GuitarFetish Onboard Multi-Distortion Circuit

[minions]

I was looking on GuitarFetish out of curiosity and I came across a pre-amp booster called the Onboard Multi-Distortion Circuit. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with it, or any GuitarFetish pre-amp booster, and if it does what it says it does (i.e. has 4 distortion sounds including AC-30, Overdrive Twin, Marshall Lead, and Mega Overdrive). Also, would something like this be digital?

http://store.guitarfetish.com/onmucihotrot.html

Thanks.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

The fact that it has those modeller sounds and fits inside a guitar all but guarantees it's digital.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Just clicked the link, it's most definitely digital.  The wiring is way oversimplified in the description.  "....just install the "Multi Drive Circuit" in place of one of your tone pots, and you're all set."  My B.S. meter went off the charts.  For $32, it's the best or worst $32 you'll ever spend, I'm with the latter.  However, I have not used one, that's just the vibe I got from the link.

 

[dbw]

Uh, it's definitely NOT digital.  It's probably a Tube Screamer type circuit... the IC is probably a dual op amp and the two clipping diodes are farthest from the camera.

 

[old_metal_head]

Oops

 

[dbw]

I think they're just applying promising names to a few different distortion effects.... I'd wager the clean is clean, the AC-30 is a bright clean, and the other three are increasing levels of distortion.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I have a GFS Power Rails http://store.guitarfetish.com/gfsporacrpok1.html pickup in my Warmoth Z, and surprisingly, it is a great pickup despite its lower than average MSRP.

I'd be interested to try the VEH (Vintage Extra Hot) pickups  http://store.guitarfetish.com/veviexhoblbr.html

in a future build, as well as the Neovin pickups http://store.guitarfetish.com/blnenemaourh.html

Don't knock it until you try it.

 

[tfarny]

I thought their A2 strat set was very nice, their tele pups were just ok, and the neovins not nearly as good as the competition.

I would try them again and who knows, that active circuitry might be just the thing as long as you don't expect an AC30 sound to somehow exit your guitar, enter your crate SS 8" amp, and come out the other side sounding like the return of the British invasion.

 

[blue313]

IMHO If the guitar is built completely passive already, I'll leave the battery hassles for the pedal board.  If it was an active setup already, I don't know if this would necessarily be the right preamp.

I've heard many good things about GFS pickups.  I was thinking of trying out a set in the new Epi LP I scored recently.

However, GuitarFetish seems to get less than stellar reviews about almost everything else they carry.

 

[dbw]

Yeah don't go routing a battery box for this thing thinking it is gonna model an overdriven Fender Twin.  With that few components all you can make is a simple distortion circuit.

 

[minions]

With that few components all you can make is a simple distortion circuit.

I have a Boss DS-1 Distortion pedal. I am just as well off (if not better) with that?

 

[jimh]

If it were me, I wouldnt bother, unless you go active. 
I;d stick with pedals and amps for your drive.

 

[minions]

Oh okay. What is the difference between passive and active pickups?

 

[jimh]

Passive is your bog standard pickup that 80 percent of guitars have (if not more).  There is no on-board amplification stage or powered pre-amp.

Active pickups are the ones that need batteries routed into the guitars or hidden under the pickguard. Such as EMG's.  They have an on-board pre-amp or active EQ's.
Active electronics are commonly found on Bass guitars, and more and more guitars. 

In Guitarland they tend to be (though not exclusively limited to) aimed towards metal players and people requiring higher gain settings.  David Gilmour of Pink Floyd uses and active EMG set of single coils in his strat, and he gets some of the best clean sounds out there.

 

[yyz2112]

With that few components all you can make is a simple distortion circuit.

I have a Boss DS-1 Distortion pedal. I am just as well off (if not better) with that?

Absolutely, as you have a tone pot on the DS-1. The guitar fetish circuit has a lot of surfce mount caps and resistors, and looks all the world to me like a DOD250, or MXR Dist+ type circuit=opamp with dual diode clippers and only volume and distortion control.

 

[minions]

In Guitarland they tend to be (though not exclusively limited to) aimed towards metal players and people requiring higher gain settings.

Ah yeah, I thought that might be the case.

Absolutely, as you have a tone pot on the DS-1. The guitar fetish circuit has a lot of surfce mount caps and resistors, and looks all the world to me like a DOD250, or MXR Dist+ type circuit=opamp with dual diode clippers and only volume and distortion control.

Oh okay so the GuitarFetish thing really isn't worth it.

Thanks everyone! I think you've all answered my question.

 

[disaster]

I don't have the multi-distortion but I do have 2 of the boost circuits.  They are analog circuits.  They are just op-amp filters.  I'm not very impressed with the performance of the 2 I have.  I bought them as experiements.  I didn't mount them in the guitar but I made a "tone box" to use between the guitar & amp.  They do what they claim (sort of).  The mid-boost circuit boosts the mid frequencies.  The mid-cut circuit cuts the mid frequencies.  I find the results less than pleasing, the clean sound from the guitar is much preferred.  They are active circuits so they do amplify the sound.  But they amplify the noise as well.  I find they amplify more noise than signal.  I don't hear any noise when playing without the effects, but as soon as they are engaged the noise comes up.  The 2 circuits I have use push/pull pots to switch the effects in and out.  When the effects are switched out I get clean signals, no noise.  But when they are switched in the noise comes up very noticeably.  I believe the noise is coming from the boost circuit itself.

So for me they were disappointing. But for the cost it was worth the experiment.

Good Luck