Robben Ford concert

[ayan]

I'm sure the cost of ground shipping and taking gear on airplanes has had a lot to do with RF "simplifying" his rig. Having a sound that's basically built around a pedalboard makes it easy to switch to backline equipment as well.

I'm tired of hauling stuff around because the novelty of playing my own amps has basically worn out after 16 years. That and the fact that my little Xotic BB Preamp pedal can get me 90% there through any amp...

G.

OK at the risk of getting pounced on I am going to say....waaah.

Charlie
I used to say/think the same thing about others that complained about hauling bigger rigs around..(hell I used to own an amp company)All I can say is I don't know whats happend to me..
After years and years you just get tired of hauling it all around when I have other smaller rigs that sound great, even with pedals..

As far as Robbens excuse you just have to ask him?..There could be other reasons why he doesn't haul his around...Logistics,on going problems,room sizes,or maybe he is just evolving as artists sometimes do?

As far as Drummers and Keyboard players go..I am glad I am not them..Then again I could have been a horn player or better yet a singer...Ahhh scratch the singer...

Tony

[Long Distance Call]

It also could be that he might be changing musical direction for a while...

From: http://www.guitarplayer.com/artists/101 ... lean/23829

"I have a TC Electronic Hall of Fame reverb, and I also have a wah and a volume pedal, but I hardly ever touch them anymore. There’s also a booster made by Vertex, and I have a Lovepedal COT 50 for overdrive. But all I’m really using right now is the Hall of Fame and the Dumble boost, which isn’t an overdrive— it just bypasses the controls on the amplifier. Even my Strymon delay I’m not so sure about anymore.

I’m really enjoying the clean sound of the guitar, so it’s becoming a full-circle adventure for me. I’ve come back to where it all started, which is basically B.B. King. A guitar through a good amp with a little bit of reverb, a little gain boost when I need it, and I’m good to go."

[Charlie Wilson]

Tony(and Gil), yeah I get it. I used to drag all of my expensive gear down to the local bar thinking I had the greatest tone ever and some drunk girl would throw up on my pedal board. I guess I am at the phase were I built my first Dumble amp and I haven't be able to use it yet at a gig. Maybe a few years down the road and a few hundred gigs I will change my tune somewhat. Robben used to come to GIT and sit in a practice room I think on Thursdays(1983) and a group of us would sit with him and play Real Book tunes and ask questions. I asked him about that night he played with the Strat and he said he just felt like playing clean all night. I guess you can't argue with that. As far as horn players go, I recently threw my guitar down on stage and stormed out of a gig because of a sax player playing all over the top of me so don't get me going on horn players.
CW

[aflynt]

But all I’m really using right now is the Hall of Fame and the Dumble boost, which isn’t an overdrive— it just bypasses the controls on the amplifier. Even my Strymon delay I’m not so sure about anymore.

I'm guessing he plays really loud. Like right on the edge of breaking up the power section. That or his PAB sounds way different than the ones in the clones I've built. At the volume I play the PAB on clean is just super loud and obnoxiously quacky.

-Aaron

[talbany]

That and the fact that my little Xotic BB Preamp pedal can get me 90% there through any amp

GREAT.. Now here is another pedal I have to try..Thanks alot Gil..

Most of the horn players I play with are pretty good about not stepping over things..For me it's the Harmonica players..Dont get me started either..

Funny..Once the cracks started to appear in Robbens rig (Zendrive) I kind of thought the rack days were numbered ...I am looking for a good pedal reverb unit and see Robben replacing TC with the hall of Fame.. Anyone out there use one of these and can give a quick review before I jump in I would appreciate it..
Have a Great Day!

Tony

[norburybrook]

the HOF is a great reverb pedal, it also works without the need of the dumbleator ( although some will say the tone's better with)

the only downside is a lack of switchable pre sets so if you want to change reverbs you have to either buy another or bend down and move the switch. Robben has two on his board for this reason.


I can't think of another reverb pedal that does all the HOF does for such little money. When plugged in to an ipad/laptop the tone print software gives you access to all the parameters making it a very programmable device.

I can't see any negatives with the HOF


if you just use one reverb sound then just but the HOF mini pedal and program in the reverb of your choice, then just forget about it.


modern pedals are very very good, I have an eventide H9 and in a small pedal format you have access to all the eventide rack gear of the 80' and 90's


another pedal to check out.



Marcus

[ayan]

I'm guessing he plays really loud. Like right on the edge of breaking up the power section. That or his PAB sounds way different than the ones in the clones I've built. At the volume I play the PAB on clean is just super loud and obnoxiously quacky.

-Aaron

Yes, he does play loud -- and fortunately for me, I get to do that too. The traditional PAB is useless unless the power section is cooking, as you imply. The whole amp is much more organic when you get to open it up. What's boomy and buzzy at lower volumes "has balls" when the amp is loud, tone controls cease to be so finicky, top strings played up the neck remain fat sounding, etc. If the amp is not loud enough, it tends to sound more like a pedal and has no dynamic range. The interesting thing, however, is that the volume range throughout which the amp sounds great is not very broad in my experience. Too low and you get everything that's wrong with an amp that's not breathing, and too loud and it sounds unrefined unless you start dialing the gain way down. After that limit is reached, achieving more volume needs to be approached by using more speakers as opposed to turning the amp louder. I've seen Robben live enough times and know he plays louder than I do.

That and the fact that my little Xotic BB Preamp pedal can get me 90% there through any amp

GREAT.. Now here is another pedal I have to try..Thanks alot Gil..

This is the only pedal with more than a single tone control I've ever owned, and now I think I would never go back. I bought this thing a few years ago based on some serious YouTube research I did when I was looking for something that would work without having to fiddle too much with the knobs -- before that, I had a Zendrive that I never got along with -- for when I used backline amps. Love the BB Preamp, and recently noticed that Greg Koch uses one for many of the Wildwood guitar demos he does. Anyway, I think the BB is the gainiest of the Xotic overdrive pedals, but it is not a high gain affair. It is Strat friendly as well as humbucker friendly. It can be used to achieve a chunky, fat bridge pickup tone, or a lean neck pickup tone (vintage Carlton). I have not come across a single amp that pedal doesn't get along with, definitely a keeper for me and I bought it used for $100 or so.

G.

[norburybrook]

And in the spirit of this DIY forum


Here you go


Marcus

[talbany]

the HOF is a great reverb pedal, it also works without the need of the dumbleator ( although some will say the tone's better with)

the only downside is a lack of switchable pre sets so if you want to change reverbs you have to either buy another or bend down and move the switch. Robben has two on his board for this reason.


I can't think of another reverb pedal that does all the HOF does for such little money. When plugged in to an ipad/laptop the tone print software gives you access to all the parameters making it a very programmable device.

I can't see any negatives with the HOF



if you just use one reverb sound then just but the HOF mini pedal and program in the reverb of your choice, then just forget about it.


modern pedals are very very good, I have an eventide H9 and in a small pedal format you have access to all the eventide rack gear of the 80' and 90's


another pedal to check out.



Marcus

Marcus..Thanks for the rundown I will check one out..I am usually a set it and forget it reverb player..The 3 most common issues I have with verb pedals (and some racks) are..
Un-Natural sounding rooms
To much compression
Saturates with a boost in front
Noise?
Tone print software sounds cool..
Tony

This is the only pedal with more than a single tone control I've ever owned, and now I think I would never go back. I bought this thing a few years ago based on some serious YouTube research I did when I was looking for something that would work without having to fiddle too much with the knobs -- before that, I had a Zendrive that I never got along with -- for when I used backline amps. Love the BB Preamp, and recently noticed that Greg Koch uses one for many of the Wildwood guitar demos he does. Anyway, I think the BB is the gainiest of the Xotic overdrive pedals, but it is not a high gain affair. It is Strat friendly as well as humbucker friendly. It can be used to achieve a chunky, fat bridge pickup tone, or a lean neck pickup tone (vintage Carlton). I have not come across a single amp that pedal doesn't get along with, definitely a keeper for me and I bought it used for $100 or so.

Gil
Thanks for the rundown on the BB>>

This actually sounds like something I am looking for ..My high gain days are pretty much over (Rock gigs never pay )..I actually hate shopping for pedals ( I have drawers full) I always seem to find some pedals sound good through some amps and lousy through others..My problem is I have so many different amps and use them that I have to reconfigure the board when I change amps or am being held amp hostage by whats on the board..So its good to know it works with many different amps..I know you and I have similar tone taste..So thanks for the tip and I will let you know when I get one and how it works out..
Tony

And in the spirit of this DIY forum


Here you go Very Happy


Marcus

Marcus
Not sure if you noticed but Gil mentioned the BB Preamp..This is the EP booster..I actually had this pedal and actually worked pretty good to help fatten up my Strats through my Non-HRM amps but found it to be a little bass heavy/Boomy in some others (Like my Marshalls) it did help warm up the tone but eventually went into the pedal drawer..Anyway Thanks for posting the layout and am sure others will find it useful!!!

Tony

[drew]

http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/201 ... reamp.html

[John_P_WI]

Sorry tried to post a link, too big of a pain in the ass on my phone. This google malware shit blocking me from work pc is getting old real fast....

[larsvictor]

Found a schematic of the Xotic BB preamp pedal.

[vibratoking]

As far as horn players go, I recently threw my guitar down on stage and stormed out of a gig because of a sax player playing all over the top of me so don't get me going on horn players. Twisted Evil

It's 100x worse when you have to sing over them. I gave up the horns for this reason. No jobs from me anymore. At least with the guitar I could work the volume and tone to cut through it. I should mention that my Dclone on OD is the worst amp I have for cutting through a horn section. Singing through it is the pits. I could never get the concept of simmering through their thick skulls. Talk about annoying...

[M Fowler]

I recently bought a Simble pedal and it works very well. I use a Klon Centaur pedal as well.

For reverb I like the Boss RV-5 best.

I have a Zendrive Overdrive but don't like it as well as my Simble.

For boost I have a limited edition pedal called the Small Hadron Collider from
Wesley Kuhnley at Resonant Pedals.

[Structo]

When I saw Robben a couple years ago for the first time I was prepared to
be blasted by the beam because I had heard he is loud.
So we sat midway back.

I was pleasantly surprised that it was not painfully loud, sounded good.
No Dumbleator.
He had a few pedals on the floor but I couldn't tell what other than the wah.

The opening band was far louder but they were about 8 guys.
Some family band.

I was hoping to hear the Dumbleator and 2290 but I guess I was a year or two late....

Towards the end he was having noise issues with the pedals like a bad cable or loose connection.
He was distracted by that plus I think he was worn out since this was the end of the tour.

A short time later I saw where he had Vertex build him a pedal board for on the road.