77 posts
man, this pedal is fun. clip now, will write about it later... need to tweak (lol).
this is running through the uber's clean channel (strat) + a little reverb after the mics, knobs at noon except gain (up a bit) and channel volume (max <- why the lows are so dominating, like I said... must tweak!)
anyway, first clip - no pedal -> pedal on -> boost on (love this)
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/bblue1.mp3
Yup. I must have all 3... LOL!
Refresh my crappy memory - what speaker(s) and mics are you using?
Nice! I really like it.
FB will be all over that. (if he listens through his Grado's ;D)
I loved your interpretation of "Bold as Love." It's not quite as sparkly as your typical clips but that might be mic placement, volume, etc. Gain staging sounds pretty awesome.
ok, hands are tired... but this is prs into the (also not well tweaked) lead channel of the uber for about the first 43 seconds... then the (unboosted) blue pedal kicked in. there's some swamping but the profile is something I can definitely work with. there's also post mic delay/verb grease just because I can't listen to these dry.
so yeah, this pedal will be staying. everything I wanted from it is there... honeymoon period though. we'll see.
first clip was sm57 + ksm somethingorother (109?) mixed lower... like -5dB to the sm.
speakers: sm on T75, ksm on G12H30 anniversary (not the new ones)... speakers are on "the list" - creambacks probably, but until then, I'm thinking I'll put the v30 back in with the 75. G12H30 is ok, but I kinda like the v30 + T75 combo.
uber is 2x EL34 right now - I'll do some clips with the flexi next (6L6 right now.. can be EL34 or 6550 with a swap)
I screwed up on bold as love... one ear on the speakers, got lost. :/
this clip is sm57 only:
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/bblue2.mp3
Woah channeling some JB there, very cool...
better but not there yet - figuring out how to dial this thing, slowly. status update more than anything (using the flexi as a host for this one) -- losing highs somewhere and still have too much low mid.
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/bblue3.mp3
(plexi mode, variac on, neutral pre, 20th - Treb/Mid/Bass all noon, vol out 1 o'clock, gain 3 o'clock, boost trims both zeroed)
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/bblue4.mp3
trying it gained up in a "mix"... gets a little crowded - trying to get too much distortion from it I think, sounds better mild. first bit is w/o pedal.
big advancement today though - tried running it into the fx loop return instead of through the flexi's input. much better!
prs - cab change to v30 + T75. sm on 75, e609 silver on v30.
I like 4 a lot better than 3. Several things are interesting me. One, you seem to be getting more gain out of it than some other clips I've heard. This could be because, Two, you are using variac mode. When you get a chance, tell me why you are liking that mode vs the regular mode. I almost never turn the Red over to Variac mode. In fact, I will say first that I haven't given it a fair shake, and more experimenting will be done when I get more time, but for now... the regular mode is SO superior open FEEL and response that every time I flip the variac on I quickly go "nah" and flip it right back over. Again, haven't tweaked it in that mode to get the best tones.
My first reaction when flipping the variac on with the Red, is that it suddenly get's more like other pedals and loses that "special" thing it has. For lack of a better way to describe it and fully acknowledging the consumption of the marketing hype, my quick opinion is that flipping the switch from regular to variac makes it sound less like an amp and more like a pedal. I will check it out more for sure. Since I've got it so recently though, I'm still flipping all the other switches constantly to see how they all work together and with various settings. And it sounds 90 kinds of great in the regular mode so I haven't spent time trying to make it sound great in variac mode.
I know, two different pedals, but that's why I'm so surprised that you seem to be staying in the variac mode for most of your clips.
I liked the last clip best as well, and the playing was great, just more my cup o tea all the way around I guess :)
No variac mode for me either, not that it's bad or different, I just happened to like the balls the pedal had when I first A/B'd that (for a second or two) on day one - no need to experiment. The other switches, yeah, still playing with them, so cool how the actually alter things (unlike too many other pedals). Kinda torn between 20th mode and 100 mode. 20th has so much more saturation and anger, great for soloing - but then 100 mode seems to have more mids, again, a nice tone for soloing. Etc.
Someone said these pedals sound great through damn near every amp and I think I agree. The couple times I noticed someone not really liking the pedal was when they ran it with EL84s (both cases were Budda owners fwiw). This weekend I ran mine in front of my main amp in its Plexi mode and think I like it best now of the several others I've tried it with (Tweaker, Mini Rec, DSL 1w, DSL 15w, 5150 III).
hmmm, mine sounds great with my Budda.
p.s. Given that both Sheep and Paul are now trying them into effects returns, I wonder who's going to go whole hog and get all three pedals and run them into a Mesa 20/20 or such and just have a 3 amp setup with no full amp. Just three pedals into a power amp.
Hmmm,wonder if that new Mesa pedal actually sounds like a recto... ;)
DreamTheaterRules — Mar 11, 2013p.s. Given that both Sheep and Paul are now trying them into effects returns, I wonder who's going to go whole hog and get all three pedals and run them into a Mesa 20/20 or such and just have a 3 amp setup with no full amp. Just three pedals into a power amp.
Hmmm,wonder if that new Mesa pedal actually sounds like a recto... ;)
Sounds like they would go perfect with my VHT Valvulator GP3's buffered clean channel then to my VHT 2/50/2! So, feel free to send 'em to me and I'll let you know (just got new strings on my guitar last night so I'm ready to go!). ;) :D
New strings? Dude, you are ready! :)
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/bblue5.mp3
flexi fx return, flexi boost on but not doing much - just running the signal through a tube for extra tubeness. sm57 on v30... had the e609 behind the cab but couldn't get it to sound that great so left it out. so much low mid to deal with... getting kinda frustrated with it - probably going to just ignore and eq it down (post mic) as needed from here on out.
I'm liking the variac mode for the give on pick attack, sounds kinda cool. otherwise, it sounds about the same - mostly attack dynamics softening that I'm liking at the moment... may not stay that way. should add, I'm using the variac mode a lot to get acquainted with it... heh, I'm not married to it! ;) :)
The playing is top notch-- I just keep wanting to hear more bold as love, that's gotta be one of my favorite Hendrix progressions. Re the tone, there's something about the low mid frequencies on this pedal that I just am not connecting with. Do you hear that? I can't quite figure it out, but there's some mid congestion in there that I haven't heard with some of your other clips.
I like both, 4 better as well, but i see what you mean about the mix being a little cluttered. Other than that the pedal is sounding better and better.
Howie, I have not yet tried an fx loop return. Remember i am currently recording directly - going out thru the fx loop to the computer.
I will also add that the Uber sounds poor thru my Engl. But that is on the Engl, as it sounds killer thru my Krank. So there is one amp (preamp) it does not sound good thru. I think it may struggle with any amp that relies on a bright switch for clarity.
And I do have a 20/20 for sale :D
Oh, new clip! checking now....
not saying anything negative about #5, but I think overall I prefer the tones you were getting thru the Uber. lots of good stuff from both, I am anxious to see how your battle with the low mids goes...
charger — Mar 11, 2013The playing is top notch-- I just keep wanting to hear more bold as love, that's gotta be one of my favorite Hendrix progressions. Re the tone, there's something about the low mid frequencies on this pedal that I just am not connecting with. Do you hear that? I can't quite figure it out, but there's some mid congestion in there that I haven't heard with some of your other clips.
yes, I definitely hear it - and can't seem to get rid of it... it's a puzzle. it was worse going into the uber's preamp... bogner low mids stacking on bogner low mids. I'm still assuming it's something I'm doing or not doing - that there's a way to dial it in... but, dunno. it seems to really want to throw out 150-250Hz peaks... like it's resonating with itself or something.
If you roll back the bass and roll up the treble does it change? I'm trying to figure out where the controls are centered. I know you said earlier knobs were at noon, not sure if that's changed?
One thing I noticed, the harder I hit the amp, the less effect the tone knobs seem to have...
Sheep, on the Red, I had to turn the mids down some on my Budda before the Red sounded it's best. Think it might be a similar thing to what you are getting. I had them down around 10:00 then it sounded great. Also, I get buy with a lot more volume at home than I used too, so this isn't some TV level we're talking about, but it's also not ear bleed level.
ok, definitely user problem. I wasn't thinking about the tone knobs in the right way - turning down the bass knob (on a pedal) with a strat just feels un-natural! so this clip is treble and mid at about 1 o'clock, bass at 9 o'clock (plus a little - maybe still a little too much)... mids need a tweak now but it's in range of where it should be. could even be a mic issue... or speaker, it's rather v30 sounding, even for a v30.
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/bblue6.mp3
Woof!!! That sounds great :)
Yeah, dug that!! JUICY mids, damn straight. Thick, clear tone. Props. Cool vibe to the playing as well.
Yep I was tapping my foot thru it :)
That souns really nice and juicy. Love it. Must resist, must resist :)
Have you (would you) tried the pedal direct into an impulse cab ? I would be interested to hear how that sounds, is it an amp in a pedal or is it just a pedal, if you know what I mean ?
yeah, disregard my comments. I was talking PRS (FAT)> Red> Budda (FAT). If you're using a strat... uh... just do what you did! LOL
pedal set up as last clip - output to interface - IR cab (sm57 on V30). not bad! (too much low mids again though! hah)
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/bblueir.mp3
(also, just had my beer quota for the day... so not a great clip and done hastily.. but... heh)
ironsheep — Mar 11, 2013pedal set up as last clip - output to interface - IR cab (sm57 on V30). not bad! (too much low mids again though! hah)
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/bblueir.mp3
(also, just had my beer quota for the day... so not a great clip and done hastily.. but... heh)
Sounds good and with a bit of eq would fit nicely into a track I think.
ironsheep — Mar 11, 2013pedal set up as last clip - output to interface - IR cab (sm57 on V30). not bad! (too much low mids again though! hah)
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/bblueir.mp3
(also, just had my beer quota for the day... so not a great clip and done hastily.. but... heh)
Could the V30 be contributing to the mids? If you happen to have some Greenbacks, you should try those instead. :)
I do have their greenback 4X12 impulses... can try that tomorrow. I'd expect them to be even more low mid heavy, though. there's probably an impulse that would work with it somewhere - the great thing about it is how it feels so amp-like when playing. even if it can't sound track-worthy direct into IRs, that setup could be worth it as a practice rig.
or did you mean an actual speaker? I don't have one... wattage is too low in a 2x12 for me - very interested in the new creambacks!
V30s would add to high mids, but greenbacks definitely have more low mids. I think those clips both sound great and I think you've got the tone knobs on that pedal figured out. I liked hearing the pedal not obscuring the tone of your clean guitar... it was pretty right on on the first clip.
Yep - sorry, I've got to read a bit better. Got it backwards. :-[
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/bblue7.mp3
back into the uber clean channel... don't like it as much. sounds a bit pinched, for lack of a better word - flexi was more open. I must be overdriving the amp (in an unpleasant way, or, at least, unintended) in some way I've yet to figure out - the sound of it is most noticeable into the last few seconds.
the riddle is on in there too, briefly.
Dang i thought it was going to explode there at the end... Was actually very cool... Yeah might be too much level going out? Using Boost? I really like the tone but definitely hear what you mean about the pinched quality.
yeah, boost on but output level is at noon and no volume boost when engaged (zeroed via trim pot)... it has to be my inexperience with the clean channel - balancing input gain/tone controls/volume out gain - I'm using a lot of the master volume with the others up - almost cranked... that's probably where the problem is. I never really used this channel for anything before, I'm a noob with my 7 year old amp... lol.
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/bblue8.mp3
this is blue pedal into uber clean channel on the left and uber gain channel (no pedal) on the right.
not really fair to the gain channel to use a strat... but it's not too bad.
think I have the gain path under control on the clean side now... they go together a lot better now than they did when the clean channel didn't have this pedal, that's for sure! heh.
Sounds bitchin! The two tones mix great. I'd have a tough time picking which I prefer...but then why should I, the way it's layed out they're equally ideal for a mix. ;)
Excellent riff.
Listened every clip. It's always a pleasure! :)
My favs are #1, #4 and #8
Anyway I would like to have all the remaining sounds.. ;)
I'd love to hear some clips of you playing through this pedal... would be a good match, I think.
finally figured out what's really been wrong with the uber clean channel... microphonic preamp tube! got bad enough yesterday that I couldn't help noticing it - I thought I had something vibrating in the cab... but no, bad tube. I put a mullard in v1 and some unknown ge or phillips in v4 (clean channel's driver) - much better. now, I find there is a crackle in the pedal when it distorts. it's "amp-like" I suppose, but I kinda wish it wasn't there - can't get it out, seems to be a feature. anyways, couple short clips of all this. one with the pedal on the clean channel and one of the gain channel with no pedals. both with single coil strat (I just re-floated it's trem after many years, so pardon if it's not in tune at all times ;)) - mentioning this because it sounded pretty good on the gain channel for the first time EVER, was surprised. neither clip is totally tweaked out (clean channel is a little thumpy, gain channel a little honky), but the gain structure is about right now for the two channels, I think.
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/bblue9.mp3
http://www.ironsheep.com/mp3/ironsheep/Media/uberntd.mp3
(sm57 on v30 left, e609 on T75 right - dry)
Lol where the hell is everybody?
The blue clip kinda has something grating going on, I guess that is the crackle you are talking about. Tonewise excellent, but if you can solve that crackle, holy crap...
The Uber clip is awesome. I actually think I can get pretty close to that with the pedal.
Ditto both of those. :) I hear that "thing" in the blue. Uber sounds cool!
that was probably just the sound of neck+middle - I've been setting up my strat for a few weeks (!! heh). I had to refret it... so now everything is up in the air (pickup heights, trem float or not, nut slots, action, truss rod, neck shim in, then neck shim out... etc) - weird crap shows up from time to time as I'm ironing out the kinks. :)