NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

[Gearjoneser]

Last weekend, I stopped by GC and they had a Green Rhino on the demo rack, so I was excited to finally hear it. I knew XSSIVE and Vasshu, two pedal freaks, bought them so it had to be good. Instantly, I had world class tone with a MIM strat and Raven SS amp! Huge killer tone! Even the store manager ran up and said "that's it, I'm buying one," and he actually bought one right in front of me.

I've had a lot of OD's and the Klon Centaur has been my mainstay, but the Green Rhino is equally good but different. The Klon is smooth and sweet tube tone, while the GR is aggressive and gainy.

The early 90's Jeorge Tripps Way Huge brand was one of the first boutique pedal phenomenons, and the old pedals have always sold for big vintage bucks.

So my mind was jonesing all week on that damm Rhino. I was holding off paying $142 out the door though. Yesterday, I noticed that GC is having their Valentines week sale, and their website has a $20 off anything over $100 coupon, so I printed that out, and decided to get the Green Rhino.
Got it for $120 even.

This pedal is going to be a way huge seller. It's the best incarnation of a tubescreamer ever made....It's basically a rich sounding one with a bass boost knob. And it's green...the best kind of green...brushed anodized, and it has a way bright blue LED!!! It practically lights up my whole pedalboard!

Oh yeah, and the box it comes in looks cool, as well as the two free pin-on buttons. I've been messing with it for an hour now on my Bogner and Matchless first.

I'll continue a real review after I've fed it into all my amp and guitar combinations.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

I've been checking out a Pork Loin or a fat sandwich....er..pedal.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

Gainwise, I think this one sits right between those two.

The story about early Way Huge is that he was a young guy who was always bugging the head engineer at Dunlop, picking his brain for technical advise. Jim Dunlop would get mad and say "don't talk to him anymore, he's just ripping us off."

And now, years later, Tripps is working for Dunlop, creating their best pedals like the Hendrix signature line and MXR Carbon Copy.
On top of that, the Dunlop Way Huge line is going to tonally beat the MXR/Dunlop line. It's funny that the "idea stealer" is going to be Jim Dunlop's big asset now! I said big asset because Dunlop's biggest asset is their worldwide distribution.

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

You have a Klon?

 

[andrew11]

NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

How do u think the rhino compares to the troll? Thinking of selling my troll and buying a rhino.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

The Angry Troll is a clean preamp boost pedal, and I think it's a killer looking pedal. I'd just keep it, and add a Green Rhino.

So far, I've gotten SRV heaven with the Strat's Surfer neck pickup, GR, and Matchless. Beautiful! If Stevie were alive today, I guarantee he'd be putting this on his board.

With a Custom5/59 in an alder strat, GR, into the Bogner plexi channel, it's pure Van Halen.....with the guitar's volume knob controlling the gain.

I also just tried the SG Burstbucker 1/2, GR, into the Marshall Jubilee, and it was like Iommi with better tone. Stoner/Doom guitarists will love this pedal's 100Hz knob because it can bring the gain into bassy sludge that's still got definition.

And that's the real star of the show...the GR's 100Hz knob. It's like you took the best sounding Tubescreamer and used it with a Boss EQ pedal, bumping up the lows.

I still can't get over this bright ass blue LED! When my Bogner's in the plexi mode, it's got bright blue LED's going, in addition to my blue jewel light. Now, the Green Rhino has a glaring blue light from the floor. It's actually really cool looking in the dark!

Also, the switch has the perfect feel.....a buttery click...feels high quality.

 

[kjrocks]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

Why do you guys do this to me?

 

[Scott_F]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

After seeing Joe's amps, I'm not sure why he even bothers with pedals, but I guess it's part of his addiction.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

Nice one Joe, when 3 of the main men on the board recommend a pedal it must be a winner. Wish we had GC's over here sometimes for these type of deals!

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

I told you it kicked ass. Glad to hear i'm not alone and you like it too. Gotta love that 100Hz knob, Tripps' should have just called that the "Magic" knob :lmao:

I tried it through my 4 amps (Peavey 3120 and 5150, '79 JMP 2204 and '67 Vibrolux Reverb) and it worked amazingly well through all 4 and i've never had an OD pedal that i could use on every amp i own and be fully happy. I normally use different OD pedals on each amp (the Peaveys share 1 in stereo though).

Your right about the switch it feels much nicer than the typical stomp switch. It seems a bit sturdier and less clanky clicky rattly like the typical switch used on pedals from boutique to big name brand.

Now let's hope they bring back the Way Huge Camel Toe next! Rhino + LLama all in 1.

 

[andrew11]

NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

Thanks, now u guys really got me wanting a GR. Can't get enough way huge, slowly working on the hole set.

 

[joelap]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

Guessing the 100Hz is similar to the "bass" control on the Bad Monkey... would love to see a blind test comparison between the monkey and the rhino. It's like a trip to the zoo without the threat of thrown fecal matter.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

After seeing Joe's amps, I'm not sure why he even bothers with pedals, but I guess it's part of his addiction.

I rarely need OD's when using the XTC, because of it's boosts.

But on my two pushed clean amps, the Chieftain and Gibson Goldtone, I like OD's for adding a lead channel. The Klon is more Robben Ford-ish, while the GR will do everything else. They look and sound beautiful side by side.
By chance, they even have the same style of knobs.

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

Congratz on your purchase Gearjoneser, I somehow knew you weren't going to be able to pass on the Green Rhino haaha

It's not a surprise to me anymore to see how much you like it! After the earlier reports such as XSSIVE's one, it was clear this thing was more then living up to it's (high) expectations, glad to see this thing makes it all come true!

Have fun with it man, but somehow I know you already are!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

The shade of anodized green used on this pedal is unique, as it seems to change color depending on how the light hits it. That's why all the online pics are differing shades. It's a strange color to photograph, but in reality is a very light lime color that turns gold when the light hits it.

 

[Kam]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

Sweet, those look awesome. Congratulations, man. :beerchug:

 

[Farkus]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

Just picked one of these up today...tried it with my BF Bandmaster. Sweet OD for sure...I dig the curve control as well...lots of great tones in here to explore. And, is it just me, or is this pedal pretty darn low noise too?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

And, is it just me, or is this pedal pretty darn low noise too?

Now that I think about it, you're right. It functions just as I want it to, without the added hiss that a cheaper pedal might have.

This pedal reminds me of a beefier Fulltone Fulldrive 2 in the first channel.
So, if you own a Fulldrive II pedal, buying this might be redundant.
It's like a Fulldrive II with a bass boost.

 

[butnut]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

I'd buy it jus cause it's green!:bigthumb: I bought the Fat Sandwich to use with my Orange practice amp...I could'nt get a tone that made me go wow, so my co-guitarist bought it from me. Sounds great with his practice rig. I'm totally stoked with my R30 gain tone, and the Timmy and Sparkle Drive colors my clean channel...if I had room on my board, I'd try it...cause it's green...and you guys seem to dig it!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: NPD Way Huge Green Rhino

Here's some pics, since we all love those!

My little side car board, with custom B Bent made Fender/Marshall Kangaroo A/B switch.