PastFX's Forthcoming Updated V2 TD-Y adds a Mids Control and Germanium Clipping for an even more potent Gilmourish overdrive

PastFX’s Verlie is masterful at evolving and improving classic circuits and taking them to new heights. The TD-Y is of course evolved from the Buffalo FX TD-X which is in turn based on the venerable and large-format David Gilmour classic BK Butler Tube Driver.

There are of course a number of takes on the Tube Driver besides the TD-X - including the Fuzzrocious Dark Driving, Hermida Audio Dover Drive, MXR Fet Driver, and TC Electronic’s bargain budget Tube Pilot. Most Gilmour fans though have mostly migrated towards the pedalbouard-friendly Dover Driver and TD-X varieties that indeed PastFX’s TD-Y is very obviously evolved from.

The first TD-Y was a particularly exacting compact take on the TD-X, with the same 4 controls, as well as an internal Clipping Selector for Asymmetrical or Symmetrical Diode arrangements (1N4148). While fans of the pedal have long been requesting an additional Mids control, and Germanium clipping options also.

TD-Y V1 Controls - Lo, Hi, Level, Gain, Internal Clipping Switch : Asym / Sym (default).

TD-Y V2 Controls - Lo, Mids, Hi, Level, Gain, Internal Clipping Switch : Silicon (default 1M4148) / Germanium (D9E).

I’m very lucky to have gotten my hands on an early prototype of the V2 TD-Y - as pictured and referenced above. While it’s currently uncertain as to how close this will be to the final production edition, as deliberations are still being made as to exactly what Clipping options should be present.

I can just vouch for the fact that this is the best version yet - obviously leaning into the smoother side of the overdrive with the new pairing of Symmetrical Clipping Options - 1N4148’s vs D9E’s.

The breakup tone is even more beautifully textured on the new Germanium Clipping Mode, and the now full 3-Band EQ can take you into territories that none of the former varieties could. The pedal already sound glorious with everything at noon - and you only have to do the minimum of tweaking to hit a killer sweet-spot.

Readers will know that I’m quite the fan of 3-Band EQ as those tone stacks are so instrumental in getting you to the exact tonality you want. Currently I seem to prefer adding Mids versus cutting them - which gives you an even crisper and more articular richly textured output. Dial it back the other way to give you even smoother tones.

I interestingly I had both this and the Blackstone Mosfet Overdrive land on the same day, and I was able to get the TD-Y sounding pretty close to that in the quickest amount of time - the breakup texture is not exactly the same - but you can certainly ballpark it!

The TD-Y is a much handier pedal to deploy vs say the Blackstone Mosfet - which swill sounds gorgeous, and really has a special breakup character - while the TD-Y has about twice its range and tweakablity, What’s more I find the Blackstone Mosfet just a little underpowered on Volume and Gain - while the TD-Y now really has plenty of both.

The classic Tube Driver / TD-X / V1 TD-Y is a slightly scooped circuit which sounds great, but does not always cut though the mix as successfully as you would want - the new Mid control certainly helps with that - making this one of the most versatile compact overdrives currently out there - in the Medium-Gain category that is.

My only tiny niggle here is that I wish that the Clipping Switch wasn’t internal, but rather mounted on one of the sides of the pedal - or as and additional toggle or push-button on the facia. As this is just the kind of switch you would want to flip pack and forth. I really like the pedal on each of its clipping modes - while I very slightly prefer the Germanium variety.

What we should really do is add a few more clipping options on a 6th Rotary knob. That of course is not necessarily to make this pedal great. It sounded already great in its V1 edition - but sounds and responds even better now!

My prototype was one of just half a dozen made - so you need to hold fire until the actual production model materialises. I believe Verlie has a particular Gilmour expert on the case with her - to determine which are the most suitable clipping options - so will be exciting to see what gets decided there.

The TD-Y usually retails for AUD $229 - which equates to around $150 - really good value! The final production edition should be available in a month or two in the usual places - the Past FX Reverb.com Store, and dedicated PastFX Webstore.

Note that current demos are for the 4-knob V1 TD-Y Edition.