Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[scabpicker]

Looked it up, I see it shows the position of the phase
My KMA Horizont does the same with a LED, it's neat but I'm not sure if it helps me in any way.

Hehehe, no. It's not really useful, other than if you wanted to start at a certain part of the sweep. But even if it wasn't the best sounding phaser I've ever used I'd keep it because it has it. And Univox called it "Video Counter" instead of "Indicator Light" or something else that's actually descriptive (that light doesn't count a dang thing, and it's not "video" at all). I've got some pedals that do it as well, Idiotbox seems to be really good about doing it with their tremolos and vibratos. But the silliness of "Video Counter" just makes me happy.

Similarly, I've got this Sansui home stereo reverb unit that doesn't reverb right now, but I love it just for it's display. It gets blurrier the more you turn up the reverb.

 

[Novarocker]

Yeah you got a point @oZZma. That really sucks.

Brighter? Probably not for me, then! If I want bright, I'll use one of my basses with rounds. Seriously, though, I also play guitar, so this pedal could likely do double duty, or replace one of my OCD clones possibly. Plenty of options if it doesn't work on bass (which sounds unlikely).

Though, now that I've spent the last week comparing the tones I prefer from my Pharaoh Supreme and Iron Pig, I'm realizing I do have them somewhat bright. Maybe articulate is the better term? Not as bassy as plenty of the videos I've seen, but enough to keep the lows and cut the mix. Whatever they are, I've found that the Russian Muff demos I've been listening to may not be "crunchy" enough on the high end, and I may just have to splurge for a Grey Stache, as it seems to be more vocal in the mid range and cut better. I know it's highly regarded, and one of the cheaper Muffs around. That or try a Swollen Pickle again. Anybody still use that one?

I haven't tried a plumes yet, in clips it seems like the tone just has much more range. Great pick up on the pair ya got though. How is the rhino on bass?

View attachment 4074593

Right on with Hawkwind! I need more of em in my life. Great top 5, right up my alley.

I hear you. I've been spending money like I'm allergic to it lately. I can console myself with the knowledge it's on useful stuff like music gear, new windows for my house, etc. Still, like you I want to reduce the spending soon.

Same here, though a lot of it has been investments. I can't believe much the price on the meatbox has soared back up.

That’s partially why I got an HX Stomp. I still have other stand alone effects, but my delay, verb, and modulation are covered by the stomp. At least for now.

yeah, I got a Md-200 in the hope it would fill the modulation 'needs'. But now I discovered I really like phaser, so I need more pedals.

Also, I'm weak... So weak... I just bid on a local PD-7

How do you guys like the multi's? The md200 caught my eye for a minute. I've been eyeing the Zoia for the same reason. That and I can route two isolated signal chains through it along with programming multiple effects for one or both to a single stomp. Live use at least, and experimenting with synth and sequences on the side.

 

[lucas303]

How do you guys like the multi's? The md200 caught my eye for a minute. I've been eyeing the Zoia for the same reason. That and I can route two isolated signal chains through it along with programming multiple effects for one or both to a single stomp. Live use at least, and experimenting with synth and sequences on the side.

I'll interject here to say that I love my HX Effects. I might love the HX Stomp more if I had one because it's smaller and I think it would do all the same things I use the HX Effects for (in addition to having cab models), but for the moment I'm happy with the HX Effects. The flexibility and unbelievable range of options makes me think it (or something like it) will always be part of my board.

 

[kleinenenten]

Rhino's solid on bass, but nothing other drives can't do either. No complaints, always nice to have a TS around, but it won't replace anything on my board. I think it's a nice slightly bright rock OD tone. Also great for a dirty boost into other pedals. I'll keep my GK Rails Pedal for that tone, though. We'll see what I think when I try it on guitar.

In regards to the Swollen Pickle, however, I'm blown away. This thing may dethrone my Pharaoh Supreme, which I"m astonished by. It's got massive low end, with plenty of crunch and note definition. Takes some time to dial in (as did the Pharaoh), but it's great stuff. My only wish would be to either add some diode switching options and make it more versatile or to go the other route make the sustain and volume knobs more usable. Right now, it's got so much volume/gain, that I'm at about 10:00 on both and it's a bit above unity. Makes me debate picking up the Russian Pickle again, though I feel it's too smooth and not crunchy enough in demos. If there was a Russian Pickle with all 7 of the Swollen Pickle's controls instead of just the 3 on the Russian, I think I'd be sold.

Until this past month or so, I've spent this whole COVID mess downsizing and trying to focus my rig. My last few purchases may result in me getting rid of plenty of other gear in order to simplify stuff. I've been more productive with less options, so I'm thinking "less is more" may be my motto for a bit here.

 

[Deleted member 132197]

How do you guys like the multi's? The md200 caught my eye for a minute.

I like it, but I'm not in love with it. It does a fine job on some modulation, but I sometimes have the idea that the digital modulation doesn't play well with dirt in front. It quickly sounds 'digital'. Or maybe that's projection because I know it is digital.

 

[Flamingo21]

The silliness of "Video Counter" just makes me happy.

I totally get this.

 

[Flamingo21]

Yesterday I got rid of half my pedals. I wasn't using them. Traded them for a nice little Fender Rumble and a pretty strap.

Now I'm the odd one out here.

 

[Novarocker]

@instrumentalist hahaha, I'm always for less is more. When I'm not doing projects, dinking around, or playing with my band, I just go straight into an amp. Sometimes it's just better. Less is more is always something I strive for. But it's nice to have a bunch of stuff in your back pocket for when you want/need it. That and my amp can get plenty dirty on its own.

Rhino's solid on bass, but nothing other drives can't do either. No complaints, always nice to have a TS around, but it won't replace anything on my board. I think it's a nice slightly bright rock OD tone. Also great for a dirty boost into other pedals. I'll keep my GK Rails Pedal for that tone, though. We'll see what I think when I try it on guitar.

In regards to the Swollen Pickle, however, I'm blown away. This thing may dethrone my Pharaoh Supreme, which I"m astonished by. It's got massive low end, with plenty of crunch and note definition. Takes some time to dial in (as did the Pharaoh), but it's great stuff. My only wish would be to either add some diode switching options and make it more versatile or to go the other route make the sustain and volume knobs more usable. Right now, it's got so much volume/gain, that I'm at about 10:00 on both and it's a bit above unity. Makes me debate picking up the Russian Pickle again, though I feel it's too smooth and not crunchy enough in demos. If there was a Russian Pickle with all 7 of the Swollen Pickle's controls instead of just the 3 on the Russian, I think I'd be sold.

Until this past month or so, I've spent this whole COVID mess downsizing and trying to focus my rig. My last few purchases may result in me getting rid of plenty of other gear in order to simplify stuff. I've been more productive with less options, so I'm thinking "less is more" may be my motto for a bit here.

Nice! That's the same thing I had when I tried the pickle both times. It was tough to use in our tight practice quarters because it just had too much low end. It was also tough in smaller venues. I think it might be much more workable with an hpf, but I didn't even know what those were then. Otherwise I loved that thing.

I do like using multi pedals for modulation and such for live use. It helps tame my pedal board size and keeps much more room open for having a lot of flavors of dirt. I have been toying with downsizing more and getting an eq pedal to change up voicing. I'm all for having core sounds, but it's a lot of fun to have different voices for different songs/passages.

 

[Flamingo21]

@instrumentalist hahaha, I'm always for less is more. When I'm not doing projects, dinking around, or playing with my band, I just go straight into an amp. Sometimes it's just better. Less is more is always something I strive for.

Yeah it'll very much depend on what sort of project I end up in. I lost all of my dirt, since I find I don't play with dirt when on my own. We'll see.

What I've left is the "utilities": tuner, compressor, HPF. The only "toys" left are a looper and three (!) octavers.

 

[Deleted member 132197]

three (!) octavers

down, up and octave fuzz?

 

[YawningJorin]

down, up and octave fuzz?

You ain't done till you got both digital and analogue up and down and an octave fuzz to boot.

Actually, question regarding that, is the method used to get an octave up in e.g. the EQD Tentacle the same as in an octave fuzz? Seems like analogue octaves up are rising in popularity now, often with dirt but toggleable such as in the EQD Sunn pedal, Fuzzlord Nazareth, etc. If I'm not mistaken the Hyperfuzz also lets you toggle the octave, that being the difference between fuzz 1 and 2.

 

[Flamingo21]

You ain't done till you got both digital and analogue up and down and an octave fuzz to boot.

down, up and octave fuzz?

I'm not using all 3 of them simultaneously.

- The EBS is on my board for the down octave.
- I would've ditched the Behringer, but the shop guy didn't want it, he felt it might not sell and he already has one. So now it's my spare.
- SubnUp Mini. Not using it now, but I may use it for an upper octave, or for a different sounding lower octave.

 

[Deleted member 132197]

Actually, question regarding that, is the method used to get an octave up in e.g. the EQD Tentacle the same as in an octave fuzz? Seems like analogue octaves up are rising in popularity now, often with dirt but toggleable such as in the EQD Sunn pedal, Fuzzlord Nazareth, etc. If I'm not mistaken the Hyperfuzz also lets you toggle the octave, that being the difference between fuzz 1 and 2.

yeah, I believe the hyperfuzz has an octave fuzz, but I see octave fuzzes as a totally different beast from octaves.

The Walrus Slö reverb can also add a subtle octave up and low, so if you want you could build an entire board out of octave pedals

I'm not using all 3 of them simultaneously.

aah, that's your problem right there. You should

 

[JBOWLES]

How do you guys like the multi's? The md200 caught my eye for a minute. I've been eyeing the Zoia for the same reason. That and I can route two isolated signal chains through it along with programming multiple effects for one or both to a single stomp. Live use at least, and experimenting with synth and sequences on the side.

I like it a lot. There are some obvious drawbacks, but for live sound, through an amp, I’d rather have one switch to turn off and on multiple effects. I normally use a two button on fs3 and 4 to page up and down, so I have one for tap and two for different sets of effects off/on.

in some form or fashion, this is my normal setup. Sans the Bassballs right now as the original switch is acting screwy. Tap dance is minimal, but could be better if I’d take the time to actually set up more on the hx. Overall, everything sounds good and amp/cab/IR, to my ear, is minimally different than the actual gear. At least the ones I have a working knowledge of. The settings themselves are usually close if not right on. Would I buy the HX Stomp again? Probably. If not, I’d probably just get a full Helix. I’d still run an amp on stage when at all possible though. @DISCOSTUVW knows my conundrum in-depth with the HX, drives, amp changes, etc... it’s been a p.i.t.a.

 

[lucas303]

The new firmware update for the HX Effects has a HM-2

 

[oZZma]

Yeah it'll very much depend on what sort of project I end up in. I lost all of my dirt, since I find I don't play with dirt when on my own. We'll see.

What I've left is the "utilities": tuner, compressor, HPF. The only "toys" left are a looper and three (!) octavers.

You ain't done till you got both digital and analogue up and down and an octave fuzz to boot.

I almost only use octavers as well... (actually the Pitchfork would be a pitchshifter but I use it as an octaver)
I have only owned one analogue octaver and it was so glitchy it was unusable I read somewhere it's normal with analogue octavers. Have you guys found this to be true?

I'm not using all 3 of them simultaneously.

- The EBS is on my board for the down octave.
- I would've ditched the Behringer, but the shop guy didn't want it, he felt it might not sell and he already has one. So now it's my spare.
- SubnUp Mini. Not using it now, but I may use it for an upper octave, or for a different sounding lower octave.

It was the EBS... I sold it in the end. I dunno if the tracking was so glitchy due to the fact I use steel roundwounds so there are too many harmonics (not too many to my taste BTW)

 

[kleinenenten]

Yesterday I got rid of half my pedals.

Hey - I probably wanted those! With my pedal addiction and all...

@instrumentalist Nice! That's the same thing I had when I tried the pickle both times. It was tough to use in our tight practice quarters because it just had too much low end. It was also tough in smaller venues. I think it might be much more workable with an hpf, but I didn't even know what those were then. Otherwise I loved that thing.

Honestly, I'm thinking that much of the perceived improvement in the Pickle is due more to me learning my rig etc. the last few years, and especially the last few months. I remember liking it before, but wanting more "something" out of it. Now that I've had a few years under my belt, I think it will work nicely. I hate losing low end AND sacrificing note clarity, and most pedals I've played do one or the other to some extent. This is one of the first that I find does both well. Even my Pharaoh cut some lows to get the highs I preferred, though it seems slightly more aggressive in the distortion than the Pickle. Either way, I'm going to keep A/Bing them today. Yesterday was on my 400RB since that's where my Pickle will live, and today will be on the 700RB where my Pharaoh lives. If nothing else, the Pickle has made me re-evaluate the Pharaoh as my main fuzz, which has not happened in YEARS, as well as definitively kicked off the Iron Pig from my board. I'm impressed.

 

[starjag]

Forgive me if this is nonsensical, with all things being relative and such, where does one go for the grooviest stoner/doom?

 

[JBOWLES]

Forgive me if this is nonsensical, with all things being relative and such, where does one go for the grooviest stoner/doom?

Fetch yon writing utensil and inscribe these monikers.

Fu Manchu
Clutch
The Sword
Kadavar
Red Fang
Corrosion of Conformity
Orange Goblin

These are merely a start, padawan. Simply general suggestions to begin the search for groove.

 

[lucas303]

Forgive me if this is nonsensical, with all things being relative and such, where does one go for the grooviest stoner/doom?

In addition to what @JBOWLES recommended, I'd highly recommend Kyuss.