Changing An Amp Into A Pedal??

LongHairFreak · #1 01-17-2009, 02:14 AM

Hey TB Folks

This is mostly for all who make/modify pedals. I'm a bit surprised nobody has asked this before, but I've found nothing regarding my question(s) here on TB. Please realize that I know nothing of this subject.

I used to own a G-K 1001RB head and now that I no longer have it, the main thing I miss about it is the sound I got from using my amps Boost control. To be clear of what I'm talking about, following is an excerpt from their manual.

"Boost/Master: Turning up the Boost control, will add a little growl to your tone. This is an unmistakable GK trade mark sound, that you will grow to appreciate. Raising the Boost while lowering the Master will add more growl while keeping the sound level the same. Growl is actually a small amount of even order harmonic distortion, that sounds great through a woofer, but horrible through a horn..."

Is it at all possible to isolate & remove that function from the rest of the amp and put it into pedal form?
If it can be done, how easily (by someone with such talents)?
Being a 'boost' function, perhaps it would need to be a volume pedal?

Any advice/commentary is appreciated. Thanks

Alcyon · #2 01-17-2009, 04:41 AM

That effect is supposed to be emulated by the GK Diesel Dawg pedal as far as I know.

dannybuoy · #3 01-17-2009, 06:19 AM

I heard someone playing a semi acoustic Gretsch bass into a Diesel Dawg and DI box last night and it was the best raw vintage tone I've ever heard live!

LongHairFreak · #4 01-17-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcyon

That effect is supposed to be emulated by the GK Diesel Dawg pedal as far as I know.

Really!! I once asked a G-K rep if the Diesel Dawg, did just that and I was given neither a yes nor a no. As that was not much of an answer, I didn't bother pursuing it.

If anyone could confirm this absolutely, that would be great.

JustDavid · #5 01-17-2009, 08:21 AM

"Circuitry from the 2001RB high gain channel provides the foundation upon which this pedal is based. It is the only distortion/sustain pedal created specifically for bass and the one one designed and manufactured by a bass amp company."

From the GK website, from the DieselDawg page.

Google is your friend. About 30 seconds for this answer.

lowendgenerator · #6 01-17-2009, 08:23 AM

I'm betting a Diesel Dawg will get you closer than anything else out there. Check out YouTube for video demos, like I'm about to do. I wouldn't mind a double dose of that sweet GK sound lol. I'll run it into my 1001!

Thangfish · #7 01-17-2009, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDavid

" It is the only distortion/sustain pedal created specifically for bass and the one one designed and manufactured by a bass amp company."

With a statement like that, one wouldn't think they would be talking about a pedal that looses bass when engaged.

lowendgenerator · #8 01-17-2009, 08:29 AM

Nevermind my suggestions for a YouTube demo search, I can't find one either.

Thangfish · #9 01-17-2009, 11:04 AM

TB'er Joe P put one up a couple years ago. I'll try to find it.

edit:
His thread on the subject

'nother edit:
Well, damn... can't find it on youtube but I have the flv file on my hard drive. Decent demo too.

lowendgenerator · #10 01-17-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thangfish

TB'er Joe P put one up a couple years ago. I'll try to find it.

edit:
His thread on the subject

'nother edit:
Well, damn... can't find it on youtube but I have the flv file on my hard drive. Decent demo too.

I remember seeing it too, probably the same demo you have on your drive. Wanna upload it? Email it to me, Ill upload it if you dont have the time.

BTW thanks for the link.

Thangfish · #11 01-17-2009, 04:22 PM

I pm'd him about the demo.
Didn't want to re-upload it without his ok.
I'll mail it to you if he doesn't want it posted.

FreaqyFrequency · #12 01-17-2009, 04:26 PM

See the MarkBass thread in this forum. GK now has some company.

LongHairFreak · #13 01-17-2009, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDavid

"Circuitry from the 2001RB high gain channel provides the foundation upon which this pedal is based. It is the only distortion/sustain pedal created specifically for bass and the one one designed and manufactured by a bass amp company."

From the GK website, from the DieselDawg page.

Yeah, I read that when the D.Dawg was first released--and that's when I spoke w/a G-K rep about it. I was very interested to see if that pedal would duplicate that famous 'G-K growl' I was looking for. As far as I can see though, that excerpt really says nothing except the D.Dawg is related to the 2001RB...which, IMO, is quite a different sound than what I got from my 1001RB.

Google is your friend. About 30 seconds for this answer.

Yep. Google is always my first option.

**DosiYanarchy** · #14 01-18-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thangfish

With a statement like that, one wouldn't think they would be talking about a pedal that looses bass when engaged.

I heard similar, which is why i didnt go for one. But it was definitely a tempting concept

LongHairFreak · #15 01-18-2009, 09:41 PM

Thanks for all the feedback so far.
Does anyone else have answers/suggestions for my original questions?

niftydog · #16 01-19-2009, 12:12 AM

It can be done, in theory, but the first thing an engineer would want it a schematic diagram of the circuit. Not easy to come by for an in-production item from a big name company.

Then, to work out just how do-able it is would require the engineer to determine exactly which parts of the circuit contribute to the effect and how they work. This step would determine the complexity and therefore give some indication of the cost and time to do such a project. I would suggest that it would easily take a good engineer a day or two to get to grips with it. If you're paying for his time, that's got to be $750 right there!

Then, it's almost certain the circuit uses dual power supply rails, which are usually not practical in pedal form. Furthermore, the supply rails might be a high voltage (24V or even higher) which, again, doesn't lend itself to use in pedal form.

LongHairFreak · #17 01-19-2009, 08:24 AM

Hmm. Well... My 1001RB crapped out a couple years ago, so I thought I thought I might be able to salvage what I dig most from it.

Since I have all the parts, some of those issues may not be a big deal. Although, I'm certainly not prepared to shell out several hundred on a single effect. Oh well.

Thanks NiftyDog...and everyone else too.

niftydog · #18 01-19-2009, 03:33 PM

If you were going to have an EE look at it, your money would be better spent just fixing the amp!

Thangfish · #19 01-21-2009, 04:37 PM

Ok guys... Joe P gave me permission to re-post his demo.

Joe P's Diesel Dawg demo video

Short, sweet and gets to the point nicely, I think.
Thanks Joe.

Thangfish · #20 01-21-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DosiYanarchy

I heard similar, which is why i didnt go for one. But it was definitely a tempting concept

Well try it out anyway... when I say it looses bass, I'm talking about the deepest lows only (when heard through my Acmes anyway). Many people don't notice it at all, so as always YMMV.

I think it sounds great otherwise... lots of juicy harmonics.
Probably one of the better od type distortions available at a decent price. Built like a tank too.

http://www.gallien-krueger.com/produ...ist_ac_dd.html