I need to swap my dirts around again. Try the MBD at the end again. I can’t quite remember how it reacted to the others anymore.
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I’m finding more and more after band rehearsals that I like the MBD as a stand alone dirt pedal.
Something about the tone I get from my L2K>MBD>Mesa Buster is just perfection.
I do like stacking the MBD into the Mobius tho.
Something about the tone I get from my L2K>MBD>Mesa Buster is just perfection.
I do like stacking the MBD into the Mobius tho.
Late to the party, but as others noted, the MBD doesn't have to be first, and there doesn't have to be any boost ("hitting the circuit harder") when stacking dirt pedals. Boosting level into a dirt pedal can sometimes get more distortion out of it, but that boost can come from a clean preamp, compressor, or whatever. I prefer to stack 2-3 dirt pedals all set for unity gain. I usually have one set for low gain dirt and leave it always on, then kick in a second dirt pedal (and/or a third) for heavier distortion.
And it's also often about tone. For example I love the high end sparkle of my Darkglass B7K. That's usually last in the chain set for gentle distortion. When I need heavier distortion, I kick in another pedal ahead of it: the MBD-1 set for moderate OD is a favorite. Also, when I want a more traditional/less sparkly tone I'll turn the B7K off, and use the MBD-1 solo, sometimes stacked with a third pedal for that extra dirt.
I know I like the MBD as a standalone myself usually. I just started stacking recently because I changed my setup a bit. I normally only run it by itself and I like it that way. The tone, whether it's slightly gritty or barely there, is just "the" bass drive tone I've always been wanting and looking for. It's just "got it".
I have always swapped basses up while playing at home. Lately I've been swapping a lot. P bass, then to the J bass, then to the ATK, then to the PJ. The MBD handles all them so well. I especially like it with the P and ATK. Beastly. It really gives that P bass tone, that rounded out more low mid pushed/punchy tone, a nice little bump in the highs and high mids that makes it sound so cool.
I have always swapped basses up while playing at home. Lately I've been swapping a lot. P bass, then to the J bass, then to the ATK, then to the PJ. The MBD handles all them so well. I especially like it with the P and ATK. Beastly. It really gives that P bass tone, that rounded out more low mid pushed/punchy tone, a nice little bump in the highs and high mids that makes it sound so cool.
I remember how mine reacted. It was noisy and got too compressed when stacking. I put it before and it all stopped and everything sounded 10 times better.
The MBD is a part of my always on Arsenal. I run the MBD/Rusty Box/AOU always on. I take that back. I turn the MBD off sometimes when I’m using fuzz and octave effects. Seems to get a little too wonky in those situations.
I have had difficulty stacking in my experiences. When I use the mbd it’s nice and crystal clear on its own, but whe I stack it often gets bloated and too muddy. I have a mosky black rat and it likes being stacked into my fifth gear, but that is the only combination I have had luck with stacking in my dirt pedal quest.
Off topic question, does anyone know what barefoot style button fits on the mbd? My current barefoot ones don’t.
Stacking is a big "YMMV" for sure. Occasionally I set my pedals (some of them anyway) for lower gain than I would if running them solo. That's usually true for my Blower Box. My typical combo is two set for lower gain plus one moderate gain, and I then choose my favorite combinations, which will depend on the pedals I happen to be using. I rotate 'em, and try to use a mix of reasonably transparent dirt (such as the MBD-1) along with colorful (Darkglass B7K).
One thing I discovered by happy accident is that I prefer stacked distortions to true fuzz. The MBD can get into phat and phuzzy territory on its own, but I generally set it for moderate gain and stack with a second dirt pedal (and occasionally a third) for pseudo-fuzz. I don't often need heavy OD, so I'd rather leave the MBD set to moderate gain.
All that said, I totally understand that many prefer alternation to stacking. Whatever works!
One thing I discovered by happy accident is that I prefer stacked distortions to true fuzz. The MBD can get into phat and phuzzy territory on its own, but I generally set it for moderate gain and stack with a second dirt pedal (and occasionally a third) for pseudo-fuzz. I don't often need heavy OD, so I'd rather leave the MBD set to moderate gain.
All that said, I totally understand that many prefer alternation to stacking. Whatever works!
I have one on mine. I think the "regular style" one fits on there. Version 1 I guess it would be called.
That's why I put mine first after you said how much of a difference it made for you. I thought mine sounded better first. But then I wasn't really stacking all that much back then. I think I'll try it back at the end or between the BB the and the X7. See what happens.
Everything I've tried has always sounded much better with a 90% clean B7K after it. Now I don't have a B7K any more, but I have the simulated one in my Line 6 HX. I'll see if that works the same way. Luckily, I'll be able to swap pedal ordering on the fly since the MBD-1 will be in an fx loop from the HX.
I'll be home today when my MBD-1 arrives, as I'm working from home. Sadly it's because California is burning.
I'll be home today when my MBD-1 arrives, as I'm working from home. Sadly it's because California is burning.
well it sucks Cali is on fire
But I am really stoked to hear what you think of the MBD. I always like hearing what all you guys have to say about any pedal really. But it’s even cooler when one of you, such as yourself smeet, gets a dirt box I’m totally all about on their board and we can geek about it haha. Hell, I’ve made a small handful of actual friends this way through this forum. But it’ll be cool to hear what you think since we sorta have similar tastes and a rapport already.
I also stack after the MBD. The $20 rat pedals from china seem to work very well with the MBD. I also like it with an Ezekiel clone.
Dude. Got it today and spent an hour messing with it and going through some tunes for a hard rock cover band.well it sucks Cali is on fire
But I am really stoked to hear what you think of the MBD. I always like hearing what all you guys have to say about any pedal really. But it’s even cooler when one of you, such as yourself smeet, gets a dirt box I’m totally all about on their board and we can geek about it haha. Hell, I’ve made a small handful of actual friends this way through this forum. But it’ll be cool to hear what you think since we sorta have similar tastes and a rapport already.
It sounds really great, and I'm a bit mystified actually. The B7K has a very distinctive thing happening in the mids that I heard in the demos, and I heard that when I got it, and that's what I love about it. The MBD-1 is different. It kind of doesn't sound like it's doing too much to the sound, but it sounds so natural and good that I'm blown away. I'm not actually much of a dirt guy myself, although I like it when other people use it. This might be the first thing I've try that adds just enough to the sound that it sounds great, without calling attention to itself, or getting too shrill or fuzzy.
I've been playing it with gain and depth pretty much at minimum, tone at about 2:00, shift up, clean and volume about straight up. Just dirt enough with both fingers and pick. And so clear, it doesn't hide anything I do, I can really hear the difference when I pick at different place on the string or change the pick angle...
OK. Obviously I'm happy. The Aftershock can't compete. The MBD-1 can get a lot of sounds and is so easy to tweak, and sounds so good with just a few knob twists.
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Ha! Yes. I’m happy you dig man. And I can’t see anything having anything on the MBD. It’s it’s own thing. I’ve never played anything that comes close or delves in the same place. It’s like you said, it sounds very natural. I like how it sounds natural yet full while still keeping the zing in your signal. Oh, it’s just so good. It’s hard to fully describe it till you play one. Glad you finally snagged and played one. You could use this thing as a preamp if you wanted imo.
Oh yeah that zing. I love that I can bring that out without getting fizzy or sounding like a spike in the ear.
My take too. I think of it as the most "oraganic" or "natural" of any such pedal I've owned, and there's been many dozens. Any setting is easily usable.
If you find yourself setting the Drive at minimum, consider trimming down the gain on the internal trim pot. I did to make a mild drive easier to set up, as that's how I mostly use it.
The pedal can't do everything, but it can do a lot of things fantastic and virtually everything else "good enough".
