Haha. I hear ya!! Been running two amps for a bit now and love it!
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Choosing an Overdrive pedal.... Help!
- Thread starter Steve Dearnley
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- bass pedal choosing help! overdrive
Haha. I hear ya!! Been running two amps for a bit now and love it!
A solid overdrive that works well on bass is the simple and affordable DOD 250. Lots of guys in stoner rock use it.
Another good overdrive option is not an overdrive pedal at all but a boost. The TC Electronics Spark is a fantastic boost that will give you some grit and hair.
Another good overdrive option is not an overdrive pedal at all but a boost. The TC Electronics Spark is a fantastic boost that will give you some grit and hair.
Darkglass isn't based off a Tubescreamer, nor is many Tech21 pedals. Some of my favorite overdriven bass tones come from Solid State amps, like the old Peavey MarkIII/MarkIV and Traynor TS-50B/TS-60B.
The newest Darkglass Alpha Omega doesn't even use cmos chips, and it is less tube-emulating(less "sag") than their old pedals. But it sounds awesome and is my favorite pedal.
And I'll also tecommend a Tech21 Oxford, if you want a great tube-ish overdrive with grunt. I think it buries the VT for nice saturated bass tones, just like a proper Orange amp.
Really good overdrive! For the life of me, can't understand why Ampeg didn't put a direct out on their classic Preamp.
I don't know. I imagine hitting a price point was important, as well as size and space considerations. And most people buying a pedal Eq don't need it.
Really? the dark matter loses low end? I would of thought that it wouldn't. my choice for a heavy distortion is an amptweaker bass tight metal jr. and I am thinking of getting the darkglass vintage deluxe. ever since I've looked up youtube clips of this pedal, I've been interested in getting one. I like how warm and heavy it can sound. my other choice would of been the b7k. I do dig this pedal for it's tube-like punch.
i read it here, found one cheap, tried it out, and maybe it's because I had read it already but yes I think it does. I mean its not a kick in the balls and I fully admit it may only be i perceived it because i was expecting it to happen. From the same ebay seller I got the mojo mojo, spark, and dark matter cheap and 2 of them are on my board while the dark matter sits in the 'guitar board pile'.
edit: here is the thread
TC Dark Matter
The b7k is an amazing overdrive and I know I suggested a read through the damnation overdrive thread, but I didn't want to suggest the b7k as I think it's one to try once you have seen what less expensive options can do first. both because of the price but also to really appreciate that it is totally worth the money.
edit: here is the thread
TC Dark Matter
The b7k is an amazing overdrive and I know I suggested a read through the damnation overdrive thread, but I didn't want to suggest the b7k as I think it's one to try once you have seen what less expensive options can do first. both because of the price but also to really appreciate that it is totally worth the money.
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Fuzzeocious OC Demon
Cog Knightfall
Big game Bedlam
(I'm missing one)
Cog Knightfall
Big game Bedlam
(I'm missing one)
I totally agree here. IME the modded pork loin stuck with me the longest out of most ODs I've tried. Its got a great, natural way about it. I wouldve kept using it if it hadnt been for my #1 recommendation, the Dunwich ODB. That pedal is crazy amazing! Every time I use it with my band I thank myself for taking the chance on a spendier than usual pedal for me. It's just got "IT" for me. And there are more tones in it than the PL. I still like the PL, but the ODB just plain rules.
The VHT V drive is one of my favorite dirt pedals right now and it's possibly one of the most underrated ones IMO. Super versatile, works great as a boost or OD and even some heavier distortion when you crank it. It has a ton of clipping options, 10 in fact plus a clipping bypassed boost mode. The depth control is one of the coolest "bass" tone controls I have ever seen. It's an 11 notch cap selector that sets the bass frequencies that make it through. You can look up the specs with the specific frequency points.
Here is the depth control frequency chart:
There is also a chart for the Select controls frequencies and they are very fun to play around with together with all the other controls. Makes for a ton of possibilities.
I want to try this one too someday. For that kind of price, its def worth a shot. I've seen a small handful of you guys on here rave about it. And it really does seem like a killer drive pedal with a ton of options.
Honorable mention for me, Fuzzrocious rat tail (it can be used a great grindy OD), big game bedlam drive, DOD 250 or any clone of it and the DOD Carcosa can also do a righteous pushed tube head OD/low grade dist.
This pedal is the "best" bass OD I've ever played. Hands down. Lots of great ones out there, and I still like a lot of them. But the ODB, for me, is so good. Def the kind of pedal that makes me want to play all the time just to hear it and its tone.
That's a very good description of what I hear from the PL, old unmod or modified. Some have chosen not to mod the old version and some have run it at 18 VDC, as I understand it to clean it up a bit.
Before the mod, I felt it was good enough and just dirty/overdriven enough with all the knobs dimed. After mod, much more overdrive. It's funny though, I can't make it sound bad to me. If I go full OD an the preamp and/or PL, it still sounds great and natural, yet I need to back off a bit for a lot of music I like.
Add the RP now it's a different story. I know it's generally a thing with fuzz and I expected this, but I get more noise and feedback with the RP + PL + preamp overdrive and need to back off on settings. Too much is good when you can back off a bit IMO.
These are my first two analog pedals, so I am not very experianced. They sure are a lot easier to adjust and sound better than a digital multi like a b1xon. As I understand, OD and distortion is a weak point on some multi pedals, so this is not a poo poo on the zoom or other multis.
To me the PL is worth keeping if for no other reason, so I can play with OD at my chosen volume. Preamp OD in my case means pretty high SPL according to my wife and dogs! I like loud, but also don't need more hearing loss. I'd rather play a bit quieter and take breaks that stuff my ears
That's a very good description of what I hear from the PL, old unmod or modified. Some have chosen not to mod the old version and some have run it at 18 VDC, as I understand it to clean it up a bit.
Before the mod, I felt it was good enough and just dirty/overdriven enough with all the knobs dimed. After mod, much more overdrive. It's funny though, I can't make it sound bad to me. If I go full OD an the preamp and/or PL, it still sounds great and natural, yet I need to back off a bit for a lot of music I like.
Add the RP now it's a different story. I know it's generally a thing with fuzz and I expected this, but I get more noise and feedback with the RP + PL + preamp overdrive and need to back off on settings. Too much is good when you can back off a bit IMO.
These are my first two analog pedals, so I am not very experianced. They sure are a lot easier to adjust and sound better than a digital multi like a b1xon. As I understand, OD and distortion is a weak point on some multi pedals, so this is not a poo poo on the zoom or other multis.
To me the PL is worth keeping if for no other reason, so I can play with OD at my chosen volume. Preamp OD in my case means pretty high SPL according to my wife and dogs! I like loud, but also don't need more hearing loss. I'd rather play a bit quieter and take breaks that stuff my ears
Yeah I also liked the PL pre mod but it was a tad dark for my tastes. Post mod gave me that bright clank I love. I share the same exp, its hard to get a bad sound out of the PL. Same with the RP, also a great one. I do wish the tone knob was a tad wider to get brighter. But hey, what it is, its awesome. Really good muff IMO. I have messed with a few of the Zoom offerings and while I think they're great for some things too, the dirt always leaves more to be desired. I hear the B3n has improved upon that drastically. I wouldnt know though. Yet. The ODB kicked the PL off my board but I still have the PL just because it's that awesome for me, Im not planning on flipping it. I use it at home all the time still.
I Please stop trying to spend my money, Greg!
Sorry buddy!!! But, you'll thank me later
It might be a while though. I have to control my purchases or I'll OCD it and won't hit retirement goals!Sorry buddy!!! But, you'll thank me later
I brought up the idea to my bandmates if I could run another cab....they were like, nah.....youre good where you are haha It would be nice. But I wouldnt look forward to adding another piece of heavy gear to my already lots-o-pieces rig. I did hook both my cabs up a month or so ago just to see what it would sound like. MY GOD IT WAS GLORIOUS!! And that wasnt even stereo. I realize this is what you guys are referring to. I'd just be happy if I could add that other 410. Because with the exception of my Rat Tail, all my other dirt pedals have massive low end and sound so in the mix. That Custom 250 takes pics off walls
Man, that cut deep. But I'm finally getting over it enough to talk about it.
To me, the brand is not important as long as it does what you want and is decent quality. They really should last forever, except for the switches and jacks maybe, or if they take a bad power hit. Good well known brands of popular pedals do offer the newb like me some pretty good insurance.
Nothing wrong with EHX IMO. Pricing is very good. Quite a few of their pedals sound really good on demos. Youtube is great for this. If it's a geetar pedal not for bass, just add bass to the search. If it's good, someone's tried it on bass. You might also check the reviews at sweetwater, the Soul Food does very well with reviews there: Bass Guitar Pedals & Effects | Sweetwater Lumberjack is interesting, but not heard much about it. Priced to sell too!
I never said that Darkglass and Tech 21 pedals are based of tube screamers. They do however have a circuit that emulates a tube amp. Tech 21 Sansamp and VT are based of a Ampeg SVT. And darkglass is the modern boutique take with serious mids from Finland. No need for snide here.
