Best overdrive for just a _slight_ amount of dirt

[eyvindwa]

So, I love the sound of my warwick through my solid state rig, but I keep thinking that just a little bit of dirt would make it even better So, my question for you knowledgable guys out there is: which overdrive should I get if I want it to A) always be on, and B) color my original sound/tone as little as possible while still adding an audible amount of dirt.

Thanks

[fenderhutz]

Fulltone Bass Drive (mosfet)

[assboglin]

I also find the Fulltone Bass-Drive Mosfet on Comp Cut mode to be pretty decent for that application. On Comp Cut mode you can get a little dirt when run at 9 volts and a lot of it with the boost switch engaged, actually.

[MakiSupaStar]

Ampeg.

[JanusZarate]

IMO, it sounds like you may want to see if there is a better amp out there for your needs, if you're looking for always-on slight dirt...

[TrevorOfDoom]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

IMO, it sounds like you may want to see if there is a better amp out there for your needs, if you're looking for always-on slight dirt...

+1

[animal52]

You might try out an EHX english muff'n for something subtle to something really gritty. I also think a sansamp pedal has a nice overdrive, but I'm not sure it wouldn't color your tone a bit.

[assboglin]

Yeah, an ampeg really would be ideal.

[KarateKid25]

My fav 2 overdrives are DOD 250 and BJFE BBOD. Both ends of the market are covered price wise. DOD is about $40 and the BJFE is around $300

[OhThePeacock]

Don't worry, I only kid.

[PBFACTOR]

ebs multidrive pulls off a gritty greasy ampeg well.

[eyvindwa]

While ditching the amp in favour of an ampeg or similar clearly is an option, I more often that not find myself playing on other people's rigs live, so I think I'd still like the pedal-shaped dirt. Is the BBOD really $300? Damn, it better sound good! The DOD 250 is an option I'd like to try out, but I'm afraid that while its cheap, it won't sound quite good enough that I'll bother using it in the end.

One thing that I forgot to mention is that my bass is 18V active, and has a very hot output, so the overdrive in question cannot be overly sensitive to input volume.

[eyvindwa]

Originally Posted by animal52

You might try out an EHX english muff'n for something subtle to something really gritty. I also think a sansamp pedal has a nice overdrive, but I'm not sure it wouldn't color your tone a bit.

I have a sansamp, and its not what I'm looking for - it adds too much unwanted 'color' to my sound.

[KarateKid25]

Originally Posted by eyvindwa

Is the BBOD really $300? Damn, it better sound good!

The BBOD is one pedal that I can't express enough how great (to me) it is. It is expensive and worth every penny (also hard to get hold of and has a hidden circuit which means people aren't making copies).

Its sound has affected me that much, that I got all scared about what I might do if it broke / got stolen. I literally would be lost and would find it VERY hard to be satisfied with another sound. I got so paranoid that I wrote to BJ (the builder) and expressed my concerns and asked for a second one! BJ is a great guy and has assured me he will fix mine if the need arises. Looking back on it now, i shake my head, but at the time, I just though "what am i going to do if this thing dies'??!!??

Its that good Slight OD to quite driven sounds. It also adds so much low end presence and just thickens your sound to no end. Awesome.

[RickenBoogie]

Another pedal option is the EBS Valve Drive. It's also around $300, but if you want tube grit, this pedal has it in spades. Also has an input pad if you need, as well as a huge range in od, from mild grit, to all out blitz. 3 band passive eq is useful, though not optimum, and you can dial in what you like, and then leave it there. Alot of people here like the other EBS preamp, but this one gets my vote for a very natural sounding od.

[syciprider]

Dave Hall VT1.

From a slightly rough grudge filled rogering to all out dry and dirty buttsecks.

[Swift713]

Electro Harmonix LPB 2UBE pre-amp. Run one channel into the other and you get as much or as little transparent OD as you want. You might want to check out the English Muffin as well.

[Riley]

i tried out the "big muff pi" for a while but it was just too dirty not what i needed... i'm really looking for a good "slight amount of dirt" overdrive as well.. something like what nick olevri uses in Queens of the Stone Age maybe... but somebody told me once that he overrides an entire amp, without a cab, turns the volume down and line-outs that to a regular amp creating natural fuzz (which is pretty ****ing cool if it works)

[Anscari]

Digitech Bad Monkey was my solution when I was looking for the same thing you are looking for now.

[73jbass]

Ibanez Turbo Tube Screamer in the Turbo setting.