Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
I Present the IdiotBox Effects's Blower Box
- Thread starter SirMjac28
- Start date
It probably doesn't! My buddy plays guitar, so that's what he'll be using it for. We're both pretty big fans of Swedish death metal, so he's been looking at getting an HM-2 for a while, but hasn't found one. There's one in our area now though, so he's gonna try and snatch it. I just figure with my current rig I'd be able to get a thick distorted tone that would go well with that music. I was right! Blower Box can do it pretty well. Or at least well enough for me. I figure it's kinda like the punk mentality. I'm not gonna buy anything else for that extreme distortion when I have plenty of options for that already.
Got mine today and just had the chance to check it out, wow!
Like a few other folk here, I've been using another Rat clone for dirt and my plan was to put these two head to head, it's been said a few times already but the low end retention on this thing really sets it apart from any other dirt pedal I've owned - I am in love!
The only thing is that it's screwed up my other pedals! I recently bought a VT Bass DI and I've been fiddling around with it but to be honest, I'm not sure it improves the BB tone (if anyone else is running BB>VT I'd love to know what settings you are using). I also keep a fuzz pedal to kick it up a notch, it doesn't do such a good job now because you really notice the low end go, it's a Bluebeard which is no slouch when it comes to low end but I've ordered a TAFM hoping a clean blend will help (still plan on stacking)
The only pedal I do really like it with is the Fuzzrocious BDPG, which until now I was planning on moving on. Going to try running the BDPG into the effects return on my Terror Bass again because paired with the Blower Box it was a really nice, thick tone. Will spend a bit more time with all of these though as it's early days
But in short, the Blower Box is awesome!
Like a few other folk here, I've been using another Rat clone for dirt and my plan was to put these two head to head, it's been said a few times already but the low end retention on this thing really sets it apart from any other dirt pedal I've owned - I am in love!
The only thing is that it's screwed up my other pedals! I recently bought a VT Bass DI and I've been fiddling around with it but to be honest, I'm not sure it improves the BB tone (if anyone else is running BB>VT I'd love to know what settings you are using). I also keep a fuzz pedal to kick it up a notch, it doesn't do such a good job now because you really notice the low end go, it's a Bluebeard which is no slouch when it comes to low end but I've ordered a TAFM hoping a clean blend will help (still plan on stacking)
The only pedal I do really like it with is the Fuzzrocious BDPG, which until now I was planning on moving on. Going to try running the BDPG into the effects return on my Terror Bass again because paired with the Blower Box it was a really nice, thick tone. Will spend a bit more time with all of these though as it's early days
But in short, the Blower Box is awesome!
It's not a sound I need for the music we play, but I really see/hear the attraction, it's a "muscular" kind of distortion with lots of low end, not the usual mid bump or high end fizzle that so many dirt pedals add. Nice.
Got mine today and just had the chance to check it out, wow!
Like a few other folk here, I've been using another Rat clone for dirt and my plan was to put these two head to head, it's been said a few times already but the low end retention on this thing really sets it apart from any other dirt pedal I've owned - I am in love!
The only thing is that it's screwed up my other pedals! I recently bought a VT Bass DI and I've been fiddling around with it but to be honest, I'm not sure it improves the BB tone (if anyone else is running BB>VT I'd love to know what settings you are using). I also keep a fuzz pedal to kick it up a notch, it doesn't do such a good job now because you really notice the low end go, it's a Bluebeard which is no slouch when it comes to low end but I've ordered a TAFM hoping a clean blend will help (still plan on stacking)
The only pedal I do really like it with is the Fuzzrocious BDPG, which until now I was planning on moving on. Going to try running the BDPG into the effects return on my Terror Bass again because paired with the Blower Box it was a really nice, thick tone. Will spend a bit more time with all of these though as it's early days
But in short, the Blower Box is awesome!
I remember the BDPG and BB combo sounding awesome! The recoding I have on soundcloud is actually just the BB at first but then I add BDPG in after about a min or so. It's hard to tell because it's recorded on my iPhone. But you can still sort of tell. I say BDPG right before I stack it.
I use it with a VT Bass. I have the Character on the VT around noon, the gain around 10 o'clock, and the tone controls to taste.
The BB is typically with gain and treble around 10 o'clock and bass at noon. This is into an SVT/810e at the practice space though; my settings at home through a full range cab are different.
The BB is typically with gain and treble around 10 o'clock and bass at noon. This is into an SVT/810e at the practice space though; my settings at home through a full range cab are different.
That's the ballpark I was getting the best sound from the VT, I had previously been using character at about 11 and gain at 12, but I think backing off on the gain lets the BB's sound come through a bit more. With the character about 9 it totally swamped the sound of the pedal and going up towards 3 it changed the BB's character (sorry, running out of words) and made it sound a bit harsh, so 12ish it is!
Having another play tonight
Man I gotta get this puppy boosted. I'm having trouble hangin with the band in the mix. We just play too loud too. I'm scared of the treble knob. Maybe I should stop being afraid of it. Because that may be the reason I'm having trouble getting it to pop out in the mix. I know a boost would help though.
I usually dime my treble knob... Don't fear the treble!
Pedal Breeders BIG Board Club member # 48
I recently reduced distortion a tad and increased treble. I cut much better! Distortion and treble are now both at 9:00, so still low by any means.
Well I usually keep the bass and gain around 2 oclock. The treble is almost always off. That has to be why its getting lost. Has to be. I know this isnt the hottest pedal ever as far as signal goes, but it shouldn't be this "weak" in the mix. It could just be the fact that I am trying to dial in a new amp and my band plays way too loud in an uninsulated basement..... Maybe.....
Maybe...? I've found that getting highs from the treble knob cuts better than highs from distortion. It could be anything, though. I spent an hour tweaking knobs trying to figure out why I was getting lost in the mix. Turns out, pickup blend was all neck! Fixed it, and back to exactly what I SHOULD sound like.
Good luck, and enjoy dialing in your new gear!
You also have to remember that your tube amp will add more compression than what you are used to. That can muffle the sound. Adding more distortion or treble will help counteract this. The more gain/boost you add in the preamp of the amp itself, the more muffled the sound might get. It's in no way a drawback of a tube amp/preamp, it's just something to get used to when you start adjusting your board for that amp.
Just wondering, but could that also be why on my SS head, my "extreme gain" pedals sound best a relatively low settings? I'm hearing ALL the sound without tube distortion/compression?
Yes, this! It took me a few min to realize that last night. But I did remind myself of it shortly after we cranked up. It will def be something I have to get used to. But, it makes it sit in the mix perfectly. I see now why some are tubeist die hards. Honestly I'm not totally sure it's for me. I think it's just a matter of getting used to it. I like being very present in the mix, not just sit in it. I'm sure I'll work it out. It could be as simple as learning to play less aggressively too.
Yes, Overdrive adds compression for sure. It can sound like a wet blanket on top of your higher gain distortion for sure. You can get cool lo-fi sounds out of it through, so not all bad
That is part of the beauty of Phil Jones amps in my opinion. What comes out of your board comes out of the speakers That's why a clean amp can be your friend sometimes... Won't stop me from getting a non-clean amp though Like, like I said when you got it, you can't get discouraged. Everything will sound subtly different, you just have to learn how it needs to be tweaked for your particular situation. When I hooked up the verellen pre yesterday, all my settings went out the window again
The good news is that, by now, I know what sounds good on the different cabs/amp types I own so it was not a big deal to adjust it.The dirty channel on the verellen sounds so nice, but the BB sounds very muffled through it. The clean channel, which can also sound very dirty if pushed more, makes the BB sound awesome!
Your electric can be very clean (by tube standards) and still be very loud, so there should be no issue getting something that sounds good with the BB. One way to figure out the settings is always to just use the BB alone with the amp and see what sounds good before any other pedals after the BB add more boost/gain.
Like, like I said when you got it, you can't get discouraged. Everything will sound subtly different, you just have to learn how it needs to be tweaked for your particular situation. When I hooked up the verellen pre yesterday, all my settings went out the window again
The dirty channel on the verellen sounds so nice, but the BB sounds very muffled through it. The clean channel, which can also sound very dirty if pushed more, makes the BB sound awesome!
Your electric can be very clean (by tube standards) and still be very loud, so there should be no issue getting something that sounds good with the BB. One way to figure out the settings is always to just use the BB alone with the amp and see what sounds good before any other pedals after the BB add more boost/gain.
I agree with everything here. It will simply take some time to get acclimated to tubes. I was actually quite surprised at how dirty and grindy the amp got last night. But again, we were playing at stupid loud volumes. I think its mainly because we havent jammed for over a month. It got pretty dirty because of the fact too that I was driving the heck out of it! The Rusty Box does a superb job at pushing the tubes into breakup when played aggressively. I was really diggin it. Sounded magical. I have to find a way to get my SA PEQ in the mix again. I also was using my ATK mostly last night so that changes things as well. I only used my P for one song. Starting all over again!! haha
