Tone City Dry Martini

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)

Marshall Bluesbreaker leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with

Comes later in the signal chain

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (low gain → high gain)

Two-Rock Bloomfield Drive 6V6 40W 1x12 Combo leans this low gain tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a low gain tone, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Comes later in the signal chain

Synergy SL2 Module leans this low gain tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a low gain tone, Hughes & Kettner Coreblade brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a low gain tone, Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Comes later in the signal chain

Friedman BE-Mini Head leans this low gain tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 leans this low gain tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (low gain → fuzzy)

EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter leans this low gain tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (low gain → fuzzy)

JHS Smiley leans this low gain tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Keep Walrus Audio Monument CS after Tone City Dry Martini in the signal chain, clear of Tone City Dry Martini's own gain stage

Comes later in the signal chain

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)

What Mojo Gear Orange Compressor (Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer Clone) brings here leans toward dynamic — that's worth building a pairing around

Comes earlier in the signal chain

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte's pristine voice goes after Tone City Dry Martini in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Tone City Dry Martini's own transparent character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Keep Tone City Dry Martini's transparent voice out front: Eventide Modulated Delay goes after Tone City Dry Martini in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Comes later in the signal chain

Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 leans this low gain tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own

Comes later in the signal chain

Warm Audio Jet Phaser belongs after Tone City Dry Martini, since modulation sits after the gain for a defined swirl