Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

General Gear Discussion - effects, synths, etc.

Moderator: Ghost Hip

frigid midget
IAMILF
IAMILF
Posts: 2503
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:31 pm

Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by frigid midget »

I'm all over the place with my dumb questions, the whole pandemic lockdown gave me time to rethink my board. So I'm looking to ditch or replace everything that I've fallen out of love with, hasn't been used a lot, or doesn't work with my current rig/situation/taste anymore, etc...

Next up: My old Microamp. Love how it pushes my bassmaster to the point where it sounds like something's about to explode. It's like it gives my guitar this pissed off super sensitive attack. Saggy lows, razor sharp highs,... :drool:

But there's got to be something out there that does both that, AND lets me dial in more ghain if I wanted to...Right? Like basically a micro amp type of clean'ish boost with some mids/highs emphasis, but with an extra couple gain stages or something...Meaning I could use it in my living room for low volume overdrive stuff OR use it in a low/mid gain setting at rehearsels, in front of another dirt pedal, or into the slightly crunchy Bassmaster.

Should I be looking at Treble Booster type circuits, like the Catalinbread Naga Viper, or the Laney TI boost? Tubescreamer based pedals, like the EQD Dunes?
It's been ages since I had an OCD, how do those sound with the gain backed down? Tried and failed: dod gunslinger, hotcake (muddy and dark with the gain up), rat (compressed and fizzy, kills low end).

So in short: looking for a bread and butter dad rock ovedrive poedal that doesn't compromise anywhere across the gain spectrum. Any ideas? Thanks.
User avatar
Bartimaeus
experienced
experienced
Posts: 629
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:32 pm
Location: Well that isn't very punk, is it?

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by Bartimaeus »

what about the mxr distortion plus and dod 250? it's the same circuit but with clipping diodes and some different component values. i prefer the 250 as there's more volume on tap.

if you don't mind soldering, you could even try throwing some clipping diodes into your micro amp.

but note that the microamp really is a totally clean, it's not boosting or cutting anything in the audible spectrum: https://www.electrosmash.com/mxr-microamp

so those saggy lows and razor sharp highs are almost certainly from hitting your amp hard with full-frequency volume boost. most drive pedals cut both the bass frequencies (to prevent muddiness) and the treble frequencies (to prevent harshness), which means they won't hit your amp in the same way.

i know it's a bit of a buzzword, but it sounds like the best option would be "transparent" overdrive like a timmy to add gain while keeping that full-frequency boost.
User avatar
Pete
experienced
experienced
Posts: 759
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:42 pm
Location: Boston, MA
Contact:

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by Pete »

Maybe check out an Earthquaker Devices Bows?
frigid midget
IAMILF
IAMILF
Posts: 2503
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:31 pm

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by frigid midget »

Bartimaeus wrote:what about the mxr distortion plus and dod 250? it's the same circuit but with clipping diodes and some different component values. i prefer the 250 as there's more volume on tap.

if you don't mind soldering, you could even try throwing some clipping diodes into your micro amp.

but note that the microamp really is a totally clean, it's not boosting or cutting anything in the audible spectrum: https://www.electrosmash.com/mxr-microamp

so those saggy lows and razor sharp highs are almost certainly from hitting your amp hard with full-frequency volume boost. most drive pedals cut both the bass frequencies (to prevent muddiness) and the treble frequencies (to prevent harshness), which means they won't hit your amp in the same way.

i know it's a bit of a buzzword, but it sounds like the best option would be "transparent" overdrive like a timmy to add gain while keeping that full-frequency boost.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that what I was describing is just the sound of my COOKING amp, rather than the clean boost that's making it cook :)

So getting that same thing going, in a pedal that also goes up to distortion/fuzzy territory, is what I'm after. Just to save board space, so I don't need a different dirt pedal for each particular setting and different gain level. I'll still have three fuzz pedals ofcourse, but boost/od is something one pedal should be able to handle.

I'd actually rather just flip the micro amp, in favor of something more versatile. It's from the late '70s, I gave it a dc socket and a blue status led. Hoping to get enough for it to help fund the new pedal. I'll check out the Timmy. Never gave it a closer look, cause of its blues laywer tgp reputation :idk: Same reason it took me this long to look at Klon type pedals :idk:
Last edited by frigid midget on Tue Jun 23, 2020 2:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
BoatRich
IAMILF
IAMILF
Posts: 2374
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 2:58 pm
Location: Northern VA/DC

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by BoatRich »

EQD Grey Channel could do this with one side set to no diodes and the other set to taste?
User avatar
Schlatte
IAMILF
IAMILF
Posts: 2667
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2011 3:27 pm
Location: Austria

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by Schlatte »

Klon :lol:
I had a Boss Blues Driver for a similar task, maybe check that out? I can remember it staying pretty clean with the gain reduced and the volume maxed out.
Good Deals with: All these fine people!

MOM-D Shark Tank is back! Open Source Designs for musical pleasure! Back in the Tank! Go check it out!
frigid midget
IAMILF
IAMILF
Posts: 2503
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:31 pm

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by frigid midget »

Love the Grey Channel demos. But the simplicity and footprint of the BD-2 are giving it the edge, and most importantly the fact that I could find one for $50 any day of the week.
Timmy, Klon, and all the lesser known boutique 'transparant boosts'...I honestly don't hear much that justifies the hefty prices :idk:
It's also hard to judge tones when they're colored by the recording, my headphones, the dudes amp and guitar,...Not to mension it's hard to translate all the blooz wanking to my shoegazy sludge pop improv style of playing :)
User avatar
Schlatte
IAMILF
IAMILF
Posts: 2667
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2011 3:27 pm
Location: Austria

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by Schlatte »

Well, the Klon suggestion wasn't really serios :D
If you can get your hands on a BD-2 just try it, you can always flip it for the same money. Or keep it, because it actually sounds quite excellent. I miss mine. Maybe I should get one again.
Good Deals with: All these fine people!

MOM-D Shark Tank is back! Open Source Designs for musical pleasure! Back in the Tank! Go check it out!
mcatano
committed
committed
Posts: 303
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2017 9:59 am

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by mcatano »

It is truly hard to go wrong with a blues driver.
mcatano
committed
committed
Posts: 303
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2017 9:59 am

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by mcatano »

Also it sounds like you're kind of describing your standard issue "always-on + a boost" dual OD pedal. I think pretty much every company makes some version of this, you could even get a $90 KoT clone from ebay.
Or you could get 2 BD-2s.
frigid midget
IAMILF
IAMILF
Posts: 2503
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:31 pm

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by frigid midget »

mcatano wrote:Also it sounds like you're kind of describing your standard issue "always-on + a boost" dual OD pedal. I think pretty much every company makes some version of this, you could even get a $90 KoT clone from ebay.
Or you could get 2 BD-2s.
Yeah, but instead of a KoT type of deal, a pedal with one side going from clean boost to medium gain and a second side going from medium to stupid high gain, would be way more useful to me.

But I guess that's the point of using multiple dirt pedals :)
User avatar
fcknoise
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 4008
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2014 4:01 pm
Location: Stockholm
Contact:

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by fcknoise »

frigid midget wrote:Love the Grey Channel demos. But the simplicity and footprint of the BD-2 are giving it the edge, and most importantly the fact that I could find one for $50 any day of the week.
Timmy, Klon, and all the lesser known boutique 'transparant boosts'...I honestly don't hear much that justifies the hefty prices :idk:
It's also hard to judge tones when they're colored by the recording, my headphones, the dudes amp and guitar,...Not to mension it's hard to translate all the blooz wanking to my shoegazy sludge pop improv style of playing :)
Transparent boost rec that is less pricey than timmy/klon (although you can find cheap alternatives to both) would be the Barber LTD. I bought mine very cheap, but if you came across one for around a hundy or so they sound excellent
Cydonia wrote: Too bad no one here is interested in talking about "gear"
BossMann73 wrote:I didn't insult it......I "curated" a "different aesthetic.".
John wrote:I love how this forum has the GDP of Switzerland in pedals but the collective value of everyone's patch cables is less than the change in my couch cushions. And I don't have a couch.
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sharkmovieappriciator
Bandcamp: https://fcknoise.bandcamp.com/
User avatar
qersty
IAMILF
IAMILF
Posts: 2760
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2017 11:11 am
Location: Sweden to the oldies

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by qersty »

I have fell for the boss FA-1 recently. pretty awesome cranked and it isnt that loud. You could probably find some cheap clone on the bay. I know valetone made a 50$ one but it seems to just have disappeared
imagine finding out your son is your daughter & she's into noise music
User avatar
Schlatte
IAMILF
IAMILF
Posts: 2667
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2011 3:27 pm
Location: Austria

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by Schlatte »

I mean, you can also never go wrong with SSBS Mini.
Good Deals with: All these fine people!

MOM-D Shark Tank is back! Open Source Designs for musical pleasure! Back in the Tank! Go check it out!
frigid midget
IAMILF
IAMILF
Posts: 2503
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:31 pm

Re: Gainy/fuzzy MXR Microamp?

Post by frigid midget »

Schlatte wrote:I mean, you can also never go wrong with SSBS Mini.
Yeah, that's a pretty popular one around these parts. Pretty hard to score one here in EU, no? I'm not sure I want to spend 180Euro on an overdrive pedal :/
Post Reply