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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
 Posted - 11/10/2008 : 20:24:10
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If you wanted to experiment with a non boss pedal and maybe chance a real valve/tube type distortion,one of your own based in the U.K...blackstar amps are making some lovely looking and well reviewed real valve overdrive/distortion pedals and amps....i have a SD twin tube overdrive and i love the sound or the valves clipping into distortion and the thing my SD and the Blackstar stuff have in common is they both use the valves in a proper full power situation like an amp and not in starvation mode like a lot of the others...might be worth checking out..... |
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controlfreak
Silver Member
Ireland
337 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2008 : 11:40:21
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| ^ likewise just to add to franzoni's post, electroharmonix do a great tube overdrive pedal called the english muffin which john frusciante uses at the moment. if his tone seems appealling then check out a few of the sound samples that are out there! it really is a great sounding overdrive/distortion pedal. |
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gurran1928
Gold Member
Sweden
650 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2008 : 11:47:11
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Don't buy a rat.. That pedal sucks. in ALL ways.. I've tried it with stratocaster, telecaster, PRS McCarty, ES-335, Les Paul and SG. I've tried it with several pedalboards, only the rat. On a Peavey Classic 30, Bandit, Blues deluxe and Hot rod deluxe and not one good sounding moment for me. Buy any pedal, but not the rat.
But this is my opinion of course. |
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Some Weird Sin
Bronze Member
Netherlands
73 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2008 : 12:19:54
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My opinion is quite the opposite:
I have an old RAT (mid eighties - didn't have a led; had one put in) and a Keeley modded RAT II, both of which I love and play over an AC-30 and a Twin Reverb. It is my all-time favourite distortion (also own an old Big Muff, a reissue Big Muff, and owned a DS1)
The singer in my band has a "You Dirty Rat" which also sounds pretty cool.
But one man's distortion heaven is another's noise hell  |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2008 : 12:39:11
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quote:
Originally posted by controlfreak
^ likewise just to add to franzoni's post, electroharmonix do a great tube overdrive pedal called the english muffin which john frusciante uses at the moment. if his tone seems appealling then check out a few of the sound samples that are out there! it really is a great sounding overdrive/distortion pedal.
Hi controlfreak & Guys
I was lucky enough to score a NOS EHX English Muff'n
Nice all tube pedal, they run the plates at around 280 to 300VDC,
(I know that fact alone will appeal to Franzoni & not in starved plate low voltage mode).
from the LACK of Hum level, I'm certain, they have DC on the filiments.
It's a nice pedal, well made, but bulky and needs a special AC PWR supply brick.
The great thing about this pedal is they you can swap out one or both of the low gain 12AT7's for 12AX7's or the other 12-series tubes - !2AU7 - 12AY7's
I sounds like a very old non-master Marshall Plexi.
There is a really good video demo, of this pedal, being played by Peter Stroud.
controlfreak, have you tried swapping out any of the 12AT7's?
Regards Dr. Bob |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2008 : 11:09:52
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You hit the nail on the head doc..... ....i can get that nice fender breakup on my crunch channel and the heavy plexi marshall sound on the lead channel of the twin tube....possibly the lead channel is a bit too fat sounding for heavy rhythm but i don't play in that sort of style too much so the crunch channel is more than enough for my needs..i think it is very important that the valves are run in a full power situation and no in a starved mode for the valve to clip properly,i find my SD to be very organic sounding but it probably wouldn't appeal for anyone looking for a tight bottom end for metal type stuff...the avantage you have is you can experiment with different types of tubes as you pointed out for cleaner or dirty sounds...if i hadn't of gone for the SD i think the Blackstar or the EH would have been looked at along the way..... |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2008 : 15:38:49
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Hi Franzoni
quote:
.if i hadn't of gone for the SD i think the Blackstar or the EH would have been looked at along the way.....
The near by recording studio, that also sells some gear, have some of the Blackstar tube pedal range.
I am keen to hear from anyone who really owns one.
Have you noticed, that they always sound better in the shop... 
But with our-everyone's dollars going to  , they have become prohibitively expensive.
Beside Franzoni, I believe, they only use a single 12AX7 tube,
where the EHX & your SD have 2 dual Triodes, in the circuit.
And the EHX pedals lend themselves quite readily to tube swapping.
Regards Dr. Bob
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