Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

grygrx wrote:

Droog61 wrote:Thanks for the reply Josh,

I wonder how the Tone compares to the B:Assmaster (geranium)? Can't seem to find one around here may have to go to ebay. Think I'll just cough up the $ on a Pickle in the meantime, store in the hood has a 30 day return policy.

I've played both (though not with Rics). The B:assmaster has more octave content and can achieve more of a bi-amped sound with independent clean and fuzz volumes, and heavy on the mid-range content. The germanium version is a bit smoother and less bite-y than the silicon version. The pickle is a different beast all together... massively scooped mids on the basic version, though the filter knob can highlight a specific range very well. Best for bass at low filter settings and it does a tremendous drone, but can be a little boomy sometimes.

I returned the Pickle and dropped the cash on a B:Assmater germanium arrives Friday.

Let us know what you think about the new pedal. I'm curious why you returned the Pickle--although I suspect I may know why. It's definitely not a Muff clone, and if you had an MKII and didn't adjust the internal pots to suit bass, that couldn't have helped either.

cassius987 wrote:Let us know what you think about the new pedal. I'm curious why you returned the Pickle--although I suspect I may know why. It's definitely not a Muff clone, and if you had an MKII and didn't adjust the internal pots to suit bass, that couldn't have helped either.

It's 100% a muff clone... Btw. Well, a variant anyway.

We must have a different definition of a Muff clone. Yeah, they're both fuzzes, but the Pickle comes across quite different whereas a lot of the "true" variants of the Big Muff emulate it much more heavily. There's truly a different flavor with the Pickle, whereas with many (all?) of the Muff clones it's shades of the same color.

cassius987 wrote:Let us know what you think about the new pedal. I'm curious why you returned the Pickle--although I suspect I may know why. It's definitely not a Muff clone, and if you had an MKII and didn't adjust the internal pots to suit bass, that couldn't have helped either.

Hi, Nope was a great pedal and yep got inside and fiddled with the internal knobs. Was an awesome fuzz, But I found a B:assmaster Germanium in stock through a company so I decided to run with it since it was my first choice...just couldn't find one without going through customs and duty.
Pickle MII was a great sounding pedal.

Oh I see! Well enjoy your new pedal then.

BTW: the element in the transistors is germanium.

From Wiki:

Germanium ( /dʒərˈmeɪniəm/ jər-may-nee-əm) is a chemical element with the symbol Ge and atomic number 32. It is a lustrous, hard, grayish-white metalloid in the carbon group, chemically similar to its group neighbors tin and silicon. The isolated element is a semiconductor, with an appearance most similar to elemental silicon. Like silicon, germanium naturally reacts and forms complexes with oxygen in nature. Unlike silicon, it is too reactive to be found naturally on Earth in the free (native) state.

A negative of Germanium transistors is that -in general- they are sensitive to temperature, which means your fuzz will sound different on a cold day compared to a hot one.

And being reactive, they do eventually die. That's why the industry as a whole went to silicon for general and commercial use semiconductors.

iiipopes wrote:And being reactive, they do eventually die. That's why the industry as a whole went to silicon for general and commercial use semiconductors.

That's the trade off you pay for wanting a more 'vintage' tone. Price difference or lifespan is not an issue for me.

On another note, I ordered my B:assmaster Germanium from Moog Audio in Montreal, first they send it to the wrong address after having telephone confirmation it would be shipped to the address requested (was not a credit card issue as I have the shipping address registered with my card company).
So then I had to get someone to ship it to me from the billing address (I travel between my two homes thus the reason for the request).

Finally arrives... unwrapped it, Box was labeled Germanium, plug it in and it turns out to be a silicone (pink LED rather then Blue)...so now I have to ship it back after talking to the manager for 45 minutes

Maybe a trained monkey took my order and got distracted picking its nose? what a comedy, I would be laughing if I didn't have to chase around shipping it back, sure i get reimbursed but only for shipping costs, not my gas. time etc.

All I can say is proceed with caution ordering anything from Moog Audio Montreal

Ces't ce not cool man

Some cool fuzzes to check out


Oxfuzz Bass fuzz - FF type fuzz with clean blend (awesome pedal)

Mountainking Megalith - Massive fuzz and low end

Creepyfingers Pink Elephant - Ampeg Scrambler clone





Also

Sanford & Sonny Bluebeard - Muff clone

Colorsound Bass Fuzz - Muff varient