Banzai Cold Fusion

Luke Duke

PRSlustologist
I got a Banzai Cold Fusion a week ago from Terry (thanks man!) and just thought I'd put up a little blurb about it.

http://www.banzaieffects.com/Banzai-Cold-Fusion-Overdrive-pr-17670.html

First let me preface this by saying I've wanted a Klon Centaur for a few years and have been offered one of the OLD silver ones, but used these things command the same prices or HIGHER prices than new ones, so I've never got one. I tried a Klon for the first time when i got my Dr. Z and that's been almost 4 years ago.

I've never been very happy with any other pedal, like the times I've used a Klon. The closest I've got to that nirvana has been my SD pup booster, but I really didn't like all the highs being boosted on evry setting, I wanted some control over the highs.

Christian got his Cold Fusion a few months back after hearing they were similiar in effect to a Klon he told me I should try one out. Now look at my location on the left....do you think there was a Banzai dealer I could get one from locally? :smack: Anyway he harped on me until i was pretty convinced to look for one.

Like I said I got it Monday and have been absolutely enchanted with it since. As the link said it can do a pretty clean boost or add some additional dirt. On top of it all though I've got myself a tone control.

All of that said...whether it's a Klon copy, a similiar effect from a different source, whatever. It is a GREAT pedal. It melts into your guitar signal so it's transparent, but also present at the same time. To play is to believe.

Plugged into my Champ with the tone a 10 o'clock and the volume and gain at 9 o'clock the champ gets NASTY on 4 and 5. If it had a bigger speaker it would be downright SCARY! Very very cool.

Plugged into the Z I'm able to replace my SD pup booster and Boss SD-1. To get the breakup I wanted at lower volume level I'd run both in tandem. Using the Banzai gave me more low end because the SD-1's are notorious for lopping off the low end of your signal. But it has approximately the same amount of grit, maybe a bit less.

Plugged into my Seal Modded Marshall gave with the volume and gain controls both set at anywhere between 9 o'clock and Noon makes for a thicker sound and many MANY more harmonics. I honestly felt like a better player. Crank them up past noon and you get a thickness boost AND some additional volume.

I used the pedal at a gig on Saturday and another guitarist described my tone as soulful. So that's a big plus too. :D

This pedal often get overlooked it seems but I highly recommend you guys giving one a try sometime.

Luke
 
Re: Banzai Cold Fusion

See, I'm torn between that and the Fireball for my next pedal. I like having the two channels of the Fireball, but the Cold Fusion sounds "smoother"...would you agree?
 
Re: Banzai Cold Fusion

See, I'm torn between that and the Fireball for my next pedal. I like having the two channels of the Fireball, but the Cold Fusion sounds "smoother"...would you agree?

It definitely becomes part of your rig, kind of self integrating I'd say.
 
Re: Banzai Cold Fusion

See, I'm torn between that and the Fireball for my next pedal. I like having the two channels of the Fireball, but the Cold Fusion sounds "smoother"...would you agree?

They are completely different beasts...the Fireball is supposed to be like a Fulldrive II, which is very much like the best Tubescreamer you've ever heard, while the Cold Fusion is much more of a boost...you could use it as a stand alone overdrive but thats not it's best use.

Both are great pedals but if you are looking for a boost, the Coldfusion IS the way to go IMO...
 
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Re: Banzai Cold Fusion

could you guys compare/contrast the cold fusion with the SD twin tube classic

similarities? differences? 'best applications'

thanks
t4d
 
Re: Banzai Cold Fusion

I'd have to hear one. Boosts generally speaking seem to make the highs go nuts on me and I can't handle that. Maybe the tone control will do the trick on the cold fusion. Dunno. I will say that the fireball is really really nice. It is sort of tube screamerish, but it's different enough to be considered it's own thing IMHO. Truly in a class by itself IMHO. Tube screamers sound OK by themselves with no other gain being used by the amp, but the fireball is incredible all by itself. Sounds like a pushed tube amp and not like a tube screamer at all to my ears. Truly an incredible pedal and worth it's weight in gold IMHO.
 
Re: Banzai Cold Fusion

LUKE: Glad ya' like it Bro.....your sister is working out for me too, thanks!!!:D

JEFF H: Yeah man, lots of stuff out there on the Fireball, but you don't hear much at all about the CF. I've never played a Fireball, but it seems more in line with the FD II - SFX-03 kinda thing. The CF can be used as a mild OD, but it thrives as a straight boost.

T4D: That's pretty much the difference between the SFX-03 & the CF. SFX03 will give you 2 channels & IMHO, it works best to run the amp clean, use CH1 for gritty rhythms & CH2 for your boosted up lead work.

The Cold Fusion can be used as a mild distortion, but again, I think it's best suited as a full on boost. It sounded amazing with the Tophat Emplexador(which gets similar tones to Luke's 2203, so I know what he means :32: )..but it didn't work as well with my King Royale as my Bad Bob & being my favorite amp, well...move over Mr. Blue.

If it was a slight bit smaller, I might have kept it, but I've moved all the BIG pedals off my board & Bad Bob stayed!!! :D

GR8SCOTT: Again, I've never played the Fireball, but yeah....2 very different pedals. If you're looking for a full on boost that won't touch your EQs (unless you want it too :D )...I HIGHLY recommend the BAD BOB :bigthumb:
 
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Re: Banzai Cold Fusion

LUKE: Glad ya' like it Bro.....your sister is working out for me too, thanks!!!:D

You sir, are a bad bad man! :laugh2:


Gr8Scott, that's the reason I like the Klon and CF, you can tame the high end. Although a flat frequency boost is nice it is very easy for the highs to become uncontrollable. I found this especially true when pumping the signal into my Dr. Z Maz Jr which has EL84s. As we know EL84s can get bright when pushed, some people, (cough Christian) get driven crazy by that, and I guess to an extent I do to. With the CF I can pull back the highs, pummel the preamp and put some texture in the tone all at once.

Luke
 
Re: Banzai Cold Fusion

One time, I bought the Coldfusion at a local store, then went back the next day to exchange it for a Fireball because I wanted the dual channels, but the 3d or 4th day, I went back and the owner agreed to let me trade back and go with the Coldfusion. Not that there was anything I didn't like about the Fireball, but the Coldfusion was a little thicker and more natural sounding.

I really can't believe how much volume the CF has on tap. The unison volume is around 9:00, and if you go a lot higher, you could literally blow the speakers out of an amp!

I've had the Klon and Coldfusion together before, and they're sorta similar, but here's the differences.

Klon - has a bit more tubey 'bounce' under the fingers. As the OD is turned up, the gain compresses a little. The highs are a little more buttery, and it's impossible to dial in a harsh sound.

Cold Fusion - Sounds less compressed and more open than the Klon. The gain is crunchier and has more attitude than the sweeter sounding Klon.
I think the CF's gain sounds better as a heavy rhythm tone, and the Klon's gain has a bit more sustain, which makes it a little better for solos.

They're both really good pedals. I think the CF is one of the best looking and sounding pedals out there. It's hard not to like that silver/blue w/blue LED.
 
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