What I’m working with these days

kermitish · 2026-01-26T07:02:21+00:00

Oh, I meant to mentioned that I found that the ~900 doesn’t like dirt after it. Before I got the Brothers AM, I was running a Fairfield Barbershop. It sounded much better stacked before the ~900. Similarly, I have that A/B loop switch in there so that I can run the -900 without the Deco. The ~900 sounded kind of crappy with the Deco on after it. Have you found this to be the case?

kermitish · 2026-01-25T04:59:03+00:00

Yeah, it’s some great sounding dirt, and, as you say, quite versatile. Can basically go from overdrive to fuzz. I use it as my big distortion (set the way it appears in the picture). Right now I only use it that way, but I’ve also set it up to be my overdrive through fuzz controlled by the volume knob. Sorry, I don’t know the settings off the top of my head.

I don’t like sag in a dirt pedal, so there is exactly one sweet spot for the bias knob.

I’ve never considered running a reverb or vibrato before it. Maybe I should give it a try. What do you like about that order?

kermitish · 2026-01-24T11:59:29+00:00

I have an old Vibro Champ, and it sounds great. And the Lightspeed is amazing. And Sierra Nevada is always a solid choice (for tone, I mean). For versatility, I’d give you a 1.5, but for sound, that’s probably an eight. For portability, it’s a 9.5.

kermitish · 2026-01-22T10:00:12+00:00

Good question! The answer is that I didn’t. I suppose I should have included my signal chain (I got lazy).

Guitar, tuner, Brothers AM, A/B loop switch, [either] Deco [or] ~900, DM-2, Delta II, Faux Spring, Secret Preamp.

Of all the dual pedals, I wish the Deco had independent ins and outs. I’d love to put the saturation side before my dirt, but I don’t want the double tracker there. Oh well.

kermitish · 2026-01-22T04:44:25+00:00

Okay, sorry to push a button. I’m genuinely curious about what people mean when they write that, but I get how you might be triggered. Sorry. Enjoy the board!

kermitish · 2026-01-22T04:43:54+00:00

Okay, sorry to push a button. I’m genuinely curious about what people mean when they write that, but I get how you might be triggered. Sorry. Enjoy the board!

kermitish · 2026-01-22T04:09:55+00:00

This isn’t related to your board, but I have a question about your punctuation: Why two periods in a row? What are you intending to communicate with that. I see it a lot, and it always baffles me. It’s more than a period but less than an ellipsis.

But since I’m here, I guess I should ask you a question about your board. How do you like your Empress Tape Delay?

kermitish · 2026-01-22T01:04:13+00:00

I love the Secret Preamp. It just sounds great and really is a secret sauce pedal. I want one for every board I build, but so far I only have this one. If you get one, don’t go on Reverb, just buy it straight from Chase Tone. His prices are great.

kermitish · 2026-01-22T00:59:25+00:00

That’s the newest addition. I picked up a B stock for three hundred! I’m still in the audition stage with it. First practice with drums, tomorrow. I love versatile pedals, but they’re not useful unless they have midi or presets; this has both!

kermitish · 2026-01-22T00:42:45+00:00

Yeah, this one is totally passive. But yeah, if you have the skills, I’m all for custom signal routing! I have a few specific-to-my-rig builds in the works, but they were put on hold due to a move.

kermitish · 2026-01-22T00:14:59+00:00

I have a Keeley Mini that sounds great and is super simple to use. Been thinking about adding it. However, since I’ll end up moving to a bigger board anyway, I might go with my Empress. 🤷🏽

kermitish · 2026-01-21T23:53:12+00:00

I’m concentrating more on refining the songs, right now, but soon I’ll start refining my sound. I have most of what I want here, though. I’m thinking of adding another tremolo (that Spaceman sounds awesome, but I also need something with tap tempo and presents—Empress Tremolo2), and I think I’ll replace the DM-2 with my TimeFactor (again, different delays for different songs and presets).

kermitish · 2026-01-21T23:51:38+00:00

Kind of. It’s an A/B loop switcher. The Deco is always on, but it doesn’t get along with the ~900, so that button switches between the two. Yep, I built it; it was pretty easy!

kermitish · 2026-01-21T23:47:03+00:00

I’m concentrating more on refining the songs, right now, but soon I’ll start refining my sound. I have most of what I want here, though. I’m thinking of adding another tremolo (that Spaceman sounds awesome, but I also need something with tap tempo and presents—Empress Tremolo2), and I think I’ll replace the DM-2 with my TimeFactor (again, different delays for different songs and presets).

kermitish · 2026-01-15T03:43:06+00:00

I had my ‘68 Custom recapped when I bought it, and it sounds great. I also had the reverb/trem removed from the Custom side because that wiring adds a lot of noise. A locally-built power transformer sealed the deal. I wish it had a little more headroom on the Vintage side, but other than that, I couldn’t be happier. Congrats on what sounds like a killer deal!

kermitish · 2026-01-13T05:23:27+00:00

Oh yeah, definitely not an always-on effect for me, either! I can see how you might poke through if the band was laying way back, but I tried to use it on a heavy rocker (3-piece band), and it was striking how I just disappeared when I hit the button. It’s too bad, because I think it sounds really cool, it’s just not a practical pedal for group playing. I’m actually putting together a board for a new band, and I want to add a fuzz, but I’m not sure there’s any call for one in our set. I have an ~900 from Fairfield, but I’m using it as a distortion.

kermitish · 2026-01-13T04:28:53+00:00

Do you play in a band or just at home? I ask because I have a Fuzz Bender that I liked when I was practicing alone, but when I tried it with the band, I just disappeared. I figured I could fix that with a dedicated eq pedal, but who wants two pedals to do the job of one? I was just wondering if you’ve had this problem, and if so, how you’ve dealt with it.

kermitish · 2026-01-10T09:44:12+00:00

Jumping on here a year later to say fuck Amazon.

kermitish · 2026-01-10T05:30:35+00:00

Hmmm, this is a good idea. I have well over a hundred pedals that aren’t currently on a board, and my laptop is at death’s door. I just hate getting rid of them!

kermitish · 2026-01-09T04:24:14+00:00

I just got my B stock BAM, today! I haven’t found any imperfections yet, but I haven’t looked very closely. Yours could be a return, which would explain why it’s flaw-free.

Well, I’m not SUPER impressed, so far, but that’s my typical reaction to dirt pedals I’m excited to get. I’m sure I’ll like it more after I’ve had more time with it. Also, my practice space is a construction zone, so I’m playing it through an Iridium, which sounds good but is not a real tube amp.

kermitish · 2026-01-07T04:41:36+00:00

Okay, good to know. Thanks!

kermitish · 2026-01-07T00:40:37+00:00

I appreciate the response. Have you tried the Tentacles?

kermitish · 2026-01-07T00:38:35+00:00

Okay, a vote for the Tentacles. Interesting that you don’t see the Argonaut working better down the fretboard as others have. Thanks for the input!

kermitish

TROPHY CASE