• 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?

#43
Wow, this thread is crazy....dude, good luck just filtering through all these suggestions...

After searching for a long time for a good bass distortion, I use a Pro Co Rat "Juggernaut" and it's great, why?

1. Warm "overdriven tube" distortion, not synthetic fuzz
2. Direct/Distorted signal blend
3. Independent volumes, with footswitches, for both direct and distorted signals, so I also use the pedal as a volume boost as well as a distortion
4. Built like a tank

Tried a ton of pedals, Boss, Big Muff, MXR Blowtorch....all sounded thin and synthetic compared to this one. I play jazz basses, so this pedal worked best with these specifically, it may not be the same if you're using an active bass, everything is different.

Hope this helps a bit....good luck!
 
#45
willseaborn said:
Wow, this thread is crazy....dude, good luck just filtering through all these suggestions...

After searching for a long time for a good bass distortion, I use a Pro Co Rat "Juggernaut" and it's great, why?

1. Warm "overdriven tube" distortion, not synthetic fuzz
2. Direct/Distorted signal blend
3. Independent volumes, with footswitches, for both direct and distorted signals, so I also use the pedal as a volume boost as well as a distortion
4. Built like a tank

Tried a ton of pedals, Boss, Big Muff, MXR Blowtorch....all sounded thin and synthetic compared to this one. I play jazz basses, so this pedal worked best with these specifically, it may not be the same if you're using an active bass, everything is different.

Hope this helps a bit....good luck!
Click to expand...
After reading this I was out and about looking at some of the suggestions of my fellow TBers and I actually came across the Rat in a local used music store. HOLY CRAP!!!!!
He told me that this was an older model from many years ago, and it looked it but played great. This thing was amazing for 50$ I had no choice but to buy it. It made my pbass with flats sound like rumbles of thunder. This is definately a keeper and with the unemployment checks still coming and only time on my hands I am still shopping for other suggestions from everyone.
 
#47
bongomania said:
It's not true bypass, and they've been making it for many years. :) However that's not to take away from any of the other good things you said, and I completely agree that a parallel blend is a a great tool for making distortions work with bass.
Click to expand...

I've never seen one before.. not saying that your wrong, I've jsut never seen one until after NAMM this winter.

and the wiring diagram looks like a true bypass to me.
 
#48
bassmanjla said:
I've never seen one before.. not saying that your wrong, I've jsut never seen one until after NAMM this winter.

and the wiring diagram looks like a true bypass to me.
Click to expand...

Can you elaborate on the "wiring diagram"? If the LS-2 is true bypass, it would be the first (and only) Boss pedal that is!


Wait,.... Is it possible you mean that the attached effects are completely bypassed?
 
#49
bassmanjla said:
I've never seen one before.. not saying that your wrong, I've jsut never seen one until after NAMM this winter.

and the wiring diagram looks like a true bypass to me.
Click to expand...

I don't believe that any Boss pedals have ever been true bypass. However, contrary to what some people say, I think their buffered bypass is very clean, and IMHO most stories of tone suck are due to biased and selective hearing, mixed with a bit of cork-sniffing.

The LS-2 has been out for at least several years. If you look through the Pedalboards of the Stars thread, you'll see them on boards for at least the last 5 years.

Not sure what wiring diagram you're talking about.
 
#50
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...

Indeed! I have one on order....saw this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Source-Audio-So...emQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item2eab172141

And, after reading the review in BP and watching the demo deal on the Ebay site (toward the bottom of the page) figured I'd give it a try...hope it is as good as it sounds!!
 
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
#51
bigchiefbc said:
I don't believe that any Boss pedals have ever been true bypass. However, contrary to what some people say, I think their buffered bypass is very clean, and IMHO most stories of tone suck are due to biased and selective hearing, mixed with a bit of cork-sniffing.

The LS-2 has been out for at least several years. If you look through the Pedalboards of the Stars thread, you'll see them on boards for at least the last 5 years.
Click to expand...

This. But then again we all know that no star has ears as discerning as ours. :D
 
#52
So, after doing some serious research last night, i have this to say.


everyone needs to the tech 21 site and read their article about what true bypass is.
i learned a lot that i didnt' know before, including the fact that i was wrong about what i said about the ls2.

now, that out of the way. I found the wiring diagram for the LS-2 in the owners manual, which you can download from boss's website.

yes it has been around a number of years, but apparently, this years model is different (somehow) which explains why the guy at *expletive deleted* guitar center told me it was new this year. ( i hate guitar center, but unfortunately, it's a required devil sometimes.)

so, the boss pedals, (and many ibanez) use a different type of switch than the "true bypass" models, the "normal bypass" models and the "buffered bypass" models. but from the way it reads from everything I could find, they function in the same way as either a normal bypass, or a true bypass, without being either. so...yah that sucks, no idea there. (someone said that they are buffered, which if true would be what Tech21 recommends)

and for arguments sake.. IF the LS-2 WAS "true Bypass", then it would indeed bypass all the effects in the loop when in bypass mode, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD WANT IT TO DO. and just as it does with whatever sort of bypass it actually has.
so please don't make snooty comments trying to make me sound stupid.

thanks for challenging my statement and making me research my Shithouse law.
 
#53
bassmanjla said:
So, after doing some serious research last night, i have this to say.


everyone needs to the tech 21 site and read their article about what true bypass is.
i learned a lot that i didnt' know before, including the fact that i was wrong about what i said about the ls2.

now, that out of the way. I found the wiring diagram for the LS-2 in the owners manual, which you can download from boss's website.

yes it has been around a number of years, but apparently, this years model is different (somehow) which explains why the guy at *expletive deleted* guitar center told me it was new this year. ( i hate guitar center, but unfortunately, it's a required devil sometimes.)

so, the boss pedals, (and many ibanez) use a different type of switch than the "true bypass" models, the "normal bypass" models and the "buffered bypass" models. but from the way it reads from everything I could find, they function in the same way as either a normal bypass, or a true bypass, without being either. so...yah that sucks, no idea there. (someone said that they are buffered, which if true would be what Tech21 recommends)

and for arguments sake.. IF the LS-2 WAS "true Bypass", then it would indeed bypass all the effects in the loop when in bypass mode, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD WANT IT TO DO. and just as it does with whatever sort of bypass it actually has.
so please don't make snooty comments trying to make me sound stupid.

thanks for challenging my statement and making me research my Shithouse law.
Click to expand...

Nobody's trying to be 'snooty'. :hmm:

In the music electronics industry, it's generally accepted that the term "true bypass" refers to a switching sytem that directly connects the input and output of the disengaged (off) device without use of active electronics, op-amps, etc... "True bypass" as a term does not refer to the general loop switching that I believe you used it. To say that the LS-2 bypasses attached effects would be correct, but the usage of the term "true bypass" in this context is misleading to those using the common nomenclature.
 
#55
The Boss ODB-3 is a solid choice. If you use it in a subtle manner, with say the balance & gain setting at 8 o'clock, and EQ to taste, it adds nice upper register harmonics without getting too fuzzy. It's built like a tank and will work forever. Something to consider if you play out a lot. Some of the higher priced boutique pedals may sound better but they die easily. AFWIW I've never owned an EH pedal that didn't give up the ghost within a year. So sad.
 
#56
DrSmaggs said:
A cool one is the Dunlop MXR Bass Blowtorch. You can blend distorted with your clean and fat tone so you retain all of your signal. I use it and it's pretty awesome!


1001081mxr_m181_lg3.jpg
Click to expand...

I have one of these and it is great.
 
#57
SC Bassboy said:
The Boss ODB-3 is a solid choice. If you use it in a subtle manner, with say the balance & gain setting at 8 o'clock, and EQ to taste, it adds nice upper register harmonics without getting too fuzzy. It's built like a tank and will work forever. Something to consider if you play out a lot. Some of the higher priced boutique pedals may sound better but they die easily. AFWIW I've never owned an EH pedal that didn't give up the ghost within a year. So sad.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. Which "higher priced boutique pedals" that you've had failed? Just curious.

You aren't considering EH pedals 'boutique' are you?
 
#58
shawshank72 said:
Definate rule out of the over the top distortion
My growly would kind of like being surprised ina dark alley by big mean dog who has yet to loose his temper and attack, but yet is making itself known that soon that will happen.
Hope that helps
Click to expand...

Then here's one more of the 300 recommendations. I love the Bad Monkey. I like it pretty well as is, but the ultimate is the modded one for bass. VERY nice pedal.

Link Removed

The thing I like about it is that it's so controlled down in the mild ranges. It's not the "overt the top" thing that I hate.
 
#59
Well, FWIW...I received my Soundblox Pro today and have been sort of playing around with it (can't do too much - I have a show later tonight) but at first glance, this bad boy is just that - a bad boy!

I (so far) am EXTREMELY pleased with the variations that can be achieved from single band, foldback, multiband, octave, and (literally) hundreds of combinations contained therein...

This is going to be fun....:D
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back