Ibanez Phat-Hed Bass Overdrive Review

Toastfuzz · #1 09-13-2007, 10:43 AM

So I spent the last few days going around to music stores and looking for a solid, good sounding but relatively cheap bass overdrive pedal. The first one I wanted to try was the Boss ODB-3, probably the most well known bass overdrive (that Flea sometimes uses). This pedal was, as most reviews warned me, more of a pure distortion pedal than actual overdrive, and even though the balance knob was nice, it was still only balance between dry bass and fuzzy distortion, no real overdrive.

So I tried the Ibanez yesterday and ended up buying it for a nice $60. I like this pedal alot, and through my Ibanez GSR190 4-banger, it gets the sounds I want. I was looking for something that would get me that powerful grungy Rob Trujillo/Tim Commerford sound, but also had the range to get the light-overdriven Doors-esque tone, or as powerful as Burton-era Metallica. This thing recreates "For Whom the Bell Tolls" magically. And the pedal is able to keep a punchy low end, which many effects I've tried can not.

Theres 4 knobs: overdrive, hi, low, and level; and 2 switches: mode and attack. The mode lets you choose between clean, OD, and distortion, while the attack switch has 0 1 and 2 positions. I havent found much use for the attack switch yet (anything I try just amps up the treble and gets a noisy crappy sound) but the difference between OD and Distortion is very apparent. I've found the best setting for an overdriven but still punchy bass is to put the switch on OD, overdrive knob down almost as low as it goes, and the high-low at or near 12'o'clock. This gets a grungy distorted guitar-like sound in the high end but the low end sounds almost dry with just alittle distortion over it. Very nice for a low rhythm and then jumping up to the high notes and retaining the same power.

I was alittle disappointed with the sound I get for slapping, it doesnt have that classic funky slap but instead gets the cool hardcore Mudvayne tone that Ryan uses heavily in LD50 (if you know, you know).

Overall it was exactly what I was looking for for under $100, and if your bouncing between the Boss pedal and anything else, give this one a shot.

Swift713 · #2 09-13-2007, 10:58 AM

thanx

lug · #3 09-13-2007, 11:15 AM

agreed, I think it's the best of the cheapies.

Tbirdbassist · #4 09-13-2007, 06:14 PM

$60? Jeeze, I thought they were like $49.99 new.

I got mine off ebay for $18.

I used it, but it didn't get the sounds I was wanting. So soon it's gonna be going to Chronicle+ in exchange for his MXR Phase 90.

Dunne · #5 09-13-2007, 06:29 PM

thanks for the review I have been looking around at the phat-hed for a while but wasn't sure if it was any good

rodl2005 · #6 09-13-2007, 06:35 PM

Thanx for review... will be looking for one soon! Right now tgho I'm happy with mt Big Muff-Russian Version!

Vic Winters · #7 09-14-2007, 12:51 AM

Great pedal. My first single, and as long as it works, it will stay on the board.

Toastfuzz · #8 09-14-2007, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tbirdbassist

$60? Jeeze, I thought they were like $49.99 new.

Online retailers sell em for $50, plus shipping, plus wait time blah blah blah...I got out of class and wanted it right then and there, I figured if it was under $70 I'd pick it up.

Tbirdbassist · #9 09-14-2007, 09:13 PM

Year you're right... I'd have done the same thing more than likely.