Thermionic Culture FAT BUSTARD II LE TX Special Limited Edition Fat Bustard II is for those purists who want the facilities of the Fat Bustard summing mixer (special equalization for the mix, stereo width, bass to centre) but a little less colourisation and even lower distortion and noise, though not as much max "Attitude". The top response now extends to 50+ kHz with consequently less phase shift. It uses 6072A double triode input valves in place of 5965s.
Mixer (special equalization for the mix,stereo width, bass to center) but a little less colorization and even lower distortion and noise, though not as much max "Attitude". The top response now extends to 50+ kHz with consequently less phase shift.
Both Fat Bustards have exactly the same 14 inputs, and same controls. The black more Aggressive Fat Bustard continues to be made, so the user has a choice until all the Green ones have been sold.
Much of the attractive sound provided by the Fat Bustard is down to the choice of valves used. The summing is done by a pair of 5965 valves and the output stage uses a pair of 6SN7 valves. This combination provides a very large amount of headroom and a unique smooth sounding response. It's also worth noting that the unit has "semi-floating" inputs and unbalanced outputs. This was a decision made at the design stage purely because the unit sounded better this way and performed excellently when connected for use in all situations.
The Fat Bustard employs our unique "varislope" curves for top and bass lift. As the control is turned up, the peak frequency of the curve becomes more extreme so as to add heavier bass/brilliant top - without the hardness found in solid state EQs. The bass and top cuts provide a variety of options to tailor the sound - too many to list here. They are of course independent of the lifts. All controls affect both stereo channels equally.
The 'Attitude' control is the next to control the sound of the mix.This switched control gradually increases the amount of harmonic distortion in the stereo summing stage. It is relatively subtle (at least in the lower positions) to provide just the right amount of 2nd harmonic content for a stereo mix. At high positions the mix can be quite aggressive.
The stereo spread control allows the stereo to be widened by a continuous amount over a selectable frequency range.
The 'Spread filter' control allows the frequency above which widening occurs to be selected from full band widening to only widening above 5KHz. Again, this control can be used to vary the tone of the stereo mix as well as the stereo width. Along with stereo widening at higher frequencies.
The 'Bass to Center' control allows bass frequencies in the stereo mix to be summed to mono for 2 different low frequency ranges, plus there is a setting for all frequencies to mono.
A Stereo 'balance' control and rotary 31 position ELMA switch for 'Output level' give full control over output levels.
The 'Monitor level' control, int/ext switch and extra outputs provide a useful way to connect and control monitors to the Fat Bustard. Especially useful when the Fat Bustard is the only mixer being used. If this is not a requirement then the int/ext switch in conjunction with the monitor outputs can be used to provide an insert in/out switch.
Note! The Fat Bustard is switch selectable to operate from either 230V or 115V 50/60Hz AC mains supply.