In praise of: Chase Bliss Audio Brothers

GavRichList

I took the (very deep) plunge on one of these about a month ago, and was a little sceptical as to whether it’d justify it’s price tag. Got to say, it’s absolutely brilliant. Such natural drive - exactly like driven tubes instead of “here’s my drive effect”. The fuzzes are lovely too, and the stacking options are almost endless, offering absolutely monstrous sounds, should you desire. Add to that the full midi control, and I’m a very happy camper indeed. 

It was undeniably expensive, and I had to part with my beloved Crowther Hotcake to allow for it, but the whole Chase Bliss package is impressive. They’re premium, but don’t pretend to be anything other than. 

It’s tough for me to get excited about drive / gain, but it’s great. 

http://i.imgur.com/WtxFLkz.jpg

BintyTwanger77

I second that praise with bells on. The only other drive on my board thanks to the Brothers is a Jam Rattler. The boosts on this are tremendous, absolutely nails Klon tones, it's solved all my dirt pedal issues, and with a BF Fender, every stack/combination I've tried has sounded brilliant. It also responds to pick attack beautifully. 

Ro_S

I saw some silly, long, indulgent,hipster-style official intro video for this pedal earlier today.

It's a 'no' from me at £350.

GavRichList

Ro_S said:

I saw some silly, long., official hipster intro video for this pedal earlier today.

It's no from me at £350.

That’s the thing; I’m not sold on many of the demo vids - you have to hear it. Yes, the price is mental... BUT it’s the most feature full gain Pedal there is, above the strymons et al, and they’re comparable price wise. Plus it’s a small form factor, which was essential for me too. Midi controlled analog anything is EXPENSIVE. 

Wazmeister

It is a belting pedal... i still dont know why I bought one, but it cleared virtually everything else off the board OD wise, including my KOT.

Even pushed me down the midi route. Bloody bostin pedal.

GavRichList

All I know is that it’s the first drive I’ve had that sounds exactly like my twin when it’s really pushed, and that’s something that would require an aircraft hanger to do on a regular basis. Keeps the tone of your guitar perfectly. 

Ro_S

I don't doubt that anyone who spends £350 on an analogue pedal has a psychological need to convince themselves the expenditure was worth it.
  

GavRichList

Ro_S said:

I don't doubt that anyone who spends £350 on an analogue pedal has a psychological need to convince themselves the expenditure was worth it.
  

Not at all, I’d have quite happily sent it back. 

Teetonetal

Ro_S said:

I don't doubt that anyone who spends £350 on an analogue pedal has a psychological need to convince themselves the expenditure was worth it.
  

Yup, that a load of nonsense. I loved all the Chase Bliss stuff. Thought the TR was useless. Price has nothing to do with it. Gear either works for you or it doesn't. To pretend you like something because you paid a lot for it would moronic.

Wazmeister

Ro_S said:

I don't doubt that anyone who spends £350 on an analogue pedal has a psychological need to convince themselves the expenditure was worth it.
  

Or maybe... it just is worth it

colourofsound

I actually had two cross my path and it just didnt work for me. The fuzz and boosts were really great but the overdrive circuits were just too agressive for my taste; and to me it felt raspy (this being the operative word) and lacking in any low mid.

This through a Deluxe Reverb with a Tele.

I really wanted to love it; but just didnt tick my boxes. It wasn’t ‘soft’ enough for me, if that makes sense.

Aside from my personal taste however, i agree wholeheartedly. I’d wager that @Ro_S ;is not considering the fact that there are essentially 6 pedals tucked away in a Brothers, which is astounding value for money, even if you can only play two of them at the same time. I’m not sure i can say the same of their other pedals given that they’re similarly expensive and house ‘only’ one effect, but i’d love to try them all the same.

In a world where i’d won the lottery i’d have a Chase Bliss/Empress only board!

GavRichList

colourofsound said:

I actually had two cross my path and it just didnt work for me. The fuzz and boosts were really great but the overdrive circuits were just too agressive for my taste; and to me it felt raspy (this being the operative word) and lacking in any low mid.

This through a Deluxe Reverb with a Tele.

I really wanted to love it; but just didnt tick my boxes. It wasn’t ‘soft’ enough for me, if that makes sense.

Aside from my personal taste however, i agree wholeheartedly. I’d wager that @Ro_S ;is not considering the fact that there are essentially 6 pedals tucked away in a Brothers, which is astounding value for money, even if you can only play two of them at the same time. I’m not sure i can say the same of their other pedals given that they’re similarly expensive and house ‘only’ one effect, but i’d love to try them all the same.

In a world where i’d won the lottery i’d have a Chase Bliss/Empress only board!

Ah, that’s interesting. I’m really a fan of the tone control - have been dialling in bespoke drives for each song in our set... “holds up to 120 presets” is very much being viewed as a challenge  
 

colourofsound

GavRichList said:

colourofsound said:

I actually had two cross my path and it just didnt work for me. The fuzz and boosts were really great but the overdrive circuits were just too agressive for my taste; and to me it felt raspy (this being the operative word) and lacking in any low mid.

This through a Deluxe Reverb with a Tele.

I really wanted to love it; but just didnt tick my boxes. It wasn’t ‘soft’ enough for me, if that makes sense.

Aside from my personal taste however, i agree wholeheartedly. I’d wager that @Ro_S ;is not considering the fact that there are essentially 6 pedals tucked away in a Brothers, which is astounding value for money, even if you can only play two of them at the same time. I’m not sure i can say the same of their other pedals given that they’re similarly expensive and house ‘only’ one effect, but i’d love to try them all the same.

In a world where i’d won the lottery i’d have a Chase Bliss/Empress only board!

Ah, that’s interesting. I’m really a fan of the tone control - have been dialling in bespoke drives for each song in our set... “holds up to 120 presets” is very much being viewed as a challenge  
 

In fairness it did get me 80% of the way there - there’s every chance i’ll try one again. I just don’t think it can replace overdrives for me. Shame really!

BintyTwanger77

colourofsound said:

I actually had two cross my path and it just didnt work for me. The fuzz and boosts were really great but the overdrive circuits were just too agressive for my taste; and to me it felt raspy (this being the operative word) and lacking in any low mid.

This through a Deluxe Reverb with a Tele.

I really wanted to love it; but just didnt tick my boxes. It wasn’t ‘soft’ enough for me, if that makes sense.

Aside from my personal taste however, i agree wholeheartedly. I’d wager that @Ro_S ;;is not considering the fact that there are essentially 6 pedals tucked away in a Brothers, which is astounding value for money, even if you can only play two of them at the same time. I’m not sure i can say the same of their other pedals given that they’re similarly expensive and house ‘only’ one effect, but i’d love to try them all the same.

In a world where i’d won the lottery i’d have a Chase Bliss/Empress only board!

Weirdly this is the first drive I've been completely happy with going into my Deluxe Reverb. 

Teetonetal

^which neatly sums up why *best* drive pedal threads are a hiding to nothing.

GavRichList

The price thing is an interesting one. I think it can be forgotten that we’re essentially just paying the price for the £ being screwed. High end US drives (empress multi drive springs to mind) have often been around the $300 mark or close to... its just we used to get them at 50% ish for the pound. Now prices are 1:1. 
It also seems a little odd that the above barracking comes on a forum where KOTs change hands at circa £400 regularly, and it does a fraction of what this one does. 

Now that its paid for, I can only be so bothered about it. There was a time that the £400 I bought my Moog MF104M for seemed unthinkable... we all know how that one went. 

RaymondLin

I'm glad you decide to go for one and REALLY glad you love it !

I think it's great and I don't have this psychological thing of "I paid X for it so it must be good" problem 

dangriffiths

Gav is bang on if you only had room or need for one pedal this does pretty much everything and MIDI means it can be super functional. I have one for sale but have been playing with it again and not sure as it covers so much ground. 

Not it cheap as one pedal but it isn’t just that

BintyTwanger77

Teetonetal said:

^which neatly sums up why *best* drive pedal threads are a hiding to nothing.

Wise words.

Ro_S

The Brothers reminds me somewhat of the Empress Multidrive (about £300). 

The Mulitdrive has three dirt effects and you can mix them together (in parallel?) as you wish. 

Anyone compared both pedals?


https://www.premierguitar.com/ext/resources/archives/691ff64e-42df-44de-a25c-f573eb87fb03.JPG?1502216537

GavRichList

Ro_S said:

The Brothers reminds me somewhat of the Empress Multidrive (about £300). 

The Mulitdrive has three dirt effects and you can mix them together (in parallel?) as you wish. 

Anyone compared both pedals?


https://www.premierguitar.com/ext/resources/archives/691ff64e-42df-44de-a25c-f573eb87fb03.JPG?1502216537

Have played the empress, though not extensively. Sounded really good if I recall, but had none of the control the CB does.