A couple of notes; the grit feature on the Philosopher's Tone is a whole 'nother kettle of fish into an overdriven amp, providing a texture that's really hard to find elsewhere. The TC Electronic Sustain + Parametric EQ had it on a switch, but good luck finding one of those, it's coveted for its Brian May setting. The other thing is, you've said nary word about the SP's internal dip switches, which are crucial for mating the SP to your pickups and rig; there's tons more versatility under the hood, despite it's a really cool workhorse compressor straight out the box. Dial back the mix knob and it's one of the greatest clean boost pedals available. Open up the back, if you need even more gain.
I bought the Philosopher’s Tone new when it first hit. It’s a mainstay on my board. It was a few years before I even used the grit knob and I discovered a whole new thing when I solo now.
Thanks very much for sharing your shootout with us-very well done! Interesting observations, and pedals. I’m partial to the Pigtronix ‘pedal-produced’ variety of sounds and tones that you were playing, which seemed to be limited a little bit by the SP. That said, there are some fantastic comments left here by Mark Ferguson, (and others), who offer astute insight as to what different features the Xotic has hidden inside. Altogether great video and excellent comments-“INTERACTION”-which is what RUclips wants from videos. It’ll hit the right ‘algorithm', and your video will suddenly be making you money. Good for you...make some MORE!
Great demo - thank you! You really showcased the two pedals very well. For me, the Philosopher's Tone is the winner ... I really liked the tone knob and the combination of settings you have used to show how it interacts with the sustain and blend.
The SP, - which I've used for a while now, - can also be changed up via internal dip switches.There can potentially be a lot of difference between compression circuits, and I've tried many, - Walrus Deep 6, JHS Pulp&Peel, EQD Warden, - that while quiet and well designed,- just weren't the type that I was looking for. The EHX Tone Corset, despite not being much of a looker, is a very effective, inexpensive, old school type ( notably, with a blend control),which I used for years; it IS nice to have two, as stacked, you can get effects otherwise impossible. The Pigtronix is Germanium, - that is why the grit,- a very traditional component for tube emulated compression.Personally, I'm a big fan. Def one of the longest running, misunderstood and underappreciated effects on the market; I've always liked defining it as overdrive for clean tones; not a effect I use all the time, but for slide, cleans, or volume pedal swells,- invaluable.
Thanks for sharing this comment. I have become a slide player since having a spinal cord injury, and your observations have given me a few other ideas for pedals to try before I buy. It’s not easy to relearn after a dozen years of excellent mediocrity, but there’s not much worth doing that is easily done...or something like that. Thanks for posting your thoughts on this video.
@@frufru0071 Right on. Having been at this for a while, I try to spare other's some of the headaches and dead ends I've been through.Smart solution to dealing with a limitation; my brother has been in a wheelchair most of his adult life(30+ years), but he still plays basketball and keeps a respectable piece of property groomed like a golf course. Good luck; the world def needs more slide players; it's a rare speciality.
@@fishermanryan would probably recommend the SP comp for a beginner, as it's simpler and easier to set a good tone, Philosophers Tone Micro just has more options to tweak
@@fishermanryan be sure to read Mark Ferguson’s comment. There’s a lot of adjustability inside the SP Comp that opens a huge spectrum of sounds not shown in this review-not to slag the review. Hopefully, James German had a chance to try those "hidden" features before selling his Xotic SP. I’m sure that the pedals are BOTH excellent, and that you’d be happy with either. A decent effects pedal IS something that you’ll have to spend time learning about, almost an instrument unto itself. Don’t forget that your most important "effects" are your fingers and your guitar’s volume knob! Never stop playing, that’s practice. Never stop learning, that’s musicianship. Check out a DynaComp, simple and superb. "Rumble!"
🤘👍🏿I’ve been using Fairfield Circuitry’s The Account. It’s excellent but a little noisy. No clear preference with these two for me. Different uses as you say.
I bought the new version of the Philosopher's Tone and... Here are few notes: - when you strum a first chord or a note when you start your phrase, you can hear the gate of the compressor get in action and it's way too strong, it also distorts a lot at that point. - This grit you speak of, I get it, but even with the sustain on ZERO I get the grit... So... What the hell is this? You'll never get a really clean sound out of this. It squashes your signal and sounds like one of your cables should be changed... I hate it. Ordered the SP... AND the RECOMMENDED Dc/Adapter, it never worked. Sent it back, new one arriving next week. My favorite for now is the Walrus Audio Deep Six. It's basically exactly what that Pigtronix should sound like...
@@JonahKrullMusic ? So you used the pedals in a loop? I loved the philosopher’s Tune but I find it’s a very dark sounding pedal.. I have the Fender „The Bends“ and it’s fantastic
A couple of notes; the grit feature on the Philosopher's Tone is a whole 'nother kettle of fish into an overdriven amp, providing a texture that's really hard to find elsewhere. The TC Electronic Sustain + Parametric EQ had it on a switch, but good luck finding one of those, it's coveted for its Brian May setting. The other thing is, you've said nary word about the SP's internal dip switches, which are crucial for mating the SP to your pickups and rig; there's tons more versatility under the hood, despite it's a really cool workhorse compressor straight out the box. Dial back the mix knob and it's one of the greatest clean boost pedals available. Open up the back, if you need even more gain.
Great demo, this sold me on the big philosopher’s tone
Glad I could help! Let me know how it sounds!
I bought the Philosopher’s Tone new when it first hit. It’s a mainstay on my board. It was a few years before I even used the grit knob and I discovered a whole new thing when I solo now.
I literally bought the philosophers tone for holding out infinite sustain leads, like Europa. It arrives today!
Thanks very much for sharing your shootout with us-very well done! Interesting observations, and pedals. I’m partial to the Pigtronix ‘pedal-produced’ variety of sounds and tones that you were playing, which seemed to be limited a little bit by the SP. That said, there are some fantastic comments left here by Mark Ferguson, (and others), who offer astute insight as to what different features the Xotic has hidden inside. Altogether great video and excellent comments-“INTERACTION”-which is what RUclips wants from videos. It’ll hit the right ‘algorithm', and your video will suddenly be making you money. Good for you...make some MORE!
Great demo - thank you! You really showcased the two pedals very well. For me, the Philosopher's Tone is the winner ... I really liked the tone knob and the combination of settings you have used to show how it interacts with the sustain and blend.
Thank you so much! They're both great pedals but the Philosopher's Tone absolutely has an edge in the sense of tweakability
My thoughts, exactly, Mr. Conte. Well written/(said)🤷🏻♂️.
The SP, - which I've used for a while now, - can also be changed up via internal dip switches.There can potentially be a lot of difference between compression circuits, and I've tried many, - Walrus Deep 6, JHS Pulp&Peel, EQD Warden, - that while quiet and well designed,- just weren't the type that I was looking for.
The EHX Tone Corset, despite not being much of a looker, is a very effective, inexpensive, old school type ( notably, with a blend control),which I used for years; it IS nice to have two, as stacked, you can get effects otherwise impossible.
The Pigtronix is Germanium, - that is why the grit,- a very traditional component for tube emulated compression.Personally, I'm a big fan.
Def one of the longest running, misunderstood and underappreciated effects on the market; I've always liked defining it as overdrive for clean tones; not a effect I use all the time, but for slide, cleans, or volume pedal swells,- invaluable.
Thanks for sharing this comment. I have become a slide player since having a spinal cord injury, and your observations have given me a few other ideas for pedals to try before I buy. It’s not easy to relearn after a dozen years of excellent mediocrity, but there’s not much worth doing that is easily done...or something like that. Thanks for posting your thoughts on this video.
@@frufru0071 Right on.
Having been at this for a while, I try to spare other's some of the headaches and dead ends I've been through.Smart solution to dealing with a limitation; my brother has been in a wheelchair most of his adult life(30+ years), but he still plays basketball and keeps a respectable piece of property groomed like a golf course.
Good luck; the world def needs more slide players; it's a rare speciality.
Just sold my SP comp and have a Philosophers Tone Micro coming in the mail. Hope I made the right decision!
Let us know what you think! Its certainly a big change
Hey which would you recommend to a beginner after having done what you did?
@@fishermanryan would probably recommend the SP comp for a beginner, as it's simpler and easier to set a good tone, Philosophers Tone Micro just has more options to tweak
@@james_german Thanks :) makes perfect sense!
@@fishermanryan be sure to read Mark Ferguson’s comment. There’s a lot of adjustability inside the SP Comp that opens a huge spectrum of sounds not shown in this review-not to slag the review. Hopefully, James German had a chance to try those "hidden" features before selling his Xotic SP. I’m sure that the pedals are BOTH excellent, and that you’d be happy with either. A decent effects pedal IS something that you’ll have to spend time learning about, almost an instrument unto itself. Don’t forget that your most important "effects" are your fingers and your guitar’s volume knob! Never stop playing, that’s practice. Never stop learning, that’s musicianship. Check out a DynaComp, simple and superb. "Rumble!"
🤘👍🏿I’ve been using Fairfield Circuitry’s The Account. It’s excellent but a little noisy. No clear preference with these two for me. Different uses as you say.
I’d love to see EQD the warden in this mix.
I bought the new version of the Philosopher's Tone and... Here are few notes:
- when you strum a first chord or a note when you start your phrase, you can hear the gate of the compressor get in action and it's way too strong, it also distorts a lot at that point.
- This grit you speak of, I get it, but even with the sustain on ZERO I get the grit... So... What the hell is this? You'll never get a really clean sound out of this. It squashes your signal and sounds like one of your cables should be changed... I hate it.
Ordered the SP... AND the RECOMMENDED Dc/Adapter, it never worked. Sent it back, new one arriving next week.
My favorite for now is the Walrus Audio Deep Six. It's basically exactly what that Pigtronix should sound like...
Before or after your overdrive?
Great question, but neither! I was running straight into the amp in this video
@@JonahKrullMusic ? So you used the pedals in a loop? I loved the philosopher’s Tune but I find it’s a very dark sounding pedal.. I have the Fender „The Bends“ and it’s fantastic
Jonah Krull. Is that a real name? Who’s your cousin Jonah Hill ? Seth Rogan?