Attention fans of SHELLAC's bass tone: Tronographic Rusty Box pedal

andrew · #1 10-29-2007, 11:58 AM

If anyone is a fan of Bob Weston from Shellac's bass tone or any of the early Jesus Lizard recorded tones Tronographic has just put out a pedal called the Rusty Box, which is essentially a stompbox version of the preamp from the Traynor TS50B, the amp Weston uses both live and on record and which Steve Albini has used on many of his recordings on the bass.

It has a distinct bright without being brittle tone, with a big low end and present mids. It's great for cutting through distorted guitars and has a pretty aggressive sound.

Dunno if there's a website for them yet, but if you want more info on it email David at themilford@yahoo.com.

bongomania · #2 10-29-2007, 02:54 PM

Interesting! The two times I saw Shellac play they were using custom-built amp heads, about 4RU high, with brushed aluminum faceplates with no markings, and only one big knob on the face and one light. Of course I have no idea what was inside the housings, it could have been anything.

andrew · #3 10-29-2007, 03:30 PM

That big old case holds the Traynor TS50B head and a Crown poweramp, which puts 400 watts a side into the pair of Dietz cabs.

Bob's recently used the Rusty Box into the line in on an Ampeg ss head when they were in Europe and said he got his normal tone from this pairing too.

vigor&kandor · #4 10-29-2007, 04:59 PM

"present mids" ?!??!?

andrew · #5 10-29-2007, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vigor&kandor

"present mids" ?!??!?

By that I meant the eq isn't voiced with a scooped mids sound.

vigor&kandor · #6 10-29-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew

By that I meant the eq isn't voiced with a scooped mids sound.

as far as i can tell, that was his sound.

i love me some shellac and some Jesus Lizard

andrew · #7 10-29-2007, 07:34 PM

There's nothing saying you have to turn the mids up.

If you like'em scooped out then eq the pedal for that sound.

All I'm saying is the pre isn't voiced with a scooped tone when set "flat".

Alex Isaiah · #8 10-30-2007, 05:11 PM

Bump

Any links please?

andrew · #9 10-30-2007, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Isaiah

Bump

Any links please?

Thanks.

I don't have a link for the pedal but email David and he can give you a link or tell you what you want to know. His email address is in the first post.

vigor&kandor · #10 10-30-2007, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew

There's nothing saying you have to turn the mids up.

If you like'em scooped out then eq the pedal for that sound.

All I'm saying is the pre isn't voiced with a scooped tone when set "flat".

I know i LIKE the way scooped mids sound when i am playing by myself, but there is also a switch on my amp to turn them back on when the back comes to play.

I do scoop my mids, then i boost them again

andrew · #11 10-30-2007, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vigor&kandor

I know i LIKE the way scooped mids sound when i am playing by myself, but there is also a switch on my amp to turn them back on when the back comes to play.

I do scoop my mids, then i boost them again

I hear you. It seemed like midrange was a dirty word in amp design for a while but I'm glad to see it coming back.

40Hz_of_Love · #12 10-31-2007, 10:28 AM

Worthless without soundclips.

andrew · #13 10-31-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40Hz_of_Love

Worthless without soundclips.

Uh, yeah, you're welcome.

I guess you'll need to buy one and put up soundclips then, since I don't have a means to do so.

Alex Isaiah · #14 11-01-2007, 07:59 PM

Anybody emailed the guy yet?
I've been too busy recently, sorry.

paulieb · #15 11-02-2007, 02:32 PM

I emailed him about the pedal.....No Reply!

nad · #16 11-02-2007, 02:41 PM

Pseudo-related:

Can someone tell me a good album to start with Shellac? Steve Albini is a bit of a hero of mine, but, stupidly, I've never heard any music he's created, just the stuff he's produced.

Or should I just go out and get that first Big Black album like I should have years ago?

Cheers.

Tronographic · #17 11-02-2007, 02:43 PM

Hey,

Thanks for all of the interest guys! We're really excited about these pre-amps... I use two right now with my Rick 4003 (in stereo)!

Sorry, I didn't get your e-mail. Please try again or PM me.

We should have the website up and running soon... with a company contact and a shopping cart thingy.

Cheers,
David
www.tronographic.com

Tronographic · #18 11-02-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nad

Pseudo-related:

Can someone tell me a good album to start with Shellac? Steve Albini is a bit of a hero of mine, but, stupidly, I've never heard any music he's created, just the stuff he's produced.

Or should I just go out and get that first Big Black album like I should have years ago?

Cheers.

I would go out and get Shellac - At Action Park and Rapeman - Two Nuns and a Pack-Mule

Then go from there onto Big Black then the other Shellac records.

If you get the New Shellac record Excellent Italian Greyhound you get to hear excessive amounts of the Traynor TS-50B bass sound.

nad · #19 11-02-2007, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tronographic

I would go out and get Shellac - At Action Park and Rapeman - Two Nuns and a Pack-Mule

Then go from there onto Big Black then the other Shellac records.

If you get the New Shellac record Excellent Italian Greyhound you get to hear excessive amounts of the Traynor TS-50B bass sound.

Awesome, cheers.

vigor&kandor · #20 11-02-2007, 06:59 PM

Live at Action park is a great album