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Lightning Boy Audio Thread
- Thread starter HoochfromP
- Start date
jacoby75
Supporting Member
- Mar 11, 2010
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- Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
Anytime I see you post that you’re doing something that I’m also doing and enjoy the results, I feel a little better about myself and my judgment as to what “good tone” is. I must not be too far off. At least not THIS time. Lol.OK, been using both 2020s in various configurations and I like every scenario better with the 2020s in the chain. As others have said, makes things "more gooder".
Does good things to the mids and I like the description someone posted saying it made your tone more "studio like". Does something nice to the highs too.
I notice the effect most with two 2020s back-to-back and after something that can drive them good. After a compressor with output pushed is really good.
I think I'm going to try and mount these under my pedal board after compressor and before preamp.
I definitely like the 2020s more than the 2020. Good move on the part of Mike at Lightningboy to release this updated version. I will also say some if this is more of a feel thing... in other words it feels better to play with these two 2020s in the chain. Just something about it.
The key is to listen to the presence of the note. Not how much bass or treble you have EQ’d, but how the note starts and finishes. That would be the envelope and that is what I enjoy about the 2020s more so than the 2020.
These transformers aren’t preamp pedals or radical EQ devices. But to my ear anyway, notes come off with more nuance or feel.
These transformers aren’t preamp pedals or radical EQ devices. But to my ear anyway, notes come off with more nuance or feel.
I just replaced a couple of 2020s on my board with 2020Ses. Yup, there is a difference. The mids are richer and more complex. The 2020s are slightly more hi-fi sounding in comparison. The S version works extremely well with distortion IMO, much better than the older model. It really took my fuzz sound to where I am very happy with it.
How about a 2020 > 2020s, or a 2020s > 2020? Does the 2020s drown the 2020 out?
edited to add: I'm getting a 2020s in the mail soon. My singer was complaining a little about EQing his piezo acoustic and I said, I need to lend you my 2020 for a gig to see if you like what it does. Then I panicked. NEED
edited to add: I'm getting a 2020s in the mail soon. My singer was complaining a little about EQing his piezo acoustic and I said, I need to lend you my 2020 for a gig to see if you like what it does. Then I panicked. NEED
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I tried these combos too. My favorite was 2020s/2020s, then 2020/2020s, then 2020/2020, then 2020s/2020. I think it's because the second 2020(s) is in the effects loop of my tube preamp.
These 2020S sound really good. I think most folks on this forum are going to prefer these to the regular 2020.
Loving my 2020S between my passive basses* and anything with 1 MΩ input impedance or less. Into a 2 MΩ input impedance, I don't hear anything happening.
I wonder if a passive pickup emulator would help it work in the HX Stomp loop.
* I only have passive basses right now.
I wonder if a passive pickup emulator would help it work in the HX Stomp loop.
* I only have passive basses right now.
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jacoby75
Supporting Member
- Mar 11, 2010
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- Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
I concur. I have a 2020s, which I like. I added a 2020 when he clearanced them out recently. If I had to pick between the two, I'd pick the 2020s, because I love what it does to the mids. The mids are warmer and pop more with the 2020s than without. Comparatively, the mids are more subdued with the 2020, but I feel like the 2020 has more warmth in the low end. And the 2020 is a bit more pristine in the high end, while the 2020s cuts highs (in all the right places), which could contribute to the aforementioned more "hi-fi" tone of the 2020 compared to the 2020s. I prefer stacking them both, running it 2020 > 2020s. I run the combination right after my compressor and before my preamp pedals. It's a beautiful thing. The warmth in the lows of the 2020 combined with the punch in the mids of the 2020s. I like it better 2020 > 2020s than the other way around, as well. And my signal chain is definitely the better for them. I'd like to add another 2020s at some point, probably, just for poops and giggles, as they say.
This is sounding mighty fine today, mighty fine indeed.
In that moment, yes. I've been moving them around my chain experimenting w/what I can coax out of them. In this setting when playing chords higher up with a stronger attack I was getting some really nice color/saturation which made the tone sound really rich and full w/o being muddy or boomy. Wasn't expecting anything special and maybe I could take one of them away and it'd sound the same. Going to keep playing around and will find out ha ha.
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Oh boy, thanks for the GAS. I might as well ship my beta 2020S internationally at this point to exchange it for the released version, plus snag another...
jacoby75
Supporting Member
- Mar 11, 2010
- 5,661
- 10,716
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- Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
Have you tried stacking them after the compressor? Stacking is usually good.
Like, Compressor > 2020S > 2020S > Preamp? Not tried that...
Or, if you don't take a DI out from the preamp you could try Compressor > Preamp > 2020S > 2020S. that's how I like mine
jacoby75
Supporting Member
- Mar 11, 2010
- 5,661
- 10,716
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
That’s what I would do. I feel like my 2020 and 2020s shine best stacked after my compressor. But that is by no means the “right” or only way to do it.
