Bass Overdrive/Distortion - The discussion thread

I partially agree with IncX. There are more pedals than there are sounds, to put it that way. Everyone wants to be unique, only a few are.
 
well, i kinda like my ibanez tubescreamer. it's no SUPER UBER pedal but it gets the job done. Plus the mix and bass/treble eq is pretty cool helps clean up the lows a bit.
 
I think Marco said it all but i am oldfashioned, i do not use any other sound then clean...
 
DiMarco said:
I wholeheartedly disagree with that Reuel. There is a world of differences between overdrives, distortions and fuzzes and by no means are they all variations of a big muff.
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oh, sorry, i didn't make myself clear... i meant fuzz boxes. all fuzz sound alike, we have our preferences but in the audiences POV, it's the same. so there's really no need to get a $300 zvex woolly mammoth, unless of course, you just want that 'wow factor' from gearheads.

IMO, the sound of a bass OD is an SVT... there are variations, but when you hear that sound, the first thing that comes to me is an SVT

the sound of distortion is a tube screamer... there are many variations, but again, when i hear bass distrotion, it's a tube screamer

bass fuzz is EHX Big Muff.

here's a youtube vid of someone lining up 16 different fuzz boxes:

[video=youtube;Ny_pcNvCH7g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny_pcNvCH7g[/video]

if you put me on a blind test, i'd probably get a lot of them wrong
 
tech 21 bass driver for light overdrive
Boss ODB-3 for face ripping distortion. I mean it, this yellow box is the meanest thing I have ever heard.
 
flipper_gv said:
tech 21 bass driver for light overdrive
Boss ODB-3 for face ripping distortion. I mean it, this yellow box is the meanest thing I have ever heard.
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I'd have to agree on the Boss ODB-3. I have one sitting right here. While it's currently not in my effects lineup I should compare it against the EBS MetalDrive.
 
I play pretty much clean all the time but recently I thought I should get a little dirt action so I bought a Tech 21 Red Ripper, it's pretty cool and I love the Moog/Synth vibe that it's got, it also does a good job of leaving the low frequencies alone. But the really cool device that I have is an SWR Interstellar Overdrive (stella). It's a rack unit that I've had for a number of years. It's basically a studio quality pre-amp, and it is my main studio input device, engineers love it because it's so warm and smooth but it can deliver the most awesome overdrive you've ever heard as little or as much as you dial in. SWR (Fender) doesn't make it any more, which is unfortunate but you can find them used every now and then and in my opinion they're worth every penny you pay for them. I use mine mostly in the studio but I did use it live for a couple of years as well and it really has a great sound. I bought mine used for $500.00 but immediately after I bought it I had to get it all re-tubed and some of the wiring needed a bit of love which cost another $300.00 so by the time it was all said and done it was just over $800.00 and that's about what they go for on ebay. That seams like a lot to pay for overdrive but like I say it's a very warm and clean multi-talented pre-amp with a lot of cool sounds under the hood.
have fun playing in the dirt kids
cheers!

Lorne
 
I prefer my bass clean, but when I need some distortion I use EHX BBM set to "dry" mode. When I need more I add EHX Steel Leather pedal over distortion - the nastiest tone even at moderate settings.
 
[video=youtube;7oss79gQhJY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oss79gQhJY[/video]

good example of a nice warwick dirty tone..:)
not sure if its a member from here... but i like it..there is a list of what was used in the video discription..
 
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^ wow, that's some bad-a$$ed distorted tone. what did he use?
 
to quote from the video(hope this is ok to do)
"Boss LMB-3 into an Effectrode pc2a tube compressor (with the compression on 0 working as a preamp) into an Ashdown Hyperdrive pedal into a Sansamp bass DI direct into my computer. The crunch mostly comes from the Aguilar OBP 2 tone circut and cranking The treble. Also, the pickups are basslines jazz pickups."
 
I still feel it is the hyper drive together with boosting the treble though. I He Had another vid on youtube that showed the bass with the MEC pUs and preamp, its very similar. So my bet is on the Bass Driver with the Hyperdrive. :)
 
I have used a ODB-3 for years now and it is the best truly filthy, melt your face, make people poop themselves in terror driver i have found. No subtle tube warmth here! but i alos have started using the MXR blowtorch for a light drive/fuzz and have been liking the colour it provides.
I must say saying all fuzzes are the same is a bit odd, its a type of effect so they will all have a lot in common, its like saying all delay pedals just echo your sound, or all volume pedals just make your sound louder or softer. its the sublte differences that nmake a pedal! I couldnt care if gear heads can name the pedal, but you can hear the differences in pretty much any two pedals
 
I would recommend trying out an Aguilar Agro. I love mine.
 
ridgebackdk said:
/video

good example of a nice warwick dirty tone..:)
not sure if its a member from here... but i like it..there is a list of what was used in the video discription..
Click to expand...

That's it. That is my holy grail sound. UN-f'ing-believeable.

I feel the need to have a cigarette...
 
`


I mostly prefer clean, but I have a Tech21 BDDI and Fulltones of
both mosfet and nonmosfet. My fave of those three is the mosfet.

The idea that use of such pedals produces a less in-you-face tone
is no problem to me ..... I mean, I AGREE that this does happen,
and I happen to find that useful. I have no need to "cut thru" but
I often have a need to be less "frontal". I play in small ensembles
without drummers.

I also agree that all these pedals are pretty much alike. The ability
via the Fulltone to seperate "boost" and "drive" is very appealing.
I can get the tone right where I want it ..... but thaz just to please
myself. I doubt the audience digs on any sorta subtle differences.


`
 
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