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Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out
- Thread starter Korladis
- Start date
From lots of reading and repairing these, best I can say is...
The Black Russian was made from 1999-2009. Early (1999-2001ish) versions were green Russians in the new housing. I guess they changed over time so the 2009 is not the same.
That said from day one case size, paint type, knobs, internal components have all varied. I assume The now defunct EHX russia sourced anything and everything that was within spec and just used it up til they ran out. I have two first editions (99, 00) and while they are identical circuits, they both have different caps and resistors (not in value, but type).
There isn't much difference at all though between any muffs. The good news is the russian ones are hand wired and repair and learning the circuit is super easy.
The Black Russian was made from 1999-2009. Early (1999-2001ish) versions were green Russians in the new housing. I guess they changed over time so the 2009 is not the same.
That said from day one case size, paint type, knobs, internal components have all varied. I assume The now defunct EHX russia sourced anything and everything that was within spec and just used it up til they ran out. I have two first editions (99, 00) and while they are identical circuits, they both have different caps and resistors (not in value, but type).
There isn't much difference at all though between any muffs. The good news is the russian ones are hand wired and repair and learning the circuit is super easy.
I've heard the same thing about varied components from guys at EHX. All the way back to the NYC stuff from the seventies, they used whatever components they could get their hands on that were 'close enough' in value. So there's even variance between certain eras of Muffs, meaning that one Ram's Head won't necessarily sound like another Ram's Head, etc. This practice continued in Russia as well.
...on another topic I'm digging this Mos Generator album:
It's not a bad idea to me. Hand made pedals for a good price, save on components. I've never played a black muff that didn't sound 99.5% like the others.
Oh and the myth that green Russians are repurposed soviet military parts is false. But an OD green paint job doesn't hurt the myth.
Mine looks like your early ones, at least the knobs, do hoping its closer to a green russian than something else. Either way im sure itll be fine. My guitarist doesnt run an OD/Fuzz/Dis so I dont get lost in the mix at all with muffs. Still may have a tone bypass.
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Tony from Mos Generator is gonna do the mastering for our vinyl. He's a cool dude.
The early black russians are taller than the later ones, with the early ones being about the same height at a green russian. The later ones shaved about an inch off of the height, so they sit lower to the ground.
Open the battery door and there should be a week/year date sticker.
Also if you find it lacking anything there's a schematic I can send you that shows you what swapping out each component will do. It's a super simple circuit, you could easily turn into anything you like that's muffy.
Nice! I'm sure he'll do an awesome job, that guy is ridiculously talented.
You have enough amps you could get lost in your own mix lol. But I bet a muff with a lot of low end would pair well with another amp with a lot of Grindy mids.
Everyone's a winner!
I second this, though my black Sovtek muff has a clean blend. My fave is sustainall the up, tone all the way down & just a little clean blended in.
The extended range amp? Those parametric mids are the titz...one of the few non tuxedo pvys im after. Dont pay more than $120 for one though
Yeah, my SWAT (Scientific Wild-Ass Theory) is that it's getting a similar result to a tone bypass when it's completely off. Otherwise they can have a bit of a scoop going on.
Trying to find a good deal on one of these shallow 3u racks.
http://www.skbcases.com/industrial/products/prod-detail.php?d=s15&id=790&s=s#.VNO6z53F-W4
http://www.skbcases.com/industrial/products/prod-detail.php?d=s15&id=790&s=s#.VNO6z53F-W4
I have one that I was about to put on CL, it's an older model, but same deal - shallow 3RU SKB molded. Front and back lids. I can't use it because I have no shallow rackmount gear.
The back opens, I'll have to check on the rear rack rails when I get home tonight. I'll take some photos and PM you.
