Dirt pedal that plays well with Aguilar DB750?

Queg · #1 03-30-2010, 12:35 PM

So I love my DB750, which is great for a warm, woolly yet clean tone. Unfortunately, dialing in the occasional dirt by cranking the gain well past noon is not satisfactory.

So, I'm considering a VT Bass or some such.. will it play well together with this amp, or is too much of the same.. like wool on wool?

I'm looking for a tube-type grind to just to warm up the transient attack edge of my somewhat aggressive fingers... don't really want full-on overdriven fuzz.

Are there any worthy pedals with an actual tube in the circuit?

Associated equipment: Passive jazz bass with flats, treble pot rolled off.. but I'll bring it back up for the right pedal.

Thanks!

Queg · #2 03-30-2010, 10:51 PM

Bump.

What, no DB750 owners use distortion pedals?

modbass · #3 03-30-2010, 11:13 PM

It really depends what kind of distortion you want. Right now I use Fulltone Bassdrive to add a little bite and I think it sounds great. I've used the Aguilar Agro which had more fuzz than the fulltone. I've also used the EBS overdrive for a subtle boost type distortion.

I have yet to hear the DB750 sound bad with anything going through it.

Jerry J · #4 03-31-2010, 12:23 AM

If you are talking fuzz then I just love my Flying Tomato or my B*assmaster. For distortion I really like my modded DS-1 or my MIA Bad Monkey.

Bootzilla · #5 03-31-2010, 05:59 AM

I think the VT bass will work just fine. It might make for a darker sound as it rolls off everything above 5Khz but if you already cut those frequencies it wont make a difference.

If you wan't something more "tansparant" look into the xotic BB preamp.

Jared Lash · #6 03-31-2010, 08:53 AM

If you are looking for a more round/fat tube-like sound I'd recommend the Creation Audio Labs Holy Fire. If you want more grit, I'd say Barber LTD SR. Both are very transparent and will just put a bit of fur on your sound.

The VT Bass is great for what it does, but it is an amp emulator with a fair amount of coloring and will give you an Ampeg sound. If that's what you want then it does it better than any other pedal or amp modeler I've ever tried, but to me it isn't really an off/on overdrive type pedal but rather something that becomes part of your chain.

Edit: Bootzilla's recommendation of the Xotic is another good one. Very similar to the Fulltone Bass Drive (both tubescreamer variants for bass) but the BB Preamp is smaller and retains low end better. Another option is the Way Huge Pork Loin.

RobertPaulson · #7 03-31-2010, 09:01 AM

I use an Electronix GeminiDrive and a B:Assmaster, love them both through my db-750.

faceinbass · #8 03-31-2010, 09:53 AM

SFT.

Queg · #9 03-31-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faceinbass

SFT.

er, what's SFT?

Queg · #10 03-31-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry J

If you are talking fuzz then I just love my Flying Tomato or my B*assmaster. For distortion I really like my modded DS-1 or my MIA Bad Monkey.

What's the diff between an MIA Bad Monkey and a regular Bad Monkey?

rratajski · #11 03-31-2010, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queg

What's the diff between an MIA Bad Monkey and a regular Bad Monkey?

Catalinbread SFT (Bass Overdrive). Beware of the big mid scoop.

LouisV · #12 03-31-2010, 01:23 PM

OK, neither of these pedals have tubes, but here's what I've played around with:
I've used the GK Diesel Dawg, with some success, then added the Aguilar Tone Hammer with its gain boost & stepping on the AGS. You have have to be careful balancing the volumes... You can also try running which ever distortion unit(s) you use through the effects loop for even more mixing possibilities...

Jerry J · #13 03-31-2010, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queg

What's the diff between an MIA Bad Monkey and a regular Bad Monkey?

I bought a later made in china Bad Monkey and after playing with it for awhile I decided to mod it to the Humphery mod. This made a decent distortion pedal even better. Then I had the opportunity to buy a US made Bad Monkey. It sounded even better. Not night and day better but just something that sounded better to me. I can't put my finger on what it really changed. I'm thinking in a mix with overdriven guitars it wouldn't matter either way.

I have the Telefunken 12ax7 in the V1 position of my db750 which really tightened up the bottom of the amp and a very worthwhile mod, IMHO. It made the pedals sound a a lot clearer.

Bootzilla · #14 03-31-2010, 01:39 PM

If you wan't tubes try the EHX English Muffin, the EBS Valvedrive or one something from DHA. Just remember that tubes don't magically give you tube tone, if you use the right circuit without tubes you can get closer to a tube sound than using the wrong circuit with tubes. Also what people consider a tube sound varies wildly (A B15 with the highs roll'd off is wildly different from a HiWatt) so while a VT bass comes really close to a tube tone it might not be the one your after. The same goes for the valvedrive and english muffin.

cyclopathic · #15 04-02-2010, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry J

I have the Telefunken 12ax7 in the V1 position of my db750 which really tightened up the bottom of the amp and a very worthwhile mod, IMHO. It made the pedals sound a a lot clearer.

+1 on tele.. have one in preamp and really like how sweet they sound when clipping. Def worth it (if you can afford one) if not Tesla/JJ makes nearly exact copy at fraction of cost.. all tele sound minus diamond mark