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12-06-2009, 04:41 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dearborn, Michigan | | | Bass Drive causing loss of low end on Mesa Gear
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Hey guys,
I really thought I would like the Fulltone Bass Drive but I've been noticing recently that it really eats up my low end, I can't seem to dial it back in! What gives?
I play through P-basses, Sonic Maximizer, and Mesa Gear; its really noticeable when I engage the boost. I'm thinking about just going back to pushing my pre-amp tubes and not using an OD pedal at all! Anyone else go through this?
Thanks for reading |
12-06-2009, 04:45 PM
|  | OVNIFX
EXAR pedals rep for North & Central America | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR | | Personally I think the BD loses some low end no matter what amp you use; it certainly compresses the low end to the extent that it will at least seem to lose lows.
Don't give up on OD pedals, just give up on ones that lose (or over-compress) the low end.  |
12-06-2009, 05:30 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Minnesota | | | Have you tried P-bass -> Bassdrive -> amp ?
What settings on the Bassdrive are you using? Like FM, or Vintage... is this a MOSFET version? |
12-06-2009, 08:44 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: SIT strings | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montreal, Qc. Canada | | Quote:
Originally Posted by bongomania  Personally I think the BD loses some low end no matter what amp you use; it certainly compresses the low end to the extent that it will at least seem to lose lows.
Don't give up on OD pedals, just give up on ones that lose (or over-compress) the low end. | +1, that's why I sold my Bassdrive and replaced it with an Xotic BB preamp (which is actually an overdrive, not a preamp). |
12-06-2009, 11:15 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, England | | | Yup, get the BB. It's a tubescreamer based pedal just like the Bassdrive, with a Baxandall eq that can seriously boost lows if required! |
12-07-2009, 01:36 AM
|  | So much flame, it burns............ | | Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by 1kinal +1, that's why I sold my Bassdrive and replaced it with an Xotic BB preamp (which is actually an overdrive, not a preamp). | That's exactly what I did.
I actually went through two BassDrives. One old, one new.
The Xotic BB totally solved this problem and freed up a lot of pedal board real estate to boot.
Great Pedal.
__________________
"Heck! Even Hulk Hogan plays a bass guitar. But, let’s be honest. As a bass player, the Hulkster is no Gene Simmons!"-Jeff Berlin |
12-07-2009, 08:36 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dearborn, Michigan | | | Xotic BB preamp..hmm haven't heard of it yet, might have to check it out. I also tried to like the VT bass but its not really "enhancing" my gear in the manner I thought it would. On its own its very impressive but combined with my rig its very difficult to EQ properly. As long as the BB preamp is different from the VT or bass drive, im game to try it out.. |
12-07-2009, 08:55 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dearborn, Michigan | | | Searching around I see that the Fulltone OCD also seems to be well received? Actually the Xotic and Fulltone both seem to be? |
12-07-2009, 08:55 AM
|  | Registered User
Endorsing Artist:D'Addario Strings & Planet Waves Accessories | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: nashville, tn | | | I've also favored my Xotic BB over the Bass-Drive. It's much easier to dial in a balanced sound!
The Fulltone is definitely useable, but given it's pure 'Tubecreamer' type architecture, you really have to know how to use it. When using the Fulltone, expect your 'overdrive' tone to be louder than your clean tone. I've found that when playing rather simple, down & dirty rock, that I still like the Bass-Drive. It doesn't sound great at home playing by myself, but in a rock context in an actual performance- the Bass-Drive really delivers!
The Mosfet version w/ Flat Mids option really helps in the low-end department. Remember that these TS clones add lots of midrange (even in flat mode). These extra mid frequencies make you louder (which, in turn, users often turn down the overall volume of the pedal- thus, losing lows!). |
12-07-2009, 08:58 AM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist:D'Addario Strings & Planet Waves Accessories | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: nashville, tn | | Quote:
Originally Posted by MicG Xotic BB preamp..hmm haven't heard of it yet, might have to check it out. I also tried to like the VT bass but its not really "enhancing" my gear in the manner I thought it would. On its own its very impressive but combined with my rig its very difficult to EQ properly. As long as the BB preamp is different from the VT or bass drive, im game to try it out.. | The BB is totally different than the VT.
It is based on the same Tubescreamer circuit as the Fulltone, but adds that baxandall eq circuit which can layer in as much low end as you want! So, with the BB, you get a very similar 'dirt' characteristic, but with a flexible eq that can easily provide more lows thatn you need. |
12-07-2009, 09:07 AM
|  | Master of Reality | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA | | | There is definitely a small loss of low end on the Bass Drive, but as noted, it can be largely compensated for IME by volume adjustments and conservative positioning of the tone knob to retain as much low-mids as possible.
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12-07-2009, 09:08 AM
|  | TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
Endorsing Artist: Lyt Pedalboards Beta tester: Source Audio Moderator | | Join Date: May 2002 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ProfGumby | Ask and ye shall receive- here is a two-part Xotic Bass BB demo I did a while back. I'm another one who had and liked the Bassdrive, but wanted more low end.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejCEg0sSN34
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYFp4iG_rxQ |
12-07-2009, 09:28 AM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist:D'Addario Strings & Planet Waves Accessories | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: nashville, tn | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler | NICE job, Bryan! Maybe the best, most comprehensive video review I've seen. There's usually a grocery-list of issues I have with online video reviews, but you did a great job. |
12-07-2009, 09:34 AM
| | TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
Endorsing Artist: Lyt Pedalboards Beta tester: Source Audio Moderator | | Join Date: May 2002 Location: Connecticut | | | Thanks. I hate demos where they only go through a couple settings, so I try to be pretty exhaustive with mine. |
12-07-2009, 06:01 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan's U.P. | | Thanks for the links Bryan! Now I'm really dying to compare the BB to the Fender Sub Lime.... 
__________________  Don't ask me, I'm still trying to find the #@$#& "trust rod" on a bass! I would hesitate to use the phrase "very good bassist" in any association with my name |
12-07-2009, 06:08 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist:D'Addario Strings & Planet Waves Accessories | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: nashville, tn | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ProfGumby Thanks for the links Bryan! Now I'm really dying to compare the BB to the Fender Sub Lime.... | I happen to have both set up right next to me at the moment!
They're very different sounding. Not really in the same 'family' of distortion. The BB is decidedly "overdrive", while the Sub-Lime is definitely in "fuzz" territory. The Sub-Lime is one of the more 'organic' fuzzes I've tried, but fuzz just the same!
In my opinion, they're apples-to-oranges. |
12-07-2009, 07:16 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan's U.P. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by scotch I happen to have both set up right next to me at the moment!
They're very different sounding. Not really in the same 'family' of distortion. The BB is decidedly "overdrive", while the Sub-Lime is definitely in "fuzz" territory. The Sub-Lime is one of the more 'organic' fuzzes I've tried, but fuzz just the same!
In my opinion, they're apples-to-oranges. | Thanks! I definitely don't want thick distortion, but overdrive and a bit of crunch...I want that vintage pushed tube head growl like jack Bruce got in the early years etc...and want to keep the low end and mids alive.
Think of it as what you can normally get out of a jazz bass in terms of growl but amplified with a sort of organic warmth to it but allow the jazz bass to do what it does with the mids. I will be running whatever pedal(s) I settle on between a jazz bass and an amp so I want to check out a few.
__________________ Don't ask me, I'm still trying to find the #@$#& "trust rod" on a bass! I would hesitate to use the phrase "very good bassist" in any association with my name |
12-07-2009, 07:39 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist:D'Addario Strings & Planet Waves Accessories | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: nashville, tn | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ProfGumby Thanks! I definitely don't want thick distortion, but overdrive and a bit of crunch...I want that vintage pushed tube head growl like jack Bruce got in the early years etc...and want to keep the low end and mids alive.
Think of it as what you can normally get out of a jazz bass in terms of growl but amplified with a sort of organic warmth to it but allow the jazz bass to do what it does with the mids. I will be running whatever pedal(s) I settle on between a jazz bass and an amp so I want to check out a few. | The BB is a must-try, based on your description. Also the SFT (catalinbread), VT Bass (Tech21) or an EBS Valve Drive.
I know if I were going for old-school Jack-Bruce tone with my Jazz (which I've done pretty often ), I'd click on my BB with a low 'gain' setting, flat bass eq and a little treble dialed back. There's other ways I could get there (with my Fulltone Bass-Drive + an eq pedal -or- EBS Valve Drive), but the BB would be the easiest to dial in quickly! |
12-07-2009, 07:49 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SF (North) Bay Area | | Quote:
Originally Posted by 1kinal +1, that's why I sold my Bassdrive and replaced it with an Xotic BB preamp (which is actually an overdrive, not a preamp). | I also did the exact same thing!
Last edited by Matt Dean : 12-07-2009 at 08:09 PM.
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