Boss Xtortion

bobbass4k · #1 07-31-2009, 06:18 PM

Just been offered one of these in a trade, never heard of them, a cursory google suggests they're quite rare, any info on the sound/bass response/value?

jucas · #2 07-31-2009, 11:23 PM

I had one years ago and picked up a replacement recently... It has some sounds I kinda like, but lots that I don't. It sounds pretty unique though, so if you can plug it in first, do it. I can see how people would hate everything it does. If you like mellow, tube-y, etc overdrive its probly not a great option. Most of the sounds are bitting or scooped and not really "amp-like" or "touch sensitive"

Sorry... posted before I was done...

It gets a decent amount of gain, can go from a bit scooped to stupidly scooped. The punch knob goes from a bit of higher mid eq boost to way way too much high mid eq boost.

I like the distortion on most of the range on the gain knob, but at mid to high gain getting any lows means you need to dial in enough scoop to not get lost in a mix and let your low end seem beefy. Then dial in a some mids if you want more bite and thats about the only setting with low end. I haven't cranked it recently, so it might lose more bottom than I remember. I might be able to make a quick and dirty clip on sunday if the trade can wait that long...

Also, if you know how to solder I think it should be a good starting point to mod into a more usefull bass pedal. I haven't gotten to this, but I keep meaning to shift the mid eq a bit lower and make it boost/cut. Then fiddle with the scoop, clipping, and filtering a bit and I think it should have potential.

jucas · #3 08-02-2009, 02:18 PM

So I made some clips, using a P bass with flats. The usual medicocre playing warning applies, and its from the line out of my LMII so it sounds warmer playing through a cab... less rediculous with the squealy wah-ish sounds.

Listen to the useable one first... its got the only bypassed tone for reference. Probly low gain first and high last... the high gain settings with extreme eq'ing gets a little rediculous.

bobbass4k · #4 08-02-2009, 06:03 PM

Thanks for the clips, that actually sounds pretty cool, a very unique sound, ever tried it with an active?

jucas · #5 08-02-2009, 06:43 PM

Yeah, its pretty unique, but if you don't get too caried away with the eq'ing it can be useable.

I haven't used it with an active, but I just put my boost pedal in front and all that changes is the gain range. It gets pretty saturated with a hot signal, but didn't get splatty or sound bad. It shouldn't have issues like fuzzfaces have with a actives because of its design, so just change the gain to match your bass and it should be fine.