I would be interested in doing this mod as well. I love the pedal but it would be nice to have a more useable range on the volume knob.
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Earthquaker Devices Blumes
- Thread starter xJasonSmithx
- Start date
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,636
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- John K Custom Basses
it wasn't very hard if you have a nice soldering iron and a solder sucker. it took a standard PCB mounted pot like this:Alpha Single-Gang 16mm Vertical PC Mount
i used a A250K (audio) but you could probably use an A500K or an A1M.
I"ve gone through about 15 overdrives, looking for my ideal pedals for my band. I think I've settled on the JPTR Jive for subtle, always-on OD, and the Blumes for more moderate OD. If it weren't for a lack of clean headroom, I could see the Blumes as being a jack of all trades. But as it stands, it's better for moderate OD in my book. I really only like the first setting, as the other two compress too much for me. But for a 99 dollar pedal, finding even one setting I like is good enough. Now if they create a version 2 that can take 18 volts and/or have more clean range on the gain, I could see running a pedalboard with two of these covering all your OD needs.
deepestend
Commercial User
- Feb 21, 2003
- 6,249
- 8,171
- Disclosures
- Website and Social Media at Sadowsky
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,636
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
it has a charge pump & inverter that converts -9V to +9 & -9v so yeah, it's basically already running at 18 volts internally.
I've downgraded my Blumes, it's no longer on my bass board. I swapped to a different bass (2 humbuckers, 4 string with round wounds) and the hot output was just too much for the Blumes even on zero gain.
However, following the "it stacks well" suggestions from the hive mind here, it's now on my baritone guitar board stacked into another drive pedal. It's GREAT in this new role. That octave up from bass guitar role really suits the circuit.
If EQD are listening, an internal pre gain level trim pot would be really good in a v02.
The thing I struggle with most when using drive pedals is the boost in volume and lack of touch sensitivity. I get a unity volume when playing at normal touch but playing light is overpowering when playing light. How is the Blumes for touch sensitivity and volume control? Does mode 2 give you that?
And with tone at 12:00 and gain low in mode 2 how transparent is the tone?
And with tone at 12:00 and gain low in mode 2 how transparent is the tone?
I've had mine for about three weeks now and really like it. In that time I've used it at a recording session, a show, and a few practices. I also bought the Daredevil Almighty Bass at the same time to A/B them with the intent of only having one of them on my pedalboard at a time and the Blumes happened to arrive first. So far I really like modes 1 and 2 the best and used mode 1 on the gig and recording that I've done. FWIW, I have an always on Empress Comp that goes into the either the Fairfield Barbershop or Blumes and I switch between those two pedals depending on how much grind I need for the song.
I've been using the Blumes with both a Mesa TT-800 and Bergantino B|Amp and it sounds really good.
I really like the tone of the MXR Bass Overdrive but it can sound muffled and lacking in transparency which is a common complaint. Is the Blumes much more open and transparent in its tone? It sounds it might be in modes 1 and 2 maybe?
I find it's response is decent. It's better than anything in the hx stomp which is what I was looking for. That said, it's not a DCX.....
I like it in #2, and I find it more open and less dark than anything I use in the hx stomp. There are better options out there, but not for $100.... I also find this to be pretty transparent, though you will still get some grit even with the gain all the way down. I get it with gain around 8 oclock, and primarily use the pedal as a boost to sound like I'm slightly driving an amp.
The added midrange and harmonics are pleasant and smooth in the mix, but can get unruly at times.
deepestend
Commercial User
- Feb 21, 2003
- 6,249
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- Website and Social Media at Sadowsky
I’m liking my MBD3>Blumes. The MBD3 fills it out nicely and makes for a really nice drive sound.
Picked up a 2nd Blumes off of Reverb, this time in purple metallic (Gear Hero exclusive I guess?). They are even selling this one a bit under retail with free shipping, so bonus! Gonna leave one in Mode 2 and one in Mode 3.
I was trying to hold out for one of the Black-on-Black Pitbull Audio exclusive ones, but no idea when they'll be getting those back in stock if at all.
I was trying to hold out for one of the Black-on-Black Pitbull Audio exclusive ones, but no idea when they'll be getting those back in stock if at all.
deepestend
Commercial User
- Feb 21, 2003
- 6,249
- 8,171
- Disclosures
- Website and Social Media at Sadowsky
I found what appeared to be a used one at my local GC - almost grabbed it but held off and just bought what I needed (Levy strap, didn’t realize they were bought by Gator?) Might swing by if I have time and play with it a little bit. Forget what color it was, at the very least need to take a pic…
EDIT: come to think of it, what settings might people suggest to try out?
EDIT: come to think of it, what settings might people suggest to try out?
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Mode 2, level 8 o'clock, tone 12, gain 8. Adjust gain gradually and get to know it.
Then same again for other modes but increase Level to match to equivalent levels (as level drops on 1 and 3 modes).
Be careful not to drive the next pedal or amp after it (oodles of level available)
Great suggestion on settings. It's absolutely bonkers how much headroom there is on Mode 2.
I've found that when I go from Mode 2 to 3, I bump the Level to about 9-10 o'clock to achieve unity.
EQD has a blog post that has some pretty good setting suggestions:
6 Classic Bass Tones from the Blumes Overdrive Pedal — EarthQuaker Devices
Thanks everyone! Plans changed so not going today but if I do get time this will help a lot!
And it finally came together - it's green! (continued from this post)
I ran into my local GC around 10:15 am today (Saturday) - no one in the guitar department, but someone from upfront grabbed the pedal for me and took off! I was hoping to play it thru a bass amp, but no battery, so I hooked it up to the guitar amp they had set up for checking out effects. It definitely works, I encountered the different volume level of setting #2, I need to play it thru my headphone rig - will do that as soon as I finish this post! I played a Squier '70s P-Bass - should have taken a picture of it! It was actually a cool little bass, they have a couple of other things that might be interesting - wait - this is G.A.S.! Stop thinking about that! Back to the Blumes - price seemed decent so I took it back up to the front and bought it.
Here's another cool thing about the pedal:
I figured out later - it's the shop that put out the cat pedal! And mine is called [This invalid link has been removed]! Alright, off to play a bit...
I ran into my local GC around 10:15 am today (Saturday) - no one in the guitar department, but someone from upfront grabbed the pedal for me and took off! I was hoping to play it thru a bass amp, but no battery, so I hooked it up to the guitar amp they had set up for checking out effects. It definitely works, I encountered the different volume level of setting #2, I need to play it thru my headphone rig - will do that as soon as I finish this post! I played a Squier '70s P-Bass - should have taken a picture of it! It was actually a cool little bass, they have a couple of other things that might be interesting - wait - this is G.A.S.! Stop thinking about that! Back to the Blumes - price seemed decent so I took it back up to the front and bought it.
Here's another cool thing about the pedal:
I figured out later - it's the shop that put out the cat pedal! And mine is called [This invalid link has been removed]! Alright, off to play a bit...
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