PastFX Mischief

[metropolis_4]

Has anyone tried one?

I’m looking for a RAT and I love my Rattler but I keep wishing it had a little more low end with my Strat. I’m wondering if the Mischief might give me that.

The only PastFX pedal I’ve tried was the Chorus Ensemble, but it was so amazing it makes me want to check out more of their stuff

 

[DrewJD82]

It’s on my list due to the 80’s Gilmour tones it was essentially aimed at. Verle seems to do a pretty great job at taking an old pedal, recreating it to sound the same and then adding one additional feature that resolves an issue the OG’s had, like the Mid knobs with the Big Muff and Tube Driver variants.

If ya don’t like it, I’ll buy it off ya!

 

[metropolis_4]

Order placed

I’ll let you know!

 

[DrewJD82]

Order placed

I’ll let you know!

I’m hoping you both love it and hate it!

 

[metropolis_4]

I got it today! It’s a really really great RAT and the settings and modes make it incredibly versatile to dial in any RAT flavor you want.

Jury is still out on whether it’s the right pedal for me. I’m starting to question if a RAT is really what I’m looking for. They’re slightly too loose and fuzz-like in the low end for my taste. Especially as the gain goes up.

Edit: scratch that. Klone stacked in front of it is brilliant! Bumps the mids and tightens it up perfectly.

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

I got it today! It’s a really really great RAT and the settings and modes make it incredibly versatile to dial in any RAT flavor you want.

Jury is still out on whether it’s the right pedal for me. I’m starting to question if a RAT is really what I’m looking for. They’re slightly too loose and fuzz-like in the low end for my taste. Especially as the gain goes up.

Edit: scratch that. Klone stacked in front of it is brilliant! Bumps the mids and tightens it up perfectly.

If the Klone doesn't work for a particular rig, try a TS based pedal (SD-1, TS9/808/10/7/5, Maxon, etc).

 

[EOengineer]

Might need to check this one out.

Every once in a while my old 90s big box reissue finds its way onto my board and I’m reminded how awesome it is.

There are some awesome edge of breakup tones with the drive dialed way back. Conversely there are cool fuzzy textures all the way at the end of the dial.

 

[metropolis_4]

I’m appreciating it more. I just had to remind myself that it’s a RAT and I need to treat it like a RAT.

It definitely fills a spot, but I’ve still got a need for a distortion that has got rodded Marshall levels of gain, amp-like response, tight low end, and is very full with lots of low end. But I don’t want one that sounds like a caricature. I hate distortion pedals that try to sound like a Marshall stack, they always sound fake and sit on top of the tone of the amp.

I’m not sure yet what pedal might fit that bill

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

I’m appreciating it more. I just had to remind myself that it’s a RAT and I need to treat it like a RAT.

It definitely fills a spot, but I’ve still got a need for a distortion that has got rodded Marshall levels of gain, amp-like response, tight low end, and is very full with lots of low end. But I don’t want one that sounds like a caricature. I hate distortion pedals that try to sound like a Marshall stack, they always sound fake and sit on top of the tone of the amp.

I’m not sure yet what pedal might fit that bill

You're looking for an amp. The pedals are caricatures at the end of the day. Also, Marshalls don't really have lots of low end.

 

[EOengineer]

I’m appreciating it more. I just had to remind myself that it’s a RAT and I need to treat it like a RAT.

It definitely fills a spot, but I’ve still got a need for a distortion that has got rodded Marshall levels of gain, amp-like response, tight low end, and is very full with lots of low end. But I don’t want one that sounds like a caricature. I hate distortion pedals that try to sound like a Marshall stack, they always sound fake and sit on top of the tone of the amp.

I’m not sure yet what pedal might fit that bill

Have you tried the Bogner Ecstasy Blue? Through my Princeton and Deluxe it is absolutely the most authentic amp like gain I’ve experienced. Makes the Rat kind of a toy in that context.

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

Have you tried the Bogner Ecstasy Blue? Through my Princeton and Deluxe it is absolutely the most authentic amp like gain I’ve experienced. Makes the Rat kind of a toy in that context.

It doesn't really have hot rodded Marshall levels of gain.

 

[EOengineer]

It doesn't really have hot rodded Marshall levels of gain.

Mine is pretty damn gainy, older big box version. Definitely gainier than my 2204, but I guess these things are subjective.

The Ecstasy red pedal is pretty good too but I found it to be a bit over the top. I use the blue more.

 

[DrewJD82]

I’m appreciating it more. I just had to remind myself that it’s a RAT and I need to treat it like a RAT.

It definitely fills a spot, but I’ve still got a need for a distortion that has got rodded Marshall levels of gain, amp-like response, tight low end, and is very full with lots of low end. But I don’t want one that sounds like a caricature. I hate distortion pedals that try to sound like a Marshall stack, they always sound fake and sit on top of the tone of the amp.

I’m not sure yet what pedal might fit that bill

The first part of this vid is just the BE-OD into the front of the amp without the chug-EQ engaged-

 

[metropolis_4]

You're looking for an amp. The pedals are caricatures at the end of the day. Also, Marshalls don't really have lots of low end.

I’m not looking for a MIAB, I’m basically looking for a pedal that does what the Lightspeed does but with hot rodded Marshall levels of gain.

The Lightspeed does this great thing where it just sounds like the amp it’s plugged into, but more. And it fills out the low end a bit and responds in a very amp-like way.

I disagree that pedals are all caricatures. Some definitely are, but others are unique. For example, I’ve never played an amp that can sound like a RAT

 

[metropolis_4]

Have you tried the Bogner Ecstasy Blue? Through my Princeton and Deluxe it is absolutely the most authentic amp like gain I’ve experienced. Makes the Rat kind of a toy in that context.

I haven’t tried that one, I’ll take a look. Thanks!

The first part of this vid is just the BE-OD into the front of the amp without the chug-EQ engaged-

That sounds great! Does it kind of take over the sound of the amp though?

 

[Richard_G]

I second @EOengineer’s suggestion on the old big box Bogner Ecstacy Blue. FWIW it also has a boost for more gain.

I’ve also suggested checking out some RevivalDrive options earlier. My Hot Rod Custom has lots of gain!

 

[metropolis_4]

I second @EOengineer’s suggestion on the old big box Bogner Ecstacy Blue. FWIW it also has a boost for more gain.

I’ve also suggested checking out some RevivalDrive options earlier. My Hot Rod Custom has lots of gain!

That hot Rod is probably something I should try. Thanks for reminding me!

 

[DrewJD82]

That sounds great! Does it kind of take over the sound of the amp though?

Not really, it's actually fairly similar to the amp dimed with the Hot Mod engaged and was a no-brainer when I tried it out. I was trying to figure out how to keep the amp dimed with the Hot Mod on until I tried the BE-OD for shits and giggles at GC, then I went in the opposite direction and decided to work with a clean platform instead.

The BE-OD Deluxe has 2 channels, stock the 2nd channel is cleaner than the first but there's a trim pot inside the pedal where I'm assuming you can match the levels. I'm likely going to use the 2nd channel as the dirt I feed a Fuzz Face to. The regular BE-OD pedal doesn't have the Mid knob, which was the main sell of the Deluxe for me.....even though I practically keep it in the middle anyway.

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

I’m not looking for a MIAB, I’m basically looking for a pedal that does what the Lightspeed does but with hot rodded Marshall levels of gain.

The Lightspeed does this great thing where it just sounds like the amp it’s plugged into, but more. And it fills out the low end a bit and responds in a very amp-like way.

I disagree that pedals are all caricatures. Some definitely are, but others are unique. For example, I’ve never played an amp that can sound like a RAT

I was saying that pedals meant to sound like a Marshall sound like caricatures.

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

Not really, it's actually fairly similar to the amp dimed with the Hot Mod engaged and was a no-brainer when I tried it out. I was trying to figure out how to keep the amp dimed with the Hot Mod on until I tried the BE-OD for shits and giggles at GC, then I went in the opposite direction and decided to work with a clean platform instead.

The BE-OD Deluxe has 2 channels, stock the 2nd channel is cleaner than the first but there's a trim pot inside the pedal where I'm assuming you can match the levels. I'm likely going to use the 2nd channel as the dirt I feed a Fuzz Face to. The regular BE-OD pedal doesn't have the Mid knob, which was the main sell of the Deluxe for me.....even though I practically keep it in the middle anyway.

I believe Dave said the bottom channel has slightly less gain even with the trim pot and drive pots matched. I believe it was meant to be similar to the BE channel while the top channel is similar to the HBE channel on the amps.