Just want a little bit of overdrive

HailCorduroy · #1 11-02-2009, 07:11 PM

I have a VST plugin in my mixing software that emulates a British valve amp. I set the gain and drive to pretty low levels and it gives my bass a very nice edge. It's not distorted, just right on the edge. I'm wanting to get that sound live. I've checked out demos of a lot of OD/distortion pedals and they all sound too distorted. My amp is solid state, so not sure if I can get that sound or not. Anyone have pointers on a pedal to give me that touch of break up?

Smurf-o-Deth · #2 11-02-2009, 07:22 PM

Just roll the gain back on an OD, demos tend to show off the higher-gain sounds, but an overdrive will usually start clean or almost clean at the bottom of the gain range.

jam.majors · #3 11-02-2009, 07:24 PM

Check out Barber LTD SR, it does exactly what you're talking about. I've also been looking at the ZVEX Distortron, and it can add a lot of sub-harmonics if you like.

bigchiefbc · #4 11-02-2009, 07:27 PM

DHA VT-1

newbold · #5 11-02-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurf-o-Deth

Just roll the gain back on an OD, demos tend to show off the higher-gain sounds, but an overdrive will usually start clean or almost clean at the bottom of the gain range.

If you don't like the Pigtronix Polysaturator (roll the volume off on a passive bass for giant open vintage mojo), you'll probably love the Way Huge Pork Loin, as the pork loin is all about the british preamp with soft clipping gain.

Snakeman1066 · #6 11-02-2009, 07:47 PM

ha ha

ask a bunch of bass players a question and your sure to get a bunch of different answers

My vote is for the Vodoo lab Sparkle Drive nice soft clipping Over Drive that you can blend a clean signal back into....and it can also be used as just a nice clean boost if you so choose...

i tried 20 some odd OD's before discovering this one....and it is never leaving my board...

heath_r_91 · #7 11-02-2009, 07:49 PM

The Bass Big Muff.

Put the switch to the dry setting (where it mixes the distorted and uneffected signal) and you can dial in the exact amount of crunch you want. Anywhere from none to full on.

HailCorduroy · #8 11-02-2009, 09:03 PM

Thanks to everyone for their input. I had considered the Sparkle drive, so I might have to try that one out. I had a guitar Big Muff and there wasn't much "low key" to it. I didn't realize you could blend the dry on the bass version of it. I'll have to check it out. What about the Bass Blogger? I saw a demo of it that seemed to be close to what I'm after. I'll do some research on the others.

markkoelsch · #9 11-02-2009, 09:14 PM

I vote for the Fulltone Bassdrive. So far it is my favorite bass overdrive.

Matt Dean · #10 11-02-2009, 10:12 PM

Lots of choices... mine is the Catalinbread SFT. It's kind of the swiss army knife of dostortions. It can produce warm B15 tones as well as the subtlest of peach fuzz to raging distortion.

I'm actually thinking of getting another one cause I find myself using the one I have as an increasingly on pedal for the subtle peach fuzz and I need another for heavier distortion.

icarussmicarus · #11 11-03-2009, 02:42 AM

Probablly best if you post some vids of songs with the kindof bass tone your trying to achieve or some sound samples of your plugin sound.

I say that because knowing how the bass blogger sounds and relating that to your post about just being on the edge, I'm a bit confused as to what your personal opinion of light overdrive is. Music being subjective and all.

dannybuoy · #12 11-03-2009, 03:05 AM

VT Bass, Catalinbread SFT, Digitech Bad Monkey, Xotic Bass Bb, Barber LTD, EBS Valvedrive, DHA VT1, Fulltone Bassdrive... Any of those should do the trick!

robgo · #13 11-03-2009, 03:36 AM

Come on! Everyone knows the VT Bass is the best.

HailCorduroy · #14 11-03-2009, 07:58 AM

OK, here is a before and after sample. Excuse the poor playing, it was early.

Clean Sound

Dirty Sound (what I'm wanting)

Gearhead43 · #15 11-03-2009, 09:30 AM

So you want more fret buzz & string noise?

HailCorduroy · #16 11-03-2009, 10:51 AM

I just noticed all the extra noise in the 2nd clip. I recorded that about 20 minutes after I woke up, rendered both out and didn't post them til I got to work.

icarussmicarus · #17 11-03-2009, 11:08 AM

Given your clip I'd say you should look at something ampeg simulatory. I say that because its got that kind of clank you get from ampeg stuff. Catalinbread SFT or Sansamp VT would do the job but be careful not to push the gian too hard.

Normally I'd suggest the Barber LTD SR, its its more a of a rounded kindof of overdrive tone. Your clip is kindof like, like break up with emphasised ampeggy artifacts.

CYDbass · #18 11-04-2009, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbold

...you'll probably love the Way Huge Pork Loin, as the pork loin is all about the british preamp with soft clipping gain.

+1 for the pork loin
very good pedal for lighter, always-on OD

gjbassist · #19 11-04-2009, 03:55 AM

I would say either the VT Bass or the Digitech Bad Monkey.

irvinz · #20 11-04-2009, 04:17 AM

not much of an overdrive in that, but a emphasized mid hump more like it with a bit of grit, Vt would be an easy option to go for.