Recent posts

#71

Open Discussion / Help me hone my pedal chain…

Last post by greysun - August 27, 2025, 10:39:43 PM

Hi all!

I am... struggling a touch. Hoping y'all can provide some insight and maybe a direction that works for me.

I have probably 20 madbean builds laying around (some are doubles). I love the way they sound and work, and have even tested them up against their, uhhh... official relatives. ;-) and always find they're the real deal.

Sonically, I always fall in love with fuzz bands - stoner metal, pumpkins, the actual band Fuzz - but I play and write with more open chords and picking than fuzz pedals typically play nice with - bob mould, hey Mercedes, japandroids.

I hear bands like Open Hand or Lo-Pan that are able to find that good sweet spot between sort of a fuzz and distortion that allows for a good powerchord chug AND an open chord with some articulation without sounding too metal or sizzle-y.

I've got a greenbean (tube screamer), several mudbunny iterations (big muffs), slow loris (rat), egghead (Clark gainster), cherry bomb (coloursound overdriver) - as well as a simple clean boost and a 6 band EQ. They're going into a JTM 45 that is so bass-y, I usually just run my bridge pickup into it. (I also have a zombii (fuzz factory) from way back, but I've never been able to figure that thing out fully). Pickups are usually Novak or lollar jazzmaster humbuckers.

The tubescreamer can get me halfway there, but once I crank it up it's not playing nice with the other pedals - the rat is awesome, but extremely sizzle-y and cuts bass. The egghead is great for a low-key overdrive tone when I need it - the big muff is... well, it's a big muff and perhaps too hard to tame.

I don't know - anything anyone's got will help - all part of the process I guess. Perhaps I'm missing something that tames some of the myriad nuances - filters, compression? I dunno... any help is appreciated. :-) Thanks in advance!

#72

Open Discussion / Re: Let's talk guitar straps

Last post by greysun - August 27, 2025, 10:22:31 PM

I thought for the longest time that I would hate them, but I got a souldier strap for Xmas one year and then just bought one for each of my guitars - it's car seatbelt material that's embellished a bit - really smooth, hasn't frayed on me, and it's nice and long. Could never deal with a pad cause it would bunch up my clothes, leather straps did the same thing, and the traditional cheap and rough nylon of many other brands wasn't cutting it. It's definitely a preference, but the souldier material is great and smooth.

#73

VFE Projects / Re: VFE Projects FAQ

Last post by bricksnchips0001 - August 27, 2025, 05:31:51 AM

Awesome site,

When would the next batch of Choral Reef be released?

Cheers

I just got the SPS version in a few days ago. But, I need to build it up and create new docs for it. Don't have a date but pretty soon.

Hello again,

I hope everything is well. I haven't checked in a while. Am I too late for the next Choral Reef batch?

Thanks,

#74

Open Discussion / Re: Let's talk guitar straps

Last post by TNblueshawk - August 26, 2025, 01:33:19 PM

Couch guitar straps for me! I love mine but I dont know if they offer a padded version. I also have a Couch wallet and pick holder attached to my car keys. I'm a fan.

How about the dog leash? 

I had to Google as I was not familiar. Lots of products actually. Looks good.

#75

Open Discussion / Re: Let's talk guitar straps

Last post by jimilee - August 21, 2025, 03:34:44 PM

Couch guitar straps for me! I love mine but I dont know if they offer a padded version. I also have a Couch wallet and pick holder attached to my car keys. I'm a fan.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

#76

Open Discussion / Re: Let's talk guitar straps

Last post by madbean - August 21, 2025, 02:38:53 AM

Couch guitar straps for me! I love mine but I dont know if they offer a padded version. I also have a Couch wallet and pick holder attached to my car keys. I'm a fan.

#77

Build Reports / Re: Original Gaspedals Dumbbel...

Last post by jessenator - August 20, 2025, 04:43:14 AM

But what do you do if you suddenly want a little more out of it? Bend over and adjust the gain control in the middle of a song?
Yep.

Could do a second switched setting like one does with a muff? Not advocating one over the other  just thinking out loud.




But the dumbell seems neat to be able to do that so simply, kind of like a pseudo second channel with the boost switch.

#78

Build Reports / Re: Original Gaspedals Dumbbel...

Last post by lars - August 20, 2025, 02:19:22 AM

How does this compare to something like a BJFe Honey Bee? Different circuits obviously, but as far as sound and function.

I've never tried a Honey Bee overdrive, but just from what I've read, there may be some similarities to what they're trying to accomplish. The real appeal to me with the single knob Dumbbell is the simplicity of control, and the awesome boost footswitch. That gives you two overdrives in one pedalboard space. The Honey Bee probably sounds fantastic. But what do you do if you suddenly want a little more out of it? Bend over and adjust the gain control in the middle of a song?
Yep.

What about the other two knobs?

Those were no doubt added in the V2 Dumbbell pedals because people always want more knobs. Having a gain knob kind of defeats the purpose of the boost switch. The whole point is to have a pedal that you control with your feet, not your fingers. And does anybody really fiddle with a tone knob all the time? ("let me bend over and adjust the tone before my solo!") No, you set them and forget them.

#79

Open Discussion / Re: Let's talk guitar straps

Last post by TNblueshawk - August 19, 2025, 02:33:28 PM

I ended buying from Red Monkey. I splurged but I did say it was for my birthday coming up.

I also bought some Rok Lok strap locks. Put them on my acoustic strap. Pretty convenient.

#80

Build Reports / Re: Original Gaspedals Dumbbel...

Last post by JackSkellington - August 17, 2025, 07:34:54 AM

Great!
But I have a question. What about the other two knobs? I guess the only one knob is the final master volume. I can't find the single version schematic either.