Earthquaker Devices Blumes

[AnotherOneBitesTheBass]

I don't know if it makes much sense to discuss the manufacturer's intentions to focus or not on producing full featured bass pedals. They just could have put a clean blend on an unmodified Plumes, but they have decided to include other adaptations to make it more bass friendly. Personally I prefer the path they took with the Blumes. My only complaint is the very narrow and effectively uncontrollable range of the Level pot.

 

[melloncollie]

I agree with your take on clean blends.

Off topic, but can you or someone else explain to me what a Q Strip does or is? My journey through dirt is pretty nascent, and I’m getting frustrated with being able to hear my dirt in my IEMs but not in FOH. Sometimes in FOH I just hear the fizz and no low end. Sometimes it’s all low end and no fizz.

It’s an EQ pedal that seeks to emulate the sound of a channel in a recording console.

 

[bassness]

Off topic, but can you or someone else explain to me what a Q Strip does or is?

A Q/Strip is an EQ pedal made by Tech 21 that has 2 shelving bands for low and high and 2 semi parametric bands that cover the mid frequencies. It also has low and high pass filters and a XLR out so it can be used as a direct box. It's a pretty handy tool that can sculpt tone or be used as somewhat of a cabsim.

 

[deepestend]

Player mine with a band today and loved it. Overall has great presence in the mix. I’m not so bothered by the taper. Really like 1 and 2 but 3 doesn’t really work for me.

my messenger does the same thing a q-strip would—hp/lp and final eq adjustments.

 

[Melvin7822]

Coincidentally, it was mentioned on the livestream that mode 3 is the most reminiscent of what Jamie believes a clean blend would add (note attack).

 

[MtManiac]

A Q/Strip is an EQ pedal made by Tech 21 that has 2 shelving bands for low and high and 2 semi parametric bands that cover the mid frequencies. It also has low and high pass filters and a XLR out so it can be used as a direct box. It's a pretty handy tool that can sculpt tone or be used as somewhat of a cabsim.

Thanks! How do you use it to thicken your tone, just bump up the lows?

 

[kazuhank]

I finally got the replacement Blumes and threw the pair on my smaller board to try out in their intended application of "Mode Two - Always On" and "Mode One - Dirt." I'll report back with my findings.

 

[deepestend]

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I finally got the replacement Blumes and threw the pair on my smaller board to try out in their intended application of "Mode Two - Always On" and "Mode One - Dirt." I'll report back with my findings.

Would love to hear how that goes.

 

[deepestend]

I already have a plumes... I wonder if I can just put the plumes before the blumes to drive it into distortion/fuzz territory when I need it but retain the clarity?

 

[kazuhank]

Blumes > Blumes = Tonal Bliss. I ran the two together at a rehearsal tonight with the first Blumes essentially always on in Mode 2 with light breakup and the second Blumes downstream in Mode 1 with gain around 3/4. This combo slayed in this power trio. They stack together really well, and also balance when switching directly between the two. Mode 1 has a lot of the higher end rasp that I go for in a fuzz or DOD250 style overdrive. This pair of $99 boxes is able to cover the sound that I have been chasing with a plethora of other (much) more expensive boxes.

I was not expecting to dig this pedal as much as I have. I also assumed that I would muss my fuzz, but Mode 1 really gets into that similar territory but with more definition and clarity, especially when stacked with both Blumes.

I did try switching the second Blumes into Mode 3 a couple of times, but found myself going right back to Mode 1. I have found this to often be the case in pedals with three clipping options, 2/3 usually suit my tastes.

I should add that tonight was in a trio where I play almost exclusively pick style and the Blumes Brothers will be all that I need with this application moving forward.

 

[kazuhank]

I meant to also mention that Mode 2 is really touch sensitive and responsive to playing dynamics. You can set it to add just a little hair that gets grittier as you dig in, in a natural, organic way.

 

[arepa_funk]

I meant to also mention that Mode 2 is really touch sensitive and responsive to playing dynamics. You can set it to add just a little hair that gets grittier as you dig in, in a natural, organic way.

I see a Blumes in my future, though I never thought I'd say that. Does it have the TS mid-forward flavor? I really don't like TS style overdrives but this sounds very different.

 

[deepestend]

I tried plumes>blumes and didn't love the way they stacked. Though I'll have to hear it live. I also tried Tall Font Russian>Blumes and really liked that. I'll have to check that out live.

 

[johnk_10]

I tried plumes>blumes and didn't love the way they stacked. Though I'll have to hear it live. I also tried Tall Font Russian>Blumes and really liked that. I'll have to check that out live.

IMO, it's probably because the plumes cuts low end.

 

[deepestend]

IMO, it's probably because the plumes cuts low end.

I agree... just wanted to try what I had on hand to see if it worked.

 

[deepestend]

The only thing I don't like about the whole Blumes thing is that for years EQD has been saying, "No, no, plumes is great on bass, trust us." If that's true, why do we need the Blumes?

I get it... it sounded fine on bass to a bunch of guitar players, but still.

 

[johnk_10]

IMO. the original plumes was okay on bass, but it did cut low end quite a bit.

 

[deepestend]

IMO. the original plumes was okay on bass, but it did cut low end quite a bit.

I was a fan, too. You could make it work, but it really does cut low end.

 

[deepestend]

I’m also finding that there is a perceived bass increase as you turn the gain up.

 

[deepestend]

Any more reviews?