BJFE Blue Berry VS. Moollon Bass Drive

rosstanium · #1 01-12-2009, 04:34 PM

Hey guys,

Wondering if any of you out there have AB'd these pedals. Looking for opinions on some of the differences between the two pedals.

Thanks in advance.

Toasted · #2 01-12-2009, 04:38 PM

I didn't like the Moollon Bass Drive. I found it very fizzy.

You'd get close enough to either of those for 1/3 the price with a Barber LTD and 16 the price with a DOD250. For real.

Ryan Mohr · #3 01-12-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasted

I didn't like the Moollon Bass Drive. I found it very fizzy.

You'd get close enough to either of those for 1/3 the price with a Barber LTD and 16 the price with a DOD250. For real.

Close to the Blueberry? Interesting...

Jared Lash · #4 01-12-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasted

I didn't like the Moollon Bass Drive. I found it very fizzy.

You'd get close enough to either of those for 1/3 the price with a Barber LTD and 16 the price with a DOD250. For real.

The Moollon maybe. I vaguely remember someone claiming it was based on the Tubescreamer but I've never tried it to say one way or the other.

But the Blueberry? Nope. I've owned a DOD 250 and recently returned an LTD SR after A/Bing with the Blueberry. I liked the Barber, but it has a very different tone.

Toasted · #5 01-13-2009, 02:05 AM

They're all low gain drive pedals. Once you chuck a ton of guitar on top no-one's going to hear the difference anyway.

If you want a Blueberry for vanity (which there is 100% nothing wrong with) go with that.

TaySte_2000 · #6 01-13-2009, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasted

I didn't like the Moollon Bass Drive. I found it very fizzy.
.

I was there, and was just as disappointed.

Also, Yes it is a TS Clone.

Toasted · #7 01-13-2009, 04:15 AM

I wanted to like it:

1) I like Koreans.
2) I love etched enclosures.

It's just a shame it was expensive and sucked.

rosstanium · #8 01-13-2009, 06:40 AM

Cool. it's interesting that you say that. I own a Blue Berry. And I don't really dig it on it's own. Where I'm finding use for the pedal is combining it with some of my other pedals (fuzz's etc.) It really does a nice job when I put it before one the other fuzzbox's or more aggressive distortions.

I was just wondering about the Moollon compared to the BJFE.

Thanks for your input guys. I appreciate it.

Jared Lash · #9 01-13-2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasted

They're all low gain drive pedals. Once you chuck a ton of guitar on top no-one's going to hear the difference anyway.

If you want a Blueberry for vanity (which there is 100% nothing wrong with) go with that.

I see. Well, seeing as how you seem to have discarded your vanity and mine is still firmly intact, I'd like to propose that you trade me your Halophaze for a Phase 90.

Toasted · #10 01-13-2009, 07:47 AM

There's nothing wrong with vanity, TheBigO - read my post again. I'm explicit about it.

Jared Lash · #11 01-13-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasted

There's nothing wrong with vanity, TheBigO - read my post again. I'm explicit about it.

It was actually hard to type that with my tongue so far into my cheek.

That said, you could make analogous comments in half the threads on TalkBass. Of course, if I went into a Sadowsky thread and told them they should just find a good playing MIM Fender because most of the audience couldn't tell the difference I'd probably get a temporary ban for my trouble.

bongomania · #12 01-13-2009, 08:14 AM

...And yet even with tongue implanted in cheek, you'd have been telling the truth!

That said I have owned or borrowed many TS clones, and not one of them sounded remotely like the Blueberry which I also own, when using it at home. I'd even call it an apples/oranges comparison. However it's still true that nobody in the audience at a loud gig with a full band mix could probably tell the difference or care.

As far as I have been able to determine, there is only one good thing about the Moolon pedals- the looks of their housing.

rosstanium · #13 01-13-2009, 09:29 AM

well...only one way to find out for sure. just nabbed one and I'll be comparing for myself.

thanks again for weighing in guys.

Jared Lash · #14 01-13-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosstanium

well...only one way to find out for sure. just nabbed one and I'll be comparing for myself.

thanks again for weighing in guys.

If Tayste is right and it is TS based, I think you'll find the following:

The Moollon will sound much worse soloed, almost thin sounding, but will cut through the mix better due to more presence in the mids. That's just my experience with TS clones on bass, though I'll say that I think the Fulltone Bassdrive is better than any other I've played.

And you know the sound of the BJF: grunty, thick, heavy on the low end and because of that it doesn't cut through a dense mix as well as more mid focused pedals, though it doesn't get lost to the extent that say, a Big Muff does.

But I do want to hear your opinions when you actually A/B them.

rosstanium · #15 01-13-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

If Tayste is right and it is TS based, I think you'll find the following:

The Moollon will sound much worse soloed, almost thin sounding, but will cut through the mix better due to more presence in the mids. That's just my experience with TS clones on bass, though I'll say that I think the Fulltone Bassdrive is better than any other I've played.

And you know the sound of the BJF: grunty, thick, heavy on the low end and because of that it doesn't cut through a dense mix as well as more mid focused pedals, though it doesn't get lost to the extent that say, a Big Muff does.

But I do want to hear your opinions when you actually A/B them.

That's exactly what I'm expecting...but we shall see.

I'll let you know.

Ryan Mohr · #16 01-13-2009, 11:45 AM

Im thinking of getting a BYOC 250+ because of this thread, anyone tried that kit? I'm sure it's an upgrade over the stock.

rratajski · #17 01-13-2009, 12:46 PM

To tag onto what Aqueous is asking...

What about GGG's Distortion, which is also DOD 250 based: HERE?

There's a 'regular' version or the '77 Gray version which seem to differ slightly in output, resistors, and a capacitor if I read correctly.

Does anyone have any experience with either DOD version (esp the '77)? I am simply curious about pedals that would sound "close" to the Blueberry's tone (aka keeping low end, etc.)? I'm trying to imagine this overdrive w/ my Rick stacked into my muff.

Jared Lash · #18 01-13-2009, 02:02 PM

Here's the thing, and the reason I commented on Toasted's post.

His point was that both the DOD and the BJF are low gain overdrives and any further differences would largely be lost on an audience when playing live at gig volume.

But that's similar to saying it doesn't matter if you get a Big Muff or a Guyatone TZ-2 since they're both fuzzes or whether you get a Moog LowPass or a EMMA DiscumBOBulator because they are both filters.

The DOD and the Blueberry sound VERY different in terms of general tone. And in terms of low end, there's a bit of low end loss with the DOD 250 but not as much as a lot of other pedals. If you are DIY'ing one you could probably remedy that to extent with a cap swap, but I'm far from knowledgeable on electronics so I can't say for sure.

On the other hand, the Blueberry has some high end rolloff at pretty much all settings, but when the tone knob is set low it seems to not only not lose low end but add bass to your signal.

Swift713 · #19 01-13-2009, 04:59 PM

On the other hand, the Blueberry has some high end rolloff at pretty much all settings, but when the tone knob is set low it seems to not only not lose low end but add bass to your signal.
And that is where the magic happens.

babaseen · #20 02-09-2009, 09:38 PM

Anyone know where to purchase a Blueberry (from a legit source) other than waiting for one to appear on evilbay or here on TB?