Ander87

Well well well! I have completed my mini pedalboard after a solid 2-3 years of not using pedals! polytune 3 mini - Effectrode PC-2A Compressor - Fuzzrocious Lil Fella - Zvex Woolly Mammoth fuzz - Zvex Instant Lo-Fi Junky chorus the Zvex design is not very inviting or friendly for stomping especially if placed on the side (against all knobs) so I stacked them under each other… very impressed with my Pedaltrain Nano!! My wife even asked me to pose with it as I accept it as my new Lord and Saviour (probs just taking the fosters at my excitement):

Bob @Hacksawbob just bought a polytune pedal from me - serious and quick payment, good communications an altogether a super easy transaction. Would definitely deal with him again.

Oh this thing rips! Better bottom management than the Alpha Omega and a crunchier type of distortion (more alpha than omega lol) since I’m waiting for power supply board and cables I can only try it at 9v but bear with me, 18v should be here soon!

Well, we're nearly there... Only the board and patch cables and PSU missing I'm very likely replacing the Alpha Omega for the Lil Fella that's on it's way... having the woolly mammoth I've all the fuzz I could want so the lil fella will be my standard 'traditional' distortion... And 'just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in' - I'm currently gassing over the PC-2A compressor from Effectrode... a valve inside!? what kind of witchcraft is this! https://www.effectrode.com/products/effects-pedals/pc-2a-tube-compressor/

Thank you! Loving it to bits. And more so now with my Six10!

Well. I’m back to pedals after denying them once again. I’ve recently changed all my rig to put some money in the bank but buying 2nd hand I have found very, very good classics (Fenders American Original precision, jazz… ABM 600 and a BF 610). Now that I love my tone even more than before (conflicting since my previous rig was pricier 😅) I’m back to studying what pedals do I want rather than an overwhelming (to me) HX effects. My first instinct was to get a Darkglass since I know them well. The Alpha Omega is pretty cool but maybe overkill for a punk rock trio… and I find Darkglass nails the treble but eats a lot of body/bass to my liking. so I bought a Pedaltrain nano and I’ve been checking and buying some bits… my chain will be Tuner / Compressor/ distortion/ fuzz. So far, my finding has been the collaboration devices compressor. Simple and clean without enhancing tone much but doing its job. And with a gain stage that is quite tasty! That’ll do for overdrive. Also on the way and to finish off the board I’ve a Fuzzrocious Lil Fella for distortion. The gate switch seemed very cool especially since a Woolly Mammoth fuzz will be here too, to put in front of! WHAT A JOURNEY!!! This has been all in my biggest gear revolution… As you can see, I’ve gone from ‘ah I don’t like pedals’ to a rather boutique mini board… and since I’ve not used pedals in like 2 years, I have to start from scratch from the board itself to the psu and patch cables - wish me luck! Ander.

I’ve been here. Looking for a holy grail that does everything… but Jesus. Much as I don’t GAS much over pedals (basses defo, then amps/cabs), a multi effects ends up feeling overwhelming. we’re bassists after all, and for me that sounds like tuner compressor octaver distortion fuzz chorus and maybe synth. I play much more with individual pedals than I do with a multi effects. I had the HX Effects and whilst it’s a great unit and relatively easy to use, I found all those options overwhelming, and once it’s set I forget about the presets etc. I know ‘set and forget’ is great for some but don’t you guys think it takes the magic away from playing with pedals? Im back to building a mini pedalboard (nano) and will have, for my punk rock trio, tuner, compressor (with overdrive on footswitch), fuzz and distortion (with gate on a switch). IF my neosoul project kickstarts again I’ll remove the fuzz and distortion and add a keeley caverns (delay and reverb) or a chorus and reverb at most. I’m hoping it’ll work! To my ears also good individual pedals sound more in your face and direct than multi effects. PS I’ve switched my amp head for an ABM 600 and I love it’s sound so much…! I feel normal pedals respect that base tone more than my ex HX Effects.

Peter bought my Eich T900. Serious buyer, fair and quick with payment too. A pleasure to deal with, would totally recommend. Ander.

note - normal size polytune, and the distortion either regular size or Alpha Onega size, depending on what I like better 😁

I’ve got something to put together this week… buffer, tuner, compressor with gain stage (2 foot switches), woolly mammoth fuzz and distortion/alpha omega… … on a Pedaltrain nano…! Wish me luck, will report… Ander.

Ahar! Ran away from a HX Effects cause I feel I wanted it smaller/less options... These Trace Elliot and sans amp minipedalboards can be pretty cool though... I got the Alpha Omega and like it or not it seems I'm at home with the Darkglass distortion... I do just now! I'm giving that a go - nonetheless the compressor is not that so is it? and the drive couuuuld be a bit tighter - hm. Will keep experimenting with it. Update, though! I am giving in and building a small pedalboard, 'just' three pedals. Keeping the Alpha Omega, putting the Collaboration Devices Compressor before it (for those interested, such a cool pedal - super transparent, gentle compressor for peaks), and adding a polytune to complete. Yup, harley benton power supply underneath, £40... Will see how that turns up but I've got hopes... And yep, bought a pedal train nano on purpose instead of the nano+, to make sure I don't end up with more stuff than I need

Aha! Just bought a Collaboration Devices Compressor from Tiernan - good communications and quick to respond, sorted delivery quick and easy, gear came nicely boxed and in pristine condition! Would defo deal with him again. Best, Ander.

Just bought Chris’ barefaced Six10. Communications with Chris were quick and the gear was in top shape. Met with him to collect even with a quick change of dates and he was super accommodating. Heck, he did most of the loading of the 6x10 into my car (as I took tips on how to manage the size 😅) Top bloke and I would so deal with him again.

Well I’ve spent the last days playing my BB2 without a tweeter and with the ABM I do not miss the tweeter…! Just got back from this event here, guys… The cab reaches my hip… … The amp reaches my ribs… … The Sound? Reaches my soul!

Hahahaha and that should be it! The Alpha Omega for the heavy stuff, compressor as always on and the gain stage for a bit of grit - that shall be it…!

Haha noted, that’s what I wanted to avoid @krispn, the slippery road of cabling changing one pedal then another then expanding… think I’m gonna settle for a Comp+Gain boost pedal I’ve seen (collaboration devices), that gives me clean and the boosted stage with a bit of hair, then the alpha omega. And add a tuner pedal cause every board needs one. maybe that’d work as a minimalist board…..!?

@Osiris thank you - this is not the 'idealest' setup but I use fuzz just in particular circumstances, mostly when the bass is soloing with vocals or drums only to thicken up the absence of guitar... Could work as a gentle overdrive, real distortion with the AO and fuzz back flicking the switch where necessary... ... you guys are seducing me too much with the idea of a pedalboard - I'll end up wanting a tuner and a compressor now...! Yes, you are right, I'll admit, but dang, it is a cold truth to realise the holy grail does not exist

Haha thanks @Osiris! Will read your post in more detail in a couple hours. my question on the aftershock, you can’t access more than one patch physically on the fly can you? Nothing like double stomp engages preset 2 or similar, I assume? Ander.

Thanks! yep I've got it down where I want to but wouldn't mind that pushed/boost here and there...! I think this is the key thing, thank you - 2 boxes perfect vs one that does most right... The Source Audio Aftershock comes to mind, also rather cheap if I convince myself to do two boxes...! Will look out and listen for it - never had a bass driver myself but the tone I've seen online is more on the blurry growl than tight and aggressive - probs my short attention span for pedals, will dig more just in case! Ander.

Thanks @ped! I had a look at it yep! really feels like a fuzzy fuzz more than the tight distortion - maybe like @Downunderwonder mentioned looking for a tight aggressive distortion and a fuzz in the same thing may be an impossible... ... I have had a good play with the Alpha Omega into the ABM and it gets the distortion right, then again I can thicken/boost with the valve drive and sub/octave thing from the amp head... I'm gonna give it a go to the pedalboard for the amp see if I get on with it well... some more cables tbh but at least no more power supply finicking...! That'd give me the clean, clean with more texture, distortion, and boosted heavy distortion...

Hmmm... I am actually seeking the holy grail haha I'll give you that - nonetheless I use the fuzz for some 3 minutes altogether in a set, that wouldn't warrant the pedal and expense for me anyways. And also that solution wouldn't give me the clean EQ to push/boost cleans here and there so it kind of feels like it'd warrant a compressor or EQ pedal... Not to sound dramatic but it'd just skyrocket expense cabling and portability for a simple mind like mine - I can do it, but I don't think I'd enjoy the hassle and would end up wanting to downsize or swap something...

Hey everyone! You may have seen me swap my gear recently - I'm on a passive Fender Jazz and Precision for my punk rock and neosoul stuff, and I have recently changed the amp head to an Ashdown ABM 600 Evo IV; what a great surprise! I'm loving the amp and its tone. this goes with my Barefaced cab. I have also changed my HX Effects since I just do not use all those effects honestly, and can't be asked with a big pedal/pedalboard - I've always avoided pedalboards cause I just can't be asked with all the power supplies, cabling and just price of building a good pedalboard. I only used clean and distortion really - and I can do with a boosted clean (EQ is fine) same as fuzzy distortion for some parts. I have normally used Darkglass Alpha Omega / B7k / Microtubes for this with a good result, and did try the Alpha Omega Photon but it's simply too many features (don't need cab sim, no need for actual programmable presets...) - it felt a bit overkill. So! since the swap to Ashdown worked so well, I'm happy to step outside Darkglass and consider options? Wishlist/use I'll give the pedal: - Use of a clean channel with a different EQ to boost or change over the ABM 600 - Distortion, fuzz being a nice addition - despite being 'only' punk rock I do distort more in the metal territory, and we're just a trio so I have options to boost/fuzz over little solos or baselines etc. - Would love the ability to blend the clean and distortion signal... not absolutely critical but if not possible I want that sound that has plenty of definition, I use treble/tweeter quite a bit and don't want the opposite muddy blur, just. - ONE PEDAL! Nice to haves: - DI out, so that I can just take my pedal in the gigbag where the backline is provided/not allowed (we've gigs where some folk are fuzzy about bands bringing their own rigs... I always try bring mine but yeah) - Simple/decent compressor - I'm a one knob guy tbh so long as it's not too complicated, just to thicken up a bit but also I can EQ the clean to push that tone anyway. Shortlist so far...: - Ashdown Geezer Butler pedal of doom - I can use the clean by itself (pro) but the distortion/fuzz is one channel only (con) but both clean and distortion/fuzz can be used at the same time so maybe that could work...? - Barefaced Machinist - Seems like I could mix the clean to be engaged only with distortion and fuzz, rather than by itself (con) but I can do distortion and fuzz independently (pro) My budget would be up to £300 I'd want to say, can consider new but prefer second hand of course! Many, many thanks! Much as I've traded a million basses and changed amps, pedals is definitely not my forte so apologies if I'm asking for something that's right in front of me. Best, Ander.