DIGITAL-ONLY REVIEW > STOMP UNDER FOOT
STOMP UNDER FOOT
MEAN GREEN MACHINE
BY MATTHEW HOLLIMAN
If you’re on the quest for a Big Muff clone these days, Massachusetts-based Stomp
Under Foot has probably crossed your path
more than once. SUF is a one-man army—
namely Matt Pasquerella—who has an
encyclopedic knowledge of all things Muff
and produces brilliant pedals that replicate
Big Muffs from nearly every era, from the
classic Ram’s Head found on Pink Floyd’s
“The Wall” to that scathing acid-wash of
The Smashing Pumpkins.
So what’s this Muff Master to do once
he’s mastered the buzz game? He decided
to make an overdrive. Loosely based on the
original Ibanez TS-808, the Mean Green
Machine is SUF’s contender in the saturated TS clone market. Nearly every boutique
entrepreneur has their version of that pea
green box that’s been on more records than,
well, just about any other pedal you can
think of. So how well does the Mean Green
Machine measure up to a classic? Let’s
begin by saying we were impressed.
Old Specs
The Mean Green Machine’s user interface,
so to speak, is built around three tried-and-true controls: Level (volume), Gain, and
Rating:
Buy If...
that overdrive bite hasn’t
been scratched.
Skip If...
you can’t handle the wait for back-
order. Hey, it’s a one-man show!
Stomp Under Foot
Street $150
stompunderfoot.com
to hear audio clips of the pedal at
premierguitar.com/jan2012
CLICKHere…
DR4 PREMIER GUITAR JANUARY 2012
Tone. While some of the later TS models
and mods venture into a fourth parameter
(oftentimes Mids), the Mean Green’s simple
dial set remains true to the original.
Coated in a British Racing Green sparkle
and sporting alpine white knobs, the race-ready exterior is elegant and clean—just like
the interior. Having previously opened up two
SUF creations (Civil War and Red Menace), I
can attest to the fine craftsmanship that Matt
pours into his hand-wired pedals. They’re
sharp and flawless, with plenty of breathing
room. The Switchcraft jacks are accurately
mounted to avoid contact with wires, and if
you choose to go with a battery it will rest
comfortably between the housing and the
true-bypass switch without rattling around.
At the Track
While some later, vintage-era TS-808s vary
in terms of parts consistency, Matt stays true
to the original and uses a RC4558P chip,
which provides a little more gain. The Tone
control is remarkably responsive. I’ve played
several reissues (and some clones) where this
feature is nearly useless and just takes up
extra space. Here we have a welcome and
effective EQ sweep that works for about any
guitar and amplifier combination.
I tested the Mean Green Machine
on a Fender Reissue ’ 65 Twin Reverb, a
Fender ’ 68 Bassman, and a CEC Toll-Free
Express—running into a 4x12 cab. Guitars
included a Gibson Les Paul, and a Fender
Stratocaster and Telecaster.
Starting with the Fender Bassman and
Telecaster, I ran the Mean Green Machine
with all controls around noon. Engaging
the effect yields an output of similar volume but with a cool peppering of saturated
twang. There is a distinct focus on mid-range, but the Mean Green massages your
tone towards a very natural, amp-like breakup while preserving the highs and lows.
And it can be a very transparent effect.
Switching over to the Les Paul and
boosting the pedal’s Gain and Level to 2
o’clock makes the Mean Green a versatile
Handmade
construction
RC4558P
blues-rock rig. Lowering the guitar’s volume
opened up crawling rhythm tones and filthy
ZZ Top lead sounds. A little boost in Tone
and the ‘bucker equipped guitar can easily
sail over a driving, bass-heavy band.
The 10-watt CEC Toll-Free Express and
the Mean Green got along exceptionally well,
and the pedal is capable of adding a cool
heft to any low-wattage amp. Small amp scenarios call for a different overdrive configuration—essentially a boost in the Green’s Level
and a decrease in the amp’s gain. But the
setup worked as well for Texas-style overdrive
as accenting the chime of a Stratocaster. Here
again the guitar’s volume is key in coaxing a
buttery rhythm from shuffling chords and
the Mean Green responds beautifully.
The Verdict
Searching for the right TS clone can be a
complete nightmare. A lot of manufacturers make promises that are tough to keep.
But Stomp Under Foot’s high-quality Mean
Green Machine is a tone conservationist
that can add a heap of bad bite that lends
versatility to any guitar/amp combination
you throw its way. The $150 price tag is
entirely reasonable considering that many
TS-inspired overdrives cost more, probably
won’t perform nearly as well, and don’t have
SUF’s hand-made touch. If TS-808 tone
you’re looking for, get in line—The Mean
Green Machine is totally worth the wait.
premierguitar.com
