ANOTHER "which distortion/overdrive/fuzz" thread...

ishouldbeking · #1 10-23-2007, 06:28 PM

Lame, I know... and yes I've been reading other threads all day.

Here's the question. Current rig is a stingray into a DOD 250 into a GK2001RB. I use the dod for a gritty "boost n zing" to bring out a few solo parts, and i've lately been relying on the GK's distortion channel for the times when i need heavier distortion (or when i want thick and meaty low notes, something the DOD doesn't do very well, IMHO).

My issue is that at shows it's become a battle to be able to incorporate the GK's distortion into practical use. If the sound guy mic's my cab, it's all good. But if they use a DI, which has been happening more and more frequently they always seem to insist on using an external DI or the pre-EQ from my head. I understand the logic behind their decision, but it forces me to use the DOD, which doesn't really work for every part. Also there will certainly be gigs in my future that involve using someone else's rig, or a rented rig, or possibly going straight into the board so i want to get something that will be give me all the necessary tones and be a permanent part of my pedalboard (I also plan to get something other than the GK at some point, but not for a while).

Obiously I could get a Diesel Dawg, but I'm merely content with the GK distortion, not ecstatic. I was thinking an EHX English Muff'n might be a more musical option (and the tubes would probably help with the GK's occasional sterile sounds), but can it hang with the GK's thick distortion? Would I be better off with a fuzz like a Little Big Muff or a bluebeard, or something like that? I don't need to get quite as heavy as the GK, but I definitely need something beefier than the DOD 250... I know that was long, but any help will be mucho appreciated.

bass-shy · #2 10-23-2007, 06:37 PM

For your situation, I think either a Tech 21 XXL Bass or a Homebrew Electronics Hematoma should do the trick. Good luck.

ishouldbeking · #3 10-23-2007, 06:47 PM

Is the XXL's distortion similar to the overdrive available thru a Sansamp? (I quite like the SBDDI, but never cared for it's distortion.)

bass-shy · #4 10-23-2007, 06:50 PM

No. The XXL is much more aggressive. It is a heavy, heavy distortion.

assboglin · #5 10-23-2007, 08:23 PM

Well, there are a lot of pedals I could recommend based on your criteria, so I think the best thing for you to do is to listen to as many sound samples as you can to try to get a feel for what you like/dislike and see if anything sticks out to you. I've posted sound samples for a few different pedals here http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search...archid=5824109 (there's a plain little big muff sample in the phase 90 with fuzz thread), you can probably find more soundclips on this forum, and you can find lots of sound samples across the internet, including a bunch posted in the gear section of bassplayer magazine's website here http://www.bassplayer.com/gear. Listening to sound samples is free and it's the next best thing to trying a pedal for yourself so take a listen and good luck.

ishouldbeking · #6 10-23-2007, 10:08 PM

awesome guys, thanks. I'm gonna take a listen to a slew of those clips but in the meantime i have one more question.

I think I'm gonna go for something less extreme than the GK's distortion, which is a bit more modern sounding than I think is ideal for me.

Foxworthy925 · #7 10-23-2007, 10:39 PM

Well based on the clips I've heard, I think the Ezekiel 25:17 sounds AMAZING. But I have no idea where you'd find one, and they cost an arm and a leg...
http://www.stompboxes.co.uk/gpage5.html

assboglin · #8 10-24-2007, 01:23 PM

Ok. Just some tips to help you narrow your search if you like. If you're going for something less extreme than the GK I would recommend you focus your search on overdrives and perhaps steer away from fuzzes like the Big Muff as fuzzes tend to be more on the extreme side and overdrive/distortion seems to be more your area. And if you want a less modern sound I'd focus more on manufacturers with a more vintage aesthetic, which includes most boutique companies like Fulltone, for example. Some non boutique manufacturers, like EHX, are a little more vintage oriented as well, in my opinion. A tube pedal like the EHX English Muff'n might be up your alley in that case. There's a sound sample for it on bass on the EHX website you should check out if you haven't already.

Trevor.A · #9 10-24-2007, 01:51 PM

What about the GK Diesel Dawg? If you like the distortion in your amp, it's probably almost exactly the same circuit.

Dragonlord · #10 10-24-2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor.A

What about the GK Diesel Dawg? If you like the distortion in your amp, it's probably almost exactly the same circuit.

How about reading the whole post before replying

ishouldbeking · #11 10-24-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by assboglin

Ok. Just some tips to help you narrow your search if you like. If you're going for something less extreme than the GK I would recommend you focus your search on overdrives and perhaps steer away from fuzzes like the Big Muff as fuzzes tend to be more on the extreme side and overdrive/distortion seems to be more your area. And if you want a less modern sound I'd focus more on manufacturers with a more vintage aesthetic, which includes most boutique companies like Fulltone, for example. Some non boutique manufacturers, like EHX, are a little more vintage oriented as well, in my opinion. A tube pedal like the EHX English Muff'n might be up your alley in that case. There's a sound sample for it on bass on the EHX website you should check out if you haven't already.

All very helpful advice. After listening to a lot of clips on the bassplayer page I'm definitely leaning away from the fuzzes and more towards the overdrives... I really love the sound of Fuzz but I can tell by just hearing clips that it'd never work to cut through my band.

At the moment I'm leaning towards getting a fulltone bass-drive and letting that replace the DOD and the GK by using the boost for the louder stuff. The Muff'n sounds like a fantastic pedal, but the convenience of 2 pedals in 1 (and a normal boss style power supply) is starting to outweigh the cool factor of the muff'n's tubes.

The HBE Hematoma looks pretty good as well (and it's cheaper!) what with separate boost switch and all, but I wasn't blown away by the clips of it. I could also get a T-Rex Bass Juice at cost, but that only brings it down to the price of the Fulltone, and the bass-drive seems more useful (and a better value).

I think so long as the Fulltone can pull off a nice gritty overdrive tone and a louder aggressive version of that (with the boost engaged) I'll be pretty happy.

assboglin · #12 10-24-2007, 07:42 PM

The Fulltone is a very versatile pedal, and with the boost channel, you should be able to find what you want out of it. I consider a standard for bass overdrives. On Compcut mode, the boost channel is louder and a lot more distorted, but on the other two modes, the boost channel is more distorted but doesn't necessarily have more volume. Just something to consider.

The Hematoma is a good pedal, but there's something funky about the boost switch on mine. There's often a momentary lapse in sound when the boost is engaged. Very impractical for live use, which is a shame because I like the boost on that pedal.

I haven't owned the Bass Juice, but I've been curious about it and the TC Electronics Vintage Bass Distortion, which are the same pedal, and I've been personally really unimpressed with the soundsamples I've heard for them. I found a video on youtube of someone using one and it sounded like fuzzy mush. I don't know what it sounds like on a lighter setting though.

Trevor.A · #13 10-24-2007, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragonlord

How about reading the whole post before replying

ishouldbeking · #14 10-24-2007, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by assboglin

The Fulltone is a very versatile pedal, and with the boost channel, you should be able to find what you want out of it. I consider a standard for bass overdrives. On Compcut mode, the boost channel is louder and a lot more distorted, but on the other two modes, the boost channel is more distorted but doesn't necessarily have more volume. Just something to consider.

The Hematoma is a good pedal, but there's something funky about the boost switch on mine. There's often a momentary lapse in sound when the boost is engaged. Very impractical for live use, which is a shame because I like the boost on that pedal.

I haven't owned the Bass Juice, but I've been curious about it and the TC Electronics Vintage Bass Distortion, which are the same pedal, and I've been personally really unimpressed with the soundsamples I've heard for them. I found a video on youtube of someone using one and it sounded like fuzzy mush. I don't know what it sounds like on a lighter setting though.

Sounds like we're on the same page! I'm gonna wait a day or two before i pull the trigger (always good to think hard before boo-teek purchases, IME), but it's looking like there's a Bass-Drive in my future. I'll probably get an english muff'n sometime down the road too, and then I'll worry about a fuzz.

smeet · #15 10-24-2007, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by assboglin

I've posted sound samples for a few different pedals here http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search...archid=5824109

I've seen archive links like this posted a few times, and whenever I follow them I get a "Sorry, no matches" page. Do I have something set wrong?

assboglin · #16 10-24-2007, 10:10 PM

I wouldn't know. If you want to see what I've posted, all you've got to do is search for threads by posted by me though.

ishouldbeking · #17 10-25-2007, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeet

I've seen archive links like this posted a few times, and whenever I follow them I get a "Sorry, no matches" page. Do I have something set wrong?

Yeah, that happens to me too sometimes. I understand it can happen occasionally because supporting members have more complex search options available to them, which leads us "normal folk" into a talkbass wormhole. Might not be the case here though. Hard to say, the internet can be pretty screwy.

assboglin · #18 10-25-2007, 09:34 AM

I'm not a supporting member so it shouldn't be the case, so it's just odd.

One more thing to consider about the Bass Drive before ordering it is that it, like most solid state overdrive pedals, sounds better through a tube amp. Sometimes a tube based overdrive pedal is a better match to a solid state head. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

ishouldbeking · #19 10-25-2007, 05:36 PM

Ha, well... I bit the bullet and picked up a new Fulltone Bass-Drive today. It was mostly on impulse (the worst way to buy!), but I only had a few minutes at Truetone music today, and they had a used English Muff'n kicking around for $140.

At first I was very tempted by the Muff'n... until I picked the thing up. I forget how junky the large box EHX pedals feel. It was supposedly relatively new, but the paint had already come off in a lot of places, whereas the Fulltone just exudes quality craftsmanship. The pots felt pretty smooth though, which is something I always appreciate. I'll buy a Muff'n sometime down the road, but it wasn't in the cards today.

I only had a second to play through the fulltone, but I liked what I heard and snagged it for 175. I didn't get a chance to tone-tweak in the shop, but I plan to give it a full test drive tonight at rejearsal!

assboglin · #20 10-25-2007, 06:02 PM

Well good luck, I hope it does the trick for you!