Dark, Heavy OD's and Fuzz

[omie]

This...

Ufomammut - Hopscotch

I believe that is approximately a Rick>OctaFuzz>unknown Distortion>Marshall SuperBass MKII
I don't expect to sound exactly like this, but I'd like to ball park it. That said I've got a few obstacles to overcome.. namely my rig.. A Pbass>GK 400RB>2x10,1x15.

I've scoured these forums over the last month or so and listened to tons of samples. And basically I've compiled a list a mile long and no idea what would actually even point me in that general direction. I'm considering some of the following and if anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear.

OD:
Catalinbread SFT
VT Bass Deluxe

Distortion:
Hematoma
Rusty Box

Fuzz:
Wooly Mammoth Clone
Mastroton
Ox Fuzz
Black Cat Octave Fuzz

Right now I'm thinking about a vt bass deluxe/Catalinbread>Hematoma>Mastotron... I like the idea of a 2 channel OD somewhere in the chain, pedals that aren't extremely difficult to replace and I can probably afford all three of these pedals right now. Also, for more reasons then are worth sharing.. Lets pretend like it is impossible for me to buy a tube amp and a walls of speakers.

Also, any thoughts about adding a sub-octave to that.. or an octave Fuzz?


All input is appreciated.

[MAMMOTHvolume]

Originally Posted by omie

This...

Ufomammut - Hopscotch

I believe that is approximately a Rick>OctaFuzz>unknown Distortion>Marshall SuperBass MKII
I don't expect to sound exactly like this, but I'd like to ball park it. That said I've got a few obstacles to overcome.. namely my rig.. A Pbass>GK 400RB>2x10,1x15.

I've scoured these forums over the last month or so and listened to tons of samples. And basically I've compiled a list a mile long and no idea what would actually even point me in that general direction. I'm considering some of the following and if anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear.

OD:
Catalinbread SFT
VT Bass Deluxe

Distortion:
Hematoma
Rusty Box

Fuzz:
Wooly Mammoth Clone
Mastroton
Ox Fuzz
Black Cat Octave Fuzz

Right now I'm thinking about a vt bass deluxe/Catalinbread>Hematoma>Mastotron... I like the idea of a 2 channel OD somewhere in the chain, pedals that aren't extremely difficult to replace and I can probably afford all three of these pedals right now. Also, for more reasons then are worth sharing.. Lets pretend like it is impossible for me to buy a tube amp and a walls of speakers.

Also, any thoughts about adding a sub-octave to that.. or an octave Fuzz?


All input is appreciated.

He had an electric power unit amp for that i think, his fuzz the first time i saw them was a jem envelope filter + fuzz that i totally didn't catch the name of. Second time he had a custom t pedal fuzz - T-Pedals Hand Made in Italy

totally awesome band

[omie]

from the dead... an update.

I checked out the website and those T-Pedals look amazing. I think T-Pedals quoted $340 for the bass octave fuzz shipped to the US. So, instead of buying one of those, I bought two locally(errr continentally)... a Fuzzrocious special stache with a gate and THIS, a gated/fuzz/octave/pitchshifting weirdnesssonofabitch. The video is on a guitar but the wierdness is slightly more consistent on bass and with "minimal" low end loss.. Blend Knob blends the heavy octave/fuzz with the weirdness. Also, this pedal is made by John McNeece who's in Athens, GA now and who use to build Electric Amps.. cool guy with tons of cool schwag.. check him out.

I've gone through a few Envelope filters and have been using a bassballs envelope filter in front of the fuzzes at about 9 o clock to give me a real subtle bubble that satisfies, but I'm still trying to get that sound from the OP.

So out of this, questions....

Could a Heliotrope type crusher or another bit crusher in front of my fuzz pedals slow down the "RPM's". Does that make any sense?

Any suggestion on a boost/overdrive that would stack well with fuzz pedals without turning everything into mud? I was using a VTBass. When I had the fuzzes in the chain before the VT it compressed all fuzz singles into the same fuzz signal as the VT or as an OD completely squashed the Fuzzes. With the fuzzes in the chain after the VT.. DARK MUD. I couldn't figure out how to EQ it out. I do play a passive P-bass which probably doesn't help.

Your thoughts.. I appreciate them.

Thanks

[DeltaPhoenix]

I would go with the Darkglass B3K. I have one and use it with a fuzz as well. It sounds really good, and lets the fuzz through.

[omie]

Originally Posted by DeltaPhoenix

I would go with the Darkglass B3K. I have one and use it with a fuzz as well. It sounds really good, and lets the fuzz through.

The b3k is on my radar and seems dreamy but $300+ shipping is cost prohibitive.... "damnit man I'm a bass player not a doctor"

Any decent less expensive alternatives?

[Darkglass]

Originally Posted by omie

The b3k is on my radar and seems dreamy but $300+ shipping is cost prohibitive.... "damnit man I'm a bass player not a doctor"

Any decent less expensive alternatives?

Thanks for your GAS . But shipping is free worldwide!

Regards!

Doug

[omie]

Originally Posted by Darkglass

Thanks for your GAS . But shipping is free worldwide!

Regards!

Doug

While your here Doug you have any thoughts about the opening sound clip? How do you think the b3k stacks with other fuzzes?

[si resinator]

the b3k is not a fuzz pedal. it is an overdrive.

the b3k is capable of fuzz, but better (and the best i've ever tried) at raw, gnarly OD.

other pedals are better at fuzz, but not as good as the b3k at doing OD.

hope this helps..

[omie]

Sorry I meant "how well does it stack WITH fuzzes"...

[Darkglass]

In my opinion very nicely, specially in lower gain settings (which can be pretty clean and punchy, depending on the input signal level).
I currently play in a Death Metal band, so my experience on a real context mixing B3K and Fuzz is somehow limited.
I'm sure that some of the guys here can provide better insight based on their experience in real band and live context!

Thanks again for your interest!

Regards

Doug.

[Gero]

Have you seen the Mountainking Electronics Behemoth II? There aren't any clips but I hear good things. Pre-amp/OD that gets pretty raunchy. Supposed to cop those Mel Schacher tones.

[Shegmaface]

I got my Darkglass B3K last week and it (BY FAR) is the best Bass overdrive I have ever used.

[eyeballkid]

in Darkglass's defense... I think us bassist stateside need to realize something. It isnt that Doug is charging alot for his pedal.. Its that the US dollar has totally taken a dive and lost about 1/3 or more of its value against stable european currencies..So Doug is charging the equivalent of about $200 for a kickass handmade pedal in the economy in which he lives which is very fair. Unfortunately our duckets are leaking buckets.

[si resinator]

Originally Posted by omie

Sorry I meant "how well does it stack WITH fuzzes"...

sorry from me, my bad interpretation !

i haven't yet tried running it in series with a blendable fuzz, i love the sound so much that i use it in parallel (through an LS-2) with a fuzz/filter combo, courtesy of my octavius squeezer , sounds killer ! crunchy middle from the b3k and squidgy fuzz from the O.S., the best of both worlds ! (for me anyway)

[si resinator]

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

Unfortunately our duckets are leaking buckets.

it won't be long before the Euro takes a nose-dive either, so things may well 'even themselves out'...

[omie]

I never said the b3k was overpriced... It's just out of my price range. In the meantime i will wickedly rub my hands together whilst waiting for the economic collapse of the EU.

I jest.

All that said, any thoughts about the original questions? Other easier to obtain Heavy od's , bit crushers for psych doom? Thanks all.

[PurpleDrank]

I'll let the others that know more chime in on the original questions, but I just wanted to give a shout out to John McNeese.

I knew him from when he was in in Tallahassee doing amp production, circuit bending, and designing pedals. His old site is here, don't know if it still works: circuit He was also in this rad band called tron (Tron | Free Music, Tour Dates, Photos, Videos). Easily the loudest band to ever play in Tallahassee that wasn't named The Melvins.

The guy pretty much sweats stoner rock from his pores. Never played his pedals, but I'm sure they're off the chain.

[omie]

Edit due to dumb

[Vlad5]

I'm begining to sound like a parrot, but the Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian is great for the dark fuzz/overdriven effect. Actually, that is its purpose on my board. I use a team awesome! fuzz machine for a wide range of mid to high-mid fuzzy craziness, and the TFR for low-mid Black Sabbath like doom fuzz (think; Mater of Reality).

I realize this is one of many such effects available on the market, but since I have such a positive experience with it within the applications you've described, I can't help but recommend it yet again.

Hope that helps.

[Laurent]

For a dark overdrive, I would suggest Fuzzrocious Dark Driving.
This pedal is really wonderful.

Another vote also for the Fall Font Russian and to a lesser extent the Fuzzrocious Grey Stache or the Tri Pie 70's.

Darkness can also be induced by putting a graphic eq in front of a pedal.