The Paul Cochrane Timmy is a Paul Cochrane overdrive pedal. Close alternatives include the JHS Morning Glory and the Xotic AC Plus. It pairs well with the PRS Archon Classic 50 2-Channel Head and the Mesa Boogie Mark I.
Paul Cochrane Timmy
Paul Cochrane · pedal
The Paul Cochrane Timmy is the original boutique transparent overdrive, designed to take a guitar tone and give back more of it without adding color. Although its signal path includes a clipping circuit, it imparts no mid-boost or cut and very little compression, so it works as a clean boost when needed and a creamy front-end builder when wanted. It is often credited as the first transparent boutique overdrive, lacking the pronounced mid-hump of a Tube Screamer and staying less compressed, especially at lower gain. Its bass and treble controls actually cut frequencies, letting players tighten or shape the drive. Offering mild to medium crunch with an organic, tube-like feel, it has earned a following rivaling the Klon and the Tube Screamer and is a favorite for stacking and gain-staging across blues, rock, and country.
What stands out
“It is often credited as the first transparent boutique overdrive, , especially at lower gain”
— from the listing
“Although its signal path includes a clipping circuit, it imparts , so it works as a clean boost when needed and a creamy front-end builder when wanted”
— from the listing
“A foundational transparent overdrive whose clipping stage adds drive , so the guitar and amp identity comes through intact”
— from the reviews
“its bass and treble controls actually cut frequencies”
— from the listing
“Strengths are its clarity, dynamic feel, and versatile EQ”
— from the reviews
- transparent
- clean boost
- overdrive
- treble
- cut
- creamy
- gain
- dynamic
Genres the Paul Cochrane Timmy is commonly used in
- Blues
- Country
- Rock
- Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Paul Cochrane Timmy
PRS Archon Classic 50 2-Channel Head
PRS
34% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
Paul Cochrane Timmy's own transparent character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa Boogie Mark I
Mesa Boogie
33% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Into a transparent tone, Mesa Boogie Mark I brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Randall Century 200
Randall
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Paul Cochrane Timmy leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
EBS Magni 502 115
Ebs
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Paul Cochrane Timmy's bright balances out the warm tone
Comes later in the signal chain
Engl E670FE Special Edition 6L6
Engl
21% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Paul Cochrane Timmy leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
Ampeg V-4
Ampeg
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Ampeg V-4 leans this transparent tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own
Ampeg BA 108
Ampeg
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Ampeg BA 108 brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing
Blackstar Unity Bass U250
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Blackstar Unity Bass U250 after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Pedals that stack with the Paul Cochrane Timmy
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
37% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
The Timmy's transparent, treble-cutting overdrive stacks with the Screamer's own mid-forward boost for two complementary low-gain voicings.
Nobels ODR-1
Nobels
33% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Nobels ODR-1 leans this transparent tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own
MXR Flanger
MXR
28% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run MXR Flanger after Paul Cochrane Timmy in the signal chain, clear of Paul Cochrane Timmy's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
JHS 3 Series Distortion
JHS Pedals
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
Paul Cochrane Timmy leans bright right where the dark tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
JAM Pedals Rattler V2
Jam Pedals
26% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
Paul Cochrane Timmy leans bright right where the dark tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
T-Rex Replica Delay
T Rex
26% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
Paul Cochrane Timmy's bright balances out the dark tone — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
RHC Audio Ydrat
Rhc Audio
26% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Run Paul Cochrane Timmy after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Fundamental Series Distortion
Walrus Audio
26% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
Paul Cochrane Timmy's bright balances out the dark tone
Comes later in the signal chain
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
JHS Morning Glory
JHS Pedals
64% similarityShared character: boost, treble, crunch
Xotic AC Plus
Xotic
62% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, gain
EarthQuaker Devices Westwood
EarthQuaker Devices
61% similarityShared character: boost, treble, clarity
MXR Timmy Overdrive
MXR
61% similarity“The MXR Custom Shop Timmy Overdrive is a premium version of the Paul Cochrane Timmy, one of the most respected transparent overdrive circuits”
Dunlop MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027
Dunlop
59% similarity“The MXR Timmy Overdrive, sold as Dunlop CSP027, is a Custom Shop production version of Paul Cochrane's legendary Timmy”
Catalinbread Blood Donor
Catalinbread
58% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, gain
Browne Amplification The Fixer Dual Boost/Buffer
Browne Amplification
57% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, gain
Carl Martin Dual Injection
Carl Martin
57% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, gain
Summer School Electronics Class Reunion Double Drive
Summer School Electronics
56% similarityShared character: crunch, boost, gain
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
56% similarityShared character: boost, treble, clarity
Wampler Golden Jubilee
Wampler
56% similarityShared character: crunch, stage
MXR Super Badass Distortion
MXR
55% similarityShared character: boost, treble, crunch
See all alternatives to the Paul Cochrane Timmy (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Paul Cochrane Timmy?+
The closest matches in character are the JHS Morning Glory, the Xotic AC Plus, the EarthQuaker Devices Westwood.
What pairs well with the Paul Cochrane Timmy?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: PRS Archon Classic 50 2-Channel Head, Mesa Boogie Mark I, Randall Century 200 — Paul Cochrane Timmy's own transparent character is the real reason this is worth trying.