MelWaldorf
Joined: Mar 03, 2006
Posts: 648
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Posted on Jul 17 2012 03:18 PM
On the road with the Nocturne Atomic Brain
As some of you know, I've just been on tour in Italy with Meshugga Beach Party. For travel, I paired down my pedal board to my essentials - tuner, echo and boost. For boost, I took along my Nocturne Atomic Brain.
The Atomic Brain has two controls and two switches (labelled "Abby" and "Normal" - got to love the Young FrankenSHTEEN reference! The control on the right is a boost level, and the control on the left is a bass cut - counter clockwise for less bass, clockwise for more. The switch on the right ("Normal") toggles the standard boost level. The switch on the left ("Abby") toggles an extra boost. From my discussions with Tavo Vega, who makes these pedals, the intention was that you'd keep the "Normal" switch on to get your standard tone, and use the "Abby" switch to accent lead or solo parts.
Now, I know the Atomic Brain is primarily associated with rockabilly - that of course makes sense given that Tavo designed this with the goal of getting the hot 6G6 Bassman sound without having the amp at piercing volumes. So, here I was taking this stomp box out of the box, so to speak, to spend some time in the surfin' world.
I found a number of different uses for the box. In general, I used it as intended, with the Normal switch on for lead, and the Abby switch on for accent parts. However, I also found it useful for boosting some rhythm parts, especially palm muted drips.
Sonically, this is a very "present" boost - I'd say it adds dynamic range as opposed to just making everything louder. The bass cut is great as I was able to use it to dial in how much "chunk" I wanted in the sound - also useful to avoid "ice-pick" treble (or more than usual, Shecky might say). I brought the boost level up where I wanted it, and then dialed back the bass until I had the clarity I wanted on the low strings.
For the first half of the tour I was using a Twin Reverb, and the Atomic Brain was in its element - bringing the hot tones of a high powered amp into a more controlled volume range.
For the second half of the tour I used a Hot Rod Deville, which is a whole different beast. Even on the clean channel, I couldn't get a clean sound out of the thing with my high output Mosrite style pickups. Here, my use of the pedal was more limited, and I used it more as a fuzz. Even with the amp compressing when you look at it, the presence of the pedal was a lot more pleasing than the amp alone.
So, end result, I'd say the Atomic Brain is a hodaddy that can rightfully hold its own place on a surfin' pedal board.
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eltwang
Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 540
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted on Jul 17 2012 04:41 PM
Great review, Mel. I've been thinking about getting one of these for the El Ray Cali-gigs. Is it possible to dial in an extra few db's/making the signal louder without the Mosrite pups going nuts on amps with a lot of clean headroom? Say for a fairly clean Mosrite lead?
I could easily imagine the outboard reverb tanks distort a lot with this pedal on.
— El Twitter
El Ray
El Ray on Bandcamp
El Twang on YouTube
Last edited: Jul 17, 2012 16:42:32
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MelWaldorf
Joined: Mar 03, 2006
Posts: 648
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Posted on Jul 17 2012 05:26 PM
With the Twin Reverb, I didn't have issues with the boost creating unwanted distortion. It definitely drives the reverb harder, but I tend to play with a moderate dwell so there's headroom there as well.
You're certainly welcome to try it out (and the MMIII) at the Forbidden Island gig. PM me and we can figure that out.
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4457
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Jul 19 2012 11:14 AM
Did that thing help th gas mileage on your rental car? 
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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JeffH
Joined: Apr 17, 2010
Posts: 97
PA
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Posted on Jul 19 2012 08:59 PM
Great review, I've been wanting to try one of these. I love the finish - what's it called?
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josheboy
Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2366
Twin Cities, MN
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Posted on Jul 19 2012 09:56 PM
Great write up, Mel. Thanks for sharing!
I have just the plain old Dyno Brain (not the Atomic Brain mentioned above. My pedal would just be the "Normal" button. No "Abby"). It's a very subtle pedal, and difficult to describe. It just makes my guitar sound better. It pushes just enough to give my tank a little extra warmth/oomph without distorting it.
It gives me better highs without piercing my ear drums. It gives me better lows without making it boomy. It brings out the mids for extra twang when clean and crunch when dirty.
I dont run a Mosrite through it, so I wont be much help ElTwang. I play a Gretsch Pro-Jet with TV Jones T-Armonds (similar to Dynasonics, but way better) through the pedal and it sounds like a dream. I also have an Aria 1532 (Jazzmaster wannabe) that sounds pretty crunchy through it.
Tavo makes a great quality pedal. I'm a member on the Gretsch boards and I havent heard a single complaint about any of his pedals. I also have his Seltzerado Fuzz De Los Muertos. Not only is that pedal the coolest looking pedal EVER, but holy crap can it crunch!
Last edited: Jul 19, 2012 21:56:59
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eltwang
Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 540
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted on Jul 20 2012 08:49 AM
Thanks josheboy. I just ordered an Atomic Brain...a bit of a chance there but should be good fun. That's the pedal I plan to use on the gigs together with a delay.
— El Twitter
El Ray
El Ray on Bandcamp
El Twang on YouTube
Last edited: Jul 20, 2012 08:50:08
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TVTheWiredTurtle
Joined: Dec 03, 2009
Posts: 859
Sandy Eggo
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Posted on Aug 04 2012 02:15 AM
thanks so much Mel for the review and Joshe for the feedback and El Twang for giving me a chance to share my preamp with ya.
— http://www.thenocturnebrain.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturne-Brain-Preamp-Zombies/240721872969
Last edited: Aug 04, 2012 02:18:02
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Toneschaser
Joined: Jun 14, 2012
Posts: 462
Ohio!
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Posted on Aug 07 2012 11:45 AM
Great info, thanks MelWaldorf! Their website kind of indicates these are voiced towards Gretsch Guitars. What were you playing through the pedal on tour?
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josheboy
Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2366
Twin Cities, MN
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Posted on Aug 07 2012 12:36 PM
Here is a photo of Lars "El Twang" setting up his new Atomic Brain!
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TVTheWiredTurtle
Joined: Dec 03, 2009
Posts: 859
Sandy Eggo
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Posted on Aug 07 2012 07:48 PM
joshe where is the picture... ?? torturing me, oh the suspense! oh well I'll see them this weekend hopefully.
— http://www.thenocturnebrain.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturne-Brain-Preamp-Zombies/240721872969
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josheboy
Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2366
Twin Cities, MN
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Posted on Aug 07 2012 08:00 PM
TVTheWiredTurtle wrote:
joshe where is the picture... ?? torturing me, oh the suspense! oh well I'll see them this weekend hopefully.
This was taken at Forbidden Island in Alameda, CA on August 5th.
They will be at The Pike in Long Beach on wednesday night. On thursday night they will be at The Redwood in LA. On Friday they will be in San Diego. Saturday will be at the SG101 convention (are you going this year?). Sunday they will be at the HB Pier show. Monday they will be at Spikes in Rosemead.
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homerhead
Joined: Mar 17, 2006
Posts: 530
Portland, OR
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Posted on Aug 07 2012 08:31 PM
josheboy wrote:
TVTheWiredTurtle wrote:
joshe where is the picture... ?? torturing me, oh the suspense! oh well I'll see them this weekend hopefully.
This was taken at Forbidden Island in Alameda, CA on August 5th.
They will be at The Pike in Long Beach on wednesday night. On thursday night they will be at The Redwood in LA. On Friday they will be in San Diego. Saturday will be at the SG101 convention (are you going this year?). Sunday they will be at the HB Pier show. Monday they will be at Spikes in Rosemead.
El Ray vs. The Atomic Brain... I c a n n o t wait.
Rick
— Rick
Last edited: Aug 07, 2012 20:32:14
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TVTheWiredTurtle
Joined: Dec 03, 2009
Posts: 859
Sandy Eggo
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Posted on Aug 08 2012 04:12 PM
josheboy wrote:
Here is a photo of Lars "El Twang" setting up his new Atomic Brain!
..man I told Eltwang to put the brain first especially with non true bypass pedals like Boss. Boss, Ibanez, Maxon use a FET bypass that is always running a line conditioner through the pedal whether its plugged in or not.. kind of like a presence buffer. This is actually a desirable thing to have at least one pedal like this in your signal chain if you use several pedals BUT you dont want to put a Boss pedal infront of a preamp or booster of any kind that you always keep on, because its gonna amplify anything sitting in front of it. In the case of this set up that Lars has, that Boss Tuner is sending a high treble (presence) signal into the Brain preamp and this will make the Brain Preamp sound much much brighter. I have a few customers that actually WANT that to occur, but they are usually away that it will also cause any other noise artifact to be boosted as well... This is why I have the caveat in the manual that the Brain Preamp should be closest to the guitar.
I'm guessing a tone freak like Lars, has weighed all this and is finding that the extra brightness through that sexy mosrite clone works for him better. Perhaps because he is using a Supersonic amp? I can never tell in the photos if thats a 62' blonde or a fender supersonic.
Eltwang??? whats the verdict?
— http://www.thenocturnebrain.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturne-Brain-Preamp-Zombies/240721872969
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Firetone
Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 81
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted on Aug 16 2012 01:24 PM
Having tested the Atomic Brain at Mel´s house (what a cool place!) and listening to Twangs for the tour, I also got one. And what a cool pedal! Just as Josheby mentioned above, the pedal has a great and strange ability for "making my guitar sound better". The tone is fatter, not darker, and higher, not tearing my ears apart.
Thanks!
(tried to upload this cool picture of a Danish flag, the Atomic Brain and my selves...)
Later!
— El Firetone,
www.elray.dk
El Ray
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eltwang
Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 540
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted on Aug 17 2012 03:12 PM
This is an excellent pedal and I'm very happy, I took a chance on getting one. Here's mine (I swapped to an orange because we all know that orange sounds better than red, right!)
image
I can totally agree with the comments above and I can't wait to put it through it's paces with my own gear. Due to my E.F Elliott guitar having very hot pup's I prefer to play tube amps with big Trannys and good headroom. That way I find I can get 'surfin' Mosrite' tones. The whole purpose for me getting one for the El Ray California gigs was to get a little boost on tap as well as some nice driven tones through the Abby mode. When I played it through Sean's Showman (Secret Samurai) at the San Diego gig, I found it to be perfect!!
Tavo also later on instructed me on how to tame and control the bass cut for less buzz (if that's what you want). Speaking of Tavo. I thought I got a faulty unit due to my signal going on and off at times. It turned out to be my guitar having a cold solder joint. Tavo never questioned me asking him to go through my Atomic-unit and he gave a super-duper customer service and also ended up installing a battery-clip in there. Although there's not or almost any room for it. Now that was cool and as a result El Firetone decided to get one too after the Huntington Pier Show.
Check Tavo's stuff out!
— El Twitter
El Ray
El Ray on Bandcamp
El Twang on YouTube
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TVTheWiredTurtle
Joined: Dec 03, 2009
Posts: 859
Sandy Eggo
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Posted on Aug 25 2012 03:02 PM
man it was fun to meet you EL RAY guys and hear your international
brand of surf music. It had soul and punk rock power. The last thing
I want to hear is one more surf band composed of ex shred metal guitar
heroes wanking and you guys were a middle finger to the establishment of sorts. I can feel the waves crashing down on me (I was a lousy surfer, better skateboarder)
My kids are very impressed too and thats a big compliment!
video below: I got some good sound with this surfguitar101 show but people kept bumping
me so its a little wobbly.. (BIGGER VENUE next time, its was too crowded, we're growing)
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3458769680697
— http://www.thenocturnebrain.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturne-Brain-Preamp-Zombies/240721872969
Last edited: Aug 25, 2012 20:58:30
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Aug 25 2012 03:40 PM
TVTheWiredTurtle wrote:
The last thing I want to hear is one more surf band composed of ex shred metal guitar heroes wanking and you guys were a middle finger to that.
I don't understand why people feel a need to put down the stuff they don't like, especially in an unrelated thread. For somebody actually running a business and trying to sell products to surf guitar players, among others, it's completely mystifying. Do you really want to alienate some of your potential customers? Especially since there was none of that kind of attitude from the members of El Ray themselves, who were seemingly very open and embracing of all other bands they played with in the US. I personally would say that their shows cannot be interpreted as "a middle finger" to anything, in any way. They were simply about joy and the unifying power of music. Why do people's different backgrounds continue to trigger some sort of wild fantasies of some kinda purging in the surf music world? I just don't get it.... 
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
Last edited: Aug 25, 2012 15:43:20
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TVTheWiredTurtle
Joined: Dec 03, 2009
Posts: 859
Sandy Eggo
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Posted on Aug 25 2012 05:09 PM
Thats an interesting take on what I said and the intent was not to put a specific subgenre down( i did rephrase that one sentence after my wife told me to rethink what I was trying to say) but rather give kudos to those who capture the spirit of the surf and punk music I heard growing up in orange county in the late 70s early 80s. I hold dear to a rebel spirit in any music form, music that challenges or defies convention but does not disrespect or dismiss the foundation. I definitely believe EL RAY, much like many euro surf bands dont filter what they do from a so cal kids perspective. They just do what they love and love what they do and I am heralding them for it.
Meshugga Beach Party is much the same.. a picture sez a thousand words
— http://www.thenocturnebrain.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturne-Brain-Preamp-Zombies/240721872969
Last edited: Aug 25, 2012 21:00:05
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25581
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Aug 25 2012 08:23 PM
I almost hate to type anything in response to this stuff above.
But if some didn't notice, Not only did El Ray do a quasi cover of
Dead Kennedy's "California Uber Ales".
But their song song Space Car 2001 uses the intro to "Angel of Death"
by Slayer.
and if some haven't noticed, Dick Dales playing is very similar to Metal.
Sure Punk n Garage is an attitude, in some surf.
But Metal can and will continue to be a part of some surf bands also.
And a mix of punk n metal or garage, is a good thing.
open yer minds people.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
Last edited: Aug 25, 2012 20:24:45
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