Author Topic: Crunch Box vs Thunderchief (Read 7208 times)

_tom_ · « **on:** August 27, 2006, 10:07:30 AM »

I'm kinda getting bored of the sound of my Behringer overdrive now, its too compressed and makes my guitar sound kinda fake and boxy. So I'm hoping if I do some jobs round the house and sell some old gear I'll have enough for a new pedal :) I've read that the Crunch Box is basically one of the best Marshall-in-a-box style pedals which sounds perfect for me. However I found this "build your own" style pedal called the Thunderchief which sounds like it does the Marshall sound quite well too and is quite a bit cheaper than the Crunch Box. Heres a link to the place with clips and kits for making it - http://www.olcircuits.com/olckits.html

The only thing I'm thinking is that it might be hard to make for a first time builder? Heres a site with the schematic etc (also has another clip which sounds great) - http://www.runoffgroove.com/thunderchief.html

I've wired up a strat pickguard assembly from scratch which worked perfect first time so I'm not totally useless with electronics/soldering I guess :P Just not really sure what to do!

Cheers for any help/advice

Kilby · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2006, 10:55:52 AM »

Anything designed by the guys at the runoffgroove site is pretty good, though I would go with something slightly simpler for a first build. It's not that theyre hard builds by any means but its better to do your inital learning in the simplest circuit possible, something like the sili-iface, ruby or peppermill.

For their circuits I would also recomend a decent multi meter as you have to play with the trim pots a bit. Their other site http://www.home-wrecker.com/ less amp sim based.

Rob...

Oh yeah don't rely on Maplin or any other small supplier to have the J201 Fets in stock, Farnell are your best option but it's 10 quid minimum order these days.

_tom_ · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2006, 11:00:09 AM »

Ok cool cheers.. After comparing the clips of the CB and Thunderchief I think the CB does actually sound better.. maybe I should do something simple for the first build like a treble booster then, the BYOC kits look pretty good as well.

Kilby · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2006, 11:22:15 AM »

If you are into EVH I would also suggest looking at the BSIAB (brown sound in a box).

Rob...

_tom_ · « **Reply #4 on:** August 27, 2006, 12:36:38 PM »

See I heard the clips for that and thought it sounded a bit dull but then again I guess if you make the pedal yourself you can tweak it a bit.

Edit - Actually just went onto the site and heard this clip http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/sounds/bsiab2_scottosan2.mp3 sounds pretty good to me. You reckon that'd be easier to build than the thunderchief?

Kilby · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2006, 01:40:12 PM »

To me the BSIAB would probably be better becasue theres is more information about it out there and most of the 'wierdness' you can encounter has already been dealt with. Help is very much at hand from this site http://www.diystompboxes.com/wb/.

Do a web search there is a lot of info out there. I would also suggest buying a pre etched PCB as it makes life easier.

Soundwise they both sound great (once tweaked). The BSIAB is on version 3, but I prefer the older versions (typical of me I suppose).

If you havn't built a pedal before I would sugest the BSIAB is a good 2nd or 3rd build.

Rob...

_tom_ · « **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2006, 05:25:50 PM »

Quote from: Kilby

To me the BSIAB would probably be better becasue theres is more information about it out there and most of the 'wierdness' you can encounter has already been dealt with. Help is very much at hand from this site http://www.diystompboxes.com/wb/.

Do a web search there is a lot of info out there. I would also suggest buying a pre etched PCB as it makes life easier.

Soundwise they both sound great (once tweaked). The BSIAB is on version 3, but I prefer the older versions (typical of me I suppose).

If you havn't built a pedal before I would sugest the BSIAB is a good 2nd or 3rd build.

Rob...

Ok cool cheers. I just realised you can buy the BSIAB2 from that site ready made instead of building it.. I might just do that instead :lol: Do you actually have one of these kilby? If so does it do lower gain Marshall style sounds as well, such as Zeppelin live tones?

Cheers

Kilby · « **Reply #7 on:** August 27, 2006, 05:44:40 PM »

Unfortunitely I don't it was on my to build list, but Iv'e been stuck working in london, and having a Belfast accent and buying electronic componants still causes problems in the 21st Century :(

Ask the guys in diystompboxes theyre very friendly indeed.

Rob...

_tom_ · « **Reply #8 on:** August 27, 2006, 05:48:31 PM »

haha ok cool. Cheers for the help.

JJretroTONEGOD · « **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2006, 09:40:05 PM »

just get a keeley Boss DS1 Ultra mod pedal from the site. It's designed to replicate a marshall plexi 100 watt amp, and the Keeley modded BOss SD1 is also brilliant! www.robertkeeley.com the man's a genius.

_tom_ · « **Reply #10 on:** August 30, 2006, 09:42:04 PM »

Quote from: JJretroTONEGOD

just get a keeley Boss DS1 Ultra mod pedal from the site. It's designed to replicate a marshall plexi 100 watt amp,

I didnt know that.. I've read a lot of good stuff about stock DS-1 aswell. Going to the guitar shop tomorrow so I'll see if I can try out at least a stock DS-1 to see if I like its base tone, not sure how much different the Keeley mod might be.

gingataff · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2006, 05:34:43 AM »

Be carful with the DS-1's tone control, its basically a bass/treble cut so if you put it full up it'll sound horrible! best to keep it around 12 o'clock and then adjust to taste, many people say they hate the sound of a DS-1 but I think thats mostly cos they don't use the tone control properly, either that or they just hate the DS-1 :D

Personally I love it.

_tom_ · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2006, 03:59:05 PM »

Quote from: gingataff

Be carful with the DS-1's tone control, its basically a bass/treble cut so if you put it full up it'll sound horrible! best to keep it around 12 o'clock and then adjust to taste, many people say they hate the sound of a DS-1 but I think thats mostly cos they don't use the tone control properly, either that or they just hate the DS-1 :D

Personally I love it.

Do you reckon (into a cleanish Fender valve amp) I could get a kinda Dio Holy Diver/Van Halen Panama/Accept Balls to the Wall tone from it?

I know you cant get it perfect without the actual amp but do you reckon it'll add some of that flavour to the Fender?

gingataff · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2006, 04:38:11 PM »

Couldn't say for sure but it might be ok if you use it with the clean channel, Satriani (pre peavey) used one as his main drive tone into a clean marshall. If you're demoing it I'm sure most guitar shops will have a fender amp to try it with. Mine is (was) used with a Laney pro tube 30 watt 12" combo and it works great, can't really do thrash or scooped metal (too fat sounding, but my old digital metalizer does that) but I was really happy with it. I tried a Keeley too, good but even fatter, if your amp is quite bassy it might be too much, if your amp lacks bass get a keeley!

_tom_ · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2006, 05:03:59 PM »

Cool, I reckon the stock one would be ok with my amp then as its pretty bassy. Couldnt see any boss pedals to try out in the shop today though :( I'll go back sometime I guess. Cheers