MOTM

BOY OH BOY! You really started something here Paul!

In a message dated 9/6/99 10:44:32 PM, synth1@... writes:

>So, what's the feeling of a dual preamp (2 clean channels) with a seperate
>patchable *DISTORTION*
>unit?

So what Paul is suggesting is a two channel preamp and a separate distortion 
unit. 

Now many have pointed out optimizing the preamp for synth, mic, or guitar 
levels. Well now that we know that front panels are a big concern, maybe use 
the same front panel layout for different preamps optimized for each use. As 
I've mentioned before I'd prefer to have two (or more) guitar preamps 
simultaneously -- one for my guitar, and one for my ancient Valco lap steel 
which barely fits on my ARP 2600 keyboard. I'm not sure I would even need one 
synth level preamp -- a mic preamp might be a good idea for RM and other 
processing (so Larry can do the "Load your program ..." shtick when he's 
playing "Karn Evil Nine").

>OLD guitar pedals. What's
>your fave pedal, pre 1990? (no BOSS crap).

As far as distortion goes Thomas suggested:
>- Fuzz Face (hard to find germanium transistors)
>- ts-9 tube screamer (somewhat dependent on jcr4558 op amps

I've only used the Fuzz Face (a long time ago) but it is certainly one of the 
classics. For 25+ years I've been using a Foxx Tone Machine which I like 
quite a bit since it can have two settings, a basic fuzz, and an octave fuzz 
(probably a ring modulator kind of thing to get that "Hendrix" Octavia sound).

Basically I like to have a clean signal on my guitar and three (or more) 
kinds of distortion available:
1) Crunch -- a basic rhythm sound like you get from a severely overdriven 
Marshall or Fender (output transformer saturated -- can't small transformers 
be overdriven by smaller voltage levels to achieve similar sounds at lower 
levels?).
2) Lead -- a very compressed stinging sound. Really just a more intense 
version of crunch.
3) Fuzz -- a caricature of those sixties guitar sounds found on the Nuggets 
albums (when was the last time you guys heard "Psychotic Reaction"?).
3b) Octave Fuzz -- I put a foot switch in my Foxx to allow it to do this. You 
can get a great Fripp sound like this (Belew still uses a Foxx).


BTW: footswitch inputs (which could be controlled by clock pulses) and VC for 
as much as possible would REALLY make this MOTM guitar stuff special.

I'll get back with the Phasers, et al in a bit.
John B.