Grateful Dead Music Forum

https://www.smokinamp.co/product-page/s ... ii-circuit

My friend bought me one of these pedals. I have not received it yet. But has anyone messed around with one of these ? If anyone owns one, please let me know how you like

Many thanks. Excited to try this

I never heard of it, but I looking forward to your review. I am very happy with my Microtron IV and have been less pleased with other filters, but I am always open to an alternative that nails the old Mutron in a smaller package.

I, too, would like to read your review. I myself own 2 MicroTron IVs. I've never been happy with them and both are off my boards in a drawer now, replaced by cheap Donner units that, believe it or not, I find easier and more forgiving to use. But I'd be willing to try the Smoking Amp Co. pedal if others recommend it. Certainly the price is right!

May I add, I'm still trying to figure out if Smoking Amp Co. as a name is better or worse than Rusch Guitars.

The Donner is surprisingly good, especially for the price ($34 on Amazon). It replaced a MicroTron III on my board.

Bill, tgo

You guys are going to cost me $35 for my mini-board! I have a Mooer envelope I don't really like and otherwise have put up with the larger microtron size. For $35 I might as well try the Donnor!

Jon S. wrote: ↑Sat Jan 03, 2026 5:35 pm May I add, I'm still trying to figure out if Smoking Amp Co. as a name is better or worse than Rusch Guitars.

I would say it is a step up from the "Food Poisoning Seafood Buffet" but below Rusch Guitars.

Chocol8 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 1:29 pm

Jon S. wrote: ↑Sat Jan 03, 2026 5:35 pm May I add, I'm still trying to figure out if Smoking Amp Co. as a name is better or worse than Rusch Guitars.

I would say it is a step up from the "Food Poisoning Seafood Buffet" but below Rusch Guitars.

Chocol8 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 1:13 pm You guys are going to cost me $35 for my mini-board! I have a Mooer envelope I don't really like and otherwise have put up with the larger microtron size. For $35 I might as well try the Donnor!

$35? You're getting ripped off. Only $33.99 on Amazon!

hehehehe

Seriously, though, this little Donner pedal is the real deal. The other guitar player in my band tried mine, then ran out and bought one.

Bill, tgo

lbpesq wrote: ↑Thu Jan 08, 2026 1:17 pm $35? You're getting ripped off. Only $33.99 on Amazon!

$36.71 from Amazon after that tax man grabbed his share. It arrived today and is sitting on my desk at the moment while I suffer through work for another 45 minutes give or take.

Let us know your thoughts after playing around with it for a while.

Bill, tgo

lbpesq wrote: ↑Thu Jan 08, 2026 4:13 pm Let us know your thoughts after playing around with it for a while.

Bill, tgo

No need for a while! It took less than 30 seconds to dial it in to something plenty close to Jerry. Sounds great! Input sensitivity is a little touchy, but I am hitting it with a boosted Strat which probably isn’t helping. Given how low I have that pot, I am guessing it has much more range than the Microtron and will work well even with low output single coils without a boost.

I have a PedalTrain Nano+ for my grab and go board, and I like mini-pedals to maximize space and flexibility. The Mooer envelope was a looser, but the Donnor has definitely won a spot for sure!

Just about all my players are single coil and work fine with the Donner without any boost in front of it. Glad it’s working for you. It really is a nice little gem of a pedal.

Bill, tgo

lbpesq wrote: ↑Thu Jan 08, 2026 9:25 pm Just about all my players are single coil and work fine with the Donner without any boost in front of it.

I have the boost built into the guitar, and I always setup the filters to work with the volume on 10, so it is easily repeatable. Much like Jerry's reason for the OBEL except I control volume at the end of the chain with a pedal. It's not a problem, and actually a big help with the Microtron, but it means I am in a very narrow range of a a tiny pot on the mini Donnor. It's OK, I got it set right as long as no one touches it or breathes on it!

It's certainly the case that adjustments to micro-pedals on the fly are challenging at best.