Spector bass + what drive = your bliss?

[ihateusernames]

I'm really struggling to incorporate an NS2A into my setup. The pedals I use with my Sterling and active EMG equipped Schecter just flat don't work with the Spector - it sounds like total poo with everything (Sansamp RPM, Barber LTD SR, DOD 250, many others) with an exception.....hold yer breath....works GREAT with a Behringer GDI21 or I also use the BOD100 into a BDI21 (for the cab sim to tame the highs).

I'm amazed that cheap stuff sound so good. Problem is, every other bass I've played through my extensive setup is useable with the same arrangment and same settings. The Spector is a beast of another color!

So, for drive with your Spector, what do you use and how do you use it?

[loonybob123]

Plain and simple I drive my Spector Rex 5 and Zebop with my Bass Big Muff(volume little past half for Rex little under half for Zebop)(Tone knob always cranked all the way and bass boost on)(Sustain at about 12:30) and then for just a little overdrive I run it through my Digitech Bassdrive and they sound fine on my Spectors, but I know what you mean I have to completely change my settings every time I switch from my Squier J to my Spectors.

[ihateusernames]

ahhh, i've not tried fuzz with it yet!

[gibsualdo]

Not tried it with an NS-2 but my Euro LX (which doesn't sound too much different from an NS-2 IMHO) sounds blinding with the Sansamp VT Bass. Works surperbly for me, for everything from very subtle drive all the way through to full-on cranked to the max disgustingly filthy SVT-esque drive and does it all well. If you want anything dirtier than that, I'd advise checking out the Sansamp GT2 (but then that's more in the realms of distortion/fuzz than overdrive, does OD too but nowhere as well as the VT Bass).

If you're only looking for just very subtle to light-mid OD, t's not too shabby with the Sansamp Bass Driver either.

Actually, thinking about it, the GDI21 and BDI21 are very good Behringer knock-offs of the GT2 and Bass Driver, I guess that explains it.

EDIT: Maybe a programmable Bass Driver would be a worthwhile investment, since you could have seperate presets for your Spector and your other basses. There's also the Tri-AC, which is very similar to the GT2 but again has presets (and a mid control too).

[NOLA Bass]

I've tried a mountain of distortion pedals and find that it is tough to get one that sounds good with Spectors (compared to my Fenders). To me, the EBS MultiDrive has been the best by far compared with the Sansamp BDDI, EH Big Muff (and the newer Bass Muff version), MXR Bass Blowtorch, MXR 180, and Boss Bass OD.

[ihateusernames]

thanks nola and gibsualdo - just offered to purchase a multidrive and still waiting to be the lucky winner of a used vt bass.

[LCMBassist]

Always found my Euro LX distorts ANY overdrive pedal ever. However, my NS2A works really well with my Barber LTD Overdrive.....volume set to about half, tone up full, drive at about 9 oclock. Adds some mids and voila, growl party!

[ihateusernames]

tone all up is a huge bass cut on the ltd sr, surprised not the same thing with the regular ltd?

i don't care for the ltd with the spector as much as sansamp stuff. just bought a multidrive today so we'll see how that goes.

[NKUSigEp]

Aguilar Agro and EHX Lil' Big Muff. Sounds amazing.

[LCMBassist]

Originally Posted by ihateusernames

tone all up is a huge bass cut on the ltd sr, surprised not the same thing with the regular ltd?

i don't care for the ltd with the spector as much as sansamp stuff. just bought a multidrive today so we'll see how that goes.

Funny, I found the Sansamp sounded awful! Guess we're after different tones!

[anthowl]

coffin case blood drive pedal.

ohyum.