just got a Truly Beautiful Disaster (pics and noise included)

zipflint · #1 06-04-2008, 04:59 AM

Got mine from Analogue Haven just a couple days ago. (big up to Shawn for the fantastic customer service!) I've been wanting one of these for at least a year or so, been in love since I heard the first clips on the old Effector13 site.

It's quite a hairy little beast. I have a lot to learn, but it was instant satisfaction from the moment I plugged it into my Ric. The effects loop/photo eye works fantastic with my Russian Muff. There's gobs of low end, wild oscillations, nice (and very controllable) octave decay (if that's the right term) effects. VERY aggro fuzz too.

Anyway, here's some pics and a few MP3s. Nothing special, just me fiddling with different settings.

http://www.uterinefury.com/tbd01.mp3
http://www.uterinefury.com/tbd02.mp3
http://www.uterinefury.com/tbd05rwk.mp3
http://www.uterinefury.com/tbd05rwkphased.mp3
http://www.uterinefury.com/tbd06eye.mp3

kaputsport · #2 06-04-2008, 05:07 AM

That pedal is incredible....

JGT · #3 06-04-2008, 05:48 AM

I can make that noise with my mouth.

....and totally wish I could with my bass. I love it.

cathal · #4 06-04-2008, 06:35 AM

niceeee

Valerus · #5 06-04-2008, 11:18 AM

Thank God! I don't want this pedal at all.

metalmariachi · #6 06-04-2008, 11:26 AM

I lucked out last year and found one of the older Devi built ones, third revision with the light fixture.
I don’t really care for the sound of the disaster fuzz by itself, but throw another fuzz into the loop and things get really exciting.
Unfortunately when I play with the feedback, I usually end up making all kinds of noise without much musical content. Ok some one else will say that’s the true beauty of the TBD.

Enjoy

MM

basswave · #7 06-04-2008, 11:43 AM

Hey Zip

Are you just going directly into this guy or have you ran it through a effects loop.

I don't use many effects ever and I was curious about the line level voltage (basically would it be to much).

Thanks a bunch,

zipflint · #8 06-04-2008, 01:30 PM

Lessee....if I understand the question (I'm a bit groggy at the moment) correctly....I'm using it just like a regular f/x pedal, plugging my bass directly into it. My amp doesn't have a built-in effects loop. I have used the loop that's built into the TBD, but so far only with my Russian Muff. Both of these are regular old 9V-powered pedals. The TBD also has a 9V DC jack.
Does that help?

Quote:

Originally Posted by basswave

Hey Zip

Are you just going directly into this guy or have you ran it through a effects loop.

I don't use many effects ever and I was curious about the line level voltage (basically would it be to much).

Thanks a bunch,

MakiSupaStar · #9 06-04-2008, 01:48 PM

Damn it. I shouldn't have clicked on this thread. Now I want one.

What's that button on the side? Are you playing that photo eye with your foot?

zipflint · #10 06-04-2008, 02:30 PM

The thing that looks like another button on the side is actually an RCA jack. It's meant for an LED lamp (according to the printout that came with the pedal) that would enhance the fun of messing about with the photo eye. I'm only using the eye in the MP3 titled "tbd06eye."
--edit--
meant to add; yeah, in that one file I am just using my foot.

jsingles · #11 06-04-2008, 02:33 PM

Colonel Monk · #12 06-04-2008, 04:47 PM

I don't know why I haven't looked at this more closely before.

Looks like a possible replacement for my 3xfx Fatman, which despite having a great sounding distortion, is completely useless when it comes to matching the level of oscillator with the bass signal.

Does the TBD have the ability to adjust the volume level of the oscillator?

monk

zipflint · #13 06-04-2008, 05:04 PM

That's somewhat difficult to answer, as silly as that sounds.
I should just plug in and see, but I'm babysitting a somewhat skittish Chihuahua and I'm afraid that his bowels may evacuate from the sheer sonic assault.

I believe you can directly control the speed of the oscillation, but the volume control affects both the volume of the fuzz AND the oscillation. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's an oscillating fuzz; can't have the fuzz without the oscillation.

Someone PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong. I don't want to be giving out incorrect info. Surely I'm not the only bass player on this board with this pedal....right?

Colonel Monk · #14 06-04-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipflint

That's somewhat difficult to answer, as silly as that sounds.
I should just plug in and see, but I'm babysitting a somewhat skittish Chihuahua and I'm afraid that his bowels may evacuate from the sheer sonic assault.

I believe you can directly control the speed of the oscillation, but the volume control affects both the volume of the fuzz AND the oscillation. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's an oscillating fuzz; can't have the fuzz without the oscillation.

Someone PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong. I don't want to be giving out incorrect info. Surely I'm not the only bass player on this board with this pedal....right?

You mean pitch of the oscillation, not speed right?

The fatman is also an oscillating fuzz, but the fuzz channel (uh, distortion...) and the oscillator are separate. That is, you can turn off the Osc. channel if you want. The overall volume controls the overall of both, but the osc is extremely loud in comparison to the distortion, making it unusable to me.(YMMV) The builder suggested boosting the instrument signal before the pedal to even them out, but that means when you want to use the pedal you're in for a MAJOR change in volume, and you need to dedicate a boost pedal to make it work.

Sorry for the hijack, I'm just curious if you or others perceive a similar problem with this one.
CM

lousybassist · #15 06-05-2008, 02:57 PM

I like the sound of that one just as much as I expected that I would. Thanks for the clips!

metalmariachi · #16 06-05-2008, 05:11 PM

You can turn the osculation off with the gate switch, or at least lessen it by being in the gate position.
All the controls affect the volume and are somewhat interactive.
The blend will work with or with out the fuzz, as will the loop, eye and feedback.

MM

Matt Till · #17 06-05-2008, 05:52 PM

Awesome. Seriously awesome.

highwattage · #18 06-05-2008, 07:08 PM

for a sec I thought my speakers were messed up.... holy & $#%

zipflint · #19 06-05-2008, 09:45 PM

Well said. Nice and concise. Exactly what I would've spent three paragraphs trying to say, lol.

My first reaction to this pedal was HOLY $%*!, the PERFECT pedal for noiserock! But it's got more uses than that. It can be tamed. That said, a lot of times you just won't want to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by metalmariachi

You can turn the osculation off with the gate switch, or at least lessen it by being in the gate position.
All the controls affect the volume and are somewhat interactive.
The blend will work with or with out the fuzz, as will the loop, eye and feedback.

MM

KarateKid25 · #20 06-06-2008, 02:19 AM

So... You used a Phaser for the phased track right? The TBD doesn't phase shift does it?