Ditching the Tech 21 XXLB, another distortion pedal retired with alternative

bovine mind · #1 08-27-2009, 03:28 PM

After all the positive reviews i thought i'd give this pedal a shot to try and nail the punchy, monstrously low, raspy with crispy top end distortion i've been looking for. the pedal sastifies all of the above except for the monstrously low part. I've read it does cut lows a bit, but with the warp control turned almost all the way to the left [ or to the right i noticed ], it seemed it wouldn't be a problem.

my setup: Gibson Ripper tuned CGCF > Guyatone BL-2 limiter set to keep notes even and around the same volume, and to push my SVT-CL to distort into light OD > Barge Concepts VFB-2 with blend set to 75% effect 25% clean > various pedals > Tech 21 XXLB.

I played with the pedal for an hour at different settings and couldn't get over the slight drop in low end. while the actual distorted tone of the pedal was appealing - very gritty, crunchy, sure to cut through a mix, any loss in low end is unacceptable. i imagine adding an EQ pedal afterwards would counter this but any pedal you have to buy another one in tandem with is a no go for me.

as an alternative, i've been using this:

not only is it better looking, but the ability to dial in more low end is a savior. i run the volume and hi all the way up, the mids at noon, bass at 2:00 and gain to taste. creamy sustain, fat punchy lows, raspy high end distortion. the Tech 21 is more aggressive and cuts through the mix a bit better, but doesn't retain lows nearly as well as this pedal to me. if i had an ability to record sound clips i would, to me it can be compared to the distorted tones of bands like Young Widows, the Jesus Lizard, Unsane et al. i've owned a Tube Screamer, three different Rat's vintage and all, Hematoma, Bass Drive, ODB-3 and so far this is my favorite.

JimmyM · #2 08-27-2009, 04:18 PM

Real Tube was a very popular pedal in the 90's and late 80's. Kind of ahead of its time for bass.

bovine mind · #3 08-27-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Real Tube was a very popular pedal in the 90's and late 80's. Kind of ahead of its time for bass.

I'm really digging this pedal. I owned it before and thought i'd go through the register of more popular ODs. Like many other pedals i've sold, back to the OG. Ahead of its time?

bovine mind · #4 08-27-2009, 04:40 PM

Also not much love for this pedal via search. Not sure why it dropped off, but people should know about this little beast.

JimmyM · #5 08-27-2009, 05:04 PM

It dropped off because Genz Benz bought Tube Works and quit making them.

RickenBoogie · #6 08-27-2009, 05:10 PM

I found that most any distortion/overdrive with a 3 band eq, will usually work out better than ones without. (Valve Drive, SD Power Grid) Better hold on to that relic.

bovine mind · #7 08-27-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

I found that most any distortion/overdrive with a 3 band eq, will usually work out better than ones without. (Valve Drive, SD Power Grid) Better hold on to that relic.

Absolutely. I wish i saw more bass specific distortion/OD pedals with 3 band EQ.

JimmyM · #8 08-27-2009, 05:16 PM

That's a major reason I love the VT. You actually get 4 tone controls with it. But the one thing it doesn't do is the ultra-heavy distortion. It does it...just not so well.

Thunderscreech · #9 08-27-2009, 08:30 PM

BLASPHEMER!!!!!

This crime has been noted.....

just kidding.

Glad you're finding something awesome that works!!!

bovine mind · #10 08-27-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

BLASPHEMER!!!!!

This crime has been noted.....

just kidding.

Glad you're finding something awesome that works!!!

hah, knew that was coming. your reviews pushed me in the direction of the Tech 21. it definitely has a great crunch, as much as a vintage Rat, but retains the lows much better. neither has enough beef to tuck under the rage for me though.

Smurf-o-Deth · #11 08-28-2009, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bovine mind

Absolutely. I wish i saw more bass specific distortion/OD pedals with 3 band EQ.

This is why, despite the godawful logistics of it, I still love the AGRO: 3 band eq, deep switch, presence knob, contour knob--oh so tweakable.

Nyarlathotep · #12 08-28-2009, 07:42 AM

Im tempted to suggest the Attack Goat, or even a Swollen Pickle, but if the XXL nailed the tone you want, I don't think either would satisfy.

The AG especially gets quite crispy, but not so much raspy as just plain awesome. Personally I'd look for something with at least a clean blend.

bassbombs84 · #13 08-28-2009, 07:47 AM

the Real Tube is great. except for that mini button to turn it on. on more than one occasion i have gone to stomp in a crucial part of a song and gotten nothing. dang buttons to tiny.

bovine mind · #14 08-28-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbombs84

the Real Tube is great. except for that mini button to turn it on. on more than one occasion i have gone to stomp in a crucial part of a song and gotten nothing. dang buttons to tiny.

That button is totally finicky, i agree, hard to engage.

bovine mind · #15 08-28-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyarlathotep

Im tempted to suggest the Attack Goat, or even a Swollen Pickle, but if the XXL nailed the tone you want, I don't think either would satisfy.

The AG especially gets quite crispy, but not so much raspy as just plain awesome. Personally I'd look for something with at least a clean blend.

I use the pedal in a clean blend, which definitely helps further reinforce the bottom with 3/4 effect/clean divide. The lack of EQ functions on the Attack Goat were a discerning factor for me, and the lack of any in shops close to me to try out.

bovine mind · #16 08-28-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurf-o-Deth

This is why, despite the godawful logistics of it, I still love the AGRO: 3 band eq, deep switch, presence knob, contour knob--oh so tweakable.

Looks awesome and I like that it's a rack to save board space but at $300+ I could do without. The Real Tube can be found for around $80-100, a steal.

Mark Olson · #17 08-28-2009, 12:33 PM

I owned a tech 21 XXLB. Not only was the low end loss unacceptable, it sounded absolutely fake and plastic-y as far as overdrive goes.

Thunderscreech · #18 08-28-2009, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Olson

I owned a tech 21 XXLB. Not only was the low end loss unacceptable, it sounded absolutely fake and plastic-y as far as overdrive goes.

THE TECH 21 XXL B IS NOT AN OVERDRIVE

Does the Tech 21 product page say ANYTHING about this pedal being an overdrive? NO. It doesn't. Of course it's not going to sound like a natural overdrive, because YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG.

bovine mind · #19 08-28-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Olson

I owned a tech 21 XXLB. Not only was the low end loss unacceptable, it sounded absolutely fake and plastic-y as far as overdrive goes.

The pedal has a weird tonality at certain settings, most notable if the tone is cranked higher than noon, i could hear some of that plastic sort of timbre. The Real Tube in comparison sounds more natural, it's tubey cos its got a tube, and if you're pushing a tube amp with it, the results are very organic and blissful.

bovine mind · #20 08-28-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

THE TECH 21 XXL B IS NOT AN OVERDRIVE

Does the Tech 21 product page say ANYTHING about this pedal being an overdrive? NO. It doesn't. Of course it's not going to sound like a natural overdrive, because YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG.

It can be used as an fairly gritty overdrive at lower gain settings though...but it really excels at what it's intended for, over the top bass distortion.