Fatso on distorted guitars

Stargazer · 14th January 2004

After reading a lot about it on this and other forums, I bought a Fatso.
Very happy with results on vocals, ac guit and drums etc.
The main application I had in mind was guitars though, from heavily distorted to clean.
That's also where I'm having problems with the "warmth"-parameter.
It is very touchy, and sounds like a compressor with fast attack/release-times driven too hard. On transients I get this type of unwanted hifreq. distortion.
If I'm very careful and compress a bit before I hit the Fatso I can add a tiny bit of "warmth", but I really would like some more.
Anybody has the same experience?

Shaman · 14th January 2004

I would recommend using the FATSO without compression before.
It´s a very fast dynamic HF compressor itself.
Try to compress after the FATSO

Stargazer · 14th January 2004

I see your point.
My problem is that so far I haven't had any success using it (the "warmth" that is) on distorted/clean el. guitars . I've tried compressing a bit before hitting the Fatso to tame the most evil transients.
I guess it's dependant on what material you run through it, but it seems a bit touchy as most compressors with very fast att/release-times...

-=glEnn=- · 14th January 2004

how much "warmth" are you using?, i've only experienced what you describe with extreme settings like over 7db of warmth. I find myself using no more than 2-3db of warmth on guitars most of the time.

lycka till!
/mike

Stargazer · 14th January 2004

I hear this as soon as it kicks in.
Even 1 or 2 db...

Jules · 14th January 2004

Hey Stargazer!

I think you might have asked me this in the chatroom, but I had to go to do something so it remained unanswered.

Now!

SOMETIMES I get an odd HF 'hash' too (exactly what you describe)....

SOMETIMES it comes ONLY on the 'tranny' setting.

MOST times I think it is down to what gear I have hooked up to the Fatso...

It doent 'get along well' with ALL the gear in my place.

So - try different outboard chains.. (just to test the problem) it may have to do with balanced / unbalanced gear.

Good luck (I use mine full time on warmth 3 or 3) for EVERYTHING. (pretty much)

Stargazer · 14th January 2004

Thanks, Jules!

I will try some different signal-chains.
Now I know there's probably nothing wrong with my unit.

Shaman · 14th January 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Stargazer
My problem is that so far I haven't had any success using it (the "warmth" that is) on distorted/clean el. guitars .

Try the crane song Phoenix - it has a different sound than the FATSO but can do miracles for some signals.

bassmac · 14th January 2004

The warmth function kicks in around the 15k area (I think), but guitars often need warming well below that. Even when I had my Fatso, I still preferred to use EQ to address any problem freq's - instead of the warming function.

Just my .02

14th January 2004	#1
Stargazer Gear addict Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden Posts: 315 Thread Starter	Fatso on distorted guitars After reading a lot about it on this and other forums, I bought a Fatso. Very happy with results on vocals, ac guit and drums etc. The main application I had in mind was guitars though, from heavily distorted to clean. That's also where I'm having problems with the "warmth"-parameter. It is very touchy, and sounds like a compressor with fast attack/release-times driven too hard. On transients I get this type of unwanted hifreq. distortion. If I'm very careful and compress a bit before I hit the Fatso I can add a tiny bit of "warmth", but I really would like some more. Anybody has the same experience?

14th January 2004	#6
Jules Gearslutz.com admin Joined: Apr 2002 Location: A Yank in London, UK Posts: 17,808 1 Review written	Hey Stargazer! I think you might have asked me this in the chatroom, but I had to go to do something so it remained unanswered. Now! SOMETIMES I get an odd HF 'hash' too (exactly what you describe).... SOMETIMES it comes ONLY on the 'tranny' setting. MOST times I think it is down to what gear I have hooked up to the Fatso... It doent 'get along well' with ALL the gear in my place. So - try different outboard chains.. (just to test the problem) it may have to do with balanced / unbalanced gear. Good luck (I use mine full time on warmth 3 or 3) for EVERYTHING. (pretty much) __________________ Jules Add your reviews to the new reviews area! Gearslutz on Facebook Follow my GS picks on Twitter

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14th January 2004	#2
Shaman Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,695	I would recommend using the FATSO without compression before. It´s a very fast dynamic HF compressor itself. Try to compress after the FATSO

14th January 2004	#4
-=glEnn=- Gear nut Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Upplands Väsby, Sweden Posts: 79	how much "warmth" are you using?, i've only experienced what you describe with extreme settings like over 7db of warmth. I find myself using no more than 2-3db of warmth on guitars most of the time. lycka till! /mike

14th January 2004	#9
bassmac Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 683	The warmth function kicks in around the 15k area (I think), but guitars often need warming well below that. Even when I had my Fatso, I still preferred to use EQ to address any problem freq's - instead of the warming function. Just my .02