Need to make some decisions

[OptimusPrime]

I have quite a few decisions that I need to make soon.

1. The input jack on my Aphex Punch Factory is screwed. I should have listened before I bought it about the plastic jacks being attached to the board. But I figured that I treat my stuff right and bought it anyway. Now it's broken.

Do I call and bitch to them? Ask for a replacement or try and get some money back? I doubt either will work. It probably broke when some drunk bitch fell across my board. Grrr. That was a while ago, but I just rearranged my board and I had to jiggle the cable to get a signal and now it's just not working at all.

2. I need to choose a real pedalboard. Should I go with a PT-2 or one of these? A Pedaltrain is way more money (2x) but will look neater/cleaner in the end because everything can be tied to the bottom. But I like flat boards, a wah pedal and an angled board don't work together for me.

3. I can't decide which OD pedal I should keep. The Bass-Drive and Hematoma are similar, but it's the small differences that are keeping me from choosing.

The Bass-Drive is choppy and gritty. Not as dark as Hematoma even with tone at 0 and drops a little more low end. Tighter and more defined. Boost is just nasty to me. Works great with effects like flange and wah. Easy to switch on. The Hematoma is smoother than the Bass-Drive. Darker, even with tone cranked. Not as choppy and less defined. Preamp adds punch to clean signal. Wah is almost unnoticeable when used with HBE. And a flanger with it is way to harsh. Knobs are too close to switches and is awkward to turn on.

If the Hematoma worked better with other effects and was easier to turn on then I would keep it. But the Bass-Drive works great with other effects and is easy to switch on. Which might make it the winner. I have no other bass playing friends around to help me choose. But I have a guitarist and drummer coming over Tuesday to help me choose. Lot of help they'll be.

What should I do?

[crapusername]

as far as the PF is concerned, how long have you had it?
it might be worth an email to the manufacturers. The worst they could say is no!
i thought similarly about the battery cover for my MXR M80, but just one email later i had one on it's way to me FOC! (That's customer service for you!)

[rustynuts]

Well, I'm sold on the openness of the PT boards, but since they don't come in any configuration except flat I'm having to built my own four level "pedaltrain" type of board. FFor the openness and ease of running wires I'd go with the PT.

As far as the BD and Hema....Why not keep them both? Are they different enough in your ears for both of them to have a use?

[OptimusPrime]

Originally Posted by crapusername

as far as the PF is concerned, how long have you had it?
it might be worth an email to the manufacturers. The worst they could say is no!
i thought similarly about the battery cover for my MXR M80, but just one email later i had one on it's way to me FOC! (That's customer service for you!)

I think I bought it in October or November. I'm going to call and get a replacement, then sell it and use the money to buy a EBS or a Demeter Compulator.

[OptimusPrime]

Originally Posted by rustynuts

Well, I'm sold on the openness of the PT boards, but since they don't come in any configuration except flat I'm having to built my own four level "pedaltrain" type of board. FFor the openness and ease of running wires I'd go with the PT.

As far as the BD and Hema....Why not keep them both? Are they different enough in your ears for both of them to have a use?

I think I'll go with the Pedaltrain. No, the pedals aren't different enough to keep both. I like the Hematomas tone SLIGHTLY more. But it's to hard to turn on and doesn't flange well. And anyway, I'm trying to downsize.

[Valerus]

My board's a Pedaltrain and I have the Fulltone. Maybe that will help you decide.

[OptimusPrime]

My decisions.

1. Call Aphex, try to get a replacement. Then sell that for an EBS comp.
2. Pedaltrain PT-2 with soft case.
3. Sell HBE Hematoma, keep Bass-Drive. Buy yet another OD and to compare to the Bass-Drive. Next up ... EHX English Muff'n.

[Grimoire]

Have you considered a Demeter Compulator in place of the PF? It's optical, transperant, quite similar aside from being of far better construction. The plastic jacks were the deal breaker for me.

[OptimusPrime]

I shipped the Punch Factory out for repair today. And sent a message to Ashdown bitching about my 2nd broken amp of theirs in 6 months. I want my money back, not a replacement. I need to sell some stuff before I can order a Pedaltrain. And I'm going to GC with a friend on Wednesday to compare the Bass-Drive and English Muff'n.

[Ryan Mohr]

Would a pedaltrain jr be too small?

[OptimusPrime]

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

Would a pedaltrain jr be too small?

Yeah.

[danomite64]

Is this too big? It's 41" x 16" 6".......