Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[kleinenenten]

Rat talk: Blower Box or Landphil? The Landphil is supposedly a more tweakable BB, but there's almost no info on what the extra knobs actually are besides that they tweak the other knobs. Supposedly a "Sonic Maximizer" circuit in there, but if memory serves, those are just basically smiley face EQs, which I hate. Only about $20 between the two. So, anybody have experience with either or both? My BB experience is from years ago, and I remember it being slightly trebly for my taste, but I'm also trending more trebly of late, so it may be perfect. I'm going for a "thrash/death metal" style Rat if that makes sense.

Other Rat suggestions are also welcome, but I'm looking for affordable options (~$150 tops) and nothing "grail-ish". So while I enjoyed my Volt Thrower, I also kept my Iron Pig in favor of it because it was a shame to keep that thing boxed up and not used.

 

[Novarocker]

Rat talk: Blower Box or Landphil? The Landphil is supposedly a more tweakable BB, but there's almost no info on what the extra knobs actually are besides that they tweak the other knobs. Supposedly a "Sonic Maximizer" circuit in there, but if memory serves, those are just basically smiley face EQs, which I hate. Only about $20 between the two. So, anybody have experience with either or both? My BB experience is from years ago, and I remember it being slightly trebly for my taste, but I'm also trending more trebly of late, so it may be perfect. I'm going for a "thrash/death metal" style Rat if that makes sense.

Other Rat suggestions are also welcome, but I'm looking for affordable options (~$150 tops) and nothing "grail-ish". So while I enjoyed my Volt Thrower, I also kept my Iron Pig in favor of it because it was a shame to keep that thing boxed up and not used.

Life Pedal clones? Mine was like $145. Rat, clean boost, and switchable green ringer with blend.

 

[lucas303]

Rat talk: Blower Box or Landphil? The Landphil is supposedly a more tweakable BB, but there's almost no info on what the extra knobs actually are besides that they tweak the other knobs. Supposedly a "Sonic Maximizer" circuit in there, but if memory serves, those are just basically smiley face EQs, which I hate. Only about $20 between the two. So, anybody have experience with either or both? My BB experience is from years ago, and I remember it being slightly trebly for my taste, but I'm also trending more trebly of late, so it may be perfect. I'm going for a "thrash/death metal" style Rat if that makes sense.

Other Rat suggestions are also welcome, but I'm looking for affordable options (~$150 tops) and nothing "grail-ish". So while I enjoyed my Volt Thrower, I also kept my Iron Pig in favor of it because it was a shame to keep that thing boxed up and not used.

If you want I could use my Packrat to demo different rats for you, and then you could use that info to hone in on which one in particular would be best for you. Obviously I don't have the same bass/etc as you, but it might give you an idea of how the different versions compare (because many of them do have significant differences).

 

[cusar5]

My death and black metal is laughable as well.

Thought you guys would like to see this. It's a little big, but I think it's going to find its way onto my board...
View attachment 4546227

Megalithic looks super cool. I have a High Priestess from Gremlin, which is one of my favorite Ram's Head style Muffs. The description on their website says that the fuzz side of Megalithic is the "Black Fuzz," so I assume it's based on a Black Russian Muff?

 

[kleinenenten]

If you want I could use my Packrat to demo different rats for you, and then you could use that info to hone in on which one in particular would be best for you. Obviously I don't have the same bass/etc as you, but it might give you an idea of how the different versions compare (because many of them do have significant differences).

While I appreciate the effort, I don't want you to take that time and effort for me when it may yet be a while before I pick one up. I'm in the "wondering/investigating" phase, and there's never any telling how long that will last for me!

Are there clones out there of the different Rat versions like there are of all of the Muff versions? I never hear any marketing specifying it's any kind of Rat outside of regular or turbo. I don't even know if one type of Rat is better for bass or not! I just keep hearing Rats and thinking they're sounding pretty good, and know there are plenty of clones to try!

 

[kleinenenten]

Life Pedal clones? Mine was like $145. Rat, clean boost, and switchable green ringer with blend.

Looking into that, and it almost seems TOO much. I just want dirt. I already have boost etc. on the board, and not sure what I'd do with a Green Ringer. Sounds like it's used for more ambient stuff, and that's not my bag.

 

[lucas303]

While I appreciate the effort, I don't want you to take that time and effort for me when I may yet be a while before I pick one up. I'm in the "wondering/investigating" phase, and there's never any telling how long that will last for me!

Are there clones out there of the different Rat versions like there are of all of the Muff versions? I never hear any marketing specifying it's any kind of Rat outside of regular or turbo. I don't even know if one type of Rat is better for bass or not! I just keep hearing Rats and thinking they're sounding pretty good, and know there are plenty of clones to try!

My experience is limited to the Packrat and the two (?) rats in the HX Effects, but I can definitely say there are some significant differences between some of the different versions of rats.

If I had any video capability to speak of I'd probably make that demo just for the hell of it. But I'm lacking in the video department so...I may anyway one of these days!

 

[lucas303]

Life Pedal clones? Mine was like $145. Rat, clean boost, and switchable green ringer with blend.

What Life Pedal clones are there?

 

[lucas303]

One more rat post from me...this one seems pretty sweet:

 

[kleinenenten]

One more rat post from me...this one seems pretty sweet:

Never heard of that one. I was a bit underwhelmed until he turned on the second gain switch. I'm not sure if that makes me more or less impressed, because the first part sounded amazing for low gain tones (which I'm NOT after) and just as good on the brief high gain tones. So it looks to be an all-in-one sort of gain pedal from low to high gain. Now I've got to look into this one. Thanks!

 

[Novarocker]

Megalithic looks super cool. I have a High Priestess from Gremlin, which is one of my favorite Ram's Head style Muffs. The description on their website says that the fuzz side of Megalithic is the "Black Fuzz," so I assume it's based on a Black Russian Muff?

Yeah black Russian. Thing holds the low end well and stays true to having great lower gain sounds as well as higher. Punching in the 250 can add more bite and articulation, although it does seem to have a solid amount on its own.

While I appreciate the effort, I don't want you to take that time and effort for me when it may yet be a while before I pick one up. I'm in the "wondering/investigating" phase, and there's never any telling how long that will last for me!

Are there clones out there of the different Rat versions like there are of all of the Muff versions? I never hear any marketing specifying it's any kind of Rat outside of regular or turbo. I don't even know if one type of Rat is better for bass or not! I just keep hearing Rats and thinking they're sounding pretty good, and know there are plenty of clones to try!

Have you checked the Redrum? Might be in your wheelhouse, Rat with HM-2 tonestack...

Looking into that, and it almost seems TOO much. I just want dirt. I already have boost etc. on the board, and not sure what I'd do with a Green Ringer. Sounds like it's used for more ambient stuff, and that's not my bag.

What Life Pedal clones are there?

I've seen some cheapos on EBAY, but RCO Pedals makes one using a pedalpcb.com (IIRC) board. There's a smaller version that has all the controls IIRC, but only 2 switches for the boost and bypass. I've been meaning to talk to the guy to see if he thought he could fit a Rat and green ringer in a smaller enclosure or see if the 2nd switch on the smaller clone could be tied into the octave instead of the boost. I don't know if the Rat portion of the life pedal has any modifications beyond a normal Rat outside of clipping options.

The ringer is almost like punching in a synthy/ring mod, cocked wah sound and punches through a mix more. I could see it being used for Ambient, but it packs a punch for sure. Atleast when used with the rat. Honestly, don't know why I've slept on em for so long.

 

[thombo]

Current drives/distortions/fuzz in my stable:
darkglass microtubes x7
darkglass vintage deluxe v3
darkglass alpha/omega head- alpha/omega sounds
darkglass microtubes head- b3k and microtubes sounds
fuzzrocious grey stache- muff-style w/ extra tweekability
fuzzrocious ram the manparts- bizarre gated fuzz, like a simple Wooly Mammoth
fuzzrocious rat tail (now called the cat tail)- rat-style pedal w/ extra tweekability
pigtronix octava micro- weird octave up distortion that I want to sell- too artificial/Black Keys sounding
saturnworks blender- obviously not a distortion, but is great with pedals that do not have a blend for retaining low-end.

Highly recommend all darkglass and fuzzrocious products that I've used.

 

[El_Charro]

Current drives/distortions/fuzz in my stable:
darkglass microtubes x7
darkglass vintage deluxe v3
darkglass alpha/omega head- alpha/omega sounds
darkglass microtubes head- b3k and microtubes sounds
fuzzrocious grey stache- muff-style w/ extra tweekability
fuzzrocious ram the manparts- bizarre gated fuzz, like a simple Wooly Mammoth
fuzzrocious rat tail (now called the cat tail)- rat-style pedal w/ extra tweekability
pigtronix octava micro- weird octave up distortion that I want to sell- too artificial/Black Keys sounding
saturnworks blender- obviously not a distortion, but is great with pedals that do not have a blend for retaining low-end.

Highly recommend all darkglass and fuzzrocious products that I've used.

———————————————
Just curious, but is there anything you don’t like about the Microtubes head???…

I’m having a hard time discerning if I’d rather eventually get a Microtubes head or an Alpha/Omega head…

Was wondering what you feel like the overall sound difference is between the two of them…

Aware I can go the pedal route first, but curious about those two heads…

From listening to demo videos online I haven’t found a very good demo of the Microtubes aggression-Would you say it’s just a more mellow head in general or does it give off a traditional Darkglass sound???

Would appreciate any info you are willing to offer up about which head you like better…

Thanks! \m/

 

[El_Charro]

I'm really picky about my death and black metal. Here's some death metal to check out, though I won't claim it's totally in the vein of what you posted...









And I definitely love me some slam:

——————————————
Hey, I know I’m slow to respond to this-I’ve been CRAZY busy with work so I haven’t really had a ton of free time lately, but I wanted to circle back on this…

I’ve listened to some of the suggestions here-I wanted to tell you thank you for posting so many suggestions as I wasn’t familiar with the bands listed and I also went ahead and signed up for Bandcamp bc there seems to be a ton of great music on that site…I had been to that site a few times, but it seems like it’s a great way to find new music from the Underground…

That Ulcerate album is freaking awesome IMO…

Liked it enough that I downloaded the album-It sounds almost ambient like, but still ridiculously heavy…REALLY loved that one…

Really nice to find new music that’s something different…

I still need to give some of the albums a shot as some I’ve only been able to listen to a song or two, but I really appreciate the suggestions you made…

Gonna be a REALLY rough/stressful couple of weeks for me coming up at work so idk how much I will have time to be on here (will probably still follow the thread in my free time), but since I’m super busy I wanted to make sure I remembered to tell you thank you for sharing and making some suggestions bc otherwise I will probably forget..

Thanks! \m/

 

[Deleted member 132197]

That Ulcerate album is freaking awesome IMO…

Seconded!

 

[lucas303]

Since you guys like Ulcerate, you should check out the drummer at work:



He's got to be up there with Darkside when I think of my favorite metal drummers.

 

[thombo]

———————————————
Just curious, but is there anything you don’t like about the Microtubes head???…

I’m having a hard time discerning if I’d rather eventually get a Microtubes head or an Alpha/Omega head…

Was wondering what you feel like the overall sound difference is between the two of them…

Aware I can go the pedal route first, but curious about those two heads…

From listening to demo videos online I haven’t found a very good demo of the Microtubes aggression-Would you say it’s just a more mellow head in general or does it give off a traditional Darkglass sound???

Would appreciate any info you are willing to offer up about which head you like better…

Thanks! \m/

For me, the DG heads are as close to perfect as any amp I've owned. As a tube head kind of guy, I don't feel like I am sacrificing any tone and it has the immediacy of solid state amps, especially when using a pic. The sound is amazing, never short on power, light, tons of headroom, tonal flexibility, I really like the graphic EQ (takes about an hour to get use to), intuitive layout, well built, easy footswitch...

I could use either head and be 100% happy in any musical setting. The alpha vs omega sound is in the same ballpark as the b3k vs vmt sounds. To my ears, the A/O is a more aggressive where the mictotubes has more of a breakup sound. I really like how I can blend the two sounds on the heads as well. Also, the amp is crystal clean when the distortion circuits aren't engaged, something that doesn't get mentioned often.

Two negatives...
1) The head sometimes dance around the top of the cab when playing at high volumes. This hasn't happened to any distance where I am concerned about it falling, I am going to start using a bungee to keep them secure.
2) The head is easier for someone to steal on a gig. It takes commitment and strategy for someone to walk away with a tube amp, where the DG heads are an easy grab and go. I suppose that's just the tradeoff of using something like this.

Tangentially related, I've been thinking about getting a snowboard/bike cable lock to secure my gear at shows. It everything is tethered together, it makes it that much harder for someone to steal. Anyone have any good strategies for keeping gear safe?

 

[lucas303]

Tangentially related, I've been thinking about getting a snowboard/bike cable lock to secure my gear at shows. It everything is tethered together, it makes it that much harder for someone to steal. Anyone have any good strategies for keeping gear safe?

Paint it all a really obnoxious color(s) that would kill its resale value and make it instantly recognizable?

 

[thombo]

Paint it all a really obnoxious color(s) that would kill its resale value and make it instantly recognizable?

Or iconic!

 

[kleinenenten]

He's got to be up there with Darkside when I think of my favorite metal drummers.

Maybe not my favorite drummer, but my favorite drummer anecdote is from The Crown (who I mentioned not too long ago!). First of all, Janne Saarenpaa is an absolute beast of a drummer. But from what I heard years ago, when they were on hiatus, he got bored and re-learned the entire discography left-handed (in what I assume means swapping his left and right hand positions and drums etc. - I don't know, I'm not a drummer!). If that's true, it's simply absurd. Listen to their stuff and plenty of people couldn't do it with their dominant hand.