The Analog Alien Bucket Seat is a compact overdrive pedal from Analog Alien, built on the same Rumble Drive circuit the company uses in its Rumble Seat. Premier Guitar's Jason Shadrick, demoing it at NAMM 2016, described it as "a new variation on their popular Rumble Seat dirtbox"1. Guitar.com reported the pedal's announcement in October 2015, with a set release date of October 15, 2015, and noted it would be "the first of the company's B2 series of streamlined effects"2.
What it does to your sound
Guitar Interactive Magazine's Jonathan Graham wrote that "Everything from mild overdrive to a full on high gain assault is possible with the Bucket Seat"3. On the character of the gain, the same review said:
"The sound of the Bucket Seat is never harsh or brittle. It has a smooth break up and retains a lot of the guitar's dynamics even at high overdrive settings."
Because the pedal runs the Rumble Drive circuit, the Rumble Seat's overdrive section gives a picture of what that circuit does. Pedal of the Day wrote that "The Overdrive portion, the Rumble Drive, covers everything from subtle tone enhancement to full-on crunchy overdrive" and that it is "Based on a vintage Marshall 69 Plexi amp"4.
The controls: output, tone and gain
The Bucket Seat keeps the Rumble Drive's simple three-knob layout. Guitar Interactive Magazine reported that "Adjustments can be made on the output, tone, and gain controls"3. On the Rumble Seat, Pedal of the Day described the same section as "The simple 3-knob control section consists of Output, Tone and Gain knobs"4.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Output | Sets the direct output level when the drive is engaged; turning it up sends more level to the amp5 |
| Tone | Shapes the treble character of the drive3 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of overdrive, from mild to high gain3 |
Bucket Seat and Rumble Seat
The two pedals are closely related, and the differences come down to format:
- The Bucket Seat is a single-effect pedal carrying the Rumble Drive circuit on its own3.
- The Rumble Seat is a multi-effect dirtbox that combines the Rumble Drive overdrive with delay and reverb sections, the reverb based on classic Fender Blackface amps4.
- Premier Guitar framed the Bucket Seat as "a new variation" on the Rumble Seat1.
- Guitar Interactive Magazine reported the Bucket Seat arriving "at a lower price point" than the pedal it came from3.
Players
JHS Pedals, in a blog piece on underrated overdrives, wrote of the Bucket Seat: "This is a favorite pedal of Billy Gibbons"6.
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Questions
Is the Analog Alien Bucket Seat an overdrive?
Yes. Guitar Interactive Magazine described it as an overdrive, saying everything from mild overdrive to a full on high gain assault is possible with it3. Premier Guitar's Jason Shadrick called it a dirtbox in his NAMM demo coverage1. It sits in the overdrive lane alongside other gain pedals such as those covered in Overdrive Pedals.
What is the difference between the Bucket Seat and the Rumble Seat?
The Bucket Seat is a streamlined, single-effect version of the drive side of the Rumble Seat. Premier Guitar described it as a new variation on the Rumble Seat dirtbox1, and Analog Alien said it uses the same Rumble Drive circuit found in the Rumble Seat3. The Rumble Seat adds delay and reverb sections around that overdrive4.
What circuit is the Bucket Seat based on?
The Rumble Drive circuit, the same one Analog Alien uses in its Rumble Seat pedal3. On the Rumble Seat, Pedal of the Day describes that overdrive section as based on a vintage Marshall 69 Plexi amp4.
Which Analog Alien series is the Bucket Seat part of?
The B2 series. Guitar.com reported that the Bucket Seat would be the first of the company's B2 series of streamlined effects2.
Does Billy Gibbons use the Analog Alien Bucket Seat?
JHS Pedals called the Bucket Seat a favorite pedal of Billy Gibbons in a piece on underrated overdrives6.
Sources (6)
- Analog Alien & Joe Walsh Gear Demo at NAMM 2016, Premier Guitar, 2016-02-05
- News: Analog Alien Announces The Bucket Seat, Guitar.com, 2015-10-14
- Analog Alien Releases Bucket Seat at a Lower Price Point, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2015-09-15
- Analog Alien Rumble Seat Overdrive Delay Reverb, Pedal of the Day, 2020-09-12
- Analog Alien Rumble Seat Drive/Delay/Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2020-10-15
- UNDERRATED OVERDRIVES, JHS Pedals
