• 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.

Best bass distortion without loosing low end?

#21
I'll just give you a list of pedals that got positive reviews on this site:
Fulltone bassdrive (mosfet)
Fulltone OCD
Fulltone fatboost
xotic bb preamp
digitech bad monkey (or better the modded badder monkey)
Voodoo labs sparkle drive
Electronix gemini drive
BJFE blueberry
Way Huge pork loin
Electro Harmonix english muff'n
EBS multidrive
EBS valvedrive
Polish love aka lil jovi or whatever
Cream pie
VT bass
Catalinbread SFT
Barber LTD
Sansamp .... driver ... bass ... something

These are all overdrive pedals which I presume your after. If you want fuzz that's a whole nother ball game. There are more options out there so do some research here on tb and see what's in your budget.
 
#22
I must praise AMT pedals!

I use the Communist and Capitalist Pig pedals and both sound phenomenal! But for what you describe I actually would crank the gain knob on my AMT Slap Bass pedal and riff away. Can you tell I like AMT stuff? I tried that Boss stuff its just so mediocre and generic in every way. The T-Rex pedal is awesome too.
 
#23
Based on the tone I think you want, I'd recommend the Xotic BB preamp. It sounds like you might want a mid-rich pedal. However, the BB doesn't have a blend! Still, you should try it.

I love the Bass Big Muff, and it is versatile w/ good lows in the "dry" mode, but I think it might be far more gain than you describe.

The EBS Valve Drive will definitely get you there, but there is a learning curve to it's tone-stack style eq. It's one of the most versatile & natural od's out there! But again, no blend! It does preserve the inherent tone of the input source very well, though. If you can find one to spend at least 20 minutes with (to dial in a sound, there's lots of knobs/controls), it will be well worth it.

The T-REX Bass Juice sounds great & has a blend! However, it borderlines on the "fuzz" spectrum. Might not 'grunt' like I think you want.

Surprisingly, the Fender Sub-Lime bass "fuzz" might work. It has a crossover/blend function and has more mids than most fuzzes. Plus, the 'fuzz' sounds very od-like with lower gain settings. It has the ability to be very earth-rattling and sinister without sounding brittle.

That's my 2cents based on what you're looking for. There aren't a lot of od's with onboard blend that I have enough experience with. :hmm:
 
#27
EHX bass muff. 80 bucks new, bass boost setting, dry signal mixed with wet setting. you wont loose any low end and its by far the best sounding distortion/fuzz for that money.
 
#28
jetlaggemini said:
EHX bass muff. 80 bucks new, bass boost setting, dry signal mixed with wet setting. you wont loose any low end and its by far the best sounding distortion/fuzz for that money.
Click to expand...

Agrred, the BBM is one of the best Fuzzes for bass, regardless of price.

But, the op doesn't want 'fuzz' or saturated 'distortion'.
 
#30
Nikoubis said:
You should consider getting a Boss LS-2. Instant clean blend, which means that you can use just about any pedal without worrying about low end loss.
Click to expand...

I think a clean-blend pedal would be worthwhile for the op. You end up needing 2 separate pedals- but it totally opens up the dirt pedal options & gives you that "on top of the sound" character!

I swear by the Xotic X-Blender. The additional eq, cut or boost volume control and blend that can be adjusted with your foot on-the-fly make it indispensable to me!
 
#31
A new entry - the Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Bass Distortion - has a really nice distorted tone without the loss of the low end. Also, has many, many types of distortion to choose from as well. Highly customizable and worth a look (or listen.)
 
#32
kenstee said:
A new entry - the Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Bass Distortion - has a really nice distorted tone without the loss of the low end. Also, has many, many types of distortion to choose from as well. Highly customizable and worth a look (or listen.)
Click to expand...

i second this pedal. it is capable of many good sounds asa well.

and the other post that blending your original signal with a eq or tone controlled distortion box.
 
#34
Try EBS MultiDrive
It has three different distortions: Valve Simulator, Standard (The only OD I've actually liked) and Flat (Heaviest), plus an Active/Pasive switch you can use as a boost or a tone shaper :cool:
The pedal does rob some of your HIGH end, but it doesn't sound muddy at all and the low end growls like a Jazz bass on SVT if you know what I mean ;)
 
#35
something i've discovered inthe last few days..

get the boss LS-2. it's an effects looping pedal. (not a delay looping pedal)

basically, you run your cable from your bass into the Ls-2, then your effects chain out of it, then back into it. then you run a cable from there to the amp. it has a blend on it in the form of two entirely seperate volumes for each channel. it does some more complicated stuff too, but with this, you can blend ANY of your effects into your main, CLEAN tone.
plus, it's true bypass.. so if you want to shut it all off for a bar or four, you can jsut by bypassing the loop.
alternatively, you can kill any of the effects in the chain the same way you normally would.
this is a really awesome pedal, i'm glad they finally made it.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back