I AM IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM ENDORSED BY SOUTHAMPTON PEDALS. I'M...JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH OF A BASS PLAYER.
Like many of us, I spend a lot of time perusing Talkbass with "gear battle" questions (A vs B). Sometimes, we have a chance to add to the current body of literature instead of just consuming...enter the Ictineo from Southampton Pedals and my curiosity regarding how it stands up to an unobtanium classic.
I've had the Submarine Designer for a few months now, and really have gotten to know what it can do. I will admit that, at first, it frustrated me, as the toggles and knobs are really interactive with each other. I've read over and over how you "can't get a bad tone out of it" and I have to disagree a little...in the moment, when you know what you want, it can be a little tough to dial it on the fly as it becomes TOO bass heavy or trebly or whatever. When you take a minute to read the manual and really learn what the knobs and toggles do, then it becomes a very powerful and useful tone shaping tool!
I ordered an Ictineo a little because I wanted to give business to the guys at Southampton (DirtyDuke here on Talkbass has been a gentleman and has given me gear related guidance over the years, a class act through and through!), but also because it looked cool and I was genuinely curious how it stacked up to the original. I figured worst to worst I'd lose a few bucks reselling it here in the classifieds or maybe that I would hang on to it if and when the Designer dies. Not the strongest reasons for buying gear, but here we are all the same.
Lakland 4-94 --> SFX Micro thump --> Ictineo --> Designer --> Mesa Walkabout
I took some time to fiddle around with the Ictineo and immediately noticed how *clear* it sounded. It wasn't terribly different at non-standardized settings compared to the Designer, but somehow just clearer. To be accurate, they sounded very, very much the same, with the Ictineo having that crystalline edge. It wasn't a mid-scoop, just a focus that felt more crisp if that makes sense. You could make an argument that part of the Designer's magic IS that softer edge, and I wouldn't fault you for it.
I then moved on to the standardized settings (the Designer came with a folded piece of paper with some suggested settings on it):
Sub Pro --> this I think is the Designer's best chameleon of the original Sub.
Shake the Earth --> more like rattle the windows. Damn this put out some sub-frequency.
Sweet Fingers --> softer than StE for sure, still tubby.
Piercing Fingers --> sharper than SF setting. high mid forward.
Slapping Fingers --> noticeable scoop.
Booster --> kind of like the SP setting but not as deep...I don't think I would use this one over the SP setting to be honest.
They sound VERY VERY similar across the board, as is the intent. The Ictineo can cop the Designer's sounds really well, IMO I just need to back off the tone and increase the body just a touch compared to the Designer's recommended settings and the Ictineo is a ringer. The only consistent difference is that *clarity* thing the Ictineo has going on. I dunno if it's the age of the Designer or different (updated?) parts...whatever it is Southampton has it right.
All in all, you can't go wrong with either. If you like the collectability of the original by all means hunt one down. I'm kind of mulling the idea of selling mine even! Based on my sound profile preference, with my bass...even though they are really, really close (by design), I'd have to give the edge to the Ictineo.
Bravo to the guys at Southampton!
I'll have to get some sound samples up when I summon the bravado to actually record them.
Just jotting down ideas here...I'll do some of the above settings with J, Stingray, and P settings on the 4-94...both with the active circuit engaged and passive...Right now I feel like watching Rick and Morty Season 4 and anxiously waiting for the (preliminary) election results.
Like many of us, I spend a lot of time perusing Talkbass with "gear battle" questions (A vs B). Sometimes, we have a chance to add to the current body of literature instead of just consuming...enter the Ictineo from Southampton Pedals and my curiosity regarding how it stands up to an unobtanium classic.
I've had the Submarine Designer for a few months now, and really have gotten to know what it can do. I will admit that, at first, it frustrated me, as the toggles and knobs are really interactive with each other. I've read over and over how you "can't get a bad tone out of it" and I have to disagree a little...in the moment, when you know what you want, it can be a little tough to dial it on the fly as it becomes TOO bass heavy or trebly or whatever. When you take a minute to read the manual and really learn what the knobs and toggles do, then it becomes a very powerful and useful tone shaping tool!
I ordered an Ictineo a little because I wanted to give business to the guys at Southampton (DirtyDuke here on Talkbass has been a gentleman and has given me gear related guidance over the years, a class act through and through!), but also because it looked cool and I was genuinely curious how it stacked up to the original. I figured worst to worst I'd lose a few bucks reselling it here in the classifieds or maybe that I would hang on to it if and when the Designer dies. Not the strongest reasons for buying gear, but here we are all the same.
Lakland 4-94 --> SFX Micro thump --> Ictineo --> Designer --> Mesa Walkabout
I took some time to fiddle around with the Ictineo and immediately noticed how *clear* it sounded. It wasn't terribly different at non-standardized settings compared to the Designer, but somehow just clearer. To be accurate, they sounded very, very much the same, with the Ictineo having that crystalline edge. It wasn't a mid-scoop, just a focus that felt more crisp if that makes sense. You could make an argument that part of the Designer's magic IS that softer edge, and I wouldn't fault you for it.
I then moved on to the standardized settings (the Designer came with a folded piece of paper with some suggested settings on it):
Sub Pro --> this I think is the Designer's best chameleon of the original Sub.
Shake the Earth --> more like rattle the windows. Damn this put out some sub-frequency.
Sweet Fingers --> softer than StE for sure, still tubby.
Piercing Fingers --> sharper than SF setting. high mid forward.
Slapping Fingers --> noticeable scoop.
Booster --> kind of like the SP setting but not as deep...I don't think I would use this one over the SP setting to be honest.
They sound VERY VERY similar across the board, as is the intent. The Ictineo can cop the Designer's sounds really well, IMO I just need to back off the tone and increase the body just a touch compared to the Designer's recommended settings and the Ictineo is a ringer. The only consistent difference is that *clarity* thing the Ictineo has going on. I dunno if it's the age of the Designer or different (updated?) parts...whatever it is Southampton has it right.
All in all, you can't go wrong with either. If you like the collectability of the original by all means hunt one down. I'm kind of mulling the idea of selling mine even! Based on my sound profile preference, with my bass...even though they are really, really close (by design), I'd have to give the edge to the Ictineo.
Bravo to the guys at Southampton!
I'll have to get some sound samples up when I summon the bravado to actually record them.
Just jotting down ideas here...I'll do some of the above settings with J, Stingray, and P settings on the 4-94...both with the active circuit engaged and passive...Right now I feel like watching Rick and Morty Season 4 and anxiously waiting for the (preliminary) election results.
