~~~ Bad Monkey ~~~ The Baddest of them all

[Chiogtr4x]

Originally Posted by Anchoret

Likewise.

But still...the inescapable point with all this dirtbox tail-chasing is that the dirtbox is only a fraction of the total sound and its magickal awesumnesss (or not) just as much a matter of your amp's tone stack and speaker response as it is of the stomp, never mind the instrument.

Sometimes I think that everyone who goes on about dirtboxes should have to post an .MP3 somewhere that exemplifies his own personal holy grail dirtbox sound so at least the rest of us would be able to tell what on earth the guy's shooting for and how he defines magickal dirtbox awesumnessss.

I mean, you need some frame of reference. Otherwise this is just meaningless, content-free fanboy drivel.

In the past when I've seen people do this on forums I usually think, "wow, that's a nasty noise I never want to hear again under any circumstances for the rest of my natural life, so I can blow off Jethro's dirtbox ravings from now on."

Less often, I think the guy's on the right track and has a professionally competent ear.

It'd sure simplify things and save time.

I'm sorry but you are on the Stompbox Forum, basically bitching that there is a Stompbox Forum
I am speaking for myself in that I know I have learned quite a bit here about dirtboxes, which do what etc., have also shared my knowledge, and basically just enjoy the conversation.

I happen to think that an overdrive/distortion pedal (and having various different ones) is an integral tool for me as I want breakup, but don't ever crank my amps. So I put my pedal(s) on equal par with my guitar and amp...

Sharing sound clips is fine, but the truth is this stuff is really personal (one's tone), so even if you might love the sound of your pedal (perhaps great for the music you play), I may hate it...

If you love a Bad Monkey -enjoy the Monkey!

[Hiker]

It seems like the Bad Monkey has always been on my board, and I've had two of them, before. One is a must!

[Turtletwang]

Never mind the monkey, get yourself a Maxon OD808!

[Axis29]

Originally Posted by Turtletwang

Never mind the monkey, get yourself a Maxon OD808!

Why?

[Mike Simpson]

Originally Posted by Turtletwang

Never mind the monkey, get yourself a Maxon OD808!

Which once again like the TS9 variants lacks a seperate bass and treble. I find it difficult to find a happy place on a single tone knob drive pedal.

The Bad Monkey is a fine serviceable, gigable pedal for a lot less investment that pedals that are not as versatile. I have a Catalinbread Formula No. 5 and a Ibanez TS9 (an plder one) and I get closer to the sound I am looking for out of the Bad Monkey.

[ASC67]

Originally Posted by Mike Simpson

Which once again like the TS9 variants lacks a seperate bass and treble. I find it difficult to find a happy place on a single tone knob drive pedal.

The Bad Monkey is a fine serviceable, gigable pedal for a lot less investment that pedals that are not as versatile. I have a Catalinbread Formula No. 5 and a Ibanez TS9 (an plder one) and I get closer to the sound I am looking for out of the Bad Monkey.

^
this

[Turtletwang]

Originally Posted by Axis29

Why?

I tried the BM but couldn't get the sound I wanted, even with the separate treble and bass tone controls.

[songofthewind]

Well, I've said it before 'n' I'll say it again: The Bad Monkey is great with the two separate tone controls. AND you can get rid of the nasty honk by swapping out the C5 cap for a cheap nasty ceramic 102. This gives the tone controls even more usable range. Solder carefully, kids.

[fraser]

ive avoided tube screamers and the like pretty much forever.
but i came across a usa made bad monkey for $20, and grabbed it.
never use it, but if i ever need something tube screamer-ish, i have it-
and with seperate treble/bass knobs.
thats the beauty of it- so affordable yet nice that even guys who dont like tube screamers will buy one.

[Leep Dog]

What amps do you guys use with your Bad Monkeys? I was just tinkering with my Bad Monkey, playing through the Tweed Deluxe model on my Valvetronix modeling amp and the tone was really nice. I know the modeling amp's tweed deluxe isn't the real thing, but I'm assuming it does a reasonable job of that amp's tone. This got me thinking that perhaps the Bad Monkey is a better fit for a Fender tube amp as opposed to a Vox. Can anyone comment on this?

[hotrodkid]

Originally Posted by Leep Dog

perhaps the Bad Monkey is a better fit for a Fender tube amp as opposed to a Vox. Can anyone comment on this?

I would think most EL-84 based amps would get along better with more transparent sounding pedals w/o highlighted mids such as an OCD, Tim, SD-9, etc.. But with the BM having an extra tone control that could be dialed out. At least I would think so? Thus making it usable w/a Vox.

Yesterday we ran an 808 through my buddy's VHT Super 30 (EL-84). Sounded like poop. The last thing that amp needed was more mids pushed out in the front.

[Mike Simpson]

Originally Posted by Leep Dog

What amps do you guys use with your Bad Monkeys? I was just tinkering with my Bad Monkey, playing through the Tweed Deluxe model on my Valvetronix modeling amp and the tone was really nice. I know the modeling amp's tweed deluxe isn't the real thing, but I'm assuming it does a reasonable job of that amp's tone. This got me thinking that perhaps the Bad Monkey is a better fit for a Fender tube amp as opposed to a Vox. Can anyone comment on this?

I play a Tele I made with 3 P90's through a 74 SFPR with a 12" Cannabis Rex. We play a lot of gigs that are not high volume so I need some drive without big volume. Where most TS variants fall down for me is at lower volume, if I had a dimed Vibroverb it would be different.

[schenkadere]

Originally Posted by telefunken

I loved mine until I got a Digitech Hardwire CM-2 tube overdrive. The BM is great but the CM-2 is a tad better

I agree...but it is twice the price new.

[surfoverb]

I liked my BM until I got a Garagetone Drivetrain-it has the seperate bass and treble knobs and has more gain on tap. And it has a good buffer.

[Fearnot]

I had a borrowed Bad Monkey, then bought a CM-2 (the Badder Monkey) and a Drivetrain... it's funny (and all too informative) how similar and different they can be. The CM-2 can be dialed in to sound just like a BM, but then there's lots more EQ to play with, plus a higher-gain switch to tempt you further. The Drivetrain has a more pronounced 'mid-hump' to it, which sounds great into the Fender models on my Vox VT amp, but oddly, not so great into my ancient Standel tube amp (with the 15" speaker)... that one likes the CM-2 better.

I've also got an SD-1 in the guitar closet I don't intend to part with, in spite of all the competition.

So go figger. It all depends on your guitar, amp and ears. At some point you have to quit fussing with it all and just play.

[hotrodkid]

Originally Posted by Fearnot

At some point you have to quit fussing with it all and just play.

YES!!! And that's exactly what I have been pushing myself to do lately.

To be honest, I'm not saying I will never buy another pedal. But I know 100% that I have what I need on my board right now to make music, play/sound good, get up in front of people and entertain them.

[tuuur]

The Bad Monkey is my main pedal, next to the TU-2 tuner. I have a Tube Screamer TS7 as well, but I don't really use it.
I use it with a Kustom 150w Tuck 'n' Roll.

[Chiogtr4x]

Note to Bad Monkey Users:

I just borrowed my buddy's Bad Monkey (which I bought for him as a B-Day present a few years ago), as I was curious about it's possible use (for me) with the BM's 2nd "Mixer" OUTPUT as a "backup amp" (thru PA, should I have an amp go out) and discovered the following today using my Tele >Bad Monkey> PA system (I just set up the mixer/head and one spkr)

The buffer circuitry/and cabinet emulation on the BM actually do "their thing" even with the pedal OFF (and you are using the "Mixer" OUT jack on the Monkey)- this is great news as it gives you a decent clean guitar amp tone (no "going direct tone")- I just was not expecting this with the pedal OFF- I just assumed that the BM would have to be ON therefore I'd be getting some distortion (even at low Drive settings...), but know you can basically get a good clean and dirty amp sound into a PA or Powered Monitor if you needed with a Bad Monkey! Get one stick it in your accessory bag

edit: this is perhaps more useful to those of us that play a lot of clean-toned/moderate dirt styles, and quiter volume gigs...

[surfoverb]

wait, wut?


another great cheap tube screamer is a BBE Green Screamer. It doesnt have seperate treble/bass but I think it has more clarity than a BM (when strumming chords)

But for me the Garagetone is staying...the only bad thing about it is they use washers on the opening to get to the battery.

[uriah1]

Still have one...but ..hard to dial out dirt when necessary...not bad for use
as your 2nd od. (boost-od-lead) setup.