I have one, it's great. Some people don't like it because the compressor changes volume when you turn it on and off but I don't use it that way. I seit it how I want it for when I'm playing and that's where it stays. I don't use it like an effect I use it like a channel strip. Great for recording and live.
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I've been staying away from built in compressors. I've very happy with the ones that I have (Cali76, Empress, and Becos).
Yikes! As great as it sounds the Tonecraft is would NOT be high on my list to go on a pedalboard. Compare its size to a Noble then at least triple the the weight.
Api is known for their compressors also. You get a really nice API flavor compression here. In addition to transformers and inductor based EQ. Lots of secret sauce in there if that's what you're into, no tubes though although many people will argue that the magic in the tube tone is the transformer. I think people who are familiar with vintage recording consoles would really like this thing. That's what I was going for when I got it
I have a BP-41, though I haven't played it in some time. Had a PB-1 at the same time (sold recently to a local player who asked me about it). PB-1 and BP-41 are both "clean" pres, but the Yamaha moreso than the Ashly -- Ashly has a bit of "tooth" to the sound. Tonestacks are pretty different, too -- if the Yamaha isn't a Fender tonestack, then it's something close, in that mids up pretty high and Bass and Treble down pretty low approximates a "flat"/neutral sound while, with the Ashly, knobs at noon is closer to that.
Finally, the Yamaha seems to have more going on in the very deep lows, which you might or might not like. I think the Ashly would slot more easily into more mixes, but YMMV.
I have issues lol.
It's been about three weeks since I got a preamp, and I still only have GAS for two.
I've been filling the gaps in my life with other pedals. Went on a mini envelope filter binge and ended up with a few great ones (out of about 15 I ended up with 2 (technically 3, one a multi), with one more on order). Already did compressors, now I'm knee deep in OD. I just realized I had been through about a dozen so far and have 4 more on order.
For those of you still following - I'm going to list out what I have been thru at some point. I'll probably create new threads based on the pedal type ....
It's been about three weeks since I got a preamp, and I still only have GAS for two.
I've been filling the gaps in my life with other pedals. Went on a mini envelope filter binge and ended up with a few great ones (out of about 15 I ended up with 2 (technically 3, one a multi), with one more on order). Already did compressors, now I'm knee deep in OD. I just realized I had been through about a dozen so far and have 4 more on order.
For those of you still following - I'm going to list out what I have been thru at some point. I'll probably create new threads based on the pedal type ....
Mr Sushi already said that the October batch might be early, so I guess there's a Smoke Signal heading your way soon
Should you ever pass a MI Audio Blueboy Deluxe overdrive, give that one a try.
Nice! I'm going to check that one out - they look to be super cheap on Reverb. I recently picked up quite a few light OD pedals so I am giving them a go, this looks like one to add to the mix.
I figured questions and recommendations re: envelope filters pops up from time to time, and during COVID I got the opportunity to try a bunch out, and here's the results.
Note that I was looking for a classic Mu-Tron sound - nice quack, very touch responsive, can get a little bit stanky. but not TOO stanky so that it kills my speakers. I wasn't looking for a ton of flexibility and didn't want a ton of knobs, so the ones with the lots of knobs/options were out.
QTron (big silver box) - man, the tone on this thing killed. Just the right amount of stanky, very responsive - but the peaks were too much. Had I thought a bit more I would have figured out how to drop the volume when I turned it on, but as it is, it was just too tough to tame.
QTron+ - A little less peaky than the QTron, but otherwise very similar. Perhaps a little less stanky, a little less responsive than the QTron, but it was pretty close. Had the same issues with the peaks though.
MXR M82 - I like this one so much that I bought it twice. It's smooth - definitely didn't have as much of an issue with the peaks, it was very responsive, and very, very easy to get a good sound out of. However, it lacked the stankiness. I think in taming the peaks it lost a little something. Great pedal though, I used it as a grab-an-go filter for awhile because I knew that I could make it work no matter what the situation and I didn't have to worry about killing my speakers.
EHX - Microqtron - pretty much a small version of the regular Qtron+
Mr. Black Fwonkbeta - Stanky. Thick. Really Rich sounding. Still had issues with the peaks, but man, sounded great. Had a certain vintage vibe about it.
Source Audio C4 - Lots of flexibilities; lacks a touch of stanky, but does a really good MuTron. I still have this.
MuTron III - The sound I had in my head. Sooooo stanky. Had peak issues, but worth dealing with . I had to give this one back.
EMMA DiscumBOBulator - One of the best envelope filters I've played through. So easy to get a good sound, tamed the peaks, but tons of stank and rich, quacky tone. This one was literally a space issue. I was choosing between this and a 3Leaf Proton v3, and the Proton won due to space, but the EMMA is every bit as good.
3Leaf Audio Proton v3 - Everything about the EMMA is pretty much true with this one, except it is more flexible tone wise. It's an exceptional pedal. Sold it because ...
Micro MuTron IV - I got this with the "blue" opto module, and it's just phenomenal. Imagine taking a Mutron, taming the peaks, make it even more responsive, but somehow keep all the stankiness? With the blue module, the response is faster so you get a quicker peak, so it's like ... more. This is on one of my boards.
3Leaf Audio Proton v4 - This one is on my other board. It's the most musical envelope filter I've ever played. Very responsive, almost like it's an instrument in itself. It's very impressive. It's like they kept all the good parts and made them better. It's a little less stanky than the MuTron, but it's more musical, if that makes sense.
I also have a MuTon III clone coming, from a high end builder. I am excited to try that one!
Note that I was looking for a classic Mu-Tron sound - nice quack, very touch responsive, can get a little bit stanky. but not TOO stanky so that it kills my speakers. I wasn't looking for a ton of flexibility and didn't want a ton of knobs, so the ones with the lots of knobs/options were out.
QTron (big silver box) - man, the tone on this thing killed. Just the right amount of stanky, very responsive - but the peaks were too much. Had I thought a bit more I would have figured out how to drop the volume when I turned it on, but as it is, it was just too tough to tame.
QTron+ - A little less peaky than the QTron, but otherwise very similar. Perhaps a little less stanky, a little less responsive than the QTron, but it was pretty close. Had the same issues with the peaks though.
MXR M82 - I like this one so much that I bought it twice. It's smooth - definitely didn't have as much of an issue with the peaks, it was very responsive, and very, very easy to get a good sound out of. However, it lacked the stankiness. I think in taming the peaks it lost a little something. Great pedal though, I used it as a grab-an-go filter for awhile because I knew that I could make it work no matter what the situation and I didn't have to worry about killing my speakers.
EHX - Microqtron - pretty much a small version of the regular Qtron+
Mr. Black Fwonkbeta - Stanky. Thick. Really Rich sounding. Still had issues with the peaks, but man, sounded great. Had a certain vintage vibe about it.
Source Audio C4 - Lots of flexibilities; lacks a touch of stanky, but does a really good MuTron. I still have this.
MuTron III - The sound I had in my head. Sooooo stanky. Had peak issues, but worth dealing with . I had to give this one back.
EMMA DiscumBOBulator - One of the best envelope filters I've played through. So easy to get a good sound, tamed the peaks, but tons of stank and rich, quacky tone. This one was literally a space issue. I was choosing between this and a 3Leaf Proton v3, and the Proton won due to space, but the EMMA is every bit as good.
3Leaf Audio Proton v3 - Everything about the EMMA is pretty much true with this one, except it is more flexible tone wise. It's an exceptional pedal. Sold it because ...
Micro MuTron IV - I got this with the "blue" opto module, and it's just phenomenal. Imagine taking a Mutron, taming the peaks, make it even more responsive, but somehow keep all the stankiness? With the blue module, the response is faster so you get a quicker peak, so it's like ... more. This is on one of my boards.
3Leaf Audio Proton v4 - This one is on my other board. It's the most musical envelope filter I've ever played. Very responsive, almost like it's an instrument in itself. It's very impressive. It's like they kept all the good parts and made them better. It's a little less stanky than the MuTron, but it's more musical, if that makes sense.
I also have a MuTon III clone coming, from a high end builder. I am excited to try that one!
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This one has a few tricks up its sleeve. The EQ section is built for guitar which renders one or two knobs useless, but there is a knob with a tonestack that will boost bass and reduce treble CCW and do the opposite CW of the noon position and that knob does not steal any low end. At one point, I even used that pedal as a bass boost.
And there is another that works like a clean blend. It is a great pedal for adding a beefy growl, sensitive to the touch. While I'm writing this, I regret having sold mine.
I've been exploring ODs this past year too. There are so many good ones available these days but it can be tricky to find the best for one's rig.
I would definitely be interested in seeing more threads about your pedal journeys, so keep it up.
Will do! Just got a @Sushi Box FX Smoke Signal yesterday but haven't had a chance to even plug it in yet. I have about a dozen OD, I'll post my thoughts on those when done
Got my Smoke Signal yesterday but didn't get a chance to Play through it until today. Terrific preamp, great OD/distortion that retains all the low end. Gonna do some tube rolling at some point, but this sucker can get heavy, in a really good way. Very crunchy.
No rest for the wicked!Can't you take a day off today?
I had originally thought about putting together three pedal boards, one of them being a cheaper, smaller board that I called my Bourbon St board - I wanted it to be highly portable and somewhat expendable, so if something happened to it on Bourbon St - like someone spilled something on it, it got stolen, etc. - I wouldn't be too upset.
I ended up putting a few higher priced items on it, to the point where I would definitely be upset if something happened to it. So ... I still ended up with three boards - a medium, a large, and a larger one - in big part due keep the Bourbon St board cheap and somewhat expendable, and also due to the fact that I bought a bunch of OD pedals and really like them all, so I started stacking them.
I still have a few parts on the way for the two larger boards, so I'll post them when all done, but for the smallest board I ended up getting a Zoom Bn3 in trade. It's honestly a killer little multi effects unit. It's also small, cheap, and readily available. I don't know if I would use it for studio, but it's more than good enough for live. I paired that with a Boss Wireless and a Radial Stagebug and I'm good to go.
Pics later, of course.
I ended up putting a few higher priced items on it, to the point where I would definitely be upset if something happened to it. So ... I still ended up with three boards - a medium, a large, and a larger one - in big part due keep the Bourbon St board cheap and somewhat expendable, and also due to the fact that I bought a bunch of OD pedals and really like them all, so I started stacking them.
I still have a few parts on the way for the two larger boards, so I'll post them when all done, but for the smallest board I ended up getting a Zoom Bn3 in trade. It's honestly a killer little multi effects unit. It's also small, cheap, and readily available. I don't know if I would use it for studio, but it's more than good enough for live. I paired that with a Boss Wireless and a Radial Stagebug and I'm good to go.
Pics later, of course.
If the OP is still relevant, I started using my Subway Preamp Plus, being its an always on preamp, and its sits perfectly on top of the Quilter and sounds great with it. I go right into the front keeping the Quilter EQ flat. I think it even sounds better for my needs than going into the TT800 return. Guess Im a clean guy sometimes. But upping the gain and lowering the master on the quilter gets a tad of harmonics if I want.
I love the Quilter. It's such a great platform for preamps!
