Messenger jr. Replaced the RFE on my compact pedalboard…
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I had a more siphisticated pedalboard with MIDI switching and all of that and I still have it, A lot of Source Audio stuff and for my ambient and new music setup I have more wild pedals -- 2 Source Audio Artifakt anf C4, H90, Headway EBD preamp, Meris EnzoX and a Soma :abs COSMOS. I am just looking for a n Ottobit Jr within my threshold. But the goal is unexpected and generative effects
ALL ANALOG ------ I have settled for my live rig for regular rock, subbing . Pardon the cable management but it will be transferred to another board. I have removed all the digital and high price items. I noticed RF and EMF noise is way less. Except for the reverb which I stick in the effects loop sometimes. My goal is small and not very excpensive plus using my old pedals
I have a Cry Baby Bass Wah and I like that this has an adjustable Q and Volume and I adjust this close to unty. Next is the ZIO to act as a buffer and also a mute for changing basses. It also does basic tone shaping , it has JFET clean boost, Low cut, Studio and Echoplex preamp mode. Why is off board? I only have one and use it with a couple more setups, It is the first thing my bass or guitar sees unless there is a wah.
Since I have already a loop switcher on my other board, I know the benefits of parallel loops. But a loop switcher will push the size. So instead I have this Portal from Sonicake, 2 loops and a 2rd dry only boost - C .
Compressor is always on , so it is in line. I compared this to my Wampler Ego 76 and it works and is quite. A tone control could have hel[ed but what it has instead is a threshold control and the L:ED is like a gain reduction meter
On loop A is a an MXR Vintage Octave close to an OC2. This then drives the booster which I am replacing with mini MXR Fuzz here or maybe the Sonicake Fazzt Sandwich might be better. Takes care of drive and quasi synthy. sounds
On loop B is an autowah/filter again by Sonicake -- yeah maybe it should be up front but having it in a loop means it is not as dominating . By maxing the sensitivity, it becomes some sort of tone control. I may eventually put it in Loop A, Then a BBD style chorus again by Sonicake which can also sound like a Trem. The into the finicky Maleko Rllo 6L6 -- that can go crazy with the feedback. Or just subtle delay which with the chorus serves all our ballad and fretless songs. In one country types song, I adjust the delay time for slapback, It also has modulation controls. Maybe I'll put a TC delay but I like all this analog pedal setup.
Then not in the pic is the MXR reverb in the FX loop and if no amp which is rare I put it before the bass DI, The Mesa Prodigy DI is really good. Maybe because they have a transformer in the DI
Yes I have to bend over to tweak some knobs and flip a switch or 2, but bending is good as we age. But with simple controls it is really nto a big deal.
The ZIO Bass DI is really a good preamp that looks limited without a mid control or additional EQ. But it can do a lot of things and has a very good transformer style grit switch and Pultec style s mild scoop. I can also underdrive if the pedals are pushing too hot a signal.. Also when the output can be set higher to push tube based preamps.
And as you can tell I have 4 Sonicakes. These things are awesome for the price and they are tiny and that's what I want. They are heavier than the MXR, so I think the construction is similar. They are also relatively quiet.
For functional bass role that just needs a little excitement and hair -- I have found this to be more than adequate. I will always have a loop switcher moving forward. The fundamental bass tone will always be available
ALL ANALOG ------ I have settled for my live rig for regular rock, subbing . Pardon the cable management but it will be transferred to another board. I have removed all the digital and high price items. I noticed RF and EMF noise is way less. Except for the reverb which I stick in the effects loop sometimes. My goal is small and not very excpensive plus using my old pedals
I have a Cry Baby Bass Wah and I like that this has an adjustable Q and Volume and I adjust this close to unty. Next is the ZIO to act as a buffer and also a mute for changing basses. It also does basic tone shaping , it has JFET clean boost, Low cut, Studio and Echoplex preamp mode. Why is off board? I only have one and use it with a couple more setups, It is the first thing my bass or guitar sees unless there is a wah.
Since I have already a loop switcher on my other board, I know the benefits of parallel loops. But a loop switcher will push the size. So instead I have this Portal from Sonicake, 2 loops and a 2rd dry only boost - C .
Compressor is always on , so it is in line. I compared this to my Wampler Ego 76 and it works and is quite. A tone control could have hel[ed but what it has instead is a threshold control and the L:ED is like a gain reduction meter
On loop A is a an MXR Vintage Octave close to an OC2. This then drives the booster which I am replacing with mini MXR Fuzz here or maybe the Sonicake Fazzt Sandwich might be better. Takes care of drive and quasi synthy. sounds
On loop B is an autowah/filter again by Sonicake -- yeah maybe it should be up front but having it in a loop means it is not as dominating . By maxing the sensitivity, it becomes some sort of tone control. I may eventually put it in Loop A, Then a BBD style chorus again by Sonicake which can also sound like a Trem. The into the finicky Maleko Rllo 6L6 -- that can go crazy with the feedback. Or just subtle delay which with the chorus serves all our ballad and fretless songs. In one country types song, I adjust the delay time for slapback, It also has modulation controls. Maybe I'll put a TC delay but I like all this analog pedal setup.
Then not in the pic is the MXR reverb in the FX loop and if no amp which is rare I put it before the bass DI, The Mesa Prodigy DI is really good. Maybe because they have a transformer in the DI
Yes I have to bend over to tweak some knobs and flip a switch or 2, but bending is good as we age. But with simple controls it is really nto a big deal.
The ZIO Bass DI is really a good preamp that looks limited without a mid control or additional EQ. But it can do a lot of things and has a very good transformer style grit switch and Pultec style s mild scoop. I can also underdrive if the pedals are pushing too hot a signal.. Also when the output can be set higher to push tube based preamps.
And as you can tell I have 4 Sonicakes. These things are awesome for the price and they are tiny and that's what I want. They are heavier than the MXR, so I think the construction is similar. They are also relatively quiet.
For functional bass role that just needs a little excitement and hair -- I have found this to be more than adequate. I will always have a loop switcher moving forward. The fundamental bass tone will always be available
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