Bixonic and The Rat

[Christophe]

Hi everybody
Like many of you I'm sure, I love the sound of Thom Yorke playing the riff of Bodysnatchers. On the From the Basement version, this is achieved through humbuckers + Bixonic Expandora + Vox amp. It's a great balance between smooth, aggressive, and it lets a lot of the guitar sound seep through.
I've read somewhere that the Bixonic is a souped-up Rat. So I took my Rat out of the drawer and tested it. It comes pretty close indeed. But something's always missing for me with the Rat tone. Maybe it lacks that brutal outburst that most fuzzes bring when you stomp on them, I dont know...
So should I just hunt down an Expandora, or are there any other options? From what I hear on vids, it seems like various pedals like the CB Katzenkonig, Foxx tone clones, or even a BAE hot fuzz could do the job...
Am I mistaken? Is the Bixonic closer to a real fuzz than the Rat? Should I use the Rat with the proper booster?
Thanks for your thoughts on that...

[Jero]

The Katzenkonig could get you there roundabouts I think. Great sounding pedal based on the demos. The Tone Machine and Expandora however sound nothing alike, imo.

It's funny, I had three different rats and some version Expandora at the same time and don't remember a/b'ing them
Still have the Expandora. Might be time to pull it out of it's hiding place
I used to boost a Rat with an EQD Arrows and it was but after listening to the song I don't think it's gonna get you the gravelly thing he's got going.

[Christophe]

If you do a/b them, I'b be glad to read your report. The Expandora (with switchs outside) is another rare-to-find pedal...
Well I was thinking Tone Machine because is sounds huge (from demos, never played one), but still has that, well, velvety tone... I'm gonna try and boost that Rat for the time being.

[Jero]

Yea I watched the video after posting, and it looks like his is the switches outside one, as you said.
I have the 2 I think. Four red knobs. Pretty sure I can nail that tone with it though.
Tone Machines sound great, don't get me wrong. Everyone should try one at some point. Huge fuzzstortion, kinda muffy but different. Plus octave up! For this particular sound though, I'm not sure it right. Been a while since I've had one unfortunately.

[dubkitty]

i have an Expandora, but it's fucked up. it'd be nice if i could find someone to fix it.

[digi2t]

i have an Expandora, but it's fucked up. it'd be nice if i could find someone to fix it.

Which version, and what's the problem with it? I've traced these. I might be able to help.

[Bartimaeus]

Maybe you should try a Turbo Rat? Thom used those before the Bixonic, and they definitely have some extra edge and fuzziness compared to the standard Rat

[dubkitty]

i have an Expandora, but it's fucked up. it'd be nice if i could find someone to fix it.

Which version, and what's the problem with it? I've traced these. I might be able to help.

let me check this after i get home.

[coupleonapkins]

The LP version always sounded like they blended in some direct console boosting signal (a beautiful breakup), but also not quite the Expandora classic "forbidden" setting (too much I know, but the oscillating edge feels closer).

This vid recommended (at the 3:00 mark) the much maligned JHS Colour Box re: the studio recording:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-HjnwZQINo[/youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-HjnwZQINo

Honestly, the basement version sounds more like an EQ'd & pushed overdrive, so a dirty/eq boost (Arrows, or maybe a cheap EQ like the Danelectro Fish N' Chips, maybe even a Metal Zone) along with a lower gain setting on the Rat?

The Metal Zone has a powerful EQ section, so the MT-2 at zero gain + a wooly OD might work.

[BetterOffShred]

Powerful EQ in front of a fuzz ..

I have been using my Boneshaker to achieve this.

[Bartimaeus]

I got curious and found this really good quality pic of Thom's board from around then: https://www.flickr.com/photos/theearwor ... 358257924/

The switches are set for the distortion mode, not the forbidden setting. Weirdly, it's in bass mode, which is probably why it sounds so full? The gain and tone aren't even past 12 o'clock, which I'm sure is what gives it definition (although I've heard that the Expandora has good definition on every setting?)

[Christophe]

Yeah, there's not tons of gain in that sound... Well the Rat is cutting off a lot of low-end, maybe that's why the Expandora does a better job for that kind of riffs
Boneshaker sounds interesting!.

[BLOOD EAGLE]

this reminds me to rewatch fuzz the movie.

billy gibbons talks about chaining multiple expandoras
(and tone machines for that matter)

[BetterOffShred]

Billy's fuzz sound on 25 lighters is so crusty and glorious. And yes I know it's a hood rap song from Houston I believe.. but them toanz!! So gross and marvelous!!

[greyscales]

I would go to the Moog MF Drive for that filtered sort of overdrive. Adjust the tone for lots of mids and bass and use the filter to cut out a lot of the top end. I would go for a similar tone on my Bass VI.

Rats can kind of get it but the attack always felt off to me for the sound Thom gets. It isn't quite distortion and definitely isn't fuzz. A Tone Machine would be wrong, the scoop would just make it feel weird. Midrange content is important to make it full without being muddy.