Catching Up - Fender '68 DRRI, Old Boss Pedals, and Getting Ripped Off

If I haven't written in awhile, it usually means one of two things...

1. I've recently acquired an engrossing video game, which means I'll see you in 80-120 hours.
2. I've recently acquired some gear that is taking my attention away from writing here.

Happily, this time it's the second one.

Goodbye Les Paul, Hello Deluxe Reverb

Of the gear I had my eye on after selling the Les Paul Studio, it was the Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb Reverb Reissue that most commanded my attention, so after a week of waiting, I had it delivered to my door by a seller was ok with bringing it to me.

Seriously, not having to go anywhere to buy gear is amazing.

I spent the first day with the it in the living room, with nothing but my maple EJ Stratocaster and the acoustics afforded by hardwood floors and high ceiling.

It's really hard to beat Fender into Fender.

Sure it's loud, but it's a reasonable volume set to 3 or 4, and its cleans on the "custom" channel are right up my alley (the "vintage" channel is too bright, just like the '65 DRRI sold years ago).

Things got better when I got it to my playroom (aka the basement) and started to play with the idea of a pseudo-stereo setup. Check that.  Things got amazing.

Tap dance shoes are on order

Without going into every pedal on the board,  the guitar signal goes like this:

1. Guitar > JRAD Archer > Plexi Drive > Angry Charlie > Sub n up > A/B Box
2. A Side > Fender (pictured with the Noah Sark Green, Boss OD2, Boss HM2, and MXR Phase 90)
3. B Side > Dr. Z with the Boss Tremolo > Quick Draw Delay > TC HOF2 > Ditto Looper in the FX loop.

The result?

Well, the input gain of the two amps is VERY different, with the Z being set for edge of breakup with a strong pickup, and the Fender having headroom with whatever pickup you chose.  Things get really special when that Quick Draw Delay is engaged though.

For reasons I can't explain, the Quick Draw changes the phase of the Dr. Z, resulting in this amazing, stereo-expansive sound that had my brother doing a double take when first experienced.  It's good.

Really good.

I haven't quite figured out higher gain sounds yet, because whereas the Wampler pushes the Dr. Z into breakup while adding its own flavour, that same push just makes the Fender a bunch louder. A big bunch.

Maybe another attenuator is the ticket, or more likely placing the A/B box first in the chain and making my overdrives amp-specific.

Speaking of overdrive...

I'd fallen out with my Tube Screamer-ish pedals since discovering the Archer, finding that it was much better suited to the character of the Z. I found the Screamers too compressed, and not the right character to do anything but throw a wet blanket over the speaker.

I'm glad I didn't get rid of them.

It what is news to nobody,  a TS-type circuit combined with a Fender amp and a Strat really is something special.  All that compression that kills the Z combines with the Fender's headroom for outstanding results.  Better still, I've rediscovered my love for my Noah Sark "Green", which edges out the Fulldrive 2 in combination with the DRRI.

I'm really keen now to try the JHS Bonzai...

Old Boss Pedals

Although I picked these up in two separate transactions, the similar vintage makes me want to talk about them in the same breath. Plus, Boss is cool again. Remember?

The Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal and the OD-2 Turbo Overdrive:

First the Turbo Overdrive: Although it is missing the back sticker, I'm guessing that this is a Made In Taiwan version, dating it to somewhere between 1988 and 1994. This pedal was discontinued in favour of the OD-2R, which ran for another 4 years and added an input for a remote switch that would engage the boost feature. So yeah, a Boos pedal that didn't stick.

I'm not sure how useful the boost on the foot switch was, and given it only ran another 4 years, probably not very.  All that having been said, this is a decent overdrive which doesn't have the mid-hump of screamer-type circuits, and whose boost function adds quite a bit of sizzle to the top end (too much through a Fender if you ask me).

Moving to the dark side, the ubiquitous Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal. Worshipped for its Death Metal imparting tone, this discontinued pedal can command nearly-new-or-better prices if Made in Japan. This one is Made In Taiwan, but that still means it can't be any older than 1991, when they were discontinued.

For what it's worth, I don't get it.  I don't think they sound remotely like a big 80's Marshall stack, but maybe I haven't given it enough time, or found the right combination.  I will say this - it's brash; Very in your face, and unapologetic about it.  The lows are low, the highs are present, and fuck your boutique tone. Metal up your ass?

Compared to the Metal Zone, there is no comparison.  Those two pedals are from different planets if you ask me. If I had to compare the HM-2 to something I own, it would be the Angry Charlie.  the EQs are very different, but to my ears it is almost like the Angry Charlie is the result of taking an HM-2 and making it far more usable.

The obvious play here is to flip these guys, and a quick post indicated there is decent demand. Still, there is something about the age of these that gives me pause...

Maybe it's time to start an old Boss collection. There are a ton out there for low dollars.

Getting Ripped Off, But Not Really?

I came across the Boss OD-2 in an ad posted, without pictures, that promised the OD-2, a Big Muff, an MXR Phase 90, and a Danelectro Milkshake Chorus for $80.

Four pedals.  Eighty bucks.  Challenge accepted.

I picked up the pedals on the way home from work.  No, I didn't test them. I was in a rush.  I gambled, because how often is someone actually a ripoff artist?

One time. This time?

I got home and found that only the MXR and Boss worked.  The Muff was borked (super low output), and the Danelectro was distorting the signal in bypass. I messaged the guy back, but no luck. He had my money, and was moving house.

I could go back and make an issue, but two of them for 80 was probably still a good deal.

Also pictured: Some other stuff.

So despite being a little miffed set to taking apart the Big Muff and the Chorus. I'm no electronics wizard, but figured I could identify a failed component or connection by process of elimination.

I had not luck with the Muff, but I haven't given up yet, because it does produce sound, just not enough sound. The Milkshake Chorus worked out though, and while I can't explain how I fixed it, taking it apart (two small circuit boards), cleaning some gunk off, and reassembling seemed to do the trick.

So eighty bucks, two pedals that work (the Phase 90 is really something everyone should own), and two projects to occupy my time before I cave and buy Red Dead Redemption 2 and disappear into the less-old-west for the next month..

Money well spent.