Best bass overdrive?

[GrapeBass]

Would LOVE to add a Terraformer to my Broughton collection, but they just seem impossible to find. They never seem to pop up for sale.

I was lucky to snag one a while ago, it was my first Broughton pedal. While I don't use it extensively, it's important enough to stay on my board permanently.

If you can find one, it's awesome.

 

[dave64o]

I'm constantly looking around for one.

If the day comes when I do find one, it'll be interesting to see if it bumps off one of my current three drives or if I end up with FOUR drives on my board.

 

[esa372]

Be hard to argue that the Tech21 Bass Driver isn't the most recorded "overdrive" for rock.

The Tech21 Para Driver beats it...

 

[Scoots1994]

Poison Noises The Crook is an OCD clone that I prefer to the OCD. And at the price it's exceptional.

 

[SideshowDom]

Walrus Audio Ages is my favorite right now.

 

[joel the bass player]

MBD-2
Pretty much the only permanent pedal on my board since it came out. Still am curious about picking up an MBD-1 but haven't dropped the scratch on one yet.

 

[chris lykins]

The Nobels ODR circuit is actually fantastic on bass, and to me sounds better than just about any other overdrive I’ve tried (and I've tried a lot). I personally really love the Wampler Belle (which is Wampler’s take on the ODR). It isn’t going to be mentioned very often, though.

Along these lines the Wampler Tumnus works great for me!

 

[Hundred proof]

I now cascade/stack three different stages … but when only using one it was the VOX Ice 9 overdrive (still have it)

 

[dedpool1052]

Kind of a tie between the MBD-1 and Broughton SV-Pre.

Then the Fuzzrocious Lil Fella.

 

[dedpool1052]

MBD-2
Pretty much the only permanent pedal on my board since it came out. Still am curious about picking up an MBD-1 but haven't dropped the scratch on one yet.

IME, there are some differences.

However, how much these differences are apparent in a mix, are probably negligible.


Started out with an early MBD-1, that had the clean bias trimpot, but no input gain trimpot.
I asked Jeff at Damnation Audio, and said he believes the gain is fixed at around 75% on these early models.

Had an MBD2, and ended up trading it for another 1, that was a bit newer than mine, and had the gain trimpot.

My preferred basses are G&Ls, which are typically pretty hot.

The L-2000 I have will actually clip the clean side of my early MBD-1.

With the newer MBD-1, it doesn't clip the clean side.

Setting the gain trimpot on the newer 1 to around 75% does get it to sound very similar to the early 1, but there's not as much overall output.

I had the 2, and loved it for a while, but eventually came to the conclusion that for me, it was close, but not close enough.

 

[arepa_funk]

Kind of a tie between the MBD-1 and Broughton SV-Pre.

I stopped having a dedicated OD in the board once I started using the SV-PRE.

Shout-out to the Analog Alien Bass Station amp sim overdrive as well.

 

[amper]

Be hard to argue that the Tech21 Bass Driver isn't the most recorded "overdrive" for rock.

The SansAmp BDDIv2 has a great overdrive sound. Every time I hear a "shootout" of different bass DI boxes, it's the one I end up liking best. One of these days, I will get around to owning one.

 

[amper]

Ok so I know this is a loaded question, but just trying to get a general consensus here… if you all had to pick only ONE bass overdrive, which would it be? Just looking to add some grit for the more rockin’ songs.

There is no "best" overdrive, not for bass, not for any other instrument. There may be a best one for *you*, but that's up to you to decide. I have several overdrives that all work really well on bass. Some are even designed for bass.

 

[Jesuguru]

I'm still kicking myself for trading away my Free the Tone Black Vehicle, nothing I have before or since can match it. I'll own again someday, meanwhile quite satisfied with my SV-Pre, the JPTR Jive is also a very pleasant surprise especially at lower gain settings.

 

[dedpool1052]

I'm still kicking myself for trading away my Free the Tone Black Vehicle, nothing I have before or since can match it. I'll own again someday, meanwhile quite satisfied with my SV-Pre, the JPTR Jive is also a very pleasant surprise especially at lower gain settings.

While it's easier to reacquire,
I'm kicking myself for gifting my Way Huge Green Rhino MkV to my buddy.

Super solid OD.
The trick for me, was setting the frequency to 500hz and cutting, rather than boosting at 100hz.
This gave a more even frequency response, and sounded more natural.

 

[CosmicRay]

Fairfield Barbershop has been doing it for me....

 

[arepa_funk]

I stopped having a dedicated OD in the board once I started using the SV-PRE.

Shout-out to the Analog Alien Bass Station amp sim overdrive as well.

Bumping this thread up. I've started using five string basses more recently and haven't really dug how my ODs sound on the B string. It's light and barely there on the E string and others and farty and too crunchy when I play the B. I've played really lightly too with my right hand and the dirt is much dirtier than the higher strings.

Any tips / recs for five string users that are even across all of the strings? Right now, the SV-PRE, Analog Alien Bass Station, and Phat Phuk B are getting rotated for that sound to varying degrees of success. The B string with the SSBS Mini, WH Pork & Pickle, Barber Linden EQ doesn't sound great to my ears, though I love each of them when playing fours especially the Linden.

SB Underground Accelerator sounds great but it's mostly clean, at least in the settings I'm using (?).

Thanks all, hope you're well.

 

[Tweea]

I’ve settled on two after trying many over the years:
- BJFE / Bearfoot Blueberry OD set with very little dirt for emulating power tube compression and fattening the low mids
- Damnation MBD1 or MBD2 for snarl while maintaining your underlying tone

This is exactly where I have landed after trying many pedals. I've got both the Bearfoot Blueberry and the MBD2 on my main board.

My mini board has a Vintage Ultra Deluxe and the Sushi Box UA. This is also a really nice combination for getting the tube warmth with the VUD for adding that extra bite.

 

[ezra1]

I am getting it there with a DarkGlass Vintage Deluxe Vl....I traded in my V2 not because I didn't like it but that I was more comfortable with Vl.
Also a BJFe Blueberry and at times a Boss DS-1

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Fairfield Barbershop is the best overdrive pedal.

MXR Bass Distortion is the best distortion pedal.

ZVex Woolly Mammoth is the best fuzz pedal.