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Danelectro FAB Overdrive

 

Review of the Danelectro FAB Overdrive by The Man in the Jar  

The Fab Overdrive promises to recreate the sound of overdriven valves. Valve overdrive is desirable because it contains only ear-pleasing harmonics.   

Features of the Danelectro FAB Overdrive

Construction - The Fab has a modernist look about it with raised mouldings housing the control knobs that look like the fins on a '50s Cadillac. The body is made of plastic with a metal bottom plate. As on Danelectro's "lunchbox" models the plate is removable by unscrewing a single large plastic screw (which can conveniently be operated by a 1p coin if you leave your tool-kit at home). This exposes the entire interior to give access to the battery compartment.  

Ins and Outs - Standard jack in and jack out.

Power - One 9 volt battery or optional dc power transformer.

Controls - One Level to control output to the amp, one Tone and one Overdrive control.

 

Sound of the Danelectro FAB Overdrive

Even with the Overdrive turned right down there is a nice undertone of crunchy drive. If you don't have a valve amp then this setting is a useful "fire and forget" addition to your overall sound.
Take the Overdrive up to halfway and you're rewarded with a good "classic" saturated sound, which is as far as many rock guitarists will care to take it. Already at this point there's a hint of good feedback interaction between the guitar and the amp.
Continuing to add Overdrive increases the saturation, but the the FAB refuses to lose definition and the voice of the guitar remains apparent. Feedback antics start to get easier but are still very controllable.
The Tone control certainly does what it says on the tin but I found it convenient to find a setting I liked and leave it at that, adjusting tone on the instrument if required.
This is a very high gain device so go easy with the level control, start low and adjust upwards to the required volume. 

Overall Impressions of the Danelectro FAB Overdrive

An excellent unit for rock guitarists looking for valve-like tones from a non-valve amp. However Metal-Heads will feel it doesn't go far enough.

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