BJFE / BearFoot fx Guitar Effects Community

Just wondering what types of amp or speaker trends (if any) are among the BJF devotees. Are you using dirty amps + the pedals for coloration? Cleaner amps as a "pedal platform?" Then what speakers? While we're at it, which BJF's (or MP's) are you using? And why?

I can only assume that those of us who are really into these pedals must have some sort of common thread in that we all tend to hear something very special in them that we aren't hearing elsewhere. It has peaked my curiosity as to how these pedals are being applied and amplified.

For a good while now, I've been trying to figure out the ideal amp. I'm convinced it's the Mad Professor Amp, but I also don't have that kind of cash. So in the meantime, I've been trying to find just the right amp to use as a clean but strong and defined pedal platform.

This search has landed me onto a Hiwatt DR103. I'm chiefly a rock guy, and I wanted an amp that would give loud, powerful clean...without being too clean. I wanted some sparkle and shimmer to the sound, while still preserving definition. I wanted a platform for my BJF's to just "melt into" the sound, instead of sounding "on top" of the amp, if that makes any sense. I know I'm not a Fender guy, and that I prefer the British flavor of EL-34 tubes.

This is going very well. My best set-up so far, methinks. I really like the sort of "hi-fi" quality of the Hiwatt, as opposed to Marshall, etc. The sound spread is so big, that a lot of the sonic nuances of my pedals are now coming through...things I hadn't quite heard before when I was using other amps.

Main guitar is a LP-style McNaught, but I also use a Strat. I run the Hiwatt into a Port City 2 x 12 Wave Cabinet, loaded with a pair of those WGS Classic Lead 80 clones that were going for $20 a pop not too long ago. (Great speakers, by the way.)

My BJF's are: Folk Phaser, Dynamic Amber Overdrive, Dyna Red Distortion, Candy Apple Fuzz, Red Rooster Booster, & an MP Deep Blue Delay.

I think I'm right where I need to be.

You guys?

Doc

Hey Doc!

My main amp is a Germino Club 40 which I tend to use for rock n roll. My second amp is a Victoria 35210 (super) which I use for blues. The BJFs sound greatt through both although I think the OD's tend to sound best through the Vicky. Overall, I use the amps as a clean platform for the pedals. I play a strat and a tele for guitars. Hope that helps.

Hey!

Thanks for taking the time to share. Yeah, I was just wondering what types of set-ups people had going on. Our common thread is that we all love the BJF / MP stuff ... but how and why we apply these FX the way we do is intersting to me, as there are likely many different approaches that we all take. These differences can really do a lot to show the versatility and variety of applications for the various models offered by BJF and Mad Professor.

Have fun

Doc

I'm running a clean Matchless HC-30 and have been for the past three years or so. Right now the CAF is the only BJF on my board, but I'm toying with the idea of putting my HBOD back on. Just not enough space for everything, but it keeps me from going completely overboard, I guess.

hi, i use HB. DRD, LGW and EGDM. amp is mainly a bruno cowtipper, but often igotta use whatever is on the stage, so i put this setup thru a lot of amps.
the BJFs sound great thru every setup, and thats what makes them so valuable for me! even thru superclean amps like a twin 65 reissue, which i have to use often. and i tried a lot of pedals that work only with slightly overdriven basic ampsounds. the EGDM is the only BJF actually that sounds too harsh when i got a bright amp like the fender...but it SHINES w/Vox or marshalls...
i use a clean basic sound, the HB for dirty/crunchy and as a base that i push with the DRD or EGDM to get phat leads. i use the LGW on its own for leads with "bluesy"TS flavour...

DocRock,

Glad you asked as I have been wondering what the "favorite" amps are in this auspicious, or is it suspicious, company of insatiable tone fanatics.

I purchased a THD Flexi 50 a couple years back and its the only amp I have and only one I've ever used. I was playing primarily acoustic before that time and thought the Flexi 50, with its capability of accepting a myriad of tube combinations, offered just what I needed; versatility. Turns out after tubing with EL 84's (Yellow Jackets), EL 34's, 6V6's, 6550's, and 6L6's that I liked the 6L6's the best. However, the difference in the tube changes was not so "dramatic" as one might expect.

So, I purchased a couple of pedals from Fulltone and Addrock then moved to the BJF pedals. There, I got my eyes (ears actually) opened to a whole new world. I should never have gotten started in this but I realized it only after becoming an addict. Can I hear an amen??

Anyway, the thing I really like about ALL Bjorn's pedals is that its like getting a whole new amp with each one. I can get that really "squashed" Matchless sound with the right tweaks of the EGDM ( I like Sister Hazel tunes, what can I say) and a reasonable facsimile of Bush going if I play with the gain on the Model R especially if I "chase" it with a little Klon set at low gain; its "in your face" raw.

I use the Pine Green "lightly" after the Model R and the Honeybee (which "emphasizes" the Model R for me), and the EGDM after the compressor (one can only stand so much compression). Last, but certainly not least, is the absolute joy experienced with my favorite pedal, the Folk Fuzz. It is just a wonderful noise in every setting!! I use it when I'm not trying to play anything in particular; just having fun. There are way better musicians out there but none I can assure you has more fun with sound!

I should think that good tones would be found in most amps through Bjorn's pedals. I will only add that the Flexi 50 certainly does not have the "warmth" of a lot of amps I've heard since my purchase.

So, I have in actuality, purchased 5 amps through the use of these little marvels. I have tried to convince my wife of that but right now, she ain't buyin' it.

Okay, has anyone played one of the Mad Professor amps and, if so, what did you think?

cork

Hi,

I have a board consisting of PPF -> MGMV -> Orange squeezer copy -> Fetto- > RRB -> HBOD -> Phase 45 copy -> MP DBD. This is plugged in either a THD Bivalve (5751, 12Ax7, KT66, 6V6) with a T-Rex Room-mate in the loop with a THD 2x12 cab or a Fender Superchamp or a Fender Blues Deville 2x12. The amps are set to be clean or in the case with Bivalve clean with a tiny bit of grit.

F?r the moment I mostly playing on Fender Eric Johnson strat, Fender Mexico strat with Rio Grande Dirty Harry p/u or Gibson Les Paul 2002 with a '59 neck.

Christer

Ill try to stay brief as there were many questions..
well being a devotee that I am, I set out for a MP CS-40 this year,, and last week finally recieved one.
Still messing around with it but did see a Ocktoberfest gig the second day it was here and completely shined. I thought I knew how good it would be, and then I plugged in and found out how amazing it really was. Many great things to be said about this amp, one must really experience it for themselves.
I set most of my amps clean or on the verge, and love to use pedals to add to it. As far as which BJF/MP pedal use, lets keep it easy and say all of them.
For speakers I currently running thru a 4x12 greenback cab. Probably soon I will be switching to a eminence loaded 4x12 'working mans cab'.
Guitars Ive been messing with in this set up now are Oldworld Tele , Ruokangas Mojo and expecting a Novax soon to replace my LP as my main.
Couldnt be happier with sound and feel of everything,,, the only thing left I can complain about is my own playing.

cheers,
Lann

TheWarmth wrote:I'm running a clean Matchless HC-30 and have been for the past three years or so. Right now the CAF is the only BJF on my board, but I'm toying with the idea of putting my HBOD back on. Just not enough space for everything, but it keeps me from going completely overboard, I guess.

I was just wondering if you tried a lot of other amps before deciding on the HC-30 and, if so, why you decided on it? What types of music do you play?

Noticed you had the Klon and the Diamond delay and I use both. Looking eventually to try out one of the Mad Professor amps but I'm going to have to save for a good while for that. I don't live in an area where I can readily test different equipment especially amps but have liked the music I've heard played on the HC-30. I've read the HC reviews, just wanted to get some no nonsense feedback on the strenths and weaknesses of that amp.

Also, how does the HB alone sound through the Matchless?

Thanks,

cork

I use two amps mostly these days - My Princeton Reverb with Greenback speaker...
And a head that is AC30 front end ( EF86 and AC tone stack ) and Clubman power section

IVe come to love Greenbacks over the last few years as my preferences turned from Blues back to Rock/Altcountry... and I still dig some old EVM and EV SROs with either amp....