Master Effects survey

[johnk_10]

Can you describe how?

all i can say is that if you're familiar with an actual SVT (i have owned 14 of them including an original 1969) then you'd be able to know which pedal sounds the most like one. i have owned and tried the Sushibox SBVT (tube) version, the Broughton SVpre, the Master Effect Super300, the Catalinbread SFT (still have it), The Ampeg SCRDI, the Ampeg SGT (still own one) and IMO, the Origin sounds the most like the actual head.

 

[jose edwardo]

I really want to get one of the Manta 2 bands to put at the front of my signal chain for my passive EBMM short scale Stringray.

I have one and it's really cool makes my jazz bass sound like Timmy c, via evil empire, and makes my ray 24ca with a 94 stingray pup and norstrand pre sound way tuffer. It's really a cool pedal. I can't seem to dial in the super 300 ,but the ray is frikn neat!

 

[Andre678]

I have one and it's really cool makes my jazz bass sound like Timmy c, via evil empire, and makes my ray 24ca with a 94 stingray pup and norstrand pre sound way tuffer. It's really a cool pedal. I can't seem to dial in the super 300 ,but the ray is frikn neat!

Oooooh that is nice to hear. Very promising, thank you.

 

[butterfingers1]

Like someone said about the Broughton SVpre, maybe it’s not exactly like an SVT, but it sounds good.

 

[BrentSimons]

I've been wanting to pick up a Super 200 to mess with but haven't had a chance. I keep testing too many sets of strings! $$$

 

[butterfingers1]

I quite like the 200, it’s a dark punchy sound right out of the box. Powerful low end, no brightness or sheen in the highs. Sounds a little soft and muffled by itself but in a mix it’s very articulate with no usual harshness and noises. One trick pony, but definitely the right trick for bass guitar.

 

[jose edwardo]

Oooooh that is nice to hear. Very promising, thank you.

I run 1 of 3 channels to the manta Rey then a knock off darkglass microtubes then to a sansamp bddi v2 into a 112 rocket bass ampeg combo..the sounds ridiculous

 

[Andre678]

What a coincidence. I want to get into pedal building and was planning on buying the Aion Maelstrom (B3K and micrtubes clone) to help me learn how to actually do it.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

all i can say is that if you're familiar with an actual SVT (i have owned 14 of them including an original 1969) then you'd be able to know which pedal sounds the most like one. i have owned and tried the Sushibox SBVT (tube) version, the Broughton SVpre, the Master Effect Super300, the Catalinbread SFT (still have it), The Ampeg SCRDI, the Ampeg SGT (still own one) and IMO, the Origin sounds the most like the actual head.

Which doesn’t help someone not wanting to buy them all to try. And some differences may not matter/may matter more to some people. But thanks.

 

[BrentSimons]

I quite like the 200, it’s a dark punchy sound right out of the box. Powerful low end, no brightness or sheen in the highs. Sounds a little soft and muffled by itself but in a mix it’s very articulate with no usual harshness and noises. One trick pony, but definitely the right trick for bass guitar.

From your description , I'm wondering if the 200 would be able to produce my preferred high end sizzle? Even a liitle? Picture Geddy meeting Steve Harris and then having a pint with Eddie Jackson from Queensryche.

 

[butterfingers1]

From your description , I'm wondering if the 200 would be able to produce my preferred high end sizzle? Even a liitle? Picture Geddy meeting Steve Harris and then having a pint with Eddie Jackson from Queensryche.

Well there’s a Treble eq. With a precision bass I leave it at noon, with a jazz I turn it down to say 9 o’clock. Haven’t tried the Treble above noon. Some effects pedals have a sheen or shimmer to them, not really this one.

I like brightness by itself, but in a mix it’s often a nuisance. The 200 doesn’t sound nice by itself, but has this heavy fatness that just barrels through in a way that you don’t concern yourself with tone.

 

[sunbeast]

Well there’s a Treble eq. With a precision bass I leave it at noon, with a jazz I turn it down to say 9 o’clock. Haven’t tried the Treble above noon. Some effects pedals have a sheen or shimmer to them, not really this one.

I like brightness by itself, but in a mix it’s often a nuisance. The 200 doesn’t sound nice by itself, but has this heavy fatness that just barrels through in a way that you don’t concern yourself with tone.

I’m not sure you are aware, but most (maybe all?) Orange amps including the AD200B the Super 200 is based on use some variation of the classic Fender passive tonestack. This tonestack varies somewhat depending on component values but generally gets closest to “flat” with both Bass and Treble set around 2 (out of 10) and Midrange turned up all the way. When you set tonestacks like this in the middle instead you often create a pretty strong EQ curve- on some amps like Mesa setting the controls to 5 tends to make a very bright sound (the Treble is the strongest control), Orange amps tend towards a fatter sound. In any case when playing with a pedal or amp that uses this tonestack I always start with the EQ Treble-Mid-Bass set around 2-10-2 then go from there. Tweaks will always be much more subtle than the typical active EQ you are used to, and this passive EQ often comes before gain-stages so “boosting” will also create more gain

 

[butterfingers1]

With this in mind I tried the eq some more today. At noon it is effectively the Fender scoop, but it’s subtle to my ear. I have a Broughton Scorpion that is a similar Fender tone stack, which I also find subtle. However the Scorpion has a pronounced sheen/shimmer/sparkle and nothing like the power low end of the ME200. With both I tend to use all eq at noon, sometimes boosting Bass on Scorpion, sometimes boosting Mid or Treble on the ME200. I also have the ME800 (GK) which overlaps the 200 some, but the 200 just has this heavy roundness all its own that blends in really well.

 

[BrentSimons]

I quite like the 200, it’s a dark punchy sound right out of the box. Powerful low end, no brightness or sheen in the highs. Sounds a little soft and muffled by itself but in a mix it’s very articulate with no usual harshness and noises. One trick pony, but definitely the right trick for bass guitar.

Well there’s a Treble eq. With a precision bass I leave it at noon, with a jazz I turn it down to say 9 o’clock. Haven’t tried the Treble above noon. Some effects pedals have a sheen or shimmer to them, not really this one.

I like brightness by itself, but in a mix it’s often a nuisance. The 200 doesn’t sound nice by itself, but has this heavy fatness that just barrels through in a way that you don’t concern yourself with tone.

I’m not sure you are aware, but most (maybe all?) Orange amps including the AD200B the Super 200 is based on use some variation of the classic Fender passive tonestack. This tonestack varies somewhat depending on component values but generally gets closest to “flat” with both Bass and Treble set around 2 (out of 10) and Midrange turned up all the way. When you set tonestacks like this in the middle instead you often create a pretty strong EQ curve- on some amps like Mesa setting the controls to 5 tends to make a very bright sound (the Treble is the strongest control), Orange amps tend towards a fatter sound. In any case when playing with a pedal or amp that uses this tonestack I always start with the EQ Treble-Mid-Bass set around 2-10-2 then go from there. Tweaks will always be much more subtle than the typical active EQ you are used to, and this passive EQ often comes before gain-stages so “boosting” will also create more gain

Thank you for the insight Fellas. I may have to rethink this. I am aware of the Fender EQ and thought it might be a fun change but after watching a few videos I'm not sure if it will fit into my tone quest. It's quite a drastic change. Who knows?
Thank you again!
Brent

 

[Fuzzbass]

My Super 300 is a keeper. I have the original version and need to get around to doing the gain mod on it, but I can get it to work for me as is.

I owned the Super 100 for awhile. Truly nice device, but it didn't crack my top 5 so I traded it for a newer/shinier object (that probably also got traded... )

 

[sunbeast]

My Super 300 is a keeper. I have the original version and need to get around to doing the gain mod on it, but I can get it to work for me as is.

I owned the Super 100 for awhile. Truly nice device, but it didn't crack my top 5 so I traded it for a newer/shinier object (that probably also got traded... )

I did the gain mod to mine and it really opened it up for the low gain tones I go for (before the mod, it was too dirty for me by around 9 o’clock on the Gain, now that low gain range is spread til around noon). I’m not generally a big Ampeg fan these days, but have used it on my board for an always on light drive with one of my bands pretty consistently since doing that mod. I do get confused by the switches which seem backwards from each-other (Ultra-Hi is on when it’s switch is up, Ultra-Lo when it’s switch is down, “Bright” switch seems to be reversed in operation vs the Ampeg input circuit where the Bright input is lower output and thinner). Regardless if all that though, it undoubtably rocks!