BJFE / BearFoot fx Guitar Effects Community

I think the Vibe changed, but only the LED. I almost had a seizure from the original!

The big change was the MH4k. The original, that was in the box before me, was meant to be better at lower gain as some say the MH has too much dirt, so Donner being a great listener, gave the people what they wanted. The trouble was it no longer sounded like a MH and was rather skinny in the low end and mids, which could have been a good deal for those with high output humbuckers or fat 'N dirty amps, but not my cup of tea. The new one currently in the box is much closer to the MHvT though the Treble knob does not function exactly like the trimmer (in my) MHvT as it seems to boost a slightly higher frequency than the trimmer (in mine). And, it sounds clear in the high end where the MHvT have a more complex harmonically rich top end. Also, the MHvT has a fat ass where the Bearfoot MH4k is more balanced and airier. In a nutshell: MHvT probably best for low output pickups and/or brighter amps, BF MH4k probably better for mid to high output pickups and/or darker/dirtier amps.

I liked the DRDh a lot! But, like the CHII I had, I just don't play with that much distortion and when I do I reach for something fuzzy in Ge or Si. That said, the DRDh might be the most pedal bard and buffer friendly fuzz ever made. It would be fun to mate the CAF and the DRDh and hope for a CAF with a 4th knob like the Treble control on the DRDh. I wanted to like the CAF so bad, but the high end hurt.

The BeesT is another pedal I would like to own, but I do not have a huge place for it. I guess if I were still playing a bunch of Alt Country like old Son Volt it would be about perfect, but overall the OD wasn't as harmonically rich as I would prefer except when going into an amp with a Master Volume where it was great. I keep hoping for a pedal that is like an 8 x 12" tweed Twin from '59 + a little extra, but I can get close enough to that with the MHvT or MHv1 (which I no longer have) with the Drive all the way down (off).

If things were different I would be gassing hard for all 4! I wish I had all 4 the first half of the '80s as it was really hard to get what I heard in my head with gear available. I guess a Les Paul and my Mesa Boogie MKIIB or a Marshall 1/2 stack with a Scholtz power soak (lol) could have done it, but I am physically unable to play Les Pauls :green sad But, as it is I already have an amazing amount Dirt that does most anything I could want so I am not really the target market for the items in this tour set. I suddenly feel old

Donner who's next?

thesjkexperience wrote:I think the Vibe changed, but only the LED. I almost had a seizure from the original!

that's really funny, I posted the same thing about the SBMV a while back. It seriously triggers migraines... if only it didn't sound so damn good!

hawaii121 wrote:

thesjkexperience wrote:I think the Vibe changed, but only the LED. I almost had a seizure from the original!

that's really funny, I posted the same thing about the SBMV a while back. It seriously triggers migraines... if only it didn't sound so damn good!

I LOVE the blue LED

cajone5 wrote:

hawaii121 wrote:

thesjkexperience wrote:I think the Vibe changed, but only the LED. I almost had a seizure from the original!

that's really funny, I posted the same thing about the SBMV a while back. It seriously triggers migraines... if only it didn't sound so damn good!

I LOVE the blue LED

Just be careful when you play an outdoor gig! I think it may call the UFO Mothership! At least it isn't a red light. Had I stomped the MGMV at some of the places I used to play it would have cleared the house thinking the cops had arrived!

J/K, I just have some weird sensitivity to flashing and flickering. I have a time limit at stores or other places with fluorescent lighting and I could only date girls that didn't like to go to dance clubs.

thesjkexperience wrote: I think the Vibe changed, but only the LED. I almost had a seizure from the original!

I had to put a piece of masking tape over it. As I commented previously, these super-bright LEDs really bug me. I don't see any point they serve, and I've had to replace them in several (non BJF/Bearfoot) pedals cause they were driving me and bandmates nuts on gigs.

thesjkexperience wrote:The big change was the MH4k. The original, that was in the box before me, was meant to be better at lower gain as some say the MH has too much dirt, so Donner being a great listener, gave the people what they wanted. The trouble was it no longer sounded like a MH and was rather skinny in the low end and mids, which could have been a good deal for those with high output humbuckers or fat 'N dirty amps, but not my cup of tea. The new one currently in the box is much closer to the MHvT though the Treble knob does not function exactly like the trimmer (in my) MHvT as it seems to boost a slightly higher frequency than the trimmer (in mine). And, it sounds clear in the high end where the MHvT have a more complex harmonically rich top end. Also, the MHvT has a fat ass where the Bearfoot MH4k is more balanced and airier. In a nutshell: MHvT probably best for low output pickups and/or brighter amps, BF MH4k probably better for mid to high output pickups and/or darker/dirtier amps.

Hmm...

Now I'm curious as to this recent 4H evolution. The original one in the tourbox was slightly lower gain than the 3 knobbers I have and had a treble control that was pretty mild-mannered. I liked it and promptly ordered one, however the 4H that soon arrived had a significantly altered treble control that was much more extreme and with a pot taper I didn't like. Donner told me there'd been requests for more treble, when I inquired about the change. I sent it back and he modified it to something like the original tourbox 4H. It is now, for me, perfect - lower gain (slightly) than the 3 knob H and with tone and treble controls that are well balanced.

I'm not sure if either of the two Scott describes above are exactly like mine. I should add that I still love and use the Model H v1, but I really like this 4H for different circumstances. All good!

I would want whichever MH4K version was in the Pete Thorn demo. There was a setting where the Hiwatt essence was nailed for me.

I am Incinerator wrote:I would want whichever MH4K version was in the Pete Thorn demo. There was a setting where the Hiwatt essence was nailed for me.

My guess is that is the one with a TON of range on the treble knob considering when it was released (same time as the mystery pedals -- original MH4ks and Beest 4ks).

thesjkexperience wrote: Just be careful when you play an outdoor gig! I think it may call the UFO Mothership! At least it isn't a red light. Had I stomped the MGMV at some of the places I used to play it would have cleared the house thinking the cops had arrived!

J/K, I just have some weird sensitivity to flashing and flickering. I have a time limit at stores or other places with fluorescent lighting and I could only date girls that didn't like to go to dance clubs.

That's pretty funny... UFO Mothership...

Other note, I have same sensitivity I'm pretty sure it's from many years of being on the water (water sports) with no sunglasses and glare etc. These days xmas lights, camera flashes, and bright SBMV lights kill me.

hawaii121 wrote:

thesjkexperience wrote: Just be careful when you play an outdoor gig! I think it may call the UFO Mothership! At least it isn't a red light. Had I stomped the MGMV at some of the places I used to play it would have cleared the house thinking the cops had arrived!

J/K, I just have some weird sensitivity to flashing and flickering. I have a time limit at stores or other places with fluorescent lighting and I could only date girls that didn't like to go to dance clubs.

That's pretty funny... UFO Mothership...

Other note, I have same sensitivity I'm pretty sure it's from many years of being on the water (water sports) with no sunglasses and glare etc. These days xmas lights, camera flashes, and bright SBMV lights kill me.

Interesting. I surfed a lot the 6 years I lived in California and we did a lot of trips back to CA in the 90's for a week to ten days of straight surfing. However, I do remember being sensitive to flashing in grad school which was just before the move to CA. I just thought it was the mushrooms. Thankfully the Dead and WSP didn't have flashing light shows or people with glow sticks in your face lol!