The Analog Alien Rumble Seat is a multi-effects pedal for electric guitar that packs three circuits into one orange enclosure: an overdrive, a delay and a simple one-knob reverb. Each effect has its own dedicated footswitch, so any section can be used alone or combined with the others1. It sits in the same family as the company's Analog Alien Bucket Seat, and for players weighing a multi-effects unit against separate overdrive pedals, the appeal is having all three on one board with independent switching.
The three sections
Rumble Drive overdrive. The overdrive section is based on a vintage Marshall 69 Plexi amp, according to Pedal of the Day2. It is controlled with three knobs: Output, Tone and Gain. Delicious Audio's product page describes the Output knob as controlling the direct output level when the Rumble Drive is engaged, with more output sent to the amp as it is turned up1. Pedal of the Day's reviewer wrote that the section "covers everything from subtle tone enhancement to full-on crunchy overdrive"2.
Delay. The delay offers Delay, Repeats and Mix parameters2 and covers delay times from 25ms to 650ms. Delicious Audio says the delay "can produce from 25ms to 650ms repeats without weakening the bass response"1, and Pedal of the Day called the circuit "very natural and smooth, retaining your guitar's low end at any settings"2.
Reverb. The reverb is a single-knob affair. Delicious Audio describes it as emulating the vintage spring reverbs of early Fender Black Face amps1, and Pedal of the Day likewise notes it is based on the classic Fender Blackface amps, with one knob covering everything2.
Controls at a glance
| Section | Controls | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Rumble Drive | Output, Tone, Gain | Output sets the direct level sent to the amp when the drive is engaged; Tone and Gain shape the drive character12 |
| Delay | Delay, Repeats, Mix | Delay time from 25ms to 650ms, repeat count and effect level12 |
| Reverb | One knob | Single control for the Blackface-style spring reverb12 |
Combining the effects
Because each section has its own footswitch, the combinations are where the pedal opens up. Pedal of the Day reported that running the delay together with the overdrive "produces some incredible, tape echo-like tones as well"2. The overdrive also pulls double duty: the same review found that "it also works wonders as a clean boost, and stacks nicely with other drive, fuzz and distortion pedals as well"2, which matters if you already carry a separate drive or fuzz pedal on your board. Pedal of the Day's overall verdict was that there was "so much to explore in this pedal"2.
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Questions
Can the Rumble Seat overdrive be used as a clean boost?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review found that the Rumble Drive section also works as a clean boost, and that it stacks nicely with other drive, fuzz and distortion pedals. The Output knob sets the level sent to your amp when the overdrive is engaged, so it can be turned up for more push or kept low for a lift with little change in character.
Can each effect on the Rumble Seat be switched on separately?
Yes. The Rumble Seat is a three-footswitch pedal, and each of its three effects, the overdrive, the delay and the reverb, is turned on or off through its own dedicated footswitch. That means you can run any one section alone or combine them in any arrangement without needing a separate loop switcher.
Does the Rumble Seat delay sound like tape echo?
The delay section is described as natural and smooth, holding onto the guitar's low end at any setting, with delay times from 25ms to 650ms. Pedal of the Day reported that working the delay in with the overdrive produces what they called incredible, tape echo-like tones, so the combination rather than the delay alone is what gets that character.
Sources (2)
- Analog Alien Rumble Seat Drive/Delay/Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2020-10-15
- Analog Alien Rumble Seat Overdrive Delay Reverb, Pedal of the Day, 2020-09-12
