The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Other Equipment: 2008 Dirt Box Shootout...

2008 Dirt Box Shootout...

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- Rated: 41 ↑
Jul 24, 2008 12:31 a.m. J(esse James)D:

Wish I could, but I'm not set up for recording at this time.

Prot, I love your "shootouts". They've been very helpful, but......

The problem with shootouts, besides the "tone is subjective" thing, is that I've had pedals that sounded like hell with one guitar/amp combination, and absolutely "killer" with a different guitar/amp combo.

Some amps like single coils better, some pedals like buckers.

That being said, these shootouts are cool, and a better "guide" than just reading about them before a purchase.

I'm still "looking" for that "special" dirt pedal. The TT just didn't "do it" for me.

This will be interesting again
- Rated: 30 ↑
Jul 25, 2008 8:26 p.m. Wishinfora(nother)Falcon:

Do something with P-90s PLEASE!!
- Rated: 212 ↑
Jul 25, 2008 9:07 p.m. Proteus:

OK, it's actually pretty easy to do multiple AMPS too, once each part is in the looper. What, something Fendery and something Voxy? (The Peavey Classic 30 is as close as I get.)

P90s. Alrighty. We want a 6120 w/Filters, presumably something with Dynas, a Tele, and something with P90s. Casino? Wildkat? Mahogany slab rocker? What's most representative?

If I keep the bits short, just a few measures of quiet chords, ramping up to rockin' rhythm, ending with a long sustained chord to hear the decay - then a few measures of lead from light touch to raked with a brick...is that enough to get a sense of the tone?

I suppose I can do that on three or four guitars. Then the looper can play the bit back through each of the pedals. At three pedal settings each (as invisible as possible to show transparency, moderate grit, and full-on) – into two different amps.

A Dano Transparent Overdrive will be here as well. So in case anyone's keeping track (I barely am), I think it's now an 11-pedal shootout. It's turning into OK Corral.

• Boss BD2 w/JB mod
• Boss BD2 w/Keeley mod
• Tim
• Digi Bad Monkey
• Digi Screaming Blues
• Dano Trans Overdrive
• Boss DS1 w/JB mod
• Seymour Duncan TwinTube Classic
• Barber Tone Pump
• Banzai Cold Fusion
• Pigtronix Disnortion

So. 11 pedals x 3 settings x 4 guitars x 2 amps. That's...264 sound clips! And 33 pics (to show each of the pedals at 3 different settings).

This is really starting to appeal to me. I'll have to put it in a database.
- Rated: 19 ↑
Jul 25, 2008 9:47 p.m. TyPierce:

You haven't even plugged in, and we already appreciate what you're doing, Proteus! The Eternal Question of "which dirt box is right for me" may even outpace "which Gretsch?" as the most frequent interpersonal debate on these pages, so you're doing us all a great service.

And glad to see my personal favorite - the Digitech Screamin' Blues - is making the cut!

Shaping up to be quite the event...
- Rated: 40 ↑
Jul 25, 2008 10:30 p.m. roadjunkie:

Glutton for punishment thar' bud! I'd think I'd scale that back a lil' bit!
- Rated: 15 ↑
Jul 26, 2008 1:52 p.m. AndyJ:

Proteus, you are truly " The Hardest Working Man in Show Business". Many thanks for the services you provide.
- Rated: 20 ↑
Jul 27, 2008 1:57 p.m. TwangOmatic:

Im glad it appeals to you Proteus because it sounds like a lot of work to me. Im personaly leaning toward the wildcat for p-90's but since we have alot of beatle's fans maybe the casino would be be the way to go.
- Rated: 59 ↑
Jul 27, 2008 2:06 p.m. Bear:

I can settle this a lot easier... The world's favorite DIRT BOX = BRITNEY SPEARS... Done!

Proteus, forget the shootout, let's go get a cold one.
- Rated: 0 ↑
Jul 29, 2008 7:35 a.m. guitar360:

Proteus, I got lost after like the second pedal but I am still along for the ride. Looking forward to seeing how this pans out.

Just joined the GDP so no words of wisdom from me. I did just hear a great set-up from the guitarist for Matthew Ryan who was playing a Jet, to a Fulltone Overdrive, to a Vox ac15...wow, great sound.

Best of luck on your journey...we are standing by.
- Rated: 20 ↑
Jul 31, 2008 4:34 p.m. TwangOmatic:

Proteus check your email if your around.
- Rated: 212 ↑
Aug 17, 2008 7:47 p.m. Proteus:

Overdue Update

The last pedal (Pigtronix Disnortion) has finally arrived. My apologies to those who have lent pedals to this project.

So-called real life has intervened and delayed the shootout ... but I expect to start on it tomorrow.

OK?
- Rated: 40 ↑
Aug 17, 2008 8:07 p.m. roadjunkie:

All is cool in the world Bud! giterdone!
- Rated: 31 ↑
Aug 17, 2008 8:29 p.m. do not be afraid:

i'll be looking forward to hearing this! i've basically ignored effects my whole guitar playing life (which hasn't really been that long), but today i had some fun messing around at Guitar Center, and walked out of there with two pedals (only one of which i had planned on earlier!), and have gotten GAS for a few more! eek! i hope i don't turn into The Edge… i'm not sure if “overdrive” pedals really suit anything i play, though…
- Rated: 40 ↑
Aug 17, 2008 8:50 p.m. roadjunkie:

You would probably be happier with a clean boost then an overdrive pedal. Something that just amps it up rather then color it. For the most part I just plug straight in but there's plenty of pedals laying around here.
- Rated: 31 ↑
Aug 17, 2008 9:14 p.m. do not be afraid:

well, one of the two pedals i walked out with was this:

so...

but, yeah, for most things i play i don't really need any kind of boost/overdrive/distortion/fuzz whatever, and when i do a clean boost probably would work best, but sometimes… well, let's just say that the part of me who wrote this is real happy today! he still wants an SG, though…
- Rated: 42 ↑
Aug 19, 2008 1:37 p.m. seadevil:

The Blackstone Appliances Mosfet overdrive is the best unit of this type to my ears. Its name may turn some folks off, since it doesn't say that it's trying to sound like a tube unit, but it's one of the only overdrives that (IMO) sometimes sounds better than no pedals at all.

Of the ones you're testing, though, I'm willing to bet that the Barber finishes at or near the top. I've never heard it, but their Launch Pad (clean boost) is magnificent.
- Rated: 20 ↑
Sep 24, 2008 11:34 a.m. TwangOmatic:

I just got an mxr distortion+ reissue and it's quite the thing, quite noisey but surprisingly articulate for such a fuzzy pedal. I can see why some people wouldn't like it as it's definitely not a one box solution but it's quite different than anything ive heard and im glad to add it to my collection of noisemakers. It seems to sound like a cross between fuzz and power tube distortion with very little in the way of that sharp preamp distortion.
- Rated: 212 ↑
Sep 24, 2008 11:42 a.m. Proteus:

BY the way...the first installment of the Shootout is I-swar-tew-gawd coming VERY soon. And it's big, man.
- Rated: 48 ↑
Sep 24, 2008 12:52 p.m. dmanlow:

Can't wait, man.
- Rated: 16 ↑
Sep 24, 2008 1:53 p.m. Gigatron:

I think the last time I tried a fuzz box was in 1971. The only one I want is the one that sounds like this.
- Rated: 212 ↑
Sep 24, 2008 3:07 p.m. Proteus:

Yeah! And why isn't IB in the R&R HoF? I'd say they were as influential as early Black Sabbath, and probably better musicians...