Dirt pedal for flatwounds?

[Bass4ThePublic]

I exclusively play flats as well, check out the Ehx Soul Food Bass. My favorite distortion so far, really makes my 60’s 200s roar.

 

[heavyfunkmachin]

Source Audio Aftershock + TC Spark will 100% fix what ails you.
Set up 2-6 presets on the SA and be done. Did a dirt journey and the SA rules, was simply the best. The Spark really brings out the nuances of the dirt.
Maybe if I wanted an always on the Darkglass or Russian Muff would be contenders but the SA can do either really well and be easily modified.
I mostly play flats, even on the Stingray.

unpopular opinion on the SA: I had it, it sounds ok, but it FEELS digital. Don’t know how else to put it

 

[MynameisMe]

P bass with Labella Deep Talkin Flatwounds.
I have a Sansamp VT DI and Darkglass Microtube OD. Works great with on the DG with these settings.
BTW in worship environment. Gives a little kick to a faster song.

 

[Killing Floor]

Start with builders who understand bass and EQ. W&C, Wampler, Blackhawk, Fuzzrocious, for some examples. There are many more. Then pick your flavor, OD, distortion, Fuzz.
I love the Fuzzrocious Demon on my P with flats and I love Blackhawk Asgard for any bass for a dirty fuzz. My favorite muff style is a W&C Caprid ram’s style with mids mod.

Here’s the thingy, there is no Best. So don’t go down the rabbit hole unless you want to! Post clips of a tone you like and someone will know what it is.

Have fun.

 

[MynameisMe]

Here’s the thingy, there is no Best.

So true. Tone is such a personal thing to every player.

 

[Sugarbear08]

I use flats on an active 4-string stingray. The following sound good, depending on the sound you have in mind:

- CAL Grizzly bass
- Way huge Pork & pickle
- Tech 21 sabddi
- Wren & cuff pickle pie b
- Proco fat rat
- Sushi box HW space heater

The space heater offers lovely tube-saturated break-up that sounds great on its own and even better driving any of the above devices. I am getting an underground accelerator constructed in next month's Sushi box build (from what i gather, a space heater + a sweet tone stack!).

I didn't care for the SA multiwave bass distortion.

 

[Fuzzbass]

(SVT needs to be loud to sound its best)

Indeed. My favorite bass tone ever came from my old SVT rig run at volume. Sure, it sounded nice at lower volumes, but the real magic happened when the power tubes were getting into the red. (I miss that rig, but it was no longer feasible to use).

As for replicating that SVT magic: what I learned recently when transitioning from Tech 21 rack gear to pedals is that distortion/overdrive pedals is an enormous rabbit hole... the options are mind-boggling, and you've already gotten persuasive arguments about a large variety of them. I won't mention my favorites... I have a number of them, it'll only cause further confusion. (Also, I'm mostly but not completely a roundwound guy)

 

[macmanlou]

I'd recommend giving the Sushi Box FX Lab Rat a look. Somewhat similar to your SVT, it has a Baxandall tone stack. It's based on the original ProCo Rat, with a tube replacing the ProCo's JFET buffer. Sushi Box has 29 slots open for October builds right now.

 

[laklandfan07]

Greer lightspeed works great

 

[gustobassman]

If you can handle a little more than just "plug and play", here's another vote for the SA Aftershock. Handles flats like a champ. SA Ultrawave if you want to "create" your own distorted sounds.

 

[-Stingray]

No one can tell you what sound you will like. That said, the single most important feature (imho) is a blend knob which will ensure you don't lose lows.

Other than that you're just gonna have to try stuff out.

 

[deepestend]

A simple Super Phat Phuck is great esp for stacking. Gives you "just" enough.

 

[GrapeBass]

Hello, I have a P-bass with Chromes, and play through an SVT —> 8x10. It sounds pretty great for good ol’ rock&roll (SVT needs to be loud to sound its best) but I would also like to get a good heavy grunge/sludge/stoner rock type sound. I have a bunch of good dirt pedals (EHX Green Russian muff reissue, B:assmaster, Megalith, etc etc) but can’t seem to dial in a tone that has everything I’m looking for. I feel like Goldilocks with the 3 Bears, the porridge is always slightly too cold or slightly too hot. Some pedals have great texture but cut too much lows. Or they sound rad but too muddy, not enough note definition. It may be a matter of spending more time dialing things in, in a more precise way, but my opinion is that if I’m not able to find the sounds I want within say 30 minutes, I’m not going to make that pedal work for me.

What dirt pedals work well for flats, to get a rad “heavy” tone? I’m looking for gravelly texture, note definition, doesn’t cut low frequencies (if anything, it should be able to enhance the lows) and doesn’t reduce sustain (I already struggle with less sustain, using flats). I’m not saying that the pedals I have are totally unsatisfactory- it sounds pretty good - but when I A/B them, I like the texture of one pedal the best (B:assmaster), the lows of another pedal the best (Megalith), the sustain and touch sensitivity of another pedal (Russian muff) etc… I can’t seem to get everything I want in one pedal. Maybe “you can’t have it all”? Could be user error? Maybe I’m being too picky? Maybe I should try stacking pedals? (I never got the hang of that)

Running a Precision w/ very old Chromes but also one with rounds (rotos).

Broughton has many options but are typically difficult to find either due to being discontinued or just plain old availability. Keep an eye on his sight, you may get lucky. Yes, there's a Talkbass forum that's all Broughton (don't get intimidated by the massive quantity of messages - LOL)

 

[Stubb]

I've gone through a few for this sort of thing and my current is a Lil Fella, which is readily available, not expensive, and very flexible.

 

[wncBass]

All of these sound good with flats.

 

[eddododo]

Hello, I have a P-bass with Chromes, and play through an SVT —> 8x10. It sounds pretty great for good ol’ rock&roll (SVT needs to be loud to sound its best) but I would also like to get a good heavy grunge/sludge/stoner rock type sound. I have a bunch of good dirt pedals (EHX Green Russian muff reissue, B:assmaster, Megalith, etc etc) but can’t seem to dial in a tone that has everything I’m looking for. I feel like Goldilocks with the 3 Bears, the porridge is always slightly too cold or slightly too hot. Some pedals have great texture but cut too much lows. Or they sound rad but too muddy, not enough note definition. It may be a matter of spending more time dialing things in, in a more precise way, but my opinion is that if I’m not able to find the sounds I want within say 30 minutes, I’m not going to make that pedal work for me.

What dirt pedals work well for flats, to get a rad “heavy” tone? I’m looking for gravelly texture, note definition, doesn’t cut low frequencies (if anything, it should be able to enhance the lows) and doesn’t reduce sustain (I already struggle with less sustain, using flats). I’m not saying that the pedals I have are totally unsatisfactory- it sounds pretty good - but when I A/B them, I like the texture of one pedal the best (B:assmaster), the lows of another pedal the best (Megalith), the sustain and touch sensitivity of another pedal (Russian muff) etc… I can’t seem to get everything I want in one pedal. Maybe “you can’t have it all”? Could be user error? Maybe I’m being too picky? Maybe I should try stacking pedals? (I never got the hang of that)

The jptr Jive

the Jptr Jive

THE JPTR JIVE

 

[vvvmmm]

I can't believe I'm the first one to say I'd be tempted to go pedal-less with a SVT —> 8x1 rig.

I more often than not do so with a PF50t into a 1x10" when recording.

The one time I played thru a SVT rig like that, well, I did the laundry that night.

 

[Key of G]

I play short scale basses, all are using LaBella flats. Lately I have been using the Lucydreamer Bass OD by Jam Pedals. (The black one made for bass, not the green one which is made for guitar.). It is easy to dial in your sound and can go from a little dirt to over the top. I use it conservatively and it has a mix adjustment to keep your some of your clean signal punching through with clarity.

 

[monkeyfinger]

IMO, flats work well with any type of overdrive. They keep a strong attack even with heavier sounds. Keeping the note definition is the hardest part of getting bass distortion right. Having a clear attack is a big part of that.

Do you mostly play with a pick, your fingers, or some other style? That could really play into what distortion you should use.

 

[NKBassman]

Running a Precision w/ very old Chromes but also one with rounds (rotos).

Broughton has many options but are typically difficult to find either due to being discontinued or just plain old availability. Keep an eye on his sight, you may get lucky. Yes, there's a Talkbass forum that's all Broughton (don't get intimidated by the massive quantity of messages - LOL)


View attachment 4823697

Terraformer made its way onto my board for the gig tonight. Playing rounds for this one though.