Red Snapper? No, T Rex Moeller!

[ol man]

Hi!
Long-time lurker from Sweden, now posting too...
Playing country-rock in Landlord:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=166503

I've had the Fulltone OCD earlier on for just a touch of "hair".
I really liked it but eventually I sold it.
Just a subtle thing - found it to "elegant" and glassy
(first un-modded version)
The OCD "took over" the amp a bit as well. Don't care for that.
I now have a chance to buy a red snapper s-h.
How does it differ from the OCD and for example
the Crowther Hotcake?
I'm interested in getting this hard-to-reach inbetween-setting where
cleanish boost spills over to mild overdrive
with the guitar and amp-tone more or less intact.
The hotcake does this rather convincingly with low gain
setting, only I found the hotcake's controls
really touch-sensitive - difficult to get to the sweet spot.
Anyone using the Red snapper and why?
Thanks,

[Tim Bowen]

Haven't played a Snapper for a couple of years, but it definitely left a lasting impression. Of the umpteen variants on the typical 'Tube Screamer' circuit that I've played, the Menatone ped was certainly among the more "hi-fi"-sounding entries. Less mids and compression. Clearer high end, and superb fidelity in general; impressive output and headroom. That said, it is what it is. While it offers a better 'clean boost' than many comparable circuits, it still has "grit" at minimum gain, and if an above-unity boost is desired, there are probably better choices. However, if you run your amp at cleanish volumes, it could very well be the ticket. Most 'TS' circuits favor typical Fender tonestacks, but I really dug the Snapper with VOX and other EL-84 amps; the high end fidelity sat well.

Speaking of which, it's always a good idea to list your amp(s) of choice, as well as general pickup type employed, in a query such as yours. That "cleanish boost spills over to mild overdrive" thing is pretty much where I live. I use different circuits for different rigs and bands. For instance, the Crowther Hotcake is an old fave of mine; it shines with some rigs, is less than desirable with others.

[ol man]

Thanks Tim, I hear you.
Yeah, it's really difficult matching pedals with amps.
I used to have a Traynor Guitarmate with två El 84's - very dark
and mellow sounding. My new amp is much more in the Fender territory -
a Traynor ycv 40 with 2 x 6L6. Some of my old pedals work with this amp, som don't. Guitar: Fender Telecaster.
After your review Tim I'm starting to think the Red Snapper could be to trebly after all.
I'm really tempted by the Durham Sexdrive too. To bad it's so d*mn expensive in Europe.
Another costly choise would be Björn Juhls Honey Bee OD.
I've actually tried the honeybee - wonderful organic and
sublte overdrive that cleans up nicely when turning down the volume.
But THAT pedal costs way to much (for me).
Ah, what to get? choices, choices. Maybe a Bad Monkey?

[Improviser]

I'm also considering the Red Snapper as a quality TS variant to replace my Fulltone Fulldrive II. Apparently the newer Menatone Red Snapper has more overall control of the tone, is housed in a smaller box, and has a cool new battery access design.

Cheers,

Geoff

[Tim Bowen]

I should reiterate that it's been a few years since I've played the Snapper. Brian Mena tweaks his circuits relentlessly, and this pedal with a wider tone taper would certainly be worth a hard listen.

I opened a show last year for Tony Furtado, and he was using a Sexdrive through an old Super, and got some amazing tones. No personal experience with that ped.

I played a BJFE Honey Bee a while back, and as big a fan as I am of Bjorn's designs, I have to say that I just didn't "get" that pedal. However, many rave over it, and this too is a circuit that has been revised since my encounter with it. I'd like to revisit it.

I played a friend's Traynor 40 at a rehearsal a while back. Nice sounding amp, but I don't have much experience matching pedals with it. My gutbucket instinct would be to try some peds that generally play well with typical Fender amps. "ol man", I wonder if a Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive might be a good fit for you. You can set it for light to moderate grit, and dial in some punch and clarity via the 'clean' knob. Tone control is predictable and well-tapered, no inherent "glassy" high end here. This ped sounds especially good with the Keeley mods.

[ol man]

I've heard good things about Voodoo Labs but they are very scarce in Sweden.
Funny thing is I decided to take a chance on
another pedal where you mix the effect with the clean sound:
a T Rex pedal kalled Moeller. Ordered one today!
Those clips sounds promising, they have this rawness about them that I like.
Not as "polite" as some.
http://www.t-rex-engineering.com/def...w=page&id=2486

[Roel from Holland]

Originally Posted by ol man

I've heard good things about Voodoo Labs but they are very scarce in Sweden.
Funny thing is I decided to take a chance on
another pedal where you mix the effect with the clean sound:
a T Rex pedal kalled Moeller. Ordered one today!
Those clips sounds promising, they have this rawness about them that I like.
Not as "polite" as some.
http://www.t-rex-engineering.com/def...w=page&id=2486

Sounds really good. Cool features; mix-control and boost.

[Smokin' Joe Picante]

I own a Menatone Fish Factory and it's pretty much welded to my pedalboard. I love the Snapper side!

The T-Rex Moeller sounds/looks pretty darn good, definitely worth a try. Let us know how it shakes out!

[Dave Wakely]

Added a Moeller to the stockpile recently, after an afternoon's roadtesting pedals in London. Good range of overdrive tones from it, and the Mix control is a good bonus. The separate boost is also very handy, although it does darken the sound slighty.

Closest competitor was the HotCake (although the Blueberry version sounded muddy to my ears), although by comparison it's feature-light. The Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive had far less range of drive and ran out of steam early. Nice if you never want substatial overdrive, but basically rather polite.