Need high end rackmount distortion

**Gladowsky** · #1 03-16-2010, 05:42 AM

With so many effects available I'm asking the Talkbass experts for help. I'm looking for the following in a distortion effect - ultimately adding a bit of growl/grit to my sound:

- rackmount

- price not a factor (ok - under $1500 would be preferable)

- add slight amount of distortion to high frequencies, leaving the bottom end alone

- not a preamp effect. I like my M-Pulse 600 too much.

- multi-effect ok but many one-size-fits-all I've tried are not high quality in sound.

Thanks very much for any help you may provide. I'm exhausted reading post-after-post for information requests slightly or greatly different than my own.

Qvist · #2 03-16-2010, 05:47 AM

I've heard great things about the Sansamp RBI!

superbassman2000 · #3 03-16-2010, 06:41 AM

there is also the rackmounted VT solution that might work for you

i_got_a_mohawk · #4 03-16-2010, 06:48 AM

Check out the Tech21 offerings.

bassman1185 · #5 03-16-2010, 07:02 AM

Why are you attached to rackmount? That is going to SEVERELY limit your choices, especially since you don't want a preamp-style drive. Most racked distortion devices ARE, in fact, preamps. All of Tech21's rackmount offerings are designed to emulate overdriven tube amps.

If you go with pedal-style dirt, you will have a LOT of really good options, especially with your price range.

kraigo · #6 03-16-2010, 08:19 AM

Used SWR Interstellar Overdrive?

KO

gastric · #7 03-16-2010, 10:07 AM

There's unfortunately not a lot of options here in rack format. I have a BOSS SE-70 that has an analog drive section with od/fuzz/distortion/metal but unfortunately it's bundled into various guitar/bass/keyboard type preset algorithms. With the exception of basic overdrive I prefer the sound and larger selection of the drive in the guitar presets. But the bass presets are the only ones that let you blend clean and drive. However, you get EQ, basic amp sim, and other effects in the chain that let you further modify the drive sound. Now that I said all of that there's some dual signal chain guitar presets that might be the answer, let you run clean through one, drive through the other, blend/mix. Bingo! Answering your question helped me solve an issue using my SE-70, it has Guitar Multi 4 that runs two separate signal chains with level controls for each. Dunno why I didn't think of that before. It's amazing how the mind works....

And it really only sounds ok-to-acceptable VS superbly outstanding. Adds a lot of noise which you can kill via the noise filter, though it obviously plenty noisey while playing. But so are a lot of pedals and dirt effects in general.

But it's usually available for $150-$200 and only eats a 1/2 rack.

If price isn't an option a viable solution would be:

* Rack based loop/switcher that can work with both line and instrument level signals assuming you want to try to run some/all of them in your effects loop (where dirt usually sounds worse than patches before the preamp)
* Various dirt pedals in a rack drawer
* Some controller pedal to control the switcher

Webtroll · #8 03-16-2010, 10:23 AM

It's a preamp but it might work in your effects loop. Have you checked out a used ADA MB-1? There's 3 different preamp stages in it (solid state, tube, and another of one of those 2) and it can get some pretty gnarly overdrive or a subtle overdrive. It uses a couple of tubes and there's a dual transformer mod avail that provides more power to the tubes (I did it to mine). I don't use mine as much as I probably should, but it's so easy to go overboard with the drive that it's almost like an effect unit more than a preamp. Add to that it's all analog and midi programmable.

scotch · #9 03-16-2010, 10:26 AM

Well since gain/dirt/distortion/overdrive/etc... is largely achieved using pre-amplification strategies, it's going to be difficult (if not impossible) to satisfy your "not a preamp effect" standard.

Do you mean you want to shy away from rackmount preamps with drive capability? That still greatly limits your field!

Given that caveat, some of the best rackmount units for dialing in small amounts of drive while maintainig good low end integrity are:

-Aguilar Agro
-SWR Interstellar Overdrive (out of production, but not that hard to find)
-SansAmp RBI (maybe... really more of a stand-alone pre)

Broadbent · #10 03-16-2010, 10:30 AM

You'll love the Tech 21 RBI, although if yor budget is 1500 bucks I'd go with a Sansamp PSA.

SpectorBass · #11 03-16-2010, 10:50 AM

Aguilar Agro gets my vote. The rackmount version has been discontinued as they are releasing a pedal version, but there's at least one for sale in the classifieds. Great sounding, versatile overdrive/distortion unit.

If price REALLY is no issue, check out the Thermionic Culture Vulture.

Silent Fly · #12 03-16-2010, 10:57 AM

Intriguing challenge...

What do you mean exactly by "high quality in sound"?

bongomania · #13 03-16-2010, 11:06 AM

Max, I almost wrote up a post earlier, saying "you should PM TB'er Silent Fly, he might be able to make something for you".

If the OP likes fat tubey tone, then he should also talk to Dave of Dave Hall Amps (DHA).

**Gladowsky** · #14 03-16-2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qvist

I've heard great things about the Sansamp RBI!

Isn't this a preamp? I did not want another preamp. I like my M-Pulse all-tube too much to give it up.

**Gladowsky** · #15 03-16-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silent Fly

Intriguing challenge...

What do you mean exactly by "high quality in sound"?

Thanks for the question. It's hard to describe but ultimately I want my Sadowsky-Mesa-M-Pulse-Bag End sound unaltered with only a slight amount of grit in the high frequency area - emphasis on my current sound. I had an Boss MB150 that I hated and sold. It colored the overall sound - even in by pass - and was not as responsive as I prefer.

perogato02 · #16 03-16-2010, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpectorBass

Aguilar Agro gets my vote. The rackmount version has been discontinued as they are releasing a pedal version, but there's at least one for sale in the classifieds. Great sounding, versatile overdrive/distortion unit.

If price REALLY is no issue, check out the Thermionic Culture Vulture.

+ 1 for the Aguilar Agro ... it ended my search for the ultimate overdrive sound ...

don't know the culture vulture, but with a name like that, it must rock

Silent Fly · #17 03-16-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silent Fly

Intriguing challenge...

What do you mean exactly by "high quality in sound"?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gladowsky

Thanks for the question. It's hard to describe but ultimately I want my Sadowsky-Mesa-M-Pulse-Bag End sound unaltered with only a slight amount of grit in the high frequency area - emphasis on my current sound. I had an Boss MB150 that I hated and sold. It colored the overall sound - even in by pass - and was not as responsive as I prefer.

I understand.

The slight amount of grit on the high frequencies can be achieved with a crossover that splits the signal and sends only the high frequencies to an overdrive-type circuit. Alternatively, a blend control can help to make the processed sound thicker.

scotch · #18 03-16-2010, 11:53 AM

I have a feeling this is a case for something with a controllable blend function. Just a bit of dirt "on top" of the sound, right? A blend control will let you maintain your clean tone, while mixing in just the right amount of hair to make you happy.

I feel the SansAmp offerings do too much coloration overall for this approach.

I know I keep posting about it, but the pedal-format Xotic X-Blender has given me an unprecedented amount of control over my overdrive. Mount that, along with the od/distortion pedal of your choice (virtually limitless options) on a rack-shelf & you'll have the best case scenario! Imo.

Matt Dean · #19 03-16-2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman1185

Why are you attached to rackmount? That is going to SEVERELY limit your choices, especially since you don't want a preamp-style drive. Most racked distortion devices ARE, in fact, preamps. All of Tech21's rackmount offerings are designed to emulate overdriven tube amps.

If you go with pedal-style dirt, you will have a LOT of really good options, especially with your price range.

+1... I am running a M-Pulse 600 with this set of petals... the SFT gives me a great low-med gain fur that is somewhat colored and the Bass BB gives a very transparent low-med gain distortion option.

BTW, I know what you mean about not wanting to mess with the good thing that the M-Pulse 600 provides.

**Gladowsky** · #20 03-16-2010, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Dean

+1... I am running a M-Pulse 600 with this set of petals... the SFT gives me a great low-med gain fur that is somewhat colored and the Bass BB gives a very transparent low-med gain distortion option.

BTW, I know what you mean about not wanting to mess with the good thing that the M-Pulse 600 provides.

Thanks very much for your reply. Looks like I will have to opt for a pedal. I've been under a false assumption that the better sounding gear comes in rack-mount units. I guess I've heard too many cheap sounding pedals that guitarists were using when I was a younger man. I know that it is very subjective.

I also like to be able to set up my gear quickly when the band plays festivals - 15 minutes to set up. Another chord from my wireless to a pedal isn't what I wanted. Open the amp, plug in and I'm set.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Effects are not my bag (Bag End cabs. are) so have a lot to learn.