NPD - Echoline Signal Driver - A Mini Review...

Wazmeister · July 2023

Now, I've been fortunate to own a few Pete Cornish pedals...

Expensive yes, but maybe the rest of the market is catching up with PC price wise.
Still, there always seems to be something a bit special about those Cornish pedals...

Tank-like build, totally silent, and I'm sure that the buffer is a key component in that.

Anyway, I've always been a fan of the CC1, P1, G2 and the simple NB3.

I've owned the latter a few times, as it remains the best boost/'add a little bit more' I've ever used.
Simple one knob, and dead easy to set for solos and boosts - live and add rehearsal.

You'd think a simple boost would be an easy thing to make and use wouldn't you ?

Not in my experience. There is a simple neutrality to a good boost... end of the chain for me, and the one knob are a set and forget.

Enter Echoline Pedals.

I don't know about you, but I have a list of pedals that I keep an eye out for... I've been looking for a POG 2 and NB3 for a few months. I was close to ordering new, when I spotted a link or a thread (TGP I think) for Echoline Pedals, and a thread appeared on our own beloved forum. These claim to be exact replicas of the Cornish models.

Check out the good website here;

https://www.echolinepedals.com/

So, I purchased the NB3 replica called the 'Signal Driver' on Monday. It arrived lightning fast today, and came very well packaged with some nice candy

First thoughts; looks... it is a gorgeous pedal, well made and has that Back To The Future dial ! A lovely touch, and the whole pedal feels like love and precision has gone into it.

The box and saw are lovely too, and just look at it - beautiful !

Oh, and the 'Signal Driver' words are etched and raised. There is a separate red label for 'Primary Driver', which is another nod to the Back To The Future influence. A nice touch...

And so, onto the sounds.

Perfect. Clear, clean with that little bit of 'sparkle' a good buffer brings.

I'm delighted, as you can tell

And you know what, this cost £129. I mean, what pedal can you buy now for this kinda money ?!?!

With it's heritage, price and looks, the Signal Driver is Cornish quality, sound and feel for a fraction of the price.
And obtainable too.

A big thanks to @Echoline_Pedals for the fast service...

Echoline_Pedals · July 2023

Thank you so much @Wazmeister. What a legend

earwighoney · July 2023

As ever @Wazmeister your reviews are a pleasure to read. Thanks for taking the time to post up your thoughts.

louis_LLM · July 2023

Great review - convinced me to pick one up at the end of the month

DoctorX · July 2023

These Cornish rip-off’s sound like a perfect pairing for a Demon fx King of Drive. Very tempting.

Kultschar · July 2023

Interesting - Big Cornish fan here though but (kill me for this...) im happy with modelling now expect for unique and gnarly fuzz!!

Ive kept my Anniversary deluxe trio P1, G2, SS2 with the doughnut rings. Originally had the grey versions (had a P1 from a special batch of 6 around the On An Island pedalboard build, before he agreed to mass produce them), then I went to the Battery Frees which was great as you could stack loads together in such small pedalboard space but they were not the nicest to look at. Had most of them and love them all except the CC1. Wish I kept the SSC and TES though

Anyhow - these look nicer then the Battery Frees aesthetically - the G2 is prob my fave OD overhand boy I loved the NG2 / 3 fuzz!!

Sassafras · July 2023

It's got a reassuringly industrial look about it.

Sassafras · July 2023

Sassafras said:

It's got a reassuringly industrial look about it.

I mean that as a compliment.
It looks very purposeful.

Dodge · July 2023

Sassafras said:

Sassafras said:

It's got a reassuringly industrial look about it.

I mean that as a compliment.
It looks very purposeful.

Agreed. I fancy trying the compressor.

Echoline_Pedals · July 2023

We’re actually running a giveaway for a G-2 clone on Insta, so if anyone wants to get involved it should be fun!

roberty · July 2023

Sassafras said:

Sassafras said:

It's got a reassuringly industrial look about it.

I mean that as a compliment.
It looks very purposeful.

Yeah I like that too

markj · July 2023

Echoline_Pedals said:

We’re actually running a giveaway for a G-2 clone on Insta, so if anyone wants to get involved it should be fun!

How does a man in his late 50’s that doesn’t do social media get in the running for the giveaway?

Sassafras · July 2023

markj said:

Echoline_Pedals said:

We’re actually running a giveaway for a G-2 clone on Insta, so if anyone wants to get involved it should be fun!

How does a man in his late 50’s that doesn’t do social media get in the running for the giveaway?

Don't do it, it's a trap!

Echoline_Pedals · July 2023

markj said:

Echoline_Pedals said:

We’re actually running a giveaway for a G-2 clone on Insta, so if anyone wants to get involved it should be fun!

How does a man in his late 50’s that doesn’t do social media get in the running for the giveaway?

Ah sorry about that Mark! We promise it’s not a trap!

A valid point though, social media isn’t for everyone. We have another giveaway coming up after this one. Maybe we should run it just for members of The Fretboard?

Wazmeister · July 2023

Echoline_Pedals said:

markj said:

Echoline_Pedals said:

We’re actually running a giveaway for a G-2 clone on Insta, so if anyone wants to get involved it should be fun!

How does a man in his late 50’s that doesn’t do social media get in the running for the giveaway?

Ah sorry about that Mark! We promise it’s not a trap! A valid point though, social media isn’t for everyone. We have another giveaway coming up after this one. Maybe we should run it just for members of The Fretboard?

James, thats a cracking idea.

Hattigol · July 2023

Wazmeister said:

Echoline_Pedals said:

markj said:

Echoline_Pedals said:

We’re actually running a giveaway for a G-2 clone on Insta, so if anyone wants to get involved it should be fun!

How does a man in his late 50’s that doesn’t do social media get in the running for the giveaway?

Ah sorry about that Mark! We promise it’s not a trap! A valid point though, social media isn’t for everyone. We have another giveaway coming up after this one. Maybe we should run it just for members of The Fretboard?

James, thats a cracking idea.

Limited to those whose Username rhymes with Ratty-mole.

DrCornelius · July 2023

Hattigol said:

Wazmeister said:

Echoline_Pedals said:

markj said:

Echoline_Pedals said:

We’re actually running a giveaway for a G-2 clone on Insta, so if anyone wants to get involved it should be fun!

How does a man in his late 50’s that doesn’t do social media get in the running for the giveaway?

Ah sorry about that Mark! We promise it’s not a trap! A valid point though, social media isn’t for everyone. We have another giveaway coming up after this one. Maybe we should run it just for members of The Fretboard?

James, thats a cracking idea.

Limited to those whose Username rhymes with Ratty-mole.

Batty hole ?

sgosden · July 2023

Cattyvole?

mgaw · July 2023

Natty Stroll

Echoline_Pedals · July 2023

Chatty Grohl?

Musicman20 · July 2023

Shatty Hole

Hattigol · July 2023

DrCornelius said:

Hattigol said:

Wazmeister said:

Echoline_Pedals said:

markj said:

Echoline_Pedals said:

We’re actually running a giveaway for a G-2 clone on Insta, so if anyone wants to get involved it should be fun!

How does a man in his late 50’s that doesn’t do social media get in the running for the giveaway?

Ah sorry about that Mark! We promise it’s not a trap! A valid point though, social media isn’t for everyone. We have another giveaway coming up after this one. Maybe we should run it just for members of The Fretboard?

James, thats a cracking idea.

Limited to those whose Username rhymes with Ratty-mole.

Batty hole ?

Actually, this should be extended to others rhyming with Cocksure Four-wheely-bus

ElectricXII · July 2023

That pedal looks great, but what will it do that my cheap-as-chips EHX LPB-1 won't?

Wazmeister · July 2023

ElectricXII said:

That pedal looks great, but what will it do that my cheap-as-chips EHX LPB-1 won't?

EHX vs Pete Cornish ?

I’ll leave others with great knowledge than me to answer that…

JezWynd · July 2023

Nice review Waz and thanks for the heads up.

ElectricXII · July 2023

Wazmeister said:

ElectricXII said:

That pedal looks great, but what will it do that my cheap-as-chips EHX LPB-1 won't?

EHX vs Pete Cornish ?

I’ll leave others with great knowledge than me to answer that…

Do I detect cork sniffery? It's a one knob "makes things louder" pedal, no doubt with better components and build quality than the EHX one. However I suspect that, other than that, the real answer to my question is "nothing", other than nicer aesthetics.

Wazmeister · July 2023

ElectricXII said:

Wazmeister said:

ElectricXII said:

That pedal looks great, but what will it do that my cheap-as-chips EHX LPB-1 won't?

EHX vs Pete Cornish ?

I’ll leave others with great knowledge than me to answer that…

Do I detect cork sniffery? It's a one knob "makes things louder" pedal, no doubt with better components and build quality than the EHX one. However I suspect that, other than that, the real answer to my question is "nothing", other than nicer aesthetics.

Probably.

Play one v the other and let me know

Echoline_Pedals · July 2023

ElectricXII said:

Wazmeister said:

ElectricXII said:

That pedal looks great, but what will it do that my cheap-as-chips EHX LPB-1 won't?

EHX vs Pete Cornish ?

I’ll leave others with great knowledge than me to answer that…

Do I detect cork sniffery? It's a one knob "makes things louder" pedal, no doubt with better components and build quality than the EHX one. However I suspect that, other than that, the real answer to my question is "nothing", other than nicer aesthetics.

Good question, and it deserves a detailed answer.

Build quality and attention to detail (as has been mentioned) will of course be better on the Cornish stuff.

While the ultimate goal of both pedals is similar, the Cornish is a different circuit and contains an ‘always on’ liner driver (buffer) even when the boost is engaged. It also goes quite a lot louder than the LPB-1 (30dB vs 20dB).

Tonally, as to which one is ‘better’ will of course be subjective! To my ears the Cornish is clearer, punchier, has higher headroom, more dynamics, more harmonic content and much more clarity.

On the other hand the LPB-1 is warmer, woolier, grungier, breaks up sooner, has true bypass and is a hell of a lot cheaper. This might be better for whatever tone / style of music you’re trying to achieve!

The BEST one is the one you prefer to own, look at, stomp on, and listen to

ElectricXII · July 2023

Echoline_Pedals said:

ElectricXII said:

Wazmeister said:

ElectricXII said:

That pedal looks great, but what will it do that my cheap-as-chips EHX LPB-1 won't?

EHX vs Pete Cornish ?

I’ll leave others with great knowledge than me to answer that…

Do I detect cork sniffery? It's a one knob "makes things louder" pedal, no doubt with better components and build quality than the EHX one. However I suspect that, other than that, the real answer to my question is "nothing", other than nicer aesthetics.

Good question, and it deserves a detailed answer.

Build quality and attention to detail (as has been mentioned) will of course be better on the Cornish stuff.

While the ultimate goal of both pedals is similar, the Cornish is a different circuit and contains an ‘always on’ liner driver (buffer) even when the boost is engaged. It also goes quite a lot louder than the LPB-1 (30dB vs 20dB).

Tonally, as to which one is ‘better’ will of course be subjective! To my ears the Cornish is clearer, punchier, has higher headroom, more dynamics, more harmonic content and much more clarity.

On the other hand the LPB-1 is warmer, woolier, grungier, breaks up sooner, has true bypass and is a hell of a lot cheaper. This might be better for whatever tone / style of music you’re trying to achieve!

The BEST one is the one you prefer to own, look at, stomp on, and listen to

Thanks for the detailed answer @Echoline_Pedals. The warmth of the LPB-1 is a plus for me, and there's enough boost for my needs, so I can't see me replacing it any time soon, and If I did, it would be with another, as they're so cheap.

Good luck with your new line of pedals though. I might not be in the market for the Signal Driver, but one of your other products might tempt me.

Echoline_Pedals · July 2023

Thanks @ElectricXII! Much appreciated

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NPD - Echoline Signal Driver - A Mini Review...

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