BEST Transparent, Light, Soft, Tube Overdrive pedal :)

[Greenacre Andy]

Hey guys

I'm looking for an Overdrive pedal for my bassist for his birthday. We don't want to get anything over the top, just a hint of overdrive, a pedal that will almost give it a hint of 'enhancement'
I'm not a bassist, but have been doing some research, and have narrowed it down to

EBS ValveDrive
SansAmp Bassdriver
Fulltone Bass-Drive
Xotic Bass BB Preamp
Xotic Bass RC Booster

Which of these will be best suited?

He's using an American Jazz Bass, Musicman Stingray, Ampeg SVT3 and Ampeg 810

This
AFAIK is one of his favourite bass tones

Thanks for your help guys

[ihateusernames]

Nice gift choices! With his gear a Barber LTD SR would be fantastic for those needs and the tone from the clip. I'd imagine the EBS valvedrive would work beautifully as well. That Sansamp would be at the bottom of my list especially with his amp of choice, however the Paradriver or RPM rackmount pull that tone off very well.

[stflbn]

Personally I hear VT-bass pedal all over that sound. Very easy to get that sound and many others with the VT-bass.

I've been personally wanting to try a Valvedrive, and I've had trouble really defining the difference between an Exotic BB Preamp and the Exotic Bass RC Booster.

[RCCollins]

cream pie if you can find one!

also, there is another "transparent drive" thread on the first page of this forum, you might want to check it out

[scotch]

Originally Posted by Greenacre Andy

Hey guys

I'm looking for an Overdrive pedal for my bassist for his birthday. We don't want to get anything over the top, just a hint of overdrive, a pedal that will almost give it a hint of 'enhancement'
I'm not a bassist, but have been doing some research, and have narrowed it down to

EBS ValveDrive
SansAmp Bassdriver
Fulltone Bass-Drive
Xotic Bass BB Preamp
Xotic Bass RC Booster

Which of these will be best suited?

He's using an American Jazz Bass, Musicman Stingray, Ampeg SVT3 and Ampeg 810

This
AFAIK is one of his favourite bass tones

Thanks for your help guys

Well, the clip you linked to sounded very Sansamp-ish to me. I wouldn't exactly call it transparent, light, or soft though....


If you're looking for "Enhancement", the EBS Valve Drive is a perfect choice.

The RC Booster isn't really an overdrive (although it will drive a tube amp into distortion - which the SVT-3 is not).

If you want to "cop" the tone of the song you linked, the SansAmp Bass Driver will pull it off.

The Fulltone Bass-Drive is superb for light overdrive but won't really do the scooped sound of your link...

I haven't tried the BB Preamp, but I understand it is similar to a Tube Screamer circuit (mid frequency emphasis).

[derelicte]

what awesome bandmates!! all of those are pretty nice choices.. I'd lean on the Sansamp or EBS out of those~

the sansamp is a little grittier, but the ebs is as smooth as can be

[phatbass]

Gotta put my vote on the SansAmp Bass Driver. It'll do that and a buncha other stuff

[bassman251]

A Keely modified blues driver.

[Gashaponcito]

Tech 21 VT Bass, Electro-harmonix English Muff'n, Bodgan's Polish Love

[RickenBoogie]

The Valve Drive would be my choice, but that's only because I use one regularly.

[Stumbo]

TubeWorks Blue Tube pedal.

[JimmyM]

I vote VT, too.

[david fitch]

The Sansamp VT Bass Pedal ! I love the thing !

[ozrider]

+1 EBS Valvedrive, purr-fect for slight overdrive without losing the bottom end.

[shinobi]

i find it shocking that the ehx english muff'n is hardly mentioned

best mild bass distortion. ever made.

[DanRJBrasil]

Originally Posted by ozrider

+1 EBS Valvedrive, purr-fect for slight overdrive without losing the bottom end.

+1

[totalimmortal08]

i highly recomend the DHA stuff (Dave Hall Amps). I love mine. If not, the Valve drive should do the trick. Ya'll are awesome, I wish my band mates did that for me

[Gashaponcito]

Originally Posted by shinobi

i find it shocking that the ehx english muff'n is hardly mentioned

best mild bass distortion. ever made.

At last =D