Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[Grahams Groove]

Until the F13 arrives I only have what's in the HX when it comes to flangers. I looked at the Walrus and Boss but the F13 seemed to be the closest to what I am going for. I didn't know Strymon makes one

It’s a phaser that has modes for chorus and flanger effects, but it’s the size of the El Cap and other square units from them. It’s tempting because everything they make is great. But it’s big, expensive, and probably more than I need for pretty sparse modulation. Anyway, curious to hear your thoughts on the Alexander when it shows up…

 

[lucas303]

By the way, what's a "holler"?

It's 'Murican for either:

A message to someone ("give me a holler if you need help putting up that pole barn"), sometimes specifically yelling/shouting ("when i holler, you come a runnin")

or

Any sort of dip/depression in the ground ("let's chase them city boys down into the holler")

 

[jollygiantchris]

To me that's a selling point. I saw someone online describe the UP as the Alaska of the lower 48.

That is a very accurate description. I'm more of a beach guy personally and the beaches on the Eastern shore of Lake Michigan are extremely beautiful. Huge fan of that area its a great area to visit and I feel like a lot of people not from the Midwest wouldn't necessarily visit there.

 

[Novarocker]

How? And why? Is plutonium good for fuzz?

Whatever's in it helps I'm sure. If I get a chance I'll pop it open. I've never had a fuzz that changes character and response so much when changing the fuzz knob.

Those pedals look great and I love the overbuilt heavy thing but it is an odd choice to make them such an uncommon shape.

Exactly my thoughts. The preamp pedal makes sense, but the rest...

I do have an itch for that 200w amp now though.


@lucas303 granted I've been here all my life outside of tons of travel, so I'm biased. But outside of the Detroit area the state just gets better and better. Not to knock Detroit. I dig it, but other cities have as much of anything as Detroit without the baggage of the traffic. Lansing is a huge sleeper, so is Marquette and Houghton. @br1qbat nailed it with having the happy medium. I hoped to be outside of Romeo or Clarkston myself while raising the fam. Once I end up traveling more with work, I'm shooting to move way North.

My family came to the UP from Europe, most still live up there. It's gorgeous, Alaska's a great comparison, though maybe not so remote or as intense terrain. Another is upstate NY, to me it always * with the country, towns, terrain, weather, etc. Absolutely ***it up there, and Western UP is totally different culturally than Eastern. Between all the branches of the family we have a few hunting camps and cabins, mostly just passed down properties. Anyway, you're more than welcome to reach out if you wanted to explore.

 

[lucas303]

I may very well hit you up for more details @Novarocker

The Upstate NY comparison is interesting...that's where I'm originally from.

While on the subject of Michigan, does anyone have any opinions about Traverse City? Pretty much all I know about it is that's where the Bindrune guy is based out of (I think)

 

[El_Charro]

As long as they stay that way until I sell my place, I'm fine with it

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LMAO-Me too…I just wonder when the “peak” will hit the housing market…

I don’t mean to be a selfish jerk when I say this, but I feel like if we can wait a few years and cash out and move someplace with a lower cost of living it will all be “worth it”…

Our home is has almost doubled in value in 6 and a half years (it’s not quite worth twice what we paid for it, but getting there…I guess it’s bc I always associate the “value” with what we closed on, not what it’s worth now which is why I was saying it’s weird to think it’s worth that now (also it’s an unrealized gain until we can actually sell it bc we still need a place to live)…

Colorado is a decent place to live IMO, but I also don’t get the insanity associated with living here that some people have…

Its not a bad place so not knocking it, but some people seem to think it’s the end all/be all (I’m also not big on living at elevation-I think it makes working out a whole lot less enjoyable (for me any way)…That might not sound like a big deal, but when you spent 90 minutes a day exercising bc you enjoy working out you definitely notice it (I don’t think I’ve ever really gotten “used” to the elevation I might add…

Lol-I shudder to type this, but some people here act like people do about Austin (UGH…Words fail me to express just how much DISDAIN/disgust I have for that place (f-ing H-A-T-E that town and it probably doesn’t help that people who live there seem to think it’s the greatest place ever when it’s not even the best town within 100 miles -I will take San Antonio ANY day of the week and twice on Sunday over that Hellhole <—-lol-Spinal Tap song/reference )…



I get wanting to have some appreciation for where you live, but a lot of kids in the generation behind me have a VERY warped sense of perception when it comes to Denver and Colorado in general is all I mean…

Best of luck to you whatever you decide…

Thanks! \m/

 

[Flamingo21]

I’m also not big on living at elevation-I think it makes working out a whole lot less enjoyable (for me any way)…That might not sound like a big deal, but when you spent 90 minutes a day exercising bc you enjoy working out you definitely notice it

Of course elevation matters if you exercise that much!

 

[Novarocker]

I may very well hit you up for more details @Novarocker

The Upstate NY comparison is interesting...that's where I'm originally from.

While on the subject of Michigan, does anyone have any opinions about Traverse City? Pretty much all I know about it is that's where the Bindrune guy is based out of (I think)

Personally, I would never want to live in TC, or between there and Elk rapids and such. Too many Yuppies and the tourists in the summer are rough. Beautiful area, but I'd rather live near Frankfort, Empire, Beulah, or Northport before living in the immediate TC area. All about 30min from TC. The infrastructure is not sufficient for the volumes it experiences. Supposedly even the townies, from the word I get from my parents and others I know that live in earshot, have digressed the same...I'm sure I'm biased, and I've always had good times there, but I'd imagine it's not much different from what you can't stand where you're at right now.

For sure on the camps, not sure how the message got edited and some asterisks, but atleast the general message stayed the same.

Yeah UP reminds me a lot of the lake George and general upstate NY area. Not always aggressively hilly, but some areas so, lots of rivers, small lakes, rapids, waterfalls, (southern NY, but Rainbow falls at Watkins Glen always reminds me of the UP) small to medium towns tucked in all over every 30min or so. Lots of mining, logging, boating, CG & lighthouse, and fishing history. Decent amount of killer small breweries and coffee places too, like Keweenaw.

 

[Novarocker]

Got the last (hopefully) of my December pedal binge in. Matt does some insanely cool pedals, I need to pick up everything he does someday. I already reached out about if he can just keep me on some perma-list for mystery effects.

I've spent maybe 2min with the Kool filter but it's similar to a graphic EQ, boost/cut etc. Great center points for sure. I think there's more to it, but I haven't had much time.

The Wild Kyle is sick! Hard to nail, but reminds me of cranked Marshalls and Oranges. Does cut some lows, but would be perfect for bi-amping. I didn't realize the first run would be signed by Kyle. Big Sword fan, but I think I may pick up another and pass this one on to a fan who'd appreciate it more than I.

I'll need to digest a lot of the more recent stuff, but I dig the wins/fails/undecided for the year breakdown.

 

[br1qbat]

To me that's a selling point. I saw someone online describe the UP as the Alaska of the lower 48.

I'd also agree that's pretty dang accurate. I've been to a few places in the UP. The Yoopers [those folks up dere, ya know] have dere own accent, which is kinda like dem Canadians, eh, with a pinch of Fargo. Lol

A buddy of mine went to school up there Michigan Tech, which is in Houghton. Houghton is in that northern 'horn' of the UP. Waay out there. Nothing to do but camp or drink according to him. Up that far though ya better like the outdoors [and snow].

 

[br1qbat]

I may very well hit you up for more details @Novarocker

The Upstate NY comparison is interesting...that's where I'm originally from.

While on the subject of Michigan, does anyone have any opinions about Traverse City? Pretty much all I know about it is that's where the Bindrune guy is based out of (I think)

Traverse City is great from what I hear. My folks have been there, its kinda a go-to vacay spot for Detroit area people. All I know is they have a fantastic distillery there. Lol

 

[Novarocker]

Traverse City is great from what I hear. My folks have been there, its kinda a go-to vacay spot for Detroit area people. All I know is they have a fantastic distillery there. Lol

Yeah TC Rye is one of my favs! The others I've tried were great too. Great wine and beer up there for sure. I wonder if it's just grumpy old-timer complaints I've heard, or maybe just a crapshoot during tourist season.

Oh yeah, not sure if I've given everyone an update on the jam space/niece nap room. Great place to jam, though a bit cramped.

 

[Kaa]

Yeah TC Rye is one of my favs! The others I've tried were great too. Great wine and beer up there for sure. I wonder if it's just grumpy old-timer complaints I've heard, or maybe just a crapshoot during tourist season.
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Oh yeah, not sure if I've given everyone an update on the jam space/niece nap room. Great place to jam, though a bit cramped.
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I like the jam room. Cozy.

 

[donahue]

Frost Giant Architect of Reality:

It's sounded surprisingly great on bass but it didn't really cover any ground that I don't already have. At this point in my game I'm looking for subtle goodness from a new pedal that I don't already have.

Since it's an AOR based I had the tendency to max the gain and fuzz it out. Which it did great but I have that covered already with fuzz pedals.

The medium gain sounded good but my biggest surprise was the low gain "clean" tone. That kind of defeated the whole purpose of the pedal but the clean tone was the most unique thing about it. Had a doomy morose tone to it. Cool.

It would be cool as an always on clean tone but I couldn't justify keeping it for that. But if I did it again that's what I'd do. Also the bass boost needed to be engaged the whole time for maximum low end. Tied with the mid boost it was cool but with too much gain it could compress and mud out.

All in all kind of a one stop shop for doom tones but I need to be able to switch from clean to distortion to AOR in 3 phases but it only has two options. If it had all 3 it would be better.

 

[cornfarmer]

Well all you Michiganders, I'm gonna be stinkin' up your state this summer, around Mackinaw and Saint Ignace for a wedding. Anything cool I should keep on my radar? Probably won't have much screwing around time but I want to cover by bases...

 

[br1qbat]

Well all you Michiganders, I'm gonna be stinkin' up your state this summer, around Mackinaw and Saint Ignace for a wedding. Anything cool I should keep on my radar? Probably won't have much screwing around time but I want to cover by bases...

Mackinaw Island is all horses, no cars. Cool place. Def a tourist trap. But they have world renowned fudge. If thats your thing.

The city [on the mainland] and the island both have historical forts [city is a 1700s era fort, island has a 1800s fort]. Being tourist havens, theres some pretty good food to be found. And the beaches there are nice. Be advised any Great Lake is cold af even in a 90 degree August afternoon.

St. Ignace has a giant Paul Bunyan and the time warp money pit 60s schlock tourist trap The Mystery Spot [worth a go for a t shirt if nothing else].

Theres some horseback riding tours on Mackinaw Island as well. Theres the Grand Hotel there, Lighthouses and all that. I do recommend taking a horseback tour. Theres a few natural sites and the island just is pretty nice especially away from the main tourist drag.

Generally its a chill on the beach and eat/drink well vacay spot.

Good camping spots too if thats your bag. Plenty of nice hotels and such if camping isnt your bag.

 

[br1qbat]

I feel like the Michigan tourist board owes me a beer after my last 5 posts.

 

[Novarocker]

I feel like the Michigan tourist board owes me a beer after my last 5 posts.

I know right? Especially without even needing a "hold my beer" moment.

You nailed it though. Tons of cool natural and historical sights nearby. Hell the bridge itself is a sight to behold and the Father Marquette memorial is a great view and cool to walk. @cornfarmer, I do recommend dropping by Lehto's pasty shop for a pasty. I haven't been to any of the ones in Mackinaw for some time, but I always stop by Lehto's on M2 on the way to camp. I think they have a location in St Ignace too, but the one I stop at is just past the Mystery Spot.

Doubt you'd have the time, but I highly recommend checking out Saulte St Marie if you can. The Soo Locks are amazing when you catch a freighter going through. You can get so close to em.

 

[El_Charro]

Of course elevation matters if you exercise that much!

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Lol-Thanks man…

People acted like I would endlessly benefit from training at elevation when we moved up here…

I personally don’t enjoy working out at elevation and “worse” is that I feel like bc I have to run slower it doesn’t really have any benefits when I train closer to sea level bc I feel like I’ve lost1 a lot of cardio fitness over the years…

I’m sure aging isn’t helping me any in that area, but I really feel like living at elevation has hindered my overall training and I feel like it puts a lot of stress on your body (I’m personally not a fan)…

Pardon the rant…

Thanks! \m/

 

[El_Charro]

I feel like the Michigan tourist board owes me a beer after my last 5 posts.

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Lol-I actually kinda like all the information…

I personally don’t plan on living up there (mostly bc I’m a wimp when it comes to the cold), but bc I’m nosy I’ve Googled a few pics of some of the towns people have thrown out bc I haven’t heard of most of the minor towns up there (obviously familiar w Detroit, Lansing, and Ann Arbor, but beyond that I know next to nothing about that part of the country…

From looking at some pictures I’ve seen online it kinda looks like the Pacific NW (I used to live in Washington State and some of the lakes and trees in pictures remind me of that area)…

As for the cold up there…

Ya’ll must have blood like tomato soup…

Good for you if you can take it…

Me- I’d rather live someplace blazing hot over having to deal w/ freezing my bASS off…

Thanks!