Black Arts Toneworks

[coldbrightsunlight]

I sold my twosome because it was big and I didn't use half of it, and I'm wondering about getting a BAT pedal to replace the musket. I'm looking for something muff-like but with mids, that's pretty tight, has lots of low end, works equally well on guitar and bass. Stacking well with other pedals is also nice.

I'm thinking the Pharaoh or LSTR might get me there but I don't really know that much about the differences, anyone got any opinions on one vs the other? I'm kinda leaning towards the Pharaoh but wondering if it can be aggressive enough by itself.

[Casavettes]

all these black arts threads is making me think mark needs his own subforum here
but i've wondered this as well
i've only tried the black forest so far and i loved it. i need to get another one being as i regrettably sold it.

[skullservant]

I found the Musket to have the most modern and tight sounding muff between the LSTR and Pharoah. The LSTR is loads heavier than the Pharoah in my experience, but without the pre and focus controls on either of the BAT pedals, those are really big advantages of the Musket. I would honestly look at an Earthbound Supercollider if you found yourself using the PRE and FOCUS on the Musket a lot

[coldbrightsunlight]

I could definitely go a little bit 'looser' than the musket, I just want something tighter than my other fuzzes (AB, mini and meathead). I really didn't use the pre or focus controls much, I kept pre at zero or close to it 90% of the time, and focus I just left at some mid value that sounded ok, but whenever I tried it out I didn't notice much difference, which might be an amp/guitar thing, I dunno. That's why I'm selling it and not definitely getting another musket tbh, I don't like having controls on pedals that I don't use. Supercollider definitely looks interesting though, I've heard stuff about that guy being in and out of production so what's the deal with that? Checked the site and I miiight pick one up. Guess it's between that and the BAT stuff now. THREE WAY SHOOTOUT DEMO TIME.

[crohny]

Supercollider isn't a bad idea at all. Love mine. Also have a Pharaoh and it's a killer pedal. As much as people like to put it in the Muff category, I have a hard time doing so. It's got it's own flavor and relies more on the amp than the pedal itself. You can't go wrong either way. If you want that straight forward muff sound with big lows and midrange then I'd go with the LSTR or the Supercollider. If you want to deviate from the Muff path and get a pedal that brings the fuzz but makes your amp do all the lifting tone wise, get the Pharaoh.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Hmm, from that description it sounds like I'd prefer the LSTR and SC, thanks. Definitely looking for the muff-with-mids thing more, since I feel like I have 'transparent' (probably not the right word but whatever) dirt elsewhere and I just want something for riffz.

EDIT: Guess I just ordered a LSTR. Kinda drunk and happy and them being in stock at a UK dealer at an ok price... Good times ahead, I hope!

[Communarchy]

I love all the pedals described above (sans the musket, too modern sounding) and the LSTR is definitely more gain than a Pharoah, the two are pretty far away from each other. If you like your musket, but want more "looseness" get a blunderbuss. If you want mids and basically the best sounding muff in my opinion: get a Hoof. One muff to rule them all. There's a reason you never see them in BST. Blunderbuss is pretty close to the Hoof with Musket functionality, but it's kind of like do you want a VW (blunderbuss) or a BMW (hoof)? Versatility versus quality through and through. Not a bad sound in the Hoof.

[coldbrightsunlight]

The Hoof was another option I forgot about! I've been wanting to try some BAT stuff for a while which is what prompted this, so I'll see how the LSTR goes, but the Hoof is defs still on the radar.

[Jwar]

all these black arts threads is making me think mark needs his own subforum here
but i've wondered this as well
i've only tried the black forest so far and i loved it. i need to get another one being as i regrettably sold it.

I've spoke to Mark about posting on forums and he's not really into that. So I tried.

He's very open to talking via e-mail though!

Also, I would get a Coven yo.

[ryan summit]

im glad hes gettin his due and proppers here
bat shit is so fuckin badass
and nicest freakin dude
i want every pedal he makes
and if you watch a bat demo
and think its the baddest ass thing youve heard
another one pops up thats even gnarlier
chasin some kinda howling dragon
git some
chchchcchch
git some

[kbit]

I've wanted to try a Black Forest for a while now. Some day.... & the LSTR has me intrigued. Seems like it could do that blown out muffy sound the Eau Claire Thunder does so well.

[univalve]

I can send you all BAT pedals over (except Fnord - don't have one). Drop me a PM.

[Ancient Astronaught]

Hmm, from that description it sounds like I'd prefer the LSTR and SC, thanks. Definitely looking for the muff-with-mids thing more, since I feel like I have 'transparent' (probably not the right word but whatever) dirt elsewhere and I just want something for riffz.

EDIT: Guess I just ordered a LSTR. Kinda drunk and happy and them being in stock at a UK dealer at an ok price... Good times ahead, I hope!

Congrats on the LSTR!!!! I love mine (it's the right side of my Burial Chamber dual pedal) one thing of note it has RACK tons of gain and low end, so if your running a low end heavy humbucker into a bass heavy amp it can get muddy real quick, but if you set the tone controls correctly (most people i've seen set the top knobs at 10 & 2, or 2 & 10) it shouldn't be too much of an issue. I have noticed though that the LSTR LOVES single coil pickups, I've never been happier with that pedal then when I run my tele custom bridge pickup through it, and lead lines through a neck humbucker. It's just perfect for me.

[Holy Schnikes]

Busy posting this elsewhere but it seems fitting here as well. Some new BAT stuff, one of 'em pure custom greatness!

These two just arrived. The Destroyer does just that, fucking brings the volume and rage! The custom Badascan is possibly the greatest BAT pedal I've ever played. The basic premise is LSTR gain paired with Pharaoh tone stack but Mark did it up special.

First, he replaced the hi/lo toggle with an input gain pot so you can dial it in exactly how you please. This feature is fantastic cuz you can soften things up a bit, not running all out full gain constantly. It allows you to cop Pharaoh tones and LSTR tones with precision along with anything in between. I like to run gain almost full bore but backing it off a touch really opens things up, sounds killer. It also helps dial in the low gain goodness with ease.

Also added an 8 position rotary FAC control which is always welcome. Drastically changes character of the pedal and allows me to switch guitars/amps and keep tones setting relatively similar, just dial FAC to bring or remove more lows.

Lastly and unexpectedly, he threw a scoop toggle on it too, basically puts it into the LSTR tone territory. When you scoop it, the whole tone stack is altered, more standard muff tone territory but with gigantic BAT thickness. That little toggle turns it into a true dual pedal as opposed to the Pharaoh and LSTR simply sharing characteristics with one another.

Oh, it utilizes silicon-no diodes-LED on the 3-way toggle as well, a departure from the germ setting on a Pharaoh. The LED is excellent, nasty and old school and punchy. I love the input gain control esp on this setting.

[Casavettes]

i'm drooling a little bit, excuse me