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Dirt-Box Questions...So many to choose from!

isher1992

isher1992

Nov 27, 2008
1,209
200
Little Rock, Arkansas
#1
I've used an Ibanez PD-7 "Phat-Hed" as a dedicated O.D. for a dirty channel of my board for 2 years now. On the clean side of the board, I have a DigiTech Grunge for all-out, ballsy and biting fuzz. But lately, I've been G.A.S.'ing for another dirtbox. The fact that I have a light overdrive, and a heavy, crazy fuzz is starting to make me crave something in the middle (I'll admit, I'm a Tim Commerford fan.) I'd like that to be a fuzz, and keep the PD-7 as an Overdrive, but if needs be, I'd go for another dedicated overdrive and make the PD-7 a middle-of-the-road distortion. Here's a picture of my set up:

373a9684.jpg


Sorry, crappy phone image. But, to explain how it works:

Bass goes into Ibanez Weeping Demon Wah, goes out into Micro POG, Dry out on POG goes to PD-7, into mini-mixer, wet out on POG goes to the Grunge, to an Ibanez Phaser, into the same mini mixer, then into a Tech 21 SansAmp and then into a Behringer Bass Chorus (Don't flame me, it does what it needs to do).

Some things I've had in mind are the Tech 21 Double Drive (Seems like a cool idea, to be able to use Class A and Class B and program it for multiple sounds like my SansAmp.), the Tech 21 Tri-A.C., the MXR El Grande Bass Fuzz, and an EHX Bass Big Muff (The Muff is at the bottom of my list. I've had a Black Sovtek re-issue muff with true bypass, and I could not get a good sound for the life of me, and I'm not sure I want the Bass model).

I'm hoping to spend less than 200, new or used. I use a passive P-bass tuned to Standard and Drop D, and I have an Ibanez ATK tuned to BEAD. I dunno if all this really helps, but I've been told that it just depends on your set up so I figured this information may help.

Any help or tips are greatly appreciated.
 
#3
I just picked up a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], might be what you're after. I'd classify it as a light- to medium-high overdrive... It does everything from light, just barely there overdrive to a much more grindy sound. I'd even say it has more overdrive available than my Keeley mod Sparkle Drive (which has twice the gain as the original), and the bass/treble controls are nice too. It'd probably be a great fit between the two pedals you've got.

If you're interested, I also own a Way Huge Pork Loin, Sansamp BDDI, the Keeley Mod Sparkle Drive mentioned above, Hartke Bass Attack and previously owned an HAO Rust Ride Bass driver... I'd be happy to answer any questions on those too. :)

5sg.
 
#4
I do like the looks on that Catalinbread...I've never really looked into any of their stuff. The only thing that I think would bother me is the dynamic response, how drastic it seems.



Like in this video, I mean. How would it work with another distortion in series? Would it make the "cascading" effect? And how well does it clean up with other pedals?
 
#5
isher1992 said:
Like in this video, I mean. How would it work with another distortion in series? Would it make the "cascading" effect? And how well does it clean up with other pedals?
Click to expand...

You're right, the SFT is very dynamic! That video pretty much tells you what you need to know about the dynamics. Crank the gain and you can't get a clean sound (obviously), but you can still get varying shades of grind. :)

I've never tried it with other OD/distortions however... are you talking about putting another dirt in front of the SFT? I imagine if you hit the SFT with a hot signal (particularly another overdrive/distortion), you could really light things up. Unfortunately I have to be to work early tomorrow and I know better than to pick up a bass this late... I'll stay up too late playing, just can't seem to help myself. :D lol I could try it tomorrow after work and record a clip if you like... :bassist:

5sg.
 
#6
fivestringgecko said:
You're right, the SFT is very dynamic! That video pretty much tells you what you need to know about the dynamics. Crank the gain and you can't get a clean sound (obviously), but you can still get varying shades of grind. :)

I've never tried it with other OD/distortions however... are you talking about putting another dirt in front of the SFT? I imagine if you hit the SFT with a hot signal (particularly another overdrive/distortion), you could really light things up. Unfortunately I have to be to work early tomorrow and I know better than to pick up a bass this late... I'll stay up too late playing, just can't seem to help myself. :D lol I could try it tomorrow after work and record a clip if you like... :bassist:

5sg.
Click to expand...
That would be very helpful, if you could. :)
 
#7
I've run the SFT into my Pork Loin and into my Musket.

It has no problems. No clipping, no overloading. Bear in mind I'm using a passive jazz bass.

SFT-->OCD just makes it what I call "epic" overdrive. :)
 
#9
isher1992 said:
That would be very helpful, if you could. :)
Click to expand...

Here you go... quick clip of the Pork Loin into the SFT! Clean clip at the beginning, progressively more gain as it goes. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to figure out when I turn the Pork Loin on. ;)

2009 MIA Pbass V > Pork Loin > SFT > PC via Line6 Toneport UX1 (no effects in the Pod Farm software).

SFT settings: Treble @ 10:30, Bass @ 2:00, Volume @ 9:00
Dirt 1 starts at :15, SFT gain @ 10:00
Dirt 2 starts at :30, SFT gain @ 12:00
Dirt 3 starts at :47, SFT gain @ 5:00 (max)
Dirt 4, Pork Loin on at 1:05, settings from Dirt 3 on the SFT. Pork Loin settings: Volume @ 10:00, Tone @ 12:00, Drive @ 5:00 (max), Clean @ 12:00, Curve @ 5:00 (max)

Hope that helps! Each pedal sounds pretty good alone, the SFT sounded like I thought it would with the Pork Loin running into it. :bassist:

5sg.
 
#11
fivestringgecko said:
I just picked up a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], might be what you're after. I'd classify it as a light- to medium-high overdrive... It does everything from light, just barely there overdrive to a much more grindy sound. I'd even say it has more overdrive available than my Keeley mod Sparkle Drive (which has twice the gain as the original), and the bass/treble controls are nice too. It'd probably be a great fit between the two pedals you've got.

If you're interested, I also own a Way Huge Pork Loin, Sansamp BDDI, the Keeley Mod Sparkle Drive mentioned above, Hartke Bass Attack and previously owned an HAO Rust Ride Bass driver... I'd be happy to answer any questions on those too. :)

5sg.
Click to expand...

I once had a hartke bass attack pedal. it was a pretty cool preamp pedal. I dig the sounds. the shape control button makes a pretty good eq boost. I was thinking of buying it again.
 
#12
Crystalman85 said:
I once had a hartke bass attack pedal. it was a pretty cool preamp pedal. I dig the sounds. the shape control button makes a pretty good eq boost. I was thinking of buying it again.
Click to expand...

You know, you're right... the Bass Attack definitely is more of a preamp pedal, I never really thought of it that way because I was surprised at how good the dirt section sounds! I think a lot of people pass this one simply because of the name, which is too bad. I actually won mine from Larry Hartke himself on Facebook!

Here's a clip, just for kicks... this thing can sound absolutely huge. Like, "I-Eat-Speakers-For-Breakfast" huge! The level in the last section was only at TWO! :eek:

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8981552

5sg.
 
#13
I;ve owned far too much....

suffice it to say that my current setup has stood for a while now with Ibanez PD7 in OD mode as my OD (everything at noon)

for fuzz I blend it with my clean and use the devi ever hyperion with volume to suit and tone at 10ish... both setups work well in the places I have them... PD7 is a bit mushy and not as articulate but it can be good for that OD wall of sound when needed...

as much as im always wanting the newest fuzz to try etc etc the hyperion is just awesomeness to me, and with it blended I can still provide heaps of articulate low end as well!
 
#14
I looked at the Hyperion, it seemed cool but not for me.

I DO like the sounds of that Hartke bass attack! I looked at one of those a long time ago, but then I got my SansAmp (typical teenager, when I ordered the PBDDI I was so excited :hyper:), and I wrote it off. Since it is a pre-amp, would it work well if I put it before the SansAmp? Or I would I be better to use them BOTH as separate pre-amps and put them into the mini mixer to come out as one?
 
#15
fivestringgecko said:
You know, you're right... the Bass Attack definitely is more of a preamp pedal, I never really thought of it that way because I was surprised at how good the dirt section sounds! I think a lot of people pass this one simply because of the name, which is too bad. I actually won mine from Larry Hartke himself on Facebook!

Here's a clip, just for kicks... this thing can sound absolutely huge. Like, "I-Eat-Speakers-For-Breakfast" huge! The level in the last section was only at TWO! :eek:

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8981552

5sg.
Click to expand...

Pretty cool sound sample you got there, 5stringgecko. it definitely sounds huge. like I've mentioned before, I am planning on buying it again.
 
#16
I'm thinking of changing my idea...I'm thinking of that Hartke bass attack, or the MXR M-80 for my dirty channel, and use the Ibanez PD7 I have and run a split channel. The way I have it set up now is that both channels run into a Behringer micro mixer and go into a Tech 21. I think instead, now with this new 2-channel power amp i just got yesterday (:bassist:), I'll run two channels instead of just one. Any suggestions to this new idea?
 

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