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Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 3:00 am
by jrfox92
The Expandora is only really comparable to a Rat in that there's an LM308 in there.
Depending on your budget and skills, I'd suggest either cloning it or getting someone else to clone it since it's such a unique circuit.
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 5:50 am
by Christophe
greyscales wrote:
Midrange content is important to make it full without being muddy.
I agree, it's definitely more on the midrange side than on the heavy clipping side. I guess humbuckers play a major role in achieving that sound (more midrange and natural compression).
jrfox92 wrote:The Expandora is only really comparable to a Rat in that there's an LM308 in there.
Depending on your budget and skills, I'd suggest either cloning it or getting someone else to clone it since it's such a unique circuit.
Yeah, that's probably the way to go. Well if anyone is willing to part with a 2000R model, let me know...
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 7:50 am
by omarwhite
i always just assumed they ran the guitar direct on Bodysnatchers. shows what I know
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 7:57 am
by goroth
I've played a Rat but I still don't sound like Billy Gibbons.
I'm thinking this:
jrfox92 wrote:The Expandora is only really comparable to a Rat in that there's an LM308 in there.
Depending on your budget and skills, I'd suggest either cloning it or getting someone else to clone it since it's such a unique circuit.
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:47 pm
by BetterOffShred
goroth wrote:I've played a Rat but I still don't sound like Billy Gibbons.
I'm thinking this:
jrfox92 wrote:The Expandora is only really comparable to a Rat in that there's an LM308 in there.
Depending on your budget and skills, I'd suggest either cloning it or getting someone else to clone it since it's such a unique circuit.
I know guys are making them still with rare unobtanium 308s they found in a shoebox in an abandoned farmhouse in upstate New York or something equally mystical, but apparently the OP07 sounds the same. It's on my list to build one of each, but since I don't have either original my reference point doesn't really exist.
Anything Billy used/uses though is of interest.
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 3:34 pm
by Gone Fission
LM-301 is also supposed to be pretty close to a 308 in a Rat, so worth a try since they are cheap and plentiful.
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 5:59 pm
by infamousalien
I hesitate to even mention this...but the JHS Kilt is a clone I believe. Maybe you could find a used one cheap. Or at least try one in a store and see if you like it before you spend a lot on a used Expandora or have a clone commissioned. As others have said the tone machine isn't close but the tone machine is my favorite fuzz ever.
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 6:38 am
by Christophe
I didn't know about the Kilt... that sounds great.
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 11:39 am
by BetterOffShred
Gone Fission wrote:LM-301 is also supposed to be pretty close to a 308 in a Rat, so worth a try since they are cheap and plentiful.
Yeah, there's a list of stuff including the NE5534, LM301, CA31030, TL070, OP07, apparently the "slew rate" or how fast the opamp can change it's output is identical on the OP07/LM308.. I want to try them all of course. I need someone to let me play a real Rat
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 11:35 am
by dubkitty
well, apparently my current main problem with the Expandora (which BTW is the 3-switch version) is that the switch is fucked up...it started out clicking and going to ON with no actual effect, and now is stuck in ON mode with no effect no matter how many times you actuate the switch. could someone possibly take a look at and see if it's fixable? i don't have the expertise.
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 11:58 am
by BetterOffShred
dubkitty wrote:well, apparently my current main problem with the Expandora (which BTW is the 3-switch version) is that the switch is fucked up...it started out clicking and going to ON with no actual effect, and now is stuck in ON mode with no effect no matter how many times you actuate the switch. could someone possibly take a look at and see if it's fixable? i don't have the expertise.
Take some pictures with the back off. I've fixed a few switches
Edit: I'm assuming you're referring to the 3pdt stomp switch? If it's soldered to the main board that's shitty, but still doable. I know these have some dip switches inside for the modes..
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 12:17 pm
by dubkitty
yes, the stomp switch. i'll do pictures in the next day or 2...i'm driving up to DC tomorrow to see gybe!, so i may not get to it till Sunday.
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 12:40 pm
by rustywire
Good one.
Rat+Vox AC30 symbioses produced another one of my fav 90s return-of-the-riff jams/tones
[youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttzjq29EgwU[/youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttzjq29EgwU
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 6:45 pm
by ts50b
coupleonapkins wrote: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]
I think the Hudson Broadcast could nail the LP version as well, and then you don't need to buy from JHS
Re: Bixonic and The Rat
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:50 am
by codetocontra
IIRC, this song was recorded with one of those super mini Marshalls with the volume cranked. I got similar tones with a Fender one that ran on batteries. But the rest of the album was supposed to be Rat.