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Topic: Bobro KILLER! |
Alex Cattaneo
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 14 Dec 2012 12:34 pm |
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I have been looking for an alternative to both the bobro and the Boss Ge-7 and found an awesome EQ pedal.
This has been discussed elsewhere, but the Bobro is basically a hacked GE-7, minus the controls. The GE-7 itself is noisy and not of very good quality. There are mod kits available from Monte Allums or AnalogMan, but unless you find one already modded or do the mod yourself, it's a hassle.
Enter the Source Audio Programmable EQ! Affordable, high quality and über flexible! I'm so happy I found this as I had reservations about all my other options. Now I can have a Dobro presets and 3 more programs with various settings, which can all contribute to an arsenal of tone. The pedal can also be used as clean boost for solos for example. Check out the reviews, I think this could be a great solution for steelers who are looking for a quality Dobro simulator. Got mine for 136$ shipped!
http://www.sourceaudio.net/products/toolblox/programmable_eq.php |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 15 Dec 2012 1:26 am
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I'm using a Danelectro EQ, and it actually sounds better than the Bo-Bro i had. $30.
_________________
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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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 15 Dec 2012 4:42 am
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| any chanch of posting how it sounds as a dobro... |
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Alex Cattaneo
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 15 Dec 2012 7:35 am
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Hey John, it's on my to do list. One of the nice things about this pedal is the number of presets: 4! Which means you could have one for the dobro sound, one for a different steel sound (I'm thinking something that sounds old-timey for western swing, let's call it a Stringmaster emulator), one for lapsteel and one for guitar. Lots of possibilities.
Richard, that price is hard to beat! I would have tried the Dano for sure, but didn't find one on Craigslist so I went all out. The pedal will serve other purposes and I have no doubt it will outperform everything out there, or so I tell myself to justify the purchase! |
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John Limbach
From:
Billings, Montana, USA
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Posted 15 Dec 2012 8:31 am
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| Appreciate it if you would post the settings for your presets once you finalize them. Will be a good starting point for the rest of us. |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 16 Dec 2012 9:18 am
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Interesting piece of gear. Actually the dobro slant isn't what attracts me to it. I'm playing pedal steel and six string electric through the same two amp setup and managing EQ is a problem. The EQ priority is for the steel since that gets used most. I started using a Boss GE7 on the six string output to shape EQ and get a clean boost but I'm not crazy about it. The presets on this unit sound like an excellent solution. And it offers a clean boost as well. The price is reasonable, especially compared to a rackmount parametric EQ unit which I have been thinking about.
This is fodder for a whole other thread but ideally what I'd like to see is Brad Sarno offer a two channel version of the Revelation preamp. The foot-switchable second channel would have EQ designed for lead guitar and offer the possibility of high quality overdriven tube sound for those of us who are back and forth between steel and sixstring all the time.
Until then this stomp box looks like a step up from the Boss EQ pedal at least. |
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Alex Cattaneo
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 16 Dec 2012 9:58 am
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| Bill is right, this pedal could be very useful in a multi-instrument set-up. I will definitely keep you guys in the loop. I should receive it next week and I'll do some recordings with different settings. |
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Micky Byrne
From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
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Posted 23 Dec 2012 6:53 am
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Hi John...firstly Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Re the Boss GE-7 ... I have an original "Match-bro" but got fed up with the Clamp to the steel leg breaking, so I got a Boss GE-7. I could now do a proper A/B test, and the tone is the same....now how to set the sliders on the GE-7. Put the 1st slider (left) all the way Down...next all the way up, next down etc etc...on the volume control just have it half way. I much prefer this to the Matchbro as it's easier to switch with your foot. You can also "slightly" adjust one of the sliders to a tone "you" like....always remember try to stay away from "Steel" licks! Pick "Hard" as you would on a regular Dobro....happy picking. I also have an old MXR graphic out of Noah's Ark...using the same settings it gives you that same Dobro tone. Cheers.
Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.
www.micky-byrne.co.uk |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 23 Dec 2012 7:25 am
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Any 7 band EQ with those settings will work. Not sure about a 6 or 10 band EQ as they have different frequency centers, but I assume it would probably work too. No need to spend hundreds when a $30 EQ will work the same. The only think I don't like about the Danelectro is the plastic body. But, I bought one of those clips to clip things to your guitar leg and glued it it onto the back so I have it "at hand" when I need it, and don't have to step on it. I couldn't put it on the floor as I have a rather large tube distortion pedal to the right of my volume pedal.
But I have to disagree with the "stay away from steel guitar licks". Several records have a Ped-a-Bro on them that have pedal sounds all over them. This recommendation always bothers me. I initially wanted the dobro simulator to get these Ped-a-Bro licks as I played a reso at the time. I rarely play bluegrass. But at times, YES, stay away from pedal steel licks. What you want to hear dictates which way you play the thing.
_________________
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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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 23 Dec 2012 9:39 am
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I have a Boss FX408 EQ pedal. Nothing I can do makes it sound like my MatchBro. I've tried many suggested settings.
Same way with the Profex II "MatchBro" setting, not as realistic. I was sent a "Tone" (Program) for the POD XT that was supposed to be a "dobro" emulator, it too wasn't close.
One of our steel guitar club members has a Bobro and he says its not as realistic as my MatchBro. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 23 Dec 2012 12:34 pm
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I had a Matchbro and a Bo-Bro at the same time for a while, and could not hear much difference in the two. I sold the Matchbro because it could get more money when I sold it and it was larger and harder to carry around (the Bo-Bro fit in my Pak-a-seat. The Matchbro didn't).
_________________
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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Micky Byrne
From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
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Posted 23 Dec 2012 3:03 pm
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Richard, I see what you're getting at...yep I know some of the songs that got the Ped/bro going....Like Randy Travis's "For ever and ever amen" and many others. I "Try" not to use Pedals, but admit that I do use them, what I then try to do is use a heavier vibrato. I had a Marr's Cat can some years ago and spoke on the phone to the late Duane Marr's who's creation that was, and he suggested to pick heavy and more vibrato. We can only "try" to simulate a Dobro. With a pedal or Matchbro, it makes life a little easier. One guitar less to set up, and we all know how hard it is to amplify a Dobro 
Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.
www.micky-byrne.co.uk |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 4 Jan 2013 8:57 am
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| So, Alex, have you had a chance to evaluate this EQ pedal? I'm curious as to how it stacks up. And as I mentioned, the dobro aspect is of secondary importance to me. I'm more interested in how good it is at providing clean boost and good EQ presets for six string Tele sounds in particular. Whether or not it is noisy is a concern also. Hope to hear your review of the unit soon. |
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Alex Cattaneo
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 4 Jan 2013 3:27 pm
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Hi Bill.
The pedal sounds amazing. It is really REALLY quiet and clean. As a clean boost, it's fantastic. As a dobro simulator, I'm guessing it's as good or better than the bo-bro/boss pedal. I've read that the bobro is really noisy but this one is dead quiet BEFORE or AFTER the volume pedal. I used it on a gig last Saturday, and while it's hard to tell how close it comes to an actual Dobro since I don't play one, it gave me an enjoyable tonal option. Also, I guess it's important to play dobro-style licks if you want to emulate that sound. When I use the dobro simulator, I try to avoid pedals and levers, that type of thing.
To me it works very well as a dobro sim and then I have 3 more presets that I can use for electric guitar or to get another type of sound. In fact, Iw as going to ask Brad Sarno and other guys to describe how single coil and humbuckers perform EQ-wise, to perhaps use the pedal as a single-coil simulator.
So, in short, yes, it sounds really good and it's as clean and quiet as can be. The user's guide says it has 56-bit processing and 24-bit converters and it truly sounds crystal clear, with zero noise. |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 4 Jan 2013 6:41 pm
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| Thanks for the update Alex, glad to hear the pedal is working out. Based on this news it has climbed right to the top of my 'gear wanted' list. Foot controlled EQ presets in a compact package...great idea! And if it does it well for under $200 it has to be a winner. |
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