Dirt to replace Bassdrive

[megadan]

I've had my Fulltone Bassdrive for years but ever since I got my Bass Big Muff and my GK I've been using it less and less. It seems like the GK has the grit/grind sound covered, and the Muff does the Big Dirty extremely well.

The bassdrive is just sort of giving me a louder/clearer/active kind of sound which I don't really need (this is in compcut mode which is the only mode I use, as the others tend to use low end). I don't like the other modes anyway.

So I'm thinking about selling and it and getting something with just a touch more attitude.

Some things I would like:
-True bypass
-tweakability (I like lots of knobs and switches)
-Works well with active and passive (my main gigging basses are a Ric and a Stingray)
-no loss of tone/low end

Sound wise, I play in a post-rock style band with lots of dynamics, ups and downs, so something that covers a good variety of sound from light OD to heavy dirt would be good. Something with a nice evil clank and grind, like I said, something with character but that preserves my tone. I like experimenting with interesting more so than being content with ordinary.

Budget would be around the selling price of the Bassdrive, plus or minus a bit of cash I have around. So around $150 - $200Cdn ($125 - $175 US).

Suggestions?

[CliftonBonney]

[quote=megadan;6869848]I've had my Fulltone Bassdrive for years but ever since I got my Bass Big Muff and my GK I've been using it less and less. It seems like the GK has the grit/grind sound covered, and the Muff does the Big Dirty extremely well.

The bassdrive is just sort of giving me a louder/clearer/active kind of sound which I don't really need (this is in compcut mode which is the only mode I use, as the others tend to use low end). I don't like the other modes anyway.

So I'm thinking about selling and it and getting something with just a touch more attitude.

Some things I would like:
-True bypass
-tweakability (I like lots of knobs and switches)
-Works well with active and passive (my main gigging basses are a Ric and a Stingray)
-no loss of tone/low end

Sound wise, I play in a post-rock style band with lots of dynamics, ups and downs, so something that covers a good variety of sound from light OD to heavy dirt would be good. Something with a nice evil clank and grind, like I said, something with character but that preserves my tone. I like experimenting with interesting more so than being content with ordinary.

Budget would be around the selling price of the Bassdrive, plus or minus a bit of cash I have around. So around $150 - $200Cdn ($125 - $175 US).

Suggestions?[/QUOTE

Take a listen to the clips and read my review of Uncle Ernie's BassDriver. It may be something you're interested in. It doesn't have a ton of knobs though. I used my Stingray for the some of the clips.

[megadan]

Thanks, I just saw that thread, I don't have my cans with me but when I got home I can listen on proper speakers. If it's a newer pedal I'm guessing it's probably not available up here yet but GAS knows no borders!

[megadan]

I'm thinking about:
Jekyll and Hyde
B:Assmaster
VT Bass
subdecay Noise Box
QuantumDrive
Blueberry

any other thoughts?

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by megadan

I'm thinking about:
Jekyll and Hyde
B:Assmaster
VT Bass
subdecay Noise Box
QuantumDrive

any other thoughts?

I haven't tried a Jekyll and Hyde or a QuantumDrive so I can't help there.

The Assmaster is a great pedal. It's based on the Brassmaster so it's an octave up fuzz which doesn't suit my needs, but it does have a fantastic tone, works well with active basses, doesn't lose low end and is pretty tweakable.

The VT Bass (and the BDDI) I view more as tone shapers than dirt boxes. They are a bit grating with on the highs, but do a very good tube emulation. Great for warming up or getting an old school tone out of a SS amp.

The Noise Box is a beast. I wouldn't want one as my primary dirt box though as you can't get more "normal" sounds out of it. It is for madness and it excels at it.

[CliftonBonney]

Originally Posted by megadan

I'm thinking about:
Jekyll and Hyde
B:Assmaster
VT Bass
subdecay Noise Box
QuantumDrive
Blueberry

any other thoughts?

I have the VT Bass and the Blueberry. I really like both of them. There's a big thread on the VT Bass. There are clips of the Blueberry in the WIKI.

As for the BassDriver. You just order it direct from the company - www.uncleernieseffects.com

[burno70]

The assmaster is a cracking Fuzz pedal. It's definately tweakable and definately has more attitude that the bass driver - also no low end loss.

[megadan]

There's a B:Assmaster for sale locally for a good price so I think I will pick that up. Can always flip it here if it's no good for me. Still might need something less crazy for a Bassdrive replacement.

[burno70]

Yeah, to be honest it would more likely be a replacement for your Muff.

I'm looking at replacing my Bassdrive myself but for different reasons. I love this pedal and like you I prefer it on compcut but I'm trying to squeeze another pedal or two on my board so If I can find a pedal which sounds like a Bassdrive on compcut but normal Bosspedal size I would be very happy.

I've borrowed a friends HyperPak, which would be perfect due to it's small size but it does sound a little harsher - although I don't mean that in a bad way, just different.

I think I just want a small pedal that does light grind really.

[CliftonBonney]

Originally Posted by burno70

Yeah, to be honest it would more likely be a replacement for your Muff.

I'm looking at replacing my Bassdrive myself but for different reasons. I love this pedal and like you I prefer it on compcut but I'm trying to squeeze another pedal or two on my board so If I can find a pedal which sounds like a Bassdrive on compcut but normal Bosspedal size I would be very happy.

I've borrowed a friends HyperPak, which would be perfect due to it's small size but it does sound a little harsher - although I don't mean that in a bad way, just different.

I think I just want a small pedal that does light grind really.

A smaller pedal you might be interested in too is the Hjart Muller Bass Drive. Here is the link to it - http://moodysounds.com/index.php?mai...products_id=12

Also, I've done some clips for it. Here's the link to those - http://www.box.net/shared/gj80yq9u3c
The first time through the riff on each clip is the clean sound.

It's a smaller pedal, but the one problem may be the knobs. You will see they are on the side rather than the top of the pedal. This is a nice little pedal though. I intend to do a review at some point.

[Lebowsky]

Xotic BB preamp!

[Jared Lash]

I haven't tried it myself, but the GeminiDrive might be worth checking out.