xavierl's Reviews
6 reviews Back to xavierl's Equipboard
95
Neutral and fantastic compressor...
The Empress is an amazing compressor. It is neutral, so it respects the character of your instrument (in my case a bass). More, it enhances its tonality. The five knobs are: input, attack, release, mix and output allows for a total control on the sound. There is also the possibility to choose between 3 compression ratios: 2:1, 4:1 and 10:1, which I find (as a amateur player) largely enough. I particularly like the light meter at the top that could be set for showing the gain reduction, the input volume or both. It is very useful to understand (roughly) how the compressor comes into play.
95
Amazing bass...
...which can take a while to master regarding all the possibilities for the pickups, the tone controls and the active/passive switch. The knobs are volume+push/pull for active/passive, balance, treble, bass. Plus two switches for the neck and bridge pickups with three positions for each humbucker for wiring in parallel, series, as single coils, etc. I am still unsure that every setting is exploitable. It can be, sometimes, frustrating. but I am sticking to few and my ear at the very moment. With stainless strings (Ernie Ball), the bass gets the agressive and metallic sound that I love. I can also get a deep, fat, booming sound. Also everything is adjustable: the Just-A-Nut system (for the height of the strings at the head), the resistance of the tuners. In short, a bass for those who love to customise their sound in every detail.
95
Not my thing...
If there is one thing that cannot be reproach to Boss ODB-3 it is the range of possible settings with 4 knobs: level, 2 in 1 EQ (low/high with cut/boost), balance (dry sound/OD) and gain. There is the problem: there is so many possibilities that playing with the effect is a little bit like trying to find your keys in your bedroom with all the lights turn off... More, all the sounds I could get are synthetic, sounding cold. Too artificial for me. But it is really a question of taste. Coupled with the BF-2, it could give some interesting spatial, distorted, futurist touch. Also, I had some difficulties to adjust the volume. When the pedal is engaged, it is either it boosts A LOT your output level (and you give a heart attack to the other band members) or it is not enough. I couldn't find the proper setting. I probably didn't have the patience to seek for the proper volume.
41016
overdrive in general, but particularly bass overdrive? its particularly finicky regarding unity output gain vs apparent volume due to the way our ear actually hears. Don't ever look at the knobs, just trust your ears when setting the output for your needs. Also? make sure to check the level from the center of the room as well as where you stand on stage if you are not dong so already.
95
Thanks for the advice. Actually I went for getting two pedal: an overdrive with the Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI and a fuzz pedal with the Stomp Under Foot Green Russian. I have less difficulties to get what I want. Also, I love the tonality possibilities offered by the two pedals. But again, matter of personal taste.
41016
I had a very early stomp underfoot pedal. He is a great guy. It was a one-off made to order, that's how long ago I bought it. If you need mods for your Green Muff clone to suit you just email him. If you send it back he will revoice it for a very minimal fee. I think his name's Matt, right? Its been a decade since we did business, but he was one of the most affable small builders I have ever worked with. The Russian muffs (civil war, green and early black) are all just fabulous for bass guitar. I have owned quite a few originals back when they were common and the USA muffs were worth more in the 90s. I liked them more for bass in he 2000s then I did for guitar. In the end, even the highly modified skreddy mayo or the unobtainium triangle and rams head 70s muffs just don't knock my socks off as a guitarist. The differences are subtle. In the mix they all sound the same... but on bass? the Russian muffs, especially the green one and the 1st gen black one are distinctly better at handling the lower fundamentals produced by a bass guitar.
95
Great cabinet
I have the version with tweeter. It is a great cabinet that perfectly handles my Orange TB 500. It could provide deep lows, but I prefer the crunchy high tonality. My dream is to buy a second one and stacking them on the top of each other. A paddled cover for protecting the tolex.
95
Fantastic Drive/Amp emulator
I use it for, either having different settings than my amp and shifting during a song, or as an overdrive (with a lot of possibilities). It gives a lot of dry attack while respecting (actually enhancing) the sound of my basses (Warwick Corvette $$ and P-Bass fretless 76).
95
Very good flanger but used with a bass...
...it sometimes makes it difficult to cut through the mix, especially in low frequencies. On a Warwick Corvette $$ it offers a colourful wave. On a P-Bass fretless, the effect gets muddy and sometimes inaudible. I particularly like putting the rate between 3 and 5 o'clock for a psyche/disco, fat, sound.
95
Thanks for the very informative comment jimmarchi1. You're right about the BF2 being made for guitars (explaining the muddiness of the low frequencies). You just gave me some ideas for this gear.
41016
I try... without a schematic I can't be 100% sure my comments are accurate, I am just taking a qild guess. I am pretty sure Bos made a bass version of the BF2 for a while in the 80s and 90s that would be worth hunting down on ebay and reverb if you like the sound of your guitar model. Also, the very affordable 90s DOD fx72B stereo flanger is a VERY similar design to the BF2 but passes a lot more low end stock if I recall (my buddy had one in the 90s, he was mr DOD back then). If I run into a boss bass flanger on my gear travels I will let you know. Heck, if I find one in person I will buy it for you and trade you for your BF2. I can't find mine and cannot recall if I sold it or lost it or what... I like my Ibane FL9 a lot, but it would be fun to have both 80s flangers since they are hella different.
41016
the 72b by DOD might have been a specifically bass flanger and not stereo. It might be the FX72A that was for guitar. I wanna say my buddy had the B even though whe was a guitarist. At any rate, the 90s DOD modulation effects are highly underrated and can still be had for spit. The phaser is awesome too, similar design to a small stone but the voicing is really unique and pleasing. The thing with DOD modulation pedals is that the 90s models have very delicate switches as well as non-buffered, non-mechanicalbypass so they are tone eaters that sometimes will not turn on and off as they should. without modding sometimes the best bet is to use them with a true bypass looper. Even something simple from looperman.