Need a new toy...

[SuperTbass]

So I just received a $70 gift card to Guitar Center from a friend. I have no pressing needs at the moment, but would love to have a new toy to mess around with. I don't really want to spend much more than what's on the card, but I'm not opposed to shelling out a little more for a worthwhile item.

My current setup is as follows...



Basses:
Tobias Growler 4-string

Amps:
Peavey T-Max
Carvin R1000 - Series III

Cabs:
Carvin R410T
Carvin RL118

Effects:
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2
Boss TU-2 Tuner
Boss RC-20 Loop Station
Morley ABY
Morley Pro Series Volume Pedal
Zoom 506 Multi-Effect
Akai UB1 UniBass
Hartke Bass Attack
Ibanez PD7 PhatHed Bass Overdrive
DigiTech Bass Multi Chorus
DigiTech Digidelay
Snarling Dogs Bawl Buster Wah
Ibanez WD-7 Weeping Demon Wah




Despite the effects, I seem to be more of a plug and play guy these days. I don't gig out at the moment, but would like to someday. I already have a pedal board.

I don't have a lot of guidance to provide as far as what I'm looking for. Just something that I can have fun with. I will try out anything... I guess I am just looking for some feedback as to what direction to start in. I could always just buy a bunch of strings, but that is seriously lacking in the fun factor.

Any suggestions of products (especially pedals) that run less than $100 would be much appreciated.


Thanks in advance.

Also! Long-time lurker, first time poster. Thanks again, all.

[RickenBoogie]

I'd get $70 worth of strings, I would.

[Gabeja15]

you have a few overdrives from what i can see, but as most people in this forum will agree, you will NEVER have enough distortion.

My suggestion is that you pick up a Russian big muff for around 40-50 bucks and get tinkering. There are literally dozens of mods that are relatively easy to do.

Have some fun tinkering, really make the pedal your own, and add some heavy fuzz to the board

[Evil Undead]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

I'd get $70 worth of strings, I would.

Part of me thinks I would do the same... I could always use strings!

But then.... the fun factor... you do have most effects that I would think of though

[SuperTbass]

I like the idea of the Russian Big Muff, especially since I have had an urge to start tinkering on my pedals. I may have trouble finding the Russian version at the Guitar Center, but it is definitely worth checking into.

At the moment, the Guitar Center website is only showing availability of the Bass Big Muff Pi... anyone have any experience with one of these?


Thanks for the replies thus far.

[ourworldisgrey]

Bass big muff is good. General opinion is that it holds lows well, but it's also somewhat bland sounding. Modding an another muff would probably be a good idea. Also you're only going to find the russian big muff used, it was discontinued sometime last year I think.

[SuperTbass]

Yeah... that's what the ElectroHarmonix site says... such is the way of many good products in general.

[bigchiefbc]

I know 90% of the people around here are gonna say dirt/fuzz, but I notice that the only modulation you have is chorus. If I were you, I'd think about getting some other modulation going, either a phaser (like the EHX Nano Small Stone) or tremolo (EHX Pulsar). That will add way more variety to your tone than just another dirt pedal.

[slurpy]

i just got a flanger and its really fun to play with. especially when you run it before the distortion/fuzz. i find you can get some real cool sound manipulation when messing around with harmonics.

[EskimoBassist]

I see a distinct lack of Fuzz in that gear list, hint hint.

[SuperTbass]

Well, I had time to go down to Guitar Center and spent a couple hours in there tinkering away. I tried out what they had that sounded like it might fit the bill.

Tried the Big Muff Pi, but it was tough to get a tone with any bottom left in it still. Then I tried the Metal Muff, which actually had some real appeal... lots of different potential sounds out of that one. Also tried out the MXR Phase 90. That had a great sound, but just not something I'd probably use very often.

In the end, I chose something that I could use with both my guitar and bass that sort of split the bill between fun and practical. I picked up the BBE Sonic Stomp which I'm sure some people will probably smack their head and grumble about, but it did a lot for me as far as usable tone goes. In fact, it was the first pedal I tried and everything I tried after that sounded a little thin.

As far as distortion goes, I seem to enjoy what I have at the moment, which is my 4x10 hooked up to my T-Max with the tube pre-amp up all the way and cookin' while the Carvin head and 1x18 dish out the clean bottom. That combination makes the Muff sound a little weak in my opinion, but then, add Muff to all that and I might have something.

Anyway, the Sonic Stomp seems like something i can pretty much just plug in and leave on more or less for as long as there's a signal coming out of my bass.


Thanks again, all.