Distortion pedals?

Ironderby · #1 07-23-2011, 12:28 PM

im looking to buy a distortion pedal, i want a good crunchy metal sound, sort of what Lemmy (Motorhead) has. Or the Djent kinda heavy distortion you hear in metalcore songs nowadays, anything you could suggest? many thanks

Unrepresented · #2 07-23-2011, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironderby

im looking to buy a distortion pedal, i want a good crunchy metal sound, sort of what Lemmy (Motorhead) has. Or the Djent kinda heavy distortion you hear in metalcore songs nowadays, anything you could suggest? many thanks

Lemmy doesn't use a pedal. He uses an all tube head turned up to a gain level that naturally overdrives.

If that's the sound you're looking for, an overdrive pedal is probably more your thing than a distortion. There's a ton of info on them here that you can find in a search.

jet_king · #3 07-23-2011, 12:36 PM

[quote=jet_king;11226871]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Lemmy doesn't use a pedal. He uses an all tube head turned up to a gain level that naturally overdrives.

I just though he either used a guitar amp or some heavy duty bi-amp. I guess you learn something new everyday dont-cha?
good to know.

JetBlackJazz · #4 07-23-2011, 12:36 PM

digitech grunge, way huge swollen pickle, mountainking elec. megalith

deanokane2k11 · #5 07-23-2011, 01:26 PM

i briefly had an ibanez overdrive stomp box and i highyly recommend it

Unrepresented · #6 07-23-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jet_king

I just though he either used a guitar amp or some heavy duty bi-amp. I guess you learn something new everyday dont-cha?
good to know.

From his wikipedia page...

"He uses hot-rodded Marshall JMP Superbass II amplifiers from the late 1960s/early 1970s. Each amp, with a nominal output of 100 watts, is used with a 4x12 speaker cab and a custom-made 4x15 cab.

On the amplifiers, he turns off the bass and treble and he turns the midrange up all the way, with the volume and presence up to the "3:00" position. The result is a biting, mid-range, almost guitar-like tone which is somewhat distorted but not "fuzzed out" or "blurry", a formula well-suited to his use of open-string drones and power chords. Lemmy uses no effects pedals: the distortion is produced naturally by the amplifiers, as they are set at such a high volume."

Lemmy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

waleross · #7 07-23-2011, 02:05 PM

Big Muff and the PD-7 Phat HEd.

rob_thebassman · #8 07-23-2011, 02:13 PM

he uses guitar amps and has mids cranked up

Matt Dean · #9 07-23-2011, 02:24 PM

Not everyone who wants to cop a Lenny tone is going to go with Marshall JMP Superbass II amplifiers from the late 1960s/early 1970s.

I second the advice to try some overdrives or distortion pedals. While I'm not necessarily into the Lenny tone, I do achieve similar levels of distortion with two of my pedals... a Darkglass B3K or a Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian.

Unrepresented · #10 07-23-2011, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Dean

Not everyone who wants to cop a Lenny tone is going to go with Marshall JMP Superbass II amplifiers from the late 1960s/early 1970s.

I second the advice to try some overdrives or distortion pedals. While I'm not necessarily into the Lenny tone, I do achieve similar levels of distortion with two of my pedals... a Darkglass B3K or a Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian.

True, not everyone is going to drop coin on the specific rig he uses but explaining the fundamentals of his tone seems appropriate. The OP can adopt as much or as little of that info as they see fit.

As for muff based fuzzes, those are generally agreed to give a mid scoop - basically the opposite of what Lemmy configures his amp and instrument to do.

Matt Dean · #11 07-23-2011, 02:47 PM

I think the TFR is the least mid scooped of the W&C pedals, but it is a muff variant. On the other hand the B3K is flat and my fav OD.

Unrepresented · #12 07-23-2011, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Dean

I think the TFR is the least mid scooped of the W&C pedals, but it is a muff variant. On the other hand the B3K is flat and my fav OD.

I haven't tried the TFR. I have a Pickle Pie B that I use for fuzzier needs and with the built in blend I can overcome a decent amount of midscoop, but I would hesitate to call it particularly Lemmy-esque anywhere beyond the very earliest saturations levels.

My primary overdrive is my Fulltone BassDrive. I believe I'm not too far away from Lemmy with it, but I do have a naturally bright and mid heavy tone to begin with.

rob_thebassman · #13 07-23-2011, 03:10 PM

the best thing you can do is just experiment with pedals and boosting your mids

firmlybassed · #14 07-23-2011, 03:13 PM

If you need a good pedal to get very close to MH try the Aguilar AGRO Bass Overdrive Pedal. That is what I use and it does the job.

crapusername · #15 07-23-2011, 05:33 PM

I've gotten close before with the boss md2, aggie agro and markbass bass tube marker

There are loads of options that might get you close, but let your ears guide you

icecycle66 · #16 07-23-2011, 07:15 PM

Get two pedals. I have a Metal Muffw/ Top boost going into a Boss Bass Overdrive. I can get all kinds of sounds and distortions from combining these two. Mid-ranged and throaty, screaming highs, thundering low with earthquake crunch, and averything in between.

It takes some getting use to the relationship between the two pedals, but once you do you can get and awesome amount of sound from them.

slaphappychappy · #17 07-23-2011, 09:15 PM

I have a digitech bass overdrive, a bad monkey, and now a hothead. The 2 guitar ones work well on bass

magic papa · #18 07-23-2011, 09:35 PM

I have recently fallen in love with Markbass Distorsore. It's a proper tube pedal, not "tube simulation". Does make a difference, believe it or not. Gets really nice and chunky and it doesn't have that much unwanted dirt as the solid state ones. I'm sure that with a Rickenbacker plugged in you can get Lemmy sound no problem

Oh, and don't forget the mutton chops, they are essential for the sound too

I've tried quite a few disortion pedals and this is the only one I really liked. All solid state ones are just too buzzy for me. It's all personal of course.

mcnach · #19 07-24-2011, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironderby

im looking to buy a distortion pedal, i want a good crunchy metal sound, sort of what Lemmy (Motorhead) has. Or the Djent kinda heavy distortion you hear in metalcore songs nowadays, anything you could suggest? many thanks

Try an Ashdown Hyperdrive pedal (James Lomenzo signature). It's a bit bulky... but it looks good

and it's not expensive, and it sounds great. It gives you a lot of control over the mids and gain, and it's the best pedal I've found for heavy overdrive sounds.

mcnach · #20 07-24-2011, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Dean

Not everyone who wants to cop a Lenny tone is going to go with Marshall JMP Superbass II amplifiers from the late 1960s/early 1970s.

I second the advice to try some overdrives or distortion pedals. While I'm not necessarily into the Lenny tone, I do achieve similar levels of distortion with two of my pedals... a Darkglass B3K or a Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian.

Is Lenny Lemmy's bass tech?