What do you like for gritty overdrive?

Ryan Mohr · #1 01-04-2009, 07:47 PM

Just curious. There are "smooth" overdrive pedals like the Barber LTD, and the DHA VT1, and on the other side of the spectrum, there are "gritty" or "grainy" overdrive pedals like the Fulltone Bass-Drive. I am basing this on what I have read and heard. It seems like the "gritty" overdrives usually have less compression, and have preamp tubes in it, with the exception of the DHA pedals. So what have you guys found that fits the description of a gritty overdrive?

SpamBot · #2 01-04-2009, 07:49 PM

Guitar pedals. If you need a fuzz tone, get a Boss DS-1. On bass, it's tasty and gritty as hell. You'll lose some bass response though (Obviously)

rcubed · #3 01-04-2009, 07:58 PM

Well the DS-1 isn't really a fuzz, but I bought one to mod for gritty OD.

SpamBot · #4 01-04-2009, 07:59 PM

Whatever. I find the distortion descriptive words somewhat ambiguous

Jared Lash · #5 01-04-2009, 07:59 PM

As always, it's hard to describe tone in words. I would consider the Blueberry with the tone at 1 o'clock and the gain at 3 o'clock or so to be "gritty" but I don't think that's what you're getting at here.

The HAO Rust Ride is called an overdrive and is very aggressive and crunchy. I personally don't consider it an overdrive though as it sounds (and I mean this in the best way possible) like a trash compactor.

I haven't played one myself, but you might want to check out the Electronix GeminiDrive. From the clips it sounds like it might be what you're looking for.

bigchiefbc · #6 01-04-2009, 08:05 PM

Judging by the clips I've heard of it, I would say the Catalinbread Hyperpak is in the "gritty" camp. And I think it sounds awesome. I've thought about picking one up for a while now

Ryan Mohr · #7 01-04-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpamBot

Guitar pedals. If you need a fuzz tone, get a Boss DS-1. On bass, it's tasty and gritty as hell. You'll lose some bass response though (Obviously)

I have tried a DS-1 - nice distortion, a little too compressed, cuts the lows

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpamBot

Whatever. I find the distortion descriptive words somewhat ambiguous

That is very true, but some are still useful to get an idea of a pedal's tone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

As always, it's hard to describe tone in words. I would consider the Blueberry with the tone at 1 o'clock and the gain at 3 o'clock or so to be "gritty" but I don't think that's what you're getting at here.

The HAO Rust Ride is called an overdrive and is very aggressive and crunchy. I personally don't consider it an overdrive though as it sounds (and I mean this in the best way possible) like a trash compactor.

I haven't played one myself, but you might want to check out the Electronix GeminiDrive. From the clips it sounds like it might be what you're looking for.

Just so you know, I'm not looking for a pedal. Just sorting things out in my effects-crazed mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

Judging by the clips I've heard of it, I would say the Catalinbread Hyperpak is in the "gritty" camp. And I think it sounds awesome. I've thought about picking one up for a while now

Cool, but I think that's too high gain for what I was thinking.

Ryan Mohr · #8 01-04-2009, 08:19 PM

The Paul Cochrane Timmy is usually described as gritty FWIW.

Beyer160 · #9 01-04-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

Judging by the clips I've heard of it, I would say the Catalinbread Hyperpak is in the "gritty" camp. And I think it sounds awesome. I've thought about picking one up for a while now

I have a 2-knob Hyperpak, and love it for guitar- it gives the clean channel on my Hot Rod Deluxe a nice tubey high gain crunch (the distortion channel on those is close to worthless). I tried it with my bass rig though, and it sounded like crap. I lost a significant amount of low end, and it wound up sounding like a can of bees- completely unlike how it sounds with guitar. YMMV, of course.

I just got a VT Bass pedal and although I haven't tried it with my bass rig yet (my band's on hiatus for another couple weeks), I think it's going to be a winner. Subtle growl to buzzsaw grind, with as much or as little low end as you want.

SnakeAnthony · #10 01-04-2009, 08:52 PM

Fulltone OCD

Ryan Mohr · #11 01-05-2009, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnakeAnthony

Fulltone OCD

Cool, that's what I thought but EricR once posted it was a smooth distortion. I'm going with you and most other people.

TaySte_2000 · #12 01-05-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beyer160

I have a 2-knob Hyperpak, and love it for guitar- it gives the clean channel on my Hot Rod Deluxe a nice tubey high gain crunch (the distortion channel on those is close to worthless). I tried it with my bass rig though, and it sounded like crap. I lost a significant amount of low end, and it wound up sounding like a can of bees- completely unlike how it sounds with guitar. YMMV, of course.

I just got a VT Bass pedal and although I haven't tried it with my bass rig yet (my band's on hiatus for another couple weeks), I think it's going to be a winner. Subtle growl to buzzsaw grind, with as much or as little low end as you want.

Odd because I love the Hyperpak on Bass it's my go to distortion

Jared Lash · #13 01-05-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaySte_2000

Odd because I love the Hyperpak on Bass it's my go to distortion

It looks like he's got a solid state Thunderfunk and if I remember correctly you've got a tube amp. That's a pretty big difference for a pedal like the Hyperpak.

Beyer160 · #14 01-05-2009, 11:46 AM

Yeah, dirt boxes are especially application dependent. I remember not understanding for the life of me why anyone would buy an MXR Distortion pedal, until I played with a guy who used one to kick his JTM45 into overdrive. Into a clean SS amp it sounded small and tinny, but it gave the Marshall a jet engine roar and nicely compressed sustain. Vive le difference!

markjazzbassist · #15 01-05-2009, 11:55 AM

DOD 250 i consider gritty. i enjoy all the forms, clones, and variations of it on bass.

OptimusPrime · #16 01-05-2009, 11:58 AM

EBS ValveDrive had ended my search for gritty.

TaySte_2000 · #17 01-05-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

It looks like he's got a solid state Thunderfunk and if I remember correctly you've got a tube amp. That's a pretty big difference for a pedal like the Hyperpak.

Sounded pretty good on my Iamp800

jimmy rocket · #18 01-05-2009, 12:30 PM

I've had a lot of success lately with the BBE Green Screamer. With the tone at 0 it gives me some nice dirt w/o losing too much of the low end.

stflbn · #19 01-05-2009, 12:32 PM

Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive here. Blend Knob offers complete control as far as I'm concerned. Wish the Tone knob was more dynamic on it.

OrionManMatt · #20 01-05-2009, 01:28 PM

Would it translate that most bass overdrives and distortions could be used for electric guitar, too?

I see and have seen many examples that are typically considered "guitar effect pedals" but have found comfortable acceptance in the bassist's universe.

Notwithstanding the many flavors of overdrive and distortion, for the bassist is it merely a matter of keeping the low end in tact?

Matt