I like both actually. I have Alchemy Audio modded pedals (Daddy O, Rat, Big Muff, Dan Echoes) and modding pedals is great but going back to "stock" is a great option too. This is why I really like the Alchemy Audio mods because with a toggle of the mini switch, it's back to stock. I actually prefer the Pure Sky over the Timmy which is why I bought it. I am very happy with it on my budget pedal board. If I were to make another board and select the Pure Sky, I would have a stock model next to the modded one and have them set for different tones.
@@BudgetPedalChap I'm not a huge pedal stacker on overdrive pedals but what I found is putting a Tubescreamer (mini one) in front of my ProCo Rat and EHX Big Muff (both have Alchemy Audio mods) but I found that stacking them puts me into the same arena as Boutique overdrive pedals. I do use multiple pedals for more Shoegaze/Dream Pop type sounds (I also do an Echo on Echo sound too) but for the most part I typically just use pedals in ones or two. For the Pure Sky, I don't know how tempted I would be to stack them side by side but I would use each one with different tones.
Owning both the lower drive dynamics of the JSA mean it’s staying on my board for a while. I do prefer some of the higher gain straight pure sky stuff. Also for those getting bent out of shape the EQ controls are incredibly powerful in tone shaping for both. Very hard to articulate in a short video.
Yeah, absolutely. That's the nature of this video series, a small snapshot. They both have full demos already and it'd be retreading that ground if I did it all again, but yeah such a small snapshot doesn't quite capture the nuances of both here. They are both great, you are spot on 👍
@@jcwoodstl RU-vid compression hasn't done it any favours. The stock has loads more gain than you anticipate, considering it's a low to mid gain drive. I think it's got a really nice almost fuzzy edge to it that the mod version doesn't. As the drive is less fuzzy on the mod, it allows for much better note definition. They both serve really different purposes because of it and I'm a fan of both the sounds tbf
I prefer the stock if I’m just using it as a drive. If I’m trying to get my always on amp breakup though I could see the JSA mod being nice. I’d love to see a switch to alternate between the modes. I feel the mod just takes some of the hair off, but it does sound like a nice clean crunchy mod.
I think the lack of hair in the modded version here is more down do the gain difference than anything; the mod reduces the overall gain by about 1/3rd, and as the clipping is what's producing the higher harmonic 'hair', if the gain knobs are set in the same position, the modded version will have notably less hair/clipping. However, if you match the gain by ear, the modded one usually ends up slightly brighter sounding as the clipping, whilst more responsive to playing dynamics, is actually more aggressive
@BudgetPedalChap yeah it's a really difficult thing to compare pedals and their modded version directly. You can make them sound the same, but then what's the point in the mods? You can match the knobs, but then the differences aren't a fair comparison. You can match stuff by ear, but then there's the risk of inadvertently making one slightly louder/brighter/fuller than the other. One of the mods on this literally halve the value of the gain control, but the diode arrangement clips slightly sooner than normal, so there's no easy way to say "set the knob here and here for the same amount of gain". Tbh the main goal of the mods were to improve the dynamic response, and I think that really comes across in the video 😀
If I was playing an low wattage amp with a smaller speaker (8-10", lightweight/small cab) that had a tendency to "flub" I'd probably choose the modified JSA. Otherwise, stock all the way - and stacked with a BB Preamp (or clone of that one eg: Caline Orange Burst) for tonal nirvana!
@@BudgetPedalChap if you want to hear an Orange Burst into Pure Sky gain stack, the YT channel "In The Blues" featured those two, separate and stacked played by "Dr. Rick". A legendary gear video here in Australia
The first example would be close enough to being a clean boost. The stock doesn't really get too clean, where the JSA has a wider sweep on the gain control 👍
@@BudgetPedalChap definitely...i have the Caline Pure Sky, and EVERYBODY sayin its a clone of a Timmy, when in fact, it sounds like my Vamuram Jan Ray pedal. I know because i have one, and i take the Pure Sky out when certain gig locations seem sketchy, and the Caline gets me there in tone so close
