Overdrive or distortion

[Danni Moe]

As a bassist and a metalhead (who also raps) I've been trying make heavier and heavier sounds with my bass. Unfortunately the Zoom multieffect pedal that i have doesn't get as heavy as i want and the swollen pickle that i have loses clarity as it gets heavier. So in the effort of getting a pedal board together and achieving the sound i need i'm asking for help.
opinions and pedal suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[aledeville]

IME, nothing is as heavy as a fat clean basstone.
If you want it dirty, I'd suggest an overdrive.

[CHILDISHGAMBINO]

When I was in a metal band I used the Tech 21 XXL. It's a distortion but you can clean it up quite a bit if you want with your bass volume and a lighter attack. How many guitarists are in your band? Sometimes it's easy to get lost if you have 2 distorted guitars going and your bass is distorted. I didn't really have this problem but it took a lot of messing with my eq to get everything sounding good.

[Danni Moe]

Originally Posted by CHILDISHGAMBINO

How many guitarists are in your band? Sometimes it's easy to get lost if you have 2 distorted guitars going and your bass is distorted. I didn't really have this problem but it took a lot of messing with my eq to get everything sounding good.

im not in a band at the moment but i make my own music so when i record i try to cross genres as much as possible. try to get an Anesthesia--Pulling Teeth type sound for an Eminem type track.

[Oreomeister365]

Perhaps my favorite pedal is my blender pedal. Having a blendable chain dedicated to overdrives and the like is delicious for customizing my tone.

[Danni Moe]

Originally Posted by Oreomeister365

Perhaps my favorite pedal is my blender pedal. Having a blendable chain dedicated to overdrives and the like is delicious for customizing my tone.

well if i had a blender id agree with you and as of now i only have three pedals.

[theory028]

I think overdrives sound better in more situations. I bought a Digitech Bad Monkey because it gets praise for being able to handle mildly overdriven tones similar to that of a tube amp. It sounded good in a mix because it had character but didn't lose any definition, which seems to be pretty important.

The only effects I could ever imagine using on a regular basis would be a mild overdrive and a subtle chorus. Heavy distortions wouldn't do much for me. I have heard some great uses for them, though.

[mpdd]

mesa d180, jb62, custom shop 60s pickups, orange obc 115, the sound for me

[skwee]

Originally Posted by aledeville

IME, nothing is as heavy as a fat clean basstone.
If you want it dirty, I'd suggest an overdrive.

+1

[reubmister]

a big muff or a wooly mammoth they can get pretty fat and heavy or some fuzz pedals maybe, for overdrive I use a green rhino which is also a nice pedal.

[takfar]

The tone in the overdrive usually sounds more interesting on its own. I've found the Tech 21 XXL can sometimes mesh better with the rest of the instruments in a full band situation, tho.

[KLEIN]

I use a visual sound root66 pedal through a sansamp to get my tone. Sounds good in any mix.

[levis76]

Morley Power Wah Fuzz. I found one and haven't thought about replacing it since. I can get all kinds of wicked fuzz tones out of it. Light grit to all out banshee wail and with the wah you can easily get the cougar roar that Cliff used to get. For real authenticity you gotta run it into a Mesa tube amp, that's where the fun really starts.

[Jawbone]

sounds like you'd get there easier with a distortion pedal - RAT or Marshall pedals are decent with the basses low tones.

[dmonroe]

I have a Pork Loin and am planning to add a Green Rhino after it.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by aledeville

IME, nothing is as heavy as a fat clean basstone.
If you want it dirty, I'd suggest an overdrive.

Originally Posted by skwee

+1

+2


I prefer clean for metal. Best way to cut through a dense wall of guitar distortion. And a bass doesn't need overdrive or distortion to sound heavy.

If overdrive or distortion makes you happy though, and sounds great in the mix, then by all means go for it. Might I suggest a BDDI then for light to mild overdrive to sit in the mix.

[Bassmike62]

SansAmp PBDDI for me, for some light overdrive here and there. Later, maybe that new Ibanez BTS, but that's it. Took the BBM off the board for a long time, but it's back in 'cause we're covering Song 2. It's the only time I use it.

[theunknowndude]

Ibanez PD7 in overdrive mode but its more of a distortion than overdrive, definitely colours the sound ALOT... gives a nice deeper sound than my mid clean tone so is good for heavy stuff and cuts through too!

[coronado3]

what ever you get, make sure it has a blend so you can blend your dist/overdrive with your clean signal. That will get you your heaviness with clarity. Check out some clips of billy sheehan live. I have the ashdown James Lomenzo pedal which does it all.

[BigOldHarry]

carrots.