The Bad Monkey OD pedal - Page 2

Doc · August 22nd, 2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickey

Excellent use of the New York metropolitan area second person plural. I remember it in this form: "All a' youse." Sometimes: "All a' yiz."

Grammar and syntax follow usage, it's like arguing that Sweet Home Alabama is "wrong" because you can't locate a proper key to describe the song.

I do like my Badmonkey.

I actually like it a fair bit. I have too many pedals but it along with the OD3, BD2, SD1, and a few others have kept from me doing my usual $200 plus boutique search for a OD. This usually results in a lot of money going down the trail here.

telekaster1999 · August 22nd, 2008, 09:42 PM

another bad monkey fan here. what a great value. have you played with your monkey lately?

Gary in Boston · August 22nd, 2008, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telekaster1999

another bad monkey fan here. what a great value. have you played with your monkey lately?

I think the correct term would be Spank The Monkey

Gary

FenderGuy53 · September 3rd, 2008, 12:52 PM

For you guys who are using the Bad Monkey OD pedal (I just bought one for $40 last weekend at GC's Labor Day sale), what higher gain Distortion pedals work well with the BM?

Colt W. Knight · September 3rd, 2008, 01:09 PM

I went to the local music store yesterday to purchase a bad monkey, but the salesman helping me couldn't get their display unit properly setup for me to try out. Plus he kept trying to get me to play through some kind of crazy looking amp I had no idea what it was. Then the regular guy came back, and I had him help me. After playing a bunch of stuff through a 57 Twin reissue and DRRI, I brought home a Rocktron Austin Gold Overdrive pedal. Man O' man, this pedal cost 25$ more than the bad monkey, but it really gave me that good crunchy, bitey, and gritty tone I was looking for. Plus, I could work the different knobs and actually tell real differences. Not knocking the Bad Monkey, I was going to buy one till I played this dude, but since Ive never messed with pedals or hi tech amps I found this pedal easier to use since I could operate it.

A.B.Negative · September 13th, 2008, 04:02 PM

I love my Monkey! I use a Marshall AVT100 on the first OD channel with gain at half way and stomp on the Monkey for solos. I reckon I'd have to spend a lot of money to get a better sound for what I want.

blacklove · September 14th, 2008, 05:20 PM

I've been having some success using the Bad Monkey direct for recording. The "mixer" line out is supposed to have a speaker emulation. Not exactly. But it does have an interesting tone for layering guitar tracks.

When I play it in front of my DRRI, I barely set the gain knob up over all the way down. It makes my DRRI sound like the volume is on 6 but at 3 volume.

I'm waiting for a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Mosfet to get back in stock at Dave's Guitars (where I have some store credit). I used to have one years ago that I had to sell.

NEPATelecaster · September 15th, 2008, 08:26 PM

When it comes to the ins and outs of proper pedal combinations I've always been a bit lost...

Okay...

I have a Crate V-18 Tube amp. Keep Reverb on 2.

I have a Boss GE-7 EQ and a Boss DS-1.

I like to keep the amp at a relatively clean sound and have the DS-1 for distortion.

What would the Bad Monkey do for me?

manfesto · September 15th, 2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEPATelecaster

When it comes to the ins and outs of proper pedal combinations I've always been a bit lost...

Okay...

I have a Crate V-18 Tube amp. Keep Reverb on 2.

I have a Boss GE-7 EQ and a Boss DS-1.

I like to keep the amp at a relatively clean sound and have the DS-1 for distortion.

What would the Bad Monkey do for me?

It would give you a light, blues-ey breakup on your clean channel. You know the one - where you pick lightly and get a good clean, then really dig in with your right hand and your notes distort and sound really girth-ey? Like that.

Bad Monkey into your DS-1 could be quite fun also (I run my BM into a little Big Muff). It gives you a volume boost for solos, makes your dirty even dirtier, and depending on how the tone is set on the BM, can really change the tonal character of your dirt.

I dunno, I like having it so I have basically four levels of dirt:
straight clean (no pedals)
A bit of breakup (BM)
Dirty (Big Muff)
over-the-top (Big Muff + BM)

If you think you could use a sound in-between your clean and your all-out distortion, I say try one out. They can be had for around $20-$30 used if you shop around.

NEPATelecaster · September 15th, 2008, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manfesto

It would give you a light, blues-ey breakup on your clean channel. You know the one - where you pick lightly and get a good clean, then really dig in with your right hand and your notes distort and sound really girth-ey? Like that.

Bad Monkey into your DS-1 could be quite fun also (I run my BM into a little Big Muff). It gives you a volume boost for solos, makes your dirty even dirtier, and depending on how the tone is set on the BM, can really change the tonal character of your dirt.

I dunno, I like having it so I have basically four levels of dirt:
straight clean (no pedals)
A bit of breakup (BM)
Dirty (Big Muff)
over-the-top (Big Muff + BM)

If you think you could use a sound in-between your clean and your all-out distortion, I say try one out. They can be had for around $20-$30 used if you shop around.

THANKS a bunch...That really helps me out!

Doc · September 15th, 2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manfesto

... Bad Monkey into your DS-1 could be quite fun also (I run my BM into a little Big Muff). ... .

The Bad Monkey into the Little Big Muff is one of my favorite things to do as well!

mattio · October 2nd, 2008, 08:34 AM

...just got one a couple of days ago. It sounds really good with my little giant. I'm verry happy with it.

SoulPedro · October 2nd, 2008, 09:09 AM

I also used to plug my Bad Monkey into a Big Muff or a DS-2: It adds a nice sharp attack to the sound, especially with the Big Muff (It adds a bit more noise, too!!)

By the way, I don't use my Bad Monkey anymore because it changes my clean sound too much when bypassed. The buffer is not neutral at all!

vmoney · October 3rd, 2008, 06:25 PM

I've been playing the Monkey through my brown Vibroverb RI for the last couple years and for the most part find it a very versatile pedal that works really well as a front end into the amp. You can get everything from a subtle boost, to great bluesy overdrive, to nice chunky distortion. About the only thing it can't do is full on metal. It responds well to touch and cleans up nicely when you back off the volume knob on the guitar. I like that it doesn't sound fizzy or lose a lot of bottom end.

About my only complaint is that it has a hump in the mids that can sometimes make the guitar sound a bit "congested" like it has a head cold, but that's only with certain combinations of pickups and tone settings on the pedal. At times I wish it were a bit more transparent in it's frequency response for those times when I don't want the tube screamer-y midrange boost.

Any suggestions for an OD pedal in the sub $125 range that does that?

Brandon Roy · October 5th, 2008, 02:14 AM

I dig my bad monkey :)

We're giving one away over at musician's plaza.

Mark-00255 · October 5th, 2008, 02:49 AM

I've had my monkey for a while and finally replaced the battery a couple months ago. I loved it with single coils especially - my Tele or my Strat. But now that I've got a fresh Duracell in there, I haven't been liking it. I'm hearing a very compressed, processed tone with no more girth, grit or punch. Have I turned into Eric Johnson and gotta start sniffing batteries? What gives?

Anchoret · October 5th, 2008, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark-00255

now that I've got a fresh Duracell in there, I haven't been liking it. I'm hearing a very compressed, processed tone with no more girth, grit or punch. Have I turned into Eric Johnson and gotta start sniffing batteries? What gives?

Batteries often have a pretty marked effect on the sound of many analog stomps, not only due to their actual voltage in use, but the composition, which effects how much current is available to the circuit. If you doubt this, note that many digital cameras that require AA alkalines simply will not work with AA carbon batteries. Stun guns made for AA NiCds demonstrate this difference even more graphically.

Without going into all the technical rigmarole, most stomps seem to be happiest with heavy-duty carbon batteries, the kind you get 3/$1 at Walgreen's on sale.

People expressing a preference do not usually like alkaline batteries in their stomps.

Anchoret · October 5th, 2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonfarbe

I tried both and while I liked the BM, the more "transparent" Screamin' Blues really spoke to me.

I believe the "Screamin' Blues" is a surface-mount conversion of the DOD "Mystic Blues" pedal, but I don't currently have both to compare the PCBs.

When Harman decided to take popular DOD pedals like the Grunge and Death Metal and re-engineer them to much cheaper SMT build (like Behringer has done with other effects) and sell them as DigiTech, I think other existing DOD pedals got the same treatment, only with a name change for the introduction of that DigiTech line of stomps.

I would not be surprised if the Bad Monkey itself is essentially the same circuit as one of the many older DOD through-board pedals, maybe with a couple of cap values changed.

Mid Life Crisis · October 6th, 2008, 05:39 AM

I really like my Bad Monkey. It sounds great with a Tele, Strat or Les Paul, especially when going into the drive channel on my amp with just a little bit of pre-amp gain added. I find that to get as near a transparent signal as possible I have to turn both bass and treble controls up to about 4 o'clock.

September 15th, 2008, 08:26 PM	#48 (permalink)
NEPATelecaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Archbald - NEAR Scranton PA Age: 34 Posts: 1,093	Okay help me out here... When it comes to the ins and outs of proper pedal combinations I've always been a bit lost... Okay... I have a Crate V-18 Tube amp. Keep Reverb on 2. I have a Boss GE-7 EQ and a Boss DS-1. I like to keep the amp at a relatively clean sound and have the DS-1 for distortion. What would the Bad Monkey do for me?

October 3rd, 2008, 06:25 PM	#54 (permalink)
vmoney NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1	I've been playing the Monkey through my brown Vibroverb RI for the last couple years and for the most part find it a very versatile pedal that works really well as a front end into the amp. You can get everything from a subtle boost, to great bluesy overdrive, to nice chunky distortion. About the only thing it can't do is full on metal. It responds well to touch and cleans up nicely when you back off the volume knob on the guitar. I like that it doesn't sound fizzy or lose a lot of bottom end. About my only complaint is that it has a hump in the mids that can sometimes make the guitar sound a bit "congested" like it has a head cold, but that's only with certain combinations of pickups and tone settings on the pedal. At times I wish it were a bit more transparent in it's frequency response for those times when I don't want the tube screamer-y midrange boost. Any suggestions for an OD pedal in the sub $125 range that does that? __________________ The Famous — rock with a twang "Deep down and dirty swamp rock that breaks any perceived formula " — Americana-UK http://www.myspace.com/thefamous http://www.cdbaby.com/thefamous

October 5th, 2008, 02:49 AM	#56 (permalink)
Mark-00255 Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Olympia, WA Age: 50 Posts: 177	I've had my monkey for a while and finally replaced the battery a couple months ago. I loved it with single coils especially - my Tele or my Strat. But now that I've got a fresh Duracell in there, I haven't been liking it. I'm hearing a very compressed, processed tone with no more girth, grit or punch. Have I turned into Eric Johnson and gotta start sniffing batteries? What gives? __________________ Mark-00255 Red=0; Green=0; Blue=255: All Blues!

October 6th, 2008, 05:39 AM	#59 (permalink)
Mid Life Crisis Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge, England Age: 43 Posts: 547 6 Photos	I really like my Bad Monkey. It sounds great with a Tele, Strat or Les Paul, especially when going into the drive channel on my amp with just a little bit of pre-amp gain added. I find that to get as near a transparent signal as possible I have to turn both bass and treble controls up to about 4 o'clock. __________________ Quiet desperation is the English way...

August 22nd, 2008, 09:42 PM	#42 (permalink)
telekaster1999 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Heath Springs SC. Age: 40 Posts: 71 2 Photos	another bad monkey fan here. what a great value. have you played with your monkey lately?

September 3rd, 2008, 12:52 PM	#44 (permalink)
FenderGuy53 Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2008 Location: Exit 5 - NJTP Posts: 290	For you guys who are using the Bad Monkey OD pedal (I just bought one for $40 last weekend at GC's Labor Day sale), what higher gain Distortion pedals work well with the BM?

September 3rd, 2008, 01:09 PM	#45 (permalink)
Colt W. Knight Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: West Virginia Age: 24 Posts: 2,148	I went to the local music store yesterday to purchase a bad monkey, but the salesman helping me couldn't get their display unit properly setup for me to try out. Plus he kept trying to get me to play through some kind of crazy looking amp I had no idea what it was. Then the regular guy came back, and I had him help me. After playing a bunch of stuff through a 57 Twin reissue and DRRI, I brought home a Rocktron Austin Gold Overdrive pedal. Man O' man, this pedal cost 25$ more than the bad monkey, but it really gave me that good crunchy, bitey, and gritty tone I was looking for. Plus, I could work the different knobs and actually tell real differences. Not knocking the Bad Monkey, I was going to buy one till I played this dude, but since Ive never messed with pedals or hi tech amps I found this pedal easier to use since I could operate it.

September 13th, 2008, 04:02 PM	#46 (permalink)
A.B.Negative Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Scotland Age: 42 Posts: 100	I love my Monkey! I use a Marshall AVT100 on the first OD channel with gain at half way and stomp on the Monkey for solos. I reckon I'd have to spend a lot of money to get a better sound for what I want.

September 14th, 2008, 05:20 PM	#47 (permalink)
blacklove Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Small Pond Posts: 463 6 Photos	I've been having some success using the Bad Monkey direct for recording. The "mixer" line out is supposed to have a speaker emulation. Not exactly. But it does have an interesting tone for layering guitar tracks. When I play it in front of my DRRI, I barely set the gain knob up over all the way down. It makes my DRRI sound like the volume is on 6 but at 3 volume. I'm waiting for a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Mosfet to get back in stock at Dave's Guitars (where I have some store credit). I used to have one years ago that I had to sell.

October 2nd, 2008, 08:34 AM	#52 (permalink)
mattio TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Oslo - Norway Age: 34 Posts: 24	...just got one a couple of days ago. It sounds really good with my little giant. I'm verry happy with it.

October 2nd, 2008, 09:09 AM	#53 (permalink)
SoulPedro TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: France Age: 44 Posts: 44	I also used to plug my Bad Monkey into a Big Muff or a DS-2: It adds a nice sharp attack to the sound, especially with the Big Muff (It adds a bit more noise, too!!) By the way, I don't use my Bad Monkey anymore because it changes my clean sound too much when bypassed. The buffer is not neutral at all!

October 5th, 2008, 02:14 AM	#55 (permalink)
Brandon Roy Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Louisiana Age: 21 Posts: 108	I dig my bad monkey :) We're giving one away over at musician's plaza.