Which OD should I keep? (sound clips)

OptimusPrime · #1 07-03-2008, 12:06 PM

I need to decide which OD I should keep, my Fulltone Bass-Drive or H.B.E Hematoma. They're kinda similar tone wise. But it's the small things that are keeping me from choosing. But let's just focus on tone right now. Yes, I made a thread like this a week or so ago. But now I have sound clips.

http://media.putfile.com/Fulltone-Ba...s-HBE-Hematoma

First is the Bass-Drive, then the Hematoma, then the Bass-Drive with my MXR flanger and finally the Hematoma with the MXR Flanger. Just some random riffs, some early Clutch stuff, then Dazed and Confused for the OD. Then Gratitude and a part from Cochise for the OD/flanger combo.

Sorry for the bad clips, but the only way I can record is to set my computer about 5 ft. away from the amp and use the microphone meant for the webcam. Also, I can't play.

Swift713 · #2 07-03-2008, 12:12 PM

I think maybe the Hema sounds a little more open, less compressed, wider freq response but it's pretty subtle. Which one is more flexible?

OptimusPrime · #3 07-03-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swift713

I think maybe the Hema sounds a little more open, less compressed, wider freq response but it's pretty subtle. Which one is more flexible?

I guess technically the Bass-Drive is more flexible. Because it had CompCut and the boost, but I don't use either of those. The Hematoma has the preamp that can be used as a clean boost that adds punch. And I love that feature.

Nyarlathotep · #4 07-03-2008, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OptimusPrime

The Hematoma has the preamp that can be used as a clean boost that adds punch. And I love that feature.

As do I.

Question tho: I assume that the clip goes "BD->Hema->BD/Flange->Hema/Flange". Am I right?

OptimusPrime · #5 07-03-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielTulip

As do I.

Question tho: I assume that the clip goes "BD->Hema->BD/Flange->Hema/Flange". Am I right?

Yeah.

Bassbasixx · #6 07-03-2008, 12:34 PM

Can't say the sound clips were cutting in and out could not get a full listen

Nyarlathotep · #7 07-03-2008, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OptimusPrime

Yeah.

Then my answer is easy: Hema.

This just confirms that the BD doesn't sounds as "full" and "phat" as the Hema, and just makes me prouder to own one. That and the fact that the boost adds more punch and not just volume.

EDIT: wow. I actually read the first post and realized that you say what the soundclips order is. I totally guessed without knowing the order

dannybuoy · #8 07-03-2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassbasixx

Can't say the sound clips were cutting in and out could not get a full listen

I get that a lot from that site. I recommend mp3space.com, it lets you play or download clips, and has no bitrate limit unlike soundclick like I've seen some others use.

johans · #9 07-03-2008, 03:31 PM

BD is great and awesome but a little mid-range-y compare to Hema. Best to keep both, but if you got to choose, I would keep Hema though ..

nad · #10 07-03-2008, 03:44 PM

I made this decision once. First I ditched the Hematoma, and then several months later the Bass Drive. So I say get rid of both.

They are pretty similar, the Fulltone is more versatile, and the Hematoma sounds a little warmer. Both are great pedals by the way, I just didn't have a need for them any longer.

OptimusPrime · #11 07-03-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johans

BD is great and awesome but a little mid-range-y compare to Hema. Best to keep both, but if you got to choose, I would keep Hema though ..

Yes, I got to choose. Maybe it was the old speakers that were keeping me from liking the Hematoma. It sounds a lot better with this new Ampeg 410 (vs. Ashdown 210). But it's still hard to turn on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nad

I made this decision once. First I ditched the Hematoma, and then several months later the Bass Drive. So I say get rid of both.

They are pretty similar, the Fulltone is more versatile, and the Hematoma sounds a little warmer. Both are great pedals by the way, I just didn't have a need for them any longer.

Right now I need to make this decision. Then I can go on to buying more OD pedals and deciding which ones to keep. Hopefully those will be different enough to make the decision easy.

René_Julien · #12 07-03-2008, 04:36 PM

I liked the Fulltone more. It was more beautiful the way it effected the original lows of your bass.

The Hematone sounded a bit too harsh for me.

Just my oninion.

beyondthe48 · #13 07-03-2008, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassbasixx

Can't say the sound clips were cutting in and out could not get a full listen

have to let it load first

beyondthe48 · #14 07-03-2008, 10:35 PM

the BD sounds a lil bit more nasally, the hema a lil more fuzzy. but since the hema is warm with what sounds like a better bottom, i would say hema.

but used witht the flanger i liked the BD more, probably because its giving the flanger more highs and mids to feed on.

beyondthe48 · #15 07-03-2008, 10:36 PM

a tough call for sure - BTW thats the first time i ever heard the BD, thanks for the clips!

KarateKid25 · #16 07-04-2008, 03:46 AM

Hard to say which I prefered... They both have their own character. Depends if you want the tighter sound (BD) or the more raw type of sound (Hema). Id probably go for the Hema.

OptimusPrime · #17 07-04-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyondthe48

the BD sounds a lil bit more nasally, the hema a lil more fuzzy. but since the hema is warm with what sounds like a better bottom, i would say hema.

but used witht the flanger i liked the BD more, probably because its giving the flanger more highs and mids to feed on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarateKid25

Hard to say which I prefered... They both have their own character. Depends if you want the tighter sound (BD) or the more raw type of sound (Hema). Id probably go for the Hema.

Well, I can pretty much nail the tone of the Bass-Drive with the Hematoma (or would it be nail the tone of the Hematoma with the Bass-Drive?). And with this new cab it sounds good with the flanger. I like raw, but it seems the only way it sounds good with the flanger is if I set it kinda brittle. I never thought the Bass-Drive lost any lows, but when comparing it to the Hematoma it seems like it sucks them all right out. I'm still a little lost. I mean I've already spent the money on both, and even though I'm downsizing I don't really need the money. So maybe I'll just keep both.

Nyarlathotep · #18 07-04-2008, 12:19 PM

I dont think the BD really sucks out lows, but mids. Its like the comparison that JazzAd did with the BDDI and the MicroBassII. The BDDI sounded "thin" compared to the MB in many parts, but both had the same bass content IMO. It was all in the midrange.

Kinda proves that its not a lack of lows, but rather a lack of mids that makes the bass sound thin or not.

scotch · #19 07-04-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielTulip

I dont think the BD really sucks out lows, but mids. Its like the comparison that JazzAd did with the BDDI and the MicroBassII. The BDDI sounded "thin" compared to the MB in many parts, but both had the same bass content IMO. It was all in the midrange.

Kinda proves that its not a lack of lows, but rather a lack of mids that makes the bass sound thin or not.

Hmmm.... interesting. I'm not sure I (or most people) would agree with your conclusion that the Fulltone Bass-Drive cuts mid-frequencies. The general consensus is that the Bass-Drive emphasizes the mids! In fact, it is often described as sounding "nasal" and exhibiting the general qualities of the ubiquitous TS-9. Newer Bass-Drive's even have a "flat-mid" setting to reduce the mid frequency emphasis that the pedal is known for.

Have you ever actually owned the Fulltone? Just curious, because I don't think OptimusPrime's clip is the best tonal representation of the pedal (especially with all of that flanging going on).

From what I've read about the Hematoma, most users find that it is a darker OD than others. The overwhelming majority of clips I've heard have supported that conclusion.

It's always up to your own ears, I guess...

For the record, I love my Bass-Drive, but I am planning on getting a Hematoma as well for a darker option.

Nyarlathotep · #20 07-04-2008, 01:56 PM

I do not own, nor have ever owned a bass-drive. Just the Hema for me. From the few clips that are around, including this one, I must say I would never go out of my way to acquire a bass-drive either.

Maybe it doesn't suck the mids, maybe it just boosts different ones. You mention "nasaly" which to me means higher (~800Hz) mids. The Hema boosts/emphisises the lower mids?

Just my thoughts as I type this