i has a blowtorch!

**john turner** · #1 10-02-2007, 06:10 PM

finally, after much gnashing of teeth and ripping of hair i received my blowtorch pedal today. woot, i definitely dig it.

digging around for a wall wart that would fit it properly (18v with positive sleeve is not that common) i found one in the back of the drawer of my studio desk in the basement - a trace elliot wallwart no less. that's a good omen.

well, just like any kid with a new toy, once i plugged it in, i put everything on 11 and cranked it. heh. actually, i put the eqs all at 12 o'clock and then cranked the gain and maxed the blend and then set the volume low to equalize the bypass/effected levels.

initial impression - great preservation of low end. i was very impressed with how much of my lowest frequency content was preserved while still generating an articulate and musical distortion. this was on one of my basses equipped with a low f# (almost an octave lower than a standard low e string). i heard some of the lowest bass rumble get cut a little, but it was really very little. overall i am quite pleased.

the high frequency content of the distortion on the standard setting was fuzzy but fairly articulate, but my favorite was the blowtorch setting - very sawtooth-synthy sounding to me. quite cool.

i put it in my growing pedal chain after the digitech bass whammy but before the moogerfooger - tried it briefly after the moog but it didn't sound as good. gonna experiement with the placement more once i get used to it and how it sounds with the other guys in the band.

i'll do a more indepth review once i get it integrated into my rig, but i just thought i'd share my initial impressions. thanks for the suggestions guys

.

next up - some kind of phaser-type effect.

KarateKid25 · #2 10-02-2007, 06:15 PM

Nice! Glad your happy with it!

Low F

dancehallclasher · #3 10-02-2007, 06:18 PM

samples please!

**john turner** · #4 10-02-2007, 06:24 PM

sound samples to follow forthwith.

RickenBoogie · #5 10-02-2007, 06:28 PM

Phaser type effect, eh? Check out the Pigtronics EP-1 Envelope Phaser. Really cool effect, with a standard LFO mode, and an envelope follower. You can use an expression pedal, or plug something into the trigger input, like a drum machine, or another time based effect. Everything from mild "touch sensitive" phasing, all the way to totally spaced out craziness. Might be what the doctor ordered next.

dancehallclasher · #6 10-02-2007, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john turner

sound samples to follow forthwith.

hooray. I'm very unimpressed with the sound sample on the Jim Dunlop page.

**john turner** · #7 10-02-2007, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Phaser type effect, eh? Check out the Pigtronics EP-1 Envelope Phaser. Really cool effect, with a standard LFO mode, and an envelope follower. You can use an expression pedal, or plug something into the trigger input, like a drum machine, or another time based effect. Everything from mild "touch sensitive" phasing, all the way to totally spaced out craziness. Might be what the doctor ordered next.

i'll definitely check it out.

i've always been a big fan of the mxr blue box, might end up acquiescing on that. can't beat the price.

KarateKid25 · #8 10-02-2007, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancehallclasher

hooray. I'm very unimpressed with the sound sample on the Jim Dunlop page.

While you wait for Johns clips, MysticBoo went to some effort with his BlowTorch review and sound clips. Check these out

**john turner** · #9 10-02-2007, 07:39 PM

can't wait to compare the tone of this one with the marshall jmp1 distortion. also have an ada mp1 in the rack - thinking about daisy chaining all 3 and see what i can do. heh.

**SoComSurfing** · #10 10-02-2007, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john turner

can't wait to compare the tone of this one with the marshall jmp1 distortion. also have an ada mp1 in the rack - thinking about daisy chaining all 3 and see what i can do. heh.

I was curious as to if you were shaking up the rig or not. If it's not asking too much, it may be fun to provide clips of all three, and let us guess as to which is which.

**john turner** · #11 10-02-2007, 08:07 PM

ooo, i'd be all about giving something like that a spin. i'll try to whip up some mp3s in the next few days.

JanusZarate · #12 10-02-2007, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarateKid25

While you wait for Johns clips, MysticBoo went to some effort with his BlowTorch review and sound clips. Check these out

Just to clarify, those two particular clips are no longer up. I need to get them back up, but for now... you can find my current Blowtorch clip up on there, along with samples of some other pedals.

http://www.soundclick.com/mysticboo

KarateKid25 · #13 10-02-2007, 11:21 PM

oops

Probably shoulda checked that

bongomania · #14 10-02-2007, 11:29 PM

JanusZarate · #15 10-02-2007, 11:31 PM

Bongo, you should seriously try one out, just for the f*** - ...er, I mean, fuzz of it.

...you also need to stop spending so much time in Photoshop.

Lowpro · #16 10-03-2007, 06:49 AM

www.http://bongomania.justgotowned.com/

That's loads more fun than photoshop.

JanusZarate · #17 10-03-2007, 09:16 AM

You need to fix the link: http://bongomania.justgotowned.com/

Hilarious, BTW!

bongomania · #18 10-03-2007, 11:02 AM

Definitely hilarious! ...But I don't think I got pwned to quite that degree, really.

eyvindwa · #19 10-03-2007, 02:12 PM

The Blowtorch really shines in a mix where other instruments (heavily distorted guitar for instance) take up a lot of space!

smakbass · #20 10-03-2007, 02:35 PM

I bought one yesterday too after checking it out beside the Big Muff (the smaller one) and the Tech21 xxl....Cool pedal I havent checked out the torrrch sound yet I was suitable impressed with the options, build quality and sound.