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Average Price: $305

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Description

The Tronographic Rusty Box is a dynamic overdrive effects pedal that brings the raw, gritty sound of vintage circuits to your guitar rig. Specifically engineered to emulate the sound of a classic bass preamp, this pedal is equally at home on guitar pedalboards, delivering a distinct tonal character that stands out in any setting.

Designed with meticulous attention to detail, the Rusty Box utilizes a unique discrete op-amp architecture, which ensures a warm, natural overdrive that responds beautifully to your playing dynamics. With a robust construction and intuitive layout, it offers musicians a straightforward interface for crafting sounds from subtle warmth to full-on distortion. Whether you're looking to add a touch of grit or transform your sound entirely, the Tronographic Rusty Box has you covered.

Perfect for musicians who crave versatility, this pedal provides ample control over your tone with its active EQ section, allowing you to sculpt the mids, bass, and treble frequencies to your liking. The Rusty Box also boasts a handy line-out feature, making it an excellent choice for both studio recording and live performances.

Key Features:

  • Unique discrete op-amp architecture for warm, natural overdrive tones
  • Emulates the sound of a classic bass preamp, suitable for guitars and basses
  • Active EQ section with controls for mids, bass, and treble
  • Line-out feature for direct recording and live performance flexibility
  • Robust construction designed for rigorous stage use
  • Intuitive layout for easy sound crafting and adjustments

Product specs

Brand Tronographic
Model Rusty Box
Finish Cream
Year 2008 - 2021
Categories Bass Effect Pedals, Preamps

FAQs

What type of instrument is the Tronographic Rusty Box best suited for?

The Tronographic Rusty Box is specifically designed for bass guitars, providing a preamp and overdrive effect that enhances the bass sound with clarity and punch.

Can the Rusty Box be used with electric guitars?

While primarily designed for bass, the Rusty Box can also be used with electric guitars, offering a unique overdrive tone that can complement certain styles.

Does the Tronographic Rusty Box require a specific power supply?

The Rusty Box operates on a standard 9V DC power supply, which is common for many pedalboards, ensuring easy integration into your setup.

How does the Rusty Box differ from typical overdrive pedals?

Unlike typical overdrive pedals, the Rusty Box functions as both a preamp and overdrive, specifically enhancing bass frequencies while maintaining clarity and dynamic range.

Is the Rusty Box suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Tronographic Rusty Box is well-suited for live performances, providing robust sound shaping capabilities and a durable build that withstands the rigors of gigging.

tronographic

tronographic

Tronographic Rusty Box Mid Cut Demo

Video thumbnail for Tronographic Rusty Box Mid Cut Demo by tronographic

Tronographic Rusty Box Mid Cut Demo

tronographic

tronographic

Video thumbnail for The Rusty Box as Pre-Amp for Fender Bass VI by tronographic

The Rusty Box as Pre-Amp for Fender Bass VI

tronographic

tronographic

Video thumbnail for Tronographic Rusty Box | Ultimate P Bass Tone by Zach Wish

Tronographic Rusty Box | Ultimate P Bass Tone

Zach Wish

Zach Wish

Video thumbnail for Tronographic Rusty Box Bass PreAmp Demo by Pedal of the Day

Tronographic Rusty Box Bass PreAmp Demo

Pedal of the Day

Pedal of the Day

Video thumbnail for Rusty Box Review: How I get Heavy Bass tones by Titan Recording Studio

Rusty Box Review: How I get Heavy Bass tones

Titan Recording Studio

Titan Recording Studio

Video thumbnail for Tronographic : Rusty Box | Preamp | Bass by Theo And His Pedals

Tronographic : Rusty Box | Preamp | Bass

Theo And His Pedals

Theo And His Pedals

Video thumbnail for PBA No.19 Tronographic Rusty Box on Bass | FIRE by LEP INTERNATIONAL

PBA No.19 Tronographic Rusty Box on Bass | FIRE

LEP INTERNATIONAL

LEP INTERNATIONAL

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Tronographic Rusty Box.

Features and functionality

  • The Rusty Box now includes a 9V power option, making it more compatible with standard pedalboards.

    Source
  • The Rusty Box offers a balanced output for direct use as a DI box, which is useful for live scenarios where amp and cab setups are bypassed.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Users report it excels as a bass preamp, particularly effective with a Fender Precision Bass and used alongside a PF800 and Orange 810 setup.

    Source
  • The Rusty Box can be used effectively with a Behringer UMC404 interface for direct input into a laptop, highlighting its versatility for home recording setups.

    Source
  • It's effective for bass VI guitars, with users noting satisfactory sound without additional cab simulation for certain genres and tones.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Bob Weston prefers the Rusty Box when he can't bring his custom gear, highlighting its professional-grade sound for touring musicians.

    Source
  • The Bardic Arcane Distorter is mentioned as a similar alternative, indicating the Rusty Box's unique niche in bass effects.

    Source
  • Many recommend using a Digitech CabDry VR cab sim pedal alongside the Rusty Box for added tonal options when going direct to PA.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners express a strong attachment to the pedal, with some stating they would never part with it due to its exceptional sound quality.

    Source
  • One owner experienced a pitch change in the whine when wiggling the power plug, indicating potential power-related issues.

    Source
  • After prolonged storage, the pedal was found to have a faulty preamp chip, emphasizing the importance of regular checks for stored gear.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • It's recommended to spin the pots if the pedal has been in storage, as corrosion might occur from long periods of inactivity.

    Source
  • If experiencing a whine, test the power input jack and consider that a preamp chip failure may be the root cause.

    Source

Build quality

  • A slightly loose left foot switch was noted during an owner's inspection, which could contribute to operational issues.

    Source
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5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 3 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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1 star
bassmeisterjay707

An interesting and aggressive unit!

I first found out about the rusty box a few years ago, listening to one of my favourite bands.It's an interesting unit which doesn't work as a standard preamp pedal normally would. Whereas most preamps have active tone controls, the Rusty Box has passive tone controls.

Modelled on the Traynor T-50B bass head, it faithfully recreates the sound of that amplifier.

The gain on this pedal is immense! I usually use the gain on this at around 10 o'clock in the high setting. This pedal has a very high attack so I would suggest using a compressor either before or after, depending on your preferences, to both tame the highs and boost lows. MXR M87 is a great pairing with this pedal!

It's alot of fun and you can get huge crushing tones from it aswell as really clear and punchy cleans. It's a favourite of mine to use in recording because it has a really punchy low end tone once you drop the gain and treble then boost the bass to around 2 o'clock which leaves you with a clear low end without sounding muffled or muddy.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Input: 12 Treble: 9 Mids: 10 Bass: 2 Gain 10

These are the settings I normally use for a pretty good punchy tone with just a touch of grit. Works best with a compressor before it to give it that extra boost in the lows. Use a fast attack and release to maintain punch!

Roles:
Genres:
From Gear Setup
billion

Always in my pedalbord

Solid, heavy and beautiful. You can sculpt your sound. Built for bass but I really love it on guitar also

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Justin Meldal-Johnsen uses Tronographic Rusty Box

Justin Meldal-Johnsen

Bassist, Music Producer

Nine Inch Nails

...
Verified via Photo

In a 2018 Instagram post, Justin Meldal-Johnsen showcased the Tronographic Rusty Box in his studio setup.

See how MISA uses Tronographic Rusty Box

MISA

Bassist

Band-Maid

...
Verified via Free The Tone

The Tronographic Rusty Box is clearly shown on MISA's pedalboard in a photo uploaded by Free The Tone, who constructed her pedalboard.

See how Brian Cook uses Tronographic Rusty Box

Brian Cook

Bassist, Keyboardist

SUMAC

...
Verified via YouTube

The item can be seen 7:10 into this video…

See how Scott Shriner uses Tronographic Rusty Box

Scott Shriner

Bassist

Weezer

...
Verified via Photo

From Scott’s Instagram, 2013, you can see a Rusty Box on his board.

See how Adam Devonshire uses Tronographic Rusty Box

Adam Devonshire

Bassist

IDLES

...
Verified via Photo

In a photo shared by Adam Devonshire with Carsonchilers from the YouTube channel Bassed, his pedalboard features the Tronographic Rusty Box. This image is available on Talkbass.com in the Idles Adam Devonshire thread. Additionally, Adam discusses the pedal in his interview with Bassed.

See how Eddie Breckenridge uses Tronographic Rusty Box

Eddie Breckenridge

Bassist

Thrice

...
Verified via Photo

The Instagram post by thewoodenlung features a photo showing Eddie Breckenridge's pedal setup, including the Tronographic Rusty Box overdrive pedal.

See how Mike D'Antonio uses Tronographic Rusty Box

Mike D'Antonio

Bassist

Killswitch Engage

...
Verified via YouTube

In this Interview with Erik Arkö, https://youtu.be/utLY0nNbV7M. Mike explains that he uses the Tronographic Rusty Box for recording KsE's albums for it's aggressive tone and that it allows the bass to be more present in the mix.

See how Nathan Latona uses Tronographic Rusty Box

Nathan Latona

Bassist

Tera Melos

...
Verified via YouTube

Nathan goes over his entire pedalboard over the course of five videos, as well as a post by Pedals and Effects on their website, the Rusty Box is shown in the first video

See how Jonathan Hischke uses Tronographic Rusty Box

Jonathan Hischke

Bassist

Hella

...
Verified via Shep On Bass

The effects I use are also variable, but I rarely go anywhere without the bread and butter of my collection:

TC Electronics or Korg tuner Aguilar Octamizer Wren & Cuff Tall Font Russian Muff or Fuzzrocious Rat Tail Tronographic Rusty Box Tech 21 VT Bass

See how Henrik Höckert uses Tronographic Rusty Box

Henrik Höckert

Bassist

Viagra Boys

...
Verified via Photo

Ehx POG2, Boss tuner, Ross Distortion, Earthquaker Hoof, Tronographic Rusty Box, and Boss LS-2 line selector are pedals identified on his pedalboard

See how ishiwatari makiko uses Tronographic Rusty Box

ishiwatari makiko

Bassist

the peggies

...
Verified via Photo

On her board on the bottom left.

See how Massimo Pupillo uses Tronographic Rusty Box

Massimo Pupillo

Bassist

Original Silence

...
Verified via Photo

In a 2015 photo, Massimo Pupillo's gear setup includes the Tronographic Rusty Box, with all knobs set flat and the switch on the "Lo" setting.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Tronographic Rusty Box, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

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bassmeisterjay707

bassmeisterjay707

Gear IQ 220

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