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My guitar player is looking for a new OD, and I realized that I've heard very little about The Monarch. But it's EQD, so it MUST be good.

Anybody out here in ILFland sporting one of these? What are your thoughts? A/B'ed it with anything like the WIIO or Mantra?

He's looking for a high-gain, capable of bordering-on-fuzz OD, for what it's worth. Still trying to decide on the amp, though he has a super-sweet Marshall. Might be too nice to gig out with, though.

I love my Monarch. The Monarch is the pedal I use for my main tone. Very heavy, but also lots of definition. Not even the same as a WIIO, although I pair it with my WIIO for some cool dirt. I wouldn't call the Monarch fuzzy. If he's looking for that he could get some great heavy, slightly fuzzy dirt by using the Hoof with the fuzz set low. Great note definition on that pedal also.

chantysboy wrote:I love my Monarch. The Monarch is the pedal I use for my main tone. Very heavy, but also lots of definition. Not even the same as a WIIO, although I pair it with my WIIO for some cool dirt. I wouldn't call the Monarch fuzzy. If he's looking for that he could get some great heavy, slightly fuzzy dirt by using the Hoof with the fuzz set low. Great note definition on that pedal also.

He's looking for high-gain bordering on fuzzy - he's got a Muff, and is planning on upgrading to one of the many refined muff models out there (Hoof or Blackout Effectors Musket, most likely). This would be for the almost-but-not-quite fuzz sound. Good note definition despite the gain is definitely a good thing in this case.

if you're looking for heavy dirt pushing on (and through) fuzz with good clarity, then the dirt transmitter is what you're after. there is a baffling range of tones in that box and they're all wonderful. cleans up great with your volume knob and can absolutely destroy when cranked. you really couldn't ask for a better overdrive/fuzz in my opinion. i mean, hell, jamie even calls it a "fuzzdriver".

Haven't had the chance to try a WIIO or a Mantra, although I hear great things about both.
Can't say enough good things about the Monarch. Depending on what kind of tone you're after and what amp you're using, it does have enough grunt to be your main dirt, but don't expect "high-gain bordering on fuzzy." On it's own, it does have great snarl and brings the rawk, it can maintain excellent clarity, and has a huge range of eq. I use it alone in places, but mostly use it to push my clean-ish tube amps into brilliant overdrive, or to topple my heavier fuzzes--like Pharaoh and Hoof--over the edge.

The Monarch is HEAVY

Its the Orange OD sound, really not much more to describe. Thick chewy OD border-lining on fuzz territory. I instantly loved it the minuet I played it.

I will add that used with my SUperCollider it is a beast! Also with my Red Rooster.

The Monarch sounds sick, I honestly haven't checked it out before. I hope it's as good on bass as it sounds in the demos, but it doesn't seem to me like an effect that's specifically geetar-only

Gotta get one soon.

The Monarch is killer, high gain tones are pretty unique on guitar, wide open, uncompressed heaviness. I actually really love the lower gain stuff and using it to boost the shit out of fuzz. It has a darker character to it that sounds incredible and the tone boosting EQ is excellent. I've never heard an OD quite like it.

Haven't heard it on bass yet...

The Fuck OD is an awesome choice as well, superb in every way. The B.A.T. Black Forest looks like it should be a super versatile OD/boost with a fuzzy character, another I'm excited to check out.

I have a WIIO and a Monarch.

The WIIO is a great pedal and does get pretty fuzzy at higher gain settings. Almost like a Fuzz Face. Despite not being a high gain pedal, it does get pretty heavy so it's definitely one to consider. I think it sounds great with single coils and just so-so great with humbuckers.

The Monarch rules. It's my main OD. It does everything and does it all well. It is NOT fuzzy and probably isn't what your friend is looking for. It is a high gain pedal but I find it loses some clarity above 12 noon on the Drive knob and doesn't really gain any more oomph. I like pairing it with either a Dirt Transmitter before it for a fuzzy overdrive (which is a great combo that your friend might enjoy) or a Hoof after it for a lead tone that jumps right to the front of the mix.

BTW.....Monarch at 18v.......WOW WEEEEEEE! So open and raunchy. I LOVE THIS PEDAL! I want another so I can hav a back up. Hahaha

Love the Monarch. Not a ton of gain/fuzz. IHowever, it is beautifully mean sounding and can be used as a thick clean-ish boost. I imagine it would push that Marshall someplace massive and scary. Keeping with EQD, Hoof or Dirt Transmitter might be his best bet for high gain dirt/fuzz.

So I got one.
It rules on bass!

I don't feel like doing a big write-up but I'm really impressed with the range of sounds you can get out of it, and there's zero loss of low-end. You don't even have to crank up the bass control to get "unity bass" but you can boost it further if you want.
Works well as a clean boost too. Not 100% clean, maybe, but really quite versatile. I really missed having an OD-type pedal. If you max out the drive it gets pretty fuzzy too. Also, doesn't sound like butt even with the treble set up there!

I was looking forward to it, but wasn't sure how well it would work on bass -- it's superb. Sounds shit-hot into the t00bz.
I'll try and remember to make a bad demo once I get a mic preamp.