SUSTAIN PUNCH CREAMY DREAMER

The Sustain Punch Creamy Dreamer Distortion Sustainer is one of those pedals with an interesting story behind it. Basically, it’s a Big Muff. Specifically, it’s a Sovtek Big Muff with a few modifications. But that didn’t stop it from becoming one of the most hyped pedals to be released on the market.

So the story “allegedly” goes…

Young guy trawls forums asking how to modify Big Muff. He takes advice, mods Big Muff. Reprints circuit board, hides circuit with epoxy, packs into new container and markets the product as “Billy Corgan In A Pedal”. Other claims include that the pedal is THE tone behind Siamese Dream and Corgan himself uses one. All of these claims were untrue at the time (Corgan did use one on one tour after being sent one for free).

What then happened was that there became so much hype behind the pedal, it flew off the shelves at an inflated price with no kudos, thanks or reference to those who “helped” him. Although the pedal was successful at first, the story revealed itself and Sustain Punch did not release another pedal.

This pedal is a friend of mine’s and I repaired the DC power jack and battery snap. It used a 1.35mm power jack that I swapped for a more common 2.5mm negative ground “Boss-style” jack. This is a common modification I do on almost all Electro Harmonix pedals. The stock power jack is the 1.35mm size that seems to be against the standard 2.5mm. Most times it is an easy swap and allows you to use the pedal in your daisy chain if you run a multiple pedal setup.

But what does it sound like? Great. It is a fuzz that likes to be turned up and it can get you similar tones to many Smashing Pumpkins riffs. Is it the Siamese Dream pedal? No. Butch Vig and Corgan have been quoted numerous times that the thick sounds are attribued to multiple guitar tracks – sometimes a dozen. No pedal can replicate this, but it can get you something very similar. It suits high gain playing more than other styles so those sludgey or grunge riffs sound awesome with this behind it. It has the same controls as a Big Muff (Volume, Tone and Sustain) but relabelled Punch, Cream, Sustain. The Cream control seems to work in an opposite taper than a traditional Muff tone control. With the Sustain turned up, the pedal begins to howl with feedback and captures that 90′s screaming guitar.

The “Creamy Dreamer” modification is a popular one in the DIY community and has been freely shared for a number of years. Check out the AMPAGE archives or diystompboxes for those who are so inclined. cubisteffects offers the Creamy Dreamer modification for Russian Big Muffs and NYC Big Muffs. It is a great mod for those musicians who like to play high gain fuzz.

Below is a demo of the Sustain Punch Creamy Dreamer.
Clip Details: ’Fender Stratocaster > Creamy Dreamer >Digitech Whammy IV > Marshall JCM600
Settings: Rhythm played with neck pickup and Creamy Dreamer (V:10 o’clock, T: 1 o’clock, S: Max)
Lead with neck pickup. Whammy on +1 Octave Harmony and Creamy Dreamer (V:10 o’clock, T: Min, S: Max).
Recording: SM57 > Mbox2 > Reaper

Sustain Punch Creamy Dreamer
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