Screwdriver
In a fit of impulse, I bought a used Skreddy Screwdriver distortion pedal yesterday. This is my second Screwdriver. The first one I thought was very nice, but it didn’t quite kick my HAO Rumble Mod or my old Rat 2 off the board, so I sold it (at a tidy profit – Screwdrivers have a long wait and they’re fashionable in certain circles).
A couple of things have changed in my setup since then. First, I switched amps from the Fender Dual Showman to the Boogie Mark I. The Boogie has a thicker, fatter sound than the Showman. Second, I started using a treble booster (BBE Freq Boost) and fell in love with the old-school drive sound. And third, I discovered the colorful “clean boost” mode of the Rumble Mod, and found myself switching back and forth a lot.
The Screwdriver is, by design, a treble boost pushing a germanium fuzz. I like this on principle, as it’s close to what I’ve been getting with the Freq Boost/Rumble Mod combo. So the theory is that I can start using the Screwdriver for my main OD voice (leaving the Rat for heavier sounds), and turn the Rumble Mod into an always-on boost. I could then possibly retire the old Prescription Electronics Germ I usually use for boost, and the Freq Boost as well, getting a smaller, neater board.
We’ll see how it goes. I’m gigging it unrehearsed tomorrow, and if it works well under gig conditions, it’s a keeper.