Version 2 changes: A little extra low end voicing with a little more saturation to all three positions.
It offers variations of overdrive tone from boost to a little past medium gain, with position 2 going from overdrive to a nice thick saturated fuzz tone. Positions 1 & 3 are symmetrical, hand picked matching diodes.
(The tone) – warm, creamy, with depth and clarity that will still break through in the mix, delivering a natural full-range tone in all three positions, maintaining that tube-amp sound capable of navigating many genres of those classic recorded guitar tones. It can do “some” modern tones though it’s wheelhouse of overdrive tone is more directed in the 60’s to 70’s & 90’s type of overdrive. The circuit also provides a low noise floor to maxed gain levels.
All knobs are “very” active, small adjustments will affect your tone. The bass and treble controls go well beyond standard function, they do far more than their label.
(Pos-1) Boost to overdrive that goes almost to medium, will do a little modern too thick vintage tone that can also get compressed, depending on the settings – bass knob.
(Pos-2) Boost to overdrive, as the Saturation & Bass knobs are turned clockwise the fuzz edge increases, maxed will get close to the that late 60’s fuzz tone.
(Pos-3) Boost to thick overdrive that goes a bit past medium, offering a little more punch. It can also get a little fuzz edge by turning the bass knob up. Position 3, stacking into other OD & fuzz type pedals is one of the many strong points, when placed (1st) in line.
This is “not” a jack of all trades, master of none pedal, “each” position has an array of great tone!
Note: “If” you do not like fuzz -Pos-2, run it at 18v, it then becomes a few variations of overdrive depending on the switch position.
See below for more information.
David –
I just received the pedal and it’s pretty impressive! The controls are very interactive with each other and the 3-way switch is great. It also plays nice with my other OD and fuzz pedals.
I play a Gibson 60’s Std LP thru a Dr. Z Maz Jr. Sounds killer – Btw.. the artwork is phenomenal!
The Gear Page Forum –
I use one with my Fender amp/IRs. I swapped out my drive and went to town. I hit it with everything, and it handled it like a boss. After an hour, I realized I hadn’t touched the settings at all. It sounds awesome all knobs at noon. It was exactly what I was looking for, it kind of takes what you have and gives you more of it. Things feel more robust, I love it. When I need to just plug into real quick and work something out, it’s going to sound good and set up real fast with that pedal. This thing could replace a lot of dirt boxes if need be, great piece of gear.
Pablo –
I’m enjoying the pedals a lot, you should be proud of them, amazing!
The Gear Page Forum –
I just tried mine for the first time today, what a helluva pedal. After about 10 minutes, it kicked another well known pedal right off the board! I don’t play with a lot of gain, even for solos, but that second position is doing it for me
Tyler –
I am learning how different it is right away and I’m excited to get my head around it more. Sounds great in many settings already with just a quick session. The controls are very interesting.
Atomic Tone customer –
I just picked up a Triptych last week and I haven’t turned it off. The true genius to this pedal is how you can build your own sound so easily. Every knob is useful around the dial. Great tones from 8:00 to 5:00. The toggle does give you three different saturation stages but they naturally blend up. No harsh jump ups. I can get Mike Campbell drive to Marc Ford Fuzz and everything in between.
Gokhan –
Obviously, your pedal is a labor of love. Beautifully rich with so many tonal possibilities…
The Gear Page Forum –
The first thing I noticed about this pedal is how “organic” or natural it sounds. In many dirt pedals I’ve played the distortion almost sounds separate or layered on top of the tone…like they don’t meld or something. It’s weird. I particularly like how it stacks with my DOD Looking Glass. The Triptych really helps to reign in some of the brightness of the looking glass. It’s an excellent combination!
Zach –
I’m enjoying the pedal so far. Still feel like I’m just scratching the surface to what it offers..
Randolph –
I received the pedal today and it sounds great. I am learning Steely Dan Don’t Take Me Alive for our band and was practicing that with a 1958 RU LP and it had the sound.
The Gear Page Forum –
It takes a lot for a distortion pedal to impress me these days (I’ve had some of the best), but I think the Tryptych matches up with the best. It’s very versatile as far as tonal options for distortion and overdrive bordering on fuzz. If I had to compare it to a pedal, the closest comparison would be my BJFE Pink Purple Fuzz, though it has many more options. It can replace a Rat, a Fuzz, a Distortion, or an Overdrive. I’m surprised that it hasn’t been talked about more here.
David –
I just got the pedal. I plugged it straight into a Carr Rambler and then my Matchless Lightning. Used a Les Paul special with P90s and then a PRS Paul’s guitar (basically HB’s). Pardon my French. Jesus Christ man, this pedal absolutely rocks. I just played The Seeker by the Who, and was only 3 strums in and i said “winner-winner-chicken-dinner.” I was mostly just in the down (OD position) cranking the bass and saturation to just sag it and get it crispy and gritty. I did not have any pedal board space left (I have one pedal board for each of my amps) I might literally kick a Jan Ray off my Matchless board to make room. I love how the pedal saturates the Matchless — which is basically a top-boosted Vox AC30 circuit. Unreal! The Jan Ray does that too, but I love the option to throw it into distortion mode on the fly. Congrats, this pedal is really great.
Joe –
I was playing at a lower volume and using a Distortion pedal before plugging in the Triptych. I guess I was trying to see if I could get a similar tone but I couldn’t. I went and read the pedal info again and realized that I had the bass too low. I kicked it up and I got a great drive tone that was very clear and pretty heavy. When I switched back to the other distortion pedal it made it sound like a stuffy pedal. So for me the magic is in the Bass knob. I think the pedal sounds best with the amp just breaking up. – I have a lot to learn about this pedal.
Mike –
I finally had the time to dial in the pedal, and it is sounding amazing. It plays well with other pedals on my board and I’m able to get a wide range of sounds out of it. Thanks again!
The Gear Page Forum –
Played it through my ‘66 fender deluxe non-reverb, Louis Electric KR12, Dr Z Maz 18nr with teles, strats, PRS McCarty and my buddy played it through his modern 7-string prog metal guitar and there were amazing sounds all night long! The sound of the single version really just made me only wish I had the dual version! The most important part for me was how FUN it is to play! Just feels so great under the fingers. Was stacking it with a myriad fuzz, earth drive, miniFuzz and just gelled well with all of them! Also sounds great at low gain settings for just a little extra ‘gravy’. Blown away really… just fun to play! Do yourself a favor and grab one of Brian’s creations… you won’t regret it!
Pete –
I now love this pedal!!! Took me a while to dial in with my Origin 20 after turning up my Bugera PS1- attenuator that I had in line to tame the speakers output. I realized that the speakers respond better at almost max Bugera output. This thing has some good crunch to it when dialed in, love it!
Ron –
I recently started playing out again and I use these as my main drives. I also have the Twins and Triad pedal. They offer such a huge palate for tone and shaping on their own or stacked.
The Gear Page Forum –
It was by pure luck (OR divine intervention) that I came to own an Atomic Tone Saturation Triptych. To be honest, I was not expecting much. Used a coupon, got a sweet price. Lets give it a try!! – I inserted the Atomic in what I would consider my Fuzz/Distortion section of the board. Very impressive! Wasn’t sure it was going to replace my fuzz, and I don’t typically keep a high gain distortion type on the board.
In a weird twist of events, i found myself having to disassemble my old board and start with another one. It was the perfect chance for me to really get to play my amplifier with minimal things between the guitar and the amplifier. Blissful is how I would describe it. Made a decision at that time : I want the fewest things in my signal path. I’m a guitar player. Not a tap dancer. Need to be having fun making music and not go into option paralysis.
So, for several days I slowly started to get to know each gain pedal in isolation and what it could contribute to my needs (I’m usually a guy that knows where i want what, but i was taking a different approach this time). Less is More. Make the most with the least. Play the guitar. Not the pedals.
With a about a dozen overdrives, boosts, fuzzes to choose from, ya know… the TGP darling types and this wildcard called this Atomic Tone Saturation Triptych, we’ll see which ones will make it as the few I want in my gain stages. I really thought I had it figured out in my head already. Ive done this enough times, so itll probably this one and that one etc.
It wasn’t until i took the the approach of learning each gain pedals in isolation and comparing them to the others that I really started to realize the Atomic Tone is special. It was beating most of these TGP Darling types I own. I was shocked!!
Gain stage ended up looking like this:
Kingsley Peasant > Kingsley Mason > ATOMIC TONE SATURATION TRIPTYCH > Klon
Using 18v to power the Atomic Tone, since my intentions are to use it as many different shades of overdrive. It’s a killer!! – The Atomic Tone put a lot of mighty fine overdrives on the shelf. Couldn’t believe it. This little unassuming box with the paint job, huh? But now I know. I immediately messaged Brian because to get the TWINS.
Gary –
I’ve had the Triptych for about 2 yrs and the Triptych Twins a little more than a year. I love these pedals. Everything from warm clean to drive to distortion to thick fuzz…sounds amazing. Originally I thought the Twins would kick the Triptych off my board but they both stayed and they stack well with everything. So when I heard about the Vintage Green I knew I had to try it and now has become my most favorite TS type pedal to date! Even if you’re not a TS fan, I suggest trying this one out. It does the TS thing, and with the additional fourth knob it can mellow out the mid hump a bit, offering much more in tone.
The Gear Page Forum –
I have two “Twins” pedals in addition to the standard Triptych model.
I can’t add much to the review above, but of all the many, many, many boost/overdrive pedals I’ve owned/tried, these are easily the best. It really does meld into your amplifier’s base tone as noted above and is so organic and musical no harsh, artificial tonal artifacts at all.