Robben Ford Discussion

tonemaster2_11 · Member Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 37

Before you guys plunk down the serious cash for a Banzai I recommend digging that old RAT pedal out of your closet and trying the mod posted at www.diyguitaramp.com . There's no soldering required and it's reversible if you don't like it.
It's my nephew's site and the RAT pedal he modded was MINE. I asked him to make it more useable for me since I always liked its inherent tone and the quality of its distortion. I just thought it was too thin sounding.
After the mod it is less compressed, a little less gain but what it has is more finely tuneable and it doesn't rob the signal of low end like it used to. Give it a try. I've sold off more than a few expensive pedals since I started using it and it's about the only pedal I use anymore. Could save you alot of $$$!

Aeolian · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 8:21 pm Post subject:

I was basically set to buy a Fulldrive II from Jing Chi Fan as I wanted a basic tone-in-a-box pedal that I could plug into any horrid Line-6 or whatever backline gear, and get a decent sound. I have a Klon Centaur which works great on good amps. I normally play thorugh a Fuchs ODS which Andy has tweaked to my liking or a one-off made by Bruce Zinky (who designed the Tone Master among others for Fender) so I'm pretty well set for gain tones.

I saw something on Daved's page about the Banzai and then heard Robben playing it through a Twin at the SC festival. Checked the web site and it looked like an update of the Fulltone. The price was better than a new Fulltone so I put in my order. Seemed like it would work for what I want.

Now I'm wondering what happened as I can't get any response from Banzai and they have my money.

Garth is playing down here in a couple of weeks so I'll ask him about the Stampede. His normal rig is a very complicated set up with two amps, attenuators, and a homebuilt switchboard. (his dad was an electronics teacher) Having been on the same bill with him, he was kind of coy about the set-up but with his hands it really doesn't matter that much. He also has all kinds of stuff at his studio to do other kinds of sounds if he wants to.

Yours for great tone and customer service Shocked

_________________
There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

midc74 · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 12:17 am Post subject:

Aeolian,

Not sure if you have tried the AC Boost yet or not.. but I thought I would tell you about my first impressions of it.

The first night I used it was through my Fuchs ODS.. I guess I was un-impressed.. it wasn't really what I was looking for.. although it did sound great. The funny thing is.. it sounded almost identical to my OD channel on the Fuchs. So it didn't give me anything that I didn't already have. The tone was slightly warmer, maybe a little fatter sounding compared to the Fuchs OD. Less edgy..

Then.. the last time I played, I used my Mesa/Boogie Subway Blues.. again with the same pedals (Juicer, ACB, Boss DM-2).. and I was blown away. That little amp never sounded so good. It was amazing.. I actually played better than I have in a long time (or ever).. it was very cool. I don't know if it was my playing that made the amp sound so good, or the fact that it DID sound so good, made me play even better.. Does that ever happen to you?

Anyhow.. the ACB isn't anything special with my Fuchs.. but (so far) with other amps it kills. Might be what you're looking for.. Although, I've read a lot that it's a very transparent OD pedal.. So, I would imagine it will make good tube amps sound even better.. No idea what it would do for a solid state amp.

Patrick

Garth Webber · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 6

elizabeth · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 6:20 am Post subject: Welcome

Hi Garth,

Welcome to our board; it is an honor to have such a fine musician among us. Don't worry about board expertise...we appreciate the lack of it resoundingly! (Well, I do!)

If you haven't heard this outstanding man, trust me: just buy any of his CDs; you will NOT be sorry. How ironic is it that Saturday, while filling up my car, I had Get A Grip on the Blues blasting for "mood music." A guy walked up and asked, "Who the HELL is that? It's f@#%in' fantastic!"

I showed him the cover and gave him a 60 second musical consciousness raising session, to which he replied (Sorry Garth...) "Never heard of him!"

It is my (not so humble) opinion that this man's name should be a household word, particularly if you love fine guitar. (I sing with him in my car all the time, so Garth, I feel like I know you.) You rock! I adore Hard Rain and You're a Bad One...cannot EVER get them loud enough in the car!

Please tell us where/when you are playing. Smile

_________________
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marinblues · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 6:22 am Post subject:

Ho, ho, ho!!!! Laughing

GARTH WEBBER!!!!!!

Welcome to the board!

I saw you playing with Miles in 1986 in London!

Great Stuff!

marin

________
Honda VF and VFR

edpesco · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 8:21 am Post subject:

Garth, did I tell you that "man on a mission" and "sidestreet" are always a great success when we play those tunes live?
Anyone who hasen't already done so: BUY Garh Webber's MAN ON A MISSION and all the others.....
Exclamation

Ed

Aeolian · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 9:03 am Post subject:

It's unfortunate that we don't get to see Garth live very often but it is always a real treat and definitely worth chasing down. I saw him once take 20 or something chorus's of a slow blues and it was incredible. He just kept taking us on a trip. Building and dropping, teasing and letting us have it, only to take it higher still. I was exhausted and elated at the same time. With a lot of guitarists, this could have been a big ego trip (and they would have gone through all they had in a few chorus's), but Garth had something to say the entire time and it was all about the music and making an emotional statement. Pick up any album you can, but really try to see him live.
And I really hope that the next time Pat puts one of his Blue Rockett tours together, we get to see Garth and Robben together. I've been to a bunch of these and the line up always seems to separate them. Some of the trading fours on Garth's last album probably only hint at what these guys could inspire each other to live.
_________________
There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

Garth Webber · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 6

Thanks for the kind words folks. Its nice to see a group that appeciates Robben (my favorite guiatr player in the world) as much as I do. Cool

Garth~

kirk95 · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 7:34 am Post subject: Re: Banzai Fireball II

juspasinby2003 · Senior Member Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 255

Garth Webber · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 6

HHB · Member Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 24 Location: Western NC

Wow, TB was your first teacher, how very cool!!! welcome to this board, HHB
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kirk95 · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:31 am Post subject: Re: Banzai Fireball II

juspasinby2003 · Senior Member Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 255

I think its noteworthy that Garth's overdrive tone comes from a $50 pedal, a Boss SD-1. If you have heard him, then you can appreciate how remarkable that is. Which tends to prove that it ain't the gear that makes the player.

You can get good tone from many choices of equipment, but it won't happen without the right technique, talent, taste, and experience. A Dumble is a beautiful piece of equipment and sounds majestic in the right hands, but it is simply not a necessary prerequisite for world-class tone or exceptional chops. Without dedication, endless practice and a love for the muse, a Dumble would be just one more burden to lug around in your quest to become as good as it gets.

We all lust after gear from time to time, and it's easy to forget that it's the music, not the gear, that brings us happiness and saves our souls. You would do yourselves a greater service by freeing yourselves from your burdensome possessions by sending your gear to me Very Happy