I need a distortion to sound exactly like a guitar!

BiG-ULi · #1 07-03-2011, 03:05 PM

What's up TB, so here's my situation: I just experienced a band break so I though I'd go solo for a couple months. Anyhow I'm looking for a pedal that would help my bass sound like an overdriven Orange Thunderverb for instance (for guitar riff ideas that I have). Can anyone suggest a pedal that would make my bass sound like an overdriven Orange?

Thanks,
Big-ULi

BiG-ULi · #2 07-03-2011, 03:07 PM

My amp is an 11' SVT Heritage SVT-CL through a 10' Heritage SVT 810E if it helps at all.

mpdd · #3 07-03-2011, 03:44 PM

a lot of cheaper guitar distortion pedals cut out the low end, try a 12 dollar dan electro pedal

TrevorOfDoom · #4 07-03-2011, 03:46 PM

Tech 21 Oxford

WhiteNinja · #5 07-03-2011, 06:44 PM

I'd split the signal, send one output to your SVT, the other into a Tech 21 Oxford+Power amp. You can then biamp your 810 (2x410).

But yeah, the Tech 21 Oxford will give you that Orange sound.

BiG-ULi · #6 07-03-2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteNinja

I'd split the signal, send one output to your SVT, the other into a Tech 21 Oxford+Power amp. You can then biamp your 810 (2x410).

But yeah, the Tech 21 Oxford will give you that Orange sound.

I really like that bi-amping idea. But a power amp is not affordable at all at the moment.

To be more detailed with what I want, I have a few song ideas where I want to loop a bass line on my RC-3 and pretty much play a guitar riff with my bass over it. What I do is I keep my RC-3 at the end of my effects chain in order to loop certain tones in separate loops.

I currently use a Boss ODB-3 for guitar riffs with the highs all the way up and lows all the way down but I still don't find it to have a believable guitar tone (just a bit too thick).

Will the Oxford give me a crunchy-growly Orange guitar tone that I'm looking for?

*Bass is a MIA P-Bass with tone knob completely rolled off for even more bite/treble.

GHI · #7 07-03-2011, 07:25 PM

exactly... dunno about that but I would try a Boss DS-1 or a D*A*M Meathead. Not only is it cheap, but the DS-1 also cuts som lows which helps out with the guitarish sound.
Have you thought about doing a octave up? I use a Foxrox Octron but a Boss PS-6 will do 5th's as well.

I would get a Boss LS-2 splitter and put a PS-6 and DS-1 in one of the loops and any pedals you may use with your bass in the other. This would allow you to double the guitar sound over your bass sound, or doing just one or the other.

BiG-ULi · #8 07-03-2011, 07:26 PM

I also crank the gain all the way and keep my master at about 9 o'clock on the Heri CL for extra dirt.

angrypanda · #9 07-03-2011, 07:28 PM

Digitech RP250 guitar processor, I use it more than my Boss GT-10B.

Also Behringer V bass pro, setting number 18 C I believe is a great distortion I use for bass

BiG-ULi · #10 07-03-2011, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GHI

exactly... dunno about that but I would try a Boss DS-1 or a D*A*M Meathead. Not only is it cheap, but the DS-1 also cuts som lows which helps out with the guitarish sound.
Have you thought about doing a octave up? I use a Foxrox Octron but a Boss PS-6 will do 5th's as well.

I would get a Boss LS-2 splitter and put a PS-6 and DS-1 in one of the loops and any pedals you may use with your bass in the other. This would allow you to double the guitar sound over your bass sound, or doing just one or the other.

I wonder how the ODB-3 with the settings I stated above would sound like with the PS-6..

GHI · #11 07-03-2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BiG-ULi

I wonder how the ODB-3 with the settings I stated above would sound like with the PS-6..

Probably not bad at all. But I do believe the thickness would still be bothering to you unless you put a hipass filter after it. The DS-1 will take away some with the Tone dialed all the way up, but if it will be enough for you I do not know. You should try one out.. It has great tone!

JetBlackJazz · #12 07-03-2011, 07:54 PM

guitar distorion/amps...youd be surprised how many famous and good bassists use guitar equipment

BiG-ULi · #13 07-03-2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GHI

Probably not bad at all. But I do believe the thickness would still be bothering to you unless you put a hipass filter after it. The DS-1 will take away some with the Tone dialed all the way up, but if it will be enough for you I do not know. You should try one out.. It has great tone!

I'm gonna pick up a DS-1 tomorrow (if any local music stores are open). Hopefully I get a nice guitar tone from it. If that doesn't workout I'm gonna have to try out the PS-6 idea.

Btw how many Octave's does the PS-6 go up?

GHI · #14 07-03-2011, 08:49 PM

+1 on guitar amps

Quote:

Originally Posted by BiG-ULi

I'm gonna pick up a DS-1 tomorrow (if any local music stores are open). Hopefully I get a nice guitar tone from it. If that doesn't workout I'm gonna have to try out the PS-6 idea.

Btw how many Octave's does the PS-6 go up?

The PS-6 only does +1 octave in regular settings I think. It can do +2 when using the s-bend function. Check out the proguitarshop youtube video on it.

If a shop has a DS-1 for you to try out I think you will easily be able to get an idea on how well it will work for you. If your not too sure bring your RC-3.

Yeah, if not anything else will work, atleast the PS-6 will let you balance the output of your input signal and the effect. Should dial down some thickness of your direct signal, but this will make it sound less stringy and more synthy I think..

Since your doing the looper thing I would try to just to play higher up on the neck and think about employing a hipass if it is still to thick. I want to add that while a octron is fairly expensive it will let you dial in whatever amount of direct and octave you would prefer. And the tone is sweet! ....And you also get a killer octave down.

WhiteNinja · #15 07-03-2011, 08:54 PM

While we're on the subject, I just saw a local band yesterday, Heartbeat Parade. Instrumental trio. What's interesting is the rig that the bass player uses. From what I gather, he plays through 3 different amps: MusicMan Stingray 5 into SVT 2 Pro, and 2 Marshall amps, JCM 800 and a Plexi (I think it's a clone). As cabs I think he uses an Ampeg 810 and probably a Marshall 4x12 guitar cab. When playing higher up the fret, he's basically got a guitar sound. I thought it might be interesting. Check them out here: Heartbeat parade | Free Music, Tour Dates, Photos, Videos

Especially the second track is interesting. Everything is played live with one guitar, one bass and drums (and a few loops).

I think the BEST way to achieve what you want would be biamping. But of course, if you haven't got the means necessary, then I'd still say the Tech 21 Oxford is the best way to go, and probably an Equalizer/Filter, and/or maybe even a Whammy/Pitch Shifter.

GHI · #16 07-03-2011, 09:06 PM

Cool stuff!

Personally I would prefer to dual amp instead of bi-amping.. but I have to agree; without getting an actual Orange I think maybe the Oxford will get you closer to the tone of one. Not my style tho. And besides, will not everything that gets plugged into an SVT still sound more like a SVT then anything else?

NoNoise · #17 07-03-2011, 09:15 PM

I recommend getting a "non-boutique" pedal like a Boss or Ibanez *cough*look at my sig*cough*

Seriously, though, those pedals tend to give you the option of having a lot more distortion than most "boutique" pedals I've tried.

BiG-ULi · #18 07-03-2011, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "GH

I want to add that while a octron is fairly expensive it will let you dial in whatever amount of direct and octave you would prefer. And the tone is sweet! ....And you also get a killer octave down.

Oh wow! That seems like the perfect pedal for my situation. It's got a pitch shifter and some drive all in the same pedal. How convincing is the octave up feature? Sound anywhere close to a guitar?

BiG-ULi · #19 07-03-2011, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteNinja

While we're on the subject, I just saw a local band yesterday, Heartbeat Parade. Instrumental trio. What's interesting is the rig that the bass player uses. From what I gather, he plays through 3 different amps: MusicMan Stingray 5 into SVT 2 Pro, and 2 Marshall amps, JCM 800 and a Plexi (I think it's a clone). As cabs I think he uses an Ampeg 810 and probably a Marshall 4x12 guitar cab. When playing higher up the fret, he's basically got a guitar sound. I thought it might be interesting. Check them out here: Heartbeat parade | Free Music, Tour Dates, Photos, Videos

I'm gonna check them out.

GHI · #20 07-03-2011, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BiG-ULi

Oh wow! That seems like the perfect pedal for my situation. It's got a pitch shifter and some drive all in the same pedal. How convincing is the octave up feature? Sound anywhere close to a guitar?

All octavers will sound somewhat synthy, but IMO this one will get closer then any other, atleast if you like it dirty. The upper octave can sound very much like it is a part of your direct signal. All I can say is that with my ric going trough it and into a 50w guitar amp it got closer to sounding like a guitar then I would thought possible before. It only sounds way cooler and fuller cuz you know it's coming from a bass and not crappy guitar!

Edit: I would say that you would need the quality of your directs signal to really pull it off sounding like a guitar tho. you know to get the feel of the strings... but IMO it sounds convincing enough to just use the octave up alone to do that kind of higher register guitar solo stuff once in a while.