To the great bass wizards! in search of bass distortion.

Geeorj · #1 06-14-2011, 06:33 PM

Hi there, this is a question about basses predominantly for metal BUT I'm trying to look for a bass with a unique distortion sound, and I'm wondering if you guys are able to share some bass/pickup/pedal knowledge to help me out.

When I say unique distortion sound...this might sound a little crazy...I'm basically looking for a bass that sounds like a guitar but beefier and lower down. Like literally would make people think it's a grungy dirty guitar if the tune was played higher up the neck on the G...but still has the low-register practicality that can go down to E-1 without having to buy an 8-string guitar (which IMO always sound muddy as hell).

For Example, this sorta sound but with more modern and 'metally' distortion:
YouTube - ‪Cop Shoot Cop - Furnace‬&rlm;

Reason being that I'm looking to do a project that involves a drummer, two bassists, one guitarist and vocalist. The two basses are both distorted and share really punchy and powerful two-note harmony riffs (a la Cop Shoot Cop) and the guitar is just there to thicken the sound out and give it some treble. Genre is primarily Industrial Metal/Grungy stuff.

So I'm looking for the best bass sound with the controlled, cutting midrange distortion of a guitar (absolutely no fuzz distortion advice please) that has great sustain, but still holds enough tonal quality of the bass up and down the neck for those sweet harmonies.

ATM I'm putting a budget yamaha 4-string through a guitar Line6 POD V2 and getting pretty good results, but want more of a realistic and reputable setup for a possible live situation.

Thanks for reading guys.

xjeremiahx · #2 06-14-2011, 06:37 PM

I think I get what you're saying...so I'll give my response based off that...if I'm wrong or off base, just tell me and we'll go from there...

I like my distortion pretty much the same way you're describing, and I'll just say that my stingray has done it for me every single time. On the bass' preamp, i leave the bass at 0(no + or -), mids all the way up & highs about halfway up. Use a little overdrive from my amp, my pedals & i'm set.

Matt Dean · #3 06-14-2011, 11:47 PM

wren and cuff tall font russian

Bassstuff777 · #4 06-15-2011, 01:24 AM

The russian big muff is what I used to use for that sort of thing. It was pretty good.

At the moment I am using a jemini pedal in my bass. The over drive chanel is great and can get some nice low end out of it and the distortion can get some great over the top distortion and good for cutting through the mix and soloing.
Mxr also do a good distortion for bass.

**DosiYanarchy** · #5 06-15-2011, 01:32 AM

I'd say Wren & Cuff Pickle Pie B, both the Tall Font Russian and the Pickle Pie are technically fuzzes but both can get tight and aggressive as well as fat and wooly, and both can be bought with clean blends built in to mix in some of your clean tone.

I use my Pickle Pie B for aggressive lower gain (low for a fuzz, sounds like a distortion) tone blended in with alot of cleans and its tight and distorted.

blastjv · #6 06-15-2011, 07:59 PM

Aguilar Agro could do the tone you're describing no problem.

-JV