• 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.

Lightning Boy Audio Thread

#383
Received my updated 2020S today. Daddy likey. Putting it at different spots in the chain definitely yields different degrees of awesomeness. The low-end loss is definitely lessened compared to the original pre-order version. If anything, I might equate it to a "tightening" of the low end, not a cut or discernible loss. And it shaves off just the right amount of top end. No matter where I put it in my chain, it makes everything sound better. Warmer, fuller, a little more character. Well done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zbysek, PeterH, BunchyMutt and 3 others
#386
JKos said:
I've decided to keep my 2020S in the "pre-order" configuration. I'm not having noise or low end loss issues.
Click to expand...
It definitely depends on where you put it in your chain, at least in my experience. Noise was not a major factor, but the low end loss was definitely noticeable in the original configuration when I moved it to certain places in my chain.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PeterH
#392
PeterH said:
Serial number 005 here! It sounds great, but on my single coil bridge pickups the low end cut sticks out like a sore thumb. Oh boy though does it love p-pickups though. Keeping it and getting another 2020S for variety's sake :whistle:
Click to expand...
Yeah, I originally tried the first version out on my passive jazz and noticed the low end cut. It wasn't awful by any stretch, but it was definitely noticeable through my headphone setup. It still sounded great though, and I might have been happy leaving well enough alone had the option to have it modded never even come up. But I'm glad it did.

Since getting the modded version, I have only tried it with my passive/active P5, and I have not experienced the same level of low end cut. I need to try it again with the same bass that I tried it with in the first place to really know how it compares. But so far, with the P bass, I like the modded version better. It's definitely a noticeable improvement through my headphone setup. But again, I might be comparing apples to Volkswagens, because I used two different basses to try out the two different versions. We'll see how the modded version fares when compared with the same bass later.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PeterH
#393
PeterH said:
Serial number 005 here! It sounds great, but on my single coil bridge pickups the low end cut sticks out like a sore thumb. Oh boy though does it love p-pickups though. Keeping it and getting another 2020S for variety's sake :whistle:
Click to expand...

I just tried my 2020S with my Rickenbacker and noticed a cut in the lows. Didn't notice it with my P bass or humbucker pickup basses. I'm still going to keep this and probably order the new version.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PeterH
#394
DISCLAIMER: The new 2020S video is coming out on Friday. I just want to say that I did not compare against the original 2020 in the video. The video length was too long (IMO) as is and adding that would take it too far. I also didn't want detract from the main point - the sound of the 2020S. Potentially in the future I could do a vid comparing the two if enough people wanted it. There is an audible difference IMO, but its not radical. I think if I had to choose between the original or the new 2020S it's a no-brainer. More color, easier to saturate, slightly lower price. I hope everyone will be as surprised as me with the A/B comparison in the context of a song where every instrument has the 2020S vs none at all. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: jacoby75, PeterH and Low Down Brown
#396
FWIW, if you have a 2020S (and I would imagine 2020 as well), it's worth experimenting with it in different spots in the chain. Though that probably goes without saying. I'm finding very different results based on where I put it in the chain, and with different basses, most of which are passive. With 1-2 basses, it sounds best first in chain. But my current favorite is right after my compressor, but before my preamp(s). No discernible low end loss, my boost and compressor respond the way I'm used to (as opposed to putting the 2020S before them), and then it adds that studio sheen and polish right after the compressor. Then my preamps still sound like my preamps should. All the lows and highs in tact right where I like 'em. It really is a neat piece of kit. I'm looking forward to comparing and contrasting the 2020 soon.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lowendtech, Low Down Brown and jebmd
#397
Very nice! I just received four LBA 2020 pedals.

tuner>(Xotic Blender/Sansamp VTBdi/SL Drive)>HVA passive pickup sim>**2020+2020**>FEA Opti-Fet Comp>SansampBDDI>**2020+2020**>keeley bassist limiter>Tech21RVBreverb

The sound quality definitely improved by adding four 2020 pedals. With all the powered pedals off, my clean sound is crystal clear with balanced notes across the board thanks to all four of the 2020 pedals in the chain. It's really impressive. The treble is so buttery smooth now. The mids sing much better. The low end has more definition. I'm looking forward to trying the 2020S version out too. I should play around with the order in the pedal chain some more, but I doubt it can sound much better than it does now. I'm guessing that it would be nice to have one or two of these 2020 pedals for every effect pedal in the chain. Bring on the 2020S!
 
  • Like
Reactions: TodaysTomSawyer, extreme and Zbysek
#398
jacoby75 said:
FWIW, if you have a 2020S (and I would imagine 2020 as well), it's worth experimenting with it in different spots in the chain. Though that probably goes without saying. I'm finding very different results based on where I put it in the chain, and with different basses, most of which are passive. With 1-2 basses, it sounds best first in chain. But my current favorite is right after my compressor, but before my preamp(s). No discernible low end loss, my boost and compressor respond the way I'm used to (as opposed to putting the 2020S before them), and then it adds that studio sheen and polish right after the compressor. Then my preamps still sound like my preamps should. All the lows and highs in tact right where I like 'em. It really is a neat piece of kit. I'm looking forward to comparing and contrasting the 2020 soon.
Click to expand...
Where is your compressor in your signal chain?

I have my comp near the front, before dirt, but after octave/synth. I put a 2020 right after the comp. I also have one in the effects loop of my preamp, an SLO MKIIIs.
 
#399
monkeyfinger said:
Where is your compressor in your signal chain?

I have my comp near the front, before dirt, but after octave/synth. I put a 2020 right after the comp. I also have one in the effects loop of my preamp, an SLO MKIIIs.
Click to expand...
Bass > Solarian Boost > Drives/mods (through a loop switcher) > Compressor > 2020S > Broughton Fliptop/SVPre preamps > Sometimes a Broughton SSDI > Broughton RFE > DI

I used to run my comp before my dirts, but decided I lost too much touch sensitivity from the dirts that way, so now I run comp after dirts.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back