HAO Rust Ride overdrive low end loss solution?

benagainnn · #1 04-12-2009, 11:35 PM

Hi everybody,

I've search on the forum, there is no thread that talk about this pedal.
I just want to know if there's something I could do to put more power into this overdrive. I bought it two weeks ago. When I put it on, there is a volume drop and the sound lost some low ends and power......

What can I do? A boost pedal could do the job?

JimmyM · #2 04-13-2009, 12:04 AM

It's got a volume control. It doesn't get loud enough even with the volume control? Don't know about the tones, but the volume knob should be able to crank it more than enough to compensate.

scotch · #3 04-13-2009, 07:41 AM

I owned one of these briefly. I had to trade it out, the low end loss was too severe for me!

You could try to use a clean blender pedal to mix back in some of your unaffected signal. This will help & is a popular solution, however the Rust Ride is one of the worst low-end suckers I have ever owned - there is likely better overdrive options out there for you...

Jimmy, yeah the pedal will get loud - but with tons of highs and high mids. There's no tone controls (other than the 3-position toggle which just doesn't coax enough lows in or highs out).

benagainnn · #4 04-13-2009, 08:33 AM

Thanks for the response!

Hummmmmm Which overdrive is a better option scotch?

Which overdrive doesn't lost a lot of low end?
( I'm playing with a musicman stingray 5, a fender marcus miller signature in a genz benz shuttle 6.0 and a hartke cab 4x10)

scotch · #5 04-13-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benagainnn

Thanks for the response!

Hummmmmm Which overdrive is a better option scotch?

Which overdrive doesn't lost a lot of low end?
( I'm playing with a musicman stingray 5, a fender marcus miller signature in a genz benz shuttle 6.0 and a hartke cab 4x10)

There are a lots of options! A quick search should yield plenty of threads!

Jared Lash · #6 04-13-2009, 09:09 AM

The Rust Ride is an odd little beast.

It's theoretically a bass overdrive but (1) it eats way too much low end for something designed for bass and (2) if it is an overdrive, it's the heaviest overdrive I've ever heard.

For me, I love the tone, but didn't find it usable in a band mix by itself. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for someone who doesn't biamp their rigs or own a blend. My solution was to put it in the loop of a Barge VB-jr. I blend in around 40%-50% dry signal and it just kills. Fantastic heavy crunch sound.

benagainnn · #7 04-13-2009, 09:16 AM

Ok!! thanks.

I will try to get the barge pedal. I hope that this would work!!!
thanks all and thanks thebig0.

But for 110$ ( the price of the barge pedal that doesn't include the shipping ( i'm in canada)), which overdrive can I get that doesn't eat low ends like a maniac?

Jared Lash · #8 04-13-2009, 09:28 AM

The Barge will definitely work, and a blend pedal is a useful tool to have anyway.

But as for lower priced overdrives that don't lose as much low end, there's the Bad Monkey and DOD 250. A bit of low end loss with each, but solid pedals. Both are "lighter" sounding overdrives than the Rust Ride, especially the 250. The modded Bad Monkey (Badder Monkey) is a pretty good bass OD.

On the other side of things, the Tech 21 XXLB is MORE aggressive than the Rust Ride (fuzzier sounding) but is in the same ballpark and runs for around $110. It also loses a bit of lows, but not nearly as much as the HAO.

I'm sure there's other good bass overdrives in the $100 range, but I'm not thinking of them right now.

benagainnn · #9 04-13-2009, 09:32 AM

It can be more than 110$!

I put a limit of 225$

1009 · #10 04-13-2009, 09:36 AM

Just bought a Fulltone Bass Drive (MOSFET). Beautiful thing, no low-end loss that I can hear, & many many subtle options for crafting tone.

TheVoiceless · #11 04-13-2009, 09:53 AM

I own this pedal also. And it really disappointed me when I played it with my band. I would suggest selling it. Why make a second purchase on something that should already do what you want? Its collecting dust on my shelf right now.

OlSkewl56 · #12 04-13-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1009

Just bought a Fulltone Bass Drive (MOSFET). Beautiful thing, no low-end loss that I can hear, & many many subtle options for crafting tone.

Does the Fulltone have a wet/dry blend?
i'm leaning that way, but have been also toying with the idea of the Bass VT just to get a little "crunch" in the mix.
Thanks,

Chronicle · #13 04-13-2009, 11:50 AM

Bass Drive has a little low end loss. Check out the GeminiDrive or Polish Love pedal. Both can be found in my Chronicle of Effects pedal link.

Crabby · #14 04-13-2009, 12:30 PM

I have owned the Rust Ride and the Barge blender and wasn't satisfied with that setup. I also own a Fulltone Bassdrive and find that it simply is the best bass overdrive for actual live use that i have ever tried. Its warm, has 2 channels, true bypass, doesnt add noise, doesnt cost a stupid amount of money and sits nicely in the mix.

There is a slight roll off of low end but that can be compensated for by simply turning the volume up a bit on the pedal. The low end is there but when the overdrive is added, the natural tendency is set the volume for unity gain. Adding a bit more volume corrects this perceived low end loss and the pedal blends perfectly in a live mix without sounding overly boosted.

To the original poster, although the Rust Ride has a gorgeous heavy overdrive tone, it is nowhere as versatile as the Fulltone. I owned both at the same time and was able to replicate the Rust Ride ton on the heavy channel of the Fulltone almost perfectly and still had the lighter overdrive channel as well to add some warm growl to my tone.

I would look to trade the Rustride for a Fulltone Bassdrive. if you are in Canada, Long & Mcquade carries both pedals.

1009 · #15 04-13-2009, 12:41 PM

I run my Bass Drive into a VT Bass (amongst some other toys), playing through an Ampeg B100R. Playing with my 4-piece band I have noticed no low-end loss, but that might just be my ears.

I have to say that I don't really get the idea of using the VT Bass as an overdrive. It does give you a very nice driven tone, but there is so much more going on with tone there that I think it would be a very strange shift to engage it for just one part of a song. The VT Bass is designed as an "amp emulator," so in other words the idea is not to simply add gain (although that's part of the deal). The Bass Drive, luckily enough, doesn't color the tone that much & is designed for folks happy with their amp & axe tone. So apples & oranges I'd say.

JimmyM · #16 04-13-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1009

I run my Bass Drive into a VT Bass (amongst some other toys), playing through an Ampeg B100R. Playing with my 4-piece band I have noticed no low-end loss, but that might just be my ears.

I have to say that I don't really get the idea of using the VT Bass as an overdrive. It does give you a very nice driven tone, but there is so much more going on with tone there that I think it would be a very strange shift to engage it for just one part of a song. The VT Bass is designed as an "amp emulator," so in other words the idea is not to simply add gain (although that's part of the deal). The Bass Drive, luckily enough, doesn't color the tone that much & is designed for folks happy with their amp & axe tone. So apples & oranges I'd say.

If I had a B100R I'd probably want to use the VT as an amp sim, despite the amp on the B100R being pretty kickass for SS. But I've got two B-15N's and an SVT, so it seems a waste to set it up to sound like those amps. OTOH, the overdrive in it is almost exactly like cranking an SVT past the brink, so that's why I use it as an OD.

scotch · #17 04-13-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crabby

I have owned the Rust Ride and the Barge blender and wasn't satisfied with that setup. I also own a Fulltone Bassdrive and find that it simply is the best bass overdrive for actual live use that i have ever tried. Its warm, has 2 channels, true bypass, doesnt add noise, doesnt cost a stupid amount of money and sits nicely in the mix.

There is a slight roll off of low end but that can be compensated for by simply turning the volume up a bit on the pedal. The low end is there but when the overdrive is added, the natural tendency is set the volume for unity gain. Adding a bit more volume corrects this perceived low end loss and the pedal blends perfectly in a live mix without sounding overly boosted.

To the original poster, although the Rust Ride has a gorgeous heavy overdrive tone, it is nowhere as versatile as the Fulltone. I owned both at the same time and was able to replicate the Rust Ride ton on the heavy channel of the Fulltone almost perfectly and still had the lighter overdrive channel as well to add some warm growl to my tone.

I would look to trade the Rustride for a Fulltone Bassdrive. if you are in Canada, Long & Mcquade carries both pedals.

A big +1... my thoughts exactly!

1009 · #18 04-13-2009, 04:58 PM

Yeah, I see Jimmy's point re: the VT Bass. Until I can afford the real deal the VT will help me fake my way to the right tone, but in his case it definitely makes sense as an OD.

I would say in general be wary of a pedal like this if you're only going to use it for the OD function. But you know the rig you have, & if you're not too concerned about getting that ampeg "coloring" the VT does (& does brilliantly), eff it & get the pedal. Hell, I'd say buy one anyway. I love running my telecaster through it. Haven't tried the ukulele yet but I think that'd sound swell, too.

benagainnn · #19 04-19-2009, 10:36 PM

Thanks for all the answers! I think I'll try the fulltone in a shop first and if I'm satisfied that would be the one!

Any other suggestion?

Thanks,
BEn.