I don't really want an amp simulator, but I need *something*...

[tekhedd]

I pretty much have the tone I want coming out of the pedalboard. In my case, this means sometimes with insane amounts of distortion and gain (see attachment). The one thing missing is speaker roll-off of the high-end. I've done searching and I can't seem to find an appropriate thread. Surely this has come up before. Surely! I usually accomplish the same effect in the DAW using a tunable lowpass filter, and that suits my tone just fine.

So, my actual options at the moment seem to be:

1. find a good (resonant) lowpass filter pedal that can be used without the envelope follower circuit, or
2. use a SansAmp or similar pedal.

The other thing i've run into in the past is that the speaker models in modeling amps tend to suck out the low bass. What's up with that? I realize that, yes, a real 4x10 from this manufacturer actually rolls off the bass below 70Hz, but I'd just as soon skip that part of the model completely, you know? Give me the high end shape and leave out the high-pass, how about it?

So, I don't know. I've been trying to avoid adding an entire modeling amp pedal to my already huge pedalboard, because I don't really want the amp part. But I don't see any other options.

Thanks much and again sorry if this is a much-repeated question. I haven't given up searching--writing this question has given me new keywords to try.

(Pedalboard recently rearranged--guess I need to make all new patch cords--again. Oh, and in answer to your other question: levelar, TU2, GEB7, Signalflex, Multicomp, Rust Ride, Tube Drive, Silver Dragon, LS2, and there's a perfectly good reason which I may explain later, but this post is quite long enough already.)

Google searchers: see also vintage thread: DI with a high-cut filter?

[scotch]

I know exactly what you're talking about! I use a lot of overdrive and effects & it never really sounds right when forced to go direct.

I used a Bass POD for a while to go the front-of-house & it helped. I've actually found that my Aguilar tube di works really well for this. It has an inherent coloration that works well with crunchy tones.

Honestly, I would try running that EBS Valve Drive last in your chain. I think it responds a lot like an amp. Just dial the treble back a little and run it in the "red" mode.

[Fishyfan]

try a speaker emulating DI such as the one made by Palmer.

[dannybuoy]

Radial (JDX?) and Behringher make em too. You could also check out the Markbass Super Booster, a DI with VLE (Vintage Loudspeaker Emulator) control. It rolls off the highs in a similar way to a passive tone control on a P/J bass.

[tekhedd]

Oooh. Tasty but expensive options everywhere. Maybe I can sell my cat into slavery.

The Aguilar tube DI is going on my wish list, but at $499 it's not going into my rack this month.

Palmer recommends the PDI-09 guitar DI for bass as well. Apparently it also high-passes the signal, which won't help me much live...the PGA05 is supposedly good for bass but at $1k maybe I should consider buying a good mic and getting into endless battles with the sound man instead. :/

If Tech21 made a "No Character" series pedal I'd probably buy it.

[pudgychef]

That Markbass super booster sounds like it would work....I did the VLE

[megadan]

Some filters (Subdecay Prometheus, Moog LPF) do a good static filter sound that would roll off highs and you can dial out envelope control completely, iirc.

[tekhedd]

The Super Booster looks like it's made to do exactly what I want and nothing else. I like that, but will I like the pedal? I'll search. Filter pedals are more in line with a "modular" approach, but I'd want to experiment before buying, and the local store doesn't stock much "boutique" variety stuff. Takes a lot of the fun out of shopping doesn't it?

Radio JDV MK3 does everything--high and lowpass are separately switchable, and it has an in-line-with-speaker option. Sounds like a great tool for the home studio, _massive_ overkill for my application.

I have lots of interesting things to look at now. That's another nice way of saying this has fueled my GAS immensely. Thx again for the tips. Has me back on track.

[nad]

I have found two solutions to this problem, and I really don't understand why it isn't addressed more often because tweeters SUCK and running direct SUCKS, especially if you use as much fuzz as I do, but bassists these days are, for one reason or another, usually forced to deal with one or both problems. Alas! Yet, there is hope:

1) Throw a BJFE Blue Berry at the end of your signal chain. Friggin' expensive, but it sounds pretty ace.

2) Use a DI box with a nice EQ section, and kill the treble. Not the best solution, but it works good enough in a mix.

I want to try the Super Booster eventually, but I'm currently using Solution #2 with a Dave Hall DI-EQ.

[Happynoj]

I am having this exact issue at the moment. Has anyone used the Tech 21 PSA 1 for this application?

[dannybuoy]

Other options:

- You could use an Electronix Submarine at the end of your chain, or any pedal with a tone control for that matter.

- The Diamond Compressor rolls off the high end and has a switchable jumper inside to give a steep 5k rolloff like on the Sansamp stuff.

- The Digitech Bad Monkey has a desk output with a speaker sim, and I think the speaker sim section is always on even in bypass.

[nad]

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

The Diamond Compressor rolls off the high end and has a switchable jumper inside to give a steep 5k rolloff like on the Sansamp stuff.

I was all like "whoa" at this last night, and emailed Diamond to see if the bass version had said jumper as well. It do. Hooray!

Next step: one o' dem, or wait for the Red Ripper to rise roughly.

[L-A]

A micro-EQ?

http://www.sfxsound.co.uk/mainpage.asp?page=micro_eq

And... many amp heads have a simple EQ and a DI. Does yours do?