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Bass Overdrive / Fuzz / Distortion
- Thread starter BaltBass5
- Start date
I picked this up as well recently, and I love it! This pedal didn't seem to get a ton of attention on this board, but man does it sound fantastic. Using Lomenzo's video to find that sweet spot in the high mids is perfect, it's my go-to sound for all of my recording right now. It leaves the lows completely intact, so there is no mushiness even with the gain cranked.
I also own the B7K, which kills. That being said, it does add quite a bit of juice in the low mids, so I was looking for some variety by going with the Hyperdrive. I think I have my OD / distortion needs covered between these two pedals.
I've recently purchased a markbass mini bass distortion pedal and it sounds totally awesome. it has a grinding sound that similar to the distortion channel on a fender rumble v3 bass amp. I'm really impressed with the sound quality on this pedal. this one is staying on my pedalboard along with my darkglass vmt.
I'd like to thank you OP, and guys for such an informative thread!
I'm looking to get a different distortion pedal as well - not happy with my ODB3, and leaning towards the Triumvirate (a 3-band gain sounds like a winner), but I really don't know.
I'm looking to get a different distortion pedal as well - not happy with my ODB3, and leaning towards the Triumvirate (a 3-band gain sounds like a winner), but I really don't know.
Check out the Alpha Dog also if you're looking at VFE. Fantastic distortion pedal.
Good thread and some interesting reading. I strongly believe that you can get good sounds even out of pedals you hate lol but the ones i would recommend are..
Od/lite distortion:
Mesa boogie fluxdrive
Roger mayer voodoobass
Boss sd-1(bass modded)
Ibanez ts9b
Any of those is usually on my board as a always on or boost when needed pedals.
Not very transparent but sounds damn good and cuts through.
And yes there are better ones than the ts9b, but i always get usefull sounds out of it when i want some tightness, boost and extra hair.
Fuzz:
Superfuzz
Boss fz-3
You can step on these into a highly pushed and distorted tube amp with great result. Or into a clean solid state combo and always know it will sound brutal lol
And i like rat-clones, as in blower box, rat tail and bass modded ts-9's
I really don't like sansamp, swollen pickle, big muff, odb-3 or any of the darkglass pedals. But then i don't like pedals that scoopes too much(other than the superfuzz that scoopes but sounds great)
To put it into my perspective, i always have some overdrive coming from my amps. So my pedals only push that sound further and may be why some pedals just don't work for me.
Od/lite distortion:
Mesa boogie fluxdrive
Roger mayer voodoobass
Boss sd-1(bass modded)
Ibanez ts9b
Any of those is usually on my board as a always on or boost when needed pedals.
Not very transparent but sounds damn good and cuts through.
And yes there are better ones than the ts9b, but i always get usefull sounds out of it when i want some tightness, boost and extra hair.
Fuzz:
Superfuzz
Boss fz-3
You can step on these into a highly pushed and distorted tube amp with great result. Or into a clean solid state combo and always know it will sound brutal lol
And i like rat-clones, as in blower box, rat tail and bass modded ts-9's
I really don't like sansamp, swollen pickle, big muff, odb-3 or any of the darkglass pedals. But then i don't like pedals that scoopes too much(other than the superfuzz that scoopes but sounds great)
To put it into my perspective, i always have some overdrive coming from my amps. So my pedals only push that sound further and may be why some pedals just don't work for me.
Here is a video I did yesterday after picking up an original ProCo Turbo Rat.
I had allways been told theses things where amazing as a bass distortion pedal. And now I have to agree. This is the distortion I have been looking for!!
That sounds pretty cool, jeff. I've been using distortions and overdrives on bass myself. I've recently purchased a markbass mini bass distortion pedal and it sounded pretty cool. from my perspective, it sounds similar to the distortion channel of a fender rumble v3 bass amp. I really dig the sounds. I also liked the ebs metaldrive. that pedal has a pretty heavy sound and it's suitable for rock and metal.
OK after tons of listening to the videos I think I'm going to go with the B3K. It seems to allow for more of a personal tone setting as opposed to the Vintage Microtube pedal. The B3k sounds like it can also get really distorted without losing bottom, keeping the notes intact, and doesn't get real fuzzy. Just a smoother sound. The VM seems more geared to sounds from other players amps. Of course without trying either one it is tough to know with my own basses/amps. Still don't know how it is with flatwound strings or playing that Motown/R&B/Classic Rock and even original stuff but got to try to find out.
I see there have been "revisions". Can anyone tell me what is the latest revision, and if there is a way to tell if the pedal I get is the latest revision?
Appreciate all the help and advice from you guys.
I see there have been "revisions". Can anyone tell me what is the latest revision, and if there is a way to tell if the pedal I get is the latest revision?
Appreciate all the help and advice from you guys.
Here's probably an in-popular question (hiding)...
What's wrong with Digitech Bass Drivers? Are they just so "yesterday" or just a starter?
Yeah I kinda see Digitech as 'starter' pedals with tone sucking non-true bypass switching and low headroom inputs. Very easy to clip the input stage on them.
However, this does not apply to Digitech's Hardwire line which are very high quality and cost just a hair more than the cheap stuff when new. They are completely different pedals.
Cool. And what's up with the Hard Wire line??? I was thinking going into this I'd just get a Blower Box and be done with it (lol).
HardWire is basically Digitech's boutique line, which are built more like other higher end pedals.
But if you want a Blower Box, get one! They are awesome and Digitech or Hardwire doesn't have anything like it.
OK so I received the B3K and thought I'd give a short review. The pedal will never do the in your face fuzz or distortion, that I could find. First I used an active Warwick with nickel roundwounds. In lower settings the pedal was very subtle and could make a nice always on pedal in those settings. I noticed that for me the attack and grunt are better on even though both give a subtle addition to the sound but a nice addition. The drive and blend knobs need to be set fairly high to get a good distortion effect.
Either way the effect really hugs the notes tightly without going into scattered note mode. Also it was great for chords, really holding the chord tightly and allowing the individual notes in the chords to be heard clearly.
Then I used a passive P-bass with Thomastik flats. The effect was pretty much the same, but seemed to have a softer OD/distortion sound. Certainly the nickel flats, but still a sweet effect on the bass.
I expected a little more distortion from the pedal but it really is a mild to moderate type of effect. I like it, and unless I find/try a different OD, I am going to keep it and use it. The most noticable thing was how great it covered the notes without losing any of the note itself. Notes were still there and the effect was like a blanket instead of making the notes indistinguishable. That's what I was looking for. Oh the sustain is wonderful too. I have a Big Muff from the 70's and the sound just blasts the bass line apart instead of letting the bass line be heard clearly.
Can't wait to try recording with it.
Careful with the level knob because it can really get the volume up there, so if you like to kick it in for a solo, this will definintely let you be heard!
If and when I try the 5 string with stainless strings I'll let you know.
Thanks again for everyones help and advice. As with all of us bass players this is my pedal...for now.
Now I'm off to the chorus threads to see if I can find something usable for my fretless, and Rickenbacker. I was only able to try the MXR bass deluxe but can't find the TC bass boost one to compare.
Either way the effect really hugs the notes tightly without going into scattered note mode. Also it was great for chords, really holding the chord tightly and allowing the individual notes in the chords to be heard clearly.
Then I used a passive P-bass with Thomastik flats. The effect was pretty much the same, but seemed to have a softer OD/distortion sound. Certainly the nickel flats, but still a sweet effect on the bass.
I expected a little more distortion from the pedal but it really is a mild to moderate type of effect. I like it, and unless I find/try a different OD, I am going to keep it and use it. The most noticable thing was how great it covered the notes without losing any of the note itself. Notes were still there and the effect was like a blanket instead of making the notes indistinguishable. That's what I was looking for. Oh the sustain is wonderful too. I have a Big Muff from the 70's and the sound just blasts the bass line apart instead of letting the bass line be heard clearly.
Can't wait to try recording with it.
Careful with the level knob because it can really get the volume up there, so if you like to kick it in for a solo, this will definintely let you be heard!
If and when I try the 5 string with stainless strings I'll let you know.
Thanks again for everyones help and advice. As with all of us bass players this is my pedal...for now.
Now I'm off to the chorus threads to see if I can find something usable for my fretless, and Rickenbacker. I was only able to try the MXR bass deluxe but can't find the TC bass boost one to compare.
Yeah the B3K is awesome. But it's definitely not a fuzz, and it's not outrageously high gain. Great thing about the B3K is how the blend works. I use it for my always on so I have it set kinda on the subtle side. I run the level all the way up and use the blend to bring in just a little bit of the B3K....and it sounds huge.
Get a Stomp Under Foot Civil War for fuzz and a Blower Box for outrageous gain and you'll have the trifecta!
I've got a lovely trifecta of overdrive-fuzz-distortion... it goes like this:
Elements > Elements >> Elements
Seriously. The Elements stacks so well...
Elements > Elements >> Elements
Seriously. The Elements stacks so well...
Another review
Fulltone OCD.
A had tried this back a while ago and wasn't overly impressed. After reading a LOT of people giving it thumbs up on TB I decided to revisit it.
First of all it DOES have a noticeable loss of low end at ANY setting you try. For this reason alone I couldn't really find a use for it. I should mention that I primarily play in a 3 piece where I am the only thing holding down the rhythm during solos etc...As such I need something that doesn't lose the low end at ALL but can get pretty grindy. (Think of trying to cover the space of bass and rhythm guitar simultaneously). The OCD simply cannot do this. I could see certain applications that would be good for the OCD in a 2 guitar band, but overall I found it it too think as well as too nasal in tone. Tried it with my P Bass (Better Results) and my Jazz Bass.
IMO....I'd stay away from this as a bassist.
Fulltone OCD.
A had tried this back a while ago and wasn't overly impressed. After reading a LOT of people giving it thumbs up on TB I decided to revisit it.
First of all it DOES have a noticeable loss of low end at ANY setting you try. For this reason alone I couldn't really find a use for it. I should mention that I primarily play in a 3 piece where I am the only thing holding down the rhythm during solos etc...As such I need something that doesn't lose the low end at ALL but can get pretty grindy. (Think of trying to cover the space of bass and rhythm guitar simultaneously). The OCD simply cannot do this. I could see certain applications that would be good for the OCD in a 2 guitar band, but overall I found it it too think as well as too nasal in tone. Tried it with my P Bass (Better Results) and my Jazz Bass.
IMO....I'd stay away from this as a bassist.
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I've said many times the OCD is probably the worst sounding pedal I've ever had. Usually if I don't like a pedal I could at least understand why others would, but not the OCD. A Fuzzrocious Demon whoops it up one side and down the other, every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Thought I was going nuts there for a while, glad that's not happening! Whew!
