Source Audio Zio or Electric Eye Mud Killer?

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PSGuitar

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Hey guys,

Anyone try both of those amps?

My main boosts now are the Friedman Buxom and Suhr Koko. The Source Audio Zio and Electric Eye Mud Killer look great.

I mostly us my Buxom for tightening some channels on amps. The Zio or Mud Killer I'd use for tightening at times but also just boosting for heavier tones and leads. I like pedals that sound natural like a part of the amp and that also do not lose the low end if you want to retain it.

It's also important that I be able to make my tone punchier and darker if needed.

This may be the last OD/Boost that I try for a while. I've been thru a lot and seem to settle on my Buxom and Koko.
 
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Techdeth said:
I use koko and Mudkiller . My two fav
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Thanks.

Can you tell me if you can get the mud killer fairly dark if needed? Fat?
I will use it mostly for leads on my amps.

Do you find it geared more toward metal? I play some metal but not the heaviest of metal. Play a lot of rock too.
 
The Zio is a great pedal. I use that and an earlier Timmy. I’ve tried most boosts and overdrives. The versatility of the Zio is great. A few different sounds, and it keeps it tight and clean. The Timmy also performs very well.

I have tried or owned most of the the Ibanez variations.

the xotic bb, rc and ep were pretty decent,

the Koko, both versions, thought they were average and were loud also.

the TC stuff isn’t even worth mentioning

electro harmonix had a couple that were ok

the OCD was pretty cool, cleaned and tightened up gain pretty well

I’ve never tried the strymon od’s.

The cusack screamer, the original model I had was pretty awesome, but it died. Started whistling in an offensive manner

I played the Maxon apex at my friends and that was cool also. Tight and clear, and gave it good punch.

The Zio and Timmy have outperformed all the others I have owned in the way I like. The tighten up any looser gain, and give it a bit of grind, as well as giving it a nice attack and punchiness. Both the Zio and Timmy do this stuff well. The toggle on the Zio for a few different boosts/OD’d all sound good. Great pedal. These two were much better than all the others for what I prefer.
 
PSGuitar said:
Thanks.

Can you tell me if you can get the mud killer fairly dark if needed? Fat?
I will use it mostly for leads on my amps.

Do you find it geared more toward metal? I play some metal but not the heaviest of metal. Play a lot of rock too.
Click to expand...
I feel it’s gesred to tight metal sounds but a great lead tone csn got too
 
mooncobra said:
The Zio is a great pedal. I use that and an earlier Timmy. I’ve tried most boosts and overdrives. The versatility of the Zio is great. A few different sounds, and it keeps it tight and clean. The Timmy also performs very well.

I have tried or owned most of the the Ibanez variations.

the xotic bb, rc and ep were pretty decent,

the Koko, both versions, thought they were average and were loud also.

the TC stuff isn’t even worth mentioning

electro harmonix had a couple that were ok

the OCD was pretty cool, cleaned and tightened up gain pretty well

I’ve never tried the strymon od’s.

The cusack screamer, the original model I had was pretty awesome, but it died. Started whistling in an offensive manner

I played the Maxon apex at my friends and that was cool also. Tight and clear, and gave it good punch.

The Zio and Timmy have outperformed all the others I have owned in the way I like. The tighten up any looser gain, and give it a bit of grind, as well as giving it a nice attack and punchiness. Both the Zio and Timmy do this stuff well. The toggle on the Zio for a few different boosts/OD’d all sound good. Great pedal. These two were much better than all the others for what I prefer.
Click to expand...
Can the Zio get fairly dark? I mostly want it for lead boosts and tightening at times.
 
I know you can only EQ so much before gain so it's more about adding gain and compression. I use my EQ in the loop for significant EQ alterations for leads.
Thanks.
 
mooncobra said:
Yes it can get dark.
Click to expand...
Mooncobra, thanks again. This is all a big help.

So I'm needing a boost for my amps and I'm leaning toward the Friedman Buxom which I love or the Zio.

I love that the Friedman sounds so natural with my amps, as if they were part of the amp circuit. I also love that I can get a tight rhythm tone or a fat lead tone with my Buxom. I can get fatter lead tones with it boosting mids and slight low end. Sounds like fat lower mids. Fatter than my Koko boost.

So is the Zio versatile enough to do right rhythm and fat leads? Cool think a lot it the Buxom is the EQ. Zio don't went have an actual EQ, but it may not need it.
 
IDK about the Zio, but the Source Audio UltraWave and EQ2 are two of my favorite / main pedals.
 
rsm said:
IDK about the Zio, but the Source Audio UltraWave and EQ2 are two of my favorite / main pedals.
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Don't know the Ultra Wave. I like the EQ2 but I prefer my Boss EQ-200.
I am getting the Zio. If it doesn't work out, I'll get another Friedman Buxom, my favorite boost by far.
I don't like pedals that sound like pedals. I had the Rockaway Boost/EQ and it always sounded like I engaged a pedal so it didn't blend with my rig well. My Buxom Boost sounds like I'm tweaking my amp. Love it. I hope the Zio is just as natural.
I like some of the Echoplex type preamp boosts like the Xotic EP. Didn't enjoy the Catalinbread EP Boost though. Everyone is different. Xotic was my fab. Curious how the Zio is on the Jfet, Studio and EPlex settings on dark.
My Byxom can do what I need - tighten the low end while adjusting EQ and a thck mid boost.
I want the same for the Zio - tighten the low end and thick mid boost. It lacks the EQ of the Buxom but I'll see how it responds and behaves.
I am also curious about the Revv Tilt EQ/Boost.
 
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PSGuitar said:
Mooncobra, thanks again. This is all a big help.

So I'm needing a boost for my amps and I'm leaning toward the Friedman Buxom which I love or the Zio.

I love that the Friedman sounds so natural with my amps, as if they were part of the amp circuit. I also love that I can get a tight rhythm tone or a fat lead tone with my Buxom. I can get fatter lead tones with it boosting mids and slight low end. Sounds like fat lower mids. Fatter than my Koko boost.

So is the Zio versatile enough to do right rhythm and fat leads? Cool think a lot it the Buxom is the EQ. Zio don't went have an actual EQ, but it may not need it.
Click to expand...
Both the Zio and buxom are great. The Zio is versatile enough to do rhythm and leads.
 
Thanks man, I ordered one.
Only other on I am curious about is the Revv Tilt Boost.
The Rockaway has boost and drive/gain, but I didn't like it.
The Tilt only has boost as do the Buxom and Zio.
Not sure if it matters.
So ime down to the Zio and Tilt.
I tried the KSR Eros and I struggled to dial it in.
 
mooncobra said:
Both the Zio and buxom are great. The Zio is versatile enough to do rhythm and leads.
Click to expand...
The Buxom is on pat with the Zio? The Buxom is so natural and gives me right ryhthm tones and fat lead tones. The kids on it are fat!
I hear the Zio is fat too.
I'm curious about the Revv Tilt Boost now.
 
mooncobra said:
Both the Zio and buxom are great. The Zio is versatile enough to do rhythm and leads.
Click to expand...
Do you think the Low Cut modes makes mids more prominent? When I use the low cut, leads get easier and creamier to play.
It's great because it tightens lows but seems to make the feel better for leads.
 
I know this has a mixed reception but I really dig the vfe standout. I haven't tried the one that Henning made although I guess that's no longer in business. But I thought it was a cool pedal. I really like the friedman buxom boost when it comes to marshall type amps.
 
Speaking of the VFE Standout or VFE pedals in general it would be nice if he could have got someone to take on his pedals.
 
I finally feel settled and satisfied to a point with my current 3 boost pedals.
Has anyone tried an Origin Effects boost? They are expensive but apparently some of the best you can buy.

I have a Friedman Buxom, Friedman Golden Pearl and Source Audio ZIO on my board. All 3 are very different but are a lot of fun, and add to the tone/feel depending on what I want at the time or based on what I need for a song. I like that all 3 can tighten lows which I find I need on classic crunch type amps or channels and they allow me to push the mids up a bit. The Golden Pearl thickens up single notes and makes them pop. The Buxom can do almost anything I want form Tube Screamer type tone and feel, tightening, etc. The ZIO is really cool on the Low-Cut setting. With the Level low, it just tightens up the lows and adds focus. As I turn up the level it get's slightly brighter in a good way and really makes single notes pop with a smooth, buttery feel! :)

With these 3 boosts on my board, I have so many flavors available at my feet. I was going to get a JHS Bonsai but with these 3, I feel like there is nothing I can't cover. :) I realize a tube screamer and the Bonsai have gain, but I don't need gain, I only need boost/level as needed. The pedals retain the tone of my amps but add a nice flavor and cool feel depending on pedal.
 
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I feel like I can get almost everything I need with what I have, but there are always more pedals to buy, lol.
The Golden Pearl, Zio and Buxom all sound great in my rig.

One weird thing with the Zio, and it may be a cable. I have to do some trouble shooting. Sometimes when I engage the Zio and then switch it off, I lose gain and the sound gets muffled and weak. I then have to jiggle things, switch the pedal on and off or disconnect and it clears up. It's either a pedal or cable issue.
 
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