Dear Bongomania:

SurferJoe46 · #1 08-02-2010, 09:20 AM

Do you have any info and instructions on the MXR BASS DI+?

SoonerMatt · #2 08-02-2010, 09:26 AM

Not bongo, but....

http://www.jimdunlop.com/files/11455...m80_manual.pdf

SurferJoe46 · #3 08-02-2010, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

Not bongo, but....

http://www.jimdunlop.com/files/11455...m80_manual.pdf

I've read that several times - but there's a lot that ISN'T said in that PDF.

I can find all three 'conditions' and their relative situations and adjustments - but I'm missing something I feel.

What I need is an 'in-the-trenches' idea what's involved.

I find the device is fascinating and extremely useful for what I've so far discovered but I'm looking for the secret handshake here.

The stomp was certainly well-priced ($50.00) and I am obsessed enough to work with it for hours (retired) and I won't give up on it.

I'm not so much a tone-whore - but I am very interested in getting my bang-for-the-buck outta it.

irvinz · #4 08-02-2010, 09:33 AM

what kinda info and instructions do you want?

first one is. dont use the distortion channel

**colcifer** · #5 08-02-2010, 09:37 AM

Wouldn't a PM have been a better choice?

SurferJoe46 · #6 08-02-2010, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colcifer

Wouldn't a PM have been a better choice?

Ya know - I don't think so.

Any time someone has technical info to pass out - I feel it's best to do so in the general forums since there are more than just Bongo out there with info (not to diss, Bongo) but info is info and pretty much anything 'effects-related' is gold I feel for everyone.

It might help or just add to Gear GAS, but it's out there for all to see and peruse if so needed.

SurferJoe46 · #7 08-02-2010, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irvinz

what kinda info and instructions do you want?

first one is. don't use the distortion channel

Now ya see? That's good! That's the kinda stuff I need to hear.

I agree with you (I think so anyway) and this is where I am having the mental churning going on.

It doesn't minimize the value of it at all - but I find the Distortion is 'way too heavy.

behndy · #8 08-02-2010, 09:45 AM

hurm..... i thought bongo was CAPT COMPRESSION!!

he's so the man.... but that Capt C outfit he wears? horrible. the superhero logo is a pair of kittens caught in a vice. cute tho!

cybersnyder · #9 08-02-2010, 09:46 AM

Do you have one of these? It's a fairly straightforward pedal.

SurferJoe46 · #10 08-02-2010, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

Do you have one of these? It's a fairly straightforward pedal.

Yeah - I do.

Here it is on my 'puter desk in front of some of my harps (you never know when a tune will break out!).

So many knobs and pretty LEDs and buttons! I just leave it on as a night light in my room. Kinda looks like the control panel on the Starship Enterprise in here at night.

bongomania · #11 08-02-2010, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by behndy

that Capt C outfit he wears? horrible. the superhero logo is a pair of kittens caught in a vice. cute tho!

Is the problem with the outfit really the smashed-kitten logo, or is it the pink-sparkle leotard and Chinese bound-foot shoes?

I've often wondered if that look was a bit too much.

To SurferJoe, regrettably this is one pedal I have no personal experience with. I could make some general suggestions, but there are enough actual users of this pedal here, that they would be the best people to ask for advice.

irvinz · #12 08-02-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Now ya see? That's good! That's the kinda stuff I need to hear.

I agree with you (I think so anyway) and this is where I am having the mental churning going on.

It doesn't minimize the value of it at all - but I find the Distortion is 'way too heavy.

i think the general consensus is that the distortion is way to thin. use it as a preamp. its awesome for that. i wish i have one in my gig bag for the just in case gigs. good workable eq on it.

jmorbita · #13 08-02-2010, 10:44 AM

Well, at first I didn't quite like the distortion in it, but after some tweaking I did find a setting that works great for me in a band setting.

king_biscuit · #14 08-02-2010, 10:48 AM

Joe I have one of those. It is a very good DI preamp pedal. I use it with a group that does older standards and I plug straight into the board for rehearsals. The pedal is phantom powered through the DI and the preamp gives me good control over my tone. I haven't played with the distortion channel much. Btw, I use a Fender TV 12 live and still use the mxr DI as a passthrough direct box. Just think of it as a simple three band preamp with a nice clean active/balanced DI.

**TheMutt** · #15 08-02-2010, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Is the problem with the outfit really the smashed-kitten logo, or is it the pink-sparkle leotard and Chinese bound-foot shoes?

I say it doesn't go far enough!

You need some ridiculous head gear and a giant naked mole rat to ride atop. Also a theme song that plays a fanfare every time you enter a thread.

In response to the OP, what exactly are you looking for that the instructions aren't giving you, or what are you trying to achieve?

TC2112 · #16 08-02-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

The stomp was certainly well-priced ($50.00) and I am obsessed enough to work with it for hours (retired) and I won't give up on it.

Wow -
where did you find this for 50.00???

SurferJoe46 · #17 08-02-2010, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMutt

In response to the OP, what exactly are you looking for that the instructions aren't giving you, or what are you trying to achieve?

For one: the TRIGGER is totally confusing me.

I'm looking to just knock the top of the notes off a little. I don't want to mess with the low freqs - just scramble the tops a little.

I feel that if I clip the tops off I can get a really nice growl.

I have an old FUZZ stomp that gives me that Marty Robins song 'Don't Worry 'Bout Me' very well and I was kinda miffed that this cannot replace that DOD FX66 Flashback Fuzz anywhere near.

The MXR seems to be a little thinner/hollow and not as meaty as the DOD FX unit.

I've been playing the MXR for a while this AM and I think I've found that it really loves my P-bass best.

My active Deluxe J isn't quite as good on it - maybe since the tones are already processed a lot with the pre in the fender.

I'll try the VM-J next - but this is the one that didn't seem to work very good last time - but I was n00b-ier last time with the MXR and it so it may all change now.

I recognize the possibility of using it for a very quiet DI if I need it later on - but I'm so old school that I like my gear to stand alone and not run through a PA at all. If I can't reach the next town with my bass - I just add more power!

One thing I noticed is that it isn't happy running through my ART Tube amp either.

Quote:

Wow -
where did you find this for 50.00???

I've got this from a bud who owns a pawn I visit all the time - and he sold it at a very small profit for himself - maybe NONE really. Sadly, he made me pay the sales tax! Imagine that.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #18 08-02-2010, 12:02 PM

Dear bongomania,
I can't sleep at night- just thinking of your enchanting blue eyes and stimulating compressor commentary pull endlessly at my heartstrings.
Signed,
Captivated in Connecticut

Smurf-o-Deth · #19 08-02-2010, 12:12 PM

This thread is brimming with homo-erotic filth.

About time.

singlemalt · #20 08-02-2010, 12:36 PM

I've been running one of these for a couple years. I've messed around with some other, similar boxes, like the Sans Amp paradriver. The Xotic Base RC booster in coming this week.

I'll duck down and stay low after I say this but: The M-80 won out over the Alembic F-2B. Simpler, cheaper, and it has the DI. 90% of the tone for 25% of the money.

I keep going back to the M-80. I use it to hit the front of my GK 1001 rb 2 with a warmer sound. The color button is always on, it gives a cool scooped sound, and make things sound more "spacious". The result is a fatter warmer tone with the GK growl, but the overall volume can stay lower. The color setting comes on automatically with the distortion switch.

The manual leaves a lot to be desired. The dirt side is almost a total waste of time. I was pretty disappointed with it. I kick it in once or twice a night for stuff that needs a nasty, cheap sounding fuzz. I don't like it much, but the band buys it, and that's all I need. The trigger/gate thing is a mystery.

The manual says "The gate switch and trigger knob work interactively to provide an adjustable noise gate. With the Gate active (switch depressed down), the trigger knob sets the noise threshold, or sensitivity to cut hum and hiss from the distortion signal."

That's about as clear as the mud the distortion side makes. I'm still looking for a happy medium on the dirt side, but there are better boxes if you want a fat tube sounding distortion.

Still, the M-80 is a winner, and a steal at $50. Just turning it on with the color button down does most of what it does. And then its got the DI so you get to send what you want to the FOH.