I need a new 'screamer style overdrive.

[Faderoktopus]

Hi Talkbass. I am seeking advice on getting a new overdrive pedal. Since there are a number of threads dealing with suggestions for overdrives already, I'll try to be specific about my situation and my preferences.


I have an unmodded Bad Monkey Overdrive that I got very cheap used. I have not been dabbling in pedals for long, and didn't want to invest a whole lot before I had some experience with different effects. I think I have now learned how to work the Monkey as well as I can, and while it is a very decent OD for bass, the nature of the clipping isn't really doing it all for me. I dig the dynamic response and the slightly boosted mids, so I figure a different tubescreamer might be in order.

I have tried several different OD pedals, some that I have liked and some that were not for me. Considering my experience and local availability, I think I have narrowed my choices down to three options, and would like some input on what to look for in those models. The three overdrives are the Ibanez TS9b (bass tubescreamer), Mad Professor Little Green Wonder (factory version of boutique guitar 'screamer) and the EBS Multidrive (not really a 'screamer). All are roughly similarly priced.

All three fit my board with regards to size and power requirements, the TS9b is the only none-true bypass. Proper bypass is a priority, as the Monkey didn't really behave around my booster, but proper doesn't have to mean 'true'. I have tried the TS9b and liked it very much, and was surprised to read some very mixed reviews.

Effects - TS9B | Ibanez guitars

I have also tried the Multidrive and liked that too, but wasn't exactly blown away. I think my beef with it was that it stayed pretty dark, whereas a real 'screamers mid-hump pushes definition of the notes a bit forward without needing additional volume.

EBS Sweden AB - Professional Bass Equipment

I have yet to try the LGW, but from the description it might suit my needs very well. I am very happy with my Mad Professor compressor, and was slightly disappointed when the Blueberry didn't do anything for me. Their products are very high quality, creatively designed, well thought out and look stunning, IMO, so I'm kinda' hoping this one works well with bass. The fact that it is designed to work well in complex chains leaves me curious, if somewhat skeptic.

Mad Professor



I will be using the pedal for hard rock originals with some prominent bass lines, including pretty fast runs and harmonics, and so my sound needs to be clear and punchy. My primary bass is a G&L L1500, which is fairly mid-heavy already, and I usually cut drastically below 30hz for focus, boost around 125hz for depth and punch, usually cut a little around 500hz and 1khz so as not to be overpowering in those areas, and boost ultra high treble to hell and back. I use this pedal board:



into an Eden WT800a and an Ampeg 810pro. The 'screamer is one of three sounds I use, the others being the ToneHammer on a deep, tube-like setting with some AGS grind, and a clean boost from the EHX LPB1.

I hope I've been clear enough on my needs, so if anyone has any opinions or info on these three pedals, I would love to hear what you have to say. I will soon be dragging my bass and pedals to a shop where I can A/B/C the Monkey with the TS9b and the LGW, but I know from experience that there might be things about the pedals that I won't really be aware of after this test run, so all input is welcome. Thanks guys.

Martin

EDIT: Oops, tiny picture. In essence, the signal path is tuner, compressor, modulation (mostly bypassed), OD, boost, 10 band EQ, preamp/DI.

I might switch OD and boost, depending on the OD's bypass.

[bassbrad]

Finding just the right drive is an individual thing, my quest led me to a Moody Sounds Hjart Muller Lo|Fat Bass Drive pedal, just right for the bluesy, sustain and drive i was looking for and pairs well with my other fuzz a GGG Brassmaster clone.

Hjärt Müller Bass Drive [110-0070] - 1.195,00:- : Moody Sounds Store, Diy gitarreffekter - Schematics effektpedaler - Bygga effektpedal

[cosmicpimp2]

out of OD i've personally used i really like the fulltone OCD. I know a lot of people who like them too

[Faderoktopus]

Originally Posted by bassbrad

Finding just the right drive is an individual thing, my quest led me to a Moody Sounds Hjart Muller Lo|Fat Bass Drive pedal, just right for the bluesy, sustain and drive i was looking for and pairs well with my other fuzz a GGG Brassmaster clone.

Hjärt Müller Bass Drive [110-0070] - 1.195,00:- : Moody Sounds Store, Diy gitarreffekter - Schematics effektpedaler - Bygga effektpedal

Yes, indeed it is, especially the 'nature of clipping', as I think I phrased it above. The Müller looks nice, slightly cheaper than what I was looking at, too. From the description (my Swedish needed some refreshing at first, but I think I made sense of the website) I don't think this is the pedal for me, unless the filters can be more or less bypassed. Besides, I have no idea where I could give it a test run.

As for the fulltone, are you referring to the guitar pedal? I wasn't into the Fulltone bassdrive, but had considered trying the OCD because it sounds killer on guitar.

Martin

[G.Bisson]

list of bass-friendly tubescreamer variants:

Xotic BB Bass preamp
Digitech/Hardwire CM2 - very similar to a Bad Monkey
Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive
Way Huge Green Rhino

All still in production and can be had for a fair price. Many of these show up used in the classifieds for cheap.

Rhino has the most knobs for tone tweaking.
Sparkle Drive has a blend.
CM2 has switchable EQ curve.
BB has the smallest footprint.

[cosmicpimp2]

Yea the OCD v4 or v3. It's pretty sweet on bass. It really rings out harmonics. I have a v4 and it losses a very little low end but it's always on so i just eq in what i need

[TussinBot.]

green rhino

[moles]

I never found my OCD to be particularily Tubescreamery...not that it was drastically different, but not really the same.

If you like that mid-boost thing, how about a Sparkle Drive? (Edit: Already been mentioned above...)

[ocoaibass]

I would highly recommend the Rhino for bass. I find the 100Hz knob more useful than any of the tone or blend knobs on the other pedals you've mentioned, for bringing in your low end.

If you don't want your low end overdriven, however, go for the bass TS or the SD. But you won't get into super grindy, almost distortion territory with either, so if you're happy with a saturated overdrive that never goes quite over the top, there you go.

[Lebowsky]

Xotic BB preamp, definitely

[Faderoktopus]

Yeah, the sparkle drive, Xotic and Rhino were units I had thought about but have never had a chance to try out. As for the OCD, I might just borrow one from a guitarist friend and see how that works out. The rhino and Sparkle drive might be available around here, but their footprints takes them out of the equation unless I really can't find anything else that makes me happy. Xotic products available for my experimentation are all for guitars. Is the BB bass preamp really a 'screamer? I've never heard it but had a different impression, however that might have happened.

Overdrives that didn't do it for me:

Pork Pie
Fulltone bassdrive
MXR Blowtorch
MXR M80
T-Rex Bassjuice
Sansamp BDDI
Mad Professor BBBOD
Mad Professor SHO and a few other guitar pedals that I really liked... for guitar.

I guess this underscores my need for a tubescreamer, since all of the above are highly regarded by many.

I really like the EBS valvedrive, but alas, size, price and voltage makes it a no-go. And it won't fit my 'screamer needs anyway, so why am I typing this? Because it sounds good and I feel that it can't be said to often.

Martin

[bassbrad]

Originally Posted by Faderoktopus

Yes, indeed it is, especially the 'nature of clipping', as I think I phrased it above. The Müller looks nice, slightly cheaper than what I was looking at, too. From the description (my Swedish needed some refreshing at first, but I think I made sense of the website) I don't think this is the pedal for me, unless the filters can be more or less bypassed. Besides, I have no idea where I could give it a test run.

As for the fulltone, are you referring to the guitar pedal? I wasn't into the Fulltone bassdrive, but had considered trying the OCD because it sounds killer on guitar.

Martin

Here it is in English, dunno of many stores that carry them but there are several sources for order. I really like the Klang control as it has a very wide range from no treble punchy drive to a bright but still sweet treble.

Hjärt Müller Bass Drive [110-0070] - 1.195,00:- : Moody Sounds Store, Diy gitarreffekter - Schematics effektpedaler - Bygga effektpedal

[Faderoktopus]

@Ocoai, I prefer a type of overdrive that naturally affects the higher frequencies first, so that the fundamental doesn't distort and radically change the sound of the band.

Anyhow, to return to my initial conundrum - now including the BB Bass preamp despite the slightly higher price - do any of you have experience with the pedals in question (LGW, TS9b, EBS Multi and Xotic BB) and any advice for trying them out?

Martin

[HolmeBass]

I found the Sparkledrive is working great for me. I liked it better than the Green Rhino, and *a lot* better than the Bad Monkey.

Of course the real answer is Microtubes B3K.

[Faderoktopus]

Originally Posted by HolmeBass

Of course the real answer is Microtubes B3K.

I knew this would happen. Anyhow, I won't even bother whining about my finances or the fact that I can't get to try it out, because I am looking for a 'screamer type overdrive. For beautiful, creamy overdrive I have actually learned to tame the AGS on the Tonehammer and make the magic happen, and I'm not feeling the need to look any further. GAS gets me every once in a while, and I can see the appeal of the B3K, but it is really not something I need.

Martin

[Lebowsky]

yeah the Xotic BB is a tubescreamer clone. I could only compare it to the Fulltone bassdrive and the EBS. Those two didn't do it for me. Not enough punchy, or getting lost in the mix... With the BB I found *my* tubescreamer sound! Plenty of low-end, can do low gain to gritty to full on distortion without losing definition or bottom. And easily cutting through in a band context. However I must say I was a tiny bit underwhlemed when going from an 18v active (Bongo) bass to a passive one (Ripper). Had to add a clean boost in front of it to keep it the way it sounded with the active bass.

[genericusername]

Also, try running a clean boost into your Bad Monkey. I don't know if it will help, but I really like the way I can go from almost clean sound to full-on distortion with my BM and EMG-equipped bass.

[G.Bisson]

Also have and am a big fan of the EBS MultiDrive. Nothing like a TS. MDrive does edge-of-breakup fur in two modes. In 'flat' mode it can sound like a fuzz with some lowend loss. It can't sizzle like a Screamer can. It has much less mids. And doesn't have any adjustable EQ. Overall, the MDrive maintains lows better than many other OD's. Sounds great in an entirely different way than a TS.

[Faderoktopus]

Yeah, that sounds like my experience with the multidrive as well. Honestly, I think it is out of the race for some of those reasons, even though it is a good overdrive.

I have tried boosting through the Monkey, and even though it is good fun it just doesn't break up like I want it to. Besides, I need my boost pedal to match levels with my overdrive sounds and haven't the room nor the inclination to add another.

As I understand it the Xotic is on the darker side, as 'screamers go. Is this true? For My purpose clarity and punch are priorities. Btw, I have plenty of volume from my bass and the option of a clean boost from my compressor.

The Rhino and the Sparkle are out due to size and jack socket orientation. That might seem silly to some, but practicality is an issue for me an I don't want a larger board (I might get tempted to fill it up).

Martin

[Crystalman85]

If it's a tube-overdrive pedal you want, there's a couple of them. here are some tube-overdrive pedals just to name a few.

Ibanez bass tube-screamer
Voodoo lab sparkle drive
Digitech bad monkey
Way huge electronics green rhino
EBS multi-drive