I've still got my glowy eyes version... might make it back to the board too.
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I Present the IdiotBox Effects's Blower Box
- Thread starter SirMjac28
- Start date
I've still got my glowy eyes version... might make it back to the board too.
Even though I sold my Blower Box, it's still one of the greatest pedals I've ever had. I just have no use for such stanky raunch in our band, but if I ever do I will definitely get another one!
What are your guys' settings? I love the BB on its own, but in the mix it does nothing for me. But not for lack of trying. It's about the only pedal I could never quite make work in a band setting. The others may not sound amazing in the mix, but they work. BB has been a tough road, but one I'm determined to successfully drive!
- May 7, 2014
- 242
- 357
- 32
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist for Bergantino Audio Systems and Payson Fanned Bass Strings
I had the same issue with my Blower Box which actually led to me selling it. I found the most usable sounds in a band setting were actually the low gain ones but I sold it before I could really delve into those tones. Curious to see what others have to say about it.
My "clean" tone is blower box with gain at 11 o'clock and treble almost, but not quite, off. My normal tone is a southampton fifth gear running into the blower box, which gives it a nicely rounded gain tone. Running a BOSS GEB-7 eq at the end of the chain with a slight mid boost.
I find that the blower box in that setting responds quite nicely to my picking technique, so it will almost clean up with a soft touch, and get fairly gritty when I play with heavier attack.
I find that the blower box in that setting responds quite nicely to my picking technique, so it will almost clean up with a soft touch, and get fairly gritty when I play with heavier attack.
Im not sure which one you guys have, but Ive heard there are slight differences in the glowing eyes to the smaller enclosure. Ill also remind you all, I have that FET boost built into mine, and that made a huge difference for me. I still remember having trouble getting the volume I needed out of the BB when I first got it. But I liked the flavor so much and John K had put a boost in his for the same reason, he felt the output was too weak, so I asked him if he could send me one. So he did. And I installed it in mine. And then, there was light.....hehe
I usually set my bass around 1 oclock, drive just past noon, well say 12:30 and then the treble around 9 oclock and the output to the room (which if I put it up to 11 oclock, it is REALLY LOUD at that point). The treble is the only thing I change depending on the bass. But lately I usually leave it where it is and adjust my tone/treble knobs on whichever bass Im using to cut out on the shrillness that can happen with the BB if youre not careful. Part of its charm I guess
I love it, yet I still control it.Im not sure if you guys ever sent it through an all tube head, but wow, what a difference. I recently took my Electric in for servicing and was using my 1001 in the meantime. It had been a while since I used the GK and it sounded great in the GK. But after about a month, I got my Electric back and had practice and I stomped the BB and was like, WHOA. It sounded immaculately mean and vicious and deep and full and raunchy and saggy and lovely. But overall, I can say with certainty, that the main reason why my BB performs so well in the mix is because of that FET boost. If I didnt have that, I would be struggling IMO and Im not totally sure Id still have it. Ive heard that the newer version has taken care of that by adding more output but it also, from what I hear, differs in tone/sound a tad from the glowing eyes version. Of course this is all hearsay, so I may be talking outta my a**. Anyway, I LOVE MY BB AND IT WILL GO NOWHERE!
I run mine through an SVT. Sounds amazing with the tubey goodness.
Running mine through a SansAmp VTRM and a Carvin HD1500 bridged cab I'm running now is a Bag End Q10BX-D. From memory I'm around 11 oclock bass/4 oclock distortion/4 oclock treble/volume around Noon ish. Volume all depends on main volume set on the preamp usually no more than 11 oclock usually at 9 to 10 depending on the room. It's forking loud and obnoxious but lacks that sizzle I need to cut through the mix. But for a doomy whole note passage kills.
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Yeah, I've got the original pre-boost version. Might have to look into that boost. Are there schematics or instructions? I know a guy around here...Im not sure which one you guys have, but Ive heard there are slight differences in the glowing eyes to the smaller enclosure. Ill also remind you all, I have that FET boost built into mine, and that made a huge difference for me. I still remember having trouble getting the volume I needed out of the BB when I first got it. But I liked the flavor so much and John K had put a boost in his for the same reason, he felt the output was too weak, so I asked him if he could send me one. So he did. And I installed it in mine. And then, there was light.....hehe
I usually set my bass around 1 oclock, drive just past noon, well say 12:30 and then the treble around 9 oclock and the output to the room (which if I put it up to 11 oclock, it is REALLY LOUD at that point). The treble is the only thing I change depending on the bass. But lately I usually leave it where it is and adjust my tone/treble knobs on whichever bass Im using to cut out on the shrillness that can happen with the BB if youre not careful. Part of its charm I guess
Im not sure if you guys ever sent it through an all tube head, but wow, what a difference. I recently took my Electric in for servicing and was using my 1001 in the meantime. It had been a while since I used the GK and it sounded great in the GK. But after about a month, I got my Electric back and had practice and I stomped the BB and was like, WHOA. It sounded immaculately mean and vicious and deep and full and raunchy and saggy and lovely. But overall, I can say with certainty, that the main reason why my BB performs so well in the mix is because of that FET boost. If I didnt have that, I would be struggling IMO and Im not totally sure Id still have it. Ive heard that the newer version has taken care of that by adding more output but it also, from what I hear, differs in tone/sound a tad from the glowing eyes version. Of course this is all hearsay, so I may be talking outta my a**. Anyway, I LOVE MY BB AND IT WILL GO NOWHERE!
My settings are typically close to yours, so maybe that boost would be all I'd need to make it happen. Worth a shot, at least, right?
Try contacting john K. I can't speak for whether or not he'd help you out, but yes, it's def worth a shot. At the very least ask for a PCB schematic for it and give it to your dude. It puts your BB on roids, straight up.
I'll try to snap a pic of my BB innards real quick. Did it myself after john sent me the little pcb and wires. Worked out great.
just picked up one of these.......Holy Crap!!!
Yesssssssss!! I'm glad you dig it snake. I'm still very much into mine. It's such a unique and raunchy dirt pedal. Better yet, it's rat flavored. And the bass is deep. I've been a supporter of the BB since I got it. And I'll support it for a long time yet. It's literally the only dirt pedal of mine that has stayed on my board through all the dirts I've gone through over the last few years. And that says a lot. I've never even considered flipping it. It'll be on my as long as I use dirt. Maybe even if I don't. I can dial in a great aggressive tone that's not necessarily dirty with it if I wanted.
I have never had a bass distortion that stays as smooth as this one dialed all the way out.....My iron pig on the 308/Op-amp setting is similar...but it's a different flavor...
I got one of these (4 knobs, not lights in the mask) from a TB'r and I'm really loving it. I don't play a lot of heavy stuff anymore, but my god this tone is so grindy. I love it with the gain maxxed out after the OC-2 for a crazy synth tone, but I also am really liking the gain lower at 9 o clock, volume a little past noon. I have the bass at 10 and treble at 9. No idea what everyone's settings are as I have not read much of the thread but the lower gain tone really puts the bass in the front of the mix, and I feel like I may be able to use this for more than just a synth tone, but also as a cool drive tone on some fusion tunes as well.
An "instant classic" for sure! My sense is that most folks (at least among TB'ers) run the Blower Box at lower gain settings. I run mine with various passive basses, distortion anywhere from 9:30-11:00; bass 12:00 noon; treble off (fully counterclockwise); volume to taste (unity gain typically). With those settings, there is still plenty of treble "bite" (for me at least, and I dislike pedals that inherently "darken" the tone no matter the settings), and plenty of low end and punch. Great pedal!
I typically set mine with Gain around 10:00, Bass about 2:00, Treble to taste between 10:00 and 2:00 and Volume wherever it's close to no obvious boost when engaged. Passive basses with very high output. Great gnarly rawk tone.
I saw Voivod live a couple months ago, and funny enough their new bassist Rocky did not have a Blower Box. He did sound enough like Blacky though. Not sure if he was bi-amped into a bass and a guitar half-stack or if the guitar half-stack was part of a stereo rig or just more stage coverage for Chewie.
I saw Voivod live a couple months ago, and funny enough their new bassist Rocky did not have a Blower Box. He did sound enough like Blacky though. Not sure if he was bi-amped into a bass and a guitar half-stack or if the guitar half-stack was part of a stereo rig or just more stage coverage for Chewie.
The pedal so nice I bought it twice. Love the low-end retention: no need for Blend IMO. I typically use lower gain settings, but now that I have a 2nd I can use lower and/or higher.
I understand what some are saying: depending on other factors the BB can sound scoopy in the mix. I've had the best luck running it with a mid-focused bass and/or pedal(s), and it sounds especially good with my mid-focused Berg NV610.
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I don't recall whether any of the settings above were actually used at the gig. I often keep treble farther down on the BB.
I understand what some are saying: depending on other factors the BB can sound scoopy in the mix. I've had the best luck running it with a mid-focused bass and/or pedal(s), and it sounds especially good with my mid-focused Berg NV610.
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I don't recall whether any of the settings above were actually used at the gig. I often keep treble farther down on the BB.
