talk me out of an astrotone.

Chickenwings

Chickenwings

Alnico 6/8
I'm a one pedal kind of dude. Over the last few years it has been a fuzz face of one kind or another (currently a higain sunface 275) between my 335 and my fat as hell (lightly modified) 1969 fender twin.
Tell my why i should not buy an analogman astrotone. CHeers!
 
Re: talk me out of an astrotone.

Get it. I'm this close to getting a Sunbender when I have some cash in a month or so. I probably won't because I know there are better better Bender options out there, but I just want all of Mike's fuzz pedalz.
 
Re: talk me out of an astrotone.

I don't know much about that one....being modeled after a fuzz I've never heard.

I went to the LA Pedal Expo yesterday, and checked out the fuzz that stole the show....the Berkos Third Stone.
The owner and I had a conversation, and I realized he's a big expert on components and fuzz's in general. He spends all his time sourcing the best of the best, and he's yet another pedal maker with a waiting list.

All I know is the Berkos Third Stone and Germanium Experience were the most impressive fuzz pedals at the show and all the good players were gravitating toward them. $300 freakin dollars though.


 
Last edited:
Re: talk me out of an astrotone.

That's not much more than a germanium Sunface with all of the good options, for what it's worth
 
Re: talk me out of an astrotone.

The Astro Tone is a cool box but compared to a Fuzz Face, even a lowish gain Ge Fuzz Face it's MEGA low gain...even with humbuckers.

Sunbender...no thanks, Love Mikes pedals but the Sunbender is a fail IMO...it sounds nothing like a MK 1.5 to me.

Berkos...dunno about those. Demo's did not floor me but UTOOB demos rarely do.
 
Re: talk me out of an astrotone.

i keep the gain pretty low on fuzz faces anyway. Input trimmed down, fuzz rolled back a bit, then i usually have my guitar volume rolled back too - its never on 10.
I'm just after a different texture for recording really. I like the separate notes in each chord to ring out clearly.
 
Last edited:
Re: talk me out of an astrotone.

Anyone tried the Ramblefx TwinBender? Looks interesting but I don't know enough about Fuzz's to draw any good comparisons.
 
Re: talk me out of an astrotone.

d1dsj said:
Anyone tried the Ramblefx TwinBender? Looks interesting but I don't know enough about Fuzz's to draw any good comparisons.
Click to expand...
Thats a tone bender type fuzz. Very fuzzy and high gain - mainly for leads. ONe of those is definitely on my hit list tho.
TwilightOdyssey said:
Before you get it, check out the Hartman Tommy Bolin fuzz if you can.
Click to expand...
II'm a big fan of Theo HArtman's work - i have two of his fuzz faces and an LM308. The Bolin one is too thin on the low end from all reports tho. Andrew pretty much talked me out of that from his experiences with his one. I know its an astrotone clone too, but I'm a low end addict and i know the lack of lows on the original sam ash version why analogman made his astrotone the way he did which is not a true vintage correct clone. Im not after a "lead boost" kind of cutting tone, but more a wider fatter sound for chords and rhythm but with clarity and note separation.
 
Last edited:
Re: talk me out of an astrotone.

Gearjoneser said:
I don't know much about that one....being modeled after a fuzz I've never heard.

I went to the LA Pedal Expo yesterday, and checked out the fuzz that stole the show....the Berkos Third Stone.
The owner and I had a conversation, and I realized he's a big expert on components and fuzz's in general. He spends all his time sourcing the best of the best, and he's yet another pedal maker with a waiting list.

All I know is the Berkos Third Stone and Germanium Experience were the most impressive fuzz pedals at the show and all the good players were gravitating toward them. $300 freakin dollars though.


Click to expand...

is he still making the germanium experience? last i remember he only made a few hundred, and they'd pop up used from $900-$1200
 
Re: talk me out of an astrotone.

I had one for awhile and really liked it. Like others have said, it's really low gain but if you crank your amp it has great clarity and definition and the gain is PLENTY.

The Tone circuit is really useful - lots of sounds across the dial.

I ultimately sold it because it was competing with a treble booster for the same duties and I liked the EQing of the TB better with my amps.

I say go for it.
 
Re: talk me out of an astrotone.

erksin said:
I had one for awhile and really liked it. Like others have said, it's really low gain but if you crank your amp it has great clarity and definition and the gain is PLENTY.

The Tone circuit is really useful - lots of sounds across the dial.

I ultimately sold it because it was competing with a treble booster for the same duties and I liked the EQing of the TB better with my amps.

I say go for it.
Click to expand...

Ya know, I could see that!

I like the Astro Tone but just don't use it often...
 
Re: talk me out of an astrotone.

SteveAlysis said:
is he still making the germanium experience? last i remember he only made a few hundred, and they'd pop up used from $900-$1200
Click to expand...

The Germanium Experience is missing on the lasounddesign.net site. That's where you'll find Berkos.

I know The Guy Who Invented Fire would love this guy. He can talk fuzz pedals all day long!
 
Re: talk me out of an astrotone.

TwilightOdyssey said:
You would probably use it more if it were voiced differently ... like, say the Bolin fuzz. ;)
Click to expand...

Well The Astro Tone hits the same EQ points as the Bolin from the clips I've heard. Just crank the Tone knob all the way to the right.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top