Help and suggestions for creating a sound!!

attackbass · #1 11-06-2008, 05:35 PM

I recently recorded with an early proto type SVT (used with the stones apparently) at a studio and whilst getting a sound the engineer mixed the di and the very growly ampeg together and it had this awesome tone... kinda like full on tube distortion but with the blend of clean bass. very smooth but yet gnarly

I really want to recreate that sound for a few songs in my band and I'm interested to hear suggestions of pedals I can check out. I don't know if it's a blend of a fuzz or a distortion.
My current rig is

korg pitch black > loop pedal > TC Electronics Vintage Bass Distortion > Orange AD200B AND Orange 4x10 and 1x15 Cabs.

Pedals i've come across so far is an ashdown james lomenzo, ebs valve drive and the Xotic BB Preamp

Thanks

Swimming Bird · #2 11-06-2008, 06:54 PM

It seems you're on the right track with the TC and the Orange. Does your loop pedal have a clean blend? If so I would strongly suggest getting an Ibanez Mostortion if you can find one. It's a tube screamer with a full EQ, sounds excellent. If not, a regular tube screamer would probably work too.

I think the key really is one or two light, guitar-EQ'd gain stages put in a blend loop.

rcubed · #3 11-06-2008, 07:29 PM

Tech 21's SansAmp or VT Bass should get you there.

bongomania · #4 11-06-2008, 07:34 PM

As noted, key to that sound is parallel channels. In the studio that literally means two mixer channels, probably two tracks. In a live situation that can mean a clean amp next to a dirty amp, or a clean DI channel alongside a dirty DI channel. Most of us can't afford (and don't want to haul) two of everything, so we use blender pedals. A quick search on 'blender' will turn up the details on those. IMO the results can be 80-90% as good as two amps/tracks.

rratajski · #5 11-07-2008, 04:57 AM

Just note that getting a Tubescreamer w/out EQ limits your drive/dirt...They sort of sap low end, so aim for the Tubescreamer w/ EQ or have a separate EQ for the pedal or go for the blend pedal.

For what you want, I'm w/ Bongo. Go for a blend. A boost pedal might help you develop some tube crunch that still sounds natural.

attackbass · #6 11-07-2008, 08:04 AM

yeah I already know that a blend pedal is the way to go... just want suggestions for drives/fuzzes that will work well... I already use a sansamp bddi which i run the parallel out into my orange as I dont like the mix of the sansamp and the orange together, and then obviously send the sansamp to foh for my amp tone...

P-BASSLOVER · #7 11-07-2008, 09:25 AM

Get an Agular Tone Hammer! It's the best pedal investment I ever made. You'll get that warm tube gritty sound you're looking for without sacrificing any low end at all!

Swimming Bird · #8 11-07-2008, 09:50 AM

attackbass, you seem unsatisfied with our responses. Can you post some clips from this session so we can be more specific? I have some other ideas, but I don't know how well they match up with your reality.

attackbass · #9 11-07-2008, 12:22 PM

hey, I don't feel unsatisfied with your responses at all.. sorry If I've come across that way. I've actually been searching for tube screamers all day!! lol. I'd love to hear your other ideas!

I can't post any clips as it was a session for an artist and I don't feel he would want the music out in the public right now as it's unreleased... sorry! I like the idea of blending guitar effects in with my 'dry' unaffected bass signal going to my amp/sansamp

JimmyM · #10 11-08-2008, 02:17 AM

If you're looking for grindy Ampeg tone to mix with a clean tone through a blender, the Tech 21 VT Bass is the only pedal to own. It totally cops cranked SVT tone. I've AB'd it with my 69 SVT (very similar to the one you used) and it nails the tones pretty much dead-on. And once it hits your Orange amp, you'd be hard-pressed to tell it apart from the real thing. I've never been a fan of solid state emulation of tube amps, but since I got a VT, I am now.

Swimming Bird · #11 11-08-2008, 11:49 AM

Heh, I didn't mean to sound snippy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by attackbass

I can't post any clips as it was a session for an artist and I don't feel he would want the music out in the public right now as it's unreleased.

Fair enough.

How much gain was there on the buzzy bit? Was it like a light distortion or OD or was it heavier? Either way I might suggest an English Muff'n set for low bass and a lot of buzz. If there was a lot of gain, go for an old DOD Grunge -- they're super compressed and let almost no low end through, which would be great in a clean blend loop.

attackbass · #12 11-08-2008, 12:56 PM

Thanks guys for youre suggestions!! I do like the the sound of the VT and I know where you're coming from!

I actually went out today to a local music store and bought a pedal... it's called a blackstar valve overdrive... sounds awesome.. just need a blend pedal now!!

here's a link to it - check it out!
http://www.blackstaramps.co.uk/products/ht/htdrive.html

JimmyM · #13 11-08-2008, 01:35 PM

Wow, those Blackstar pedals look impressive. I wonder if they've hit America yet. Didn't see any places to buy them here online.