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Synthy Bass Distortion

#81
DosiYanarchy said:
to Mystic booo and Saint:
the LED stays on until its unplugged, and the volume is REALLY REALLY low on the pedal and the amp, and i worry that at high volumes i could bust a speaker just from the click.
Click to expand...

Sorry man, but your pedal is broken. The blowtorch is my most silent pedal with regards to clicks/pops when turning it on/off, and also wrt hiss when I'm not playing. Take it back or get it repaired. Well worth getting it fixed, I love mine, especially for its ability to cut through a dense mix while retaining low end and tone :bassist:
 
#82
I have to agree with eywindwa.. that pedal has some serious issues, and by the sound of it you are definately not going to be able to use it as it was designed to be used, and probably you aren't getting the quality of sound out of it that you should be either :( Man that sucks.

To bigchiefbc - there is one other synth pedal that you haven't looked into (from what you've said) which may arguable be the best of the bunch (Mystic Boo probably knows more about it), which is the Korg G5. I've never played one, but I've heard clips and it sounds fantastic. From reviews I've read, it tracks fantastically and has more presets than the Deep Impact does, as well as tracking and sounding better. Unfortunately it is out of production and seems to show up on eBay with even less frequency than the Deep Impact, though seems to sell for about half the price.
 
#84
::Saint:: said:
I have to agree with eywindwa.. that pedal has some serious issues, and by the sound of it you are definately not going to be able to use it as it was designed to be used, and probably you aren't getting the quality of sound out of it that you should be either :( Man that sucks.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Dosi, it's definitely busted. Sorry to inform you...

::Saint:: said:
To bigchiefbc - there is one other synth pedal that you haven't looked into (from what you've said) which may arguable be the best of the bunch (Mystic Boo probably knows more about it), which is the Korg G5. I've never played one, but I've heard clips and it sounds fantastic. From reviews I've read, it tracks fantastically and has more presets than the Deep Impact does, as well as tracking and sounding better. Unfortunately it is out of production and seems to show up on eBay with even less frequency than the Deep Impact, though seems to sell for about half the price.
Click to expand...

It can store more presets, which is a huge plus. Overall, it's a more organic-sounding synthesizer pedal than the Deep Impact.

Check out the Synthesizer Review Megathread that Markjazzbassist and I started - it has everything you need to know. Just type that into the search field, and you'll find it in no time :smug:
 
#87
I just A/B'd a BMS against a Little Big Muff Pi and came up with a very interesting result.. the BMS, while putting out some really cool sounds, and being very versatile, I found difficult to dial in many useable sounds. Granted, there is a learning curve with the thing (I didn't really know what to do with all the freq start/stop, resonance, and range settings) .. and I also found I had some annoying triggering issues with it. Basslines that I played just didn't sound as smooth as I would have hoped and the effect would occassionally sort of peter out in the middle or beginning of a note.

I think with time I could definately get it working the way I want, but that LBM put out such an amazing fuzz sound that I had to pick it up. It doesn't hurt that the LBM was $70, as opposed to $310 for the BMS, either :)

Here is a clip of something I've recorded with the LBM after I got it home. The verse parts are LBM and the chorus parts are just a sort of random setting on my blowtorch, which I am going to re-record today either with my LBM or a different setting on the Blowtorch, as they just don't seem to fit, and the volume shift is a little wonky. The last bit (long verse part and then chorus/bridge part) without lyrics is all LBM. Check 'er out..

http://www.fire-forge.com/music -- the song is called "Prey for Deliverance".
 
#88
thejohnkim said:
yep i failed to elaborate on my votes before but you've already heard the Borwn Dog, but teh Blowtorch rocks for me because of how 'smooth' the clipping is.
Click to expand...

The blowtorch isn't anywhere near as smooth as the LBM, its why I got rid of the blowtorch! I found the character of it to be very buzzy and harsh. I loved the EQ and blend on it, but hated the character of the distortion. I wish I had the LBM's clipping section with the blowtorch's EQ and blend...
 
#90
Hmm, I'll have to check that one out.. the one I am really interested in right now is the Malekko B:assmaster .. it uses harmonic suboctives to create a really interesting distortion that is entirely unique but can also get the sort of industrial synth sound. I think it is next on my GAS list..

One thing I can say is that I am turning into a fuzz addict.. I'd like to start experimenting with other effects as well.. I was particularly impressed with the EHX Pulsar tremolo.. you can create some really cool pulsating sounds, but it isn't something I'd necessarily use all the time, unlike distortion and fuzz..
 
#91
::Saint:: said:
Hmm, I'll have to check that one out.. the one I am really interested in right now is the Malekko B:assmaster .. it uses harmonic suboctives to create a really interesting distortion that is entirely unique but can also get the sort of industrial synth sound. I think it is next on my GAS list..
Click to expand...

It's also a Maestro Brassmaster clone, so it's also worth checking out other pedals based on it you like the sound. The Prescription Electronics Depth Charge is a simpler, but top-notch pedal that's based on the Brassmaster - it's used in Nine Inch Nails, among other bands. The Black Cat Bass Octave Fuzz is a clone that, like the B:Assmaster, keeps the old Brassmaster control scheme going.

The B:Assmaster and Depth Charge are my favorites.

::Saint:: said:
One thing I can say is that I am turning into a fuzz addict.. I'd like to start experimenting with other effects as well.. I was particularly impressed with the EHX Pulsar tremolo.. you can create some really cool pulsating sounds, but it isn't something I'd necessarily use all the time, unlike distortion and fuzz..
Click to expand...

Try fuzz + Pulsar: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

:smug:
 
#92
I have both the B:Assmaster, the EHX LBM and the Blowtorch, and the one I never use anymore is the LBM.

The blowtorch is great for cutting through a dense mix, and while sounds kind of buzzy on its own, it sounds great paired with distorted guitars.

The B:assmaster has not gotten much use in a band setting yet, I'm stilling get it to know it properly, but damn, that thing can produce som sweet sounds!
 
#93
yo yo, i've neglected this thread like a b!tch. just to give a few updates: after getting a dodgy BlowTorch off ebay, i sent it back and got another one second hand for like £25 cheaper!!! and it works perfectly. it definitly is the synthy distortion i was looking for, i mean its essentially one sound, but you can do so much with it, especially with the mid-shift and the torch-switch. i also was tempted by the Prunes and custard, but could never find any soundclips, and from the descriptions i read it sounded like it was a unique pedal that while having some sort of great sound, id never use. but obviously without actually HEARING it im making rash judgements. also i do have to say i was very tempted by the LBM, and its cheap (relatively) price really attracted me, i've yet to be convinced that any muff can really not kill my lows and mids in the music i play, i mean stand alone or in another band set-up i can quite believe how great they are. i've got the english Muff'n but have learnt that in my band situation, it just doesnt cut thru (even with its sterling reputation on here), altho a bass graphic equaliser pedal does help.
so thanks to all who suggested the Blowtorch, especially ::Saint:: who gave me the sound clips that convinved me.

PS i should also mention that i use a sans amp, and i find it has a DRASTIC effect on using overdrive pedals before and even after it, and while it does this with the blowtorch, i've actually found it to be for the better (for the tone i wanted, anyway)

PPS: id also agree with eyvindwa that on its own the blowtorch does sound a little harsh on its own (with the settings i use) but does work wonders when ina band situation.
 
#94
I don't use a Sansamp, but I do use a B2.1u which mostly acts as an EQ. For whatever reason, I find that it DRASTICALLY alters the sound of my blowtorch and makes it much smoother and less buzzy than without. I'd imagine the Sansamp would probably have a similar effect.

I'm glad you got ahold of a good Blowtorch Dosi - it is definately an indispensible pedal for me. I really want to get ahold of a B:assmaster now, though, even moreso than a BMS.
 
#95
Man.. I just tried out an Ibanez SB-7 synth pedal, and I have to say I REALLY liked the sounds that come out of that thing. It seems pretty basic to look at .. 3 different synth settings, a short and long decay switch, and then some basic tone controls. It's cheaper than a Bass Synth Wah and in my opinion sounds about 500% better, and is far easier to dial in good sounds. I had a hard time finding a bad sound on that thing. Very nice synth fuzz sounds as well as more electronic sounding synth sounds.

I would actually buy it before the BMS simply because the sounds are easier to get out of it, and it tracks a lot better as well - I detected no tracking delay or triggering issues whatsoever, unlike the BMS. This may be my next pedal.. unless I get a B:Assmaster first.. but I'd probably get this anyway.
 

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