just spied this thread, and now have (HAVE) to get one of the MBD-1's. Agree, the gray and orange one looks really cool.
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MBD-1 vs Rusty Box
- Thread starter smeet
- Start date
MBD: works great from barely-there to full-on distortion that's nearly fuzz. Delivers bottomless bottom (so to speak). The lowpassed clean blend is ingenious. Caveat for me: I prefer aggressive sizzle/clank for hard rock, and the MBD does not give me all I'm looking for. Easy solution is to run MBD into something like a Darkglass B7K. This works perfectly: I've always used the B7K as a low-gain sizzle machine, and it provides that icing on top of the MBD's phat distortion.
Rusty Box: I have only owned one since late October, haven't used it at volume. With that in mind: I've compared it to other favorites, and absolutely love the top end. Downside for me is the low end: I have to run the RB at low gain settings or the bottom gets too fuzzy/farty for my taste. The EQ is pre-OD, so my normal solution is to trim bass eq, then restore lows with amp EQ.
I've been lazy with the Rusty: have not tried stacking it. In another thread, someone mentioned running Rusty Box first, into another OD pedal. I should try running RB into MBD -- maybe that'll give me killer sizzle plus huge lows. Problem is, I'm stuck in my condo bubble with my little 1x10 practice amp: Bottom line is that I haven't given the RB a true test (full volume, band mix), so take my comments with a grain of salt.
You have to try running the Rusty Box into the MBD. I use my RAT that way and it sounds glorious. It's one of my favourite drive tones.
I managed to make everything fit on the board, and yes, RB into MBD is a great sound:
Finally got a chance to try RB into MBD. Initially I didn't get the sizzle I was hoping for, so I thought "maybe this is a case where it's not good that the MBD Clean blend is lowpassed". Then I turned Tone all the way up... problem solved, sounds great! I get my sizzle from the RB, and all the phatness I need from the MBD. Before, I ran my other sizzle machines after the MBD, and left Tone close to noon when doing that.
Anyway, thanks for that tip!
This thread making me order another Rusty Box has paid off. It just arrived today. That said, last night I sold both of my bass cabs locally, and the new one from Trickfish hasn't arrived yet. This is some cruel joke that I've orchestrated on myself. I ordered a pedal that I didn't need but really wanted to have (again), only to not be able to play it once it arrives. 
FYI, for anyone looking to get non-clanky Shellac/Jesus Lizard tones out of your Rusty Box:
Quoting myself here, which was a response to something @sunbeast said:
I still agree that this contradicts the manual, but after some pretty thorough testing of my newly received Rusty Box last night (reminder: I previously owned one of these back before the 9V center-negative update) I think that @sunbeast is correct about the tone stack. The manual is well-written in some areas, but the EQ section leaves a lot to be desired in terms of what's actually happening. While keeping the pedal as clean as possible I determined that with the bass and treble knobs set at 9 o'clock, and the mids knob set at 3 o'clock the Rusty Box was very nearly transparent in terms of frequency response. When level-matched using the volume knob it was almost impossible to tell when the circuit was engaged or disengaged if I switched it on and off with my eyes closed. Adding gain and thereby distortion to the tone changes the overall character, but using those EQ settings it resulted in a very neutral sounding addition of very pleasant dirt. It was in no way a clanky Shellac/Jesus Lizard machine at that setting, even with the gain knob cranked and the input set to Hi.
Quoting myself here, which was a response to something @sunbeast said:
I still agree that this contradicts the manual, but after some pretty thorough testing of my newly received Rusty Box last night (reminder: I previously owned one of these back before the 9V center-negative update) I think that @sunbeast is correct about the tone stack. The manual is well-written in some areas, but the EQ section leaves a lot to be desired in terms of what's actually happening. While keeping the pedal as clean as possible I determined that with the bass and treble knobs set at 9 o'clock, and the mids knob set at 3 o'clock the Rusty Box was very nearly transparent in terms of frequency response. When level-matched using the volume knob it was almost impossible to tell when the circuit was engaged or disengaged if I switched it on and off with my eyes closed. Adding gain and thereby distortion to the tone changes the overall character, but using those EQ settings it resulted in a very neutral sounding addition of very pleasant dirt. It was in no way a clanky Shellac/Jesus Lizard machine at that setting, even with the gain knob cranked and the input set to Hi.
I’m glad I remembered things correctly! You think you’ll keep it around this time?
I think so. I just sold my cabs and my new one, a Trickfish TF212V, won’t be here until 1/4, so all testing is being done through my studio monitors. Hopefully (likely) things will only sound better through a proper bass cab.
Using the aforementioned EQ as a starting point makes it a much more versatile preamp/OD pedal. Go from this point to be neutral, dial up the bass and treble with the mids at 9 o’clock and it sounds grindy and modern, but still thick in the mids, dial the mids back to noon and it’s Shellac/Jesus Lizard clanky... so many options. The character changes with the level of dirt is also very impressive. It might just be the new pedal honeymoon, but I think it sounds better than my old 15V version.
The MBD-1 stacks really well into the Rusty Box! I plan on repurchasing either an MBD-1 or MBD-2 at some point soon.
I also agree that the newer 9V version of the Rusty seems easier to “reel in” as far as the gnarl goes. Lots of good tones across the spectrum of clean to filthy with these two combined.
It’s been interesting to hear that the MBD-2 isn’t simply an MBD-1 in a smaller enclosure. Makes me want to give it a go and compare.
I also agree that the newer 9V version of the Rusty seems easier to “reel in” as far as the gnarl goes. Lots of good tones across the spectrum of clean to filthy with these two combined.
It’s been interesting to hear that the MBD-2 isn’t simply an MBD-1 in a smaller enclosure. Makes me want to give it a go and compare.
That was definitely my experience. Both were great, but if pedalboard real estate wasn’t an issue I’d go with the MBD1 over the MBD2 every time.
Will probably snag another MBD-1 soon. I really need to stop selling mine— this will be my third. Lol
Such a great circuit!
