FEA fan club!

[sonic 7]

Been playing my new dual band smx for about a week now, very nice indeed. I was gonna hold out for the dual band comp/limiter. But this just nails it for me . Now Im torn between my smx and opti-fet. Like trying to pick your favourite kid. There both awesome , thanks Frank and Glen

 

[caeman]

Should you find that one them must go...I would be very much interested in trying to deal for it.

 

[sonic 7]

Dont hold your breath .

 

[caeman]

 

[Fran Diaz]

Hey Frank,

I already made up my mind and the Opti-FET wins. I don't really need a limiter and the side chain seems to be a tool I can use.

A couple more questions:

1. What kind of plug do you use for the power suply? It looks like a jack on the photos.
2. What are the factoury settings for the warmth and filter jumpers inside the pedal?

TIA
later
Fran

Hey guys, thanks for the kind words!



Although what Glen has said is technically 100% correct, I think most people will have a hard time hearing the differences between the clean/transparent modes of both compressors. The difference is like a change in temperature of less than 1 degree… most people can not sense that small of a change. If anyone can hear a difference then Bongo will. I know that sometimes he hears minute things where you need test equipment to detect it. Hyper sensitive hearing can be both a blessing and a curse.

-Frank

Hey Chad… nice board! The plug for the direct out of the Growler needs to be pushed in.



I just thought of something else that you may need to consider. The new DE comp has either an automatic or a fixed fast release (selected by the internal DIP switch). So, if you are looking for compression as an effect, then the lack of a release control may not be what you want.

-Frank

 

[boomertech]

Been playing my new dual band smx for about a week now, very nice indeed. I was gonna hold out for the dual band comp/limiter. But this just nails it for me . Now Im torn between my smx and opti-fet. Like trying to pick your favourite kid. There both awesome , thanks Frank and Glen

Thanks Sonic, it’s great to hear that you like them both.

Hey Frank,

I already made up my mind and the Opti-FET wins. I don't really need a limiter and the side chain seems to be a tool I can use.

A couple more questions:

1. What kind of plug do you use for the power suply? It looks like a jack on the photos.
2. What are the factoury settings for the warmth and filter jumpers inside the pedal?

TIA
later
Fran

The internal switches are set to match the original Opti-FET tone when shipped. Warm 1 is on and Warm 2 and the filter are off.

The power jack is the common 9Vdc, 2.1mm, center negative barrel connector.

-Frank

 

[caeman]

I have only had a few hours to mess with the DBD settings, but this is very versatile pedal. You can certainly do screaming distortion. Alternating, you can tone down the settings create some hints of drive that keep the signal clean, yet a touch of that thing some people call "woolyness". It's supreme ability to maintain the low end is awesome.

This pedal is a keeper.

 

[caeman]

And the results are in...the Barber Bass Board loses. I already liked the combination of the Growler with the 2 CH Mixer, but the addition of the DBD with its ability to be subtle to obnoxious gives it a clear edge. I do like the tone of the Linden EQ, I admit, but the many-knobbed-ness of the FEA pedals gives me more options in the same amount of space.

Frank, thank you for making such cool pedals.

 

[boomertech]

And the results are in...the Barber Bass Board loses. I already liked the combination of the Growler with the 2 CH Mixer, but the addition of the DBD with its ability to be subtle to obnoxious gives it a clear edge. I do like the tone of the Linden EQ, I admit, but the many-knobbed-ness of the FEA pedals gives me more options in the same amount of space.

Frank, thank you for making such cool pedals.

Thanks Chad! It’s great to hear you like tweaking knobs as much as I do.

-Frank

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

Dammit.

Thanks for the GAS guys. Just placed an order for the Proton Fuzz.

Really like the looks of these pedals.

 

[caeman]

You deserve a Photon Fuzz.

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

You deserve a Photon Fuzz.

Why yes....yes I do! lol

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

I really hope people are taking a look at the Photon Fuzz. It is definitely my favorite fuzz right now...I can't praise it enough.

Just ordered one today. And they are in stock.

 

[8strings0hair]

I got a Dual Band Distortion (through a great deal in the emporium) to ring in the New Year, and I absolutely love it. It's been on my wish list for a while.
I tap on an 8 string guitar, so being able to focus distortion on a specific set of frequencies is super advantageous (and the fact that you can switch the other side in & out).
Love it! (plus it seems it's sporting the 001 serial number, neat!)

I already had the Photon Fuzz, and loved it on my 8. I roll it back a little and I'm able to get a great Gilmour type of sustain. And then I can kick in the Octave for extra bite.
BUT, I finally put together a little board for my bass (which I rarely play), and WOW! That thing smokes on bass. I keep a lot of dry running through it, so I get this massive clean yet fuzzy sound. Fantastic!

Great job, Frank. I definitely needed to post on the FEA fan club thread

 

[boomertech]

Thanks 8strings! It’s great to hear that you like the DBD and Photon.

Just so you and Chad know… there are two versions of the DBD. The first version can be upgraded to the latest version. The details of the upgrade are on the website. So, if you feel that your DBD is lacking highs then shoot me an email to see if you have the latest version of the circuit.

-Frank

 

[caeman]

Good to know, thank you.

 

[8strings0hair]

Oh I know. I asked about it before I got the pedal. It's v1 (and apparently the first one ever built), and was thinking of sending it in to get more gain, and more range out of certain parameters as you mentioned on the website, but I really like how it sounds. Definitely more of a low gain sound, but I'm very satisfied with it, so why mess with that and run the risk of losing the tone I actually enjoy

 

[boomertech]

Absolutely, why mess with something that you like? I am the same way with my personal pedal collection. The only thing I would change on a couple of my non-FEA favorites is a better bypass.

We sent all of the original DBD owners an email when the upgrades became available. Only a few of them sent their pedal in for upgrade, so either they also like the original sound or they flipped it before the upgrade was available. The general consensus from the feedback that we received on the upgrade was that the original tone is still in there, but it now has the ability for much more. The highs now go to "11".

-Frank

 

[Megazap63]

I have to step in here to say I've been using my OptiFET for about six months now and still absolutely love it. Never used to be a big knob twiddler but now wouldn't go back to one or two control compressors again. Also, every function on the OptiFET is very responsive. I'm thinking about getting one of the dual band limiter versions.....but looks like the waiting list is pretty long........

Can any OptiFET users suggest how I might be able to make the indents on the control knobs more visible? Felt pen doesn't seem like it would work....nail varnish, enamel paint?? Suggestions please?

Cheers, Chris

 

[sonic 7]

I used a black sharpie on mine, wish i was a little more careful cause it looks like crap but I dont havr to put on my glasses to see the knobs anymore.