The Key and the Gate or Zuul?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Docster
  • Start date Start date
Metal1977 said:
Yes, i have the Key and Gate. Very transparent, not the quickest responding gate but offers great sustain.
For the Thelema, i bought it new there:
https://www.storenvy.com/products/30730552-thelema
Click to expand...
Yes super transparent for sure. That’s the trade off it seems for making it work well with leads. The Cockblocker is fast responding, best one for tight, rhythmic stuff that I’ve tried so far. I’m curious about the Thelema, but will try to see first if a used one will come up in the meantime
 
I had the Zuul, mini Zuul, Phalanx, Endless Blockade and the gate and key. I only use them in the loop and every one of them sucked tone. I still own the phalanx, but the best one was the mini Zuul. The Endless Blockade was okay, but it sucked lots of tone. The gate and key was the worst. I hated that it added drive to the sound. In the end, I opted to not use anything since I don’t mind a little hiss. I only kept the phalanx since I paid like $160 for it.
 
psychodave said:
I had the Zuul, mini Zuul, Phalanx, Endless Blockade and the gate and key. I only use them in the loop and every one of them sucked tone. I still own the phalanx, but the best one was the mini Zuul. The Endless Blockade was okay, but it sucked lots of tone. The gate and key was the worst. I hated that it added drive to the sound. In the end, I opted to not use anything since I don’t mind a little hiss. I only kept the phalanx since I paid like $160 for it.
Click to expand...
I don’t use gates often either since I also don’t mind a little hiss, but I don’t remember my Gate & Key adding drive to my sound. It’s been though a little while now since I’ve last tried it. I’ve admittedly only tried so far with my Triple Recto Rev F/C and very briefly through my IIC+, so maybe it could be the amp. It wasn’t at all effective for me if used only up front or only in the loop, but when properly connected with all 4 inputs it seemed like one of the better gates I’ve had. I paid $170 for mine used

Never tried the mini Zuul. I’ve only had a regular one and remember liking the Phalanx a bit more. The Blockade I sold for the same reason. I still think the ISP Decimator is pretty solid. I remember not liking the Decimator II as much
 
psychodave said:
I had the Zuul, mini Zuul, Phalanx, Endless Blockade and the gate and key. I only use them in the loop and every one of them sucked tone. I still own the phalanx, but the best one was the mini Zuul. The Endless Blockade was okay, but it sucked lots of tone. The gate and key was the worst. I hated that it added drive to the sound. In the end, I opted to not use anything since I don’t mind a little hiss. I only kept the phalanx since I paid like $160 for it.
Click to expand...
Hey Dave, still rocking your Rev 2? I’m currently using the Thelema in the loop with mine. Don’t really need it at low to moderate volume, but when i crank my amp, it’s my gate of choice now.

I don’t mind a little hiss either and was always disappointed with gates in loops. That’s why i choose to avoid them in my amps before.

When I’m using the key and gate or most of them it’s in front. Guitar-tracking-boost-gating-amp. Depending of how they are made it will work most of the time. Doing this kind of jumpstart the gating by tracking in front of the boost.

I must say i’m impressed by the Thelema without knowing what’s going on inside. Just sharing my experience, not trying to promote the pedal.
 
Metal1977 said:
Hey Dave, still rocking your Rev 2? I’m currently using the Thelema in the loop with mine. Don’t really need it at low to moderate volume, but when i crank my amp, it’s my gate of choice now.

I don’t mind a little hiss either and was always disappointed with gates in loops. That’s why i choose to avoid them in my amps before.

When I’m using the key and gate or most of them it’s in front. Guitar-tracking-boost-gating-amp. Depending of how they are made it will work most of the time. Doing this kind of jumpstart the gating by tracking in front of the boost.

I must say i’m impressed by the Thelema without knowing what’s going on inside. Just sharing my experience, not trying to promote the pedal.
Click to expand...
Man. The front of the amp is cool for getting the gate to really get nasty with rhythm, but depending on the amp, you may need a gate in the loop if playing metal. I mean. If you are hitting 3 chords a minute, you don't need a gate. But that's where these conversations can be confusing. Because some guys don't boost an amp or play fast or complex chords and then say their amp doesn't need a gate. I feel like this conversation should be separated to modern vs classic.
 
psychodave said:
The gate and key was the worst. I hated that it added drive to the sound.
Click to expand...

Still waiting on mine, but apparently there is an internal trim pot for adjusting the clean boost. I wonder if yours was set high unknowingly?
 
Smashedguitarist said:
Man. The front of the amp is cool for getting the gate to really get nasty with rhythm, but depending on the amp, you may need a gate in the loop if playing metal. I mean. If you are hitting 3 chords a minute, you don't need a gate. But that's where these conversations can be confusing. Because some guys don't boost an amp or play fast or complex chords and then say their amp doesn't need a gate. I feel like this conversation should be separated to modern vs classic.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean, i boost all the time and need something quick. Not really about modern vs classic but more about feel and quickness for me. Feel is important to me and going with a gate in the loop will affect that feel most of the time.
 
Metal1977 said:
I know what you mean, i boost all the time and need something quick. Not really about modern vs classic but more about feel and quickness for me. Feel is important to me and going with a gate in the loop will affect that feel most of the time.
Click to expand...
Yeah, this is why I started using two zuuls. the one in the loop is turned almost all the way down so it doesn't affect sustain. It only silences preamp hiss. The one in the front of the amp can be stomped off for anything needing sustain, but is turned up high for start/stop
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top