Ibanez TS9B Bass Tubescreamer Overdrive SOUNDCLIPS

Mark Olson · #1 06-02-2011, 08:17 AM

One clip to get started. This is with my Fender Mustang Bass which has had it's pickup replaced with a Dimarzio Model One (Mudbucker). The strings on the bass are D'addario ETB92's, tapewound flats. I can only imagine this thing will sound much better with rounds. Settings on the pedal are Drive maxed, Blend minimum (the clean blend doesn't sound wonky on this pedal for me), Bass above noon, Treble below noon, and volume to taste at a bit more than unity. Here's how she sounds:

SoundClick artist: Psychedelic Bass Jams - page with MP3 music downloads

Looking very much forward to trying this with rounds! So far I like the sound of this pedal, what do you think? Anything in particular anyone would like to hear?

EDIT: Here's a clip with rounds:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...ongID=10710033

4StringAxe · #2 06-02-2011, 08:26 AM

Do you think this pedal would be worth trying out on a solid state amp / active bass ? I don't have the option to try with out buying.

Mark Olson · #3 06-02-2011, 08:38 AM

Personally no, I think overdrive and fuzz sound like crap with active basses and solid state amps. If you're serious about dirt you'd be doing yourself a huge favor to get a passive bass and all tube amp. The pedal is called a Tubescreamer, but where are the tubes? Not in the pedal... and I don't need to tell anyone a Tubescreamer would make a horrible tube emulator... the whole point of the pedal is to make tubes (in your amp) scream, as the name suggests. Without tubes in your amp you just get a bunch of harsh fizz. (With modern solid state amps, some of the vintage solid state amps distorted and responded decently).

4StringAxe · #4 06-02-2011, 08:46 AM

Thanks for the reply. This is what I pretty much figured. Nice clip by the way.

BagelBruin · #5 06-02-2011, 08:52 AM

I just want to second the idea that a passive bass sounds so much better with overdrive and distortion pedals. I have not tried this pedal but I don't see why it would be any different.

Mark Olson · #6 06-02-2011, 08:53 AM

Hey no problem! Also on pedals with clean blends, clean blends on dirt pedals are a little easier to use with tube amps because what sounds most wonky is adding a clean hi fi sound to what's supposed to be a vintage overdrive. It's like mixing oil and water, you don't get a nice cohesive mix (or sound). When used right though clean blends can help thicken things up.

Mark Olson · #7 06-02-2011, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BagelBruin

I just want to second the idea that a passive bass sounds so much better with overdrive and distortion pedals. I have not tried this pedal but I don't see why it would be any different.

Right, this pedal is the same as others; pedals can't take and gnarl up a buffered, low impedence signal nearly as well as they can a passive signal, which is what most pedals are designed for. Most pedals are not designed with active signals in mind, and therefore don't sound as intended with active instruments.

4StringAxe · #8 06-02-2011, 09:14 AM

Yeah, I should have known this since my bass big muff can sound like a raspy buzz saw if I'm not carefull. I have a active / passive switch on my bass and run the muff in a mix. Sounds ok, but I have nothing to compare it to tubes wise.
Oooops, sorry if this is a derail .... looking forward to more clips anyway.

P-oddz · #9 06-02-2011, 09:34 AM

Yet again Mark, you seem to know all the right riffs to play with your pedals

Your tones are very tasty.

I'm in agreement on liking the sound of it. I got to try it out like two weeks ago. Passive Jazz going into my Fender Bassman TV combo. I really liked how it sounded. It adds a nice bit of organic snarl and grind pushing the tube in my preamp. At its price point, I think it's a very decent pedal. I'm glad you did clips, because the ones on the Ibanez site do it NO justice.

It is on my short list of "extra cash to burn" expenditures.

Thanks for the clips.

Mark Olson · #10 06-02-2011, 09:39 AM

One of the important things with a pedal like this is the pedal's dynamics. The pedal is on for the entire length of this next clip, with the same exact settings as the first clip, except I start off with my bass volume on my guitar rolled back a quarter of the way, turn it up all the way, and then back down a quarter, and I also play both hard and soft to give a taste of some of the different textures you can achieve. This pedal is very touch sensitive, which is a very big bonus for when you need dynamics. Check it out:

SoundClick artist: Psychedelic Bass Jams - page with MP3 music downloads

Let me know what you think!

P-oddz · #11 06-02-2011, 09:50 AM

Absolutely what I found as well. I loved its response to my playing dynamics.

Andy Walhor · #12 06-02-2011, 09:56 AM

Wow! That second clip is beautiful!
Thanks for the clips (in this and all of your threads), Mark.

Mark Olson · #13 06-02-2011, 11:21 AM

Thanks! I like doing soundclips if not just for my own reference, and I like to post them here in case anyone can use them too.

Considering popping some rounds on my Mustang for the time being to do some clips. Honestly I'm just using the tapes for a jazz band, and I've relegated that bass to that band, but my SG is having some more work done on it so I can't record with that til that's done.

behndy · #14 06-02-2011, 11:29 AM

not to derail either, but i HUGELY disagree with the "od and fuzz sound like crap with ss amps". for me it really depends on what your preamp is.

i run a Rusty Box at the end of my chain as a preamp and love the way it sounds fuzzed out or with an od pushing it. yes, even a TubeScreamer circuit.

but yeah, don't like active basses with effects that much. but i don't really enjoy actives anyways.

as always, IME IMO all that.

nice clips!

Mark Olson · #15 06-02-2011, 11:32 AM

The preamp does obviously play a large role, with the right preamp and power section you can sound passable with solid state gear. Does it sound as good as using dirt with all tube gear? People can say it's subjective, but one would be hard pressed to find someone who's really tried all the options they could and didn't prefer dirt with all tube gear.

If you've got the bread, and you've got the ability, why sound just "good" when you can sound as good as possible?

behndy · #16 06-02-2011, 11:42 AM

well, again, opinions differ from people to people.

and i'm not one to argur someone's choices anyways, but 'plecially about something i'm not that experienced with. i've only played through maybe 10 tube amps, never gigged any live. honestly can't be arsed to deal with the weight, warm up time or worry about replacing tubes. i like a pedalboard that contains all i need to make the sounds i want and big powerful LIGHT amp to push it into speakers i like.

that said, i LOVE the tones i get with my "passable" setup. i'd disagree pretty heavily too with anybody that believes there is ONE RIGHT WAY to do anything as personal and subjective as music.

yer!

4StringAxe · #17 06-02-2011, 11:45 AM

I guess what I was looking for was a creamy fuzz tone, and I'm guessing a tube screamer or bass muff isn't going to get me there on a solid state Peavy TNT115 ... LOL.

behndy · #18 06-02-2011, 11:56 AM

nope. but a Stache will.

4StringAxe · #19 06-02-2011, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by behndy

nope. but a Stache will.

Thanks for the advice behndy, I'll look into that. And sorry to Mark for being the cause of a slight derail... lol and thanks for your advice as well.

Mark Olson · #20 06-02-2011, 12:31 PM

There's more than one way to skin a cat for sure, but they'll all have varying results, and you can't say you wouldn't prefer the sound of your effects with the right tube rig compared to what you're using now. Being satisfied and being satisfied that you've got the absolute best are two different things. You haven't tried all the options.

Whether tone is more important to you than weight and other factors is a personal choice one makes on the basis of how serious they are about tone. I'm not going to labor under the delusion that many will actually prefer the tone of their effects with the right solid state rig as opposed to the right tube rig on the basis of tone. Most of the stuff we use was designed before the advent of the modern solid state amp, and once again as such won't sound as intended with modern solid state gear.

Anyways, I think I'll slap some rounds on and do some more clips. Stay tuned.