Anyone have a suggestion for a single loop switcher that is not the LS-2?
This one looks quite nice. Trails function AND phase.
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My Dirt Bender - Another Jounal
- Thread starter el murdoque
- Start date
Are you looking to switch between two loops (like to A/B two drive pedals), clean blend a single loop, or just a simple single bypass loop?
Yes!
Actually, I was torn between something like the Broughton Bypass Loop or a simple bypass looper.
I want to experiment with the synth chain I built and want to be able to activate/deactivate the whole thing with a single knob.
If it really works, I might go ahead and swap out a few pedals on my Schmidt Array, taking off the C4 and Nano hub as well as the Mobius and possibly the Jive and swap in a chorus (still need to buy that one since I use the Julia on my small board), the PX-101, Fake Plastic Trees or Doom2 and find a way to run it all through the Morningstar ML-5 without upgrading it to the ML-10X (honestly, matrix switching options would kill me).
Well there are lots of different approaches to FX loopers- a simple serial FX bypass looper has no need for phase switches or anything since it isn't blending two signals together, and it is easy and cheap to make one since it requires no active circuitry (a "trails" switch can just be as simple as keeping the Return part of the FX loop connected in bypass, though this isn't really ideal using a passive FX looper because of the potential impedance mismatch between the two signals being combined and because of that potential for phase incoherency as some pedals even switch the phase of the "clean" signal internally). Then there are some passive versions with multiple serial loops that can be toggled between or run in a line. Most of the fancy FX loopers like the One Control and the OBNE linked above are parallel loop blenders, so using active buffering to split your input signal and blend it all back in with the FX loop(s) signal. Then there are some serial loopers with buffers as well and a few that have options for both. The cool thing about the Boss LS-2 is that it can be setup to do most of these options (loop blended with clean, two loops blended in parallel, two loops run in series, toggling between two separate loops, etc), and there aren't many other options that can do them all- the Boss doesn't have phase or trails options though, which can definitely be problematic if you plan to do any blending of loops or blending a loop with clean signal.
I got into crossover loop experimentation after some time playing with the Darkglass X pedals and I built a couple Schalltechnik Omniloopers that I love for their versatility (the filter section can be bypassed on either of the crossover loops, making it a standard 3 loop parallel blender), but sadly he stopped offering these kits a few years ago: OMNILOOPER – Schalltechnik_04 Crossover looping with the Omnilooper can be super fun for interesting synth chain stuff, as I could mix a low-passed octave under a full-range and/or high-passed chain of synth effects for example (Chris Hargreaves from Subharmonic Orchestra is an example of a bassist who mixes a deep sub signal underneath his synth chain at all times, though I hadn't heard him at the time).
I'd previously had my eye on the One Control options too, in particular the Expression Blender option as the idea of being able to roll in an FX loop with an expression pedal is very intriguing to me: Minimal Series Mosquito Blender Expressio with BJF Buffer (OC-M-MBEXP)
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FML. It's taken 64 pages and a million descriptions, but damn it if you weren't the one to finally push me over the edge, @el murdoque; this thread has made me buy something.... I went and got a Hi-Viz, after much self-assurance that I didn't need to try one. The truth is that, based on all I see and read, this is something I've got to experience up close and personal. You are not the first person to make me think this was something worth purchasing, but nobody has put it into quite such painful detail before! 
I myself was pushed by two things:FML. It's taken 64 pages and a million descriptions, but damn it if you weren't the one to finally push me over the edge, @el murdoque; this thread has made me buy something.... I went and got a Hi-Viz, after much self-assurance that I didn't need to try one. The truth is that, based on all I see and read, this is something I've got to experience up close and personal. You are not the first person to make me think this was something worth purchasing, but nobody has put it into quite such painful detail before!
1. My personal enabler @Charlie Tuna and
2. several YT videos that were not about the Doom2, but about guys demonstrating other pedals, mostly octaves and filters - that at one point within the demonstration said "let's add some fuzz" and clicked on the Doom2 and that buttery smooth velvet chainsaw sound happened.
It's still too early to tell, but I have a feeling that the Doom2 will be right beside the BJFe Blueberry and the Fake Plastic Trees: A pedal I would not consider selling if I don't have it on my boards and can't see an immediate use case for it, even though each is worth a lot and would free up enough funds to buy something else, something spectacular.
A couple items:FML. It's taken 64 pages and a million descriptions, but damn it if you weren't the one to finally push me over the edge, @el murdoque; this thread has made me buy something.... I went and got a Hi-Viz, after much self-assurance that I didn't need to try one. The truth is that, based on all I see and read, this is something I've got to experience up close and personal. You are not the first person to make me think this was something worth purchasing, but nobody has put it into quite such painful detail before!
(1) Our resident loquacious cork sniffer got me too. His recent glowing comments about doom 2 had me teetering on the edge of a GAS chasm and then you pushed me over when you couldn't resist either. So, safety orange doom 2 inbound. I know you're thinking it brother: doom 2 > iron ether XD.
(2) I recently floated the iron ether oxide (my current favorite fuzz) as an entry for this thread, but it didn't get traction. However, I will now reprise my offering as I would love to repay the GAS elicited here with a potent counter attack.
I didn’t really get along with the Oxide or the original You’re Doom (which I still have, out of laziness to sell stuff more than anything), but I feel like the fuzz character is pretty similar on the Brassmaster side of the Oxide and I suspect the Doom 2 can probably do much of what the Oxide can based on my recollections of the Oxide. You’ll have to get back when your Doom arrives to compare the two!
I'm glad you have made up your mind
-- the link to the Gwizdala video was more for those still on the fence.I've just purchased a Crowther Prunes and Custard, made here in New Zealand, and which reportedly shares some similarities with the Doom 2. Probably more distortion than fuzz from what I can ascertain from the fairly old and lo-fi videos available, but has an interesting feedback-envelope filter sort of side-chain which gives it a similar synthy vibe. It's been pretty popular on Talkbass over the years. I don't think it's been discontinued as such, but there hasn't been any new stock around for some time. The one coming to me is fairly vintage, but apparently in good order.
If I can find the words, I'll report after it arrives and I've had a chance to figure it out.
I'm glad you have made up your mind
I've just purchased a Crowther Prunes and Custard, made here in New Zealand, and which reportedly shares some similarities with the Doom 2. Probably more distortion than fuzz from what I can ascertain from the fairly old and lo-fi videos available, but has an interesting feedback-envelope filter sort of side-chain which gives it a similar synthy vibe. It's been pretty popular on Talkbass over the years. I don't think it's been discontinued as such, but there hasn't been any new stock around for some time. The one coming to me is fairly vintage, but apparently in good order.
If I can find the words, I'll report after it arrives and I've had a chance to figure it out.
I doubt we'll see too many of them in the wild, but Broughton did their clone of a P&C, called it the Calypso. That dropped around Hallowe'en, so if you see one pop up on the used market, it's the same as the Crowther.
One of the reasons I've held off on buying the D2 is that I use a Subterranea as my octave pedal, and it has actual synth oscillators built in. So, because I already had access to genuine square wave, saw tooth, or narrow pulse sounds, I felt the D2 would have too much tonal overlap for its "special sauce" synth-fuzz. But now I want to do a side-by-side and see what they offer. Plus, on a practical level, the idea of having that synth sound separated from the clean sub octave into a separate pedal is convenient from a live performance perspective; it takes a few time-consuming knob twiddles to get from dub reggae sound to nasty synth fuzz. So we shall see!
I know a couple folks who love their Oxide for its Brassmaster-style sounds. They're hard to come by, which is perhaps one reason they haven't caught on more widely.
I'm a dingus! It would be tough for a pedal to drop, and sell out already, while seemingly yet to be released for another 10 days.... That drop was the end of September. Very much *not* Spooky Season...
The originals turn up here in their home country every so often; Broughtons of any sort are like hen’s teeth, although I have procured here such a gallinate molar in the form of an HPF-LPF pedal.
I want to give that Janek guy some stern talking to.
The pedal choice to pair up the Doom2 with is top shelf, no arguing here - great selection. I would have wished for a real OC2 instead of that weird octave pedal he swapped in, but that's just me.
However. He chose the Iron Ether XD. One of the most capable filters out there - and he's running it with completely messed up settings and seemingly never even tries to get it right. Why not go with some easy to set thing like the MXR Bass Envelope Filter - I think I saw him using that on several occasions - or spending five minutes prior to firing up the recording software and set the pedals up so they work?
That seemed just lazy and careless to me.
Janek's video left me with a sour taste in my mouth.
And a BAD case of GAS for the Avalanche Run. What a beast of a reverb/delay!
I have to say, his sound choices are not mine, either, but I wouldn't presume to say his are wrong, exactly. I don't know if you watch much of his stuff, but his recent videos have been much more off the cuff than in the past. Youtube isn't the medium for nuanced assessments of tone, but I can usually determine whether my interest is sufficiently piqued to warrant a purchase at the going price. In the case of the Doom 2, for me, right now, it isn't, but the Prunes and Custard is pretty cheap here when you can get one, and maybe scratches a similar-ish itch. Mine should arrive today, so I'll hopefully know more by tonight.
I, for one, am glad to see this journal venturing into the outer corners of "drive". Keep it comin fellas!
I do remember that I got as far as finding a P&C locally and haggling for the price. Something around €180 if memory serves well.
At this very moment, I have some pedals up for sale (totaling a [very very low] four figure sum) and we all know the used marked used to be faster.
I will keep my eyes open, though.
Driving side by side with Doom2 and Fake Plastic Trees, I must admit that I love FPT a tiny bit more, especially when hitting a sweet spot, but for the purpose of forming an analog synth sound to use live, I will have to give the ticket to the Doom2.
Why, you might ask?
The Doom2 has larger sweet spots and is generally more robust. The fickle balance of dirt and envelope works a lot better with the bigger dynamic range of the Doom2 and this is the first time I'm firmly under the impression that I can make it work.
At this very moment, I have some pedals up for sale (totaling a [very very low] four figure sum) and we all know the used marked used to be faster.
I will keep my eyes open, though.
Driving side by side with Doom2 and Fake Plastic Trees, I must admit that I love FPT a tiny bit more, especially when hitting a sweet spot, but for the purpose of forming an analog synth sound to use live, I will have to give the ticket to the Doom2.
Why, you might ask?
The Doom2 has larger sweet spots and is generally more robust. The fickle balance of dirt and envelope works a lot better with the bigger dynamic range of the Doom2 and this is the first time I'm firmly under the impression that I can make it work.
Very preliminary take on the PnC is that it is more an overdrive + envelope than fuzz + overdrive (very oversimplified thumbnail of PnC vs Doom2), which is probably more my speed; I can’t pretend to keep up with you crazy kids. With the “mix” (something like filter) control fully CCW, the “drive” control offers a very mellow low-gain breakup, very subtle, almost verge of breakup kind of thing. Dialling up the mix with the drive engaged increases the gain and adds the filter, with a nice, very usable wah-attack. Drive and mix are very interactive, and I haven’t yet had a chance to fully explore their full combined ranges.
I think this could reasonably replace a drive + envelpe filter on my small board, returning those to my big board. I simply can’t bring myself to have fewer than two dirt pedals on a board, and so the next task will be to see what this plays nicely with. I might have to get a Hot Cake to complete the set and have an antipodean-dominant board (alongside my Aussie reverb and chorus). My API pedals and Genzler preamp are about the last Yanks standing on either board these days, what with all the Croatian, Finnish, English, Russian and Japanese pedals doing the rounds.
I think this could reasonably replace a drive + envelpe filter on my small board, returning those to my big board. I simply can’t bring myself to have fewer than two dirt pedals on a board, and so the next task will be to see what this plays nicely with. I might have to get a Hot Cake to complete the set and have an antipodean-dominant board (alongside my Aussie reverb and chorus). My API pedals and Genzler preamp are about the last Yanks standing on either board these days, what with all the Croatian, Finnish, English, Russian and Japanese pedals doing the rounds.
In unrelated news: I just ordered the Analogman Mini Chorus. Decked out with top jacks, deep switch and mix knob.
