amp with a Master Volume where it was great. I keep hoping for a pedal that is like an 8 x 12" tweed Twin from '59 + a little extra, but I can get close enough to that with the MHvT or MHv1 (which I no longer have) with the Drive all the way down (off).
If things were different I would be gassing hard for all 4! I wish I had all 4 the first half of the '80s as it was really hard to get what I heard in my head with gear available. I guess a Les Paul and my Mesa Boogie MKIIB or a Marshall 1/2 stack with a Scholtz power soak (lol) could have done it, but I am physically unable to play Les Pauls :green sad But, as it is I already have an amazing amount Dirt that does most anything I could want so I am not really the target market for the items in this tour set. I suddenly feel old
Donner who's next?
that's really funny, I posted the same thing about the SBMV a while back. It seriously triggers migraines... if only it didn't sound so damn good!
At least it isn't a red light. Had I stomped the MGMV at some of the places I used to play it would have cleared the house thinking the cops had arrived! 