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Nice! I just saw a white MBD-1 go up for sale in the classifieds, if you are going for all the variants!And then there was.........moreView attachment 4055892
No affiliation! I’m just a bad influence! LOL
Ugh.
I do want all the variants, but can't justify it right now.
That said.
If Jeff offered an MBD-1 in Hammertone blue, I'd get it.
Larger pedal, more surface area.
More room for blue, more room for "Ooooooooooooo!"
Ugh.
I do want all the variants, but can't justify it right now.
That said.
If Jeff offered an MBD-1 in Hammertone blue, I'd get it.
Larger pedal, more surface area.
More room for blue, more room for "Ooooooooooooo!"
The Blue is gorgeous. Love it on my MBD-2!
What do you hear as the difference? And how much is “slightly”? Audible or feel-able with a band?
Thanks!
A couple things I’m finding (not to get too far from the specific subject of Damnation) is that drives and dirt pedals really change how they react with synths and delays.
The synths can have huge low frequency content but lack the overtones of a bass string that translate into pleasant excited distortion. A pedal that sounds like it doesn’t cut any lows with a bass guitar can easily show that it’s cutting lows when you start pumping low frequency sine waves into it. The fundamental just vaporizes. The distortion itself can leave you wanting because the overtones of a synth can be so different from a vibrating string.
I’m finding a little drive with a bass cut and treble boost can help make delays are reverbs work better (it’s what I’m using the VT for). The delays seem to respond better to the transients and high frequency information. Obviously the delay type (digital, tape, BBD) has a big influence as well. Compressed and sustaining distortion doesn’t usually make the delays respond. Although, with reverbs and volume swells you can create some interesting pad sounds.
I’m finding dirt that I like on solo bass for rock/metal/heavy music just isn’t right for what I’m after on weirder stuff (and vice versa). As much as I want the MBD-2, it just won’t get used as much with my current endeavors. Maybe when my focus shifts again.
And then there was.........moreView attachment 4055892
I envy your trifecta. I too once has a trifecta so I know how it feels. Powerful
Can't say I've used a tone of dirt pedals, but the MBD-1/2 is the best (for me)
One of the best distorted bass tones I've ever heard, was from Jason Newsted on the Voivod albums.
This circuit gets that tone with ease. No extraneous knob twisting. A couple quick turns and I'm there.
The MBD-1 is just a bit more open and transparent, which I prefer for my playing style and with my setup. Turning up the MBD-1's internal gain is also another reason. I love the MBD2's +20 boost and after adjusting the MBD-1's internal trim I was able to find a sweet spot that achieves similar boosted tones I like
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Thanks for making me want an MBD-1. The MBD-2 is great, but for some reason I want that big enclosure and crank up the internal gain a bit.
That's interesting. I thought they were identical from an audio standpoint. I understand that the gain pot gives more flexibility than the +20dB button. But the transparent/open comment makes me wonder... Has anyone else noticed this difference?
@father of fires Any comment on this?
I'm asking all this because I have an MBD-1 and I really like it, but I was thinking of "upgrading" to an MBD-2 to save on board space. But if there is a noticeable difference in sound, maybe I'll hold off until I _really_ need the space.
Hopefully not too off-topic, how do you like the Pessimiser? Is it comparable to a Boss ODB3? I remember hearing that's how he gets his dirt tone run into his Sunn Beta.
I ordered the MBD-2 to save space. And it sounds AWESOME. It just didn't sound exactly like my MBD-1 with similar settings; I'm guessing the internal trimpot is part of the reason (it's set at factory default...I haven't touched it.) So I ended up just keeping my MBD-1.
And now I find myself craving that +20dB switch...is there no end to G.A.S.?
I’m not familiar with the ODB3. The Pessimiser is a bit odd/unusual but I’ve come to enjoy it more than I initially expected. It definitely works well in tandem with the Sol (a Beta clone).
I haven’t recorded or played in a band setting with it, so my comments are just from living room playing. It doesn’t really do low-gain, even at minimum gain with a lot of clean blend. It does get pretty fuzzy when cranked, though not like in a smooth scooped/compressed Green Russian way, but more of an abrasive Rat or Fuzz Face way. My ear says the clean blend is like the Damnation in that it has some high-end roll-off. Interestingly, the EQ for the low and mids seem to influence the clean tone but the high doesn’t. So if you roll it to full clean blend you get a bit of an active EQ/boost pedal, but it lacks the snap and zing of a treble boost. There’s lots of low and low mid available from the low control.
The active EQ points take a little time to figure out, with the mid control being very influential on the overall sound.
It’s a little pricey (though I occasionally see them on sale for $180), and takes up a bunch of board space. The build and finish and art are fantastic. If you like that Melvins sound, it’s gonna get you close with the right signal chain. It’s not an essential bass tool, but it’s pretty useful to have available.
Lol
Don't run with the open transparent description. Its still the MBD and I just prefer the slight difference. I especially like where I was able to set the internal gain on the MBD-1. You'd be fine with either... Similar comparisons have been mentioned before. I agree with Silverfoxx that its likely where the internal trim is set on MBD-1 vs the 2
@silky smoove posts were useful for when I was A/b'ing and trying to dial in the same sounds:
Damnation Audio Fan/Appreciation Thread
I've noticed that the same settings, are not the "same" settings, when A/B'ing the 1/2.
My 1 is an older version, pre boost-trim.
The controls have, to my ears, a different taper/sweep, so it took a little bit of turning to achieve the same tone on both.
Ah hmm... all these family pics of MBDs made me buy that white one in the classifieds. My first MBD1 was a white one... and I couldn’t resist.
