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Topic: Fuzz, Dirt, etc. |
Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 29 Oct 2015 1:14 pm |
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My signature shows most of the pedals I own, though I don't get to use all of them with any bands I work with.
Nonetheless, I always bring a small "dirt board", which has a couple overdrives and fuzz pedals.
I simply have to mention a real favorite of mine:
Retro Mechanical Labs http://www.rmlfx.com/.
Johnathan makes some fabulous looking pedals, with vintage (or not) meters, wood boxes (with or without a lid) and fine retro graphics.
I have the Electron Fuzz Custom (Retro), MIG, and 432k Distortion Box units.
I just got the last Electron Fuzz in a small enclosure (doesn't have the Feedback knob), and it will now have a permanent space on my small "dirt board".
You like aesthetics?
RML pedals have that in spades.
You want thick, versatile, LOUD (if you need it) fuzz?
RML pedals have that in spades.
No, I'm not an official "endorser" of RML (if that even exists), I'm just a steeler who uses dirt regularly, and wanted others to know about this brand.
Not all dirt pedals that I've tried work particularly well with pedal steel, but RML pedals definitely do. The amount of volume and gain these puppies have is amazing, and they just plain sound GREAT!
My tuppence on dirt.
_________________
1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 29 Oct 2015 1:19 pm
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Wow. There are almost as many steelers in Columbus as Nashville...
That's good to know. I know I've been able to get all the sounds I need from the combination of the Sparkle Drive and a Buzz Tone.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 29 Oct 2015 1:29 pm
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Well, I'm actually up in the Cleveland area, Lane.
I believe there are indeed a number of steelers in the Columbus area; I tried to see how many of us are in the Northeast Ohio region, but I don't think everyone in that area responded, or are on the Forum.
_________________
1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 29 Oct 2015 1:37 pm
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| Every day another dirt pedal turns my head. I've got some nice ones (and I am virtually incapable of selling anything so they are piling up). I think that I am done....possibly laughable words but I know damned well that I can get any sound I can imagine with what I've got. But as my playing evolves there's always something else that turns my head. |
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Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 29 Oct 2015 1:41 pm
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True enough, Jon. WAY too many options to even consider.
I was just greatly impressed with RML, and thought I'd share my take.
What did Frank Zappa say: "shut up and play yer guitar"? Too much energy and too many words are spent on things that simply won't improve a player; these things are just tools, and I think RML is an exceptional tool builder.
_________________
1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
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Daniel Policarpo
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Posted 30 Oct 2015 11:48 am
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Their stuff looks really slick, Dan. I am really interested in the JEKYLL N HYDE DUAL FILTER BOX. I have a soft spot for little builders who put out aesthetically pleasing, as well as sonically interesting devices like this.
Never heard of RML before, but before I do another recording project I think I may be giving them a call.
Appreciate the heads up! |
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Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 30 Oct 2015 12:23 pm
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Sure thing, Daniel.
I didn't opt for the Jekyll and Hyde, and that seems to get into really synthy sounds, of which I'm not fond. I'd bet the farm that it's still a fabulous device. Johnathan says his pedals are in wood boxes in part because they can be free-standing in a studio, but they fit on a board, height dependent.
_________________
1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
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Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2015 12:21 pm
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I ran across another fuzz pedal, which has been on my board for months now. Very large range of sounds, based on a Big Muff, and the gate switch and knob make it even better.
http://stonedeaffx.com/fig-fumb.html
One problem I've encountered using heavy fuzz with pedal steel is the feedback. The Fig Fumb (can you find "big muff" in there?) has a large range of settings, and since it doesn't have a dedicated volume knob, the ability to set a gate is really handy and is more versatile than just turning down the volume.
Nice.
_________________
1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 31 Oct 2015 1:27 pm
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What is the purpose of the meter? Monitoring DC volts? Is that really necessary? Must be a good reason he put one in.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Cartwright Thompson
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Posted 31 Oct 2015 1:44 pm
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| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
| What is the purpose of the meter? Monitoring DC volts? Is that really necessary? Must be a good reason he put one in. |
It's called marketing. |
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John Booth
From:
Columbus Ohio, USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2015 2:07 pm
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| Lane Gray wrote: |
| Wow. There are almost as many steelers in Columbus as Nashville... |
O H -
_________________
Jb in Ohio
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GFI S10 Ultra, Telecaster, a Hound Dog, and an Annoyed Wife
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 31 Oct 2015 4:09 pm
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My bad. I'd been thinking Westlake was a Columbus suburb. Don't tell my dad...
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 31 Oct 2015 4:26 pm
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| Cartwright Thompson wrote: |
| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
| What is the purpose of the meter? Monitoring DC volts? Is that really necessary? Must be a good reason he put one in. |
It's called marketing. |
Ah! It looks cool.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2015 4:47 pm
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RML offers a vintage or a newer meter. One lights up and is active, one isn't active.
It naturally has no real function; it's just part of the whole retro thing.
Here's a fuzz unit in a really retro box - an old military phone!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBRgmI0I8Og
If it were just that RML pedals looked cool, that wouldn't justify having them. But the sounds....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMxq7zM7r5c
And as for volume, yer talkin' loud at 10%! Huge gain on tap.
Not everyone's cup of tea, but for those who want more than the basics, these things are great.
_________________
1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 1 Nov 2015 6:18 am
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I think that one needs to have an appreciation of the steam punk aesthetic (and philosophy, if there is one) to 'get' what he's doing here. I won't pass judgment on anyone wants to add some totally irrelevant fun to the tools. Same as guitars with embedded compasses and odd objects. It appeals to your sensibilities or it doesn't.
Bottom line of this review is that it sounds great.
Of my dirt choices, I use fuzz the least. It is such a specific thing, vs. OD working in the 'tube distortion, overdriven amp' range. I have an EH Big Muff/wicker that has a bunch of tweakability and I've never had the urge to look beyond it for my limited fuzz needs.
Now that I think of it, I do have a little VU meter from an old cassette deck that I could crazy glue to the face of the Muff. Whoa! |
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Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 1 Nov 2015 9:51 am
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Yes, I typically use overdrive more than fuzz as well, Jon.
I really like what Fairfield Circuitry does with their pedals. I often use this one, drive down/sag up, for a little grit, but it can get a bit atypical (all FC pedals are a bit off-center): http://fairfieldcircuitry.com/collections/effect-pedals/products/the-barbershop
The other overdrive I like is from Pigtronix:
http://proguitarshop.com/pigtronix-polysaturator-distortion-pedal.html
Very tweakable, light to heavy OD, but the builder's page says it's discontinued.
Both of these are great for pedal steel.
_________________
1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
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