Bass Driver Bass Overdrive/Distortion

parker_mysterio · #1 07-27-2009, 03:20 AM

Hey i know you are all going to rip into for posting here without looking, but i want peoples opinions on this pedal. What does everyone think of this pedal?

dannybuoy · #2 07-27-2009, 03:35 AM

Which one?

Sansamp Bass Driver
Fulltone Bass Drive
Uncle Ernie's Bass Driver
Digitech Bass Driver
Behringer Bass Driver
Guyatone Bass Driver
etc

parker_mysterio · #3 07-27-2009, 03:41 AM

aww sorry, its the Digitech one

Bootzilla · #4 07-27-2009, 05:36 AM

The digitech bad monkey gets more love around here so you might want to try that one. I have no experience with the bass driver.

Crystalman85 · #5 07-28-2009, 01:00 AM

I own a digitech bass driver and I do like how it sounds. this pedal has a fizzy and metallic sound. it may not be the best bass distortion pedal, but at least I like how it sounds. it's a good pedal to own if you play hard rock or heavy metal.

skywalkerla5 · #6 07-28-2009, 01:10 AM

No offense, but to generalize an entire pedal to one specific genre is impossible, any pedal is good for any genre given the right context and settings. To the OP, it's a decent pedal but too digital sounding (pardon me being punny). It's not as warm or even as filling as fulltone bass driver, aka pure love. That pedal trounces with some thick and juicy overdrive or just a great grinding light overdrive, try it and you may just fall in love.

Crystalman85 · #7 07-28-2009, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skywalkerla5

No offense, but to generalize an entire pedal to one specific genre is impossible, any pedal is good for any genre given the right context and settings. To the OP, it's a decent pedal but too digital sounding (pardon me being punny). It's not as warm or even as filling as fulltone bass driver, aka pure love. That pedal trounces with some thick and juicy overdrive or just a great grinding light overdrive, try it and you may just fall in love.

That maybe so, but I was just saying that the digitech bass driver is more suitable for hard rock and heavy metal. plus I've heard some good things about the fulltone bass driver. and the tech 21 vt bass.

Foamy · #8 07-28-2009, 01:42 AM

VT Bass has replaced my Behringer BDI-21 as my favorite always on pedal - just touchy on the levels a bit though.

Crystalman85 · #9 07-28-2009, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foamy

VT Bass has replaced my Behringer BDI-21 as my favorite always on pedal - just touchy on the levels a bit though.

I've heard nothing but bad things about behringer effects. I believe that the tech 21 vt bass is a much better choice than the behringer bdi-21. I've seen video demonstrations of the tech21 vt bass on youtube and bassplayer.tv.

dannybuoy · #10 07-28-2009, 03:08 AM

I've heard nothing but good about the BDI-21 though, some say it's the best pedal Behringer ever made. If you can't afford a VT Bass / BDDI, this is the next best thing.

skywalkerla5 · #11 07-28-2009, 03:11 AM

The sansamp is a very good route to go. The pedal plays itself in that in rock settings you can pretty much just leave it on as Foamy stated himself doing above. It can do alot with the overdrive and it's nice to have a D.I. box at any time, but i wouldn't say it's terrific for live if you switch up overdrive tones alot.

Foamy · #12 07-28-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crystalman85

I've heard nothing but bad things about behringer effects. I believe that the tech 21 vt bass is a much better choice than the behringer bdi-21. I've seen video demonstrations of the tech21 vt bass on youtube and bassplayer.tv.

You need to learn about this specific pedal, and learn to not believe everything you hear.

Crystalman85 · #13 07-28-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foamy

You need to learn about this specific pedal, and learn to not believe everything you hear.

I was actually talking about the other effects from behringer. I've read negative reviews about those pedals. but not the behringer bdi-21. I've read some decent reviews about that pedal. also I've heard sound samples of the bdi-21 from a youtube clip. it's got an interesting tube-emulated sound. I'm assuming that tech 21 would be a better choice mainly because their pedals are built like tanks. I'm suprised that no one mentions the hartke vxl bass attack pre-amp pedal since we're on the subject of tube-emulated pedals.

Matt Dean · #14 07-28-2009, 05:22 PM

I like tubes in my bass [over] drivers...

bassyeah · #15 07-28-2009, 05:56 PM

I love my SanAmp BDDI and have wondered about options for that... some good information so far... just subscribing

ga_edwards · #16 07-29-2009, 06:19 AM

The Digitech is ok, but not fantastic. It's very useful as it has 3 modes, OD, distortion and fuzz, and blends between all 3, so you should be able to find a distortion type you like in their somewhere. Plus the blend control let's you retain a solid clean low end.

It's a bit toppy and metallic sounding as stated, but no-where near as fizzy or scooped sounding as the Boss ODB-3. Nor is it as digital sounding as some other digital pedals (I'm thinking of the awful od/dist models in my old GT6B.

However, you can warm them it up and tame the treble by using the second output instead which is an emulate 4x12 IIRC. Using this is actually sounds pretty good. I wouldn't solo with one, but in a band/mix context I think it's just fine, although I do wish the eq was more flexible instead of the single tone control.

gumtownbassman · #17 07-30-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga_edwards

(I'm thinking of the awful od/dist models in my old GT6B.

I have to agree with the GT-6B distrotions, when they designed the GT-10B, they must have realized their previous mistakes, and out done them selves with the GT-10B.
The Gt-10B gives you a good selection of some great distortions and drives. I find using the pre Amp gain in it usefull too for an overdrive

.

sutarappa · #18 07-30-2009, 10:04 PM

i enjoy the the Digitech Bass Driver very much. i use it as my default overdrive in a grind outfit. i will say the pedal took a long time to like because i initially went to it wanting a big distortion and/or fuzz sound. in my experience, it is not going to provide a massive sound, but a cutting, aggressive overdrive. it takes a little time to become familiar with the controls and how they interact with each other... the key is the blend control - you can lose lows really fast if you dial out too much clean tone. i never run blend past 1 or 2 o'clock. the tone control only affects the drive and not the clean. the warp can take you from darker tones, to midsy slice, to high fizzle... for huge crazy fuzz tone, i run the Digitech Bass Drive into an EHX Little Big Muff. these pedals combined produce a killer fuzz i could not get with either alone.