Tube emulator for growl

[Dustin Teel]

I am looking for a pedal that can produce a tone nearly identical to that of the bass on the album Cryptic Writings by Megadeth or the album Facelift by Alice in Chains.

I'm looking for that clunky, chunky, metallic sounding growl.

I searched for "tube emulation" and "overdrive" but I'm not familiar with all these different brands/names/types of pedals and I have no idea what the Bass Commander-XV Kill Your Grandma Version 250AAT:146c Supersonic Radioactive Moon Pedal sounds like.

I'm just looking for a simple pedal that will serve as a tube emulator and distortion pedal. I have been considering the Tech 21 VT, Big Muff, and MXR M80. Insight would be much appreciated, as I have never used any pedals with my rig, so this is new territory.

I am not interested in rack mounts.

Thanks in advance

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by Dustin Teel

I have no idea what the Bass Commander-XV Kill Your Grandma Version 250AAT:146c Supersonic Radioactive Moon Pedal sounds like.

Oh dude, once I got that pedal, I never played anything else.














...Not even bass.

[Dantreige]

Get a sans amp bass driver. Better yet, get the three channel version for a few bucks more.

Edit: and use a pick.

[fivestringgecko]

Originally Posted by Dantreige

Get a sans amp bass driver. Better yet, get the three channel version for a few bucks more.

Edit: and use a pick.

+1

The Bass Driver or VT Bass immediately come to mind.

5sg.

[RickenBoogie]

There are many choices, and all have different flavors. You Tube demos?

[arthur31686]

Here's a decent vtbass demo with some growl: Vt Bass Pedal Demo - YouTube

Another decent demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...0zW5cghg#t=53s (its in Spanish)

[TobyBrodel]

i like the electro harmonix english muff'n. that's not a tube emulator though, it's actually got tubes in it. nice and gritty

[FaithNoMan]

An Ampeg SVT with a Spector is what was used in that era of AIC, I believe.

Although I really like my Leeds pedal, I think a VT would get you a better version of that tone, since an SVT is what it's emulating.

Having owned an English Muff'n before, I don't always believe a preamp tube pedal is going to sound better, just because it has tubes. I thought it sounded great, but think my Leeds sounds more "amp-like" than it does, even.

[FaithNoMan]

Arthur, that's the best VT demo I've heard on youtube yet!

Here's a couple with the Leeds, for the op to compare with:

MP3 Player SoundClick

http://www.soundclick.com/player/sin...&q=hi&newref=1

MP3 Player SoundClick

[Dustin Teel]

Thanks guys, this is helping. And I have been watching demos of the Sansamp pedals all day on YouTube. I just don't really know about other brands, so wanted to compare before I just settled on one.

[fivestringgecko]

Here's another VT Bass demo, Ben from Your Favorite Enemies (never heard of them, but this demo sure helped sell me on the VT):

Tech 21 VT Bass - SansAmp Character Series - YouTube

The Sansamp stuff tends to have a lot of color to it, which I'm a big fan of. Just something about them that gets me going.

If you're not into THAT much color on your sound, the Darkglass Electronics B3K may be worth a look. I've played quite a few overdrives now (on the search for "The Perfect Overdrive"... lol) and picked up one of these a while back. I was pretty astonished at how much it sounds like my 1974 Ampeg V4B when I get the tubes grinding!

Microtubes B3K Bass Overdrive by Darkglass Electronics [HQ] - YouTube

Darkglass Microtubes B3K Bass Overdrive Pick and Slap - YouTube

5sg.

[Chef FourString]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Oh dude, once I got that pedal, I never played anything else.

...Not even bass.

+1

[Lowbrow]

My Xotic BB Bass Preamp + VT Bass.