Thanks for the advice @Charlie Tuna! I’m running a passive P into this setup as well, looking forward to seeing how it plays with the FPT.
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Audio Kitchen - The Root and Branch Thread
- Thread starter Charlie Tuna
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- audio kitchen tstdi tube
Green leaf club!!
Thoughts to follow but very enjoyable so far!
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Mine’s orange and as you would expect, sounds a little brighter.
Some thoughts on the Fake Plastic Trees after a few hours playing with it on over the last few days…
This is a rather expensive pedal but there definitely seems to be something to it that warrants the expense! As others have mentioned, there is a certain feel to playing through this that I have not encountered in other pedals (but perhaps may be found with good amps), a feeling of push and pull, and feel of the weight behind the notes that is very alluring through headphones. The breakup sounds really natural and swells and blooms with playing dynamics. The EQ is flexible and there is wide range of clean to heavily driven sounds to be found.
I’m having to rethink my pedal chain. I don’t feel like I need as many tone sweeteners as I did before, the tone is thick, juicy and lively enough on its own that I don’t need to add too much to it. The Jive still pairs really well but that’s all it seems to need at the moment. Even using compression before seems to limit the amp like feel of the pedal, going to try placing comp after and see if I like that. Fun times!!
Much thanks to @Charlie Tuna and @el murdoque for encouraging others to check this pedal out! It is a very satisfying and rewarding pedal to play through. Much more to explore here!
And a gut shot for fun!
- It doesn’t look as fancy as some of my other pedals… but has an appeal of its own
- It’s a bit weirdly tall…
- And also quite small…
- It sounds really, really good on its own (thanks @Charlie Tuna)
- It pairs beautifully with my P bass
- It sounds great through the cab sim of the Super Vintage
- It has a beautiful and rich, super touch sensitive breakup
- It sounds amazing with pick and fingers
- It makes me grin while playing!
This is a rather expensive pedal but there definitely seems to be something to it that warrants the expense! As others have mentioned, there is a certain feel to playing through this that I have not encountered in other pedals (but perhaps may be found with good amps), a feeling of push and pull, and feel of the weight behind the notes that is very alluring through headphones. The breakup sounds really natural and swells and blooms with playing dynamics. The EQ is flexible and there is wide range of clean to heavily driven sounds to be found.
I’m having to rethink my pedal chain. I don’t feel like I need as many tone sweeteners as I did before, the tone is thick, juicy and lively enough on its own that I don’t need to add too much to it. The Jive still pairs really well but that’s all it seems to need at the moment. Even using compression before seems to limit the amp like feel of the pedal, going to try placing comp after and see if I like that. Fun times!!
Much thanks to @Charlie Tuna and @el murdoque for encouraging others to check this pedal out! It is a very satisfying and rewarding pedal to play through. Much more to explore here!
And a gut shot for fun!
Nice write-up! I agree with everything you said and all the items in your list particularly #9 and not needing as many tone sweeteners as before.
I don't have the Super Vintage but do have the '64 so I need to try the FPT with it. I think there's a bit of compression going on with the pedal just like a tube amp would have so I think you could get by with lighter compression than normal. Don't forget to use your bass' volume and tone controls as well for a little extra variety.
Rearranged the board a little and did some recording this evening! The FPT is now the main amp sound and using the SV as a switchable biamped setup with the SV driven and the FPT mostly clean! Lots of gain and drive choices to play with! Very happy!!!
Board looks great and nice colorway on the FPT.
You definitely have some good dirt flavors there.
Board looks great and nice colorway on the FPT.
Thanks! Wanted to add a bit more colour with some knob changes on a few of the pedals! Definitely don’t feel lacking for dirt!!
There’s a nicely priced FPT on the ‘Verb right now. Lowest cost of admission I’ve seen. Not affiliated.
I've had a FPT for a few weeks now and I prefer it (for low gain) to the OE DCX Bass. It ain't cheap but it sounds glorious!
That board is glorious! For fun times dime the root, branch and gain and dial back the volume knob. It’s totally overboard but super fun.
Separately, I usually dial back my P-bass’ volume just a bit which gives me a little more clean sound when I want it.
How are you liking the Cali combined with the FPT? Again, that’s a killer board!
Thanks! I'll that a try. Love the new Cali and it works well with anything I've pushed through it. I'm about to sell a Lusithand Alma Comp and a API Select TranZformer CMP which are both excellent (in different ways) but the new Cali sounds sublime and has a much better form factor.
I would think the Cali would be a better match than the Alma for the FPT since the Cali is FET-based. The FPT has so much push-pull dynamics that I would think it needs a faster comp than an optical can provide. I'll probably pick up a Cali again at some point for this reason. Glad to hear it's working for you.
Got the new Cali too! Still deciding on how I want to use the FPT with the Cali/SV combo, was laying last night use it as low gain breakup which sounded great!
I think that can be said about your entire board. I really like that one.
Do the Oracle and the LowRider play nicely together?
Yes, they really do. I guess context is important (main bass is a Serek MW2 with a Guild BS-1 Bisonic; Demeter amp and Barefaced SC) and it just adds that mid boost without it being ugly (for want of a better word). To me it sounds best at 60hz, a bit of a thump but not harsh. I have the Spaceman Equinox too so I was already sold on the 'pultec trick' but this is obviously much smaller. As others have said on the zerofiveaudio thread, you just don't want to turn it off! The Oracle ain't bad either....
Yes, they really do. I guess context is important (main bass is a Serek MW2 with a Guild BS-1 Bisonic; Demeter amp and Barefaced SC) and it just adds that mid boost without it being ugly (for want of a better word). To me it sounds best at 60hz, a bit of a thump but not harsh. I have the Spaceman Equinox too so I was already sold on the 'pultec trick' but this is obviously much smaller. As others have said on the zerofiveaudio thread, you just don't want to turn it off! The Oracle ain't bad either....
Do you use a HPF somewhere in the chain?
I've had the Equinox - and while it was one of the sexiest pedals I ever owned, I sold it because 18V and side jacks, with clones existing in a smaller form factor with top jacks and charge pump. I also sold it because the LowRider has the 45Hz option which I liked better in my setup.
Care to show the underside of that board?
Just the one on the Oracle. I have a Broughton HPF which I could add underneath but I don't think it needs it (and it's for sale on basschat). Yea, the Equinox is a great pedal but not very pedalboard friendly (or at least small pedalboard friendly). It could be neater underneath but it does the job.
Cioks DC-7 and Crux. Even a patchbox. Routing is not perfect, but nothing sticks out.
8/10 from me. You lose one point for not having XLR in the patch box.
But still. Impressive board. I could see myself playing that.
