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Damnation Audio Fan/Appreciation Thread

#6,345
dedpool1052 said:
Thanks to @father of fires & @whoismarykelly
For this "vanity project" with the Retro Bass Distortion.
It has definitely hit the mark for me.


PS,
If you guys end up doing an SMD version in a 125b enclosure, I'll buy it.
Click to expand...
I can't echo this sentiment enough. The Retro Bass Distortion has the soul and vibe of the other DA distortion pedals, but simplified to three knobs so that this dummy can operate it properly. It has blown me away in every application and just sounds right with every bass I throw at it. Well done @father of fires and @whoismarykelly your "vanity project" has become my favorite always on dirt option. Thank you.
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#6,347
Alright gang, here’s the deal. I’ve had a long-term relationship with the -1. This new retro feels like a permanent mistress. I can never be without these. They are different and thinking about trying to articulate that here in text seems challenging. The -1 is capable of being deeper and grittier. The retro is just a really balanced dirt sound and slight variation of the GOAT.

So in conclusion, I’m gonna squeeze a compressor in here and so long as the Baltimore team is done making new things, Im all set.
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#6,352
metron said:
With a G&L SB-1 and an old SVT, yous guys. This is the most insane bass sound I have conjured. At about 100+ dB… I don’t know what to say. Brutal sonic devastation seems hyperbolic but I dont have a thesaurus in front of me.
Click to expand...
Default* signal chain for the past year: G&L SB-1→Empress Bass Compressor→Damnation Audio MBD-1→Mesa/Boogie Subway TT-800
Default signal chain for the 3 years prior: G&L SB-1→FEA DE-CL→Damnation Audio MBD-1→Mesa/Boogie Subway TT-800
Default signal chain for the 4 years prior to that: G&L SB-1→FEA DE-CL→Damnation Audio MBD-1→Mesa/Boogie Subway Bass DI-Preamp Box

*Actually I'm playing my Mayones VF 5 far more often than my SB-1 in the past year or so, and will continue doing so going forward, but let's not let facts get in the way of me expressing my appreciation of the MFD→MBD goodness.
 
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#6,353
gunai said:
Default* signal chain for the past year: G&L SB-1→Empress Bass Compressor→Damnation Audio MBD-1→Mesa/Boogie Subway TT-800
Default signal chain for the 3 years prior: G&L SB-1→FEA DE-CL→Damnation Audio MBD-1→Mesa/Boogie Subway TT-800
Default signal chain for the 4 years prior to that: G&L SB-1→FEA DE-CL→Damnation Audio MBD-1→Mesa/Boogie Subway Bass DI-Preamp Box

*Actually I'm playing my Mayones VF 5 far more often than my SB-1 in the past year or so, and will continue doing so going forward, but let's not let facts get in the way of me expressing my appreciation of the MFD→MBD goodness.
Click to expand...

How do you like the TT-800? I've been using a D800 for a bunch of years and we just got a Quilter 803 for the shop. I keep thinking the TT-800 probably has some cool tones with the tube pre.
 
#6,354
whoismarykelly said:
How do you like the TT-800? I've been using a D800 for a bunch of years and we just got a Quilter 803 for the shop. I keep thinking the TT-800 probably has some cool tones with the tube pre.
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The best way to describe it would be that it's a characterful musical amp that always adds something of itself to the sound.

Sticking with the Subway channel as the direct comparison, for (in my case very humble) playing and recording purposes, it makes for a richer bass than I had with the solid-state preamp.
You can EQ out the inherent scoop, which AFAIK is comparable to the 10-11 o'clock on the D series voicing, but the way the transients behave is 'warmer', less immediate and with a more pleasant texture.
In my limited experience, the Subway amps themselves are already softer in this way than other flagship solid-state preamps, so the Subway channel in the TT-800 takes that a step further.
Accordingly, if you're not finding the D800 to be too harsh or immediate (which it certainly isn't in an objective sense, IMHO) then I don't think there's a substantial benefit to upgrading to the Subway channel in the TT-800, especially with the price inflation which occurred in recent years. I got mine at the old price still, so while I foresee some flight-mandating relocation in my future, I'll likely keep the amp long into the foreseeable future. I would have planned the same with any other 800W Subway amp, they are all definitely Good Enough.

The Boogie channel is further into what I consider to be stereotypical tube territory, but I have no experience with the D400+ it's based on, or really any comparable flagship all-tube amps, to make any useful comparison beyond saying it's "more". I think gooey or 3D are often mentioned by other users.

The Quilter makes a whole lot of sense to me for pedal workshopping purposes, given the distinct voicings. IMvHO it suits the task far better than an instrument-in-and-of-itself amp such as the TT-800 would.
 
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#6,355
gunai said:
Accordingly, if you're not finding the D800 to be too harsh or immediate (which it certainly isn't in an objective sense, IMHO) then I don't think there's a substantial benefit to upgrading to the Subway channel in the TT-800
Click to expand...

I have a D350 and love it, but there's definitely harshness to the treble with my MBD3. I'm considering whether to solve this with a tube preamp pedal like the SushiFX More, or an LPF.
 
#6,358
metron said:
The -1 is capable of being deeper and grittier. The retro is just a really balanced dirt sound and slight variation of the GOAT.
Click to expand...
Agreed.
I love the flexibility of the -1 is great, and as you said, "really balanced dirt sound and slight variation of the GOAT" is a solid description of the RBD.
It's become my favorite low-gainer.
The -1 is set for more of that "bi-amped clean low-distorted highs" type of sound.
The BPD is set for that "Tool-H" intro tone.
 
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#6,360
gunai said:
Default* signal chain for the past year: G&L SB-1→Empress Bass Compressor→Damnation Audio MBD-1→Mesa/Boogie Subway TT-800
Default signal chain for the 3 years prior: G&L SB-1→FEA DE-CL→Damnation Audio MBD-1→Mesa/Boogie Subway TT-800
Default signal chain for the 4 years prior to that: G&L SB-1→FEA DE-CL→Damnation Audio MBD-1→Mesa/Boogie Subway Bass DI-Preamp Box

*Actually I'm playing my Mayones VF 5 far more often than my SB-1 in the past year or so, and will continue doing so going forward, but let's not let facts get in the way of me expressing my appreciation of the MFD→MBD goodness.
Click to expand...
Yeeeesssss! Dont tell others though, its a secret tone recipe.

I should try compression first. I always just put it after dirt.
 
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