My Dirt Bender - Another Jounal

[sunbeast]

Just to clarify:

I agree that the implementation of the AGS footswitch on the TH pedal is not ideal...and that Aguilar could have made it more useful.

I just don't agree with posts which present this great-sounding preamp as (almost) unuseable because of this "imperfection"...

Personally if I used an Aguilar THDI I’d likely just leave ACG engaged all the time and try to adjust the crunch with pedals in front of it. I don’t really understand the footswitch the way it is implemented as @el murdoque mentions, just seems a waste of a footswitch. I’ve personally always avoided that pedal because of the power requirements (I tend to use my amp’s DI, so phantom power wouldn’t work for me).

I don’t think many people have called it unusable for that “issue”, just seems like a volume for the AGS channel would be an obvious/easy improvement/fix that could be implemented to make it more versatile (though it seems that’s not really how it’s intended to be used or they’d have added one). Take for example the Darkglass Ultra pedals where there is a Master Volume that affects the level all the time the pedal is engaged then a 2nd Level control that only affects the Drive channel. The Darkglass pedals also fail at this dual-channel arrangement to a degree (for me) though because of how non-transparent their drive tones are, to me Darkglass drives only work as “always on” for that reason.

I’ve yet to actually own a dirty preamp that successfully does the clean channel plus dirty channel thing the way I want to hear it, but I haven’t tried all that many dual-channel preamp pedals either- I guess the ideal way to do it is by using two identical channels with their own Gain controls (the Tech 21 Steve Harris pre did this pretty successfully, I just didn’t get along with its EQ or would have probably kept it). I have had a few drive pedals that do dual channels well, currently I’m always hyping up the Blackstone Mosfet for that purpose! That into a mostly clean preamp is a nice combo.

 

[davelowell2]

I think, especially on this thread, you’ll find the two channel Meatsmoke does it well. Not the single/boost shared eq version.

 

[GrowlerBox]

I think this is the time to address something I've not addressed yet.
Since I do own a Tonehammer amp, I never bought the pedal.
Which is a shame, because I always liked the dirt sounds of the Tonehammer.
Looking at the pedal and the amp, there are two relevant differences. The amp does not come with an AGS switch, but is equipped with a knob called "Drive" along with the gain knob. My guess would be that on the pedal, you can jump between two fixed settings of the amp's drive knob.
I have played the pedal in the past, but never got over what I called a dramatic design failure, mapping a function to a footswitch that is essentially unusable because of how the levels jump.

However, now I kind of want a Tonehammer pedal.

There must be something about the AGS that makes the volume jump unavoidable, because it must be the number one comment/complaint about the pedal, and it appears to be exactly the same in v2. I use it with phantom power all the time, as a recording preamp and live (when I was doing that), so that is a big loss from v2 (I don’t know if the new one can be battery-powered, but I also like that as a one-box solution when one can’t vouch for the quality of the power at a venue).

I have the Genzler Magellan pre/DI on my big board — it’s super clean, has better EQ points (for me), a couple of useful filters (like on my old Markbass F1) and an HPF, but there is something a bit magical about the ToneHammer at low gain levels; as I have mentioned, I find it a bit grating at higher gain levels. I would never get rid of it. It would be a Swiss Army Tank if they didn’t just use bicycles.

 

[OnlyFlats]

Going back a few pages, I saw this sale and was reminded of the chorus journey.
idiotbox effects
No cork sniffing with this builder, sorry.
I own 4 of his other pedals.
Ps Don't go trying to find any low gain with flats pedals while there, that's not his style.

 

[Zbysek]

I’ve yet to actually own a dirty preamp that successfully does the clean channel plus dirty channel thing the way I want to hear it,

I think you have touched upon an important issue. AGS has very different EQ profile from the clean "channel" as it is very mid-heavy (with lows and highs attenuated). To compensate, many players cut mids (significantly) and boost lows when using AGS on. Those settings would probably not work well for clean sounds as the tone would be very scooped.

So, even if it was possible to achieve unity level with the AGS switch, I don't think I would use it. I think I would still prefer using the "Engage" switch to change from clean to driven tones.

 

[el murdoque]

Personally if I used an Aguilar THDI I’d likely just leave ACG engaged all the time and try to adjust the crunch with pedals in front of it. I don’t really understand the footswitch the way it is implemented as @el murdoque mentions, just seems a waste of a footswitch. I’ve personally always avoided that pedal because of the power requirements (I tend to use my amp’s DI, so phantom power wouldn’t work for me).

I don’t think many people have called it unusable for that “issue”, just seems like a volume for the AGS channel would be an obvious/easy improvement/fix that could be implemented to make it more versatile (though it seems that’s not really how it’s intended to be used or they’d have added one). Take for example the Darkglass Ultra pedals where there is a Master Volume that affects the level all the time the pedal is engaged then a 2nd Level control that only affects the Drive channel. The Darkglass pedals also fail at this dual-channel arrangement to a degree (for me) though because of how non-transparent their drive tones are, to me Darkglass drives only work as “always on” for that reason.

The term unusable has been tossed around a lot, but I think it was not targeted at the Tone Hammer as a whole, but just at the second circuit that is triggered via the footswitch.
When you try to use it as a clean preamp with a drive knob, you'll blast the drummer off their chair when you hit it - so that particular function warrants the label "unusable". Regarding the fact that it is quite a common preamp pedal that is loved by many nonetheless, it only shows how good it is.

I’ve yet to actually own a dirty preamp that successfully does the clean channel plus dirty channel thing the way I want to hear it, but I haven’t tried all that many dual-channel preamp pedals either- I guess the ideal way to do it is by using two identical channels with their own Gain controls (the Tech 21 Steve Harris pre did this pretty successfully, I just didn’t get along with its EQ or would have probably kept it). I have had a few drive pedals that do dual channels well, currently I’m always hyping up the Blackstone Mosfet for that purpose! That into a mostly clean preamp is a nice combo.

Yeah, that was something I gave up a long while ago.
Pedals that come to my mind that mostly nail the 'more than one' sound thing:
1. Ol' Reliable. Sansamp PBDDI (or the Deluxe, or the VT versions of the Programmable or Deluxe). Sure, you got to be into the Sansamp sound and for cork sniffers it might be a bit plebeian, but I've had mine set up to a modern'ish sound on one knob, a dark and muffled old school sound on the second and a grinding one on the third, played like that for years and was quite happy before all that cork sniffing business started.
My Preamp Bender actually started because I could not get a perfect reggae tone out of the Sansamp.

2. Verellen Meatsmoke.
On the outside, it looks like the pedal has two identical sets of controls you can toggle between, but on the inside, one channel uses all four gain stages from the two tubes while the other channel uses only two.

3. I want to mention the Effectrode Blackbird. The drive was not my cup of tea, but the whole thing was implemented so well that I do hope others dig it!

 

[el murdoque]

I think, especially on this thread, you’ll find the two channel Meatsmoke does it well. Not the single/boost shared eq version.

Yes, the Meatsmoke does it.I started looking for one in 2013 and bought the first one I could get my hands on. In 2025.
Saying these are rare is a bit of an understatement.


We're mostly cork sniffers here and it's rare enough that we find a pedal that does ONE thing perfectly.
Having a pedal doing two things is exponentially harder.

 

[el murdoque]

Report: I was off grid for a couple of days, but have kept busy. A Tonehammer was found and purchased, it's in the mail and hopefully arrives tomorrow.
My Nephew's birthday is coming up and we were talking about octavers when we last spoke, so I bought an OC-2 as a present. I think it was a lucky stroke that he wants to try octavers and that is, in my humble opinion, the one type of bass effect where the OG reference model is made by Boss and can be had for relatively cheap - so that it does not make any sense buying a cheap copy or something.
However, the OC-2 was in a bundle with two other pedals that actually interest me, and at least one will be featured here in the Dirt Bender.
The other is the Boss Bass Chorus, and it'll get a side note for the side quest - but I expect to sell it off quickly.

 

[davelowell2]

Yes, the Meatsmoke does it.I started looking for one in 2013 and bought the first one I could get my hands on. In 2025.
Saying these are rare is a bit of an understatement.


We're mostly cork sniffers here and it's rare enough that we find a pedal that does ONE thing perfectly.
Having a pedal doing two things is exponentially harder.

I think the major caveat is that it’s the dual eq/channel version. The two channel has gain and volume for each channel.


I have the single eq with boost version and that boost is unhinged, like whoa, so loud. I bought some 12dw7’s in hopes of taming it.

 

[el murdoque]

I think the major caveat is that it’s the dual eq/channel version. The two channel has gain and volume for each channel.


I have the single eq with boost version and that boost is unhinged, like whoa, so loud. I bought some 12dw7’s in hopes of taming it.

The caveat is that the boost channel has a complete set of controls, not only gain and volume.

How does the single version work? I suppose it does the same thing where you use the stage 1 of tube 1 and stage 2 of tube 2 on the normal channel and all four with the boost active? I'd think that this gets you a massive boost - as in too much.

 

[davelowell2]

@el murdoque I think that’s correct.

 

[sunbeast]

I think, especially on this thread, you’ll find the two channel Meatsmoke does it well. Not the single/boost shared eq version.

I’ve mentioned earlier in the thread that I had access to the 300 watt Meatsmoke amp (or whatever the amp version was called) in my LA rehearsal space for years, but the tone of that amp was too scooped for my taste. Of course the amp has a lot more variables going on, so it may be that the pedal could be better to my ears. I think Sushi Box makes (or did make) a clone of the Meatsmoke pedal?

 

[GrowlerBox]

The other is the Boss Bass Chorus, and it'll get a side note for the side quest - but I expect to sell it off quickly.

If it’s the old brown box one, it’s nice and/but subtle; check that it’s not one that actually requires 12V DC (or a battery) to run properly. It took me a while to figure that out. Much better when powered appropriately .

 

[davelowell2]

I’ve mentioned earlier in the thread that I had access to the 300 watt Meatsmoke amp (or whatever the amp version was called) in my LA rehearsal space for years, but the tone of that amp was too scooped for my taste. Of course the amp has a lot more variables going on, so it may be that the pedal could be better to my ears. I think Sushi Box makes (or did make) a clone of the Meatsmoke pedal?

I have a Sushibox Smoke Signal, long story but ultimately totally rebuilt by Nathan who updated the design a bit. Awesome service from Mr. Sushi.
It’s on loan now but I’ll A/B with my Meatsmoke more extensively. It’s smaller than the Meatsmoke and has two full channels like the second version of Meatsmoke.

I am leaning towards keeping the Verellen and selling the SS but weirder things have happened.

 

[el murdoque]

If it’s the old brown box one, it’s nice and/but subtle; check that it’s not one that actually requires 12V DC (or a battery) to run properly. It took me a while to figure that out. Much better when powered appropriately .

It's the blue one. CEB-3, I think.

 

[el murdoque]

I have a Sushibox Smoke Signal, long story but ultimately totally rebuilt by Nathan who updated the design a bit. Awesome service from Mr. Sushi.
It’s on loan now but I’ll A/B with my Meatsmoke more extensively. It’s smaller than the Meatsmoke and has two full channels like the second version of Meatsmoke.

I am leaning towards keeping the Verellen and selling the SS but weirder things have happened.

I did own a Smoke Signal from the first batch, the one that was supposedly identical to the Meatsmoke.
I bought it as a preamp, but did not get the sound I was looking for, so I quickly let it go.

 

[davelowell2]

I did own a Smoke Signal from the first batch, the one that was supposedly identical to the Meatsmoke.
I bought it as a preamp, but did not get the sound I was looking for, so I quickly let it go.

That’s what I bought, used. But there was something wrong so I sent it to Sushi and he couldn’t crack it.

So he reworked the circuit for more voltage, used film caps, ordered new boards and made a new enclosure for me!!!

It’s basically a new and improved Smoke Signal.

Awesome service from buying a used pedal!

 

[el murdoque]

 

[el murdoque]

Also, I bought these:

It was a bundle for a good price.

The OC-2 is a birthday present for the nephew.
The CEB-3 is just another chorus to try out.
The Multi Overtone .... I did not research. I assumed it's something that generates harmonics, but now that I have it here, I quickly looked it up and it seems it's some horrid digital device that makes your bass sound weird. I actually considered selling it on without even plugging it in.

 

[el murdoque]

...but I had to make sure the Boss MO-2 works properly so I took it home and plugged it in. Had I not seen the demos online, I would have concluded that it indeed is a broken pedal, because all it does is adding unwanted noise. Honestly, what would anyone use that for? The person that sold it is a bassist.
I'm actually stumped. You get a weirdly processed octave up that sits somewhat in the background when you have the mix 50/50.
With the knob on the right, you can select to also add a weirdly processed sound in the same pitch you play, and additionally, an octave down (also weirdly processed). It really is a terrible pedal. I'm done.