Swollen Pickle or Mastotron

[StyleOverShow]

Got the Pickle cuz I didn't have anything that made it's characteristic sound. Don't use it much, but when I do, it is consistently good.

Agree Mastotron sound is more digital than the messy Pickle fuzz.

 

[alec]

At the time that I posted it neither had been bought and paid for, I still had the option to not get both.

The question was not in vain, homie. I'd heard mainly bad things about the Mastotron before this, so thanks.

 

[hamfistUK]

I have an EBS MultiDrive, and I was just wondering last night how it would sound before or after the Mastotron.

That is EXACTLY how I use my Mastatron ... with the Multidrive (on std) before it. Sounds full, and gorgeous.

I always find using the lower gain pedal first works better, and in this case, to my ears, it does.

 

[BassBrass]

I really like the clips of the JHS 4 Wheeler. Does it handle different signal types well, or does it have difficulties with active circuits?

I play actives mostly, and as long as it's 1st it's well behaved and warm (unless you crank the tone, fuzz, and raise the gate (use less gate)). When it's later in line it's a little jumpy, more prone to glitch. Volume is up or down, but gates can be lowered or raised, with or without a moat.
It's such a satisfying bass fuzz. I keep the fuzz pretty low and still it's fuzz city, but the lows! Massive lows.

 

[bassburton]

I'm curious about the Swollen Pickle, too. How's the low end on it? Also, does it play nice with active instruments?

 

[spaz21387]

great low end. more low end than my clean tone. but so muddy it gets lost in a band mix.

 

[Laurent]

Both are great pedals. The Mastotron is the way to go for synthy sounds. It's a value Woolly Mammoth (I use to own both) - in fact it's more synthy than the WM.

The Swollen Pickle is like a raging Muff with extended tones. Really terrific.

 

[HolmeBass]

SP works well w/active bass, but is even more gnarly w/ passive. I use mine with my active bass that I gig with and it does work. Will also second that it has lots of low bass on tap, but can sometimes want for punch. Turn it up, or blend in some clean to help keep impact and note definition.

I tried the Mastotron in GC and it was cool, almost bought it, but am finding the Red Ripper better for synthy sounds in my opinion. I only tried it w/ my active bass, maybe it doesn't work well with actives? (Since it is known the WM doesn't)

 

[Irtemed]

Yeah, I've come to the conclusion that I want both. Unfortunately that won't happen

The SP is on the way right now, should get it in two days or so. I'm leaning towards keeping that one, since it's such a versatile fuzz, but one thing it can't do is wonderful synth tones. like the Mastotron. But since All I have right now is a Multidrive and an OC-2, considering what my band plays the Swollen Pickle would be a more rational choice sound-wise. However, I'll still try out the Mastotron with my Multidrive. If that sounds like a classic fuzz I might keep it. Only time will tell.

 

[HolmeBass]

If you get an envelope filter w/ an effects loop, like the Groove Regulator or QTron+, the SP and the octaver together in that loop will get some great synth-like tones. My SP is going into the loop of my QTron+ now that I have the Red Ripper and a TAFM for 'normal' fuzz duties. I would recommend the GR2 over the QTron+ though b/c you can still use the SP when the GR2 is off, unlike the QTron+.

 

[Irtemed]

I would recommend the GR2 over the QTron+ though b/c you can still use the SP when the GR2 is off, unlike the QTron+.

Wow, you can do that? Does the bypass go through the effects loop or something? Now I just want clarification: when using the effects loop, the clean signal activates the filter while the pedals in the effects loop do. I've thought a lot about effects loops and it'd be great to have one. How "synthy" is the QTron+, and how does it sound with the SP? Do you have any samples? And do you know how much it differs tonally from the GR2? Oh, and I've heard some people having some problems with the QTron+ and hot signals. Do you think it would work well with a Lakland 44-02 with all active controls flat? (Which is a bit louder than all controls at 0)