Going through a minimalist stage - Page 5

caeman · #81 06-24-2012, 10:03 AM

The rusty box is a pretty good pedal with a lot of features. If your od needs are minimal, it does the trick. Is that epi the 5w tube?

My name is Mudd · #82 06-24-2012, 10:17 AM

Yep, re-tubed tho (JJ/Tesla EL84 & T.A.D. 12AX7A-C). I use the RB as the pre-amp stage...closest I'm going to get to a Traynor for awhile.

caeman · #83 06-26-2012, 09:29 AM

According to my notes, I've now been "minimalized" for a month and I am still happy with my simple setup: High-Pass Filter -> Overdrive/Tone Box -> Low-Pass Filter.

Though, I am thinking of experimenting with a compressor, it would ultimately have to be a 1590A-sized box. But instead of normal compressor, I may investigate a peak limiter, first. My main concern is accidentally thumping a note too LOUD out of context.

And my U-Bass has fit right into this minimalist stage of playing. I throw the bass over my shoulder, pedals in the PT-Nano bag, and go.

I find myself wanting to dump all of my other pedals. Despite assembling the detritous into a functioning noise board, I find I have no interest in that anymore. I'm more concerned about learning the music for the blues band, the tunes for my own band. I've become less interested in new toys, and more interested in just playing better. I was always practicing the essentials before, still do, but I now have so much new music to learn, I am losing interest in the sonic experiments I used to do.

**Ukiah Bass** · #84 06-26-2012, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caeman

According to my notes, I've now been "minimalized" for a month and I am still happy with my simple setup: High-Pass Filter -> Overdrive/Tone Box -> Low-Pass Filter.

Though, I am thinking of experimenting with a compressor, it would ultimately have to be a 1590A-sized box. But instead of normal compressor, I may investigate a peak limiter, first. My main concern is accidentally thumping a note too LOUD out of context.

And my U-Bass has fit right into this minimalist stage of playing. I throw the bass over my shoulder, pedals in the PT-Nano bag, and go.

I find myself wanting to dump all of my other pedals. Despite assembling the detritous into a functioning noise board, I find I have no interest in that anymore. I'm more concerned about learning the music for the blues band, the tunes for my own band. I've become less interested in new toys, and more interested in just playing better. I was always practicing the essentials before, still do, but I now have so much new music to learn, I am losing interest in the sonic experiments I used to do.

Time to change your profile moniker from "Sonic Experimentation Gone Mad!"

caeman · #85 06-26-2012, 10:02 AM

Indeed.

My name is Mudd · #86 06-26-2012, 10:17 AM

There ya go!

If...IF...you do flip the rest, will you still keep your Mini? I may be interested if it's available.

caeman · #87 01-30-2013, 07:16 AM

A journey that started many months ago has continued and gotten worse. I have found my forgoing even an EQ and just wanting to plug into an active DI. No overdrive, no fuzz, no modulation, no comp.

My latest minimalist move was to pick up another Behringer ADI21 for my Gretsch. One box, no fuss, for not much money. I am getting ready to buy an Orchid Micro DI and go even smaller. My Gretsch needs at the minimum an active DI, from experimentation with various DI boxes at the various churches I have played.

I fear I have lost my love for effects. I'm sorry.

Darknut · #88 01-30-2013, 09:04 AM

Freight Train ..."inviting all kinds of demons" by using effects is a bit over the top don't you think?

By the way just because you been doing something a long time doesn't automatically mean your good at it or know what your talking about.

I guess a bedroom player might hear minute differences in tone & clarity but you certainly wont live with drums & guitar going as well.

DeltaPhoenix nailed it when he said: "The benefits outweigh whatever perceived cost there is"

Bottom line .... I use effects because its "Fun" .

@Caeman how can you resist that woundpaw blender just sitting there mocking you?

caeman · #89 02-11-2013, 07:07 AM

Saturday, I used the Behringer ADI21 at church. The ADI21 has some low-end drop-off, but not in a bad way. It's drop-off is more like what I had been getting from a high-pass filter to tame the low-end of my Gretsch. Through the PA system, the low-end sound was tight and focused, rather than boomy and muddy. I kept the EQ settings at noon, but I did experiment with sweeping the mids frequency while warming up.

I am ignoring the blend knob. I have no need for tube's or emulated tubes mucking up the natural tone of my Gretsch.

My current inventory of Minimalist One-Box DI:

*Passive
Behringer Ultra DI400
Cave G4

*Active
Behringer ADI21
Orchid Micro DI (arriving Monday or Tuesday)

caeman · #90 02-14-2013, 09:47 AM

The Orchid Micro DI arrived Monday and it is exactly what one might expect from a simple active DI. Plug it on, phantom power lights it up, plug bass and go.

The Behringer UltraDI400 and Cave G4 have a lower signal to the mixer board, because they are passive, which one would should expect. The Micro DI brings up a bright, clear sound which forced me to back the gain down. The ADI21 is not a fair comparison as it has a boost and EQ feature set, but with level and EQ at noon, the levels were basically the same for the Micro DI and ADI21.