Speaker distortion sound as opposed to tube distortion?

[Jeffrey Avrin]

Hey, troops! I've studied LOTS of reviews and owned a fair number of overdrive devices, but still haven't found the GRAIL. What I want is not tube distortion, but raw 15"-speakers-breaking-up distortion.

The model would be Felix Pappalardi with Mountain
live through four Sunn heads and eight 2x15 cabs roaring away.
Felix once said, "I've always envisioned bass as a huge ripping sound." That's what I want.

I've had a Budda Phatbass, a Fulltone Bassdrive, a G-K Diesel Dawg, an original Sansamp and an E-H Bass Muff Pi among others. No joy yet. I play mostly Fenders through Eden rigs. All these pedals come off as too harsh in the high end when cranked to a level they can be heard in a live band mix.

Suggestions?

[bongomania]

One suggestion is EQ--to roll off those obnoxious highs. Another thing to consider is that Felix's cabs had no tweeters, and his speakers had a steep rolloff of the highs, and the recording engineer of any tracks you've heard probably EQ'd his channel to sound right in the band mix.

[MNAirHead]

or just rip your speakers.. like hendrix

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by bongomania

One suggestion is EQ--to roll off those obnoxious highs. Another thing to consider is that Felix's cabs had no tweeters, and his speakers had a steep rolloff of the highs, and the recording engineer of any tracks you've heard probably EQ'd his channel to sound right in the band mix.

+1.

Another thing to consider is your rig--Its going to be difficult to cop the raging Sunn tone without a raging Sunn amp.

[Bigjohn]

Pappalardi's sound was mudbucker through tube head distortion.
Those pickups overdrove just about any amp that was turned up much.
Suggestions?
Sure: Get a bass with a true, old Gibson mudbucker in the neck position. That pickup has tremendous low-end and no treble.
Then re-try your sansamp with the gain turned up to taste.
You'll get your Pappalardi on.

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Avrin

Hey, troops! I've studied LOTS of reviews and owned a fair number of overdrive devices, but still haven't found the GRAIL. What I want is not tube distortion, but raw 15"-speakers-breaking-up distortion.

The model would be Felix Pappalardi with Mountain
live through four Sunn heads and eight 2x15 cabs roaring away.
Felix once said, "I've always envisioned bass as a huge ripping sound." That's what I want.

I've had a Budda Phatbass, a Fulltone Bassdrive, a G-K Diesel Dawg, an original Sansamp and an E-H Bass Muff Pi among others. No joy yet. I play mostly Fenders through Eden rigs. All these pedals come off as too harsh in the high end when cranked to a level they can be heard in a live band mix.

Suggestions?