• 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 pedal for a super gritty, Death From Above type distortion?

T

TunaMloohnah

Aug 31, 2011
24
0
#1
Hey guys. I already know Death From Above's setup (800w distortion head, stereo chorus, modded rick, crybaby, etc), but I was wondering if there was a pedal that comes close. I don't want a mirror of that tone, but it's the best representation of the distortion I want. All of the pedals I've tried sound like fuzz. What do you guys recommend? :D
 
#4
Well, I don't know if this helps, but JFK (the bassist), uses an Acoustic 450 (the old acoustic brand), and that is where he gets most of his distortion, as well as from the old peavey head he's using. If you want a pedal, look at the viva Analog 360+, which emulates the old Acoustic 360 preamp. I'm not sure how similar they are, but its a good starting place. Here is the website. http://www.lynx.net/~jc/pedals360.html
 
#5
also, it should be noted he double, and sometimes, triple tracks his bass on the recordings. he also heavily compresses his tone, too. as far as pedals...I'd definitely say that viva Analog 360+ would be your closest bet. nothing else I've come across really gets close to that sort of distortion. either that, or find an Acoustic 450.
 
#7
hachi kid said:
also, it should be noted he double, and sometimes, triple tracks his bass on the recordings. he also heavily compresses his tone, too. as far as pedals...I'd definitely say that viva Analog 360+ would be your closest bet. nothing else I've come across really gets close to that sort of distortion. either that, or find an Acoustic 450.
Click to expand...

Yeah dude, I miss my 450 head at times, that built in fuzz distortion was cool.
 
#9
As to the suggestions of buying an original 450, I think that is just as good a suggestion, unless you really want a preamp. Here is a 450 for 150, which seems like a pretty good deal. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] No affiliation.
 
#10
TunaMloohnah said:
As nice as the 360+ sounds, 500 bucks is a bit out of my price range! D:
And the super collider sounds almost exactly like my Big Muff - a bit too fuzzy.
Anyone use a Rat 2?
Click to expand...

If you are looking at rats, look at the Fuzzrocious Rat tail. They get a lot of love here and, although I don't have one, seem to deserve it. The owner/builder Ryan Ratajski actually frequents talkbass as rratajski, and is super helpful with questions anyone has.
 
#11
I vote for Tech 21's Oxford, but I also got decent results from the Leeds - it's not nearly as aggressive, though. The Oxford would provide much better top-end.

Leeds:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Other pedals I owned that I can recommend is the HAO Rustride and unbelievably, the Boss ODB-3:

The Boss ODB:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#13
The Leed's sounds great, but I don't know if I can justify spending 170 dollars on one when the Rat 2 is only 55. I've looked at the Boss ODB 3, but it's hit and miss with a lot of people, so I'm weary of it.
Thanks a lot for your replies! Much appreciated.
 
#15
TunaMloohnah said:
The Leed's sounds great, but I don't know if I can justify spending 170 dollars on one when the Rat 2 is only 55. I've looked at the Boss ODB 3, but it's hit and miss with a lot of people, so I'm weary of it.
Thanks a lot for your replies! Much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Ebay!:)

I suggest the Oxford because it has a similar overdrive, but more grind at the top(Leeds sounds like a "muted" Oxford to me).

They both can be found for around 100 on the 'bay.(sometimes less)
 
#17
That's for a new one:p

Trust me though - they pop up. The VT is insanely more popular than the Oxford(or Leeds), but some of their other pedals are real sleepers on bass.:)

Not really a fair comparison because the speaker sim is off, but here is the Oxford with its' gain turned about halfway from what it was on the Leeds - it has a lot more on tap, but you can hear its' bite on this clip:

http://soundcloud.com/centaurus_a/audio-01-06
 
#20
I know a whole lot more about JFK's tone than any rational human should. he answers questions and pm's on his MSTRKRFT board. long story short, no...any cheap distortion pedal will not get you that sound.

the bass didn't really have a whole lot to do with it. I think that was a smoke and mirrors kind of thing. on the EP, he used a MIM Jazz Bass. on the LP, he used a Gibson Grabber. live he used a Ric. it all sounds nearly the same, though. due to the rig he was using.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back