Effects that work well with active piezos a la Rob Allen

[csala]

Hi guys,

I've been playing passive jazz basses with a wide array of effects over the past few years. I've done lots of experimenting and have seen about 100 pedals go through my hands as well as a few custom made to my specs. I'm far from an expert, but I am an enthusiast.

I purchased a Rob Allen MB-2 about 6 months ago and it's fast becoming my favorite fretless. I find, however, that some of my pedals sound much better with the passive j basses. I'm aware of the "some pedals like the wolly mammoth only sound good with passives" theory, but sometimes this particular bass sounds extra crappy and glitchy, more so than my Spector with active EMG's.

The output is really high on the Rob Allen, and I want to find a happy medium. I'd like to be able to keep the volume up on the bass so I can enjoy the magnificent clean tone, yet not get a less than desirable sound from my pedals if I want to use them.

FYI, 90% of my pedals are true bypass pedals.

Is a buffer of some type necessary between the bass and pedals? Is the answer as simple as that?

Hope this makes sense, I just came back from happy hour

Thanks!

[Eric!]

Well, if I'm not mistaken, high output usually means there's a buffer already, in the bass. Is it active electronics? I somehow think Piezos always are.

Most sensitive/dynamic fuzzes and overdrives should be fine (Rusty Box, ECT, PPB, most muffs, Rats, etc), at least that's what I've discovered in my experience. What sort of pedals are ya running (in particular, ones that have the problems)?