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NPD: 1981 Inventions DRV
- Thread starter IngloriousOz
- Start date
DRV is finally in place. Beautiful pedal. Definitely cuts lows, no way around it. Doesnt get rat-splatty at the extremes of the drive knob rotation like a rat pedal normally would, but I am cool with it. Getting to really like what it brings, but I definitely have to use the cut/filter knob to bring lows back in.
Cool "board", Mr Piper.
What's sandwiched between the MS-70CDR and P&P?
Also, how does the 1981 stack with its dirt stablemates?
What's sandwiched between the MS-70CDR and P&P?
Also, how does the 1981 stack with its dirt stablemates?
I put the zoom in a true bypass loop (a keeley one my guitarist had lying around) so I can scroll through presets silently and use the loop pedal as an on/off switch.
if Matt ever offers a bass mod I will be all over that.
In terms of stacking, I will be putting the DRV last, as a way of opening up the tone of the pork n pickle, as the DRV is a bright beast.
With all the killer Rat based pedals out there that are specifically tuned for bass, I am not sure what the attraction is here at the prices that are on Reverb. Also - the idea of a boutique Rat without a no clipping diodes option is a real pity.
I think the main attraction to this pedal by many (not necessarily here though I could be wrong) is quite simply the name. There's a big 80's kick going on (for good reason. That decade was amazing) and this fits nicely into that. I never underestimate how important a name and paint job is to the psychology of the pedal buyer and I think this one is attracting people on that level. I'm done with all Rats on bass. Just too splatty and uncontrollable for me personally. And at over $200, this one is never being considered.
My girlfriend has the 1981 on her board; partially because of the looks mostly because of the way it sounds and some other players we've done gigs with who also use it. Admittedly I love the way it sounds on guitar. Could be used as an always on drive; or a huge nasty sounding overdrive that is really open sounding for a RAT clone. It's dynamic and touch responsive; all the things you want to hear; plus incredibly well built. Soft click switch; top mounted jacks, checks all the boxes. Cuts a lot of lows; probably part of the reason it sounds so good on guitar, but if they made one for bass I'd be all over it too. Probably could get some sort of parallel blender and make it work; but that's more real estate than I'm willing to give up I think.
The only way I’ve come to really liking this pedal when I had it was putting it in the loop on the hx stomp and adding some lows back into it sounds great used it with the mix also to bring back some clean on a different toggle. If he made a bass version I be down to use it again but for now the jam pedal rattler bass version is now taking its place.
I love rats on bass, and have tried many. I could probably even impulsively try this one. But, the Dunwich VT always lands back on my board after finding all the rats I’ve tried wanting. And clipping diodes do make a difference.
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From what I understand, DRV's not using the LM308 or whatever Rats are now shipped with, but an entirely different chip; also the transistor has been replaced with another op-amp performing those duties —
so even if it did have no-diodes mode or modded as such, you'd still not get the Rat sound that's inherent in ODing the Rat chip and Jfet.
Kind of like taking two identical car chassis, and sticking a V8 in one and a Turbo'd inline four in the other. They might go the same speed but the response and handling will be vastly different.
Most importantly, the V8 and Turbo-I4 won't sound anything alike at all — but each one's still a "Mustang"...
so even if it did have no-diodes mode or modded as such, you'd still not get the Rat sound that's inherent in ODing the Rat chip and Jfet.
Kind of like taking two identical car chassis, and sticking a V8 in one and a Turbo'd inline four in the other. They might go the same speed but the response and handling will be vastly different.
Most importantly, the V8 and Turbo-I4 won't sound anything alike at all — but each one's still a "Mustang"...
I was just talking to a friend today about not having any pedals anymore and got to thinking about the handful that I still miss and the DRV is definitely one of them. A bass version would certainly be cool but it'll be a long, long time before it shows up.
