distortion with a pre-distortion parametric EQ?

superbassman2000 · #1 07-04-2011, 09:07 AM

Is there a distortion pedal out there that has a parametric EQ before the distortion? I am thinking it'd be cool to have a pedal that allows you to select the bands that get pushed into distortion. I mean, I could put an EQ pedal in front of a muff or something, but i'd rather have it all in one if I could, and really, it doesn't need lows/mids/highs to be selectable, really just the midrange is the important part for me.

M Sterling · #2 07-04-2011, 10:22 AM

http://ironether.com/pedals/QF2/

Should do the trick nicely!

kaputsport · #3 07-04-2011, 11:18 AM

Akai made one that was pretty cool.

dubnyk · #4 07-04-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M Sterling

QF2 - Iron Ether

Should do the trick nicely!

Holy sh*t! NICE.

kaputsport · #5 07-04-2011, 06:33 PM

For $300, I can think of a lot of things I would rather invest in.

jwr · #6 07-04-2011, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

For $300, I can think of a lot of things I would rather invest in.

Such as?

Jazzdogg · #7 07-04-2011, 06:41 PM

Here's another approach, courtesy of Ed Friedland:

YouTube - ‪Whirlwind Bass Ten Graphic EQ‬&rlm;

Happynoj · #8 07-04-2011, 07:04 PM

The Marshall Jackhammer has a semi, but I don't know if it's pre or post.

kaputsport · #9 07-04-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwr

Such as?

Marshall G'vner version 1
Some old school envelope filters
EHX Microsynth
Wooly Mammoth
Used Sansamp PSA 1/1.1

Tons of things really. $300 for a one trick pony is expensive. I have spent that in the past, but on some pretty unique things. Not bashing it, just saying, there are other things I could spend $300 on that would be more worth while for me.

caeman · #10 07-04-2011, 07:56 PM

A slightly different route, the Multiwave Distortion pedals from Source Audio. Pro and Standard models for bass and guitar.

jwr · #11 07-04-2011, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

Marshall G'vner version 1
Some old school envelope filters
EHX Microsynth
Wooly Mammoth
Used Sansamp PSA 1/1.1

Tons of things really. $300 for a one trick pony is expensive. I have spent that in the past, but on some pretty unique things. Not bashing it, just saying, there are other things I could spend $300 on that would be more worth while for me.

Totally see what you're saying. Was just curious on else you had in mind.

boomertech · #12 07-04-2011, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

For $300, I can think of a lot of things I would rather invest in.

I think it is under priced. I have seen the original QF schematics years ago and there is quite a lot going on in there, besides all the new features that IE has added to it.

Some people don’t realize that the small builder does not have the economy of scale that the medium and large builders enjoy. I have just recently gone through some of my parts orders to update my records. Only about 20% of the parts that I use have the same prices from 2009. About 40% of the parts had a 10-40% increase in price and the remainder was at a shocking 100-500% increase. A capacitor that was 11 cents in 2009 now costs 43 cents. A 9v battery snap was 45 cents now it is 98 cents… this goes on and on and apply it to the hundreds of parts in some pedals. My PCB manufacturer has had a 40% increase in prices. My machine shop costs went up 10% and I expect that my powder coating shop will be charging more too. I am only trying to make a point here that the small builder has a substantial outlay of expenses per pedal and A LOT of work/time involved. Most people would be shocked of how low our hourly wage actually is.

-Frank

Jazzdogg · #13 07-04-2011, 08:27 PM

Good points, Boomertech!

kaputsport · #14 07-04-2011, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boomertech

I think it is under priced. I have seen the original QF schematics years ago and there is quite a lot going on in there, besides all the new features that IE has added to it.

Some people don’t realize that the small builder does not have the economy of scale that the medium and large builders enjoy. I have just recently gone through some of my parts orders to update my records. Only about 20% of the parts that I use have the same prices from 2009. About 40% of the parts had a 10-40% increase in price and the remainder was at a shocking 100-500% increase. A capacitor that was 11 cents in 2009 now costs 43 cents. A 9v battery snap was 45 cents now it is 98 cents… this goes on and on and apply it to the hundreds of parts in some pedals. My PCB manufacturer has had a 40% increase in prices. My machine shop costs went up 10% and I expect that my powder coating shop will be charging more too. I am only trying to make a point here that the small builder has a substantial outlay of expenses per pedal and A LOT of work/time involved. Most people would be shocked of how low our hourly wage actually is.

-Frank

I totally agree with you, and to be honest, if the one thing I needed or had in mind was this pedal, I would be all over it. That being said, this type of pedal is not really going to sell huge. Lets be honest. Would you go after the ironEther for $300, or could you use that money better for yourself?

One more thing, Powder coating is cheap to get into. Why not do that yourself, and save money and cost to the buyer?

I actually purposefully would ignore this as it is built for that specific purpose, but that is me. I know small businesses and builders have to charge, but the product is better. All I was saying was $300 for a one trick pony is a lot, even if that pony is good, there are others out there that are great.

Not to turn you off of this pedal, but you can find the Akai I was talking about on ebay for $40-$80. I suggest looking into that first, then if it is the thing you are going for, and want to shell out the cash, go for the IronEther.

boomertech · #15 07-05-2011, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

I totally agree with you, and to be honest, if the one thing I needed or had in mind was this pedal, I would be all over it. That being said, this type of pedal is not really going to sell huge.

What does “selling huge” have to do with anything? If it sells 10 or 1000 a year there will be that many people with a unique, quality pedal that they are very happy with. So, I really don’t see your point here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

Lets be honest. Would you go after the ironEther for $300, or could you use that money better for yourself?

I personally love-love-love analog distortions and fuzz. So honestly yes, I would absolutely drop $300 or more in a heartbeat on a quality distortion that I liked. After all, it is subjective to my personal taste.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

One more thing, Powder coating is cheap to get into. Why not do that yourself, and save money and cost to the buyer?

I have a couple of powder coating guns and small ovens that I used when I did do my enclosures. My $200 guns do not coat as well as a professional $5000 gun/rig will. I could invest in professional powder coating equipment and CNC machining equipment, but then I would need to have the time to perform those operations. The thing is that I really don’t have that time to do those operations anymore, so I would need to hire someone and also recoup the equipment expenditures somehow… that will actually be more expensive than outsourcing those operations locally. Some builders will do everything themselves and that’s great, but there is the value of their time that seems to be overlooked far too often when people comment on the price.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

All I was saying was $300 for a one trick pony is a lot, even if that pony is good, there are others out there that are great.

I am not trying to debate you on the correct way to price a product, operate a business or how overpriced you think this “one trick pony” is, but have you tried the IE pedal? Have you personally compared it against other pedals? The reason that I ask is because you are saying it is “good”, while also stating that there are others that are “great”.

-Frank

kaputsport · #16 07-05-2011, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boomertech

I am not trying to debate you on the correct way to price a product, operate a business or how overpriced you think this “one trick pony” is, but have you tried the IE pedal? Have you personally compared it against other pedals? The reason that I ask is because you are saying it is “good”, while also stating that there are others that are “great”.

-Frank

No I have not. And for good reason. This forum is alive with the "pedal of the moment" syndrome. Every 3 to 6 months, the next greatest thing comes around, and is turned into the holy grail, only to be over shadowed by the next flavor of the month.

When I first joined, this place was sporting a semi for the MXR Blowtorch. While some stay constant, like the Deep Impact, or Korg G5, most fads go away after 6 months. Take the VT Pedal, which has been the "go to" pedal for everyone and every type of music. If you ask someone which OD pedal to get, there will be a mention of the VT within 5 posts. The same goes for all other subforums. Ampeg this, Fender that. It is really tiring to be honest.

Maybe it's me, but I don't see the same kind of discussions on here anymore. I come back hoping to find something to enhance my rig, only to see the same thing over and over again, with every "new" pedal that is released.

Source Audio was another "half year icon" that showed up, and has been claimed to be an answer to all lifes troubles.

The Musket was another.

All I am saying, is that every 6 months we have the next "greatest" pedal in the world, and after the fad dies, no one ever mentions them again in terms of the "go-to", or the most popular. It is kinda funny if you look at the post your pedalbaord thread. You can go through and find some boards which are newer, and less rare, and some older and more rare, but most of the time, you will find one pedal, from board to board that matches... VT,M5, Source Audio, Muskett, Bassmaster, OS from Chunk, POG, and now IronEther is getting in on the game.

What will it be in 6 months?

Don't get me wrong, I am sure it is a cool pedal, and honestly from what I hear, well built, and everything you could ask for when looking for that pedal, but I just don't believe all the hype anymore.

GHI · #17 07-05-2011, 01:21 AM

How can you even call a thing with that many knobs a one trick pony?

Let me tell you, there is no bigger 300 dollar one trick ponies out there then the wooly mammoth. Okay, you could argue that this pony does two tricks or even three, but to be fair; taking a sh*t and a piss at the same time isn't all that impressive if you ask me. Now if it could brush it's teeth at the same time, or keep the low end while still having bite......

Yeah I own one.

I see you got it all figured out huh?

What works for some may not work for others. People get fired up. Peoples gear change. Peoples needs change.
I believe most of the stuff that gets hyped is good stuff, it just doesn't do it for everyone. TASTE! whats it worth to you?

I can't wait to see whats coming in 6 months! hah.

caeman · #18 07-05-2011, 06:24 AM

One trick pony? Does that not describe the vast majority of pedals on the market? The Malekko Trem is just a tremolo pedal. The Digitech Bad Monkey is just an overdrive pedal. The Boss DS-1 claims to be a distortion pedal.

casio · #19 07-05-2011, 06:45 AM

The AKAI distortion is a pretty cool toy, and it has Pre and Post EQ, but its graphic, if you find that to be a problem!

Toastfuzz · #20 07-05-2011, 06:55 AM

Isn't every analog pedal that isn't multi-effect a 1 trick pony? You set the knobs to the sound you like for a given purpose, so that you only have to press the ON and OFF button to make it "work"? Otherwise, every pedal would have digital presets, to be a "multi-trick pony"... if you're adding digital presets, you might as well as some additional digital effects and presets too, and the ability to mix and match effects... and then its a digital multi effect.