Pedal Breeders' BIG Board Club Part II: Biggins'

[BIG97BEN]

Yeah, I tend to agree as well. I think it's the same even with a high priced Axe FX. It also depends on how much you really want a very specific sound. Even as nice as Strymons are, if what you want is the exact sound of a Fender big box Tube Driven Reverb Tank (the actual big one, not the one built into amps), then, you need to drop 900$ on that reverb tank.

The flip side is that the digital stuff can give you sounds you'll never get with analog gear. BUT, if you are not looking for those sounds, it does not matter. I think that the future is really in having a mix of digital pedals and midi controlled analog pedals. The new neuro modules in combination with midi enabled pots and switches is here effects makers need to go. Having multiple presets on analog pedals would be simply amazing. Between my SFX 42, SFX Micro Fuzz, IE Oxide, and Blueberry, I could have 300 presets if I had that capability.

Add to that a mobius, two H9s, a midi enabled Tru Tron, I could live with a PT-3 and NEVER need anything else. Of course, I'd probably be still buying a pedal every week, but, you know, I have a problem.

That's kind of what Chase Bliss is doing. "Analog effects with digital brains" or something to that effect. My Wombtone has two presets available and then one setting that is whatever the controls are at, so bassically three presets. It is really cool, but is also expensive.

 

[76jazzbass]

Yeah, I tend to agree as well. I think it's the same even with a high priced Axe FX. It also depends on how much you really want a very specific sound. Even as nice as Strymons are, if what you want is the exact sound of a Fender big box Tube Driven Reverb Tank (the actual big one, not the one built into amps), then, you need to drop 900$ on that reverb tank.

The flip side is that the digital stuff can give you sounds you'll never get with analog gear. BUT, if you are not looking for those sounds, it does not matter. I think that the future is really in having a mix of digital pedals and midi controlled analog pedals. The new neuro modules in combination with midi enabled pots and switches is here effects makers need to go. Having multiple presets on analog pedals would be simply amazing. Between my SFX 42, SFX Micro Fuzz, IE Oxide, and Blueberry, I could have 300 presets if I had that capability.

Add to that a mobius, two H9s, a midi enabled Tru Tron, I could live with a PT-3 and NEVER need anything else. Of course, I'd probably be still buying a pedal every week, but, you know, I have a problem.

Very true... but the same can be said for analog vs digital. Show me a digital octave that sounds like a $50 OC2? Sure it'll track better, they can be polyphonic.... but it just never sounds as good. Once again, IMO.

 

[DrewM85]

I'm loving all the MIDI talk today

 

[76jazzbass]

Pedal talk.... it's all great.

 

[nshuman]

That's kind of what Chase Bliss is doing. "Analog effects with digital brains" or something to that effect. My Wombtone has two presets available and then one setting that is whatever the controls are at, so bassically three presets. It is really cool, but is also expensive.

Yeah, the cool thing about the neuro modules that SA is working on is that you basically put it in the pedal, use post and switches that can basically be activated electronically, and, bam, direct integration in the SA hub and manager/upcoming neuro app.

So, you can just save all the presets to scenes, integrate them with other pedals, or just have simple scenes that control just one pedal.

To take this further, if you need a LOT of scenes, more than 128, you could run 3 hubs, one on each channels, 1, 2, 3, (you could have more channels, but, let's just keep three for this example), use the DA DMC-3 XL v2. You'd be able to have 128 presets on each channel, and you could use DMC presets that use all three channels, combine everything.

Then, basically, you have the same as what pros use with huge complicated rack setups and tons of midi gear, but with something that fits on your pedalboard. AND, you could always just bypass all that and just enable and turn off all your analog/digital pedals as if you never had MIDI.

 

[nshuman]

Very true... but the same can be said for analog vs digital. Show me a digital octave that sounds like a $50 OC2? Sure it'll track better, they can be polyphonic.... but it just never sounds as good. Once again, IMO.

That's actually exactly what I am saying. There are sounds you cannot replicate from both worlds. Maybe one day that will not be true, but, right now, just is not.

There is a reason why huge bands tour with AxeFX units, but then record with 50 analog pedals, 3 Strymons, a couple of H9s, etc.

If you just have a board, I think a combination of both is still the best way to go.

 

[BIG97BEN]

I'm loving all the MIDI talk today

I am too. I've been thinking of trying the Hub ever since it came out. The explanations today have been very helpful.

 

[nshuman]

And, also, it goes both ways. The analog world may look stagnant, but there are new sub micro tubes coming out (from Krog I think), the new molecular junctions that DrScientist will be using, all kinds of new surface mount components.

Not only is the analog world evolving, but, look at those gut shots of the Moogs that @Mosfed posted, you can even still build discrete component circuits with surface mounts and start making them smaller than you could ever before.

 

[Mosfed]

So they're muffs? What makes them special? (asking out of curiousity, not being sarcastic or condescending at all... though they seem to be lacking a presets, iOS support, and a tuner...)



This is so true because I'm halfway down the hole myself. My finances have bottle necked my Midi plans, but I'm still happy and discovering new things despite my limitations.

However @Mosfed, you're actually already partially down the hole too, because you have an H9 Max. In theory you could add the Manta and the Hub for ~$200 used, and the Manta could be your preset controller if you plan it all out right. If you buy a Reflex (which you were already planning to buy?) then you could send midi exp through the H9 to the Hub and keep the 3 TRS spots open for your other devices. I'm not helping. Buy all the things.

They are John's take on the Civil War EHX russian muff with the same transitors etc plus some mids. Looking forward to it.

 

[Adamixoye]

WAT?

Jk, I understand what you said theoretically. Practically, I'd need to fondle all of your devices. Either way, so interesting how you've made your rig so complex to simplify.

Oh man...I have not seen the animated pseudo-3D version of this before. I may not sleep tonight.

Well, if you're ever passing through mid-Nebraska along I-80, you can come fon...er, look at my gear.

 

[SplinteredSkull]

Tons of great stuff left AND you got to go to college. Sounds like a win win!

I love the Ce-3. I was never much of a chorus guy but that one sounds great. A volume mod wouldn't be all bad though.

I quit buying pedals at just the right time; all of my scholarships just got me into "payable without loans" range. And the CE-3 was my first pedal. I agree that a volume mod would be awesome, but I definitely have grown attached to it. I still think a Tech 21 BBC will boot it off the board, but never out of my collection. You can't beat it for the price.

When my college is paid off, I will...

JK, I will be paying for college forever. I was young and dumb, went to a private university, haven't found a job in my field in 2 years so far, and have more loans than I can manage alone. I filed for income based repayment last year, and that helped a lot, but it just reminded me that until I start making major payments towards my college debt I will be trapped beneath the debt monkey.

I am also going to a private college, but it's looking like I won't need any loans for my first year (!!!). And as long as everything holds year to year, I should be able to make it out of college relatively debt free as long as I work my ass of over the summers. The full cost of the college is normally a whopping $50,000 a year! But being local, I'm going to stay and home and not get a meal plan, which saved me $11,000 off the bat. I finally got it down to $1000 for first-year tuition (not including books) between FAFSA and 3 scholarships. Even then, I'm going to have to forego any traveling or major expenses. Higher education is ridiculously and absurdly expensive

 

[Somnambulance]

I quit buying pedals at just the right time; all of my scholarships just got me into "payable without loans" range. And the CE-3 was my first pedal. I agree that a volume mod would be awesome, but I definitely have grown attached to it. I still think a Tech 21 BBC will boot it off the board, but never out of my collection. You can't beat it for the price.



I am also going to a private college, but it's looking like I won't need any loans for my first year (!!!). And as long as everything holds year to year, I should be able to make it out of college relatively debt free as long as I work my ass of over the summers. The full cost of the college is normally a whopping $50,000 a year! But being local, I'm going to stay and home and not get a meal plan, which saved me $11,000 off the bat. I finally got it down to $1000 for first-year tuition (not including books) between FAFSA and 3 scholarships. Even then, I'm going to have to forego any traveling or major expenses. Higher education is ridiculously and absurdly expensive

Higher education is a product sold in the U.S.

 

[MightyMiloQuinn]

I quit buying pedals at just the right time; all of my scholarships just got me into "payable without loans" range. And the CE-3 was my first pedal. I agree that a volume mod would be awesome, but I definitely have grown attached to it. I still think a Tech 21 BBC will boot it off the board, but never out of my collection. You can't beat it for the price.



I am also going to a private college, but it's looking like I won't need any loans for my first year (!!!). And as long as everything holds year to year, I should be able to make it out of college relatively debt free as long as I work my ass of over the summers. The full cost of the college is normally a whopping $50,000 a year! But being local, I'm going to stay and home and not get a meal plan, which saved me $11,000 off the bat. I finally got it down to $1000 for first-year tuition (not including books) between FAFSA and 3 scholarships. Even then, I'm going to have to forego any traveling or major expenses. Higher education is ridiculously and absurdly expensive

Congrats!! Good for you!

 

[Somnambulance]

Alan told me he's going to get all of his pedals into 1590BB's but has no idea when that plan will be in effect.

 

[nshuman]

From the @dunwichamps Facebook...

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[Mosfed]

I quit buying pedals at just the right time; all of my scholarships just got me into "payable without loans" range. And the CE-3 was my first pedal. I agree that a volume mod would be awesome, but I definitely have grown attached to it. I still think a Tech 21 BBC will boot it off the board, but never out of my collection. You can't beat it for the price.



I am also going to a private college, but it's looking like I won't need any loans for my first year (!!!). And as long as everything holds year to year, I should be able to make it out of college relatively debt free as long as I work my ass of over the summers. The full cost of the college is normally a whopping $50,000 a year! But being local, I'm going to stay and home and not get a meal plan, which saved me $11,000 off the bat. I finally got it down to $1000 for first-year tuition (not including books) between FAFSA and 3 scholarships. Even then, I'm going to have to forego any traveling or major expenses. Higher education is ridiculously and absurdly expensive

Honestly btwn college, law school and business school (even with partial scholarships) I think I finally finished paying off all my loans about 3 years ago at ripe age of 39. And actually thats only because I was absolutely vigilant about paying them off as quickly as possible. It was just a stupid amount of money.

But probably the best I ever spent in reality.

 

[nshuman]

Alan told me he's going to get all of his pedals into 1590BB's but has no idea when that plan will be in effect.

Very cool. That will definitely make his pedals more appealing.

 

[DrewM85]

Just ordered a DMC-8D

 

[nshuman]

Ok, and, well, at the risk of becoming a @dunwichamps billboard, here is some more guts porn. These are the upcoming batch of Wizard Fuzzes apparently:

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[Teijo K.]

I love the omnipresence of pedals and gear in our minds.

This reminds me of a hilarious quote that some guy has in his sig over at ILF, something to the effect of "I was making out with my girl last night, but I couldn't stop thinking about flangers".

I'm just happy because things like this help me to explain to my wife that I'm not the only one.

Work related things kept me awake, so I thought I'd think something completely different. So Mosfets loopers came to mind, and that lead to thinking where I could actually benefit most from them. And so on.