How many is too many?

Nomadskills · #1 04-13-2011, 02:15 PM

Dirt Pedals...

Though I don't actually use them as much as I'd like, all I seem to gravitate toward are dirt pedals. I don't really have a "board" yet but in my chain are the VT Bass, Boss ODB, Big Muff (Black), and a guitar pedal that losses low end so I'll probably take it out, but... Will likely bring in more dirt anyway.

I'm pretty new so I don't really have a musical direction yet. The "band" I'm in, messes around with covers (Easy punk and rock stuff) and done a little bit with originals but not much.

Should I just try and pick one dirt sound and go with it or does having numerous dirt options make sense? What do you guys do?

Swift713 · #2 04-13-2011, 02:33 PM

"One is too many, a thousand is never enough."
I've only got one overdrive, a BJFE Blueberry. I've been though, and enjoyed, some fuzzes and some day I'll likely get another but I'm only "committed" to the Blueberry.

gazman_res · #3 04-13-2011, 02:34 PM

I think when something is sitting under your bed or in the garage just collecting dust then its time to let it go to someone else.

If its getting any semi decent use, then there is never too much

dannybuoy · #4 04-13-2011, 02:35 PM

That's not over the top what you have there. I need one dirty boost / light overdrive (SFT) and one heavy distortion / fuzz (Bass Big Muff). Plus if I'm going direct without an amp I put that through a VT Bass. I tend to have the SFT nearly always on however, so I'll be adding a Phat Phuk B to the mix, which will either be used as a booster or always left on, depending on what sounds best!

G.Bisson · #5 04-13-2011, 02:41 PM

How many is too many?
THERE IS NO SUCH THING!

ok, maybe five would be a more practical answer.

Light Overdrive
Heavy Overdrive
Distortion
Fuzz
Gated Fuzz

Most distortion/fuzzes will sound the same in a band mix so extra redundancy in that effects department will go unnoticed by others.
Dirty boosts and OD's with different amounts of compression make a more noticable difference. They are a lot of fun to stack. And they also serve as backup level boosters when guitarist engage in a volume war.
I seem to gravitate toward having three dirt pedals, plus one distortion, and if there is extra room on my pedalboard I will add a gated fuzz or some other over-the-top crazy fuzz machine.

Nomadskills · #6 04-13-2011, 02:43 PM

First 3 replies are all from different Countries! You've got to love Talkbass. Fantastic!

After reading the forums I've seen so many more dirt pedals I'd love to try and will hopefully get there eventually BTW. Can only do what I can afford for now though. Thanks for the replies!

Warfender · #7 04-13-2011, 02:47 PM

one more than you can afford and need to sell one.

**grygrx** · #8 04-13-2011, 05:19 PM

I have 13 currently.

**grygrx** · #9 04-13-2011, 05:20 PM

wait... 14

StyleOverShow · #10 04-13-2011, 05:25 PM

It's a money pit....one line of fx's for OD/Fuzz; another for reverb, chorus, time delay; another for industrial grit...it just keeps going and going.

8 so far and need a couple more..

Colty · #11 04-13-2011, 06:17 PM

when you get 10+ pedals i think you have too many. I'm hoping i find a way to stop myself by the time i have 8.....

strke-fender · #12 04-13-2011, 07:07 PM

I usually run 3 on my board.

A "light" Overdrive (FT Bass Drive)
A crunchy pushing drive ( WH Green Rhino)
and a Fuzz. (Black big muff w/ LS-2 Blend)

Those cover everything I need.

Laurent · #13 04-13-2011, 08:24 PM

I have 14 if I count the EH Bass Synth which I mostly use as a dirt pedal. For fuzz alone, I have 5.

**grygrx** · #14 04-13-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colty

when you get 10+ pedals i think you have too many. I'm hoping i find a way to stop myself by the time i have 8.....

arbitrary judgement is arbitrary

Laurent · #15 04-13-2011, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colty

when you get 10+ pedals i think you have too many. I'm hoping i find a way to stop myself by the time i have 8.....

30 is the new 10 when it comes to pedal ownership!

Robertron · #16 04-13-2011, 10:43 PM

I currently have four dirt pedals on my board with uses for each of them. They don't each get used as often as the other but they definitely have a solid place in my sound. There are still a few dirt boxes I want to try that I'm confident will find a place on my board.

If you carry Four PT-2's all filled with pedals that you legitimately use you don't have too many.

The only time I'd say you have too many is when you keep pedals you don't really use, and even then I don't like to say you have "too many." I prefer to say they just haven't found their place yet.

bassbrad · #17 04-14-2011, 01:23 AM

I have a Boss SD1, Zeibek Cross Drive, Hjart Muller Lo|fat, GGG Brassmaster and sometimes use the fuzz on a BassBalls on the board and about a dozen more in the studio that get plugged in from time to time.

kaputsport · #18 04-14-2011, 01:46 AM

I have a Human Gear Animato, Big Muff Pi, HBE Hematoma, Prunes and custard...

Both my Main synth pedals (Akai Deep Impact and the Line 6 FM4) have dirty options in them...

sillyfabe · #19 04-14-2011, 05:18 AM

You can never have too many because as long as you use them then it's all good. I have a Boss FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz, EHX Russian Big Muff with gate and voltage mods, Way Huge Swollen Pickle, Wooly Mammoth clone, Fender Sub-Lime Bass Fuzz, MA Wrong Side of Uranus and a Tech 21 VT Bass that all contribute in various ways to my sound that I like

NortyFiner · #20 04-14-2011, 06:41 AM

I dumped all my other dirt pedals for an Iron Ether Oxide fuzz; it can do such a variety of fuzz tones that I really don't need another face melter.

That said, I now find myself in need of an overdrive. A more subtle layer of grit, as opposed to the all-out dirt (or rust?) of the Oxide. I was thinking of the Ibanez PD-7, but it has been discontinued and gone out of stock most places. The MXR M-80 and Ibanez TS-9B are also on my short list. I just need to decide what I want...