• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bass Distortion

This question is asked daily on here and I think it would help you out a lot if you start searching through threads on here. You will probably find the answer you are looking for and learn a TON more. Searching the pages is the easiest way to start.

A great way to find out what bass effects sound like - go on youtube and search for certain effect pedals. You can hear other bass players demo effects. It helps me out all the time especially when I have a hard time finding it in stores.

No such thing as "best bass distortion pedal", it's your tone, find what you want and that will be the best.
 
You're going to get 100 different suggestions from 100 different people. Go to bassfuzz.com and listen to all the pedals, they have awesome videos that thoroughly demo each pedal. Really helpful.

+ 1

Check you tube for demos of other pedals. And before you burn the $, check out Harmony Central for cutomer reviews about the pedal you're about buy.

As for myself, I don't use distortion at all, just sold my BBM last week and am quite happy with my SansAmp's OD. Only other OD option I'd consider are the Fulltone Bass Drive and the Ibanez Bass Tube Screamer.
 
Bassmike62 said:
Been following your recent posts concerning this pedal. Is it capable of doing light OD as well ?

Kind of. If you turn down the presence you can still achieve a nice boost in signal that still let's you tone ring through. But I'm not sure that is what it was intended for. It's more of an explosion of sound that it does the best with. As an OD, I wouldn't say its the best I've ever heard but it still works pretty good when I need a boost instead of a crunch. Dial down the presence and distortion and to me, it works great. A creative mind can find creative solutions but like I said, I don't think it was intended to be a "in the dark" kind of pedal. But with a 30-40 dollar price, so I've been told, it might be worth your time to see for yourself. I enjoy this pedal very much. I has done everything I ask it to do but once again, these are MY ears connected to MY brain. I hope I helped.
 
rratajski said:
Before the other 10,000 "you should buy this..." posts come in, please post your bass and head/cab setup...

Agreed. Different pedals work better or worse with different rigs.

At the end I would say go and try out pedals. I've been in the bass dirt game for about 10 years and have gone through 20+ pedals. As of now I'm all about my Fuzzrocious rat tail, Fuzzrocious grey stache, and blackout effectors twosome.

But even thought these work for me it all depends on that ideal sound you have in that crazy little head of yours.
 
Eugene Festus said:
I tie a badger to my amp. Every time I play he gets angry and starts growling and biting every thing. I usually twist his right ear to about 12 o'clock and is left to about 3 and I can get the meanest growl you've ever heard... It does wonders to my tone.

Hahaha! Man this is funny. Too long to sig. If not I would.

But back to your rig. I basically had the same set up but I had an emperor 612. If you're going for a stoner/doom thing I would start with a fuzz. Other thing is budget. I could suggest a blackout effectors twosome but idk how much you want to spend. That also helps with the choices.
 
I play an Emperor 4x12 and Emperor 2x12 together and have an Ampeg SVT Classic head.

Sweet rig dude,

The other posters are right tho, theres lots and lots of threads regarding bass distortion/fuzz/drive etc, and infact there seems to be more than a few regarding stoner/doom sounds too.

the 3 knob tonebenders and Big Muffs (which are very similar) are almost standard for dooms sounds to my ears.

If going for a big muff, try and get a black or green one (russian), or something based on them.

I would recommend Fuzzrocious Pedals Grey Stache or a Wren & Cuff Tall Font Russian. - the W&C is a direct clone of the the Sovtek/Electro Harmonix 'tall font' green Big Muff Pi and is apparently pretty awesome. I havent tried it but thats because I have a real 'tall font' Sovtek Muff.

The muff sound it kinda scooped in the midrange, and you're always best keeping your tone control below 11 o'clock to get the deepest fuzz. Its a thick, warm and wooly sound that still has its own bite.

There is also an Electro Harmonix Bass Big Muff which is a bit more versatile than a regular and is the biggest selling pedal where I work (and we have ALOT of different pedals from alot of different brands).
 

Latest posts