Cheap ODs? Also, Pitchblack vs. Polytune

Thylacine Dream · #1 11-25-2011, 04:32 PM

I started a thread not long ago asking what pedals I should ask for for Christmas, but I was dreaming way too big in terms of budget (I need to be asking for cash to replace what I've spent on gas over the year), and decided to limit myself to one fun thing in addition to a tuner. OD seems like the sensible option for me, so which cheap ones are best? Bad Monkey's all I know of so far. By the way, I'm big into the OD tone on QOTSA's Give the Mule What He Wants

On the tuner front, I can't decide between another Pitchblack (first one lost or stolen) and a TC Polytune. I've heard the former's more accurate (and that TC lied about the PT's accuracy by a couple cents), but that the human ear can't really hear that level of difference anyway, so I'm wondering if the Polytune feature is that much more practical.
Thanks!

mouthmw · #2 11-25-2011, 04:41 PM

I've got Polytune, and it's cool to check all of your strings fast with poly mode, but I still tune them one at a time. I think Polytune looks cooler too. If you use stream mode, the accuracy is just as advertised. I use it in needle mode and no problems there, it tunes just fine. And it's fast enough.

Cheap ODs, you should specify your budget. There's a lot of options out there.

scottfeldstein · #3 11-25-2011, 09:38 PM

I like my PolyTune just fine.

I don't really know Queens of the Stone Age (had to google it), but what I can hear online sounds like a fairly subtle overdrive and not a really radically distorted bass sound. Seems like you just want some sizzle and the sound of a big, classic tube rig at high volume.

There's lost of pedals that can achieve that goal. Off the top of my head, you might want to look into the SansAmp VT bass, the Aguilar Tone Hammer and maybe the Pork Loin from Way Huge Electronics. If you look around on youtube, you can find examples. Listen (and for the love of dog, use good headphones) and decide for yourself which unit is getting closer to what you want.

Thylacine Dream · #4 11-25-2011, 09:39 PM

I guess "cheap" means not above double digits for me, but if there's a massive jump in goodness from the Bad Monkey or whatever just beyond my budget I wanna know about it

Thylacine Dream · #5 11-25-2011, 09:42 PM

How does the Green Rhino compare to the Bad Monkey? I know it's a good deal better, but the price tag reflects that, too

scottfeldstein · #6 11-25-2011, 09:56 PM

Actually, I went back to youtube and listened to the Green Rhino and decided it might be too much distortion for what you're after. (Again, only listened to a few Queen's previews on iTunes to make that determination, so...) So I changed "Green Rhino" to "Pork Loin" which I think is a bit milder.

You know, the more I listen to that Pork Loin, the more I like it. It seem to be an old favorite among a lot of guys here on TB, too.

I personally own a SansAmp bass driver DI. But if I had it to do over again, I'd probably go with the Aguilar Tone Hammer DI.

As far as your budget...I'm afraid I don't really know anything about what pedals one can get for under $100. Never been interested enough in them to do any research. Perhaps others can advise...

bongomania · #7 11-25-2011, 10:26 PM

Forget TC, check out the Turbo Tuner.

scottfeldstein · #8 11-25-2011, 11:19 PM

Ok, I'm bored and I listened to a couple of youtube demos of the Bad Monkey--including a modded one on bass--and I'm unimpressed. I wouldn't buy one of these unless it was all I could afford. But if it was all I could afford.. I'd probably buy it! I guess that's not much help.

Bongo, what's up with your tuner? I looked for some demos on youtube and I can't see why I'd want it over my PolyTune. That strobe seems pretty twitchy, but I suspect it would just raise my blood pressure and not make me sound any better. Thoughts? I use the needle mode on my PolyTune and I'm quite satisfied that I'm in after I use it. The display is bright, the bypass is silent... couldn't be more satisfied.

Kwesi · #9 11-26-2011, 12:39 AM

True strobe tuners are faster and more accurate but cost more. I don't doubt that the Turbo tuners is about as badass as any tuner could hope to be but 1) I HATE strobes. The display just gets on my nerves. 2) The PolyTune is as accurate and as quick as I need it to be at about half the price. The tune all strings at once thing is mad cool too especially since whenever I get a guitar my board is going to be doing double duty. As far as the Pitchblack, I can't say I've noticed any discernable differences between it and the PolyTune concerning tuning ability. PolyTune looks cooler and was cheaper so I grabbed one.

bongomania · #10 11-26-2011, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Bongo, what's up with your tuner? I looked for some demos on youtube and I can't see why I'd want it over my PolyTune. That strobe seems pretty twitchy, but I suspect it would just raise my blood pressure and not make me sound any better. Thoughts? I use the needle mode on my PolyTune and I'm quite satisfied that I'm in after I use it. The display is bright, the bypass is silent... couldn't be more satisfied.

Well, two things mainly:
1) I have a grudge against TC Electronic, as they have jerked me around in the past, and more recently they've been caught telling big lies in the specs they advertise.
2) Of the many other tuners I've tried, the Turbo is the only one that was able to grab on to and track an open low B instantly. Others either took a few seconds to find the note, or just never could read it. Some people are content tuning by harmonics or octaves, but I like to test the intonation directly.

However, I have not tried the Polytune--maybe it can do just as well for half the price. That's fine, but I still have enough of a problem with the company that I'd pay double any day of the week.

Crystalman85 · #11 11-26-2011, 02:05 AM

If you want an affordable overdrive pedal that sounds similar to a digitech bad monkey, the danelectro transparent overdrive pedal would be a good choice.

WinstonNilesRum · #12 11-26-2011, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thylacine Dream

How does the Green Rhino compare to the Bad Monkey? I know it's a good deal better, but the price tag reflects that, too

Its fantastic. The sound is similar to the Bad Monkey (Which is expected seeing as that they are both TS clones) but the Green Rhino just sounds better in almost every respect. IT has more gain, more definition and the 100hz knob is a godsend. I have both and the best OD tone I have ever heard has come from cascading the Bad Monkey (Gain at about 2:00) into the Green Rhino (Gain full).

mouthmw · #13 11-26-2011, 05:44 AM

The Green Rhino is great indeed! It's got that classic TS tone, and cuts great in band mix with prominent mids. I traded mine for TC Vintage Bass Distortion though, because the dirt wasn't prominent enough in the band mix. The mids cut great, yes, but the dirt part kind of gets burried and I had the gain cranked to the max!
So those who tell you that Green Rhino has too much dirt, I disagree with them!

blastjv · #14 11-26-2011, 05:52 AM

I like the Bad Monkey, it tends to roll off the highs a bit for my taste, but I always found the lows to be good, and thought that mods were unnecessary (having tried 2 modded versions, too)

The Digitech Hardwire CM-2 is really good and seemed brighter.

I think the Green Rhino would definitely do what you want, but I think the Pork Loin is more up that alley. Both excellent pedals. The GR cuts a bit more, and the PL does cleaner sounds better.

-JV

caeman · #15 11-26-2011, 07:03 AM

An OD not above double-digits? How about the VHT V-Drive?

VHT Amplification

Eleven different clipping diode configurations. Depth knobs to preserve low end. Voltage knob controls 5v to 16v operation.

DeltaPhoenix · #16 11-26-2011, 08:08 AM

Do you want tube OD because now it can be had for under $100. One for $80 and one for $95. Plus you could be a hero and try it first and let the rest of us know how awesome it is.
TUBE DRIVEN

scottfeldstein · #17 11-26-2011, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Well, two things mainly:
1) I have a grudge against TC Electronic, as they have jerked me around in the past, and more recently they've been caught telling big lies in the specs they advertise.

Yeah, I read some about that incident.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

2) Of the many other tuners I've tried, the Turbo is the only one that was able to grab on to and track an open low B instantly. Others either took a few seconds to find the note, or just never could read it. Some people are content tuning by harmonics or octaves, but I like to test the intonation directly.

That would be a pretty good reason. I have my eye on a 5-string bass, but I don't have one at present so I can't test it. If I were to find that it didn't track the B reliably, I might indeed be shopping around again. Maybe someone else around here knows for sure.

rhopper · #18 11-26-2011, 10:38 AM

I love the Polytune, especially the stream mode... works for me.

scottfeldstein · #19 11-26-2011, 11:59 AM

I don't use stream mode. I don't need to know what tune I'm in to that degree of specificity. It'll just raise my blood pressure trying to get the display to remain motionless with the crude mechanics of my machine head tuners. Don't get me wrong: being out of tune is unprofessional and a huge downer. Never tolerate that myself or from other musicians. But there's a point of diminishing returns after which you're chasing a nano cent down a rabbit hole of machine head hell. Count me out of it. Sometimes good enough really is good enough.

rpsands · #20 11-26-2011, 12:01 PM

My TC tracks my open A and B strings (depending on tuning) pretty much instantly. Recommend it unhesitatingly.