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New 0xEAE Bass Driver
- Thread starter kazuhank
- Start date
It rips. It may not be for everyone but I like it on big dynamic shifts. The Boost is really underrated for bass. I am still trying to sort out if I prefer it or the Bass Driver as an always on lower dirt level. They both sound great in that application.
@cataract Where did you land? Do you drive the boost into the Bass Driver, or after? Is one set for higher gain, preamp and dirt? I'm curious because I like them both so much at lower gain, and honestly haven't spent enough time switching up their order. I have used the driver as dirt mostly and not. a preamp but I have seen others saying it's great in the preamp role.
I’ve only just recently reacquired the Boost, so my time spent mixing the two has been minimal. The Drive sounds great as an always on preamp. It’s hard not to treat it like a Rusty Box in that regard. Slamming it with the Boost sounds awesome, it’s a different flavor than just increasing the drive on the Drive. Next time I sit down with them I’ll try some different setups and report back!
I recently picked up a Crazy Tube Circuits Venus which is a replica of the BK Butler Tube Driver, sounds great into the Bass Driver 
I’ve currently got that for some light gain and the Dagger v2 for heavier stuff. Put together a little rough playthrough with it:
I’ve currently got that for some light gain and the Dagger v2 for heavier stuff. Put together a little rough playthrough with it:
The normal-sized version will be the "Greathammer" and is apparently being released this week!
Sources:
Sources:
I wonder if the Greathammer’s added toggle is simply the OxEAE’s internal Notch switch externalized. I’ve yet to mess with it on my Bass Driver.
Yeah it is, well worth playing around with IMO! I liked the pedal but with it on as a preamp it’s just perfect.
How similar is the EAE Bass Driver to the Rusty Box? I really want to get one of the two, but sadly the Rusty Box has been impossible to source for a while.
I’d say the Bass Driver is similar enough but not the same. I would also say it is a worthy substitute for the Rusty. The Driver’s controls are more refined in the sense that even the smallest of adjustments can drastically change its overall tone. Hard to put into words lol. One thing I love the most is the BASS control- dialing in just the right amount of meaty low end to pair with the icepick grind is a breeze. With the Rusty it takes a bit more fiddlin’ of the knobs and even then, it can’t match the OxEAE’s lows. I’m currently without a Rusty Box for the first time in several (several!) years but I’m okay with that. I’m cool with just the BASS DRIVER 4 realz
It sounds very cool in everything I have heard. I can only imagine that you are happy with it.
. I just picked up a TS-50B clone and I am to understand that Tronographic finally has all of the parts they need to build more Rusty Boxen. They are on track to release them sometime this spring. They also have a waitlist.
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You don't miss the boost option of the Rusty Box? I honestly can't understand why Tronographic hasn't been making them in bigger numbers, with bands such as KWC or Chat Pile using them, a lot of people really want one.
I had a Rusty Box and I far prefer the Bass Driver, but horses for courses. One thing I found is that the Bass Driver is dead silent, where the Rusty Box has a very noticeable noise floor.
I never really used the Boost switch on the Rusty. It’s cool that it’s there but the volume jump and EQ shift was too drastic to use as a simple “boost” option for me. As part of an always on preset though? Sure. The Volume and Drive controls on the Bass Driver meet and surpass the Boost switch’s functionality. Also IMO of course. I didn’t dive into the Driver expecting it to be an exact 1:1 replica of the Rusty but I’m pleased with how it addresses all of the finicky nitpicks I’ve had with my Boxes over the years. David @ Tronographic does incredible work and I’m glad he’s still at it, he’s a living legend in my book!
I would go for the Bass Driver, but if you go the RB way, there are some (a bit) less costly options that are almost 1:1 :
- Noise Space Audio, Elephant (I have this one, there is one extra feature : a switch to bypass the EQ section and go full gain)
- Moose Electronics, Cosmic Trigger
- Drunk Beaver, Traynor TS 100
The pcb is available online so you can sometimes find a diy or small builder unit
