DG B3K... similar to Rusty Box?

bongomania · #1 10-14-2011, 10:07 AM

Reading the various comments about the B3K made me wonder if it was in the same camp as the RB in terms of dirt/grind flavor and general voicing. And if they're notably different, I was hoping somebody who has owned both could give their best shot at describing exactly how they differ.

I know how they differ "on paper".

dharmashawn · #2 10-14-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Reading the various comments about the B3K made me wonder if it was in the same camp as the RB in terms of dirt/grind flavor and general voicing. And if they're notably different, I was hoping somebody who has owned both could give their best shot at describing exactly how they differ.

I know how they differ "on paper".

I am gonna let B-hen handle this with some made up words, but I had both and ended up selling my RB. I just found the B3K more pleasing to me. I have no technical knowledge on why, but it was just way netter sounding in both slight OD right up to Distortion. I guess, I feel, it articulates better through my finger playing too. Sorry about the vagueness

Jared Lash · #3 10-14-2011, 10:37 AM

There's a lot more that can be said, but what it comes down to is that the B3K is much more tube like (Marshall like IMO) and the RB is designed for that solid state grind like the old Traynor TS50B preamp it's based on. The B3K is also capable of a higher amount of gain/saturation.

bongomania · #4 10-14-2011, 10:40 AM

I know you know I know what they were designed for.

Jared Lash · #5 10-14-2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I know you know I know what they were designed for.

But did you know that I knew you would know that I know?

What I'm saying is that beyond the blind marketing speak, both pedals acheive the goal that they set out to accomplish. The Rusty Box (not suprisingly because it ostensibly uses the same signal path as the Traynor pre) accomplishes it better but both actually do what their makers claim.

The B3K does give a very Marshall like crunch and has superb touch sensitivity such that you can set it low and feel it snarl when you dig in. Where it falls down a bit is in the in between notes. When hit just hard enough to start the breakup it can waver a bit and get a little fizzy.

As for tone, I'd say the Rusty Box is more clangy and metallic (not to be viewed as negatives) and has more of that hollow grind. Despite the different design goals I think they are more in the same ballpark than some of the other pedals the B3K has been compared to.

As I mentioned previously, it's a good lesson on how many different meanings "tubey" can have. The B3K and BJFE Blueberry are both remarkably "tube like" but reside in very different tone universes.

As a last note, the Rusty Box has a lot more EQ options but the B3K is significantly more versatile in terms of the voicing of the actual dirt.

IncX · #6 10-14-2011, 11:08 AM

i see, what i learned so far:

1.) Rusty Box = traynor amps
2.) B3K = marshall
3.) VT bass = ampeg svt

correct?

naruki · #7 10-14-2011, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

As I mentioned previously, it's a good lesson on how many different meanings "tubey" can have. The B3K and BJFE Blueberry are both remarkably "tube like" but reside in very different tone universes.

How would you describe the Blueberry's tone btw? Very saturated? I think its very similar to the Aggro and the Bass Juice. I haven't taken time to play with them but I don't like what I hear from YouTube and Soundcloud demos. I love the B3K though.

bongomania · #8 10-14-2011, 11:14 AM

The Blueberry is ultra thick, grunty, and dark. It hits closer than most other pedals to the mark of the wooly deep SVT through tweeterless cab sound. Lo-fi but mean and ballsy.

Jared Lash · #9 10-14-2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naruki

How would you describe the Blueberry's tone btw? Very saturated? I think its very similar to the Aggro and the Bass Juice. I haven't taken time to play with them but I don't like what I hear from YouTube and Soundcloud demos. I love the B3K though.

To be clear, I'm talking about the BJEF Blueberry (which I owned), not the Mad Professor Blueberry (which I haven't tried and can't comment on) as they seem to be fairly different based on comments from people who have had both.

I've also never tried the Bass Juice. But I have tried the Agro and while I liked it, the Aguilar is totally different from the BBBOD.

The Blueberry is heavy in a fat and thick way. It isn't at all "fizzy" or "clanky" or "grindy" but dark, grunty and fantastic. Pure sweating tube amp tone that I can only describe as "old school" (for whatever that means) and "burly". The Aguilar sounds much less tube like and much more modern and aggressive.

EDIT: bongo beat me to it while I was busy typing. But clearly I think we hear (and appreciate) the same things about the Blueberry.

naruki · #10 10-14-2011, 11:27 AM

Crap, I was talking about the Mad Professor. Sorry guys.

caeman · #11 10-14-2011, 11:47 AM

I must admit, I like the sound of the B3K and RB, but for the music I am ACTUALLY playing, both are inappropriate.

behndy · #12 10-14-2011, 01:49 PM

pm to the Bongo.

HiFi · #13 10-14-2011, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by behndy

pm to the Bongo.

So secretive!

I actually have a B3K on the way, but I don't see myself moving away from my RB anytime soon. I'm hoping both will see extensive use on my board.

behndy · #14 10-14-2011, 10:30 PM

naw. they go freaking GREAT together.

like nudity and hawt cousins.

HiFi · #15 10-14-2011, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by behndy

naw. they go freaking GREAT together.

like nudity and hawt cousins.

Well then, I guess the wait for the B3K will be that much harder...

behndy · #16 10-14-2011, 10:39 PM

I Like My Hawt Cuzzo Support Group. right here buddy. let's hug it out.

bring it in big guy.

Waterpilot · #17 10-15-2011, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiFi

So secretive!

No kidding! Inquiring minds want to know!

I'm still on the fence with the B3K. Love the RB though... LOVE IT!

caeman · #18 10-15-2011, 06:11 AM

Behndy is the master of pedal R&D. He has his fingers everywhere (ewww!) in this or that pedal.

behndy · #19 10-15-2011, 09:22 AM

sticky, STICKY fingers.

no huge secret - just offered to let Cyrus Le Virus borrow my B3k for a bit.

a) i'm not gigging for a bit, just writing
b) i have the JHS Low Drive, which would never knock the B3k OFF my board, but it's a damn nice OD
c) i had an issue with an Exar pedal and BongoMiley hooked me UP. the Exar Super Fuzz is actually... really, REALLY nice. versatile little guy.

FaithNoMan · #20 10-15-2011, 10:12 AM

Hey Behndy, sorry for the thread derail, but I just bought what I think is Bongo's old RB and although I like it, it seems to raise the noise floor a whole lot more than my Tech 21 Oxford pedal.

Then again, I play a 4003 with single coils, and this thing has 30V going through it instead of 9V. I was just wondering if that was normal for this pedal?

I notice, for recording direct it sounds better through a speakersim, and the Behringer GI100's sim seems to attenuate a lot of the hum.

Here it is, and I really like the top-end grind it gets:

Rusty Box GI100 by Infant Molecule on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

Again, sorry for the derail