Aggressive and Crunchy

Buzzo · #1 11-20-2010, 09:37 PM

I'm in the market for an aggressive and crunchy tone, and need a new pedal.
What I'm currently looking at are the: TURBO Rat, Barber Dirty Bomb, Tech 21 VT Bass, Tech 21 GT-2, vintage/RAT clone, or the tech 21 bassdriver.
I only want/need one, and unfortunately, none of my local music shops (2) have ANY of these (somehow), so I can't actually try them out, so, I was wondering if you had any opinions and/or suggestions?

christoph h. · #2 11-21-2010, 04:59 AM

I only played two of the ones you mentioned: RAT and Tech21 VT Bass.
They both can do what you want, but the RAT will probably need a clean blend at higher settings. One thing though: They both sound different - so it betweens what kind of "aggressive crunchiness" you want. For my taste the Aguilar Agro (not on your list) worked best for that sound.

rratajski · #3 11-21-2010, 05:09 AM

A modded RAT done right will not need a clean blend.

I would avoid the bass driver, as it scoops mids, sooooo you can have all the dirt you want, but you'll be nonexistent in a mix.

Thunderscreech · #4 11-21-2010, 07:00 AM

Tech 21 XXL Bass Edition. So much gain Tech 21 made a version with less for the guitards. Get yours today, cause you ain't gettin' mine

Fab Savage · #5 11-21-2010, 07:37 AM

Aguilar Agro my friend

tigerbass · #6 11-21-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rratajski

A modded RAT done right will not need a clean blend.

I would avoid the bass driver, as it scoops mids, sooooo you can have all the dirt you want, but you'll be nonexistent in a mix.

No doubt!!! That being said...the Fuzzrocious Rat Tail is doing the job for me!

Thunderscreech · #7 11-21-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fab Savage

Aguilar Agro my friend

This too!

Buzzo · #8 11-21-2010, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fab Savage

Aguilar Agro my friend

Never heard of such a pedal, I shall check this out!

Thank you!

Buzzo · #9 11-21-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

Tech 21 XXL Bass Edition. So much gain Tech 21 made a version with less for the guitards. Get yours today, cause you ain't gettin' mine

I've looked into this, but I couldn't find any samples of how it sounds, which is a problem....

TussinBot. · #10 11-21-2010, 10:44 AM

my vote is with the agro aswell

faceinbass · #11 11-21-2010, 12:48 PM

Hot Cake.
Rusty Box.
B:assmaster.

All very aggressive.

seedokebass · #12 11-21-2010, 04:00 PM

The VT can get pretty aggressive and nasty, if you want it to.

So far I use a FT Bass-Drive and OCD. They can get pretty gnarly, but I have a fuzz on the way that should cover super gnarly territory

Buzzo · #13 11-21-2010, 07:24 PM

I just found the Catalinbread SFT, and I'm blown away by it, I'm giving it some serious consideration.

P-oddz · #14 11-22-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzzo

I just found the Catalinbread SFT, and I'm blown away by it, I'm giving it some serious consideration.

Beware if you are looking at the SFT due to the now infamous "Heavy Doomy" clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGPV4SBeF2k

I was told by multiple people that this clip is slightly misleading in that no one has been able to achieve this tone.

On a side note, I've been really happy with my AGRO pedal as well.

bassman1185 · #15 11-22-2010, 09:45 AM

As soon as I saw the thread title, I thought "VT Bass."

Matt Dean · #16 11-22-2010, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-oddz

Beware if you are looking at the SFT due to the now infamous "Heavy Doomy" clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGPV4SBeF2k

I was told by multiple people that this clip is slightly misleading in that no one has been able to achieve this tone.

That would include me. I used the SFT basically as low gain pedal and went to other pedals for higher gain needs.

dune2k · #17 11-22-2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Dean

That would include me. I used the SFT basically as low gain pedal and went to other pedals for higher gain needs.

Same here. You can get the basic "flavor" with it but it sounds...well...thin.

Buzzo · #18 11-22-2010, 10:58 AM

Well, I'm not looking for extremely high gain, which is why a lot of these pedals turn me off, it's TOO much gain, I want to retain some clarity in my tone, keep it sharp and not muddy, which I feel a lot of fuzz pedals do...

FaithNoMan · #19 11-22-2010, 09:23 PM

Tech 21 Tri-AC.

In Brit mode, I get some really good grind.

First track: Tri-AC + Space Echo. You can really hear the grind after I kick in the delay 17 seconds in:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...bandID=1121770

Excuse the horrid drum machine playing - I only had it a week when I recorded that.

BassBrass · #20 11-23-2010, 08:53 AM

I can tell you that while the Dirty Bomb has a nice complex overdrive, you'll loose low end even with the lows maxed...it's eq'd for guitar.

I'd suggest a Devi Ever Karioki Party INTO a VT (for tone control, not for dirt so much). The midrange flexibility of the VT is invaluable.