Clear , guitar-like distortion pedal

[ole Jason]

hahahaha it blows my mind that anyone would want their bass to sound like the clip above

 

[Dave W]

I JUST got a Fulltone OCD yesterday (technically for guitar I think, but works well for bass) for tube-style overdrive, and it sounds awesome for distortion too once you crank up the gain knob. I prefer it at about 9-10 o'clock so it's really breaking up when I play harder, but if you twist it to noon or 3 it gets pretty heavy; might be a bit more fuzz than distortion though I'm not sure. Note it has to go before a compressor to allow dynamics to affect how much drive you get! I saw a couple of youtube videos today recommending the compressor first, but that doesn't sound anywhere near as good in my opinion for so many reasons - but I digress. I imagine any good drive/distortion pedal would allow dynamics to affect it.

There is a little loss of low frequencies as with any distortion, so the only option would be something that blends a clean signal back in, but that doesn't always sound good. Other times you really want it, so it completely depends on taste, the song, etc. You might really like the Bass Overdrive from BYOC if you can solder...

I'm not picking on you, I'm just clarifying a few things.

It's a distortion pedal, not fuzz
You don't "have" to put a comp after it or before it for that matter
Not all distortions have a loss of low end

 

[Adamixoye]

Looked the Brimstone XD-2 up on YouTube , sounds good , but It's about 300$ ... shipping not included ... Any place that sells 'em cheaper than eBay and ships worldwide ?

Let's put it this way: there are lots of places where you can find ways to get 15-20% off + free shipping. PM me if you want details.

 

[static0verdrive]

I'm not picking on you, I'm just clarifying a few things.

It's a distortion pedal, not fuzz
You don't "have" to put a comp after it or before it for that matter
Not all distortions have a loss of low end

I'm a big boy - I don't see discussion or friendly debate as being picked on. That being said, I did try to cover my butt by saying "I'm not sure", and I had even written distortion originally and thought I may get picked on for that haha - especially considering I don't find the OCD sounds much like that youtube clip in the OP, even when cranked.

And no, of course you don't "need" compression (with or without drive etc) I was just saying in this case of a pedal working off dynamics, IF you use a compressor and intend on having both on at once, put it after the drive. I'm loving the tube-amp dirt sound through my solid-state amp (now, after getting the order right).

 

[gregmon79]

I'm with static, the OCD rocks. I love that pedal. As many probably know. It's been my main dirt pedal for almost two years now. It's THE s**t and IMO would work really well for what the OP is after.

 

[skulletwhip]

Boss DS1

 

[zapped777]

A BOss OBD3?...... If you wanted your bass to sound like a distorted guitar, why dont you just get a guitar? Im not trying to be a smart a**, but in that YouTube video, the dude may as well be playing a guitar, because that is exactly what it sounds like. Im sure someone will refer you to something, I cant think of anything. Maybe a Source Audio OFD for guitar..... Try that. Or maybe even some of the other Boss dist, an SD1 or a Metal Zone...

 

[zapped777]

April fools?

 

[bassmusic17]

I was recording some parts with a sovtek guitar amp in the dirty channel for our album. It sounded pretty badass.

The dude from red fang runs a beta bass into a suped up traynor 412 guitar cab. He gets some nice distorted tones.

Maybe try a similar approach?

 

[Unemploid]

you may want a guitar distortion like the mxr super badass.

mark bass mini distortion.

you may find what your lokking for but you may have cut the bass frequencies and you may not get those high squeals you get when you slightly slide you hand to other parts of the neck.

 

[Driven Crane]

you may want a guitar distortion like the mxr super badass.

mark bass mini distortion.

you may find what your lokking for but you may have cut the bass frequencies and you may not get those high squeals you get when you slightly slide you hand to other parts of the neck.

My Mini Dist is the one i have used to use anywhere, not only as dist. This is my secret weapon.

 

[GBassNorth]

My distortion pedal of choice for guitar work is the Blackstar HT Dual all valve distortion pedal. It kills anything else I've ever tried for guitar but I've not used it with my basses yet. Here's a YouTube clip of one in action...

 

[mouthmw]

Damn, you call that clean drive tone what's in that video? Sounds like a fantastic way to get lost in the band mix. Oh well, just about any cheap crappy distortion pedal should get that tone.

 

[LSMFT6]

Empress Heavy. Just got mine today and anything else is for failures.

 

[Adamixoye]

Empress Heavy. Just got mine today and anything else is for failures.

Ha ha, I wish I could like this quote five billion times. Didn't you buy my Digitech Hardwire TL-2 when I upgraded to the Heavy?

 

[LSMFT6]

I've used a bunch of dirt pedals, the Heavy finally nailed it.

 

[Rob22315]

FYI, the Joyo UD is a copy of the Fulltone OCD.