PastFX's Spectrum Collection Revives Buffalo FX Pedals in Superb Smart Compact Enclosures - utilising the same High Quality Components

External Controls - Bass, Treble, Level, Gain.

Internal Controls - Mod Switch : Asymmetrical (Default) / Symmetrical, LED Dimmer

I have always thought that Bjorn Riis described this best as "a sort of a beefed up TDX, with much more high mids and compression". In simple terms it has pushed-mids versus the scoop of the TD-X / TD-Y and has slightly lower gain overall - it's kind of a bridge between the TD-X / TD-Y and the Evolution / Revolution.

Some like to compare it more to a Klon - where the mid hump sort of fits that profile - while I always consider it very much TD-X derived from my understanding of what Steve Painter was originally trying to achieve. You get amazing clarity - and a more modern sounding overdrive than the more vintage sensibilities of the TD-X / TD-Y - but for sure you can treat is as somewhat Klon adjacent. Funnily enough I acquired my CBA Automatone Preamp MKII at the exact same time as my Buffalo FX Carrera - and weirdly the first tones I dialled in on the Preamp were pretty much identical to where I had set the Carrera - so the Carrera's reign was relatively short lived in my chain. I think it's best considered as the other side of the coin from the TD-X / TD-Y - and based on your rig, guitar and own preferences - you may prefer one or the other - for me it was certainly that way - while it was more of an order of preference / acquisition - where I was really intending to get both eventually anyway. In any case the Canberra sounds just as good as the Carrera!

External Controls - Bass, Treble, Level, Sustain.

Internal Controls - LED Dimmer

So this is based on the second 'Stacked' iteration of the Buffalo FX M-1 Ram's Head Style Muff - where Steve Painter replicated a Colorsound Power Boost going into said Muff - much in the same way David Gilmour used the original inspiration Ram's Head Muff, and Pete Cornish P-1.

Just a great classic Ram's Head with a little more oomph and saturation. There's no further Mod onboard on the PastFX variant - but both this and the Patriarch / Patriot / P-2 are so solid that they really don't need anything more. This is the newest of the Spectrum Collection, and as of writing there are no official demos yet - so I'm using the original Buffalo FX M-1 Stacked inspiration here instead - which is pretty much indistinguishable from the M-1-A equivalent!

External Controls - Mids, Tone, Lows, Level, Sustain.

Internal Controls - Mod Switch : Scooped / Stock (Default), LED Dimmer

Nicely symmetrical that we get the Patriarch straight after its M-1-A sibling. This time around it's based on the Buffalo FX Patriot - in turn a version of Pete Cornish's P-2 - which in turn is a take on the Civil War Big Muff! I love the extended controls here which give you ultimate tone-shaping via Mids, Tone and Lows controls. You also have the Mod switch - where you can further scoop / shift the default EQ.

The Muff-based Pete Cornish derived circuits - G-2, P-1 and P-2 or Evolution / Revolution, M-1 / M-1-A and Patriot / Patriarch were always my favourite 'Buffalos'. I actually now own the Pete Cornish GC-1 - which is a combination of the SS-3, G-2 and P-2 - all in the one enclosure - giving me two of the heavy hitters in that one pedal!

Generally I slightly prefer this variety to the gainier Ram's head variants - because of its extended tone-shaping ability - you can really fine-tune your tone here. While overall - the Evolution has probably been my most used Buffalo. Will be interesting what further patterns emerge from the Spectrum Collection - where PastFX will be adding a few more flavours beyond what Buffalo Fx covered. I still consider those 3 Muff-based / 4-Gain-Stage variants total essentials! And the same goes for the PastFX M-1-A, Patriarch and Revolution!

External Controls - Bass, Treble, Level, Gain.

Internal Controls - Mod Switch : Hot (Default) / Mild, LED Dimmer

Obviously based on the David Gilmour staple and long-term core boost / overdrive / fuzz pedal - the Colorsound Power Boost. Steve Painter added the '-er' to his version, as does Verlie on this PastFX variant. This is the higher headroom 18V version which delivers a touch more dynamics. You also have the internal Mod switch  to flip between Mild and the default Hot Mod(e). There's lots of versions of the Colorsound Power Boost / Overdriver out there and this is surely one of the best - in the neatest possible form factor. I personally was dithering on which Power Boosters to get - where I think I will park it with this one for a while. I already have the Basic Audio Futureman which is also excellent - as is actually the Vick Audio Overdriver - while I'd still quite like a V1 ThroBak Overdrive Boost eventually too. If you're looking for an authentic sounding Power Boost - then this Power Booster is among the best out there! Note that you should only use a 9V DC [-] power supply as there is an internal charge pump which doubles the voltage to 18.

External Controls - Contour (Upper Mids), Tone, Level, Drive.

Internal Controls - Mod Switch : Boost (Default) / Stock, LED Dimmer.

As mentioned - this one's forerunner was my favourite Buffalo FX pedal and the most deployed therefore - and this is another near exact reproduction - bar the Internal Mod Switch - which is set to Verlie's preferred 'Boost' Mod which just drives the transistor stage a little harder - resulting in more bite and sizzle - you do get a little more compression too - and I probably actually prefer this one set to the more open 'Stock' Mode - that will of course depend on your guitar / rig.

In stock mode I can dial it in exactly as per my preferred Evolution settings - and the two sound indistinguishable when compared head to head on those settings. The Past FX version is just that little bit neater!

External Controls - EQ Lo, EQ Hi, Level, Gain.

Internal Controls - Mod Switch : Asymmetrical / Symmetrical (Default), LED Dimmer

Based on the Buffalo FX TD-X which in turn is Steve Painter's take on another Gilmour staple - the B.K. Butler Tube Driver. I typically say that this is the other side of the coin to the Canberra / Carrera - where that was a modern derivation of the TD-Y / TD-X with pushed mids in place of the scooped mids of the TD-Y / X.

The TD-Y / X is generally a little fatter and gainier than the Canberra / Carrera - and they complement each other nicely. At one time I though it was a one or the other situation - and I initially went for the Carrera in preference to the TD-X. While they are really two different tools / instruments - even though they share a common development path. This is just a classic / vintage inspired fat and juicy overdrive. The original B.K. Butler device is huge - so there are some particular practicality gains to be had here. You of course get the internal clipping switch where you can flip between Asymmetrical and Symmetrical - where the latter is selected by default. Again that is based on what suits your own setup - where Asymmetric Mode typically delivers a little more bite! I think this looks fantastic with yellow knobs - which is how my edition is laid out.

I feel I was totally justified in getting the Carrera over the TD-X, and I prefer the Canberra to the TD-Y too. Possibly the TD-Y is overall more suitable for single coil pickups, and the Canberra more suitable for humbuckers!