Gnomeratron VTF and Blacks Art Pharaoh: Compare and Contrast

[dorfmeister]

I'm on the trail of fuzz again. Got a Snowflake and Basic Audio Spooky Tooth and was disappointed in both. Have a Lumpy's Tone Shop Led Bender and I like it better than the previous two mentioned pedals but I think I want something else.

I am interested in both of these. I know they are both essentially tweaked Muff variants.

Just curious as to what people who have tried both would say about them.

What do y'all think of the Germanium diode option that is available with the Pharaoh?

[mathias]

<hipster>Germanium diodes are so last year. Gold diodes are much cooler. But you've probably never heard of them. They're used in lasers.</hipster>

[dorfmeister]

<hipster>Germanium diodes are so last year. Gold diodes are much cooler. But you've probably never heard of them. They're used in lasers.</hipster>

Gold diodes are so twenty minutes ago.

I am using special Beryllium/Molybdenum alloy diodes in my lasers.

[mathias]

I wonder what the clipping through a laser diode sounds like. As an added bonus, you could have it put on a little lightshow projected out of the pedal, appearing when you really dig into the strings and have enough voltage to light up the laser.

[dorfmeister]

Speaking of diodes....I wonder if McSpunckle has ever experimented with any Germanium diodes in the Gnomeratron circuit.

[mathias]

Speaking of diodes....I wonder if McSpunckle has ever experimented with any Germanium diodes in the Gnomeratron circuit.

I thought there was an option to get a switch that switched out the diodes. I can't remember, though. So many FUZZ to remember.

[bronzetalon]

The Schottky diodes are very similar in the Gnome to germanium.

[dorfmeister]

The Schottky diodes are very similar in the Gnome to germanium.

I guess I am wondering if the Gnomeratron can do the sounds that the Pharoah does.

[bronzetalon]

I would assume so, or at least something similar.

[futuresailors]

"The 3 extra knobs on the side are (from top to bottom): Starve, Diode 1, Diode 2. Turned clockwise, the starve increases voltage (so all the way up is normal). The diode clipping gets stronger as you turn them down. All the way up is no diodes then LED, Silicon, MOSFET, Schottky, Germanium. The types don't matter. Just remember they clip more. "

Aka a gnometron deluxe can do anything.

[jrmy]

Yeah, the VTF does so much more than muff. It started off as Spunkiez attempt to bridge the muff and Brassmaster. And it ended up totally insane. Clean blend (for those that like that kind of thing), magic switch (to cascade it back into itself and rip the heavens from the skies), fuzz volume, gain, tone (with three switchable options for different mids & whatnots), gate, switches on the front to bring diodes in & out, clipping knobs on the side to tweak the gain stages... oh, and that's just the VTF standard. The VTF deluxe has the extra knobbies that futuresailors refers to.

Oh, and the octave circuit! Can't forget that - it's one of my favorite ever. It's got a really unique tone. Almost sounds like it's got a bit of modulation in there. And damn does it ever cut!

This is not to knock the Pharoah - that's a beautiful pedal that I also hope to own someday (especially if I can get it in viper green!). They're just different beasts.

[htsamurai]

I've not played the pharoah so I can't compare but I can say this much, the VTF def brings the br00tz. with some tweaking I can get straight up Sunn or Electric Wizard tones. <3

[magiclawnchair]

and the vtf has a MAGIC switch!!!

[Bassboar]

From what I can gather, the Gnomeratron does crazy/insane fuzz stuff that the Pharaoh can't, but the Pharaoh can do the Electric amp vibe, which I'm not sure the Gnomeratron can do.

[Holy Schnikes]

The Schottky diodes are very similar in the Gnome to germanium.

I guess I am wondering if the Gnomeratron can do the sounds that the Pharoah does.

So I've finally had a chance to compare my Gnomeratron to my Pharaoh (germ option) and the answer to your question is, maybe

The VTF can do so many different sounds and everything is insanely interactive, I've yet to pull a sound out of it that really nails the Pharaoh though. That's not to say it's not in there, just takes a lot more time to dail it in. I've gotten some super sick tones out of the VTF, everything just sounds a bit nastier/crazier than what the Pharaoh puts out and with the simple flick of a toggle, the whole flavor of the Gnome can change dramatically.

If you want the Pharaoh tone, I'd just buy a Pharaoh and know that you can plug it in and dial it up in no time. The Gnome is really way more of a tweaker's pedal and by the time you nailed down the Pharaoh tone from it, you probably wouldn't want to change anything in fear of losing it. My only hang up with the Gnome would be using it live, as changing the setting can result in some HUGE volume boosts and there's no master volume per se, to reign everything in.

That said, the VTF is definitely packed with more awesome fuzz tones than I've ever heard come from one pedal, seems like endless possibilities with this thing. Just have to dedicate some time to finding and memorizing settings for said tones and understanding how everything interacts. Don't know that I'd be comfortable to change much live, as the unexpected is very likely to emerge when you get to turning knobs and flipping toggles, could be in for quite a surprise on stage.