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Best over drive pedal under $200?

#21
An overdrive is a really kind of mild distortion.
Just a small amount of breakup and dirt like a pushed amp.
My favorite is the Holy Fire by Creation Audio. They are coming out with a bass version of this same pedal. It's not out yet but the (guitar version) holy fire is amazing and I've gone through a good dozen of overdrive. It's expensive and it comes with it own power supply but what a tone!

Other pedal to consider that I have not tried: the new MXR bass overdrive, the Pork Loin which is capable of overdrive to light fuzz with everything in between and the Zvex Basstortion.
 
#22
Almost every OD on the market for under 200 is the best OD on the market for under 200. Why?


Personal preference. What do you want out of an OD? Tone? Features? Sick paint job? If you're not specific, you'll just get a long list of everyone's personal favorites, regardless of whether any of them would actually work for you.
 
#23
lolmont said:
Thanks for all the input guys, listened to demos of all of the recommended pedals. Torn between the blueberry or OSD. I really like the blueberries lows but the OSD highs I prefer gonna be a few days of thinking.
Click to expand...

If you're torn between the two, ask Ryan of Fuzzrocious about putting an OSD and DD (a BB clone) in one box. It wouldn't surprise me if it turned out to be within your price range.
 
#30
You guys use over drive pedals? Isn't that what gain and volume are supposed to do? I'm an old guy and don't believe in using pedals. If I want a little grit or drive I just crank up the gain and adjust the volume to taste. Where am I going wrong?
 
#31
I have a HBE Hematoma and it's cool. I sold a BlueBerry and kept the Hematoma. There days when I wish I did the reverse and will someday buy another.

There's is almost always a real cool dirt pedal for sale on TB. If you don't like it sell it on TB and try another.

It's a great time to be alive. There actually pedals designed for bass. You don't need to use a guitar pedal and hope for the best.

And the variety. Anywhere from a 30 dollar Joyo to a 400 dollar BooTeek pedal.
 
#32
hsech said:
You guys use over drive pedals? Isn't that what gain and volume are supposed to do? I'm an old guy and don't believe in using pedals. If I want a little grit or drive I just crank up the gain and adjust the volume to taste. Where am I going wrong?
Click to expand...

Depends what kind of music you play, even then it's not definitive. Blues, Jazz, and Country? Probably not. Rock, Metal, Post Rock, Post Metal, Progressive, Hardcore, Post Hardcore, Punk, Jazz Punk, Progressive Punk Jazz Flute, etc...yes. YMMV.


(I think it would tickle my funny bone for once someone to go into the Non Effects area and tell everyone if they don't have at least 5 pedals between their bass and amp they're doin it wrong, just to start evening out the posts of "effects? Who in gods name needs effects?" (Not directed at you personally))
 
#33
hsech said:
You guys use over drive pedals? Isn't that what gain and volume are supposed to do? I'm an old guy and don't believe in using pedals. If I want a little grit or drive I just crank up the gain and adjust the volume to taste. Where am I going wrong?
Click to expand...

You use the amp's gain to get overdrive? Why would you do that when there are literally thousands of killer sounding pedals that'll give you just the amount of raunch you need, and then when you want your clean sound back, you just step on it! See, I'm a young guy and I believe in having a setup that is simple, intuitive, and very versatile! Where am I going wrong?
See, it goes both ways. There is no right or wrong, there is only preference. It's a shame so many TB'ers (and just people in general) don't understand that.
 
#34
I gotta suggest the Zoom B3. I've managed to dial up some really nice low gain drive from a couple of the amp models as well as some of the dirt pedal models. Not to mention some heavy fuzz etc. It retails for $199 I believe but is cheaper on the used market.
 
#36
Also check out from Darkglass their Microtubes B3K and their newest entry the Microtubes Vintage Invalid Link Removed You can order them from www.bassefx.com IMO, the B3K is the best OD for bass I've ever tried and am looking forward to trying the different vibe of their new Vintage when it is released in a week or so.

Lots of posts here on TB about both....
 
#38
Barber 1/2 Gainer. It goes from near nothing to pretty heavy, tasty overdrive. It doesn't color your tone much if you set the trim pots right outside of the overdrive gain you specify so it works really well as a boost to overdrive a tube preamp (kinda like how a lot of guitar players use the Tube Screamer for their tube heads. I dial in just the ever slightest gain on the pedal to add a little character from the pedal and boost up the volume and mids on the pedal to make my SVT's preamp overdrive. The 1/2 Gainer has two gain settings that are footswitchable so I have the other one set the other way around to get more of the pedal's tone instead of the amp whenever I want that. I have it in front of a fuzz pedal to really make the fuzz scream too)
 
#40
mmbongo said:
Don't overlook the Hardwire Tube Overdrive CM-2, which is a PHENOMENAL overdrive pedal for $100 new. Usually around $50 used.
Click to expand...

+1

I bought the CM-2 used on eBay after reading a number of positive comments made about it on this forum, and could not be happier. Admittedly I didn't think much of it when I played it at first but I've recently started to really appreciate it. I ditched my Bass Big Muff as it seems fuzz just isn't my flavour for now and this thing replaces it remarkably well. Can go from gritty to mega dirty, whilst always retaining that important low end. To think I was going to get rid of it as soon as I first got it as well. Happy camper.
 

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