The Farmhouse Compressor Overdrive from Farm Pedals is a compressor and overdrive combination pedal that puts three complete circuits in a single box: a modded TS9, a modded TS808 and a modded Ross Compressor, each built from its original schematic. The three sections can be mixed and matched as the player sees fit. It is a strictly limited pedal: Pedal of the Day reported in February 2019 that only three would ever be built, and their review unit was one of them1.
Where it came from: the Trey Anastasio connection
The Farmhouse was designed with Trey Anastasio's tone in mind. Pedal of the Day pointed to his use of the famed gray Ross Compressor at various stages of Phish's career, along with his consistent use of different Tube Screamer models, as the inspiration behind the design1. The pedal itself is Farm Pedals' consolidation of that approach, not a unit from his rig.
Controls and signal chain
The signal chain runs TS9 into TS808 into Ross, which Pedal of the Day notes is the same order as Trey's1. The compressor section carries two knobs, V (Volume) and S (Sustain)1.
| Control | Section | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| L | TS9 overdrive | Trey's classic mods that increase the low end and smooth out the Tone just a bit (less gain)1 |
| M | TS808 overdrive | Same idea with extra dirt on tap, for a more powerful sounding overdrive (more gain)1 |
| V | Ross compressor | Volume1 |
| S | Ross compressor | Sustain1 |
Each of the two overdrive gain stages can be tweaked via internal trim pots, to adjust overall Tone and Gain to taste1.
"The L is the TS9, with Trey's classic mods that increase the low end and smooth out the Tone just a bit."
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's February 2019 review was enthusiastic about both the build and the sound. On build quality, the reviewer wrote that "you know you're getting a quality pedal"1, and on the pedal overall: "This one just happened to fall into the OMG category for us"1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What circuits are inside the Farmhouse Compressor Overdrive?
The Farmhouse combines three circuits in one enclosure: a modded TS9, a modded TS808 and a modded Ross Compressor. According to Pedal of the Day, each was built from its original schematic, so the overdrive stages follow the classic Tube Screamer design and the compression follows the Ross. The two overdrive stages can be mixed and matched with the compressor as the player sees fit.
What is the signal order in the Farmhouse?
The signal chain runs TS9 into TS808 into Ross, which Pedal of the Day notes is the same order as Trey Anastasio's own setup. The guitar signal passes through both overdrive stages first and ends at the compressor section, whose V (Volume) and S (Sustain) knobs control the compressed output.
What are the internal trim pots for?
Each of the two overdrive gain stages has an internal trim pot. These adjust the overall Tone and Gain of the TS9 and TS808 sections to taste, letting the owner dial in how much low end, smoothness and drive each stage contributes before the signal reaches the compressor.
How many Farmhouse Compressor Overdrive pedals exist?
Only three. Pedal of the Day stated in its February 2019 review that the Farmhouse was one of three units that would ever be built, making it a strictly limited run rather than a production pedal.
Is the Farmhouse modeled on Trey Anastasio's rig?
The design was inspired by Trey Anastasio's tone, specifically his use of the grey Ross Compressor across Phish's career and his consistent use of different Tube Screamer models. The Farmhouse itself is not a pedal Anastasio used; it is Farm Pedals' take on the circuits and signal order behind that sound.
Sources (1)
- Farm Pedals Farmhouse Compressor Overdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2019-02-08
