Isosceles Boost (TC Integrated Preamp + Fortin 33 + Fortin Grind)

[lowpitch]

Smooth build for the most part, the board seems needlessly cramped though. Had to mount the 220n cap upside down due to clearance issues and could not get the charge pump socket completely flush with the board because of the neighboring diodes. Also, gotta be careful around the electrolytics when soldering the mini switches. Not a lot of space to work with.

I like the tones I can get with this. I use it mostly as an always-on boost with my Peavey 6505 for certain types of metal tones. Gets rid of any flub and accentuates the pick attack, not at all comparable to Tubescreamer boosted metal tones though. Very bright and doesn't hide any mistakes in your playing - to the contrary.
I prefer the TC preamp mode with just a little bit of bass dialed in and the treble somewhere between 10 and 12 o'clock. The Fortin 33 setting for me is pretty useless. Way too bright and devoid of any bass. If I paid 300 bucks for an original I'd be pissed for sure The Grind setting I dig sometimes but I mostly prefer the TC because of the bass and treble controls.
The TC mode also works well as a clean solo boost with lower gain settings on the amp. With the treble and bass all the way down it gets a little into cocked wah territory. That's kinda cool for sure but there may be better ways to achieve that - a wah pedal for example.
Diming all the controls as well as the gain on the amp can be fun. It's gain city, a little nasty but still musical. Could be useful in a doom context I reckon.
And just to be sure, this is not an overdrive, it's a clean boost. And it does stay surprisingly clean even at extreme settings. I can get it to clip with humbuckers at higher volume and bass levels but even then it's mostly just the peaks. Not bad!

 

[owlexifry]

damn. this looks so good

mostly as an always-on boost with my Peavey 6505 for certain types of metal tones. Gets rid of any flub and accentuates the pick attack, not at all comparable to Tubescreamer boosted metal tones though. Very bright and doesn't hide any mistakes in your playing - to the contrary.
I prefer the TC preamp mode with just a little bit of bass dialed in and the treble somewhere between 10 and 12 o'clock. The Fortin 33 setting for me is pretty useless. Way too bright and devoid of any bass.

this is pretty much how i used it too.
it goes alright.

but yeah like you said the 33 is super bright, and i assume it’s supposed to be like that cos it’s intended for ERG guitars tuned down to like drop E (or thereabouts) where the low end needs to be cut into the front end of an amp even more than the usual metal tones/tunings (if you’re trying to do the djent / meshuggah thing)

 

[jcpst]

That artwork with the textured powder coat and the blacked-out hardware is excellent.

 

[lowpitch]

it goes alright.

That's a good summary It's not my go-to boost but for certain types of tones it works very well.

but yeah like you said the 33 is super bright, and i assume it’s supposed to be like that cos it’s intended for ERG guitars tuned down to like drop E (or thereabouts) where the low end needs to be cut into the front end of an amp even more than the usual metal tones/tunings (if you’re trying to do the djent / meshuggah thing)

I think so. I mean it sure does djent. Just a bummer that djent isn't really my cup of tea I believe the way Meshuggah used the TC preamps was in front of a Dual Rectifier, so even flubbier and bassier than the 6505. I don't have any doubt the 33 would work well in that type of setup.
As for the drop E thing. I have a baritone I bought specifically for drop E tuning - not for djent though, just "regular" brutal death metal. This one has active EMGs and I found before going into the amp I actually need to bring back some of the bass lost to the EMGs because the E string will sound too thin otherwise.

 

[lowpitch]

That artwork with the textured powder coat and the blacked-out hardware is excellent.

Thanks, my man. I just wish the black finish was more durable. I got these from Tayda and after just boxing it once - and maybe a second time because I needed to adjust the indicator LED CLR - it already looks pretty used. Anybody got a source for quality blacked out hardware, please share!