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Average Price: $695
High-end/Boutique
$80
$181+
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Description
The PETE CORNISH SS-3™ is great for crunchy rhythm and a nice thick bluesy lead; the sound is very much like an overdriven vintage valve amp. The SS-3™ is currently being used by Noel Gallagher of Oasis, and is also a firm favorite of David Gilmour of Pink Floyd and Lou Reed. It has the best bottom end retention ever heard in an effect, whilst the mid-range is sweet and very transparent. The SS-3™ retains all the tonal nuances of your guitar and will make it come alive. It is subtle and yet capable of amazing power and sustain. Using the SS-3™ with a clean amp it is possible to progress from subtle overdriven amp sounds, through rhythmic crunch, up to a blues' lead. The tonal characteristics and dynamics of the guitar are maintained even when using this pedal at its maximum gain.
The input to this unique device is our universally acclaimed High Impedance, Unity Gain, Class A, Buffer Preamp with it's superior RFI rejecting capability (to eliminate Radio Station interference) and Low Impedance Audio output, allowing the use of extended cable runs from the SS-3™ in bypass mode. The fixed High Impedance load presented to the Guitar allows the pickups to operate at their optimum, even when several effects units are connected after the SS-3™. The Unity Gain Buffer also prevents "Ghost Distortion" being audible in Bypass Mode. Our effects get the most benefit from being fed into a clean, full frequency response amplifier and I recommend that when you receive your pedal you connect it up without anything else in line, just Guitar/Pedal/Amp, and discover the way the controls interact, both with themselves and the guitar/amp controls. Adding the rest of your effects, you may find that you need to make slight adjustments to these to compliment the constant signal provided by the SS-3™.
The LO-CUT control provides an attenuation of -20dB at 60 Hz when set fully Counter Clockwise. Set fully Clockwise the lo-cut control returns the frequency response to that of the original SS-2™.
The HI-CUT facility on the SS-3™ has been designed to provide an attenuation of -14dB at 6KHz when set fully Counter Clockwise. Set fully Clockwise it provides a +6dB Boost to the Harmonic Content of the signal. Settings of the HI-CUT andLO-CUT in-between CW and CCW will provide varying amounts of boost and attenuation: experiment to find your optimum settings.
Product specs
| Brand | Pete Cornish |
| Model | SS-3 Deluxe Series Overdrive |
| Finish | Black/White |
| Year | 2010s |
| Categories | Overdrive and Boost Pedals |
FAQs
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What type of overdrive sound can I expect from the Pete Cornish SS-3?
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The Pete Cornish SS-3 offers a smooth, transparent overdrive that enhances your guitar's natural tone. It's known for maintaining clarity and dynamics, making it suitable for blues, rock, and classic rock genres.
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Is the Pete Cornish SS-3 suitable for use with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?
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Yes, the SS-3 is designed to work well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups, providing consistent tonal quality and overdrive characteristics across different guitar setups.
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Does the Pete Cornish SS-3 overdrive pedal work well with a clean amp setup?
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The SS-3 is ideal for clean amp setups, as it enhances the amp's natural tone while providing a warm overdrive. It's perfect for players who want to add drive without losing the clarity of their clean sound.
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How does the Pete Cornish SS-3 compare to other overdrive pedals in terms of build quality?
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The Pete Cornish SS-3 is renowned for its robust build quality, featuring high-grade components and meticulous craftsmanship. This pedal is designed for durability and reliability, making it a preferred choice for professional musicians.
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Can the Pete Cornish SS-3 be powered using a standard 9V power supply?
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Yes, the SS-3 can be powered using a standard 9V DC power supply, which is common for most pedalboards, ensuring easy integration into your existing setup.
Videos
shnobel
Pete Cornish SS3
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Pete Cornish SS-3.
Build quality
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Pete Cornish pedals are hand-built in small quantities with exceptional durability and low noise levels, noted for their robust and roadworthy design.
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Comparisons
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The SS-3, a modified MXR Distortion+, is described as a low to mid-gain overdrive with a slightly fuzzy character, differing from typical Distortion+ sounds.
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The SS-3 is likened to the G2 but offers less gain, making it suitable for low to medium gain applications, unlike the more searing G2.
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Use cases and applications
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The G-2 pedal is highlighted for its ability to achieve tones similar to David Gilmour, making it appealing for fans of his sound.
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The SS-3 excels in low/medium gain settings, ideal for crunchy rhythms that require added body without overwhelming distortion.
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The SS-3 is praised for its compatibility with single coils, enhancing their natural tones without losing clarity.
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Value and pricing
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Despite high prices, some users appreciate the personalized aspects of Pete Cornish pedals, like receiving a sixpence piece with certain models.
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User experience
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Owners note that while some Cornish pedals might not be their favorites overall, they excel in specific applications, such as achieving the "Brian May thing" with treble boosters.
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Users note the SS-3's ability to transition smoothly from subtle overdrive to more aggressive tones, described as moving "from molasses to pretty gnarly."
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4.5 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 3 Ratings
Artist usage
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According to the Pete Cornish website, David Gilmour used the Pete Cornish SS-3 overdrive pedal in 2006.
In the Effectsbay user-uploaded photo titled "kevin-shields-my-bloody-valentine-main-board.jpg," Kevin Shields is shown using the Pete Cornish SS-3 overdrive effects pedal.
According to "client list" on Pete Cornish website, Beck uses Pete Cornish SS-3.
I can't find a "Quote" of him actually saying that he used the SS-3, but on the EJ Fans Website, there is a picture of Eric's pedalboard clearly showing the Grey Series SS-3 on his board for his 2012 tour.
It looks like he used the SS-3 as a substitute for his usual BK Butler Tube Driver or Tube Screamer.
Used in his Metal Machine Trio tour, clearly seen on the floorboard (Custon Batt Frees, according to Cornish's website, year 2010: http://www.petecornish.co.uk/client.html). Picture © Pete Cornish: http://www.petecornish.co.uk/GreySeries.html.
At 5:25 of this video he quotes "Pete Cornish pedal... soft sustain. I use that a lot"
At the 31:55 mark of the Premier Guitar "Tim Pierce Rig Rundown Guitar Gear & Studio Tour" video on YouTube, the Pete Cornish SS-3 is visibly situated in the bottom compartment of Tim Pierce's setup.
In this interview, Fallon says he started using the SS-3 after seeing it on Noel Gallagher's pedalboard:
“Noel is actually the reason I ended up playing 355s. I started out with 335s but thought his looked cooler with the Custom shop logo. And he’s got a killer sound live, so I checked out his rig and saw a Cornish SS-3. And seriously, they’re the best pedals I’ve played in my life… what they do is insane.
That’s the beauty of it, I can do whatever I want with a day’s notice and get people to play different parts!
“There’s a buffer in there, so if you have a lot of pedals, it runs through that before anything to clean and brighten it up. Even when the pedal’s off, the buffer is still running in there. It does something weird to the tone, but in the best way possible.
“It makes a Klon look like kid’s stuff. I don’t wanna hear that sound anymore, I can hear it on every record. It’s a bit like the Tube Screamer! The only person I want to hear playing a Tube Screamer is Stevie Ray Vaughan.”
On client list of "Pete Cornish" website, Fratelli is mentioned to use the Pete Cornish SS-3.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Pete Cornish SS-3, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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