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Lightning Boy Audio Thread
- Thread starter HoochfromP
- Start date
Lookie what is tucked away under the Pedaltrain Nano.
I haven’t done any cable management yet, but I think these will be staying where they are.
Attachments
Wow - big thumbs up! Still waiting to receive the couple I ordered but hopefully will be able to test them out soon!
Today i’ve received mine (1). I’ve used it both in front and at the back of my chain (Pbass, OD, Comp, OC2, HPF, EQ > Reddi > DAW > Headphones) and to be honest i’m not really sold on it yet. I can’t seem to hear much of the 2020 at all. Any suggestions?
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With one, you are going to want to drive it hard so put it after something that can push it.
I've been just keeping them loose and use as needed. I have 3 of them...been mostly using one on the front end of my chain and then two on the back end. I can use 'em with whatever pedals or pedal board I grab. I just recorded with a chain of 6 tubes and 2020s sandwiching the whole thing on both ends and got GREAT results!
After a few weeks spent with the 2020, I do like what I hear. There's a slight roll-off on the highs but its not drastic. I notice it more with flat wound strings. I find that it adds a nice 'weight' to the tone
I added a second 2020 to my pedalboard. Overall the effect was very positive, but it did require some work to get everything sounding the way I wanted.
I posted a picture of the pedalboard here: PYPB 44: ...like Tetris with boxes, wires and cables
My goals:
My goal is to have the best direct sound possible for recording and live use. My stage rig is super clean and hifi, (power amp + Fearless F212.) So all the character is coming from the bass, a MM SS 5 HH, and the pedalboard. I am a finger-style player. Getting a great percussive sound from my finger attack is really important to me. Also, dirt has to sound great without the aid of a traditional bass cab. (I am running an Shiftline Olympic Mk III preamp.)
Overall tone:
The entire mid range, from upper-bass to low-treble is more forward without being peaky. The upper mid presence gives the appearance of being brighter overall. As a finger player, I need all the help I can get bringing out the attack when I use fuzz or heavy distortion. (Pick players have an easier time with this.) The 2020s are great for this. When the dirt is off, my finger picking attack remains clear and distinct. (No doubt helped by the FEA DB-CL.) In the bass range, sub-bass remains pretty much the same, while mid and upper bass gain some more note definition. Treble is gently rolled off. This removes the harshness inherent in some dirt pedals. It always remains musical. Overall, this is perfect for my playing style.
Placement:
I think the 2020's work best when there is some type of gain in front of them. When I just had just one, I tried it right after the comp, which I have at the beginning of the chain. Putting it between the bass and comp seemed to have little effect on the tone. The MM SS 5 HH is no slouch when it comes to putting out level. Also, I have the comp set for unity gain. So I can only assume that the tighter envelope pushes the transformer a little harder. After trying some places in the signal chain, the first one ended up towards the end of my dirt pedals, but before the Source Audio Spectrum filter.
I ended up with the second one after the comp, which was the first location for 2020 #1. This is when things really started to change.
Changes:
First thing I noticed was that it definitely changed the sound of dirt pedals, usually for the better. The dynamic response stayed the same, but the tone really opened up. After adding the second 2020, I had to change some settings, and even swap out pedals. Pedals that sounded harsh going direct, (via my preamp), now sounded more musical. Pedals that sounded great direct were not working so well. I don't think this was just a result of treble roll-off either. The way the 2020 shapes the mids works in many cases, but not all. I ended up replacing an MBD-2 with a Dunlop Volt Thrower. The MDB-2 got weirdly boomy and it's mid character just didn't sit well. It sounded ok as long as I completely rolled-off the bass. The extra edgey-ness of the RAT-based VT just had a better flavor to me. It has more mid character without sounding harsh. I also changed some settings on my FEA Photon II fuzz and my Prunes and Custard distortion thingy. (It's a pedal that defies categorization.)
I had to move the filter to before the first 2020. (The one after the dirt). It did not like having two 2020's in front of it at all. Filter barely opened up no matter what setting. It was fine once I moved the 2020. I also tried my mutron in place of the spectrum. Same result. It hated being after the two 2020s
The octaver, a 3leaf Octabvre mini, still needs to go before everything. It does not sound as good after the 2020, but sounds fantastic before it. It really benefits from the added mid-bass tone shaping. More character, more note definition. It went from sounding like there was an added sub-harmonic, (using the OC-2 setting), to a very musical sound that blended well with the bass. I was always 'meh' about octavers until this setup.
Conclusion:
I posted a picture of the pedalboard here: PYPB 44: ...like Tetris with boxes, wires and cables
My goals:
My goal is to have the best direct sound possible for recording and live use. My stage rig is super clean and hifi, (power amp + Fearless F212.) So all the character is coming from the bass, a MM SS 5 HH, and the pedalboard. I am a finger-style player. Getting a great percussive sound from my finger attack is really important to me. Also, dirt has to sound great without the aid of a traditional bass cab. (I am running an Shiftline Olympic Mk III preamp.)
Overall tone:
The entire mid range, from upper-bass to low-treble is more forward without being peaky. The upper mid presence gives the appearance of being brighter overall. As a finger player, I need all the help I can get bringing out the attack when I use fuzz or heavy distortion. (Pick players have an easier time with this.) The 2020s are great for this. When the dirt is off, my finger picking attack remains clear and distinct. (No doubt helped by the FEA DB-CL.) In the bass range, sub-bass remains pretty much the same, while mid and upper bass gain some more note definition. Treble is gently rolled off. This removes the harshness inherent in some dirt pedals. It always remains musical. Overall, this is perfect for my playing style.
Placement:
I think the 2020's work best when there is some type of gain in front of them. When I just had just one, I tried it right after the comp, which I have at the beginning of the chain. Putting it between the bass and comp seemed to have little effect on the tone. The MM SS 5 HH is no slouch when it comes to putting out level. Also, I have the comp set for unity gain. So I can only assume that the tighter envelope pushes the transformer a little harder. After trying some places in the signal chain, the first one ended up towards the end of my dirt pedals, but before the Source Audio Spectrum filter.
I ended up with the second one after the comp, which was the first location for 2020 #1. This is when things really started to change.
Changes:
First thing I noticed was that it definitely changed the sound of dirt pedals, usually for the better. The dynamic response stayed the same, but the tone really opened up. After adding the second 2020, I had to change some settings, and even swap out pedals. Pedals that sounded harsh going direct, (via my preamp), now sounded more musical. Pedals that sounded great direct were not working so well. I don't think this was just a result of treble roll-off either. The way the 2020 shapes the mids works in many cases, but not all. I ended up replacing an MBD-2 with a Dunlop Volt Thrower. The MDB-2 got weirdly boomy and it's mid character just didn't sit well. It sounded ok as long as I completely rolled-off the bass. The extra edgey-ness of the RAT-based VT just had a better flavor to me. It has more mid character without sounding harsh. I also changed some settings on my FEA Photon II fuzz and my Prunes and Custard distortion thingy. (It's a pedal that defies categorization.)
I had to move the filter to before the first 2020. (The one after the dirt). It did not like having two 2020's in front of it at all. Filter barely opened up no matter what setting. It was fine once I moved the 2020. I also tried my mutron in place of the spectrum. Same result. It hated being after the two 2020s
The octaver, a 3leaf Octabvre mini, still needs to go before everything. It does not sound as good after the 2020, but sounds fantastic before it. It really benefits from the added mid-bass tone shaping. More character, more note definition. It went from sounding like there was an added sub-harmonic, (using the OC-2 setting), to a very musical sound that blended well with the bass. I was always 'meh' about octavers until this setup.
Conclusion:
- Placement counts: If you really want to get the most out of this pedal, it is worth trying different locations in the signal chain
- Wahs are finicky: This pedal was most effected by the placement. It either sucked or sounded good.
- Octavers go first: Don't put anything between your bass and the octaver. Still a good 'rule' in pedal effects chains.
- Not every pedal sounds better: Most will, but some just don't like it. This is much more evident when using two 2020s
- Great for finger style players: I am sure this also benefit pick players too. Maybe this is not the thing for slappers looking for heavily scooped mids and brilliant highs.
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After a few more experiments i have concluded the 2020 is probably just not for me. I can barely hear what it’s doing, really. The only time i heard it’s effect was when i pushed it with a VERY hot line signal, it started to distort but not in a pleasant way to my ears. Maybe it’s because i’m also always playing through the Reddi which already has a lot of tranny heft of itself. I will probably move the 2020 on to someone who has better use for it
It would actually be impossible. The type of transformer used for a DI Box is a completely different turns ratio. Plus, its physically impossible to fix an XLR jack in a 2020 enclosure. A TRS jack could be used, but no one is going to want be required to use a special cable (TRS to XLR) just to use the thing. I definitely put some thought into the idea.
