New Earthbound Iron Pig

[benjuro]

[ck3]

Hawt. I thought my next purchase would be a Land Devices HP-2, but this may result in a change of plans.

[oscillofuzz]

I really like this (and Earthbound Audio in general) but I am strapped for cash right now because I need to buy a new fridge soon so I can't put in the $160 for the pre-order

[DRodriguez]

My distortion at the Mau5 was a just a vintage rat set to about half gain into a clean amp. They can get pretty nasty, especially if you get a modern one geared for it.

[Ghost Hip]

Just bought an OP-1 and now I see this... I might go straight pedge this month.

question:

how far into distortion does a rat go? Could I get a nasty, driven tone by running it into a clean amp that isn't overdriven, or getting pushed?

Yes. I had the Acid Pig when he was using the Acid Age name for a bit and it definitely got plenty nasty.

[Inconuucl]

Yeah, I'm really digging this model. I'm pedge until January, but I'm really tempted, specially for the early serials with the LN308 in it.

[actual]

Aren't 308's readily available?

[DRodriguez]

They are pretty abundant. Won't be forever though.

[benjuro]

Just bought an OP-1 and now I see this... I might go straight pedge this month.

question:

how far into distortion does a rat go? Could I get a nasty, driven tone by running it into a clean amp that isn't overdriven, or getting pushed?

Yes. I had the Acid Pig when he was using the Acid Age name for a bit and it definitely got plenty nasty.

If I didn't own an Acid Pig I'd be all over this. Nasty and driven are some of its best qualities.

[John Matrix]

i've never had a rat and i'm thinking the only dirts around that seem interesting are the ones I already have and the iron pig/hm-2 earthbound stuff.

question:

how far into distortion does a rat go? Could I get a nasty, driven tone by running it into a clean amp that isn't overdriven, or getting pushed?

I have used the OG version of this as my primary gain source for years and "nasty" is exactly the word I would use to describe the sound. Especially on the "no diodes" setting. The different diode settings help fine tune the feel of it. No diodes is raw and hella loud, while the other settings offer varying degrees of compression and smoother sustain. Plenty of distortion available, you probably couldn't play in a tech death band or something with only this...but I've never attempted that so what do I know.

[taco satori]

Very curious about this one! I noticed it lacks the OD/Dist toggle the original big box version had. Have the Gain and the addition of this Attack control made the need for that switch redundant? I don't remember off the top of my head how the old switch functioned, as I haven't owned one and am just about circuit-blind to boot!

[Ghost Hip]

Very curious about this one! I noticed it lacks the OD/Dist toggle the original big box version had. Have the Gain and the addition of this Attack control made the need for that switch redundant? I don't remember off the top of my head how the old switch functioned, as I haven't owned one and am just about circuit-blind to boot!

Looks like its wrapped up in drive knob:

DRIVE : Distortion intensity. CCW (counter-clockwise) settings will be lower gain while extreme CW (clockwise) settings verge into fuzz territory. Very interactive with the ATTACK control.

[taco satori]

Looks like its wrapped up in drive knob:

DRIVE : Distortion intensity. CCW (counter-clockwise) settings will be lower gain while extreme CW (clockwise) settings verge into fuzz territory. Very interactive with the ATTACK control.

Yeah I was kinda figuring it from that description. That'd be cool to have it accessible from the sweep of the Gain.

Which reminds me: which version of the Throat Locust did you get w/r/t the Gain knob: the stock linear or the audio taper?reaper?

[Ghost Hip]

Looks like its wrapped up in drive knob:

DRIVE : Distortion intensity. CCW (counter-clockwise) settings will be lower gain while extreme CW (clockwise) settings verge into fuzz territory. Very interactive with the ATTACK control.

Yeah I was kinda figuring it from that description. That'd be cool to have it accessible from the sweep of the Gain.

Which reminds me: which version of the Throat Locust did you get w/r/t the Gain knob: the stock linear or the audio taper?reaper?

I got the audio taper pot, not sure how much it differs but there is a good amount of range in the beginning of the knob sweep.

[ck3]

My preordered Iron Pig arrived today. Totally fuzz-nificent with drive-o-licious inclinations. It's like a meaner-sounding EQD Grey Channel that can smooth out more nicely and chime at lower gain levels.

The Ge and Si clipping modes are ideal for higher gain excursions, while the other options provide a variety of delectable fuzzy drive textures. Slight blending of the clean signal improves clarity with higher saturation levels, and the attack control also serves as a secondary means of improving or obscuring note definition.

The backplate finish looks a smidge wonky in some areas, but the tones and internal build quality are solid. Easily one of my favorite dirtboxes of 2017.