Blending dry and wet to keep the low

PKay · #1 02-26-2009, 12:04 PM

Can anybody help me?
I am using a boss ME50B for my bass effects (manly for overdrive and fuzz)
but its killing my low end.
I have been told the best way is get the low end back is to blend dry and wet signals but is this right? and how? I only have one amp.

PBass101 · #2 02-26-2009, 12:06 PM

Alot of people who keep a wet and dry signal bi-amp with two seperate amplifiers, or two different preamps into each side of a stereo power amp. Of course, you'd need more cabinets or a stereo cabinet, if you can find one. In any case, it's more gear and more money, but can sound great if used right.

Jared Lash · #3 02-26-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PKay

Can anybody help me?
I am using a boss ME50B for my bass effects (manly for overdrive and fuzz)
but its killing my low end.
I have been told the best way is get the low end back is to blend dry and wet signals but is this right? and how? I only have one amp.

Bi-amping is a great option but obviously costly and means setting up dual rigs for every gig. An easier option is to buy a blend pedal. Some options:

Xotic X-blender
Barge Concepts (VFB-2, DVB, VB-jr, VFB-X)
Boss LS-2

The Boss is a really handy tool and can be used for a lot of things. While it can be set as a blender (leaving one loop empty) I'd go with the Barge or Xotic if all you need is blending.

I use a VB-jr.

gibsualdo · #4 02-26-2009, 12:09 PM

Try one of these -

Put your effects in one loop and leave the other loop empty, then select A+B mix. This will blend your dry and effected signals together. You can then adjust the mix using the level knobs.

gibsualdo · #5 02-26-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

Bi-amping is a great option but obviously costly and means setting up dual rigs for every gig. An easier option is to buy a blend pedal. Some options:

Xotic X-blender
Barge Concepts (VFB-2, DVB, VB-jr, VFB-X)
Boss LS-2

The Boss is a really handy tool and can be used for a lot of things. While it can be set as a blender (leaving one loop empty) I'd go with the Barge or Xotic if all you need is blending.

I use a VB-jr.

If all that's needed is basic blending, surely the LS-2 would make more sense being that it can be picked up for a fair bit cheaper and at more outlets than the X-blender or Barge blenders?

PKay · #6 02-26-2009, 12:15 PM

thanks guys am going to check out some of these pedals.

**DosiYanarchy** · #7 02-26-2009, 12:22 PM

yeah the LS2 is the cheapest, and it has so many routing options. I've had and sold two, but now i think i want another. the x-blender is stupidly expensive overhere (over £200 on SoundsGreat), and the Barge stuff has to be built in the states then posted over (and we'd get import tax). The LS also has a great resale rate as its a consistently useful pedal with few widely-available and similarly-priced competitors -so if you ever wanted to sell it, you'd get quite clost to what you paid (assuming you shop around - i think you could get one for about £55 new)

Jared Lash · #8 02-26-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibsualdo

If all that's needed is basic blending, surely the LS-2 would make more sense being that it can be picked up for a fair bit cheaper and at more outlets than the X-blender or Barge blenders?

I think the other two do a better job of blending.

I A/B'd the VB-jr with the LS-2 and for some reason the Barge sounded a lot better to me.

But I kept the LS-2 because it is such a great swiss army knife type pedal.

PKay · #9 02-26-2009, 12:54 PM

i am thinking the boss ls-2 line selecter is the way to go. it will blend my signal and is cheap thanks.

Bassenstien · #10 02-26-2009, 01:20 PM

Go for the LS-2. That thing can do so much. Great as a blender but so much more.

moosapotamus · #11 02-26-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PKay

Can anybody help me?
I am using a boss ME50B for my bass effects (manly for overdrive and fuzz)
but its killing my low end.
I have been told the best way is get the low end back is to blend dry and wet signals but is this right? and how? I only have one amp.

I belive the ME50B already gives you the ability to blend your dry signal in with the OD/fuzz.

~ Charlie

Jazz Ad · #12 02-26-2009, 03:04 PM

There are a few things I don't like in the ME-50B but it doesn't eat lows in any way.
Of course, if you use distortion with a huge mid hump, lows will be attenuated.

stflbn · #13 02-26-2009, 03:08 PM

The Voodoo SparkleDrive has a blend knob of it's own onboard and it works fantastic. I started out with a stock SparkleDrive, then ended up selling it looking for something with fuller low end, then went with a Keeley Modded SparkleDrive about a month or less later.

Very happy now. VT-bass handles SVT sounds and Old vibe, and the modded SparkleDrive handles modern gritty edgier. All of my uses of overdrive are very subtle though... barely on compared to most of the clips that are always posted here of pedals.

Gearhead17 · #14 02-26-2009, 03:12 PM

Something that I use all the time without loss of low end.

http://www.tonebone.com/re-bigshot-mix.htm

Purchase it on www.Musictoyz.com

Blends distortion and clean tones greatly so I can use just one cab.

smo · #15 02-26-2009, 09:09 PM

If you end up going with the Barge VB-Jr; definitely get the Phase Inversion Switch.
It is SSSOOOOOOOO worth the extra bucks, and helps to turn a low end sucker into a low end boost with many a dirt pedal I've tried it with.

gibsualdo · #16 02-26-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I think the other two do a better job of blending.

I A/B'd the VB-jr with the LS-2 and for some reason the Barge sounded a lot better to me.

But I kept the LS-2 because it is such a great swiss army knife type pedal.

To me, I've not found the LS-2 to alter the original tone or anything like that. Also, the level knobs enable full control over blending the two loops.

I'm interested in getting a basic Barge now, just to see what exactly all the fuss is about.

cheapbasslovin · #17 02-27-2009, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

There are a few things I don't like in the ME-50B but it doesn't eat lows in any way.
Of course, if you use distortion with a huge mid hump, lows will be attenuated.

+1

I don't know what settings you're playing with, but I played with one of those for 3 or 4 years and never had any lowend suckage. You may want to check your drive settings, eq or maybe even wah. The phaser I recall sucks some low end on its sweep, but that's a phaser.

Good luck.

kevteop · #18 02-27-2009, 07:10 AM

The only annoying thing about the LS-2 is it's impossible to switch between 100% and a wet/dry blend with your foot.

You can switch between 100% dry and the blend (bypass->A+B Mix), but not 100% wet and the blend.

I think that's why my LS-2 is going to get superceded.

Vic Winters · #19 02-27-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

The only annoying thing about the LS-2 is it's impossible to switch between 100% and a wet/dry blend with your foot.

You can switch between 100% dry and the blend (bypass->A+B Mix), but not 100% wet and the blend.

I think that's why my LS-2 is going to get superceded.

Barge has made custom blenders that can do this. Instead of a feed back loop it they'll put a second blend that allows you to switch between blend 1 and blend 2. You could have 1 set 50/50 mix and the other at 100% if you so desired. No idea what the pricing is though.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #20 02-27-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic Winters

Barge has made custom blenders that can do this. Instead of a feed back loop it they'll put a second blend that allows you to switch between blend 1 and blend 2. You could have 1 set 50/50 mix and the other at 100% if you so desired. No idea what the pricing is though.

That's a built-in feature of the X-Blender, which is why I opted for it. You get 100% wet, 100% dry, and a blend. You also get other nice options that affect your blended signal, like adjustable volume, boosts, series/parallel, etc.