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Attention fans of SHELLAC's bass tone: Tronographic Rusty Box pedal

andrew

andrew

May 20, 2000
3,200
1,917
Vancouver BC/Pacific Northwest
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
#1
If anyone is a fan of Bob Weston from Shellac's bass tone or any of the early Jesus Lizard recorded tones Tronographic has just put out a pedal called the Rusty Box, which is essentially a stompbox version of the preamp from the Traynor TS50B, the amp Weston uses both live and on record and which Steve Albini has used on many of his recordings on the bass.

It has a distinct bright without being brittle tone, with a big low end and present mids. It's great for cutting through distorted guitars and has a pretty aggressive sound.

Dunno if there's a website for them yet, but if you want more info on it email David at [email protected].
 
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#2
Interesting! The two times I saw Shellac play they were using custom-built amp heads, about 4RU high, with brushed aluminum faceplates with no markings, and only one big knob on the face and one light. Of course I have no idea what was inside the housings, it could have been anything.
 
#3
That big old case holds the Traynor TS50B head and a Crown poweramp, which puts 400 watts a side into the pair of Dietz cabs.

Bob's recently used the Rusty Box into the line in on an Ampeg ss head when they were in Europe and said he got his normal tone from this pairing too.
 
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#10
andrew said:
There's nothing saying you have to turn the mids up. :)
If you like'em scooped out then eq the pedal for that sound.

All I'm saying is the pre isn't voiced with a scooped tone when set "flat".
Click to expand...

I know i LIKE the way scooped mids sound when i am playing by myself, but there is also a switch on my amp to turn them back on when the back comes to play.

I do scoop my mids, then i boost them again :D
 
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#11
vigor&kandor said:
I know i LIKE the way scooped mids sound when i am playing by myself, but there is also a switch on my amp to turn them back on when the back comes to play.

I do scoop my mids, then i boost them again :D
Click to expand...

I hear you. It seemed like midrange was a dirty word in amp design for a while but I'm glad to see it coming back.
 
#16
Pseudo-related:

Can someone tell me a good album to start with Shellac? Steve Albini is a bit of a hero of mine, but, stupidly, I've never heard any music he's created, just the stuff he's produced.

Or should I just go out and get that first Big Black album like I should have years ago?

Cheers.
 
#17
Hey,

Thanks for all of the interest guys! We're really excited about these pre-amps... I use two right now with my Rick 4003 (in stereo)!

Sorry, I didn't get your e-mail. Please try again or PM me.

We should have the website up and running soon... with a company contact and a shopping cart thingy.

Cheers,
David
www.tronographic.com
 
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#18
nad said:
Pseudo-related:

Can someone tell me a good album to start with Shellac? Steve Albini is a bit of a hero of mine, but, stupidly, I've never heard any music he's created, just the stuff he's produced.

Or should I just go out and get that first Big Black album like I should have years ago?

Cheers.
Click to expand...

I would go out and get Shellac - At Action Park and Rapeman - Two Nuns and a Pack-Mule

Then go from there onto Big Black then the other Shellac records.

If you get the New Shellac record Excellent Italian Greyhound you get to hear excessive amounts of the Traynor TS-50B bass sound. :)
 
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#19
Tronographic said:
I would go out and get Shellac - At Action Park and Rapeman - Two Nuns and a Pack-Mule

Then go from there onto Big Black then the other Shellac records.

If you get the New Shellac record Excellent Italian Greyhound you get to hear excessive amounts of the Traynor TS-50B bass sound. :)
Click to expand...
Awesome, cheers. :cool:
 

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