• 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

#1,361
I have to try make a request.
I know it will most likely be useless, but i have to try.
Is there someone in this forum that is not using his old version Blower Box (3 knobs + volume knob on the top side) and is willing to part with it and sell it to me?
I have a long bad-timing history with this pedal!
When i've found out about its existence, the current version back then was the 3 knobs one.
But I heard about the very early versions with big enclosure and Away design and i went nuts for those.
Unfortunately, they were rare as hell....months passed by without even getting close to a shadow of that version!
I even tried contacting Matt asking if he had any old one laying around, but he didn't.
After a few more months spent hunting down the Away-designed one with no luck at all, I had to give up and decided to settle for the normal version, whose design i liked a lot anyway.
Unfortunately, i found out that it was discontinued as well, replaced by the 4-knobs version (in an even smaller enclosure!).
That was very disappointing (I like big pedals).
Again, I tried contacting Mike, but he told me he had sold the last one of the old batch THE WEEK BEFORE i contacted him!
If this wasn't bad luck already, i also stupidly lost one on ebay, because i wasn't smart enough to use they buy-it-now...since the auction had the make-an-offer option, i made the offer....but someone used the buy it now and is now enjoying the pedal! If I think about it even now, I still feel the urge of someone kicking me in the ass for the way i lost the chance!
 
Last edited:
#1,362
vaccastracca said:
I have to try make a request.
I know it will most likely be useless, but i have to try.
Is there someone in this forum that is not using his old version Blower Box (3 knobs + volume knob on the top side) and is willing to part with it?
I have a long bad-timing story with this pedal!
When i've found out about its existence, the current version back then was the 3 knobs one.
But I heard about the very early versions with big enclosure and Away design and i went nuts for those.
Unfortunately, they were rare as hell....months passed by without even getting close to a shadow of that version!
I even tried contacting Matt asking if he had any old one laying around, but he didn't.
After a few more months spent hunting down the Away-designed one with no luck at all, I had to give up and decided to settle for the normal version, whose design i liked a lot anyway.
Unfortunately, i found out that it was discontinued as well, replaced by the 4-knobs version (in an even smaller enclosure!).
That was very disappointing (I like big pedals).
Again, I tried contacting Mike, but he told me he had sold the last one of the old batch THE WEEK BEFORE i contacted him!
If this wasn't bad luck already, i also stupidly lost one on ebay, because i wasn't smart enough to use they buy-it-now...since the auction had the make-an-offer option, i made the offer....but someone used the buy it now and is now enjoying the pedal! If I think about it even now, I still feel the urge of someone kicking me in the ass for the way i lost it!
Click to expand...
I've got the original 3 knob version in pristine condition. I would love to trade for the smaller newer version with the side inputs. If that's what you have PM me.
 
#1,363
IMG_20150105_203400.jpg

I know for sure I'll never willingly part with this one..
 
  • Like
Reactions: gregmon79
#1,367
so I finally got to test my Blower Box tonight. It's the green painted version, awesome looking, great piece of gear. I didn't try it side by side with my Rat Tail, but I thought it was really very similar. Might have a bit more clean and agressivity.

However , despite how great it, just like the Rat Tail it just won't be able to kick my sfx microboost + Xotic BB preamp combo out of my board. If I had the room I might keep it, but the Xotic and the Woodchipper will be enough for now...
 
  • Like
Reactions: gregmon79
#1,368
Weird happenings the other day with my Blower Box. I run it in the beginning of my chain to "heavy up" other effects. It's set for low gain, but with plenty of bass and sparse treble. Sounds great on its own or pushing my B3K or GK Power Amp Sim. Anyway, in my chain, I was using the BB, GK Amp Sim, a Joyo Classic Flange, and SA Bass Envelope Filter (in that order). Every once in a while, I'd hit a note (I was playing D octaves on my B and A strings) and my amp would squeal. Like tiny rodent being squeezed to death squeal. Horrible. Tried turning on/off pedals, and it was definitely the Blower Box. Anybody else have this issue? I'm thinking it's likely just too much gain and I just barely hit a string harmonic or something, but just checking.
 
#1,371
kleinenenten said:
Just messed with my BB again today. Still crushing it! So versatile, and it sounds great pushing my B3K and my GK Rails Pedal. Amazing!
Click to expand...
Just another shout out - still killing it! My guitarist today actually looked over and asked what I was playing. Happy to tell it that my Blower Box was always on! It's still pushing my B3K for thrashy hi-mid grind, or my GK Rails Pedal for doomy low-mid grind. Amazing doing either! This thing ain't going anywhere!

(NON-)EDIT: Just realized I referred to my guitarist as "it" above. I think I'll keep it that way.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: handofseven
#1,373
Lebowsky said:
after how many weeks? sig material :)
Click to expand...
Actually, he's pretty gear-conscious. He's the best one in the band for getting the mix to sound right, instead of just blasting everything. He knows my rig pretty well, but I had a somewhat large departure sound-wise yesterday, and it paid off! Blower Box set for light grit into my B3K just destroys on our faster material. I've never heard my bass that well in the mix, and I was actually lower on the volume!
 
  • Like
Reactions: zapped777
#1,374
jason73 said:
How's that little 5th gear?
Click to expand...

oysteivi said:
Pretty magic for boosting into good overdrives. Fifth gear into blower box is my default dirty sound these days.
Click to expand...

I love the FG. What a great pedal for bass!! Ive been using mine for maybe 6 months and there were times when I swapped it off the board. It always seems to find its way back on. Its one of those boosts that just plain works well with bass and other pedals. Ive been through the Xotic EP, W&C PPB and not the GK Rails, and the FG has won me over every time. I almost want to work it out with my setup to leave it on at all times. But I have like 4 other preamps/tone shapers going already so Im not sure I could make it happen. I plan on revamping my board this weekend so well see. I just got my 250 back and I am super happy with it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jason73
#1,375
gregmon79 said:
I love the FG. What a great pedal for bass!! Ive been using mine for maybe 6 months and there were times when I swapped it off the board. It always seems to find its way back on. Its one of those boosts that just plain works well with bass and other pedals. Ive been through the Xotic EP, W&C PPB and not the GK Rails, and the FG has won me over every time. I almost want to work it out with my setup to leave it on at all times. But I have like 4 other preamps/tone shapers going already so Im not sure I could make it happen. I plan on revamping my board this weekend so well see. I just got my 250 back and I am super happy with it.
Click to expand...
Ooh! What was happening with your 250? (DOD I assume?) I bought one a while ago, and loved the dirt but got rid of it because of low end loss. Was gonna build a Grey Spec clone one of these days.
 
#1,376
kleinenenten said:
Ooh! What was happening with your 250? (DOD I assume?) I bought one a while ago, and loved the dirt but got rid of it because of low end loss. Was gonna build a Grey Spec clone one of these days.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I find that my 250 really rounds out the sound nicely and has no low end loss at all. Funny how the same pedal can be so different sounding to different ears.
 
#1,377
kleinenenten said:
Ooh! What was happening with your 250? (DOD I assume?) I bought one a while ago, and loved the dirt but got rid of it because of low end loss. Was gonna build a Grey Spec clone one of these days.
Click to expand...

Which 250 did you have?? I have discovered that the one with the black plate on the bottom, its the lighter one that they put out a little while after they reissued it, it has yellow sparkle paint, is nowhere near as good as the 2013 reissue I have which is solid yellow, has a yellow bottom plate, is heavy as a brick and has no LED in it. It also is not true bypass. They used the regular type components for that one. The newer one they used those mini components. I havent played that one but I hear that they suck compared to the one I have. So if you ever get a chance, I would try that one. The low end rocks on it! In fact, it adds low end to my signal.

Its really nice to have it home! I love this pedal. Its not one I use a lot but when I do man, does it sound sweet. Ryan @ Big Game put a 3 way toggle in that passes over a cap or two to add just a little more trebly bite to the signal. Its very subtle. But I got my LED in it now and its ready to go! But if you ever get a chance to try this one, I strongly recommend it. Its a great girth/drive pedal.
 
#1,379
gregmon79 said:
Which 250 did you have?? I have discovered that the one with the black plate on the bottom, its the lighter one that they put out a little while after they reissued it, it has yellow sparkle paint, is nowhere near as good as the 2013 reissue I have which is solid yellow, has a yellow bottom plate, is heavy as a brick and has no LED in it. It also is not true bypass. They used the regular type components for that one. The newer one they used those mini components. I havent played that one but I hear that they suck compared to the one I have. So if you ever get a chance, I would try that one. The low end rocks on it! In fact, it adds low end to my signal.

Its really nice to have it home! I love this pedal. Its not one I use a lot but when I do man, does it sound sweet. Ryan @ Big Game put a 3 way toggle in that passes over a cap or two to add just a little more trebly bite to the signal. Its very subtle. But I got my LED in it now and its ready to go! But if you ever get a chance to try this one, I strongly recommend it. Its a great girth/drive pedal.
Click to expand...
Yes, I had the newest one. It was true bypass etc. I really liked the sound, but the low end loss wasn't cool. Just gonna buy and make a clone one day. It's much cheaper than getting most of these used, anyway!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back