Grateful Dead Music Forum

HeadSpace wrote:Never could get a distortion plus circuit to sound right--I tried both the Whirlwind Gold Box, which is allegedly the same as the MXR script version (though I have some doubts) and also a build-your-own-clone version. Both were fine pedals, but neither sounded like Jerry's did to me. Perhaps I was using them wrong.

Same here with my BYOC Dist+- until last night. Always too rough and thin at the same time, couldn't turn it up past 2 or 3, too fuzz-like. Last night I tried pushing it with my Mythical Overdrive (Klon clone) and it got all musical and full. Sounded good! That got me wondering if it has anything to do with the old concept of Jerry playing at Dead stage volumes and pushing things to the edge of breakup (or as close to breakup as he could get with his rig). Most likely quantum physics involved...

TI4-1009 wrote:

HeadSpace wrote:Never could get a distortion plus circuit to sound right--I tried both the Whirlwind Gold Box, which is allegedly the same as the MXR script version (though I have some doubts) and also a build-your-own-clone version. Both were fine pedals, but neither sounded like Jerry's did to me. Perhaps I was using them wrong.

Same here with my BYOC Dist+- until last night. Always too rough and thin at the same time, couldn't turn it up past 2 or 3, too fuzz-like.

Exactly! Too rough and fuzz-like. Sometime when I'm messing around I will try cranking a boost into it. Thanks for the tip!

tcsned wrote:I go Scarlet Fire Wolf/milobender Tele --> Boss Hyper Fuzz --> Whirlwind Gold Box --> Boss MT2 -- T-Rex Dr Swamp --> Earth Drive --> SMS --> MC2100 --> Beyma Liberty 2x12 (Hogan cab). I rarely use anything other than the Dr Swamp and Earth Drive. Oh, and there's all the other effects too.

That Dr. Swamp does sound good!

john in san diego

hippieguy1954 wrote:Since this pic was taken, I moved the micro amp to where the Earth Drive was and put the Earth Drive where the Micro amp was. Much better to drive the Earth Drive or the Whirlwind Gold box when needed/wanted.

So do you go Micro Amp-->Whirlwind Goldbox-->Earth Drive or Micro Amp-->Earth Drive-->Whirlwind Goldbox?

john in san diego

Yes, Micro Amp-->Whirlwind Goldbox-->Earth drive.

Here is a photo of the recent set up I've been using for several months and I'll probably keep it like this. Sounds the best to me either using all three of the mentioned pedals at the same time or separately or any combination of any two of the three.

Tcsend. You just had to mention the Scarlet Fire Wolf!

As for the Dist +
Try changing the clipping diodes to silicon. It will Make the pedal mucho usable, and give a great light dirty grit at low settings!

Thanks for the tip Searing, I might try that. But if you look at the boards on the early Dist+ they did have geranium diodes. I wonder if the very early 741 op amps made a big difference?

Yes. the originals have germanium diodes. I am saying remove them and put in Silicon diodes. It's great, and sounds very much like a Mac breakup at low settings. Kinda like the Earth Drive.

FoxRox Octron (occasional use as octave-up fuzz boost instead of octave-down)-> Boss DS-1 Distortion w/ Keeley LED mod -> Danelectro CTO-1 Cool Cat Transparent Overdrive ("Timmy lawsuit" version)

Jim/Hippieguy1954,

What is the loop device in the front center and how does it connect all your pedals?

Edit: nevermind, Loop-Master, figured it out and googled. thanks.

flyingheelhook wrote:Jim/Hippieguy1954,

What is the loop device in the front center and how does it connect all your pedals?

Edit: nevermind, Loop-Master, figured it out and googled. thanks.

Yes, exactly! It works great and makes a huge difference especially in conjunction with the OBEL.
Unless things have changed, the wait time was over 6 months when I looked into getting one back around March. I was lucky to find a used one.
You will pay the same price for a used one (if you can find it) as a new one, but you will get it fast. Just in case you're thinkin about it.

I have a lot of different things that I swap out. Right now, I have the following in the chain:

Lehle Sunday Driver: this is an "always on" box that plays the role that the blaster / unity gain buffer devices a lot of people have. In particular, I've found it adds just the right drive into my Tru-Tron EF.

Fulltone Fat Boost: a great clean FET boost that stacks well, and can push my SMS preamp just to the verge of breakup if I dig in with my attack.

Rockett Blue Note: this a wonderful low gain OD that has a very warm "woody" quality to it. Also stacks well.

Rockett Archer: just got this a couple of weeks ago - it is a new Klon Centuar clone, and I'm really loving it. If you're unfamiliar with the Klon, I'd characterize it as more of a boost than an OD, but you can definitely get some growl if you crank it up. I'm using mine with the gain around 12:00. It adds a really nice thickness (some people say it is almost like adding another cab), and I can get some really nice fat early 80's type tones.

I've got tons of other "clean" dirt pedals, and a couple of more high gain ones that I use from time to time. Some notable ones are an MXR Micro Amp (I had a very well-worn one from the 70's, stayed on my board for about a decade), A Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive (basically a Tube Screamer clone that allows you to mix some clean signal in) and a Fulltone '69 Fuzz.