The Fuchs Audio Technology Plush Cream Overdrive is an overdrive pedal from Fuchs Audio Technology, the amp builder whose Plush pedal line carries its overdrive circuits into stompbox form. It is a single-box drive that covers a wide range: as reviewer Mike B. at Pedal of the Day put it, the pedal "ranges from a kind of bluesy mild drive to a thick, sonic distortion when really cranked"1. That spread means one knob setting gives you a light edge for chords and cleaner passages, while turning the gain up pushes it into heavier territory.
What it does to your sound
The Plush Cream is built as a gain pedal that scales from mild to thick. Mike B. described the range in his 2014 review, and he found it especially responsive with humbucker equipped guitars1:
"I love it with humbuckers, so dynamic in range and easy to dial in mild rock to metal sounds"
For a player, that means the pedal is not locked into one flavor of drive. The low end of the gain range works for blues and light rock rhythm parts, and the high end reaches into distortion territory, which places it between a typical low gain overdrive and a dedicated distortion pedal1.
Controls and connections
The control set is simple. The Tone knob sweeps what the review calls "Dark to Bright Chimey tones," so you can darken a bright amp or add top end sparkle to a dark one1. Gain and output level round out the drive shaping.
The pedal's connectivity and power details:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bypass | Hard wire1 |
| Power | 9V DC, standard 2.1mm jack, adapter or battery1 |
| Input impedance | 1 M1 |
| Output impedance | 1 k1 |
| Connectors | Neutrik1 |
The 1 M input impedance is the standard figure for guitar pedals and keeps passive pickups from losing top end when the guitar sees the pedal first in the chain. The 1 k output impedance is low enough to drive long cable runs or the next pedal without loading issues. Neutrik connectors are used for the jacks1.
The Plush Cream runs on a 9V battery as well as a standard 2.1mm DC adapter, so it does not require a dedicated isolated power supply to operate.
Where it came from and how the line developed
The Plush Cream sits in Fuchs Audio Technology's Plush pedal line. The original Cream is an overdrive pedal from Fuchs, and the line grew to include the Plush Cream II Overdrive, which Pedal of the Day covered as an overdrive pedal from the maker2.
When Fuchs followed the original Cream with the Plush Cream II Overdrive, Pedal of the Day described it simply as an overdrive pedal from Fuchs Audio Technology3.
How it differs from the Cream II and Extreme Cream II
The Cream II keeps the original's voice but adds a Shape toggle switch with two modes. Mode one retains the famous tones the original Cream pedal is known for, and mode two provides a lower gain, more compressed sound similar to the Plush Drive in the Fuchs lineup3. The reviewer found the Cream II a quiet but dynamic pedal that responds well to pick attack and fingerstyle force, with a tube amp feel running smooth tones and articulate lead lines3.
The Plush Extreme Cream II Double Overdrive takes the Cream II concept and doubles it into a two channel pedal. Channel A is voiced just like the stock Cream II Overdrive, while Channel B has a warmer tone throughout4. Each resistor and capacitor is carefully chosen to voice the pedal, and the reviewer described the result as quiet, smooth, articulate and dynamic all at once4.
| Model | Voices | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Plush Cream | One | The original, bluesy mild drive to thick distortion1 |
| Cream II | Two (Shape toggle) | Original tones plus a lower gain, compressed mode like the Plush Drive3 |
| Extreme Cream II | Two channels | Channel A voiced like the Cream II, Channel B warmer4 |
What reviewers said
Published coverage of the Plush line has been positive. Mike B. called the original "just a great overdrive pedal" and praised its dynamic range with humbuckers1. The Cream II review highlighted its responsiveness to playing dynamics and its tube amp feel3, and the Extreme Cream II review noted its quiet, smooth, articulate and dynamic character4.
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Questions
Is the Fuchs Plush Cream true bypass?
The Plush Cream uses a hard wire bypass rather than true bypass. When the pedal is off, the signal passes through a hard wired connection, which is a different approach from the relay or electronic true bypass switching found on some other overdrive pedals.
Can the Plush Cream run on a battery?
Yes. The pedal takes a standard 9V DC power supply through a 2.1mm jack, and it also runs on a 9V battery. That gives you the option of a battery powered setup or a pedalboard power supply.
What is the difference between the Plush Cream and Cream II?
The Cream II is a Tube Screamer style overdrive that keeps the tones the original Cream is known for in its first Shape mode, and adds a second mode with a lower gain, more compressed sound similar to the Fuchs Plush Drive. The original Plush Cream is the single voice version.
What does the Extreme Cream II Double Overdrive add?
The Extreme Cream II is a double overdrive with two channels. Channel A is voiced like the stock Cream II Overdrive, while Channel B has a warmer tone throughout, effectively giving you two pedals in one box.
What are the Shape modes on the Cream II?
A Shape toggle switch selects between two modes. Mode one retains the famous tones the original Cream pedal is known for, and mode two provides a lower gain, more compressed sound similar to the Plush Drive in the Fuchs lineup.
What is the input impedance of the Plush Cream?
The Plush Cream has an input impedance of 1 megohm and an output impedance of 1 kilohm. A 1 megohm input is typical for guitar pedals and preserves the high end of passive pickups.
Sources (4)
- Fuchs Audio Technology Plush Cream Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2014-03-08
- Guitar FX Layouts: Fuchs Audio Plush Cream, Guitar FX Layouts
- Fuchs Audio Technology Plush® Cream II™ Overdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2016-12-19
- Fuchs Audio Technology Plush® Extreme Cream II™ Double Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2017-01-19
