This amplifier has 4 discreet sections
Preamp-Drive1-Drive2-Fxloop
Preamp - The MagicDust has a "2
knob" preamp (Volume and Tone) with a 6 position rotary switch that
selects the mode (character) of its output. It has 2 variations of
Fender
"Blackface", 2 variations of "Brownface" and 2 variations
of "Tweed"
Overdrive
- There are two separate discreet overdrive sections
1.
Overdrive section 1 is called "Drive
1" and is the
RedPlate version of the traditional style overdrive
that many call "Talent in a box". It is capable of a very smooth and
rich sustain that makes every note sound so good you may not feel the
need to
play the next one. The Gain, Distortion and Volume levels are fully
adjustable
so you can go anywhere between a slight bit of “hair" to full on super
distortion.
2.
Overdrive section 2 is called "Drive
2" and is a
RedPlate design inspired by the more modern "Marshallesque" style
overdrive
section. It has similar gain, distortion and level controls to the Drive
1
section but also has the addition of Treble, Middle and Bass controls
along
with "mid boost" and "raw" (stack lift) features. It is capable of the
"scooped" heavy bottom sounds yet retains the singing liquid quality in
the notes, the tone and character are especially sensitive to changes
of a players "touch".
Just
having the two separate Overdrive sections is great because it allows a
player
to set up for two distinct solo tones but some real magic occurs
when you engage both sections at the same time. One favorite setting is
to set
the Drive 1 section for the most sustain / least distorted tone and then
set the Drive 2 section for extreme low bass and extra
upper mids, then dial in a small amount of distortion so the guitar
sounds
like a bowed violin. It's a tone that until now could not be done
without using
multiple amplifiers.
Effects
Loop - The CosmicDust has a built in serial buffered effects loop.
.
The interactions of the 4 amplifier sections (Preamp, Drive1, Drive 2 and FX Loop) lead to some fun experimentation possibilities with this amplifier - one example is to engage Drive 2 set up with little or no distortion and use its tone controls to further refine the overall clean tone of the amplifier.