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Bass Overdrive, what pedal?

Chris_NR

Chris_NR

Feb 26, 2009
11
1
San Francisco
www.myspace.com
#1
I'm currently planning to purchase a bass overdrive pedal. I'm not after a full out distorted sound, more of a slightly overdriven warm bass sound; similar to A Wilhelm Scream and older Rise Against material. Has anyone had much experience with overdrive pedals? What would you recommend from your own experience?

I've been told that the Boss ODB 3 is one of the best available, any opinions?
 
#6
Chris_NR said:
I'm currently planning to purchase a bass overdrive pedal. I'm not after a full out distorted sound, more of a slightly overdriven warm bass sound; similar to A Wilhelm Scream and older Rise Against material. Has anyone had much experience with overdrive pedals? What would you recommend from your own experience?
Click to expand...

Do you want that tone all the time? If so, I say get a tube amp. I'd be surprised if that wasn't what was being used to get those tones in the first place.

If you don't want it always on, the VT Bass was a good suggestion as it will get you that tube amp sound and do it pretty convincingly.

A cheap option for relatively transparent overdrive is the DOD 250.
 
#8
Chris_NR said:
I've been told that the Boss ODB 3 is one of the best available, any opinions?
Click to expand...

I don't know who told you this, but that pedal is the complete and total opposite of the sound you're trying to achieve.
If you want harsh, industrial sounding distortion, then try the ODB-3.

For warm, natural, slight to medium overdrive try:

Fulltone Bassdrive
One of the Sansamps (VT is a popular one around here)
 
#16
Chris_NR said:
In response to TheBigo; Is it possible to generate that amount of overdrive with a tube amp?
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A cranked tube amp is pretty much the sound that most overdrives try to emulate. Except a $150 pedal costs a whole lot less than a tube head. Not to mention weighs much less. But I would much rather have a real tube head for overdrive. Only problem is, I like sparkly clean tone as well sometimes.
 
#18
stflbn said:
You're going to gain more versatility by having a good amp and a good overdrive pedal.

IMHO


.
Click to expand...

True. That's why I asked if he wanted that tone all the time. No pedal will ever sound exactly like a tube amp (though the VT Bass is pretty close) but if you want clean solid state tones AND a pretty good representation of tube amps, then an OD pedal and SS amp is the way to go.

If you want the true tube amp tone and dig it both "clean" and overdriven and can deal with the weight, then go for it.
 

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