• 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 free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bass overdrive pedal

#42
A few years ago I was hunting for a good overdrive pedal - in the end I backed out of purchasing one (type of music I played had changed). Two that I really liked were the Way Huge Green Rhino & Aguilar Agro. They both had a very organic overdrive / grind that sounded good to me. You might want to check those out if you can.
 
#44
Masslymo said:
Hey.
I am new to bass (i am a guitar player) and want to build small and affordable bass pedalboard. I have cheap bass and amp (Ltd b10 and fender rumble 40).
I want to buy an overdrive/distortion pedal and can you suggest any affordable pedals?
I searched the internet and find Digitech XBD review and then went to Youtube for sound quality. It sounds ok for me. I just want to play and have fun at home.

Digitech XBD Bass Driver Overdrive/Distortion Pedal Review (2020)

Click to expand...

Boss ODB-3 Bass Overdrive was my first od pedal, the mix knob was it's saving grace, used it onstage for years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NortyFiner
#46
dave64o said:
I own a few that have already been suggested. I think the EHX Bass Soul Food and the TC Electronic Mojomojo are great values, and even better values if you can find them used. The Joyo American Drive is another nice one and it's so inexpensive that it's a great value even buying it new.

I've always liked my Bass Soul Food a lot but it seemed to be a pedal that got poo poo'd here. But lately it seems that either the fans are finally speaking up for it or there's some new found respect for it here on TB. It's not going to do a hard rock or metal kind of sound, but it wasn't designed for that. It's a lighter OD and I always thought it did that pretty well.
Click to expand...

I liked the Bass Soul Food. I used it for nearly a year. I then wanted something a bit higher gain, so the BSF stopped being the one for me. I often thought of buying another, it's a nice pedal for low/mid gain. I generally used mine with low gain, as an 'always on' effect, with a Precision.
I have other preferences now, but it's a nice pedal.

The Mojo Mojo is one I never gelled with. The distortion character just isn't for me, but it is a warm overdrive when you use low gain.

The Valeton Tube Refiner is another small box inexpensive pedal that does low/mid gain really nicely. I liked it so much that I bought two :D I was using one for very low and another for mid gain... like having presets :p

I still prefer the Joyo American Sound :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: dave64o
#47
catcauphonic said:
I'm always willing to pay more for something where the money doesn't go directly overseas. With that said, I picked up an American Sound here on TB 2nd hand for $25 and it's a fantastic pedal that I think the OP would be quite pleased with.

As far as the Boss ODB-3 goes, that was one of my first dirts and I hated it from day one. Fizzy can of bees with the gain anywhere past zero, it does not do light OD very well, IME.
Click to expand...

+1 on the ODB-3. It did a good impersonation of a jar of angry wasps. That's it. I wouldn't even call it an overdrive, it's an ugly distortion. Ugh. At the time it came out, if you wanted very high gain distortion, there wasn't much around dedicated for bass, that could ensure you keep the low end, so the ODB-3 had its place. But these days there's a lot better. Darkglass BK-3/7 or SA Aftershock are a LOT better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DrMole, catcauphonic and BeauZooka
#48
Bassdirty said:
Heck, I want one now..ya almost have to get one as they're so cheap.
I like just a lil drive, no gross fuzzy beez in a can sound.

The demo for bass sounded pretty dope too. (and I play guitar as well, so..) :bassist: :D :bassist:
Click to expand...

Do it! :)

It's one of those rare occasions when the price does not reflect how good it is...

For bass, I leave the EQ flat, then play with the voice control to get to the character I'm after. Voice and gain a bit. Then fine tune the EQ if you need a bit more bass or a bit less mids or whatever, it's always very small tweaks. Then simply altering the voice control takes you from round and smooth to gritty and aggressive.

For guitar, much the same, but then the EQ becomes more important to get the sound I have in my head.
I was going to sell my Mooer Hustle Drive, because it loses a bit too much bottom end for my liking, on bass. I've owned it for a couple of years and never tried it on guitar until last week. I placed it before my Joyo British Sound set to very clean, almost not noticeable, just adding a touch of very very soft overdrive, the kind where I back off my guitar volume a bit, just a bit, and if you play gently it's clean, and when you dig in you get a touch of overdrive... Then switch on the Hustle Drive and whoah that is a good sound. Very very smooth. With both humbuckers on the PRS it's so clear creamy smooth, then turn up the volume again on the guitar for higher gain... The Joyo British/American Sound just makes a lot of other ok overdrives sound great, like going through a nice amplifier. I love Fender amps on guitar... the Hot Rod DeVille, the DeLuxe, they are very nice clean/low overdrive amps, and using the Hustle DRive (and others) through the Joyo American Sound reminds me a lot of playing through those amps. Not quite the same, but not far off, and for recording there's no question I'd rather use the pedal than having all the bother with microphones etc.
 
#49
By the way, to the OP: I notice that everyone is talking about every OD EXCEPT the one you posted. The Digitech XBD is perfectly fine, relatively cheap, generally in the same category as the Boss ODB-3 and Tube Screamer. If that video has caught your ear, then by all means go for it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DrMole
#50
NortyFiner said:
Behringer pedals are basically copies of Boss pedals in a cheaper plastic box.

That said, the Boss ODB-3 is a perfectly respectable OD which is relatively cheap (especially used) and widely available.
Click to expand...
I should have been clear, I only recommend getting one used! They are dirt cheap that way. If you have the funds for Boss's MSRP on that thing you can take your time finding a much better pedal on the used market.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back