Decibelics The Reverend: FINALLY A Killer Bixonic Expandora Clone!!

Check out this brand new pedal here: https://decibelics.com/product/the-re...

Back in the mid 1990s, a boutique overdrive came out of Japan that stayed slightly under the radar - especially compared to it's Tubescreamer equivalent. But it found a home in the rigs of some very notable guitarists - and none more so than the Revd. Billy Gibbons. The pedal in question was the Bixonic Expander - a highly modified RAT circuit with an expander for extra dynamic response. But a legend was born.

There were a couple of revisions of the pedal over the years: the original EXP2000; the Expandora II (aka. the EXP2001); and ultimately the reissue EXP2000R. They were all fundamentally very similar. The original is the one said by those in the know to sound 'the best'; the 2001 took the internal dip-switches and put them on an external clickable knob; and the reissue added a bass switch for increased low end response.

Over the years though, very few pedal manufacturers have based overdrive pedals on the old Expandora. But now - Guillem at Decibelics has crafted such a beast!

The Reverend contains the exact original EXP2000 circuit - using the same NOS components to really nail the tone and feel - but also has the external mode selector knob of the 2001, and the internal bass switch of the reissue. So it really is the ultimate version of the circuit - a greatest hits, if you will.

What do you think? Epic tones? Or not for you? Comment below!

Guitars:
Fender Partscaster Strat w/ Fralin Real '54s
Gibson SG Standard w/ OX4 Low Wind A4 PAFs

Amp is a Vajra JTM45 clone running into a Zilla Studio Pro 2x12 cabinet loaded with Scumback S75-PVC AlNiCo and Celestion AlNiCo Gold speakers. Recorded with Aston Spirit Condenser, '70s Sennheiser MD441 and sE RNR1 ribbon mics, with a Schoeps CMC6 room mic.

0:00 Intro
6:51 Fender Strat (Bass Mode)
15:37 Gibson SG (Guitar Mode)
21:34 Outro


jp@joeperkins.co.uk

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