Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[kleinenenten]

1st world problem time - do I need another fuzz (Carcosa) or another Rat (Blower Box)? I've had both in the past, and am itching to try them again. I LOVE my Pharaoh, and can't imagine it being dethroned, but on the other end of the spectrum, I don't currently use a Rat but am really thinking of putting one back on the board and the Iron Pig just doesn't have the saturation that I recall the Blower Box having...

Ah, well. I'll see what happens. I've got my eyes on decent deals for either right now. Currently leaning slightly towards the Blower Box as I'm thinking it would certainly be better for the death/thrash tones I've been listening to and craving lately, but I also don't NEED either of them. 1st world problem for sure!

 

[NNNN]

Anyone know if the Gibson SG basses are decent for doom? I used to have a 67 EB-0 and as limiting as the mudbucker was, I eventually found an overdrive pedal and a tube head that made it sound incredible. I know the pickups on the new ones aren't as mean as the originals, which sounds disappointing but isn't necessarily bad

 

[lucas303]

1st world problem time - do I need another fuzz (Carcosa) or another Rat (Blower Box)? I've had both in the past, and am itching to try them again. I LOVE my Pharaoh, and can't imagine it being dethroned, but on the other end of the spectrum, I don't currently use a Rat but am really thinking of putting one back on the board and the Iron Pig just doesn't have the saturation that I recall the Blower Box having...

Ah, well. I'll see what happens. I've got my eyes on decent deals for either right now. Currently leaning slightly towards the Blower Box as I'm thinking it would certainly be better for the death/thrash tones I've been listening to and craving lately, but I also don't NEED either of them. 1st world problem for sure!

Rat Rat Rat Rat

Anyone know if the Gibson SG basses are decent for doom? I used to have a 67 EB-0 and as limiting as the mudbucker was, I eventually found an overdrive pedal and a tube head that made it sound incredible. I know the pickups on the new ones aren't as mean as the originals, which sounds disappointing but isn't necessarily bad

Doesn't @br1qbat rock one?

 

[El_Charro]

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?

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Thank you-Really appreciate the response…

At this point I’ve narrowed my head wish list down to Darkglass, Mesa, or Ampeg…Was looking at Orange for a while, but I think I want a modern Steady State head even though Ampeg got their reputation from tube amps…

From a QA standpoint their stuff seems like it has a good reputation and I really like the Darkglass “sound”-Aware it’s not for everyone and might be a bit of a one trick pony in terms of generating that sound, but the more I research amps the more their stuff seems to be rising to the top…

No idea if I will change my mind by the time I go to pull the trigger, but so far I’m REALLY leaning that direction…

I think the only thing that might stop me-Their pedals sound amazing so I’m not sure I actually need to buy one of their heads to get that Darkglass sound…

Thanks! \m/

 

[El_Charro]

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.

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Lol-That is some Slipknot level drumming right there…

Impressive to say the least (thanks for sharing)…

Thanks! \m/

 

[Deleted member 132197]

1st world problem time - do I need another fuzz (Carcosa) or another Rat (Blower Box)? I've had both in the past, and am itching to try them again. I LOVE my Pharaoh, and can't imagine it being dethroned, but on the other end of the spectrum, I don't currently use a Rat but am really thinking of putting one back on the board and the Iron Pig just doesn't have the saturation that I recall the Blower Box having...

Ah, well. I'll see what happens. I've got my eyes on decent deals for either right now. Currently leaning slightly towards the Blower Box as I'm thinking it would certainly be better for the death/thrash tones I've been listening to and craving lately, but I also don't NEED either of them. 1st world problem for sure!

Rat Rat Rat Rat

Let me counter that, and say

MUFF, MUFF, MUFF, MUFF, MUFF (see, it's more serious, because it's all capitals)

Talking about rats, @lucas303 , I saw your post in the pack rat thread and I'm using my fatrat with almost the same settings (albeit with the fat-mode engaged).

 

[Deleted member 132197]

Just drum and bass and a clear sign I need more dirt

 

[Novarocker]

Moar dirt! Kind matters not. Sidenote: It's been tough deciding which ones to let go on my purge. But I kinda do need to do a mass purge so I can stop using the funds I'm intending for finishing my prototype on pedals...

@El_Charro if you're looking at Mesa and it's not out of your range, the TT might fit a lot of bills for ya. Unique 400 esque semi vintage but very much all tube sounding channel, and the more modern aggressive D800 still solid state (albeit with tube pre) channel. That might help you achieve the array of sounds you seem interested in. Then you can always augment with DG pedals to get that signature sound if the TT doesn't get you in the ball park.

I guess one benefit here is you have the TT amp designer as a regular on these forums. He always seems open to assisting with any amp issues too.

 

[lucas303]

From a QA standpoint their stuff seems like it has a good reputation and I really like the Darkglass “sound”-Aware it’s not for everyone and might be a bit of a one trick pony in terms of generating that sound, but the more I research amps the more their stuff seems to be rising to the top…

I suspect, but can't outright prove, that a lot of the reputation Darkglass gets for having only one sound is because most demos out there just go for that one sound. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of their stuff is more versatile than is commonly believed.

 

[br1qbat]

Rat Rat Rat Rat



Doesn't @br1qbat rock one?

I rock a longscale one. I find the Dimarzio replacement pup less unruly. With the right overdrive/dirt/fuzz they can be somewhat versatile.

But a mudbucker imo requires a few musts:
1.A high wattage amp that can handle lows
2. A highpass filter
3. Cutting out the extra cap on the tone knob which brightens [comparatively speaking] the tone somewhat.

Here's me recently, i have a biamp set up since it's a duo. But as you can hear when it kicks in, univox Superfuzz [clone] is a good pairing fuzz. Having flexibility in adding treble via the amp or using bright strings [these are new DR Highbeams] helps too.

 

[thombo]

Re SG Basses: I have a buddy who is a OG in the Denver doom scene (with The Worth and Lost Relics) who rocks a 34" Gibson SG bass. I believe it is from the 90's, but I might be wrong. It has a mudbucker in the neck and a single coil in the bridge. He plays with a pick and it always sound great! Both bands are on the music socials, I think they worth checking out.

Re Darkglass being a one trick pony: Obviously, to each their own, I don't care if everyone else hates them and I'm not trying to change anyone's mind. To me, there is a specific presence to the upper mid that is unique to all of their products (an airiness?). It kind of focuses in on the part of the bass signal that recording engineers emphasis for the distortion/cut of electric bass. That said, I find them ultra versatile. With either head, I can easily dial in legit crystal clean/studio/SWR sounds , B15 or SVT warm tube sounds, Bongeripper and HoF OG distortion, Entheos and Periphery clanky compression, or dub reggae sounds. I think the marketing has been a little heavy on the djent sounds. With that, I've reached my quota for DG product post this month.

 

[donahue]

I rock a longscale one. I find the Dimarzio replacement pup less unruly. With the right overdrive/dirt/fuzz they can be somewhat versatile.

But a mudbucker imo requires a few musts:
1.A high wattage amp that can handle lows
2. A highpass filter
3. Cutting out the extra cap on the tone knob which brightens [comparatively speaking] the tone somewhat.

Here's me recently, i have a biamp set up since it's a duo. But as you can hear when it kicks in, univox Superfuzz [clone] is a good pairing fuzz. Having flexibility in adding treble via the amp or using bright strings [these are new DR Highbeams] helps too.

Dude!! Yeah!! I admire you for doing a doom duo of bass and drums! Sounds awesome!

 

[Warlock_Surfer]

My favorite riff started at 1:20 and onwards. Amazing tone and chill groove from your drummer. It was like listening to an evil side of OM.

 

[NNNN]

I rock a longscale one. I find the Dimarzio replacement pup less unruly. With the right overdrive/dirt/fuzz they can be somewhat versatile.

Sounds great. That's the DiMarzio Model One? I'm not sure how close that is to the new-production Gibson mudbuckers, but slamming any pickup against the neck is going to make some decent lows. Curtis Novak makes a mudbucker to original spec. It costs a fortune but I suppose it's an option to get back the vintage sound if someone needs it in a new SG. Allegedly there's also a $35 Chinese-made one that does the job too.

 

[cornfarmer]

Nice

 

[El_Charro]

I suspect, but can't outright prove, that a lot of the reputation Darkglass gets for having only one sound is because most demos out there just go for that one sound. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of their stuff is more versatile than is commonly believed.

————————————————
Agree…I was reading or watching a demo a while back where they were raving about the Darkglass’ clean tone…

I am obviously more interested in it’s ability to produce angry distortion/dirt, but I concur-I don’t think that Djent Metal sound is all it’s capable of producing-It’s just sort of their specialty at this point…

I’m sure you can probably get something similar with other pedals and heads, but that seems to sorta be their M.O. at this point…

Plus, as a bonus they have that really cool looking logo…

Thanks! \m/

 

[ConfoundedBridg]

Or iconic!

View attachment 4549272

I just want to sit crisscross applesauce right in front of this rig and get blasted...

Nothing more to add, carry on

 

[ConfoundedBridg]

Anyone know if the Gibson SG basses are decent for doom? I used to have a 67 EB-0 and as limiting as the mudbucker was, I eventually found an overdrive pedal and a tube head that made it sound incredible. I know the pickups on the new ones aren't as mean as the originals, which sounds disappointing but isn't necessarily bad

Sounds great. That's the DiMarzio Model One? I'm not sure how close that is to the new-production Gibson mudbuckers, but slamming any pickup against the neck is going to make some decent lows. Curtis Novak makes a mudbucker to original spec. It costs a fortune but I suppose it's an option to get back the vintage sound if someone needs it in a new SG. Allegedly there's also a $35 Chinese-made one that does the job too.

If you're looking to get a more original mudbucker sound I'd also look into the Artec PUPS that would be the cheap chinese one you're reffering to I believe. Allegedly they make them the same way gibson originally used to ie: with a crap ton of copper wire to get that ridiculously high ohm impedance which gives the OG mudbuckers the crazy lows. I have one on my bass and can confirm that it sounds more vintage than the new mudbuckers. It is extremely heavy for a PUP, feels like almost a pound if I remember correctly. They're way cheaper than the Novak ones but that does come with some quality issues. Most commonly what I've read is the magnets come in the wrong orientation but it's an easy fix. Mine didn't have this issue but I could tell the magnets were easy to access and if you were to have this problem all you'd have to do is flip one around and re-attach.

IMO for the price might as well give them a try...

 

[thombo]

I just want to sit crisscross applesauce right in front of this rig and get blasted...

Nothing more to add, carry on

Then you could be just like Al!

 

[ConfoundedBridg]

Then you could be just like Al!
View attachment 4551865View attachment 4551866

Lol getting blasted in multiple senses of the word.

I wish Al took this rig with him to shows still, can't imagine it made him terribly popular with venues though. Ain't no way he's getting those around without some help...