|
Post by real oldster on Mar 4, 2006 18:07:59 GMT -7
I haven't seen much discussion of the Soulbender. Does anyone have experience with it? How would you characterize its gain and sound? Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by Beckanon on Mar 5, 2006 8:43:21 GMT -7
I don't have much experience with it, but whenever I hear Soulbender I'm reminded of very old Led Zeppelin and early Jeff Beck Group stuff. Mean, fat and gainy fuzz with more sustain than a fuzz face...not gainy like a Big Muff though.
|
|
|
Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Mar 6, 2006 13:05:34 GMT -7
The gain is over the top and the sound is... well, fuzzy. I had a Pro Analog MKII, which is revered as being one of the best clones available, and it didn't do anything for me... I came to the conclusion that it just wasn't for me. Perhaps it just didn't mate well with my other gear? You don't even want to know what I'm using to get my fuzztones now though... it'd just generate laughs.
|
|
|
Post by johnnyl on Mar 6, 2006 16:03:03 GMT -7
Oh do tell...
|
|
|
Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Mar 7, 2006 8:51:34 GMT -7
Danelectro Fab Distortion.... ;D Yes, they cost $15 brand new, and you get free shipping from music123.com Yes, you could gig with it and have 2 backups for less than $50... My only complaint is that there is a *slight* delay when turning the box on... but the tone is SO worth it, AND I love the concept that I'm getting my favorite fuzz/distortion tones out of the cheapest possible pedal. Heck, I could barely buy the enclosure to build my own for as inexpensive as these things are! To take it to over the top saturated fuzz tones, you can either crank the pedals gain, OR it works REALLY great to hit the Fab Distortion with a Germanium or Silicon boost like the Triboost. And speaking of the Triboost at buildyourownclone.com, if you're interested in the MKII or a fuzzface for that matter, why not source some good trannies and build your own from a kit on that site?! Fuzzes are STOOPID simple circuits, and that way you can tweak it to be EXACTLY what you want. Oh, and just to be clear, the Fab Distortion is NOT to be confused with the more expensive, larger, tonally-inferior Fab Tone pedal. Yes, don't laugh, this distortion is a great dirt/fuzz box! After trying boxes that cost literally 20 times what this one cost, I'm satisfied... That list of pedals included the Pro Analog MKII, Z Vex fuzz factory, BJF EGDM (that's where the 20 times the price figure comes from as these puppies cost $300), Catalinbread SCOD, Keeley Rat, Keeley BD-2 (actually, this pedal can do some quite cool fuzztones), Fulltone OCD, and a host of others that I'm failing to mention... There may be some pedals on that list that *should* be tonally superior, and if I'd a/b the the Fab Distortion with some of them, MAYBE it would lose, but I'm not so sure... plus, did I mention these things only cost $15???!!! To have this kind of tone for this little money, I am finally TONALLY (pun intended) satisfied. The Fab does everything from a good dirty boost, to medium distortion, to mild vintagey fuzz, to thick saturated fuzz and distortion... It's actually surprisingly versatile... Keeping the volume output up high enough is the key to good sounds, as with any fuzz, and then you dial in the gain to taste... On lower gain settings it's quite dynamic and responsive... And even on higher gain settings, it's not any noisier than other gain pedals. If this sounds far fetched, please know, that I too am dumbfounded, and have been asking myself daily since this pedal showed up if I have finally LOST IT.
|
|
|
Post by taswegian on Mar 10, 2006 20:01:08 GMT -7
Peach, that is REALLY interesting! I bet they have one down at my local shop. I'll have to check it out. If I don't stop at the Cafe for 3 coffees and a sandwich it will pay for itself! ;D
|
|
|
Post by cheycaster on Feb 2, 2007 6:28:40 GMT -7
;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by Lefty on Feb 2, 2007 6:58:47 GMT -7
I had a Pro Analog MKII as well, and it was just too thick for my fuzz needs. I'm more of a Fuzz Face kinda guy, a little looser in the Fuzz Dept.
|
|
|
Post by cheycaster on Feb 4, 2007 21:42:12 GMT -7
I traded for one (aint got it yet) and am looking at using it the way Keeley says to use his Fuzz head pedal, as a lead boost in conjunction with whatever other pedals you are using for your rythm tone etc. I tried one out this weekend in Spokane and even though I didn't get to put it through its paces I did hear what its about and think it can be used like I want to, as a lead boost. I guess that is if it mates up with my other pedals well. Now I only wonder where to put it: in front of or after my OCD......decisions decisions....
|
|
|
Post by skydog958 on Feb 4, 2007 22:10:03 GMT -7
I've got a BSM Fuzzbender which has a Tonebender MkI setting which is what I use. It's got a hard, tight sounding bass with this cool 'reedy' fuzz tone. This is the model Beck used on Truth and I definately hear that tone in the pedal. Page used the MkII. The top end is majory compressed though, which is an issue with my strat because the loss of highs is very noticable but it's a fuzz. Cleans up very well too, and if that ain't your bag just flip a little switch and it's a Fuzzface.
|
|
|
Post by cheycaster on Feb 10, 2007 19:26:58 GMT -7
Man< Iv'e been fiddlin' with this pedal and have to say......it's COOL man! With the internal knob for shaping the fuzz etc. it is a great pedal. I hear the first Trower album with all it's characteristics in this pedal. It works great with the geeters volume knob really well for all kinds of tones there. I have a 69 pedal and while I dig it alot I'm thinking I like this one better. I think it has alot of range in it with the tone,volume,and dirt knobs. I haven't really messed with where it'll live on the board yet cuz I cant keep from playing it long enough to do that yet. I'm happy with the trade to sama for the CS fulldrive II.
|
|
|
Post by Strato on Feb 10, 2007 23:49:29 GMT -7
I havent ever played with a fuzz pedal, so I guess I'm not sure what they sound like compared to an OD or distortion box. Im assuming JH used them, right? What song should i listen to so I know what it really should sound like?
|
|
|
Post by skydog958 on Feb 11, 2007 11:52:37 GMT -7
There are so many kinds of fuzz....JH's fuzz sound changed over the course of his brief career. I guess these are some examples:
Tonebender MKI--Jeff Beck "Truth" album Tonebender MKII--all distortion sounds on Led Zep I Early (traditional) Fuzzface--Jimi Hendrix "BBC Sessions" Modified Fuzzface--Axis: Bold As Love and later Maestro Fuzztone--"Satisfaction" by the Stones Big Muff--almost anything by the White Stripes ("Ball and Biscuit" is killer if you like blues) Fender Blender--"Siamese Dream" by the Smashing Pumpkins
There are so many different flavors of fuzz, but generally they have a thick sound to them.
|
|