Synthy Bass Distortion

**DosiYanarchy** · #1 09-26-2007, 05:40 PM

Hi there, im sorry if someone has posted something to this effect before, but im searching for an almost synth-style bass distortion, not an actual synth tho. I've heard clips, and briefly played a Chunk Systems Brown Dog, and have seen clips of the ZVEX Wooly mammoth and both seem to cover the basses (wow, im so funny) other than the Mammoth being ludicrously expensive, and the Brown Dog being almost imposible to find in britian (well online anyway). one tone i use is youre chris squire/john enwhistle tone, and for another i wanted this big fat synth distortion, like Tim Commerford/Chris Wolstenholme (i know he used the Akai Deep impact, but theres no realistic way i can get my hands on one of those)

any hints/tips/tricks?

by the way i do have a mini q-tron which does help me on my search a little, but your feedback would be really appreciated.
cheers
Dosi Y'anarchy

EricF · #2 09-26-2007, 05:47 PM

Low-cost synth pedal: Digitech Bass Synth Wah
Not-so-low-cost synth pedal: EHX Bass Micro Synth

Or, adding a fuzz pedal to your Q-Tron might give you the synth sound you're after.

Wolstenholme and Commerford are some of the most-talked about pros on the TB Effects forum. Check the FAQ's for links to detailed descriptions of their rigs.

**DosiYanarchy** · #3 09-26-2007, 06:09 PM

EricF, your a pretty helpful guy to talk to, i love this forum, i just joined, but i always read the posts about stuff i want.
ive heard demos and reviews of both pedals, and apparently altho the digi has like 7 modes, its only the first two that are any good, but i think i might try it for myself (i used to have the boss bass synth syb-5, but the tracking was aweful)
id go with the EHX, but price is an issue (im a student, and already spent most of my money on basses and fx already lol), the reason i wanted distortion instead of real synth, is simply because i want perfect tracking, my memories of my boss synth scared me away, even my boss super octave cn dish out some faux synth, but it freaks out too easily (low notes, chords when not in POLY).

Earwaxsculptor · #4 09-26-2007, 06:45 PM

If you want anything near the bass sound on "Time is running out" by muse try the Guyatone TZ-2 "The Fuzz" IMHO it nails that tone 99.6435765893542%.

**DosiYanarchy** · #5 09-26-2007, 06:48 PM

cheers,
ill look into that one, i was just wondering, is it strictly a bass pedal, just because i really dont want to loose any lows that might occour with guitar pedals (even if they have bass boost, the boost is always in the wrong frequency for bass guitar)
thanks
Dosi

MakiSupaStar · #6 09-27-2007, 09:47 AM

EHX Bass Micro Syth. Nice and distorted. Can also duplicate low pass filter sounds too. It can also create nice synths too. Fun pedal .

**DosiYanarchy** · #7 09-27-2007, 09:51 AM

cheers, yeah ive seen a vid about the BMS, and it looks freaking sweet, when im rich ill get one, but thats probably not gonna happen for a while, i also worry that the sliders might break pretty easily, also how precise is the tracking and is it polyphonic? as in can it handle chords and double-stops?
thanks
Dosi

Joe P · #8 09-27-2007, 10:06 AM

Speaking of the native waveform - I mean to say 'not including any kind of dynamic filtering' - I love the synth tone I get with this combination: bass to CS-3 sustainer; CS-3 to LS-2 switcher/looper; OC-3 in one loop, and ODB-3 in the other - used in "A+B" mix mode.

The OC-3 does have a polyphonic mode that works fairly well. It'll make it through just about any amount of playing slop; does great on 5th and octave doubles, and pretty good on most forths and Maj3s up higher on the fretboard. I always use the 'Guitar' input, rather than the 'Bass'.

What's also cool is playing monophonic, way-up on the neck, in OC-2 mode - using 1oct down and 2oct down, but no original - then running the hard distortion alone for the top octave.

Joe

**DosiYanarchy** · #9 09-27-2007, 10:15 AM

I really love the DRIVE on the OC3 Super Octave, its the sort of tone i want, but as u said its only high up on the fretboard, its freaks anywhere else, but thats the tone im sorta looking for, ive tried using the POLY mode with separate distortion, but i've not quite nailed it yet, also, it sounds SICK with my Mini Q-tron. but id rather have that DRIVE tone on a real distortion pedal then put it thru the OC3 (or vice versa),

oh and your the perfect person to ask about this: in my other post im talking about blending my sansamp with a regular distortion, does the Boss LS-2's mix mode allow variation in the blend, ie: could one loop be more dominant?
thanks
theo

assboglin · #10 09-27-2007, 01:47 PM

Well, the guy from Muse also uses a Big Muff, Russian I believe, which might get you some of his sounds. Also, for synthy fuzz there's the MXR Bass Blowtorch, which can get pretty synthy if that's what you're into, and it has LOADS of bottom.

Joe P · #11 09-27-2007, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DosiYanarchy

...in my other post im talking about blending my sansamp with a regular distortion, does the Boss LS-2's mix mode allow variation in the blend, ie: could one loop be more dominant?
thanks
theo

YES! ..All the way from 'off' to huge boost, on each channel.

It came in handy for another thing recently: A guy wanted to jam with me, but only had a guitar with him. I used it as a little 2-channel mixer - I gave him most of my effects, kept a couple for my self. We shared the Aphex Xciter by putting it at the LS-2 output, and then off to the 700RBII and JBL PA cab. Sounded great!

Joe

thejohnkim · #12 09-27-2007, 04:15 PM

Yep, another vote for the MXR Blowtorch. Brown Dog rocks too.

one · #13 09-27-2007, 04:31 PM

I think a EHX LBM would get you somewhat closer to what you want, for only £40! I't won't be bang on the buck(as very little would), but it'll definatly get you in the ball park!

**DosiYanarchy** · #14 09-27-2007, 04:35 PM

Cheers Joe P, i might have to get one of those Line Selectors. Also assboglin, do u know where i can get any soundclips for the blowtorch? i was tempted by it when it came out, but i read a few negative reviews, and decided against it, and ive just bought an English Muff'n (not for the synth, LOL) so am gonna have to recoup my funds a bit. i know the muse bassist (chris wolstenholm) uses the russian muff with the akai Deep Impact, but i usually am a bit funny about muffs coz i really wanna keep my low end intact (i hope my muff'n will hold up well in the respect)
thanks for the suggestions
Dosi

**DosiYanarchy** · #15 09-27-2007, 04:40 PM

to ONE:
yeah the muffs have always intrigued me, the legendary icon of distortion that they are, the russian muff used to be 'the one' for bass, and now its the LBM, what happened? and as far as i know, will any be any better at keeping the low than a Metal muff or a Muff'n? (the metal muff adds alot of low, but i feel its in the wrong frequency for bass guitar)
cheers
Dosi

assboglin · #16 09-27-2007, 07:13 PM

http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?p...p_and_e_detail

There. And you may be able to find some if you search this forum. I have a Blowtorch, but I haven't gotten around to doing samples for it yet, sorry.

JanusZarate · #17 09-27-2007, 07:33 PM

The Metal Muff isn't too great on bass - it's definitely voiced specifically for guitar, and it shows with all of that extra treble, and frequency points selected with metal in mind.

The Big Muffs are very different - their voicing is friendly for all instruments. There's a mild mid scoop to them, but depending on how you use it, it may or may not be an issue at all for cutting through the mix. Plus, they have tons of low end. No matter what, however, it's always going to be a fuzz pedal on bass - you can't get overdrive out of it.

The Russian Big Muffs are usually harsher-sounding, while the Little Big Muff is warmer.

The English Muff'n also preserves the low end equally well, but has a different voicing in mind. Still, it's far friendlier on bass than the Metal Muff. If you check the EHX web site, there's a demo of the Muff'n on bass that's pretty cool. Unlike the Big Muffs, the Muff'n can do anything from a thick, clean warmth to heavy overdrive (bordering on Muff-like fuzz).

JanusZarate · #18 09-27-2007, 07:34 PM

Oh, and for the Blowtorch...

It's my favorite fuzz, period. I sold my Little Big Muff and kept the Blowtorch! Granted, I love both, but the Blowtorch has a mid-heavy crunch and edge that the Big Muff doesn't have, plus it can sound synthy depending on how you set it up. Not everyone likes it, but I think it sounds awesome through my GK rig.

Check here for my sample: www.soundclick.com/mysticboo

The sample that's there isn't intended to show the synth-like side, BTW - only its aggressive side.

I wrote a review a while back as well.

thejohnkim · #19 09-27-2007, 08:25 PM

yep i failed to elaborate on my votes before but you've already heard the Borwn Dog, but teh Blowtorch rocks for me because of how 'smooth' the clipping is. of course if you put in some bad settings it'll sound 'fizzy' not 'fuzzy' (people who have heard some samples online complained about this) but then you just turn some knobs around to fix that up right away.

it reminds me of the nice square wave warm synth sounds that you can never get from the harsher muffs and tz units. i usually don't use the harsher settings, but they are there too. very flexible unit!

**DosiYanarchy** · #20 09-28-2007, 01:18 AM

Wow, cheers everyone, i guess i need to sign up to Soundclick to hear that sample, but the blowtorch sounds pretty promising, and im hoping that mu muff'n will give me some warmth (im thinking of using it as an alternative to my sansamp, for when i want something warmer and fuzzed/driven). i think the muffs, as some of you rightly said, probably can handle fuzz/distortion/overdrive (depending on the model) really well, but wont give me that synth tone on its own. thanks to MysticBoo for his explanation of the differences between the muffs, unfortunately i usually buy pedals withoput trying them first due to the lack of decent music shops that might stock these pedals (the nearest music shop pretty much only stocks boss, and aside from maybe the AW-3 and the LS-2 im not really interrested), so these forums really help me out, the Muff'n came highly recommended, and although not for a Synthy sound, i think it'll have a welcome place in my board.

so then alot of votes for the BlowTorch, which is cheaper than the Bass micro synth, but i feel that with the BMS being a versatile synth, it might get me more of the tones i want to use, but then again, once i get rid of this Metal Muff ill want but probably not need something like the blowtorch for a good bass distortion to scare the indie kids away. (unless changing the tubes for 12Ax7s on my Muff'n will give me that muff tone?)

Thanks alot everyone,
you'll all get gold stars in the mail