Help Me Decide on an Overdrive!

[TheMutt]

So much like the reverb thread that I started (I'm going to try to snag a Dr. Scientist RRR/RR(mini)R when I get the cash or find one used), I need some help deciding which overdrive to try.
I play mainly Contemporary Christian (yes, we do use pedals ) and need something that pulls better duty for overdrive than running a VT Bass at higher gain (I liked it for lower gain stuff and to use as a vintage tone emulator, but got rid of it because I could do both with my amp) or running my amp at high gain (necessitates me to have to change settings for the slow songs). I'd also like something that can be very transparent (doesn't change my tone too much) but also can be used as a tone shaper if the need arises. As such, I am trying to find a pedal that is able to give me anything from a slight boost to mid-gain almost distortion levels, but not quite. A big plus would be if it were small enough to fill the space of my VT or better yet even smaller (sorry, I'm not going to be able to fit a Fulltone Bassdrive on my Pedaltrain Mini).

[gnasher1993]

Originally Posted by TheMutt

I'd also like something that can be very transparent (doesn't change my tone too much) but also can be used as a tone shaper if the need arises. As such, I am trying to find a pedal that is able to give me anything from a slight boost to mid-gain almost distortion levels, but not quite.

I'd avoid the Catalinbread SFT for this purpose. It sounds really great but it's not all that transparent.

See if you can find a Paul Cochrane Timmy to try (or a Tim if you want a separate boost), I think it'd be perfect for your needs. I really loved mine. It's really transparent, and maintains the character of your bass and your amp. It's got a fair amount of gain in it without too much EQ change/compression.

At the moment, I'm using a Crowther Hotcake into a Catalinbread SFT - sounds like a Tubescreamer into a Flip-top to me which is exactly the sound I want.

What sort of higher gain sound do you want (EQ-wise, I mean)?

[TheMutt]

Originally Posted by gnasher1993

I'd avoid the Catalinbread SFT for this purpose. It sounds really great but it's not all that transparent.

Good to know. That's what I disliked the most about the VT Bass.

Originally Posted by gnasher1993

See if you can find a Paul Cochrane Timmy to try (or a Tim if you want a separate boost), I think it'd be perfect for your needs. I really loved mine. It's really transparent, and maintains the character of your bass and your amp. It's got a fair amount of gain in it without too much EQ change/compression.

Does it cut any bass? I've heard the same about the Fulltone OCD, but when I tried mine on bass there was a noticeable drop in the low end when it was engaged. I'm sure I could find a Timmy used on TGP, but I am a bit weary of trying guitar pedals on bass. They all generally need a clean blend in my opinion, which wouldn't fit on my board in addition to everything else.

Originally Posted by gnasher1993

What sort of higher gain sound do you want (EQ-wise, I mean)?

I'm looking for something that is faithful to the sound of my bass and doesn't mask it under a bunch of filters/eq, but could if I needed it to. Ideally, I'd like something that is very much like the front end of my Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 amp with the preamp gain cranked up. If it didn't come with eq options that would even still be alright as I could just use the onboard eq on my bass for that purpose. The only real important features are that it needs to be the same size or smaller than a VT Bass, and also that it needs to be 1Spot/daisy chain friendly as that is how I power this board (although I don't know of any bass overdrive pedals that are not).

[MK1]

Sounds like you would really like the Way Huge Pork Loin. It does light to medium OD really well and it can even get into distortion territory. The PL is super transparent, I use it as an "always on" pedal. A huge benefit of this pedal is the clean blend, plus it's really tweakable.

[gnasher1993]

Originally Posted by TheMutt

Good to know. That's what I disliked the most about the VT Bass.

The Catalinbread overdrives are very (convincingly!) amp like. Great in certain situations but I'm not sure any of them would be right for you.

Originally Posted by TheMutt

Does it cut any bass? I've heard the same about the Fulltone OCD, but when I tried mine on bass there was a noticeable drop in the low end when it was engaged. I'm sure I could find a Timmy used on TGP, but I am a bit weary of trying guitar pedals on bass. They all generally need a clean blend in my opinion, which wouldn't fit on my board in addition to everything else.

It doesn't cut any low end that I could hear. I wouldn't really call it a 'guitar pedal'. There's no doubt that it's most popular with guitarists but I don't think it's been discovered by bass players yet. I think Grygrx has a demo video of the Tim.

You could try a Danelectro Transparent Overdrive (v1) if you're unsure. It's supposedly a clone of the Timmy; definitely sounds very similar... much cheaper .

Originally Posted by TheMutt

I've heard the same about the Fulltone OCD, but when I tried mine on bass there was a noticeable drop in the low end when it was engaged.

I didn't really like the way the OCD was voiced but I definitely agree about the low end loss. I found it better for higher gain overdrive sounds.

Originally Posted by TheMutt

I'm looking for something that is faithful to the sound of my bass and doesn't mask it under a bunch of filters/eq, but could if I needed it to. Ideally, I'd like something that is very much like the front end of my Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 amp with the preamp gain cranked up. If it didn't come with eq options that would even still be alright as I could just use the onboard eq on my bass for that purpose. The only real important features are that it needs to be the same size or smaller than a VT Bass, and also that it needs to be 1Spot/daisy chain friendly as that is how I power this board (although I don't know of any bass overdrive pedals that are not).

I think the Geminidrive would be worth a look. I've not personally tried one but from the clips I've heard it sounds fairly transparent. The clean blend would probably be useful for getting the character of your bass. I don't like clean blended overdrive but I could definitely see it being useful for transparency.

Another one that I forgot to mention in my other post is the Barber LTD (the SR is the most transparent). The LTD's are very responsive to input signal.

The Nobels ODR-1 is worth checking out as well.





There... that's my overdrive knowledge exhausted .

[TheMutt]

Originally Posted by gnasher1993

You could try a Danelectro Transparent Overdrive (v1) if you're unsure. It's supposedly a clone of the Timmy; definitely sounds very similar... much cheaper .

Unfortunately, they had to change the design of them after a lawsuit was filed along with some other pedal companies that also had their pedal designs infringed upon. FWIW, I have heard that the Dano didn't do the Tim/Timmy justice.

Originally Posted by gnasher1993

I think the Geminidrive would be worth a look. I've not personally tried one but from the clips I've heard it sounds fairly transparent. The clean blend would probably be useful for getting the character of your bass. I don't like clean blended overdrive but I could definitely see it being useful for transparency.

Yeah, I'm leaning the most towards that one right now. Trying to see if I'm just crazy or not.

Originally Posted by gnasher1993

Another one that I forgot to mention in my other post is the Barber LTD (the SR is the most transparent). The LTD's are very responsive to input signal.

Interesting. I have an LTD Silver, which sits between the standard LTD and the SR in transparency, sitting right here on my guitar pedalboard. I'll have to give it a try on bass and maybe get the SR if I like it enough.

Originally Posted by gnasher1993

The Nobels ODR-1 is worth checking out as well.

Hmm... Makes me curious about the Wampler Underdog. It's a Nobels ODR-S clone that had separate bass/mids/treble controls on it. However, it's $200 from a few different dealers and I have yet to see one pop up used. There's also the Rocket Pedals Chicken Soup OD which is a clone of the Nobels ODR-1. Both of which I do not see being all that great on bass as they were not made with bass in mind when they were created. Mind you, this is without having heard either one with a bass played through it.

[LeonD]

Originally Posted by MK1

Sounds like you would really like the Way Huge Pork Loin. It does light to medium OD really well and it can even get into distortion territory. The PL is super transparent, I use it as an "always on" pedal. A huge benefit of this pedal is the clean blend, plus it's really tweakable.

This is exactly what I was going to say.

The Pork Loin is very transparent with no loss of bass. It can go from full and saturated to quite nasty.

I've gone from not using any overdrive (because I couldn't find one that didn't screw with my tone) to keeping this one on for more than half the songs I play.

It's just that musical.

[RobertPaulson]

I love my geminidrive, although the agro has peaked my interest as of late.

[TheMutt]

Originally Posted by RobertPaulson

I love my geminidrive, although the agro has peaked my interest as of late.

Buy the Agro, sell me your Gemini.

[mazdah]

I think you should try Xotic Bass BB. Nuthin fancy, but gets the job done!

[Deepak]

I'm very partial to the Jacques Tube Blower. Doesn't lose lows, separate bass and treble knobs, and a nice bypass. Can go from light overdrive to almost distortion-y sounds.

[Matt Dean]

I meant to vote for the Xotic Bass BB, but inadvertently hit the Bass RC. So, in your mind's eye, imagine the BB having 3 votes.

[KarateKid25]

I voted for Dredge-Tone Bass Angler before I actually read your post... Not so sure it is what you are looking for now.

For boost and mild grit I use a Cream Pie.

[73jbass]

Ibanez Turbo Tube Screamer.

[Joospocks]

Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive. Basically a TS808 with an added clean mix. I love it!

[KarateKid25]

I noticed the Blueberry on your list. I have one and can say it isn't what you're looking for if you want transparency. They are dark and doomy and colour your tone in a big tube power section way. They sound excellent, but not going to fit what you're after.

[fitz420]

i voted for angler cause its my favorite. but for transparency, and i've owned all 3, i vote

1: Barber LTD SR
2. Sparkle Drive
3. Xotic BB

[TheMutt]

Originally Posted by KarateKid25

I noticed the Blueberry on your list. I have one and can say it isn't what you're looking for if you want transparency. They are dark and doomy and colour your tone in a big tube power section way. They sound excellent, but not going to fit what you're after.

Yeah, I've never actually heard the BBBOD. I just stuck it on there because everyone who owns one says that they are the bees knees. I personally hope that they are with their steep price and ridiculously annoying build times.

[TheMutt]

Originally Posted by 73jbass

Ibanez Turbo Tube Screamer.

Owned one, hated how it ate up bass like a hobo on a doughnut. Even on the Turbo setting which gave more bass, but it was muddy and undefined.

[Swift713]

I voted for the Blueberry before reading the actual question but it's not transparent. It's pretty dark, beautifully dark. The bees knees and his balls as well.