good pedal to add creamy warmth?

J.Wolf · #1 02-03-2008, 02:22 PM

I'm wondering whats a good pedal for this. I'm not too much into overdrive and I don't do fuzz/distortion a whole lot, but what I'm looking to add is that creamy lushness, fat thickness, and rich harmonic overtone to add color to a very flat solid state amp (iamp). I know that amp won't be the best rock amp, so I'm going to try to find a pedal that will add that nice rich tube-ish color to the sound. I've tried a sansamp and it sounded OK, but not exactly the tone I was after. Though to be fair, I didn't spend a whole lot of time with it, just some basic tweaking.

any ideas? the only one that comes to mind so far has been a bassdrive.

scotch · #2 02-03-2008, 02:26 PM

The Fulltone Bass-Drive could get you there, but it wants to overdrive - so you're likely going to get some grit.

I'd recommend something like an EH English Muff'n or EBS Valve Drive. They both can overdrive, or clean up as a tube pre. I use my EBS all the time in recording sessions. It's easy to dial in warm tube tone without the drive.

bongomania · #3 02-03-2008, 02:29 PM

I would recommend a Demeter Compulator and a Fulltone Fat Boost (or similar variant on that circuit).

punkrocko · #4 02-03-2008, 02:35 PM

Tube Works Blue Tube pedal. Also came as a rack mount preamp. They are out of production now, but turn up on ebay often. I used one for years, it's exactly what your looking for.

J.Wolf · #5 02-03-2008, 02:44 PM

would the fatboost do it well without the compulator? It looks like its kind of a natural compressor anyways as a secondary effect. fatboost original or new model (#2)?

dannybuoy · #6 02-03-2008, 02:45 PM

I know it gets stick from some people for being a bit noisy, but go listen to the sound samples of the Electro Harmonix Black Finger on the EHX website. I've not used one personally, but those samples sound sweet with hardly any noise at all (albeit on guitar, not bass).

J.Wolf · #7 02-03-2008, 02:45 PM

interesting about the bluetube, I'll look into it.
anyone know where I can hear samples of the fatboost, or the bluetube?

The valvedrive is interesting too, haven't had the best luck with EBS pedals, but this seems like a different animal. I don't really need the preamp type options, just the effect.

dannybuoy · #8 02-03-2008, 02:51 PM

Also check out the low gain clips of the DHA VT1 in the wiki...

bongomania · #9 02-03-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfbass1025

would the fatboost do it well without the compulator? It looks like its kind of a natural compressor anyways as a secondary effect. fatboost original or new model (#2)?

Yes, they each do a bit of fattening and increasing of harmonic content. Orig. vs. V2, not much difference IMO.

J.Wolf · #10 02-03-2008, 03:03 PM

cool-

what about SIB fatdrive?

J.Wolf · #11 02-03-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

Also check out the low gain clips of the DHA VT1 in the wiki...

nice!

J.Wolf · #12 02-03-2008, 03:08 PM

the idea of adding clean fatness is kind of a wierd oxymoron given what most of these pedals are designed for, but basically the idea is "how do you get an iamp ( or a similar clean SS head) to sound like a DB750..............

Don't shoot me. and don't tell me I'm stupid or unrealistic, this I know

and thanks for your help guys

Lobster11 · #13 02-03-2008, 04:05 PM

There are lots of good ideas here, but I just want to throw in the suggestion of playing around with the Sansamp a little more before giving up. What you are looking for might be in there if you toy with it some more (which you said you hadn't really done).

In particular, one thing that people often overlook with the older Sansamp pedals is that you can boost the midrange despite the lack of a midrange control: Just cut the bass and treble each a little, and raise the level to compensate. A lot of folks complain that the Sansamp seems to cut their mids, and this is a range where you want to get a lot of that creamy warmth you're looking for. So, if you have this kind of Sansamp and haven't tried this, give it a shot. Maybe you won't have to buy something new after all.

J.Wolf · #14 02-03-2008, 04:19 PM

thanks, like I said, I thought maybe I didn't give the sansamp a totally fair shake, but based on what I heard it just wasn't my cup o tea. I'll throw this out there, at the inevitable risk of pissing someone off, but hey, this is IMO, and YMMV of course. From my limited experience, the BDDI and PBDDI sounded cheap to me. Not very creamy, more raspy and grindy. Does that make it cheap sounding, I dunno? I guess I just wanted something richer sounding, and with more lush harmonic content. I will concede that I should give it another go to see for sure if that is completely true for me, but that was my recollection after 20 minutes or so tweaking knobs. Hate me if you must

I am quite curious about the fatdrive..

bongomania · #15 02-03-2008, 04:32 PM

Check over in the Amps forum, as Tom B. has made some posts over there about the Fatdrive.

Swift713 · #16 02-03-2008, 04:59 PM

How about a Pre Sonus or ART tube pre? Or the Tube PAC? If you're not looking for overdrive these may be right up your alley.

diechris · #17 02-03-2008, 05:01 PM

i love using the ElectroniX Submarine. it beef's up my bass tone in a really nice way. sounds very natural and rich IMO. i'll admit i had doubts about it... but in the end its the only pedal ive kept in my new band situation.

I'd love to try a fat boost and a dememter to see what else they can offer.. but my dbx 166a takes care of my comp needs and i dont know how i can justify getting a fat boost..

OhThePeacock · #18 02-03-2008, 06:16 PM

I was going to mention the Electronix Submarine too.

Lobster11 · #19 02-04-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfbass1025

thanks, like I said, I thought maybe I didn't give the sansamp a totally fair shake, but based on what I heard it just wasn't my cup o tea. I'll throw this out there, at the inevitable risk of pissing someone off, but hey, this is IMO, and YMMV of course. From my limited experience, the BDDI and PBDDI sounded cheap to me. Not very creamy, more raspy and grindy. Does that make it cheap sounding, I dunno? I guess I just wanted something richer sounding, and with more lush harmonic content. I will concede that I should give it another go to see for sure if that is completely true for me, but that was my recollection after 20 minutes or so tweaking knobs. Hate me if you must

Nope, no hate. Not even dislike. What works for you works for you. I just wanted to encourage you to give the Sansamp a fair chance -- which you had "admitted" not having really done in your OP. I find that I get a pretty satisfactory "warm, creamy" thing out of it if I get it tweaked right -- usually by boosting the mids (and sometimes the presence) and backing off the drive a little. Having said that, though, I've also found that it seems to do exactly what I want with certain bass/amp combinations but not others; it seems remarkably sensitive to context. Anyway, if you put the Sansamp on the block in the classifieds, you'll make some other TBer very happy!

dbcandle · #20 02-04-2008, 08:54 AM

Bass PODxt. While many of the more extreme effects are not as good as some others, the modeling is really good. You can choose from modeling of amps, cabinets, and some subtle effects like compression and even a SansAmp simulator (which are effects that the PODxt does well).

One of the amps is a tube preamp, which I like a lot.