glx bass overdrive - as good as boss?

CYDbass · #1 06-08-2009, 11:30 AM

simple question, does anyone have a GLX BOD-1, and what is it like?
im looking at a Boss ODB-3 on ebay and if that gets above the price of the GLX in the auction, would it be worth the extra money, or is the GLX as good? or better even?

would like any reviews, good or bad. ODB-3 auction finished tonight so would like some reviews!
thanks =]

dannybuoy · #2 06-08-2009, 11:41 AM

Not tried it, but the GLX is probably just as bad as the Boss.

Seriously, try one out first if you haven't already (the Boss). It's more of a distortion than an overdrive and sounds more like a chainsaw than a smooth od. Good for industrial type music though, and it's not a bad pedal, although I've heard a few people using them live with very bad settings that made my ears bleed!

What kind of sound are you after first of all?

CYDbass · #3 06-08-2009, 11:45 AM

lol

wel i did say any reviews welcome didnt i!

CYDbass · #4 06-08-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

Not tried it, but the GLX is probably just as bad as the Boss.

Seriously, try one out first if you haven't already (the Boss). It's more of a distortion than an overdrive and sounds more like a chainsaw than a smooth od. Good for industrial type music though, and it's not a bad pedal, although I've heard a few people using them live with very bad settings that made my ears bleed!

What kind of sound are you after first of all?

lol u changed that after id already replied XD.
my main distortion atm is a guitar pedal, so i get a bit of my low end sucked away, and i want to make sure i can keep that, so a bass specific is a definite. i'd just like a good, low-end-strong overdrive, and as its through ebay itl be one thats cheaper than RRP!

MEKer · #5 06-08-2009, 11:54 AM

Well, I just played thru the ODB-3 for about an hour at GC to compare it with the Boss Blues Driver I have been using and to me, the Boss Blues Driver won hands done.

Always on the lookout for a good bass distortion pedal, the ODB-3 did not do that either--its simply a "same-sounding-OD" on all its settings unless you tweak it enough to where it just sounds bad.

That's my review---now go try one out and develop your own opinion..which is, in the end, the only one that should count for you.

CYDbass · #6 06-08-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MEKer

Well, I just played thru the ODB-3 for about an hour at GC to compare it with the Boss Blues Driver I have been using and to me, the Boss Blues Driver won hands done.

Always on the lookout for a good bass distortion pedal, the ODB-3 did not do that either--its simply a "same-sounding-OD" on all its settings unless you tweak it enough to where it just sounds bad.

That's my review---now go try one out and develop your own opinion..which is, in the end, the only one that should count for you.

yh fair doos with the own opinion thing, i may have to travel to get to a place which has one, thats the only problem! i just wanted to see if there was anyone who'd had one for a decent amount of time that had an opinion, which may in the end be more valuable than 15 minutes at a shop! looks like it defo needs a test of my own!

dannybuoy · #7 06-08-2009, 12:01 PM

In my opinion you could do far worse than buying the 2nd hand Barber LTD that's for sale in the basschat.co.uk forums, they sound fantastic. Plus if you decide you don't like it you'll be able to sell it on without taking a loss!

RCCollins · #8 06-08-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

In my opinion you could do far worse than buying the 2nd hand Barber LTD that's for sale in the basschat.co.uk forums, they sound fantastic. Plus if you decide you don't like it you'll be able to sell it on without taking a loss!

i tried one of these last week and it has a GREAT natural OD sound

CYDbass · #9 06-08-2009, 12:39 PM

thanks ill look into that, just to chuck another thing into the mic, what about an Ibanez phat-head PD7??? anyone got/tried one of those, they seem pretty cool. what does anyone think of that, cause i know getting hold of one of those to try will be tricky!

RCCollins · #10 06-08-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CYDbass

thanks ill look into that, just to chuck another thing into the mic, what about an Ibanez phat-head PD7??? anyone got/tried one of those, they seem pretty cool. what does anyone think of that, cause i know getting hold of one of those to try will be tricky!

these are pretty darn cool actually, especially for the super cheap price. It would be my pick for a low-end first bass OD and you could to a lot worse for your first dirt pedal

Darkstrike · #11 06-08-2009, 12:45 PM

The GLX is identical to the Boss one, in every way, barring appearance.

**DosiYanarchy** · #12 06-08-2009, 12:52 PM

The GLX stuff is generally pretty good (as good as the Boss stuff), id have no qualms about buying their stuff over Boss. I've not owned the Bass OD, but i have owned the Bass Chorus, Digital delay and Bass EQ, oh and a Harley Benton Octaver (which wasnt as good)

the Beta Aivin and Harley benton stuff is Identical to the GLX pedals, just a different name.

The Phat Hed was my first Bass OD, the Boss ODB3 was my second, I prefered the Boss myself, but then just got bored of the tone and started a wild journey thats still ongoing.

Also - Boss Blues Driver is one hell of a pedal, i had a stock one, and then a Keeley-modded one, but i've now found the Crowther Hotcake (with Bass and Bluesbury modes) is the sound i always wanted from the Blues Driver

MEKer · #13 06-08-2009, 03:12 PM

hmmm--------------I'll try to check out the Crowther model. thanks for the tip.

edit to add: BTW, CYDbass---15 minutes of course is not long enough (tho it dang sure is on some stuff) which is why I gave the ODB-3 a full hour thru a GK and Ampeg and on a Schecter and Fender bass. If I can't get a feel for whats going on with something in that time I have no business checking it out.

CYDbass · #14 06-09-2009, 07:58 AM

thanks MEKer, ive done pretty much the same this afternoon. given the odb-3 a good go with my own bass. it wasnt bad in my opinion, but it didnt blow me away. it does carry the low-ends very well, and can be too boomy if the bass on the EQ is turned up. my next step is to try a phat head pd7 to see what thats like, now ive just gotta get my hands on one to try!
edit: the shop i went to also amused me, they had a sign saying they were the cheapest boss stockist in the city. an odb-3... £95! through all my internet searching the most expensive i found was £75! what a rip off. always seems to be the same with bass specific effects

dannybuoy · #15 06-09-2009, 08:26 AM

Buy 2nd hand, loads of them about going for around £30. Or better yet, buy something else!

MEKer · #16 06-09-2009, 10:20 AM

sure thing as dannybuoy said-used if possible. Coventry huh? Wish I could visit. I spent a summer in UK years ago and spent quite a bit of time in York-----love that place and its so interesting. Anyway-good luck on the phat head.

mcnach · #17 06-26-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

Not tried it, but the GLX is probably just as bad as the Boss.

Seriously, try one out first if you haven't already (the Boss). It's more of a distortion than an overdrive and sounds more like a chainsaw than a smooth od. Good for industrial type music though, and it's not a bad pedal, although I've heard a few people using them live with very bad settings that made my ears bleed!

What kind of sound are you after first of all?

heh, that's what I was going to say.... "as bad as the Boss".

I like Boss pedals, but NOT the ODB-3.

mcnach · #18 06-26-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CYDbass

thanks MEKer, ive done pretty much the same this afternoon. given the odb-3 a good go with my own bass. it wasnt bad in my opinion, but it didnt blow me away. it does carry the low-ends very well, and can be too boomy if the bass on the EQ is turned up. my next step is to try a phat head pd7 to see what thats like, now ive just gotta get my hands on one to try!
edit: the shop i went to also amused me, they had a sign saying they were the cheapest boss stockist in the city. an odb-3... £95! through all my internet searching the most expensive i found was £75! what a rip off. always seems to be the same with bass specific effects

The Phat Head is better than the Boss, in my opinion. I had both, I no longer have the Boss.
You can't blend dry/overdriven sound, which is usually a problem with overdrive on bass if you want to keep low end and definition. But it somehow works here. The problem with this pedal is it can be a bit hissy, too noisy. Especially when using the "attack" switch. However, I really like the sound of this when using the "Clean" setting (no distortion) and adding "attack", which keeps a cleanish sound but adds a metallic gritty high end noise which I find quite good... if it weren't for the hiss.

Try the Digitech Bad Monkey for a mild overdrive, and the Digitech Bass Driver for heavier stuff.