Very short review:
It's very good. Closest to the VTDI from the existing lineup, but with a darker speaker sim, tighter lows, more low mids, and a lower frequency on the treble EQ. Very flexible control of the mids and very punchy. Sounds more like a real amp than the other pedals.
I spent a day or two messing with Helix Native but couldn't conjure up anything remotely close to my Tonehammer or VTDI. Hence why I never bought one!
I could however get pretty close to the DP-3X by combining a crossover, compressor and the newly added BDDI sim!
Hard to make that kind of call based on the demos we've had, where they're all in the mix rather than isolated. I bet Tim Starace could've nailed most of those same sounds with the VTDI!
I'll give it a go direct to headphones later to see how it fares.
Still showing as £299 pre-ordered from Guitar Guitar, I think most would like to save £100 and wait!
Had a brief play, sounds good - only subtle differences to the VTDI and YYZ though, lots of crossover and similar tones to be gotten from all 3 units. Will delve into it more over the coming days.
Let's just say I am very surprised! I had to pay a bill after all, so didn't work out much cheaper than buying over here. I've ordered many pedals from them in the past and got away with it! Should be arriving today.
But that's not cheap or easy to find used.
EHX Small Stone is great as mentioned, although quite dark, the EHX Bad Stone and MXR Phase 90 are a tad brighter sounding.
Nowadays, I think they are equivalent. The Classic Vibes used to be built in a different factory in China, now I think they're all built in the same factory as the VMs.
In fact a quick search turned up hardly any VMs for sale, they must have been discontinued!
Although GAK have one listed on eBay for £399! Perhaps they only have very limited stock and are taking a chance there's some big Steve Harris fans out there...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/372823662795
Cost me about £237 all in. Direct currency conversion was £227, but PayPal don't offer great conversion rates. Next time I'll shop around for alternative credit card options with better rates!
Didn't realise this, all the previous Squiers I've seen have had 60s positioning.
When I hear a 60s vs 70s Jazz on YouTube, etc, I always prefer the 60s. Although I would like to get to a shop one day and compare a Geddy Lee or other 70s style to the rest!
Another option - my preference is to use the Octabvre Mini for a solo'd sub sound, and an Octamizer for a blended octave. I love the Octabvre soloed, but it's quite midrangey and doesn't blend as well with a clean tone as the Octamizer does. The Aguilar goes a lot deeper, and with its filter controls (LPF on the sub and HPF on the clean) you can make adjust the two voices so that they blend nicely and don't step on each other's toes.
I'd personally put the FI earlier, just after the octave - like the octave, it's a signal generator that tracks your playing. It'd also be cool to be able to fuzz that up and filter it.