Distortion Pedal-SO Ready to Pull the Trigger-What to Buy

[Slackerprince]

So, I've been reading countless threads and reviews on bass distortion pedals and I'm done driving myself crazy (although it's been kinda' fun) and ready to add one to my pedal board.
I'm definitely looking for a Distortion, rather than Fuzz.
Qualities I'm looking for are: Deep, throaty, growly distortion with great lowend and NOT buzzy. Something around $150 and used is preferable.
I play with Fender P & J, both with Basslines Quarter Pounders and through a GK MB210. I use Flatwound strings.
Very Important-I have a VT Bass up front for tone shaping, so I'm getting my Tubey/Ampegy tone from that, so I just need a distortion pedal for aggressive tone that will work with the VT Bass. My compressor is a MultiDrive.
EQ is very important, as I'm a bit of a twiddler and like to get tone just right.
I'm a hobby player who jams with others occassionally, usually with full drums, so a DI really isn't all that important.
I've already had the Boss ODB-3 and stock Bad Monkey. I'm not really looking for transparant or Tubescreamer-type and actually welcome colorization in the tone.
These are the pedals I'm looking at and the notes are for the concerns that I have. They are on the list because they are the top contenders:
Tech 21 XXL Bass-Limited EQ
Sansamp Bass Driver-No mid control
Sansamp Para Driver-Not bass specific
MXR M-80-Some reviews criticize quality of distortion tone
Aguilar Agro-Limited EQ
Digitech Bass Driver-Samples on website sound noisy
Sansamp GT2-Not bass specific

I'll probably think of more and edit them in, but those are the top contenders.
Sorry if my notes are ignorant and sorry for the long post.
THANKS for any help or suggestions!!
Let me know what you think!

S.

[rockstarbassist]

Should add the HBE Hematoma to that list. I've had all of those (less the Paradriver) on the list, and I'm going back to the HBE.
I'll have my GT2 up f/s if ya want it...

[Slackerprince]

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

Should add the HBE Hematoma to that list. I've had all of those (less the Paradriver) on the list, and I'm going back to the HBE.
I'll have my GT2 up f/s if ya want it...

Just checked some various samples of the Hematoma, and although it is very natural sounding with great low-end retention, just maybe a little dark for me and not enough highs.
Thanks for the suggestion, though!

S.

[AciDBatH666]

When I first got into bass, I bought at Boss ODB-3 and HATED it. It was horrible. More fuzz than anything. I played with that thing for 2 hours straight and never found a sound that I liked.

Took me 2-3 years of tinkering with my current gear to decide to get another distortion pedal. Saw a few people commenting on the Sansamp Bass Driver and did a lot of research. Got it in the mail and within 2 minutes I had finally found the DISTORTION i was looking for. I was amazed how I could go from a mild grit like Alice in Chains "Would?" to some nasty Lamb of God tone.
It also helped me in my band situation. Our drummer was having trouble hearing me over our other two high gain guitarists. With the pedal at the next practice he said I was ALL he could hear. It punches thru.
I liked the Sansamp so much that when I built my rack setup last month I searched for a used Sansamp RBI. Same thing but has a mid control and an XLR (PA control). I wouldn't play without it.

[rockstarbassist]

Lol I used to hate the ODB3 too, now it's on my pedalboard again after like, 10+ years. What settings did you have on it? I use mine for about 2 songs, but that's it. And actually, my Hematoma will more than likely replace it, as well as my GT-2.

[Slackerprince]

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

Lol I used to hate the ODB3 too, now it's on my pedalboard again after like, 10+ years. What settings did you have on it? I use mine for about 2 songs, but that's it. And actually, my Hematoma will more than likely replace it, as well as my GT-2.

What I did like about the ODB-3 was the thundering low-end!
Loved how there are 4 EQ knobs stacked in there. I don't think it got along too well with my VT Bass.
I tried gain around noon, but anything past 9:00 was pretty noisy.
I guess, when you're Rockin' out, the noise isn't such a big deal. It really is an aggressive, thundering pedal and not bad for what it does, I'm just looking for something else.

S

[Slackerprince]

Forgot to post these:
EBS MetalDrive-No EQ
Fulltone Bass Drive-Super mixed reviews

S.

[lowbass68]

Dirt is soooo subjective and in my opition depends somewhat on playing style, amp and bass. I use the HBE Hematoma, Fulltone Bass Drive, ODB-3, Bass Pig and a MessDrive Hybrid. Also have a heavily modified Juggernaut (most hate these more than the ODB-3).

[K2000]

Originally Posted by Slackerprince

Just checked some various samples of the Hematoma, and although it is very natural sounding with great low-end retention, just maybe a little dark for me and not enough highs.
Thanks for the suggestion, though!

S.

The Hematoma is very tweakable. A lot of flexibility in that box.

[kosmicwizard]

Can you make the VT bass pedal give you a dirty sound that you like? If so, have you thought about having 2 (one for clean and one for dirty) or maybe a VT deluxe where you just stomp to change up to 4 saved tones. Cheers.

[savinggrace]

FEA Labs Dual Band Distortion.

It was created specifically for bass, is highly tweak-able, and is exactly what you are looking for.

[eshears]

Deep, throaty, growly distortion with great lowend = Fuzzrocious Rat Tail

[Slackerprince]

Originally Posted by savinggrace

FEA Labs Dual Band Distortion.

It was created specifically for bass, is highly tweak-able, and is exactly what you are looking for.

I checked that out and it looks awesome!
Wasn't familiar until recently, but the samples
sound good and there's no shortage of tweakability!

S

[savinggrace]

Originally Posted by eshears

Deep, throaty, growly distortion with great lowend = Fuzzrocious Rat Tail

This is a good suggestion too.

Or the upcoming Fuzzrocious "Oh See Demon"...