Is the maxon 808 that awesome?

[backyardburial]

I just borrowed one of these off a mate to try out..
I notice that it cuts a lot of bass out, which I suppose can be fixed by adding more, but I'm not hearing a massive amount of difference. I generally like the sound of my 3 channel recto (playing with an Ibanez baritone 7) but it does seem kind of flubby at some jams, but then sometimes it's awesome. I just ask because it seems I'm the only metal player in the world not using a boost for my recto, and I gather the 808 is meant to be one of the best. I messed around with different amounts of gain on the pedal but it just gets too noisy up, I understand most people keep the gain on 0 anyway.
Im in the process of just trying a Boss GE-7 eq, but sent it to get modded (to make it quieter) and it cam back not working at all!
I play grindcore kind of stuff but want the tightest **** ever, any one else out there not boosting a recto and is just happy with the sound of the amp?

 

[fluff191]

I think it really comes down to what pickups you are running in your guitar.

I run Duncan Blackout active pups and my OD808 did very little to my sound. So I got rid of it.

With any passive pup, the story is very different.

I did, however, have my 3 Channel Recto modded and now I have a built-in gain boost that is only effective for
channels 2 & 3 and love it. Its never off.

 

[Mongo1]

It really depends on what you're trying to get out of it. Most TS circuits are based on similar foundations, but they each have their own personality. I found a Maxon OD9 with an Analogman 'Silver' mod and I think it's perfect for gritty rhythms that roll off to clean. I still get great note definition while chording even when driving it pretty hard.

You really need to try a bunch and see if any of them push your amp where you want it to go.

There's also a KOT (King of Tone) pedal that Analog Mike makes that is amazing. Still based around the TS circuit, but with two channels, gobs of gain and still very transparent. Give one a try if you ever have the opportunity.

 

[ESP123]

I haven't tried the Maxxon but the Ibanez TS9 tightens everything and makes the distortion huge and punchy. Pinched harmonics are easier to pull of as well. I know that Maxxon originally designed this pedal and the Ibanez wound up releasing it under there name but it is different than the Maxxon and sounds killer. Here is a very good setting to run your Recto and it with.

Recto:
Channel 2 or 3
Silcon Diode
Bold Setting
Output 9
Master 11-12
Bass 11
Mid 9
Treble 3
Presence 1
Gain 3

Ibanez TS9:
Both top dials turned to 12 noon
middle dial turned to 3pm

ENJOY!

 

[sted]

Maxxon is basically the company that made the TS for Ibanez, after a disagreement they went on their own so this is basically a TS circuit, a vintage one at that, comparable to the TS-808 (well, obviously! :lol: )

A TS circuit will cut your bass and hump the mids considerably, it is a great sound for blues but metal? I dont know about that! If you are after a clean boost then there are better pedals for that, analogman beano boost is a good one, xotic also. For a pedal to give you a tighter response something valve driven might be a good partner for your recto, Tonebones, Ibanez tube king, Blackstar pedals are all very high quality or maybe even a Butler Tube Driver (Very expensive though!).

Hope that helped.

 

[droptrd]

Like fluff191 said, if youre using active pups the results will be minimal.

Try the gain just above zero. I find when you crack the gain on, the tone gets a bit bigger.

Basically I was getting the same tone out of my recto boosted as i was unboosted, but chugging was tighter and crunchier with the boost on. Plus it had that killer pushed/boosted feel and play. Otherwise the tone was unchanged for the most part.

 

[backyardburial]

Thanks everyone...I should have noted. Of the four 7 strings I own only one has an EMG 707, the rest are are fitted with Evo/Blaze or D'Activator. The EMG is rarely used anymore. In New Zealand someone is selling a handmade clone of a TS808(?) which is cheap and I might try. All the other things you mentioned are really expensive over here, and it's sometimes impossible to ship them over as it messes with distributors rules, bah....oh well the quest continues, keep ideas coming, for the record Im not concerned with other tone except metal/grind I never roll volume back on the guitar so there's no bluesy action coming out of this amp...I have a marshall for that lol. Cheers again