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Can you recommend me an overdrive?

skeptikal

skeptikal

Jan 24, 2008
399
42
Northern Indiana
#1
I searched around a little bit and found a crap ton of threads about overdrive pedals but everyone said it's pretty much your taste. I was wondering if you could recommend me an overdrive pedal for my specific application. I'm not a big pedal guy but I do want another tone to add something to my bass lines. I was thinking about a Tech 21 Bass Driver DI I've heard good things, but I've got an active Corvette Standard that already has a 2-band EQ on it. So maybe I could get away with just a straight up overdrive pedal. Any Suggestions?

Equipment is in the sig. Thanks for any help in advance. I wanted to ask the effect gurus!
 
#5
If you aren't a "big pedal guy" I suggest finding a pedal that is pretty flexible. The Tech 21 BDDI is a good example, although there are others out there.

Another option is an FX processor. A cheap one like the Zoom B1X might be useful. I own one an use it occasionally. When I play with my cover band it allows me to change up my sound for different songs... add some overdrive, distrortion, chorus, autowah, phaser, flanger, and so on. I don't own any of these effects and I don't plan to because I don't use them that often. But when we do "For The Love Of Money" I like to wash my sound through the box to give it little something extra. This isn't high a quality processor... you can find them new for $70.... it works well...but not fantastic. One last thing... when the kids are asleep I use the B1 with a set of headphones for silent practice. It also makes a good "poor mans" DI box.
 
#6
GreggBummer said:
If you aren't a "big pedal guy" I suggest finding a pedal that is pretty flexible. The Tech 21 BDDI is a good example, although there are others out there.

Another option is an FX processor. A cheap one like the Zoom B1X might be useful. I own one an use it occasionally. When I play with my cover band it allows me to change up my sound for different songs... add some overdrive, distrortion, chorus, autowah, phaser, flanger, and so on. I don't own any of these effects and I don't plan to because I don't use them that often. But when we do "For The Love Of Money" I like to wash my sound through the box to give it little something extra. This isn't high a quality processor... you can find them new for $70.... it works well...but not fantastic. One last thing... when the kids are asleep I use the B1 with a set of headphones for silent practice. It also makes a good "poor mans" DI box.
Click to expand...

I've got something like this that never gets used. The Digitech BP80 lol. I just really wanted a dedicated overdrive or (mild-hot, not death metal) distortion.
 
#9
For power amp-esque overdrive I would have to recommend the BJFE Blueberry but it's expensive and hard to come by. With that out of the way, I've heard good things from people I respect about the Tech 21 VT Bass. Assuming you don't need a DI, its much more flexible that the Bass Driver. It was probably where I was headed before I lucked into my Blueberry.
 
#14
music electronix geminidrive is a good choice.

the tech 21 sansamp is a VERY high quality pedal, but might not be for you. theres a bit of a mid scoop. i personally love mine, its the "oldschool button." very realistic tube emulation.

another one that i own is the visual sound jekyll and hyde. 2 channels, overdrive and distortion, with two seperate switches. both circuits were designed to be used together. or seperately..its a great pedal for bass. very versatile
 
#17
cosmicpimp2 said:
I play a lot of rock/metal/punk and like fuzzes. i use a big muff which sounds great with my alembic. i use it to push my tubes harder. great sound in a mix. my friend plays more alternative music and uses a sansamp bass driver through a pa and it sounds great too. whta kinda music do you play?
Click to expand...

Whatever I can I'm still relatively new to the bass so I'm trying to absorb everything I can.

I'm kind of leaning between the Tech 21 BDDI or the MusicElectronix GeminiDrive. I liked the sound clips I heard from both of those. I can't find a price on the GeminiDrive I must have missed it in the naming thread. I have sent an e-mail off to Os so hopefully he gets back to me.

Thanks! Keep the suggestions coming though!
 
#19
The best 'overdrive' pedal I've heard is the EBS valve drive. I own one of these and a Sansamp Bass driver DI. I must say in my opinion the BDDI as a distortion/overdrive pedal is really bad and synthetic sounding. What it is great at is making your DI signal to the PA a bit tastier than your normal DI. That's what I use mine for.

I'd say the EBS is great for old skool overdrive warmth, however it can get a little muddy as you push the gain, and there's no way to increase mids/decrease bass enough to counter this. I wouldn't use it for particularly modern sounding stuff.

I always think the best solution is get a Boss LS-2 (or similar) and use it to blend in a mix of any distortion pedal of your choice. That way you're not sacrificing clarity or low end.
 

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