Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Rusty Box!
- Thread starter AaronVonRock
- Start date
I spent some time last night with the Rusty Box at home and realized something: I don't like the way it sounds when I'm playing alone. When playing alone, it has characteristics I usually try to eliminate from my sound (trebley clank, hum, buzz). I didn't really notice these things during band practice. It sounded great in the band mix which is the important thing. This is the exact opposite of my experience with most other overdrive/fuzz/distortion pedals. Usually I play with them at home and dial in a killer sound that I really like, then go to practice and hate the way it sounds in the mix because I get buried.
Anyone else have experience with pedals you don't like playing alone but like with the band?
Anyone else have experience with pedals you don't like playing alone but like with the band?
Totally man, I have experienced that a lot. A lot of people's favorite over drives on talkbass are great bedroom drives and The only way they work in bands is sheer volume. But pedals like the fuzz master general, rats, malekko B Assmaster, they all sound a bit raunchy alone. But amazing in a band mix. It's not always a rule of thumb, but most of time, if it sounds too good , you're gonna get buried.
I've had one for years now- I have used it either as an effect early in the chain or as a preamp at the end of the chain straight into a power amp. Run as an effect it can be very bright, which I usually don't like but the character of the Rusty really makes it work well- it can be nasty and abrasive, but still has a sweetness and organic quality to it unlike many drives that have such a pronounced top-end. I've never heard anything else quite like it (apart of course from the aforementioned people that recorded with the Traynor). Running it into other drives always worked better for me than the other way around (I found it paired really well with just about anything this way and imparted its character more strongly). I like it best set just on the start of break-up, where it just imparts that signature tonal flavor then crunches hard when I dig in- when set like this it is one of the punchiest "dirt pedals" I've ever used, though it can definitely still get a bit congested if you crank the Gain too much (as with anything).
At least in my experience, when run as a preamp into a power amp it seems to be noticeably more tame on the top than when run as an effect (this will depend on your specific rig), though it will still accentuate the highs of everything before it. I actually tend to prefer it run as an effect just to give me more diverse tonal shaping down the line, though I have successfully used it as a pre for some pretty satisfying quick and dirty jam sessions in the vein of Jesus Lizard (it obviously tends to inspire those kinda things!).
I haven't used mine in awhile, but its one of those things I can also never bring myself to get rid of, as I really hope to do another band that will utilize it again at some point (it just wasn't right for my current band).
At least in my experience, when run as a preamp into a power amp it seems to be noticeably more tame on the top than when run as an effect (this will depend on your specific rig), though it will still accentuate the highs of everything before it. I actually tend to prefer it run as an effect just to give me more diverse tonal shaping down the line, though I have successfully used it as a pre for some pretty satisfying quick and dirty jam sessions in the vein of Jesus Lizard (it obviously tends to inspire those kinda things!).
I haven't used mine in awhile, but its one of those things I can also never bring myself to get rid of, as I really hope to do another band that will utilize it again at some point (it just wasn't right for my current band).
Perhaps not for every project, but there are some really nice tones in there....not all of them bitey.
I had a Rusty Box once and used it as a always-on in a roots punk rock band I played in for a good long while. Traded it and now I'm GASing for one again thanks to this thread.
I think my pedal board may be evolving into an almost all dirt board, with a filter and a phaser, the only other two effects I ever seem to use live.
I think my pedal board may be evolving into an almost all dirt board, with a filter and a phaser, the only other two effects I ever seem to use live.
i've had okay luck running a reutz rat before the rusty box. with moderate gain and the filter about in the middle it adds some raunchy mids that the rusty seems to scoop. but as an always on pedal in my chain, it takes some creative picking or finger and the tone on the bass rolled off a little to get the sound to fit into r&b and other musics that need a smoother tone. it's cool, though.
I use one always on, After (as of now) SG Beta, fuzzes and envelopes, ambient delay loop, Before final recordinglooper and reverb, on low setting input below noon, treble between 10 and noon depending on brightness of bass, mid and low at 1 oclock. Makes everything more defined, a Great natural sounding preamp. Like a fidelity machine. High voltage headroom.
I used mine kinda like that as well, though I did like a little grit from the Rusty it was fairly minimal- I just dug the EQ and dynamic feel it gives. Its been awhile since I used mine- I need to experiemnt with it again!
Yep.
This is why I will test pedals at home to find the settings I like, but the true test is when I get together with the band(s).
I don't make up my mind up, until I've tested it with the fellaz at full volume.
For drives and fuzzii, I generally find smooth and mid-scooped is begging to get sold.
SO true!!! You can tweak all day at home, but when it meets the band mix is the real test!
Agressive and grindy vs fat and warm. Pretty different, I'd say.
Well gang, I think I'm ready to flip this fella - I just can't stand having to deal with the extra power adapter.....GRRR!!!!!
I flipped mine partly for the same reason, regret it so much...
Will get another one in the future!
Will get another one in the future!
I'm stewing on it still...sigh.....looking around the web looking at more damn pedals.....
