Which overdrive pedal is right for me? Tokyo Police Club again!

Dustgunner · #1 07-02-2008, 06:14 PM

Hey, I'm looking to buy an overdrive pedal for my Fender American Jazz bass, and I was wondering which of the following is generally considered best for bass.

Ibanez TS9
Ibanez Tubescreamer (Other than the TS9)
Bad Monkey
Badder Monkey
DP200 System
Boss Bass Overdrive
Something else entirely

I tried the TS9 in a Daddy's Junky music and really liked the sound. I'm trying to achieve an overdriven bass that's similar in style to the bass used in most songs by Tokyo Police Club. I created a topic about this earlier: Tokyo Police Club Style Bass

Lots of people talked about low-end loss with the TS9 and while I did notice a little on the E string it didn't seem like a dealbreaker.

So what do you guys think?

karter2000 · #2 07-02-2008, 06:28 PM

If you are going the tubescreamer route, I would just get a stock Bad Monkey. After owning/trying thousands of overdrives, that's what I use now. I've listened to TPC (great band), and I think the Bad Monkey would get you close without spending too much money.

Hope that helps,

Lyle

Dustgunner · #3 07-02-2008, 08:20 PM

Bad Monkey over the TS9 or even the badder monkey?

jayarroz · #4 07-02-2008, 08:23 PM

i feel like i've tried a bunch, but I always come back to the big muff from electro harmonix

karter2000 · #5 07-02-2008, 08:57 PM

I haven't spent much time with a regular TS9, but I would think so considering the price. The Bad Monkey is considered one of the better tubescreamer clones out there (at least according to most guitarists, anyways).

I've had a Badder Monkey before, and while it was a great pedal I've had just as good results with the regular Monkey.

Your experience may vary though, consider different basses, amps, cabs, etc.

Lyle

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustgunner

Bad Monkey over the TS9 or even the badder monkey?

kevteop · #6 07-02-2008, 09:37 PM

The Bad Monkey is great value. I just recently sold mine because I don't use overdrive much, but it's good on bass - lots of low end available, plays nice with other pedals, can give surprising results if you fire tonnes of gain into it. Definite +1 from me.

Dustgunner · #7 07-02-2008, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayarroz

i feel like i've tried a bunch, but I always come back to the big muff from electro harmonix

ive actually got one of those - im looking for a tpc style bass though so i would be lookin at overdrive not distortion.

i'll have to give the bad monkey a spin - it seems like its that or the TS9.

jayarroz · #8 07-03-2008, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustgunner

ive actually got one of those - im looking for a tpc style bass though so i would be lookin at overdrive not distortion.

i'll have to give the bad monkey a spin - it seems like its that or the TS9.

i had an analog man ts9 modded. I think its great for guitar but it's not for the bass.

TaySte_2000 · #9 07-03-2008, 01:55 AM

Best overdrive for TPC is the Zoom Power Drive, recommended one to a huge fan of theirs and he's never been happier

Dustgunner · #10 07-03-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaySte_2000

Best overdrive for TPC is the Zoom Power Drive, recommended one to a huge fan of theirs and he's never been happier

They're near impossible to find, though.

TaySte_2000 · #11 07-03-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustgunner

They're near impossible to find, though.

I wouldn't say that

Dustgunner · #12 07-03-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaySte_2000

I wouldn't say that

Where would you buy one? And I'm a bit wary of buying it without being able to try it first.

TaySte_2000 · #13 07-03-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustgunner

Where would you buy one? And I'm a bit wary of buying it without being able to try it first.

He who dares wins

Plenty pop up on ebay if you don't like it chuck it back up there and get your money back the resale is very stable on them.

dannybuoy · #14 07-03-2008, 03:10 PM

How about the Barber LTD? I hear it's a great low gain overdrive for bass, the regular version has a mid-hump like the tubescreamer (SR version has flat mids, Silver somewhere in-between). I've seen one of these in a local second hand shop and thinking of giving it a try to see how it compares to my Badder Monkey.

Dustgunner · #15 07-04-2008, 12:12 AM

I wish i could at least hear some samples of these things but all they have is guitar examples.

TaySte_2000 · #16 07-04-2008, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustgunner

I wish i could at least hear some samples of these things but all they have is guitar examples.

I've personally put bass samples of both the Barber and the Zoom in the TB wiki soundclip section

Dustgunner · #17 07-04-2008, 09:32 PM

the power drive seems a little heavy.

dannybuoy · #18 07-05-2008, 01:42 AM

I saw one go for £10 with only 1 bid on ebay UK yesterday, so they're not hard to find. By the way Tayste, couldn't find any Barber LTD clips in the WIKI!

monkeyland · #19 07-05-2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustgunner

the power drive seems a little heavy.

the PD-01 Power Drive is not heavy at all. when the gain knob is all the way down it is perfectly clean and as it is turned up it gets sort of tube screamerish. it has a bass and treble control also which i'm sure would help it out for bass.

i had one that i just sold a month or two ago but i never tried it for bass. great pedal though with lots of volume on tap even with the gain all the way down. i sold mine for 60 bucks.

tomhanzo · #20 07-05-2008, 12:16 PM

dude ok. i posted on the last TPC thread. i have changed my mind completely. ts9 is cool pedal and is almost the sound, but a stock bad monkey is right on key. those real expensive pedals may be able to get it, but for the price the bad monkey is the pedal.