None-Fuzzy overdrive

SwamiRob · #1 01-14-2008, 12:18 PM

Every bass overdrive I've tried or heard seems to be pretty fuzzy so I was wondering if there's anything in the way of a slightly cleaner sounding pedal that I can get. I have a Tubescreamer DS9 and it's really nice, just not very clear, I'll probably keep using it but most likely on the Turbo setting for a more full on overdrive with a little fuzz if I got a second drive, but it'd be nice to have something a little cleaner that kept the low end a better.

assboglin · #2 01-14-2008, 01:15 PM

To maybe help with part of your question, are you running these overdrive pedals through a solid state head? If so you might want to try them through a tube head as overdrive pedals tend to be fuzzier through solid state gear, at least in my experience. Also, are you using horns? Horns can cause high end fizziness in conjunction with overdrives.

projectMalamute · #3 01-14-2008, 01:16 PM

The Rusty Box might be worth a look, recreation of the Traynor TS-50b preamp section. If they got it even halfway right it would be great for a bit of grit while still maintaining some body.

JanusZarate · #4 01-14-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by assboglin

To maybe help with part of your question, are you running these overdrive pedals through a solid state head? If so you might want to try them through a tube head as overdrive pedals tend to be fuzzier through solid state gear, at least in my experience. Also, are you using horns? Horns can cause high end fizziness in conjunction with overdrives.

Hmm... I don't know about the SS vs. tube thing, but I do agree that using horns or tweeters can - and pretty much always will - cause some really unpleasant high-end fizziness.

Also... if you like the Tubescreamer, you may want to look into some of its clones. IME, Tubescreamers and their clones tend to be rather clear and gritty overdrive pedals, which may be up your alley.

Perhaps you should also look into overdrive pedals with blend knobs, or consider combining an overdrive pedal with a blend looper to get the same effect. The job of that blend circuit is to mix the dry and overdrive signals together, which creates a similar effect to bi-amping with a clean rig and dirty rig - except you only need one rig this way.

stoneboy26 · #5 01-14-2008, 03:06 PM

I use an EBS multidrive, and it doesn't get fuzzy till the gain is cranked pretty high (which after owning for 2 years, I only wound it up to the other night). I like only a little bit of grit for my OD, and this does it pretty well. Now I want a 2nd one, so I can get some great fuzz sound too!!

RickenBoogie · #6 01-14-2008, 03:11 PM

Also, the EBS Valve Drive. It can be set to a very low level of drive, just a tad of dirt, all the way to snarly. Never fuzzy, no no. Check one out if'n ya can.

SwamiRob · #7 01-14-2008, 04:29 PM

Cheers guys, I'll see if I can find anything on any of those (Living in the UK is terrible for getting any sort of niche electric guitar stuff of any persuasion).

Snakeman1066 · #8 01-14-2008, 04:33 PM

Wow I guess what they keep saying is true nobody reads or searches threads...lol

I hate to sound like a broken record...but recently i tried roughly 40 different brands of overdrive pedals in search for one that I liked and sounded good to my ears....

These three in my opinion were the best tried...

The Voodoo lab Sparkle Drive it is an TS808 clone but it has metal resistors and polyester film capacitors creating a better overall tone and much better note definition than the original 808, plus it has a clean channel built in so you can blend a clean signal with the ovedrive which restores the attack and feel which is usually lost in the highly compressed overdrive circuit. so its like layering two amps in one box. and you can turn off the overdrive for just a clean simple 20db boost can't be beat for $129.99

Second the BBE Green Screamer has a slightly brighter tone than the Voodoo Lab pedal but is missing the clean boost circuit....but when you pair it up with the BBE Boosta Grande (20db boost) pedal the combination cannot be beat....the Green Screamer goes for $99.99 with the Boosta Grande retailing at roughly $79.99 for a grand total of $180.00

last the T-Rex Moller Overdrive with Clean Boost does what the others listed above do just a little better...but at $279.99 not good enough IMHO but I'm a cheap bastard i went with the Voodoo Lab pedal...now if money were no object i would have bought the T-Rex

See "Overdrive" thread posted by McGroovin' for more details

JanusZarate · #9 01-14-2008, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeman1066

Wow I guess what they keep saying is true nobody reads or searches threads...lol

Why do you think I'm wearing a badge?

Some people aren't sure where to start looking. But now that he does... I'm sure he would've found your reviews, among plenty of others.

Usually, if it's something I've answered before, I either suggest a search with some helpful terms (if it's a broad question), or point them out to a good thread, rather than re-type everything I said before. It's much easier that way.

metalmariachi · #10 01-14-2008, 05:21 PM

I know I’ve posted this before, but..
If you want a TS-9 type of overdrive, check out the Jacques Tube Blower.
It has a better range, and with the bass and treble controls is more versatile.

Also it doesn’t loose any of the low end.

MM

ihateusernames · #11 01-14-2008, 08:17 PM

Do you like the drive characteristics of the OD you're using? You can tame a lot of the harsh highs with a 31 band eq - doesn't really address the clarity concerns but could get you by until you find the perfect OD.

SwamiRob · #12 01-14-2008, 10:24 PM

Yeah sorry about the search thing, didn't really know how I'd go about articulating it properly, overdrive +clarity +bass -fuzz is about the best I can think of heheh.

I do like my Tubescreamer alot but it's pretty muddy, I wanna keep it specifically for mud though cos it does a good job of it, just want a clearer one for those occasions when you want to sound heavy as $%^& yet actually be able to make out what the Bass/Guitars/Drums/Vocals are playing/singing...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeman1066

last the T-Rex Moller Overdrive with Clean Boost does what the others listed above do just a little better...but at $279.99 not good enough IMHO

It's pretty cheap over here, probably cos they're made in Denmark.

ihateusernames · #13 01-14-2008, 10:35 PM

Fulltone OCD does a nice tubescreamer style OD with INTENSE clarity. One of the best OD's I've ever heard on guitar or bass.

SwamiRob · #14 02-14-2008, 07:19 AM

sorry to revive an old thread but what's the FET overdrive Fulltone do like? Will that hold up in the low end department without being too fuzzy? Sounds like you can get a nice fuzz from it but it also does cleaner stuff. Anyone used one? The OCD sounds really awesome from the samples on the site, but a few extra things to play with might be nice.

RockStarNick · #15 02-14-2008, 08:07 AM

Swami.

I assume you're talking about the TS9DX Turbo Tube Screamer. If you like that for bass, but want more clarity, then having it modded my either Analogman, or Robert Keely, might be the answer.

(I'm a guitar player too... and an effects nut...) And what I've been finding lately is that some of the qualities that make me DISLIKE pedals for guitar, make me LIKE them alot for bass.

I've used the TS9DX on bass with great success in some past recordings.

The TS9DX, like any tubescreamer or clone, is op-amp based. A known think about op-amp overdrives, is that if they're hit too hard on the input, you'll get a "ghost note" - it will sound like the clean sound is coming through, surrounded by the overdrive buzz. Might sound bad on paper, but sometimes on bass, it works well to keep that fundamental note. of course, all effects are a little different with this. The TS9DX has the 4 settings: turbo, hot, etc... which all dramatically increase bass, making it suitable for a bass guitar. A regular TS9 cuts ALOT of low end...

As far as the OCD. That's my absolute favorite pedal for guitar. I'm I'm using a channel switching head, I'll use the OCD as my mid-crunch sound. If I'm plugging straight into a clean amp, I'll use the OCD boosed by another OD as my main overdrive sound. Love that pedal. Great harmonics, and juicyness, and tubeyness.

It's not super, super versatile, but it does what it does very well.

One thing I HATE about it, for guitar, is that if you crank the drive past 11 or 12 o clock, the bass just becomes WAY too unbearable on a guitar amp. However, on bass... it really stays nice and thick, which is nice.

Ok. I'll try to sum this up.

I don't think of the TS9DX as Fuzzy... but I do think it can get buzzy, like I described. And op-amp overdrives can sound plastic-ish sometimes.

The OCD has much more of a real-tube vibe going for it. While not intended for bass, it can do some very good bass heavy overdrive stuff. But I wouldnt try it with the gain set anywhere below 11... or else the bottom will just not be there.

LungDisease · #16 02-14-2008, 12:19 PM

The EHX USA Double Muff on single circuit is closer to an overdrive. It's what I use when I want to dirty up my tone. It also provides a nice volume boost.

ihateusernames · #17 02-14-2008, 04:54 PM

Do you play fingerstyle or pick? I just learned to really like my Humphrey modded Bad Monkey as a great fingerstyle drive pedal. No fuzz at all, clear tone, plenty of low end, and good for non lethal levels of gain.

SwamiRob · #18 02-15-2008, 06:53 AM

Mostly pick, at the moment there's only 1 song I play most with my fingers with my band, a couple of little bits here and there but nothing I'd use drive for most of the time.

sk8 · #19 02-15-2008, 07:24 AM

i've got a TS808 tube screamer clone which is good. Basically a Daphon OD with a monte allums mod

ihateusernames · #20 02-15-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwamiRob

Mostly pick, at the moment there's only 1 song I play most with my fingers with my band, a couple of little bits here and there but nothing I'd use drive for most of the time.

Then I'd not recommend the modified Bad Monkey, when played withh a pick it has too much mid/high mid without eq'ing different than your non drive tone.