Fender Blender and Ampeg Scrambler clones

[Dandolin]

Bought an EBay Scrambler clone a few years ago and was super-disappointed in how tame it was. Put it aside with a thought to tinker because what the hell....

I've heard some Scrambler clips that sounded insanely rodents-ravening-in-your-entrails good. I seem to remember those being of originals. I can't really get excited if it's going to sound like yet-another-octave-fuzz. I want it to sound like it's eating itself and you want to step back and stand still lest you give it any ideas.

I'm going to get it out and try starving it and pummeling it with gain and pre-clipping and probs starve it again.

Which makes me think--external voltage starves are common. When batteries die slowly both the voltage and amperage drops/sags, correct? Is there an easy, clever way of clamping amperage into the circuit externally? If so, what would that accomplish?

[rfurtkamp]

The thing with the Scrambler is you have to spend time with it, your guitar, and amp, to get the obscene rodents ravening stuff.

For me, it's loading it into a Blender.

Instant ripping ugly, not an original. I sold mine.

[KaosCill8r]

The thing with the Scrambler is you have to spend time with it, your guitar, and amp, to get the obscene rodents ravening stuff.

For me, it's loading it into a Blender.

Instant ripping ugly, not an original. I sold mine.

Have you ever ran a Harmonic Percolator into it? There are some crazy awesome ugliness sounds with that combo.

[popvulture]

All this Blender talk has made me revisit Siamese Dream. Good god it's so damn good.

Oh, the days of tolerable Corgan.

[rfurtkamp]

Have you ever ran a Harmonic Percolator into it? There are some crazy awesome ugliness sounds with that combo.

Can't say I have, I'm on the fence about getting a Perc simply because I wasn't amazed by one back in the day (a real one). Maybe if I'd used a different amp.

If I find one at a good price, I may just to revisit it, I've done most of the classic circuits in the last few years again just to check.

[Dandolin]

Thank for this-great ideas! I have a Montgomery Appliances Harmonic Percolator and a VFE Blender clone--it's Scrambler sandwich time!

I have my doubts about how authentic the Scrambler and Blender clones are,. I know I like the Blender more. But the Monty? Phwoar! That's one of those pedals that gives me the maniacal giggles whenever, wherever, however I use it. It has never failed to make everything sound better--both clearer and gnarlier. I can also imagine a little Driving Notion and/or SHO as mustard and onions.



Still think I'll tinker with the Scrambler's guts at some point, though - - not like it's an OG or worldbeater magic missile as is.

Also, while we're on Scramblers, anyone know if the Wyllie Moonrock is Scrambler related? That is a ravening rodent classic. I'd love it if some enterprising soul revived that wündertonboxx....

[KaosCill8r]

Have you ever ran a Harmonic Percolator into it? There are some crazy awesome ugliness sounds with that combo.

Can't say I have, I'm on the fence about getting a Perc simply because I wasn't amazed by one back in the day (a real one). Maybe if I'd used a different amp.

If I find one at a good price, I may just to revisit it, I've done most of the classic circuits in the last few years again just to check.

Yeah give one a try. Tastes change with time. I got mine from CBC Pedals. Made by a pretty cool dude from Florida. Very reasonably priced. How it sounds compared to (a real one) I wouldn't know. But it sounds good in a screwed up way. They can pick up AM radio stations at high gain settings but fortunately for me I live too far from a radio signal so all I get is radio static which I really dig about it. It's great to stack with other fuzzes if you're into that. I'm a tweaker and stacker and proud of it. My pedal amp is a 100w Valvestate Marshall. People seem to either love them or gate them but they are great for lovers of noise and chaos and don't seem too fussy about what pedals you throw at them.
Yeah give one a try sorry to ramble.

[rfurtkamp]

Acquired a currentish BYOC Scrambler build from B/S/T. Close enough to be within the realm of the OG models and RI I tested when I chose to keep a bathtub PCB build and flip the rest. It's *not* quite as mean as my shootout winner but has the definite vibe and feel.

Definitely worth the $50 I paid for it!

[BLOOD EAGLE]

i'm guessing no one has tried that Ampeg D.I. box with scrambler? I'm also guessing it's not an exact copy....
but y'know please prove me wrong.

[rfurtkamp]

It's Scrambler in name only. Generic OD, not fuzz.

[KaosCill8r]

Yeah that Scrambler in that DI is just an overdrive to simulate the sound of a vintage SVT preamp. No crazy octave fuzz to be found there unfortunately. On the plus side, I think it would be a very decent preamp, DI and very nice sounding overdrive at least. If you were lazy and didn't want to lug a huge bass rig to a gig, you could just plug into that DI and monitor yourself on stage from a couple of foldbacks.

[Chaosmic]

IMG_2494 (1).JPG (117.71 KiB) Viewed 2290 times

Here's a pic of the Chaosmic Fuzz that I've mentioned a few times in this thread. I'll have the first run of these in-hand and ready to roll in about 2 weeks! Super stoked!

http://www.rabbitholefx.com/#!chaosmic-fuzz/l2hfj

[Chaosmic]

https://soundcloud.com/metalstring-sound/chaosmic-fuzz
Just a quick improv iPhone clip that I made while I was play-testing the first batch of Chaosmic Fuzz's!

[Chaosmic]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHHtbGknl3o[/youtube]
The Chaosmic Fuzz makes an appearance on Juan and Nick's latest edition of Fuzz Wars!

[neonblack]

Whoa man! That sounds great! It reminds me of the Fairfield Unpleasant Surprise but with more control. Very interesting...