I had GODLY TONE last night!!!! (long post)

[TwilightOdyssey]

Last night was rehearsal, and I did something a bit different.

I was playing my Miracle Man/Irish Tour equipped TOC guitar, going thru a HomeBrew Electronics Big D overdrive (diode #4 selected), then going into a Diezel VH-4. I was using Channel 2 (mild overdrive) the whole night.

What I did differently was this: I put my HBE Dos Mos dual volume pedal in front of the Big D. I was trying to experiment with a very mild boost so that when I went to the Irish Tour for clean work, there would be no volume loss.

Well, after a bit of experimenting, I ended up setting Preamp 1 up as a BUFFER, and turned the volume up to 1 o'clock, and ... W H O A !!!!. You would not BELIEVE the improvement it made to my tone!!!

Okay, first things first --

On high gain setting:
Having the buffer in front of the Big D seemed to bring out everything I love in the Miracle Man, and then some ... the tone I got was a bit more rounded, but had greater depth. There was no real overall volume boost from the Miracle Man.

What did I gain? The Miracle Man was RAGING; rhythm work had a great chunk, and the natural compresssion of the pickup was enhanced. I would say that it made the Big D sound a bit more valve-like, too. Pinch harmonics were effortless. I had no trouble pulling off some of Lynch's pinch harmonic laden lead work from Back For The Attack. Single note harmony lines were robust and beefy, withought sounding bloated or tubby.

On clean settings:
When I turned the Big D off and went to the Irish Tour, the buffer gave me zero volume drop; in fact, it may have been a bit louder, subjectively speaking. Both the melodic lines and chord work sounded so clear and bell like, but with that classic IT attack that had me smiling the whole time. When I picked very hard, the amp began to go into the mildest plexi-like break up that was a JOY to listen to.

FYI, I am not a fan of Diezel amps; they sound much too modern for me. But using the Dos Mos in the buffer position, along with the Big D, brought my tone right back to 1982; imagine if Holy Diver had more gain, or if vintage Helloween didn't have so much reverb, and you will get the idea.

Anyway, if any of you have the opportunity to try out a similar setup (buffer > OD> amp), I highly recommend it!! And yes, I realize that $500 in pedals may not be within reach for many of you, but if you already have an OD pedal as well as a buffer, you should try it out!!!

[HJM]

That's the ultra high input impedance, removes load on the pups so you hear lots of detail that was lost - it's a great trick! I've just got my Dosmos from Joel, also got a scratch n dent Zvex SHO from zvex - I think I prefer the zvex with the Big D and marshall JCM but the Dosmos with my Fender Super...although the Dosmos is a different pedal at gig volume. Both are very good though, and the service from both companies was excellent.

[TwilightOdyssey]

So, do any of you amp and effect gurus know why this would make the tone so godly?? (HJM, I'm looking at you!!)

{edit} LOL, HJM, figured you would chime in. Let's see if what Joel says agrees with you!

Since you have the combo, definitely try it out, man!

[HJM]

I guess it's down to balancing impedance within the system - your source impedance should always be lower than the destination. Impedance mismatching is a tone killer in all audio - the buffer presents no load on the pups, and the low output impedence from the Dosmos is ideal going into the Big D etc.

Also your cable will have less effect on the tone with a buffer first.

Bradshaw and Cornish use buffers in their rack systems for this reason, it allows each componet to work to it's full potential, removing the electrical interaction between stages.

The Dosmos isn't quite flat according to Joel - I recall a slight low end hump, coupl e of dBs, so that will be some of what you're hearing.

As to why it takes you back to 1982, I can't say, perhaps a bizzare TARDIS phenomenon :lol:

[TwilightOdyssey]

LOL ... thorough explanation!!! Thanx!

Hmmm, but lacking a spaceship, I dunno about TARDIS!

[Rainmaker]

Buffer? Can you please elaborate what that means, practical effect, etc.

[donbarzini]

Would a Keeley Time Machine Boost act the same as the Dos Mos in the same situation before the OD pedal?

[Johnny Mac]

Sounds cool Ben! Do you reckon you could do a quick clip to show the differences? :)

[HJM]

A Buffer is a circuit that matches one piece of equipment to another. It acts to isolate them is an easy way to think of it.

Also sometimes called a line driver in effects speak

Have a look at

http://www.petecornish.co.uk/case_against_true_bypass.html

this man knows his onions

[HJM]

Oh the Time Machine - that doesn't have  a flat boost option like the Dosmos or SHO, so it will colour the tone, it may sound good though!

[Ratrod]

If I were rich, I'd fly to New York for your next rehearsal to hear this Godly tone of yours. MP3's just don't cut it.

[TwilightOdyssey]

If I were rich, I'd fly to New York for your next rehearsal to hear this Godly tone of yours. MP3's just don't cut it.

I agree, it would be very hard to capture. I'm thinking about doing a higher quality recording, tho. Still not the same ... :(

[chrisola]

This thread is USELESS WITHOUT CLIPS MAN 8)

[Johnny Mac]

This thread is USELESS WITHOUT CLIPS MAN 8)

Here Here!

I could hear the differences on your Video clip Ben. You could do a higer quality MP3, one of your usual tone and one of Godly Tone ( I like that term!) I'm after a few H.B.E pedals myself.

Read a reveiw on the compressor and the mag absolutley loved it!

[TwilightOdyssey]

I could hear the differences on your Video clip Ben. You could do a higer quality MP3, one of your usual tone and one of Godly Tone ( I like that term!) I'm after a few H.B.E pedals myself.

Read a reveiw on the compressor and the mag absolutley loved it!

I'll see what I can do, John.
I have a CPR compressor on its way to me right now, in fact. :)
Watch this space for details!