Tube Screamer with Bass

cheifitj · #1 04-27-2011, 10:10 AM

Hi Forum folks,
I have read a few people mentioning that they use a tube screamer. I happen to have one from my guitar rig and tried it out last night. I have to honestly say I didn't get much effect happening at all, seems like it really didn't do much. Those that use it, are you doing anything special or are you not running a tube amp in conjunction?

I tried my blues driver too, and well same story, just didn't have enough juice to be very noticeable.

Obviously I am looking for some distortion for my bass, but don't want heavy fuzz at this point, just something to add a little dirt, particularly when I use the wah pedal.

-Jon

TomA1234 · #2 04-27-2011, 10:14 AM

Ibanez do make a tube screamer for bass. (I assume you are talking about the ibanez pedal)

Scott549 · #3 04-27-2011, 10:22 AM

I have an old classic guitar Tube Screamer. I tried it with my bass but it did not sound good -- the effect was there but it took the low end out. I assume that would not happen with the model specifically designed for bass.

cbass1 · #4 04-27-2011, 10:26 AM

I used to have one, dont know what version it wass, but it was awesome. I think I lent it out, moved and never got it back. ughh. but it was great, got some great harmonics, it was good for quiet interludes and intro's and then kicking in the bass by turning the effect off, but it is not a meat and potatoes dist for bass like the bassdrive or (insert your fav overdrive/dist pedal here)

rratajski · #5 04-27-2011, 10:29 AM

What head/setup were you using?
There are a ton of other od pedals out there that do what you want better!

Testing_123 · #6 04-27-2011, 10:58 AM

If you're handy with a soldering iron: one capacitor swap can make a huge difference in how Tube Screamers handle bass.

TS's are designed to have a mid-frequency hump and attenuate lower frequencies to help the instrument "cut" more (think trumpet vs. cornet).

As such, a stock TS on bass often sounds odd and thin.

A capacitor change to let more low frequencies in, and you can get a nice, full, mild-to-moderate grit bass tone out of a TS.

cheifitj · #7 04-27-2011, 01:40 PM

@ rratajski.. I am running into a MB4210
@Testing. I could probably make a change, but I don't want to loose the pedal for guitar. As I use it often when playing guitar.

Didn't realize there was a bass specific version. That would explain it
-Thanks.

TrevorOfDoom · #8 04-27-2011, 01:45 PM

Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive is your answer if you need the TS sound.

it's a TS with a clean blend to help keep your lows.

(on a related note, clean blends are the best things ever. every effect i own has a blend, and it's wonderful)

emjazz · #9 04-27-2011, 09:24 PM

I personally don't like a clean blend. When I kick in a pedal I want to hear the effect, not the effect on top of my bass sound...that's a personal choice though.

You might want to check out the Pale Horse by VFE. I just got their Rat equivalent, the Alpha Dog, and I'll be picking up a Pale Horse soon. I've heard great, great things about that pedal....it's his TS type pedal, and it's very affordable. The Alpha Dog is one of the best pedals I've ever owned. I'm very impressed by the company.

VFE: Products

rsmith601 · #10 04-27-2011, 10:07 PM

Note that this is coming from a manufacturer, so please take with a grain of salt.

A while back a few TB folks asked us to make our Classic Distortion Pro (which has a TC in it) more "Bass Friendly", which we did (wet/dry mix and the EQ drops down an octave). I am not sure if it was Warwick Hoy, or some one else, but one person was all over it for a while.

So, for those TB folks who have our Classic Pro and have made the Bass tweaks, does it sound good? We have not tested that here.

Deluge Of Sound · #11 04-27-2011, 10:31 PM

I'm pretty sure the Attack Goat is also a 'Screamer style pedal.

Wounded Paw · #12 05-12-2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

I'm pretty sure the Attack Goat is also a 'Screamer style pedal.

no

Smurf-o-Deth · #13 05-12-2011, 04:31 PM

God, if Tubescreamers sounded like the Attack Goat (great fuzz), I wouldn't hate them the way I do. And, boy, do I ever. Fee, fi, fo, femur, I really hate the Tubescreamer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsmith601

Note that this is coming from a manufacturer, so please take with a grain of salt.

A while back a few TB folks asked us to make our Classic Distortion Pro (which has a TC in it) more "Bass Friendly", which we did (wet/dry mix and the EQ drops down an octave). I am not sure if it was Warwick Hoy, or some one else, but one person was all over it for a while.

So, for those TB folks who have our Classic Pro and have made the Bass tweaks, does it sound good? We have not tested that here.

I owned a Classic Distortion Pro (bought one of the first ones to market, actually), and I found the "bass mods" to be quite useful in making it usable for bass. Couldn't specifically say about the Tubescreamer setting, as, I have stated, I hate Tubescreamers and had no use for it.

NoiseNinja · #14 05-12-2011, 04:31 PM

What's the point of advising him to a tubescreamer kind of distortion when he didn't like the sound.
What about a Way Huge Green Rhino. Havn't tryed it myself but I liked the youtube tryout someone put up here once very much. It was a shootout between Pork Loin and a Green Rhino. YouTube - Green Rhino Vs Pork Loin Bass Demo

Smurf-o-Deth · #15 05-12-2011, 04:35 PM

Green Rhino is a Tubescreamer.

knumbskull · #16 05-12-2011, 04:52 PM

Digitech Bad Monkey is supposedly a TS clone - or derivative - that works on bass.

not sure if i like mine. the mid hump is good in the mix. very light distortion.

i've decided i don't like clean blends, on that subject. they sound great at home but all you get is the clean signal, when you play them in a loud band mix...

knumbskull · #17 05-12-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurf-o-Deth

Green Rhino is a Tubescreamer.

hmmm. i might check this out!

Timi · #18 05-12-2011, 06:06 PM

Love the tone but (IMO) you need an amp capable of a decent low end boost to make up for the low end cut, or if you aren't leaving it on the whole time perhaps put it in a bypass looper with an EQ pedal after it...

I've got one of the cheap tonelok series ones which has a "hot" mode with more gain and more usable low end, quite cool.

tomhanzo · #19 05-13-2011, 01:13 AM

OP sounds like your bass may not be sending a lot of signal into the pedal. Those two pedals should get you some overdrive.

I have a thread on here talking about some mods I've done to my Tube Screamer to make it sound amazing. You should check for that thread if your interested in making it work for you

loopee · #20 05-13-2011, 01:52 AM

Xotix BB Bass Preamp pedal......I love it