Ring Modulators

earwighoney

After seeing the video of the DOD Gonkulator below, I remembered a few years back I was really intrigued by ring modulator as an effect, as one of my favourite guitarists used a Lovetone Ring Stinger heavily to create his very individual sound. 

Does anyone have a ring modulator pedal?  I can imagine they aren't for everyone but they seem to create some wonderfully weird sounds especially for those who's ears have grown weary of pentatonic widdling.

Shark_Eyes

I have the Dr Scientist BitQuest and I have the Ring Mod set to almost a vibrato most of the time.

It's quite a difficult sound to use I find, I think I'd get a ring mod that has a large range on it, as some of the best sounds are found in a very narrow band.

It's good for the really nasty fuzz sounds too.

Teetonetal

The only one I've ever been able to use and get good sounds froom is the Moogerfooger MF102. A wonderful pedal, everything from stutter Tremolo sounds to Bells with all sorts of mess in between

Heartfeltdawn

Another vote for the Moog. Different level ring modulator. The Frostwave Blue Ringer was very cool but not as musical as the Moog. 

hugbot

The gonkulator cant be tuned which makes it honestly not that great.

The ring thing is great, I've found that tuning it a fifth above the key youre playing in rather than the tonic makes for more pleasing sound.

Also sweeping the tuning across is a grea "woah what was that" plane crash effect.

earwighoney

Thanks for the replies

@Shark_Eyes

I checked out a video for the BitQuest, which seems to have an insane amount of sounds in it.  I think you're right about going for a Ring Mod with a large base of sounds, as a lot of the sounds of ones I have come across seem like ones I would struggle to find a use for. 

@Teentotal, @Heartfeltdawn

Yeah, the MF-102 is one of the ones which I have been most impressed with.  I really like the bell/tremolo kind of sounds it produces.  It also is a really cool looking pedal! 

@hugbot

It was the Gonkulator video that reminded me of RM pedals but the ones I heard of it make it sound a bit underwhelming.  Thanks for the info about the Ring Thing.  I've seen them in a few shops and I might try one if possible. 

Teetonetal

Could have a look at the Fairfield Ciruitry randy's revenge too

Branshen

Can't play pentatonic blues in tune with one on. :-S

earwighoney

Teetonetal said:

Could have a look at the Fairfield Ciruitry randy's revenge too

Yep, that is the one which has caught my eye the most - it sounds amazing!  I came across a video of it and if I had the money I would have bought one instantly!  

Shark_Eyes

Teetonetal said:

The only one I've ever been able to use and get good sounds froom is the Moogerfooger MF102. A wonderful pedal, everything from stutter Tremolo sounds to Bells with all sorts of mess in between

Absolutely the ring mod I wanted, but size, price and my fear of the unknown kept me away. Don't go for the minimoog one, it just doesn't have the range / sounds of its bigger brother.

GavRichList

I have the Fairfield Circuitry. It's great. Ears:



does an absolutely stunning trem too

hugbot

I did a ring thing demo

meltedbuzzbox

another +1 for the moogerfooger, its a total beast of a pedal. 

I would love the lovetone pedal though, they are seriously cool but unfortunately the price isn't just steep, its vertical

I think the ZVEX pedal is meant to be pretty good, I haven't tried it myself. 

longshins

I use the ring thing, you can tune it on the fly by holding down a footswitch, combine that with blending in the clean signal and you have a very musical ring mod indeed. It also does trem, phasing, pitch shifting, whammy, vibrato...

pintspiller

i have a diy ring modulator i got off ebay years ago. 

i stopped using it shortly after i got it as i could only get one sound out of it. i can't remember what that sound was, but, at the time, was not a sound i wanted to use. i still have the pedal. it's in bits, as i salvaged parts off it for other projects and have no idea how to put it back together and get it to work. lol.

Lew

I enjoy the ring mod on my BitQ alot. I'd love to have a Fairfield Randys but that's the beauty of the BitQ. It stops me from spending loads and has a few tricks of its own.