Which bass distortion/overdrive pedal? (Need quick replies, vacation incoming)

XtreO · #1 06-25-2008, 06:03 AM

So I'm going to buy a bass overdrive/distortion pedal (yes, I know what you are thinking (and you are in the main right

)), need something to fiddle with

I need however some feedback regarding which to pick.

As of now it's two types I can choose between; Digitech XBD Bass Drive or Boss ODB-3. Not from this store, then I'd look up a whole lot more if I was buying from the internet, but these two are available at the local guitar store.

Now I need your help do decide which to go for, because I have no idea what the actual differences between these pedals are, nor which of the brands are likely to last longer. If you got any experience with either, or can tell me what the differences in specs are or any other relevant information, please share! Thanks.

kaputsport · #2 06-25-2008, 06:15 AM

Neither. Buy a bass big muff from Guitar center and go for it. No need to waste your money on something, when you can spend it on a worthwhile piece of gear.

OptimusPrime · #3 06-25-2008, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

Neither. Buy a bass big muff from Guitar center and go for it. No need to waste your money on something, when you can spend it on a worthwhile piece of gear.

Do they have Guitar Center in Scandinavia?

varunkapahi · #4 06-25-2008, 07:03 AM

dude chuck those! you need to know about the polish overdrive pedal. and if it can reach me it can reach you too! search for the polish love overdrive pedal in the forum here

crapusername · #5 06-25-2008, 07:28 AM

what about the ashdown james lomenzo hyperdrive. Pees all over the ODB3 from a huge height!

rustynuts · #6 06-25-2008, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crapusername

what about the ashdown james lomenzo hyperdrive. Pees all over the ODB3 from a huge height!

Most overdrives I've tried do that though....

RickenBoogie · #7 06-25-2008, 07:56 AM

If you're going to limit yourself to those two, AND, they're both available to you locally, why not actually TRY THEM OUT. Otherwise, if you expand your search, I think you'll find that there are lots of other overdrives that would sound much better than either of those two. Just sayin' if you're set on one of those two, go play them, see what you think, otherwise, search here for tons-o-better options.

bassman1185 · #8 06-25-2008, 08:02 AM

I haven't really messed with the ODB-3, but I have played through a Digitech bass driver, and it sucked. I would not recommend it at all.

Don't limit yourself just to bass-specific pedals. Try a few out. A lot of us on here like the Electro-Harmonix Little Big Muff or Big Muff Pi, which are designed for guitars. I have the Russian version of the BMP and it's great. I also use the Digitech Bad Monkey, which is also a fantastic pedal for pretty cheap.

NoNoise · #9 06-25-2008, 08:14 AM

The only pedal I would ever buy from Digitech is a Whammy. The ODB-3 isn't a bad pedal, though very standard. I'm getting one just to put some slight overdrive on my "clean" signal. For a distortion, though, there are waaaaayyy better things out there.

CamiloDíaz · #10 06-25-2008, 08:20 AM

it all depends on what you want out of your OD: wanta a lot of fuzzyness? go for the Big Muff. Or maybe a subtle, tube like growl a-la-Cream's Jack Bruce? Then I recomend something in the likes of TS9DX.

BUT if you are asking "wich one of these two", Digitech is far more controlable and versatile. ODB-3, for some reason, never delivers a really creamy OD, it's more on the distorsion side of the force, IMHO.
Both would last a veeeeeery long time, tho. Boss's stuff is known to be indestructible, and they really are. Try them both, but, to my ears, Digitech is far more tweekable, more fun, altogether. It's not what rockstars use but, hey, who're we kidding...

Another great option, highly available worldwide (I am in Chile and I could get it and on hand tody form my local store), and versatile as hell, not boutique or esoteric and right on cool pedal in the price range of Boss and Digitech is Ibanez's PD7, Phat Head. Great pedal altogether.

So, it's a matter of taste, availability and price, and, of course, what you want. None of these pedals will go "crazy fuzz on fuzz". for that, Little Big Muff, or some very exclusive bass fuzzes that could pay tons of dipers for my daughter. Catch my drift?

bongomania · #11 06-25-2008, 08:21 AM

If those two are the only ones available at your local guitar store, then I would suggest taking a train into a larger nearby city and trying their guitar stores. It's worth the day trip.

Zuhzuhzombie!! · #12 06-25-2008, 08:28 AM

I have a Big Muff Pi and absolutely love it. It kills a bit of your volume and that umph, but I think I'm going to buy an equalizer to put in front of it to fix that.

Reuben · #13 06-25-2008, 08:33 AM

You have to try them to know what works for you. You have to. Sometimes it takes 20 seconds to eliminate something from consideration when looking at specs, images, reviews and soundbytes only creates consternation and confusion.

Example: I watched a demo on You Tube of the EH Bassballs and really liked what I heard. I wrestled with myself over whether to get one. Went down to the local store and tried one. 30 seconds later it was a very easy decision to NOT buy it. It was like, "what was I thinking??"

Overdrives on bass are really varied and what we expect from them is very personal, so don't buy in a vacuum.

That said, I agree with those who say neither of those pedals are worthwhile. I think the Prescription Electronics Depth Charge is worth every bit of extra bread.

XtreO · #14 06-25-2008, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

If those two are the only ones available at your local guitar store, then I would suggest taking a train into a larger nearby city and trying their guitar stores. It's worth the day trip.

I live in Norway's capital. Checked the four guitar stores that lie roughly at the same place - have yet to go to the two big ones. But the selection on the four that are to find near eachother is terribly horrible - at least in terms of bass spesific pedals.

To RickenBoogie, I've allready tried them out. However I didn't want to express my biased point of view in the thread. I favoured the Digitech for the record.

BUT - I haven't considered guitar pedals yet. I think I will check them out. Also the ashdown james lomenzo hyperdrive lookes truly awesome for the music I play. Looks like I'll have to put off the purchase of a highquality overdrive/distortion pedal with that one and the Ibanez's PD7 as well as Big Muff Pi.

Remember guys, this is for toying while on vacation. Not something I will use in recordings/live

RickenBoogie · #15 06-25-2008, 08:44 AM

In that case, it's only your ears that matter. Seriously. So, you tried those two, and now you know what you know, so all that's left is to either choose, or keep searching. I think you know what the consensus is around here, so happy hunting.

dannybuoy · #16 06-25-2008, 09:16 AM

You don't need to limit yourself to bass specific pedals either. Try the EHX English Muff'n, Ibanez Tubescreamer or derivatives (e.g. Digitech Bad Monkey or BBE Green Screamer) or any boutique overdrives they have lying around. Also there are some new EHX bass specific pedals out now/soon like the Bass Blogger, Bass Big Muff and Bass Metaphors and they'll be in a store somewhere with any luck.

Hansel · #17 06-25-2008, 11:00 AM

GO for a boss Mega Distortion. Alot of guitar pedals work on bass but I find the Mega Distortion gives me all the options i need. It has tone control (Treble and Bass) and a Gain Booster and the Distortion Knob. If everything is turned to 3/4 and bass is maxed with treble at half, a bass will sound like massive face melting napalm bomb.

On a guitar I find it gives the Thickest, Gooeyest lows ever, lol.

BeauZooka · #18 06-25-2008, 11:09 AM

The EBS MultiDrive is supposed to sound great and is made in Sweden.
http://www.ebs.bass.se/2007/multidrive.htm
I'm sure it would destroy the 2 you are thinking about.

XtreO · #19 06-25-2008, 01:45 PM

Ok, found out that I'll put it off and by a proper pedal. I think it'll be the James Lomenzopedal (http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/s...oduct_id/35483), only great reviews on it. That or Big Muff. I play mainly metal styles, so I think the LoMenzo might be more in my alley. Also, a proper 90-120 dollar pedal will in the end become cheaper (with taxes and shipping) than if I buy one of those in the store(!).

Also a question; my home practise amp is a transistor amp (no tubes, that's a solid state right?), whilst my main amp (http://www.ampeg.com/products/bassamp/ba115t/index.html) is same with a preamp tube. How does pedals cooperate with these amps? Will it make any difference between that and tube amps? I've heard somewhere it does.

bongomania · #20 06-25-2008, 03:09 PM

There may be slight differences in tone depending on how hard the pedal drives the amp's preamp input, but nothing to worry about.