Best crunchy/gritty (NOT smooth/fuzzy) OD

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

 

Maybe a Devi Ever box? She has a few that are gritty and high end crunchy...

devi ever

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Have a listen to this!....I may be ordering one in the near future to cure my gas for it!
Microtubes B3K Bass Overdrive Demo by Will Davies - YouTube

 

Yeah I don't know that song but the B3K is crunchy and gritty (and I think it has a money back guarantee if you don't like it).
If you want synthy fuzz, the Oxide is awesome for that.

 

I´d give a shot at the ibanez pd7 phat head.
cheap. simple. keeps you audible in a band.
For "To Hell With Good Intentions" you might have to combine it with some slight fuzz. maybe.

*L

 

The Wren and Cuff TFR gets very crunchy.

And I second the Oxide and TAFM recommendations.

 

if you like the fulltone, try the xotic bb preamp.. it's the same base circuit, but just better.
you could also try a fuzzrocious rat tail

 

Does the bb have a setting equivalent to the compcut mode on the fulltone?

 

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....

 

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..."

 

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!

 

My Fulltone OCD is pretty gritty sounding. +1 on the rat tail suggestion as well