Bass Big Muff or OBD-3?

[ilovenofrets]

I had both, and while I currently own neither, I liked the Boss ODB-3 better. It has more EQ control, and can give that nice classic overdrive sound. It can also be used full-gain for a more industrial-type sound. The Big Muff is good too, with a thicker overall tone, but is more of a fuzz than an overdrive. It's really a matter of what type of drive you need for your tone. As recomended by others here, check out some YT clips, and you can also check out the ODB on the Boss website.

 

[Albibass]

Big Muff.........NO Contest. I have both. The boss is sterile and would make a good guitar distortion. The Big Muff is ALOT warmer and goes from subtle overdrive to full on distortion while maintaining BASS tone. The boss does not. I've played professionally for 12 years doing an average of 300 shows a year and am VERY picky about my tone. TRUST ME the Big Muff is the way to go. But be sure you get the black one. It's awesome.

If you do 300 shows a year and you're picky about your tone, I would at least expect you to know a Muff is a fuzz and NOT an overdrive or distortion. All three sound totally different. That's something you should know, if you think you know anything about effects.

On-topic then: Don't get the Boss. It might sound pretty good on it's own while practicing, but one's your playing with a band your bass will get lost in the mix... I've had it myself and seen lot's of bassplayers use it and none of them had a decent sound in the full band-mix.

 

[Voss451]

Ever try an Ibanez Phat-Hed PD7 ? I had really good results with that one. I find what pedal you use also depends a lot on what kind of bass and amp you have. The pickups in my Iceman are significantly hotter than the ones in my Spector. As a result, I have to literally change settings, otherwise the tone difference should I switch basses is quite significant.

With my current rig, I've tried the ODB3, PD-7, Sansamp Bass Driver, Fulltone Bass Driver, and many others. While they sounded great through an Ampeg & a few other amps, they didn't fair so well through my Markbass head. I've ended up using a combo of a Tech21 VT Bass pedal & Danelectro Transparent Overdrive and it sounds fantastic.

So, if at all possible, go to wherever the pedals are that you're looking at and try them with either your bass & amp or as close as you can get with whatever you have because (as I've found out) listening to samples & whatnot online may give you a rough idea of what the pedal will sound like but NOT what it'll sound like through your setup.

 

[12bass]

As mentioned, the BBM is a fuzz, while the ODB-3 is an overdrive pedal. I like the BBM as a fuzz. Never found what I thought was a useful tone from the ODB... sounds buzzy and "solid-state" for lack of a better description. For my taste, I prefer a lot of other pedals if overdrive is the goal (like the VT Bass or Aguilar Agro).

 

[Dutch Bassdude]

I bought the BBM, and I'm satisfied, great pedal

 

[TussinBot.]

I bought myself both the Ibanez Phat hed PD7 and Bass Big Muff for christmas after searching for some overdrive, and I found the PD7 to be great. Useable as a clean boost, light over drive or distortion, doesnt get too heavy which is good for me, bass comes through really well. I personally didnt like the boss odb-3, like someone said before, it sounds too metallic. and the Bass Big muff is great, usin that for some doomy music. Very different from the Boss ODB-3. Go play both though, but I do suggest checking out the Ibanez, for 50 bucks less than the boss, you cant beat it.