Adding grit to a tube amp

chanson · #1 08-07-2010, 07:22 PM

I've noticed many bassist I listen to run some type of distortion/overdrive pedal in front of their tube amps, which I assume are already cranked quite a bit. How many of you use a pedal to dirty up your already driven tube head's tone? I have an SVT-CL and I'm looking for suggestions to get a slightly harsher sound without going into the fuzz range.

JimmyM · #2 08-07-2010, 08:06 PM

i used to have an ebs microbass ii, and one of the things that was really cool about it was its drive. very heavy but not fuzzy. sounded a lot like a rat, which is my favorite hard distortion pedal but doesn't work on bass without a clean blend. i believe it's the same drive that's in the ebs multidrive. they also make a valvedrive that sounds pretty cool. and they just came out with a metaldrive. they're kind of expensive in the us, but they do rock the pedals, that ebs.

Unrepresented · #3 08-07-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chanson

I've noticed many bassist I listen to run some type of distortion/overdrive pedal in front of their tube amps, which I assume are already cranked quite a bit. How many of you use a pedal to dirty up your already driven tube head's tone? I have an SVT-CL and I'm looking for suggestions to get a slightly harsher sound without going into the fuzz range.

I run the similar SVT-II and often drive it with either my Fulltone BassDrive on comp cut mode. With 18V powering available off my Pedal Power I can have some decent headroom available for using it as a colored boost.

It's been getting an increased dose of "always on" recently as it really helps bump the mids up on my Warwick and blend with the guitar tones we've been jamming with lately.

RickenBoogie · #4 08-08-2010, 07:52 AM

I run an EBS Valve Drive in front of an all-tube Mesa Buster rig. Heaven. I could set the amp for a dirty sound, but I like my amp clean, and a click of a switch to dirty it up.

Toastfuzz · #5 08-08-2010, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

I run an EBS Valve Drive in front of an all-tube Mesa Buster rig. Heaven. I could set the amp for a dirty sound, but I like my amp clean, and a click of a switch to dirty it up.

+1 to this idea. I use an SVT 3-Pro (hybrid tube) that can get grindy when you play with the tube gain, but I find with that type of distortion I lose definition. I lock in a fairly clear-clean tone on the amp (for me, the tube difference is in the fullness of the low-end) and then when I want to fuzz out, I kick a pedal to fuzz the top end but the low end stays deep and forceful

I just re-read what I typed, apologies for stupid grammar

khabalah · #6 08-08-2010, 08:19 AM

DHA VT1 , VT2 etc etc

metalmariachi · #7 08-08-2010, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khabalah

DHA VT1 , VT2 etc etc

+1 they sound great and drive a tube amp into nice distortion.

MM

RCCollins · #8 08-08-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

I run an EBS Valve Drive in front of an all-tube Mesa Buster rig. Heaven. I could set the amp for a dirty sound, but I like my amp clean, and a click of a switch to dirty it up.

that's a lot of tubes! great clean sound on the buster, but i find the preamp really shines when you run a hot/boosted signal into it - and the buster is a pretty clean sounding tube amp!

so to the OP, i would recommend experimenting with the simplest boosts and mild ODs available, and don't invest a ton of cash

i've had great results with the XOTIC bass RC and BB pedals, bassdrive compcut (which is a poorly named BOOST mode), various fulltone fatboost versions, Barber LTD (i liked the "standard" version best on bass)... heck, even an EQ in front of your pre could do the trick (let the tomatoes fly)

Bassnut62 · #9 08-08-2010, 01:46 PM

Nice warm and clear all-tube tones from Fender Bassman135, then add a little grit in one of two ways - hotwire the two channels together to run both sides of the pre-amp tubes with a patch lead...or.....stick a Catalinbread SFT in front of amp.
works very nicely for subtle hair tones of grit

LuckyCondlins · #10 08-08-2010, 02:24 PM

How about just changing the first 2 pre amp tubes in your amp??

In the 1 slot put in a pre-amp tube thats known for earlier distortion, and in the second slot, put in a tube thats clean?

http://www.12ax7a.com/

go here. I know the guy who runs this website. He is great, he does all repairs on my 1989 SVT II non pro.

scroll down and look for the "warm with mild compression and early distortion" tube.

THEN add the Gain tube to your cart...the first pre amp tube in your amp is the most crucial in the overall sound of your amp.

hell, get one of those, and then another one as a function pre amp tube!

chanson · #11 08-08-2010, 02:40 PM

Not to derail my own thread, but I think changing the tubes may be the way to go. For some reason I didn't even consider it.

But I'm still open to hear pedal suggestions

zachoff · #12 08-08-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chanson

Not to derail my own thread, but I think changing the tubes may be the way to go. For some reason I didn't even consider it.

But I'm still open to hear pedal suggestions

I've never tried it or seen it done, but I wonder if you can get 4 late-break and 2 early-break EL34s and get a good amount of breakup without being over the top?

Mark Olson · #13 08-08-2010, 07:36 PM

I really enjoy using a clean booster (or dirty booster) into a tube amp. Does for me exactly what you're looking for.

paganjack · #14 08-08-2010, 07:41 PM

I recently started using a way huge red llama clone in front of my buster and it's pretty sweet for a touch-sensitive OD. I can keep it on while playing softly and it stays relatively clean, but when I dig in it gets nice and dirty.

I'm amused that 3 of the posts are from buster owners- it's a rare-ish head.

RCCollins · #15 08-08-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paganjack

I recently started using a way huge red llama clone in front of my buster and it's pretty sweet for a touch-sensitive OD. I can keep it on while playing softly and it stays relatively clean, but when I dig in it gets nice and dirty.

I'm amused that 3 of the posts are from buster owners- it's a rare-ish head.

the Buster is a BITCHEN head and there's a reason we use it...

the Anderton Tube-Sound Fuzz circuit (Red Llama/Polish Love) is indeed a great way to drive a tube amp

6810 · #16 08-09-2010, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Olson

I really enjoy using a clean booster (or dirty booster) into a tube amp. Does for me exactly what you're looking for.

Yeah! I stand by the Boss FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz.

Even if you don't dig the fuzz (it has its critics), the 20db of gain it has on tap in "boost" mode is enough to push an existing distortion pedal into real "beyond" territory, and does a great job of adding a touch of break up to full on grind and distorted bliss to a tube pre-amp that even Sunn 0))) could get behind!

RCCollins · #17 08-09-2010, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6810

Yeah! I stand by the Boss FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz.

Even if you don't dig the fuzz (it has its critics), the 20db of gain it has on tap in "boost" mode is enough to push an existing distortion pedal into real "beyond" territory, and does a great job of adding a touch of break up to full on grind and distorted bliss to a tube pre-amp that even Sunn 0))) could get behind!

plenty of gain on tap on the FZ-2 and nice sounding fuzzes... but it's really not very kind to your low-end