Anything Similar to Tronographic Rusty Box?

[Windowliquor]

Does anyone out there know if there is something similar to the Rusty Box, preferably in a smaller footprint? Trying to get a similar tone without taking up all of the space on my already cramped pedalboard. I have an RB and love it, but the extra power supply and chunky enclosure are a pain in the neck. I talked to a pedal builder, and he said it would be tough/impossible to fit that circuit into a smaller box, and would be just as expensive as the RB. So we’re now on the hunt for clones and/or similar clanky janky tone machines. And I can’t find one! I don’t need the DI out, just that clang! What say y’all? Am I SOL? And no, I don’t want a bigger pedal board....

 

[jw23mind]

I had experience comparing the Rusty vs Darkglass Alpha-Omicron: The Omicron could almost exactly mimic the Rusty at the light-medium overdrive settings. I had a slight preference for the Rusty perceiving a bit more clarity. I imagine the Alpha-Omega could get even closer, having the expanded EQ ability.

 

[Windowliquor]

I looked at that one a year or so ago. I kinda dig it, but it's the roughly the same footprint as the RB. I have a feeling this is gonna be one elusive unicorn....

 

[Mosfed]

I hear one of Tb’s favorite builders has one in the pipe. I know nothing about the layout or any details but I would bet my life it will be at least easier to power than the Rusty Box.

 

[oZZma]

The new Rusty Box doesn't need a separate power supply, it's 9V now.

 

[Windowliquor]

I hear one of Tb’s favorite builders has one in the pipe. I know nothing about the layout or any details but I would bet my life it will be at least easier to power than the Rusty Box.

Let the guessing games begin.... People need to know!

 

[Windowliquor]

The new Rusty Box doesn't need a separate power supply, it's 9V now.

I’ve got the earlier model. If I can get 9V and a smaller form factor, I’d be a happy man.

 

[oZZma]

I’ve got the earlier model. If I can get 9V and a smaller form factor, I’d be a happy man.

I have no idea if it's the same size as the earlier version, but seems the same to me. 9V Is a great improvement anyways. And Darkglass Alpha Omega doesn't seem much smaller...

 

[Mosfed]

Let the guessing games begin.... People need to know!

 

[triviani]

Sooo, anything new?

I really like the Rusty Box but it”s really heavy (weight) and the boost switch is pretty useless because of the massive volume jump.

 

[bearcore]

Yes, there have been some similar pedals released in the last few years. The Trainer TS-100 from Drunk Beaver in Poland is much smaller and seems like a good alternative. The newly released Cosmic Trigger from Moose Electronics looks interesting too, but be aware that it's a cross between a TS-50 and an Acoustic 360. You could also have someone assemble the Aion TS-50B preamp kit for you.

In the "no longer made/unobtanium" category, you might be able to find a used Broughton Helion, which has the smaller form factor as well. There was also a guy named Jason Zdora who made some rackmount preamps based on the TS-120B, but it's unclear whether his pedal version ever made it past the prototyping stage. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any Traynor TS-based pedals with an option to tame the boost switch.

 

[triviani]

Yes, there have been some similar pedals released in the last few years. The Trainer TS-100 from Drunk Beaver in Poland is much smaller and seems like a good alternative. The newly released Cosmic Trigger from Moose Electronics looks interesting too, but be aware that it's a cross between a TS-50 and an Acoustic 360. You could also have someone assemble the Aion TS-50B preamp kit for you.

In the "no longer made/unobtanium" category, you might be able to find a used Broughton Helion, which has the smaller form factor as well. There was also a guy named Jason Zdora who made some rackmount preamps based on the TS-120B, but it's unclear whether his pedal version ever made it past the prototyping stage. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any Traynor TS-based pedals with an option to tame the boost switch.

Really helpful, thanks.

 

[Windowliquor]

I ended up ditching my Rusty Box. I impulse bought a used MXR M80 because it was dirt cheap and I have terrible GAS/impulse control. With some tweaking it comes damn close to the Rusty at roughly half the price(used, anyway), has a blend knob, and none of the brittle top end of the RB. It weighs a hair less too. Glad I found a reasonable alternative.

 

[bassness]

I impulse bought a used MXR M80 because it was dirt cheap and I have terrible GAS/impulse control. With some tweaking it comes damn close to the Rusty at roughly half the price(used, anyway), has a blend knob, and none of the brittle top end of the RB.

Would you mind sharing your settings for the MXR? I have one laying around unused and getting a Rusty Box vibe might be a way to put it to use. Thanks.

 

[Windowliquor]

You bet. I have it going into a GK 400RB with the GK’s high mids around 2-3 o’clock, low mids 2, treble just a hair past noon. It hits that sweet spot pretty well. I keep the color off and the gate engaged.

 

[bassness]

Very cool, thanks. I have a GK 400RB as well so I will give it a shot.

 

[xJasonSmithx]

Here is my dream pedal: a Rusty Box but the boost has a level knob and can be used independently of the pre and the order can be switched. Added Cab sim XLR out and Headphone out.

 

[groovaholic]

Sooo, anything new?

I really like the Rusty Box but it”s really heavy (weight) and the boost switch is pretty useless because of the massive volume jump.

If you're relatively handy with a soldering iron, Aion Effects has a PCB to build your own TS-50B preamp.
TS-50 Bass Preamp / Traynor TS-50B - Aion FX
I built one and it sounded VERY Jesus Lizard/Shellac, but it ended up just being a bit much for what I wanted.

Also, from what I was hearing, the EQ is boost-only -- flat would be all knobs at zero.
Setting all the EQ knobs at noon created a lot of peaks and valleys in the frequency curve, which (along with the multiband compression/distortion) seem to define the trademark sound of this circuit.

 

[Wan-Zega]

I don't think there is a flat setting for the RB. With all knobs at zero there's an emphasis on bass and low-mids, but cutting seems to work better than boosting from noon, especially since each EQ knob increases the gain/distortion.

If I can't find the Steve Albini production tones I'm looking for from playing around with it some more and reading older threads, I'll try a used MXR M80 into my GK.

 

[xJasonSmithx]

I don't think there is a flat setting for the RB. With all knobs at zero there's an emphasis on bass and low-mids, but cutting seems to work better than boosting from noon, especially since each EQ knob increases the gain/distortion.

If I can't find the Steve Albini production tones I'm looking for from playing around with it some more and reading older threads, I'll try a used MXR M80 into my GK.

What kind of bass and amp are you using? What settings are you using on those?