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Best crunchy/gritty (NOT smooth/fuzzy) OD

EthanTheHeathen

EthanTheHeathen

Aug 25, 2004
539
11
Twin Cities, MN
#1
Ok. So I love me some dirty bass, but have some difficulty dialing in the right type of dirt. I find most OD pedals (and even some tube amps) to be too fuzzy and lose definition when overdriven. I'm looking for something crunchy and gritty, as oppose to something warm and fuzzy. Something with some bite while retaining plenty of low-end. The best example of this I can think of is the bass sound on Mclusky's "To Hell With Good Intentions." Does such a thing exist in a pedal?

The only way I've gotten this sound was by using the Comp Cut setting on a Fulltone Bass-Drive (which I believe is basically boost with just a touch of OD, correct?) into a Mesa Boogie 400+. I don't use huge tube amps anymore, but I'd like to find a pedal that does something similar to this sound. I like the P-bass/SVT sound, but simulations of that tend to be too smooth, warm, and fuzzy for me. I've tried a Rat, a Big Muff, and even a Bass VT and haven't liked the results. I do sometimes like the harsher, more synthy-sounding fuzz pedals with touches of square wave and ring modulation things going on (Death By Audio, ZVex, etc.), but I'm not sure how those sounds translate to bass (very few demos w/bass that I can find) Any suggestions?

I'd also like it to sound decent with guitar.
 
#2
By the way, I still have my Bass-Drive Mosfet, but gravitate toward the Comp Cut setting, which doesn't utilize most of the pedal's features. I'd like something that starts with the Comp Cut sounds at low levels but closer to what I described above when cranking up the dirt.
 
#3
I was going to suggest the Bass Drive in vintage mode, so that's a good place to start.

I just picked up a Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret and it seems pretty promising for this too--tons of treble on tap and definitely a "gritty" kind of distortion/drive
 
#5
TA!FM. That's what it's all about. That's exactly what "my sound" is and it's my favorite fuzz.

Unfortunately my band needs that warm and fuzzy....so I'm checking into other things and probably going a different direction. But the Team Awesome! Fuzz Machine is where it's at for gritty but with definition.
 
#7
First off, love that mclusky song, second, I also love the compcut mode on my bass drive and use it pretty much only for that.

I have tried to find a substitute but keep coming back. One of the closest so far for me was the HAO Rust Ride. Nice bright, focused mids definitely not spongy. It does have a little more metallic "clank" to it than my bass drive, which along with the lack of a boost mode made me stick with the fulltone. Might be worth checking out though.
 
#8
Poking around the net the bass player for Mclusky used a Boss Bass Distortion and a Crowther Hotcake. The song doesn't sound like either of those to me though, but if it was one or the other I'd guess the Hotcake with the drive cranked up.
 
#14
Practiced the other night, and the compcut mode of the Fulltone sounded pretty durn good. Maybe that's all I need, or maybe I'll add something fun for the crazy fuzz sounds I like. This seems to work for the drive though. I kinda wish it was smaller, but I do use the boost mode, so I guess it is what it is. I'll still check out everyone's suggestions...
 
#16
well I haven't used the bassdrive for a long time, but I am currently listening to Mclusky Do Dallas.. and I think you get pretty close to that sound with a Xotic BB.. and definitely nail it hands down with a rat tail.

I never had the chance to see Mclusky live, but I saw Future of the Left a while back, don't know if it's the same bass player.. I don't remember what he had for dirt box, but what struck me was that he was playing quite high on his fret board, like an octave higher, the E on the 7th fret of the A string.. and with an always on OC-2....
 
#17
Lebowsky said:
well I haven't used the bassdrive for a long time, but I am currently listening to Mclusky Do Dallas.. and I think you get pretty close to that sound with a Xotic BB.. and definitely nail it hands down with a rat tail.

I never had the chance to see Mclusky live, but I saw Future of the Left a while back, don't know if it's the same bass player.. I don't remember what he had for dirt box, but what struck me was that he was playing quite high on his fret board, like an octave higher, the E on the 7th fret of the A string.. and with an always on OC-2....
Click to expand...

Future of the Left is Mclusky minus the original bassist. Reminds me of the Ben Folds Five lyric "the band reformed without me and they got a different name..."
 
#18
Fulltone OCD or Joyo Ultimate Drive (OCD clone but way more inexpensive) with a blend pedal a la LS-2. the tone knob on both pedals can get you that crunch.
Fuzzrocious OSD is also a good candidate. (haven't tried one personally but I read its based of the OCD...)

I have a Joyo Ultimate Drive on the way, I have an OCD as well and if they are at least a good bit similar, I'll have to say bye bye to the OCD!
 

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