Dirt pedals that kill your highs?

[40Hz]

I know how it is. When I was a drummer (but one that knew about the freq. spectrum) I was in a band that split up because of this issue. The bassist was futzing around onstage with his sound that wasn't working in the room. I simply went over to his amp eq, fixed the problem in 3 seconds and we did the show with no further problems. Later in the band room he took me to task for "touching his amp." Well, it started a chain reaction that led to that band breaking up, which was a shame for me personally because I loved playing with that group. If band members would just discuss their place in the frequency spectrum, I think world peace would be achieved!

You may have saved the gig. But you did violate one of the most fundamental rules of musician etiquette by touching somebody else's rig without getting permission first. Right or wrong, that always has its consequences.

Of course you can take consolation in knowing that if that was enough to set off a chain reaction, it wasn't just you touching things that nuked the group. The critical mass was already there. So if it wasn't that incident, it would have been something equally minor down the road.

Don't you just love band drama? It's never over anything significant or even important most times.

 

[Crazy Otto]

You may have saved the gig. But you did violate one of the most fundamental rules of musician etiquette by touching somebody else's rig without getting permission first. Right or wrong, that always has its consequences.

Of course you can take consolation in knowing that if that was enough to set off a chain reaction, it wasn't just you touching things that nuked the group. The critical mass was already there. So if it wasn't that incident, it would have been something equally minor down the road.

Don't you just love band drama? It's never over anything significant or even important most times.

IT'S ALL IMPORTANT

 

[40Hz]

IT'S ALL IMPORTANT

It is? All of it?

Ok...good to know.

 

[theunknowndude]

Yep I have a fine line to walk... I hate treble ( in my overall sound I hate emphasised high clank) and mostly why I try not to use scooped eq / scoooed dirt - although I admit it has its place especially with slap...and why I have dialled back from fuzz and distortion to mostly OD only with low mids emphasis or low gain distortions via the aftershock. So disliking treble sizzle though without chucking a blanket over the eq, trying to maintain low end and trying to maintain mids just enough in the mix to cut through without overbearing - I realise why a good sound person is a good sound person!
( the blanket thing is really obvious on some pedals I own - especially big muff clones I have that are scooped and then de emphasise treble... may sound good in a stoner metal band, but for the 'full' rock / bass heard in metal sound it doesn't work too well )

 

[Korladis]

The only pedal I know of that does that is the Woolly Mammoth, which sounds about like how the name makes you think it does.

 

[JimmyM]

I don't mind, and in fact I welcome, highs cuts past 5k. Any lower than that, though, and I wig out.

 

[Tourniquet Man]

I know how it is. When I was a drummer (but one that knew about the freq. spectrum) I was in a band that split up because of this issue. The bassist was futzing around onstage with his sound that wasn't working in the room. I simply went over to his amp eq, fixed the problem in 3 seconds and we did the show with no further problems. Later in the band room he took me to task for "touching his amp." Well, it started a chain reaction that led to that band breaking up, which was a shame for me personally because I loved playing with that group. If band members would just discuss their place in the frequency spectrum, I think world peace would be achieved!

Typical bass player...

 

[basscow]

I can't speak for the others listed above but, I find the Agro cuts low end big time. I much prefer the Pork Loin over it. That and the SA Aftershock make a great pair.

I saw a show a few months back where the bassist's main sound was an Agro into an Aguilar DB751, most fiery, driving sound I've heard live. Dunno if he had a clean blend or anything but from an audience perspective the thing was awesome.

 

[franvarin]

I saw a show a few months back where the bassist's main sound was an Agro into an Aguilar DB751, most fiery, driving sound I've heard live. Dunno if he had a clean blend or anything but from an audience perspective the thing was awesome.

I agree, if you're looking for a buzzsaw kind of dirt sound the Agro is certainly it. I don't dislike the pedal, I still have one. In my experience, it seems to drop the lows. As you point out, I wonder what the rest of that player's setup looked like EQ and filtering wise. Maybe he is able to address it in some way.

 

[Matt Dean]

It's become all about rat and ocd derivatives for me. And my current line up is all dunwich. My other distortion is the big game CVLT which also cuts like a chainsaw.

 

[Korladis]

It's become all about rat and ocd derivatives for me. And my current line up is all dunwich. My other distortion is the big game CVLT which also cuts like a chainsaw.

My Dunwich Muff kicked both the Swollen Pickle and the EHX Bass Big Muff off my board. Because it does both those kinds of sounds. It's that good.

Definitely recommend Dunwich to anyone looking for a boutique or custom pedal. Nick's great to deal with, and his rates are pretty reasonable considering the quality of work you're getting. Especially for a custom built piece of gear.