Low chunky overdrive via Failure or Spitfire

wheelzr · #1 05-13-2011, 06:03 PM

Failure's Frogs HERE
Spitfire's Animal Kingdom HERE

I run a Fender P through a Real Tube Bluesdriver pre-amp to Ampeg SVT 350>Peavey 8x10.

I've messed with the preamp settings, a Big muff, Pro Co Ratt, and Boss OC-3.

What I'm after is that low round sound behind the grit. Some may call it "balls" or "warmth". Help me get there!

rratajski · #2 05-13-2011, 06:05 PM

Wal bass, vintage rat, tubes.

wheelzr · #3 05-13-2011, 06:15 PM

I know Greg used a Wal, but I can assure you Spitfire almost copied that sound, using a P bass.

I've got 2 sovtek tubes in my pre amp, the vintage rats sound like garbage going straight into a head, heaven knows Greg had a stack of effects racks on stage. People forget there was an entire studio behind that Wal and Ratt on everything Failure did.

rratajski · #4 05-13-2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheelzr

I know Greg used a Wal, but I can assure you Spitfire almost copied that sound, using a P bass.

I've got 2 sovtek tubes in my pre amp, the vintage rats sound like garbage going straight into a head, heaven knows Greg had a stack of effects racks on stage. People forget there was an entire studio behind that Wal and Ratt on everything Failure did.

But the tone on Frogs is rat rat rat my man!

christoph h. · #5 05-15-2011, 11:14 AM

Well, there aren't that many different setups that are normally used live or in the studio. I don't know what Failure or Spitfire used specifically besides the WAL/Rat thing, but to get BIG FAT distorted bass, try one of the following:

- two amps/cabs: one dirty, one clean.

- blending: one amp, but use a something like a Xotic X-Blender or BOSS LS-2 to blend in some clean signal. You may also be able to use a parallel effect loop, if your amp has one.

- mic'd amp + clean DI

Those are your basic options if you don't get the sound you're after out of just the pedal and your bass.

PS: I think Greg also had a Boss EQ pedal (GEB-7?) - maybe he used that to add some more lowend to his sound?

RickenBoogie · #6 05-15-2011, 02:39 PM

Though i can't add to what's been said so far, I do appreciate the short trip back to the 90's. Failure is the one band that stood out from everything else, pure greatness, and yet they always stayed below the radar. Thanks for the flashback.

knumbskull · #7 05-15-2011, 02:43 PM

Frog is a great tune! lovely tone.