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NPD Southampton Ictineo
- Thread starter nshuman
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- npd southampton
Random thought of the moment: does the Ictineo actually sound better than the SubD?
Probably not since it's the same circuit. It looks better though, so....Yes.
It's actually available and for under $200... that make it better from a practical point of view.
My Ictineo came in a couple days ago, earlier than the tracking had me expecting it by several days. Only had a bit to mess with it on its own before slapping it on my board and heading to band practice yesterday. Learning how to navigate the controls is going to have a bit of a learning curve, but I can echo the sentiment that there are few bad sounds in this pedal. Messing with dirt running into the Ictineo for the first time and dialing it in on the fly during practice worked out better than expected, and I was able to find a setting that gave me great definition with the band mix and helped cut through. It was probably the best I've ever sounded.
Anyone else wish that the tiny tiny print by the toggle switches was way bigger? Maybe finally time to get reading glasses…
I'll just rely on memory, 'cause I'm beyond bifocals and skipped ahead to needing trifocals.
Mine showed up toward the end of last week, and I'm really having a good time with it. Tried it going into my TH500, but I'm actually liking the tone from the Ictineo direct into my Countryman as a different flavor from the Aguilar. Gives every note a certain heft and clarity, as others have described. Superb customer service to boot!
Zeke approves (that's about as excited as he gets).
Zeke approves (that's about as excited as he gets).
subs!Please, if you can, more detail on the TH500 vs Ictineo tonal comparison.
Of course! The simplest way I would explain it is that the TH500 is like a fine carpet, and the Ictineo is an exquisite hardwood flood. The Ictineo is absolutely clean, although the boost pushes the mids in a really pleasing way (in the general direction of the Phat Phuk B, without the grit). There is something going on in the low mids with the Ictineo that gives each note size and authority.
The Tone Hammer doesn't really ever get as clean as the Ictineo. It feels like there's almost always some amount of wool going on, even when it's set clean (wool probably isn't the right word, more like "harmonic complexity" that I usually associate with light OD.). There is a heft to the notes with the TH as well, but it's a different voice than the Ictineo - maybe just a bit higher in the midrange.
They are both awesome in their own way. Really it's like having a great A and B channel. I've gigged the Tone Hammer a fair amount and always enjoyed the sound I get. No gigs on the horizon since I quit my last band, but I can see how the Ictineo would be a different flavor of awesome. Hope this helps - curious if anybody has experienced the same thing.
I haven't tried the Ictineo into my TH500 yet, but I think this pretty accurately describes the difference between the two.
I honestly loved the tone of my Ictineo into the Effects Return of my TH500. Much cleaner and punchier tone than I've ever had out of that head alone.
Jamming again tomorrow with the country band, Lakland 55-02... excited to try that combo out.
The Southampton Ictineo - bassist tested, dog approved!
Huh. That is VERY interesting.
Sorry to bother you further, but now tell me more about Ictineo vs Phat Phuk B, because the latter is one of my favourite tonal magic pedals of all time, and I ache daily from massive regret that I sent my Phatty off to @dinoadventures...at least he loves it as much as I do/did, so I guess there is some solace to be had there. Anyway, yeah, you've piqued my curiosity by making this comparison, so please carry on.
Huh. That is VERY interesting.
Sorry to bother you further, but now tell me more about Ictineo vs Phat Phuk B, because the latter is one of my favourite tonal magic pedals of all time, and I ache daily from massive regret that I sent my Phatty off to @dinoadventures...at least he loves it as much as I do/did, so I guess there is some solace to be had there. Anyway, yeah, you've piqued my curiosity by making this comparison, so please carry on.
The Ictineo and the PPB are as different as they are similar. The PPB has that musical grind/grit that always comes through. It's one of my favorite sounds with the TH - and is usually on if I'm playing. The only time I turn the PPB off is when I'm playing with the ictineo. Both the Ictineo and PPB push the sound in a musical way. The mid content is slightly different, and the PPB is clearly more gritty and grinds, but they both give your tone an extra sparkle and boost. At least to my ears.
The main basis for my comparison is that I don't like the PPB into the Ictineo nearly as much. In my mind it's because they fulfill a similar role - that little extra magic and clarity. The PPB into the TH is like a slightly darker, woolier variation of the Ictineo. Hope this helps.
If I can get my recording interface back up and running, I'll try to record some clips, if only because I'm curious if my impressions hold up under that microscope.
I don't see what the PPB has to do with the Ictineo at all, sorry. They can both function as a boost, I guess. Maybe if you configure the Ictineo to be as warm as possible, which might sound fine, but I wouldn't say the Ictineo could very well substitute for the PPB.
I don't think he's saying substitute at all, that's not how the conversation has progressed. Just similar in EQ, but very distinct tones that compliment each other as two separate options.
My experience with the Ictineo has been very similar - it's the perfect clean option to the ToneHammer pedal when you use AGS. Because you can't balance the clean TH pedal sounds with the AGS because of the volume boost, turning off the TH and the Ictineo on is a welcome combination!!
I love the sound of a fifth gear into the ictineo. I wonder what it would sound like with a phat phuk into a fifth gear (or vice versa) into the ictineo?
Ok, I get what you are saying. Again, helpful stuff, thank you. This whole conversation reminds me even more of how much I miss my Phatty...and even my Tone Hammer for that matter!
I truly appreciate all of the help!
