Bass overdrive, fuzz or distortion

ash · Post by **ash** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:07 pm

Peeps... I may be in the market for some kind of bass overdrive thingee in the future. I've never paid any attention to such demonic creations before, so I need some clues as to what is good and what is evil.

I have a few guitar pedals like a Guyatone overdrive (Tsuken?) and some old Gunn (Vox/Coloursound copy) monsters that I will mess about with for now.

Just looking at Justin Chancellor's effects list, Turbo Rat (intend to clone one) and Colorsound Tone Bender (have the Gunn version) should do the trick.

Any other worthy contenders?

Post by Bg » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:25 pm

clean? that should be the best contender

Timi · Post by **Timi** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:09 am

bluesgeek wrote:clean? that should be the best contender

No no no, its like guitar, you can have the overdrive level set so when you play light its clean, and when you dig in you get some crunch.
Just cause its on bass doesnt mean it has to be a big muff on full.

I've never really tried actual bass overdrives before, most guitar ones will cut your bass a bit so you have to boost it on the amp again. Fine if you leave it on the whole time but not good if you turn the pedal on and off.

Like guitars, some basses suit some pedals and others dont. I think active basses don't sound as good with overdrive, too sterile and too much output.

Maybe one of those Boss OD-20 or Line6 DM4 units would be cool, lots of options on them.
Otherwise perhaps try Rats, Hotcakes, Tubescreamers, Big Muff ect.
Ryan does a few things if you are more into fuzz than overdrive.

And finally, if your cab has horns, turn them off when using overdrive.

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:33 am

I'm with BG. I've tried a bunch of bass fx and have developed a clear preference for totally clean.

AmpShop · Post by **AmpShop** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:33 am

Chancellor uses a Tone Bender? Nice!

I tried the D*A*M MKII with bass, but it didn't impress me nearly as much as some of the other D*A*M and Frantone stuff.

Ash, perhaps I should pop out to your workshop some time soon with a box of pedals (or if you need a place where you can turn up loud, we could use my showroom).

Post by Bg » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:43 am

CustomAudioBoutique wrote:Chancellor uses a Tone Bender? Nice!

I tried the D*A*M MKII with bass, but it didn't impress me nearly as much as some of the other D*A*M and Frantone stuff.

Ash, perhaps I should pop out to your workshop some time soon with a box of pedals (or if you need a place where you can turn up loud, we could use my showroom).

bring them along to the gearfest on the 3rd

jimi · Post by **jimi** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:48 am

I used to use a hotcake which I was pretty happy with till it got nicked. Now I have an MXR Distortion+ on loan which is ok, but nothing special.

I'd had a play on some of Ryan's frantone pedals a couple of gear fests ago, and would probably have picked one up if the band thing hadn't gone into stasis.

At the moment I can get a nice grind out of my Ampeg head which is plenty for me.

AmpShop · Post by **AmpShop** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:30 am

bluesgeek wrote:
CustomAudioBoutique wrote:Chancellor uses a Tone Bender? Nice!

I tried the D*A*M MKII with bass, but it didn't impress me nearly as much as some of the other D*A*M and Frantone stuff.

Ash, perhaps I should pop out to your workshop some time soon with a box of pedals (or if you need a place where you can turn up loud, we could use my showroom).
bring them along to the gearfest on the 3rd

Will try my best to make it!

zdali · Post by **zdali** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:34 am

Tech21 SansAmp Bass Driver would be a good start

dylan · Post by **dylan** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:39 am

the primus "my name is mud" era sound is an ada bass midi preamp.

also in the mega dollar region is the swr overdrive.

a cool sound on bass is to set a graphic eq to a sad face, and then bring the levels up till the boosted mids are distorted but the bass and treble are not.

r4nd0m · Post by **r4nd0m** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:58 am

I bought a Digitech BP200 2.5 years ago. Used it for 0.5 hours, its still mint in the box. I'm with BG and Rog. Anyway, if I want fancy bass I get to use the analog synth

Jono · Post by **Jono** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 12:09 pm

I really like the bass distortion tone that Sigur Ros get.

Did some digging for you. Apparently he uses a pedal called the "EBS Multidrive". EBS, if I understand it right, only make bass gear, and are supposed to be very good at it.

That's where I'd be looking first...

slash-ed · Post by **slash-ed** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:14 pm

Maybe we could put this in the Bass section to spark some activity... since that section is all but dead (just like all you bass players

)

Timi · Post by **Timi** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:38 pm

zdali wrote:Tech21 SansAmp Bass Driver would be a good start

Nope, I'm just gonna keep my mouth shut.....

JonoLee wrote:"EBS Multidrive". EBS, if I understand it right, only make bass gear, and are supposed to be very good at it.

I've wanted to try one of these for ages, but they are quite expensive to buy without trying first. I have an EBS octave pedal thats cool though.

Jops · Post by **Jops** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:47 pm

I remember AB'ing a Hotcake with the dirt from a Mesa M2000 and liking the Hotcake more... P & C is always fun too.