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Bass Overdrive / Fuzz / Distortion

#21
Really glad I found this post. Thanks to all. I could use a little help. First, what is the difference between a distortion, fuzz, and overdrive pedal? Or is there a difference? Maybe someone can explain?
I am looking for a pedal to give me some "distortion" but not crazy distortion, rather a smooth, subtle to maybe moderate sound to use for harmony bass lines, or just add a bit of pizazz to certain basslines.
Big problem is that it is difficult to find a retailer that carries more than one to try out. I prefer to actually try different pedals to decide but that is not possible even living in a large city.
I think the Darkglass Microtube looks very interesting but at $350 a bit too expensive. Maybe the MXR?
Again thanks for putting this up, it has been an interesting read so far.
 
#22
EJL said:
Really glad I found this post. Thanks to all. I could use a little help. First, what is the difference between a distortion, fuzz, and overdrive pedal? Or is there a difference? Maybe someone can explain?
I am looking for a pedal to give me some "distortion" but not crazy distortion, rather a smooth, subtle to maybe moderate sound to use for harmony bass lines, or just add a bit of pizazz to certain basslines.
Big problem is that it is difficult to find a retailer that carries more than one to try out. I prefer to actually try different pedals to decide but that is not possible even living in a large city.
I think the Darkglass Microtube looks very interesting but at $350 a bit too expensive. Maybe the MXR?
Again thanks for putting this up, it has been an interesting read so far.
Click to expand...

Yeah I've heard the 'expensive' thing on Darkglass pedals and I used to think the same way...until I tried them. Now I understand. Nothing does what Darkglass pedals can do. I could have bought 5 Darkglass pedals with the money I wasted trying to get cheap pedals to sound like that, now I have two of them on my board.

You also don't need to spend $350, you must be looking at the top end of their range. Look at the B3K and Vintage Microtubes which are $249 new or under $200 used.

That being said, if that's still too much maybe look into the Way Huge Green Rhino or Pork Loin which will be around $100 used. Also the HardWire CM-2 which will go around $50 used. I think you might need a clean blend for what you're wanting, though.
 
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#23
You are probably right. I think that I might be looking for an overdrive type. If I understand correctly that is more of a tube sounding distortion.
I'll look into the B3K pedal. I think the Vintage Microtubes is for guitar and I don't know if it wourks on bass.
Any opinions on the MXR other than the YouTube videos?
 
#24
EJL said:
You are probably right. I think that I might be looking for an overdrive type. If I understand correctly that is more of a tube sounding distortion.
I'll look into the B3K pedal. I think the Vintage Microtubes is for guitar and I don't know if it wourks on bass.
Any opinions on the MXR other than the YouTube videos?
Click to expand...

The B3K and Vintage Microtubes are both designed for bass. The B3K is grittier with huge bottom end and low mids. The Vintage is smoother and more 'tubey' and is fatter in the upper midrange.
 
#26
EJL said:
You are probably right. I think that I might be looking for an overdrive type. If I understand correctly that is more of a tube sounding distortion.
I'll look into the B3K pedal. I think the Vintage Microtubes is for guitar and I don't know if it wourks on bass.
Any opinions on the MXR other than the YouTube videos?
Click to expand...

The darkglass is made for bass, but can also work well for guitar. if you're talking about the mxr m80, I think it has a pretty cool grind. even though you need to step on the effects and the distortion in order to engage the distortion channel. it's also a pretty decent preamp pedal. not everyone like this pedal, but some people do.
 
#28
Basically:

OD: more of just a pushed gain sound. Essentially the intent is to get the sound of tube breakup to varying degrees

Distortion: high gain drive similar to guitar while hopefully retaining the low end

Fuzz: exactly that, a fuzzy or wooly sound.

Having generalized above there is not a clear line drawn these days as to what pedals are capable of what. Many pedals can achieve 1 or more of the above effects.

If you are looking for a nice subtle to hairy tube driven sound I would recommend the following:

1. $$$$ Darkglass VMT, Cadillac solution WIDE range of tone and gains

2. $$ Way Huge Pork Loin, reasonable price, primarily tube to mid drive

3. $$ Boss BB-1X capable of subtle to pretty gritty drive.
 
#29
Gosh I need to read this thread in detail, but chiming in to say that I still love my Darkglass B3K. I haven't tried any other dirt pedals on bass (well, I have a really cheap Danelectro thing I got for guitar like 15 years ago...), but it's great. So many angry bees, and so much clarity. It plays nice with my chorus and phaser pedals as well. I'm still thinking about getting a fuzz. The Duality has had my attention for a while, but the Malekko Diabolik caught my ear as well. No time to think about this right now, but once the semester is over, I may pull the trigger on finally getting a fuzz.

By the way, I've been using my acoustic electric bass almost exclusively for a while, and the B3K sounds great with that. I have some crappy recordings on my soundcloud, if anyone is interested in hearing how the B3K plays with my acoustic. Check out "He's More Machine Now than Man." The first "movement" is mostly clean with a little bit of phaser on some riffs....then there's a trippy mellow section with the phaser on....and then I use my B3K and my delay pedal together for most of the rest of the tune. Not a great recording but it might give you an idea of how the B3K sounds with an acoustic bass. Four-string acoustic bass guitar. Not an upright, haha.

edit: And by the way, if anyone has recommendations on fuzz, I'm all ears. I just want something that sounds HEAVY.
 
#30
I've been searching for "a perfect" bass overdrive/distortion solution for my heavy rock band for a some time now. There's been a lot of knob twiddling during this quest, and I haven't found the ultimate tone yet -- every "this is it" moment (yes there have been some) has faded away soon after, there always seems to be something that doesn't sound quite right in the long run. At the moment I have a Darkglass VMTD, a B3K and a MXR M80 DI+, and I'm using a combination of all those three (in that order), using the VMTD and the M80 always on (really mild overdrive settings -- the VMTD providing a woolly midrangey boost and then the M80 scooping it, with blend almost off) and the B3K when in need of really grindy distortion on top (or actually in the middle) of them. Sound quite good, but...

I have a SansAmp BDDI and a Boss ODB-3 coming in this week, so the search continues. Maybe some combination of those five pedals is the prefect solution, but I think I may have to start experimenting with a cleaner bottom & top - distorted midrange setup too. But how to accomplish that crossover setup on a pedal board, no idea... yet. :D
 
#31
jfn77 said:
I've been searching for "a perfect" bass overdrive/distortion solution for my heavy rock band for a some time now. There's been a lot of knob twiddling during this quest, and I haven't found the ultimate tone yet -- every "this is it" moment (yes there have been some) has faded away soon after, there always seems to be something that doesn't sound quite right in the long run. At the moment I have a Darkglass VMTD, a B3K and a MXR M80 DI+, and I'm using a combination of all those three (in that order), using the VMTD and the M80 always on (really mild overdrive settings -- the VMTD providing a woolly midrangey boost and then the M80 scooping it, with blend almost off) and the B3K when in need of really grindy distortion on top (or actually in the middle) of them. Sound quite good, but...

I have a SansAmp BDDI and a Boss ODB-3 coming in this week, so the search continues. Maybe some combination of those five pedals is the prefect solution, but I think I may have to start experimenting with a cleaner bottom & top - distorted midrange setup too. But how to accomplish that crossover setup on a pedal board, no idea... yet. :D
Click to expand...

Dude, stack the ODB3 with the VMTD. Im tellin you, grind heaven. In the sweetest way. Its is so ideal for a bass drive tone for any kind of rock. The key is to keep the blend high and the drive low on the ODB3. Way low. I keep the blend up around 3 oclock and the drive turned up just enough to where you start hearing it effect the signal. Usually around 7 or 8 oclock. Its amazing IMO. I do however run mine into a B7K so your results may vary. But I remember the VMT having that DG flavor so the VMTD should put you somewhere in that ballpark that I was in. If I were you, I would sell that BDDI to help fund a B7K and be done with it. You will be very happy you did.
 
#32
jfn77 said:
I've been searching for "a perfect" bass overdrive/distortion solution for my heavy rock band for a some time now. There's been a lot of knob twiddling during this quest, and I haven't found the ultimate tone yet -- every "this is it" moment (yes there have been some) has faded away soon after, there always seems to be something that doesn't sound quite right in the long run. At the moment I have a Darkglass VMTD, a B3K and a MXR M80 DI+, and I'm using a combination of all those three (in that order), using the VMTD and the M80 always on (really mild overdrive settings -- the VMTD providing a woolly midrangey boost and then the M80 scooping it, with blend almost off) and the B3K when in need of really grindy distortion on top (or actually in the middle) of them. Sound quite good, but...

I have a SansAmp BDDI and a Boss ODB-3 coming in this week, so the search continues. Maybe some combination of those five pedals is the prefect solution, but I think I may have to start experimenting with a cleaner bottom & top - distorted midrange setup too. But how to accomplish that crossover setup on a pedal board, no idea... yet. :D
Click to expand...

THere are also quite a few crossover dists out there right now. The XD2 by Brimstone Audio, IE makes a crossover dist. There are options for using some things made by Rolls that @Downunderwonder has told me about in the past that could be a solution that youre looking for. Its something to keep in mind.
 
#39
Thanks for the answers. The B3K seems to have a really nice sound but so does the Vintage Microtubes. Had to decide and unable to try the actual pedals. Yes I was also looking at the MXR pedal, but think the DG pedals blow them away. It seems that the VM is kind of locked into its tube tones (not a bad thing) but the B3K lets you do more customization if it were.
Tough to tell with the video demos. I just want a subtle to moderate type of overdrive/distortion sound. Not looking for crazy wacked out fuzz, but rather something that can get a great sweet overdrive/distortion for recording and a sound (to be dertermined) for a "always on" type of dirt that comes through the mix for 50's. 60's, 70's, 80's cover stuff of rock, r&b, motown, etc.
I think one of the DG's may do the trick more than the MXR, but I'll certainly keep listening to what anyone has to say.
Come to think of it, the pedal would be used with both active basses with roundwounds and passive passes with flats and/or rounds. Does either pedal excel when used across the board with both active and passive basses, round or flats?
Much appreciation to all again!
Since the VM is the same price as the B3K its just a matter of picking the right one. Oh the pain of it all.
 
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#40
Here is a little demo I just made for the Breeder thread.

Fender Jazz Bass with Fralin jazz pickups -> 1972 Ampeg SVT

Effects going through a Pedal Palette with no compression or anything before. The Drum signal is slightly compressed but the bass is just going through a sfx Micro-Thumpinator.

Overdrive / Distortion / Fuzz Shootout

- BJFE Designed Bearfoot Blueberry Bass Overdrive
- COG Effects TK-421x Radar Rat with LM chip
- COG Effects Grand Tarkin Bass Fuzz
- Darkglass Duality Bass Fuzz with mids mod - first in open mode and then in Gate mode.


 

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