Contrary to what seems to be popular belief...

[grunge_freak]

I am starting to think that my boss ODB-3 is my preferred dirt box over my EHX bass big muff pi. Many people I know, and people on the many bass forums I read through, don't like the ODB-3 as much. There seems to be a lot more love for the big muff out there.

Now I am not by ANY means down talking the big muff. And what I will also add to this, that many people leave out of this argument, is that the big muff SERVES A DIFFERENT PURPOSE. It is a fuzz box. The ODB-3 is an overdrive. So even though they both dirty the tone, we are talking about two different things here. I am simply just saying that I prefer the dirtied tones I can get out of the ODB-3 to the big muff. I think it's because the big muff is more just one type of sound that you can adjust. And the ODB-3 is more able to produce different tones. I also like the fact that the boss has an EQ built into it.

In the end, I am keeping both. And in fact will run both at the same time in order to switch between fuzz/OD. But in the end, for the record, I simply don't see why the ODB-3 gets downtalked in favor of the big muff so much.

 

[TheDepths]

I agree, OD and fuzz are both very different beasts....I discovered the same with my pedals (B3K and Supercollider) I find myself leaning more towards OD as a 'go to' dirt. As with all things bass, go with what sounds best to your ear and you'll do alright. I do still keep the Supercollider (which is a hot rodded big muff) on the board as sometimes only insane fuzz will do but again, I find myself going back to my OD 85% of the time.

 

[musicman666]

Never tried the ODB 3. I do have the Muff and it definitely has its own niche........Is the ODB 3 a fuzz or distortion?

 

[grunge_freak]

The Boss ODB-3 is a bass overdrive, more of a distortion than a fuzz but the great thing is you can get fuzz out of it too if you tweak it right. I think the main thing with the ODB-3 is that you need to spend some time tweaking it but it has so many opportunities! Very finely adjustable for all sorts of different dirt.

 

[TheDepths]

From what I hear, the ODB-3 is a great overdrive....and being Boss, will most likely outlast humanity. I think that many people make the mistake of thinking it's Overdrive OR Fuzz when really they both have specific uses.

 

[grunge_freak]

From what I hear, the ODB-3 is a great overdrive....and being Boss, will most likely outlast humanity. I think that many people make the mistake of thinking it's Overdrive OR Fuzz when really they both have specific uses.

+1. It's a fantastic overdrive, in my experience. Really pairs up nicely with my thunderbird. On top of this, I'm astounded at how cheap you can get one. Got mine off ebay for 50 bucks shipped, at my door in two days. And in like new condition.

 

[TheDepths]

+1. It's a fantastic overdrive, in my experience. Really pairs up nicely with my thunderbird. On top of this, I'm astounded at how cheap you can get one. Got mine off ebay for 50 bucks shipped, at my door in two days. And in like new condition.

I'm glad you're happy with it! I have a CS-3 that I got cheap....great pedal. The rule with my pedal board is if it sounds like the sound in my head (not the voices...they haven't made that pedal yet) It stays.

 

[grunge_freak]

The rule with my pedal board is if it sounds like the sound in my head (not the voices...they haven't made that pedal yet) It stays.

That's a great rule. And sometimes I wish they'd make a pedal for the voices in my head, that would make for some great solos!

 

[AaronVonRock]

I recently just got rid of both my Bass Big Muff Pi and BOSS ODB-3 for different reasons. The Bass Big Muff Pi sounds great in the bedroom but got lost in the mix with a band. I finally removed it from my board after a few gigs and just sold it earlier this week to a friend. The ODB-3 sounds good but is too noisy for me. Lots of hum and hiss, especially when combined with my other pedals.

Oddly enough, the overdrive pedal I like and use the most now is the cheapest one of the lot. I really dig the DOD Bass Overdrive FX91. I bought it used on TB for $30. There's no loss of low end and it really boosts the octave and envelope filter in my pedal chain.

Oh, I also have a Sansamp BDDI as on always on pedal and that provides some good overdrive.

 

[dannybuoy]

Now I am not by ANY means down talking the big muff. And what I will also add to this, that many people leave out of this argument, is that the big muff SERVES A DIFFERENT PURPOSE. It is a fuzz box. The ODB-3 is an overdrive.

Have to disagree with that last point. It's says overdrive on the label, but it's definitely high gain distortion / fuzz. Overdrive covers the lighter spectrum of gain, with sounds designed to sound like an overdriven amp. The ODB-3 can do lower gain sounds, but they don't sound amp-like at all.

Love my ODB-3 for high gain rip-roaring distortion though! I can get a similar tone out of the BBM but only if I put another overdrive before it to beef it up.

 

[Lebowsky]

Definitely prefer the ODB-3 to the EHX Big Muff. ODB-3 was my first pedal, so I've always kept it. Heck, I like it than most Muff based fuzzes even (except for the Baby Thundaa). But there are many more dirt options out there....

 

[Nashrakh]

I recently just got rid of both my Bass Big Muff Pi and BOSS ODB-3 for different reasons. The Bass Big Muff Pi sounds great in the bedroom but got lost in the mix with a band. I finally removed it from my board after a few gigs and just sold it earlier this week to a friend. The ODB-3 sounds good but is too noisy for me. Lots of hum and hiss, especially when combined with my other pedals.

My experience is the same.

I tried to love the ODB I had - one of my favorite bass sounds in Death Metal used one (on Exhumed's 'Slaughtercult' record - glorious I tell you!) - but alas. Too much hiss, really weird highs (either kind of flat and sterile or way too harsh). Couldn't make it sound good.

 

[Lebowsky]

I think I used to have all settings to the max except gain (seriously)

 

[russpurdy]

Funny thing is, in terms of circuits, both a Big Muff and ODB3 are distortions rather than Overdrives or fuzzes. They obviously sound different so rock them both and use them accordingly!

 

[jumblemind]

....and being Boss, will most likely outlast humanity.

LOL no doubt.

 

[mmbongo]

Also keep in mind that you can't lump all Muff's together. For instance, the Bass Big Muff Pi really sounds nothing like a real Muff.

 

[grunge_freak]

The Bass Big Muff Pi sounds great in the bedroom but got lost in the mix with a band.

I have to agree. The BBM doesn't mix as well as the ODB-3 when you get guitars and drums involved. But I've found that the Boss does really well in a band setting, I jam with a guitarist and drummer and it is able to punch through really well.

 

[dannybuoy]

I found both to disappear in a mix with a band somewhat, but running a mid-boosting OD like a BB preamp or SFT into the BBM set to dry mode solves that problem!

 

[FaithNoMan]

I found both to disappear in a mix with a band somewhat, but running a mid-boosting OD like a BB preamp or SFT into the BBM set to dry mode solves that problem!

I guess my Ric boosted my mids for me when I had my ODB-3, then.


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[AaronVonRock]

There are so many factors that can affect the way a pedal sounds with different players. I've found that certain pedals don't sound so good when combined with other pedals on my board. I'm constantly buying new overdrive/fuzz/distortion pedals looking for one that sits well in the mix with what is already on my relatively small board (tuner-compressor-envelope filter-octave-overdrive-Sansamp BDDI). The overdrive slot is in constant flux.