boosting a recto

[BrANjiSpAd]

i have a 92 model that is tighter than any other recto ive had but it still needs to be rock solid on the bottom at times and of course it could use some mids.

does anyone have experience with a maxon od808 and a keeley modded maxon od808? im wondering if i should go modded because they say that it has bass.

also anyone with the keeley katana as a boost? ive heard its great for them.

lastly i have a trimodal ts9 that sounds decent in front of the recto but i see i can have keeley mod it for $125.

thoughts?

 

[CoG]

Just played with a keeley katana for about an hour last week. Not into a recto, unfortunately, a JCM800. Didn't seem worth the $$$ compared to some cheaper boosts. It seemed pretty transparent, just added boost-- which might not really help. If it was boosting mids, the Marshall tone might have masked that.

maybe think about an EQ instead?

 

[Silverwulf]

I use a Maxon OD-808 with my older 2 channel Recto as a boost in front for heavy rhythm playing. That pedal is my ideal pedal for that purpose. I have tried just about everything in front of my Recto...Ibanez TS-9, Maxon OD-808, Maxon OD-820, Keely Modded TS-9, Keeley Katana Boost, Fulltone Fulldrive 2 (and Mosfet), BOSS SD-1, etc. None of them sound as good as the Maxon OD-808. I tried all of those, and the Maxon is the mainstay in my rig to this day.

I wouldn't have it modded or spend the money on a modded one, especially until you try the stock pedal. The mod that Keeley does is an excellent mod, but I don't like how it reacts for rhythm playing. The natural slight mid-boost and bass reduction is what helps tighten the sound.

I highly recommend the OD-808. Stick it in front and try this...Gain on "0" (off), Tone starting around 9 o'clock, and Level about 12 noon. You should notice it tighten up your sound without adding too much color to it (which is why I keep the Level around noon). IF it doesn't do it for you, you can always have it modded, but I think you'll like the stock pedal.

 

[noodles]

Like Silverwulf, I thought modding your pedal was a bit of a waste of money, since I also tried a bunch of different pedals in front of my Recto, until I came upon the right guy. Joe Bodenhamer moves the position of the bass cut lower, which is really a boon for us 7-string players. Now, a stock pedal sounds thin in comparison to me. He's cheap, too. :wink:

Jack, I've got an extra TS lying around that you should try. Especially with your seven. I've found what I look for in a seven is fairly different for what I'm looking for out of a six.

 

[Kung-Fool]

Maxon OD9 is my favorite.

 

[Silverwulf]

Like Silverwulf, I thought modding your pedal was a bit of a waste of money, since I also tried a bunch of different pedals in front of my Recto, until I came upon the right guy. Joe Bodenhamer moves the position of the bass cut lower, which is really a boon for us 7-string players. Now, a stock pedal sounds thin in comparison to me. He's cheap, too. :wink:

Jack, I've got an extra TS lying around that you should try. Especially with your seven. I've found what I look for in a seven is fairly different for what I'm looking for out of a six.

Sounds cool...I'll have to give it a try sometime. I really like the Maxon OD-808. Never had a reason to have it modded. I tried the Keeley modded versions and didn't care for how the low end responded with it for tight rhythm playing. If this Joe guy alters where the sub-lows are cut, I'd definitely like to try it out.

You should swing by our practice spot with Landon sometime and try some stuff out. I'd be curious to give your Roadster a try sometime too.

 

[noodles]

Sounds cool...I'll have to give it a try sometime. I really like the Maxon OD-808. Never had a reason to have it modded. I tried the Keeley modded versions and didn't care for how the low end responded with it for tight rhythm playing. If this Joe guy alters where the sub-lows are cut, I'd definitely like to try it out.

Well, most of the guys modding tube screamers are modding them to the specs that the OD-808 is already at...and the Maxon already comes with true bypass out of the box! :lol: It really is the best stock TS or OD you can buy. The only thing Joe does to it is move the bass cut to a lower frequency--most people don't understand that a TS tightens up your sound by cutting out bass, which is why they can make your sound thin.

I've played the Keeley, and I just didn't see what the big deal was. I thought it sacrificed tight response for warmth. I always thought the stock Ibanez stuff was pretty cold, but at least it was tight.

You have to dial in the Bodenhamer stuff in a bit differently. You lower the level a touch and bump the gain up to around 9 o'clock. According to Joe, he lowers the gain a bit, so you nudge the knob up a bit to get the second order harmonics to kick in. It literally makes the amp come alive. I don't think the settings have moved on that pedal since he sent it back to me.

You should swing by our practice spot with Landon sometime and try some stuff out. I'd be curious to give your Roadster a try sometime too.

Where you guys practicing at now? If you're going to be around in a few weekends, there is going to be a gathering at my place on the 18th. A friend will be in from out of town with his Rectoverb, I'll have my Roadster, Mike will have his Triple, and Siggy will have whatever I can get him to drag out. You and Landon should come out with your amps and some beer.

 

[Silverwulf]

The only thing Joe does to it is move the bass cut to a lower frequency--most people don't understand that a TS tightens up your sound by cutting out bass, which is why they can make your sound thin.

Exactly! That's why I was saying that these guys buying modded OD's which enhance the bass frequencies are pretty much countering the purpose of why they wanted one to begin with... :lol: If Joe's bass cut digs a little deeper into the sub-lows than most OD's, I could totally see it meshing really well with the Recto.

Where you guys practicing at now? If you're going to be around in a few weekends, there is going to be a gathering at my place on the 18th. A friend will be in from out of town with his Rectoverb, I'll have my Roadster, Mike will have his Triple, and Siggy will have whatever I can get him to drag out. You and Landon should come out with your amps and some beer.

I keep forgetting you're coming out from NOVA. We practice off of Exit 22 on 270...can't remember what the area is actually called... :lol: I'd love to come out on the 18th, but I'll be out of town from the Aug 17-20. Would be cool to A/B all of our gear sometime. I'd like to see the difference swapping in/out some the JJ's I have (that you hate...haha) and the Tung Sol's you have. I have a new Splawn Quickrod on the way that should be here in a couple weeks too.

 

[mrd]

My buddy built me a replica of the original TS-8, works like a charm. I run that in front of my RK and my MKIV, it makes everything that much more precise. It was cheap too.. only $50. It's funny to see how people get so picky over pedals, when in reality, the only difference between most of them is like a few cents worth of electronic parts. Especially the "modded" ****. I don't know how much these guys charge for modded pedals, but I can bet you that the change they are making is cheap compared to how much you'd pay them for it.

Either way, if you can get your hands on an original ts-8, do it.

 

[noodles]

Exactly! That's why I was saying that these guys buying modded OD's which enhance the bass frequencies are pretty much countering the purpose of why they wanted one to begin with... :lol: If Joe's bass cut digs a little deeper into the sub-lows than most OD's, I could totally see it meshing really well with the Recto.

Yeah, adding bass back after you cut it is just ridiculous. I never really understood that. Joe is a 7-string player, like me, so he was looking to aim at the guys who are tuning lower. It works out amazing on the low B, really deep and punchy at the same time.

I keep forgetting you're coming out from NOVA. We practice off of Exit 22 on 270...can't remember what the area is actually called... :lol: I'd love to come out on the 18th, but I'll be out of town from the Aug 17-20. Would be cool to A/B all of our gear sometime. I'd like to see the difference swapping in/out some the JJ's I have (that you hate...haha) and the Tung Sol's you have. I have a new Splawn Quickrod on the way that should be here in a couple weeks too.

Hey, I don't hate JJs! :lol: They're a little too dark for my taste, but they're certainly better than most of the stuff out there. I think the JJs are a better fit with V30s, since they knock off some of that midrange honk that those speakers are known for. With C90s, though, they sound like warm mud.

 

[junior]

Sounds cool...I'll have to give it a try sometime. I really like the Maxon OD-808. Never had a reason to have it modded. I tried the Keeley modded versions and didn't care for how the low end responded with it for tight rhythm playing. If this Joe guy alters where the sub-lows are cut, I'd definitely like to try it out.

Well, most of the guys modding tube screamers are modding them to the specs that the OD-808 is already at...and the Maxon already comes with true bypass out of the box! :lol: It really is the best stock TS or OD you can buy. The only thing Joe does to it is move the bass cut to a lower frequency--most people don't understand that a TS tightens up your sound by cutting out bass, which is why they can make your sound thin.

I've played the Keeley, and I just didn't see what the big deal was. I thought it sacrificed tight response for warmth. I always thought the stock Ibanez stuff was pretty cold, but at least it was tight.

You have to dial in the Bodenhamer stuff in a bit differently. You lower the level a touch and bump the gain up to around 9 o'clock. According to Joe, he lowers the gain a bit, so you nudge the knob up a bit to get the second order harmonics to kick in. It literally makes the amp come alive. I don't think the settings have moved on that pedal since he sent it back to me.

You should swing by our practice spot with Landon sometime and try some stuff out. I'd be curious to give your Roadster a try sometime too.

Where you guys practicing at now? If you're going to be around in a few weekends, there is going to be a gathering at my place on the 18th. A friend will be in from out of town with his Rectoverb, I'll have my Roadster, Mike will have his Triple, and Siggy will have whatever I can get him to drag out. You and Landon should come out with your amps and some beer.

Actually the maxon OD808 doesn't come with the true bypass.

 

[Silverwulf]

Actually the maxon OD808 doesn't come with the true bypass.

Close enough for my taste...and not that it matters since it's on 90% of the time anyway... 8)

 

[Silverwulf]

Hey, I don't hate JJs! :lol: They're a little too dark for my taste, but they're certainly better than most of the stuff out there. I think the JJs are a better fit with V30s, since they knock off some of that midrange honk that those speakers are known for. With C90s, though, they sound like warm mud.

I could see the JJ's being a better fit with the V30 cabs. I thought Landon told me you hated JJ's. That hippie was probably sniffing paint thinner that day or something... :lol:

 

[stompboxfreak72]

+1 Maxon od9

I use the Analogman modified pedal. I own 7 or 8 other overdrives ( even the Xotic BB preamp) and the Maxon smokes them all.

 

[fireonhigh]

to my ears they sound good the way they are, im tryin my bros.ts9 keely baked mod and its ok, i was thinkin of the bb+ thats supposed to be out in sept.. i think i need to get 5or6 pedals here find out what im after,i hate gas :?

 

[VoodooChild24]

I have used a Maxon OD808 and an OCD for boost and I liked them both. But I am leaning towards the OCD.

 

[wildrat666]

I just bought a maxon od 808 and I shoul have it here on thursday. I´ve heard that the maxon od 808 is very good without modding. I surely hope so and I hope it will tight things good

 

[Silverwulf]

I just bought a maxon od 808 and I shoul have it here on thursday. I´ve heard that the maxon od 808 is very good without modding. I surely hope so and I hope it will tight things good

I can't imagine you won't like that pedal. You should have some great results with it.

 

[super_dark]

I had a maxon 808 and I thought it sounded harsh... I didn't really like it at all. Call me crazy, but I've found the best pedal with my mesa to be a Digitech bad monkey.. It has a Treble and bass EQ. Pretty transparent...

You might laugh, but I'd suggest trying it out. It does have some great advantages over other similar pedals.

I also use a homebrew germania (new one, with the lo/high switch). Adds a ton of trebly top end and snarl, while maintaining the bottom end. Fantastic pedal for a mesa.

 

[noodles]

I could see the JJ's being a better fit with the V30 cabs. I thought Landon told me you hated JJ's. That hippie was probably sniffing paint thinner that day or something... :lol:

He must have wax in his ears. :lol:

I told him that JJ's are good tubes, but they are too dark for my taste. I never said I hated them.