Another blueberry thread

Thingus995 · #1 06-15-2009, 04:52 AM

Ive had my eye on this pedal for quite a while, have listened to the clips on the wiki and very much enjoyed the sounds coming from this box and was hoping for some opinions as far as the pedal goes for an 'always on' overdrive to thicken up my tone...

i like that it seems to be a milder od but i really don't know much more about it seeing as how im an effects noob will this pedal do what i want?

This is the first pedal ive found myself still wanting six months after learning of it and was thinking it would be a great way to dive into the oh so expensive world of boutique pedals (ok pedals in general) and think that this would be an appropriate start to that inevitable addiction in that it seems approriate for my current band (check my sig) any opinions, thoughts, love letters, hatemail, spam, flames etc more than welcome

irvinz · #2 06-15-2009, 05:34 AM

mild od? =) i think look elsewhere. guys here have recommended the barber ltd sr for lower gain applications

KarateKid25 · #3 06-15-2009, 05:34 AM

You could use it as an always on, for sure. It adds a nice depth / darkness to your sound. If thats what your after all the time, leave it on

I wouldn't call it mild though, as it really colours your tone in a big way.

I have been out of the loop for a while, so im not sure how easy they are to get hold of. They used to be pretty hard to come by, but perhaps Bjorn has started pumping them out again? I scored mine used from the TB classifieds.

**grygrx** · #4 06-15-2009, 07:11 AM

I think it does a very nice lower gain tone, and would suit an 'always on' application for some people.. it does seem to roll of a little bit of highs though.

Thingus995 · #5 06-15-2009, 07:19 AM

lol i figured i was probably wrong as far as descriptors and effect sound classifications go, im new at this whole effect game so any help i can get is much appreciated...

dark is very good, i like a dark, thick, suffocating kinda sound, the general final tone im looking for is the bastard lovechild of Justin Chancellor's tone in 'the pot' Colin Edwin's tone in 'strip the soul' and Paul D'amor's 'sober' tone...

i definitely understand that a jazz bass will never sound like a wal or a ric (and i am way ok with that) it seemed from the wiki clips, that the bbod was a good way to really thicken up my sound and that is something i was lookin for... i shall definitely check out the barber because maybe that's what im lookin for...

as far as blueberry availability, im not sure if Bjorn is making them or not, i know the custom sounds price creeped up over 400 bucks, and it seems the going rate in the classifieds is around 300 which is a lotta cash but if it will help me get where i want price is irrelevant...

irvinz · #6 06-15-2009, 07:22 AM

hmm, then the barber wont be what you want... thats more towards transparent low gain. look for a gemini drive, that fattens your sound out quite a bit too.... only 2/3rds of a blueberry =)

rratajski · #7 06-15-2009, 07:46 AM

On-topic/off-topic question: How does the BBBOD handle ever-precious mids?

Thingus995 · #8 06-15-2009, 08:00 AM

i saw a thread that the guy making the geminidrive had stopped making them?

JMDT · #9 06-15-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thingus995

i saw a thread that the guy making the geminidrive had stopped making them?

That is correct. Electronix is no longer making pedals.

The best mild OD I've tried that can go from warm to a touch of grit is the wayhuge porkloin.

Thingus995 · #10 06-15-2009, 10:36 AM

i will dedintely have to check that out, gc carries way huge if i recall? anything with loin in the name and im interested

Jared Lash · #11 06-15-2009, 11:15 AM

I loved the Blueberry and if I used OD more I'd still have mine but from your tone goals (the 3 songs you listed) I don't know that it's what you're looking for.

Check out nad's clips. Clip 1 and Clip 2 which are very representative of the BBOD with the gain cranked, first with the tone flat and then with it all the way on the bass side.

Personally I used it with even less gain (and obviously a milder tone) just to get a touch of grit for fingerstyle funk stuff.

But the songs you listed all have a more "rumbling", "clacky" and "biting" sound (it sucks to try and describe tone in words) which isn't what the Blueberry does. I think you might want to check out a VT Bass with the character knob past noon.

LuvMusic · #12 06-15-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thingus995

lol i figured i was probably wrong as far as descriptors and effect sound classifications go, im new at this whole effect game so any help i can get is much appreciated...

dark is very good, i like a dark, thick, suffocating kinda sound, the general final tone im looking for is the bastard lovechild of Justin Chancellor's tone in 'the pot' Colin Edwin's tone in 'strip the soul' and Paul D'amor's 'sober' tone...

i definitely understand that a jazz bass will never sound like a wal or a ric (and i am way ok with that) it seemed from the wiki clips, that the bbod was a good way to really thicken up my sound and that is something i was lookin for... i shall definitely check out the barber because maybe that's what im lookin for...

as far as blueberry availability, im not sure if Bjorn is making them or not, i know the custom sounds price creeped up over 400 bucks, and it seems the going rate in the classifieds is around 300 which is a lotta cash but if it will help me get where i want price is irrelevant...

According to BJFE.org, Bjorn is still making them but on an "on order" basis only. So, he's not doing batches.

Just checked Custom-Sounds web site and the price is the same. Remember if you are outside the EU than you don't have to pay the hefty VAT. You have to register on the Custom-Sounds web site to see the non-VAT price.

Using today's exchange rate for a Euro the delivered price in the U.S. is about 359.00 USD.

Just an FYI, the "official" Blueberry abbreviations on the BJFE website are BBBOD or 3BOD......BlueBerry Bass overdrive. A BBOD is a Baby Blue overdrive which is a different pedal and not designed for bass.

Thingus995 · #13 06-15-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I loved the Blueberry and if I used OD more I'd still have mine but from your tone goals (the 3 songs you listed) I don't know that it's what you're looking for.

Check out nad's clips. Clip 1 and Clip 2 which are very representative of the BBOD with the gain cranked, first with the tone flat and then with it all the way on the bass side.

Personally I used it with even less gain (and obviously a milder tone) just to get a touch of grit for fingerstyle funk stuff.

But the songs you listed all have a more "rumbling", "clacky" and "biting" sound (it sucks to try and describe tone in words) which isn't what the Blueberry does. I think you might want to check out a VT Bass with the character knob past noon.

i actually really dig that sound of the first one, and imagine it could be a part of the puzzle for the final tone im not looking for any one sound in particular, or even something identical.

The songs i listed are but a small collection of what i like tonally (the list is far longer lol) i am a big BIG Scott Reeder fan and his Kyuss tone is pretty awesome (particularly Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop and Odyssey) the tone on Heliotropic by Failure is also pretty sick and i realize i probably should have listed that originally but it was 4 am and i didnt know how many people wanted to help me find a tone from 500 different songs.

Much thanks for the help though, ill definitely look into that pedal as well because you never do know what youll find when you try things out for yourself

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvMusic

According to BJFE.org, Bjorn is still making them but on an "on order" basis only. So, he's not doing batches.

Just checked Custom-Sounds web site and the price is the same. Remember if you are outside the EU than you don't have to pay the hefty VAT. You have to register on the Custom-Sounds web site to see the non-VAT price.

Using today's exchange rate for a Euro the delivered price in the U.S. is about 359.00 USD.

Just an FYI, the "official" Blueberry abbreviations on the BJFE website are BBBOD or 3BOD......BlueBerry Bass overdrive. A BBOD is a Baby Blue overdrive which is a different pedal and not designed for bass.

Thanks for the heads up!!!

Valerus · #14 06-15-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grygrx

I think it does a very nice lower gain tone, and would suit an 'always on' application for some people.. it does seem to roll of a little bit of highs though.

that's what i noticed. I liked it but it didn't suit me. ...and apparently that's why you have it

rratajski · #15 06-15-2009, 03:33 PM

Can anyone attest to the mids question?

Are mids rolled off too or are they still there?

Jared Lash · #16 06-15-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rratajski

Can anyone attest to the mids question?

Are mids rolled off too or are they still there?

The mids are there. But when rolling down the tone knob (adding bass) the lows are really noticeable. So if you run it at unity gain it seems that the mids disappear somewhat because there is so much low end. The trick is to have the BBBOD set above unity. Then the mids wll be at the same volume and the lows louder. That's what worked best for me anyway.

bongomania · #17 06-15-2009, 03:42 PM

I feel like it's pretty massive in the low mids, but possibly lacking in the upper mids. Lots of grunty heft, not so much cutting "Geddy" range.

Jared Lash · #18 06-15-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I feel like it's pretty massive in the low mids, but possibly lacking in the upper mids. Lots of grunty heft, not so much cutting "Geddy" range.

Right. I should have clarified that. But my point is that the pedal rolls of highs and with the tone rolled down it is very heavy in the lows and the low mids. So with the EQ shifted if the pedal is at unity it will seem like it lost significant high mids.

A really fantastic pedal though. I go through periods where I really regret selling mine.

nad · #19 06-15-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rratajski

On-topic/off-topic question: How does the BBBOD handle ever-precious mids?

Okay. The low-low-mids are there, but the others are a bit even sounding to me. This pedal does not cut, rather it goes in that lower realm that adds a wall-o-sound, but not so low to be subharmonic. It doesn't kill your mids or anything, but there won't be any TubeScreamer type sounds coming from it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thingus995

...thicken...
...dark, thick, suffocating...
...thicken...

Judging from this, I'd say you are on the right track. Odds are you could sell for what you paid, or at least very close, just in case things don't work out. However, of the various Influences Of Tone you mention, I think Scott Reeder would be the only one that this pedal would align itself with.

This is probably the only pedal I ever regret ditching.

Thingus995 · #20 06-15-2009, 04:36 PM

that this pedal is still in my mind quite a while later and how you guys lament selling it is why it is still so strongly weighing on my mind...

i feel very privileged in that the band im in gives me a lot of creativity as far as tone and what i can do with it, and i guess im kinda itchin to explore my wiggle room.

in complete honesty the songs i referenced i knew were effected to some extent, but what and how much is beyond me at this point (well, everyone knows how Justin loves his whammy lol but that's not something i feel a want for at the moment) they are songs i dig and tones i think are way awesome, but i am not looking to imitate them so much as use them for a jumping off point for my own sound

i really appreciate the honest responses from you guys who've taken the time to post your experiences, im still thinking it out cause 400 bucks is a ton of coin, but like i mentioned earlier i have no issues paying to paint with the palette of my own creativity if that makes sense...

anything else you guys would like to add would be absolutely appreciated