do you use your Rusty box as your preamp or distortion?

chetorch · #1 05-10-2011, 11:37 AM

Like the title question states, how do you use it? I read that the Rusty Box is a preamp in itself and I love the tone, but I'd also need a "clean" tone. In a live setting, I couldn't really be bending down to pull back on the drive on the pedal, so I was thinking:
Could I use a Tech 21 VT pedal as a clean tone, leave it always on, and engage the Rusty Box when needed? or would it defeat the purpose of having two preamp sounds?

My current bass head is a Yamaha b100 III and is nothing special in tone (or power

) but could I also just run a Rusty Box and then bypass it when needed and get the Yamaha's clean sound?

would either work? the head has an xlr output for the soundboard btw.
thanks, trying to learn as much as I can before I get all the gear!

My name is Mudd · #2 05-10-2011, 12:11 PM

I use mine as a pre. I got REALLY lucky in finding that the boost side is just enough to bring the quieter output of my two basses up to the same level as the louder one; the noisy one runs with the boost off and the gain switch set to low, and the quiet one with the boost on and the switch to high. PERFECT!

There's no reason that I'm aware of for your VT/RB idea to not work - a lot of folks here use the RB as an overdrive. I used my VT as a dedicated pre also, before deciding it just wasn't my tone in general. Try it out and see what happens.

chetorch · #3 05-10-2011, 01:51 PM

^ thanks,
I guess I will become a pedal mad scientist for a while and experiment muahahaha!!

I wish I could use the Rusty Box for all the songs we play but our youth group will be moshing in the worship songs....

Smurf-o-Deth · #4 05-10-2011, 02:51 PM

Well, I use mine as a preamp that is in various states of dirtiness.

I do want to point out that thinking of the Rusty Box as just another distortion is selling it short somewhat. If you want to use it as a preamp, you can then hammer it with a boost to drive it as hard as you like, and it's not going to seize up and compress all to hell due to having much, much higher headroom than a dirt box running at 9v. Think of it more like the front-end of a good amp, one that adds to the character of dirt you drive into it, instead of fighting against it the way a low-headroom stomp box would. It's simply in a different league than a Tubescreamer or some such. Personally, I can't imagine using the Rusty Box as just a distortion--that's "swatting a fly with a Cadillac" territory. Using it more like a dirty channel, though, makes sense.

My name is Mudd · #5 05-10-2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurf-o-Deth

Personally, I can't imagine using the Rusty Box as just a distortion...

Agreed totally.

PunkRocker33133 · #6 05-10-2011, 03:16 PM

Better question, if you were to use the Rusty Box as a preamp, with say a Line 6 M9 you wanted in the effects loop of your amp, where would you put it in relation to the Rusty Box?

My name is Mudd · #7 05-10-2011, 03:22 PM

I wouldn't run the M9 thru the loop to begin with, TBH. Aside from that, I'd try the RB early, as I prefer to put tone shapers like that early in the chain.

chetorch · #8 05-10-2011, 04:15 PM

that is what I'll try to do.
then the chain should go: TU-2->LMB-3(maybe)->Rusty Box->amp.

chetorch · #9 05-10-2011, 04:54 PM

hold the phone!
if I have "googled" correctly, the Boss LS-2 could be used to switch between the VT and the Rusty Box without having each pedal color each others tone correct? I could then also plug into the heads effects return instead of using its pre amp?

sunbeast · #10 05-11-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chetorch

hold the phone!
if I have "googled" correctly, the Boss LS-2 could be used to switch between the VT and the Rusty Box without having each pedal color each others tone correct? I could then also plug into the heads effects return instead of using its pre amp?

I'm not sure that the LS-2 is designed to handle line-level signals like what you would want to be putting into the effects return.

I use my Rusty Box as an always on preamp before my Mesa Walkabout. I set it so it just has a hint of grit by itself, but the "default" tone even when set clean is pretty aggressive (this can be taken out by cutting treble and mids, but I personally feel like this pedal really shines best with its agro tones). When I want actual distortion I'll use a different pedal either before or after the Rusty Box or use the boost function (though that gives a pretty big volume boost as well). I personally would have a hard time using the Rusty Box as an "effect" that gets turned off, because it has alot of character (adds alot to your tone vs being transparent- at least with my rig), and might not transition very smoothly from your Sansamp tone (assuming you would be switching between them during the course of a single song).

chris lykins · #11 05-11-2011, 10:00 PM

My favorite amp overdrive has been my Ashdown ABM, I havent been able to find a pedal that simulates the growl of this preamp. I use my rusty box to push this even harder particularly with passive basses. Its like having a second channel of awesome, especially if your cab is tweeterless. I occasionall will use the box as a DI when i play with DJs but its a pretty hot signal into the board so I have to turn the gain all the way down!

Eric! · #12 05-11-2011, 10:19 PM

I actually use it as overdrive into my GK 700RB-ii, but I treat it more like a second and third channel of my amp. I LOVE IT.

chetorch · #13 05-11-2011, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric!

I actually use it as overdrive into my GK 700RB-ii, but I treat it more like a second and third channel of my amp. I LOVE IT.

by second and third channel, do you mean turning the pedal effect on and the boost and plugging into the front of the amp instead of the effects return?

well, I will stick with using the rusty box only. I believe the tone is too awesome to be used simply as a distortion.
besides, I don't wanna overdo it with the pedalboard

seriously, I need to make it all fit on a PT nano...

thanks for the pointers people, I believe I have a good "starting point".

Eric! · #14 05-11-2011, 10:42 PM

I just have it go into my input. Haven't tried it into my return yet.

chris lykins · #15 05-11-2011, 10:45 PM

Cool. Its a great pedal and I have to admit when I first bought it i was kinda "meh". The more I use it the more I love it. I have found it really great if I run my agro into it as it adds the bass back that the agro kinda loses. IMO filter twin-agro-rusty box-ashdown abm- berg NV215 will make your guitarist cry mercy if you play heavy stuff!

Eric! · #16 05-11-2011, 10:52 PM

It gives balls to things like a year4545, too

chris lykins · #17 05-11-2011, 11:09 PM

Oooh Id love to hear that! The problem is soundclips never give you the added moving air sensation!

chetorch · #18 05-12-2011, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris lykins

Cool. Its a great pedal and I have to admit when I first bought it i was kinda "meh". The more I use it the more I love it. I have found it really great if I run my agro into it as it adds the bass back that the agro kinda loses. IMO filter twin-agro-rusty box-ashdown abm- berg NV215 will make your guitarist cry mercy if you play heavy stuff!

oh, I'm liking the tone of the agro! youtubed it and sounds cool.

I do have a question, how much louder does the rusty box get with the boost switch? the clips I've heard seem to boost the distortion, which is good but if it boosts the volume up too much, I think your approach of using it with the agro may be better suited in a live situation.. perhaps?

My name is Mudd · #19 05-12-2011, 12:28 AM

Guesstimating that the boost kicks it up about 6-7 dB...that's about the amount of boost needed to bring my quieter bass up to the same lvl as the louder one. This figure was scientifically arrived at by looking at the pointer marking on my (now dealt off) MXR/CAE Booster's knob and that it was just past halfway between the 0 point and the 10dB marking on the pedal's housing. Science!

chetorch · #20 05-12-2011, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My name is Mudd

Guesstimating that the boost kicks it up about 6-7 dB...that's about the amount of boost needed to bring my quieter bass up to the same lvl as the louder one. This figure was scientifically arrived at by looking at the pointer marking on my (now dealt off) MXR/CAE Booster's knob and that it was just past halfway between the 0 point and the 10dB marking on the pedal's housing. Science!

so the boost only brings up the dB level or does it boost the distortion as well? its a bit hard to tell from the youtube vids. it seemed like it was boosting the distortion but was it just the increase of dB?