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Distortion and overdrive Pedals that DON'T kill your low end
- Thread starter spectorbass83
- Start date
The only sensible option is the FEA Labs Dual Band Distortion.
I have one and the ability to bypass either the low end or the high end makes it super versitile. FOr example, you can set it with the high end bypassed and a low bit of grit with some clean blend on the low end and then when it comes time to solo, flick the bypass of the high end off and have a nice full distorted tone to fill out the sonic space. Honestly, its the most versitile distortion pedal I have seen. Do yourself a favour and check it out... Invalid Link Removed
I have one and the ability to bypass either the low end or the high end makes it super versitile. FOr example, you can set it with the high end bypassed and a low bit of grit with some clean blend on the low end and then when it comes time to solo, flick the bypass of the high end off and have a nice full distorted tone to fill out the sonic space. Honestly, its the most versitile distortion pedal I have seen. Do yourself a favour and check it out... Invalid Link Removed
Given the many different answers, I don't think the problem is in the pedals used, could be in amp or bass setting or something else... ?
Herwig
Herwig
been using a wmd geiger counter, can dial in a great variety of tones, check it out, some really low, some really trebly
i recently purchased an Xotic Bass BB Preamp. This thing is killer. Tons of gain on tap, and holds low end very well!
Any with a blend...
Arion Bass distortion, dod bass grunge, dod bass od are the cheap options....
Arion Bass distortion, dod bass grunge, dod bass od are the cheap options....
the xotic bb preamp and the aguilar agro hold the low end very well, but sound very different. the tech21 xxl bass is a little more difficult to setup to keep satisfying lowend (IME).
This.
Exactly what I did and I never looked back. Hook an LS-2 up with a DS-1 or something similar and you can have as much or as little of either clean or dirty as you want in the signal. Plus when you switch off the DS-1 with the LS-2 still engaged, you get two clean signals and it sounds nice and thick.
I wouldn't say the only one, but the only way to achieve a nice bottomed sound without having several rigs on stage.
I split the signal too and then only distort the upper frequencies.
This is done with the sfxsound X&M [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I tried so much and I really can't believe that people are satisfied with a ODB-3... A blend function in any pedal is a good thing, but in my distortionsound I don't have necessity of the high frequencies of the clean bass signal. So signalsplitting is actually the only way (like in the FEA).
That way it costs a little bit more, but from that moment you have a X&M you can use ANY DISTORTION no matter how cheep it is and it works great!
back when i was starting out, i was a big fan of those bass dirt pedals ... but a big lot of them sound good when you are alone but gets lost in a band setting (especially if the guitar player also has distortion) ... the only way i can compensate for the low end is adding lots of subs in my equation and well, that is too taxing for the cabinets.
i have owned (and sold): diezel dirty dawg, Boss Fender Bassman '59, Digitech Bad Monkey, Big Muff (american one), HBE Hematoma, and a Bootleg 2.0
what i noticed is that TS clones usually play well with bass because they dont mess with the low-end frequencies ... so for that, i recommend a digitech bad monkey as the cheapest "experiment" ... if it fits your band then good, if it sucks, i guess its easy to either sell it or just keep it around.
currently, i dont use any dirt pedals (or any pedals save for a redwitch moonphaser and a tuner), but i still do have the Bootleg Hizumi with me (i got it really cheap and selling it would only get me string money or something) ... here's what it sounds like:
the recording is terrible ... but well, you can still pretty make out what it will sound like in real life. i think some bassists might find a sound for it.
i have owned (and sold): diezel dirty dawg, Boss Fender Bassman '59, Digitech Bad Monkey, Big Muff (american one), HBE Hematoma, and a Bootleg 2.0
what i noticed is that TS clones usually play well with bass because they dont mess with the low-end frequencies ... so for that, i recommend a digitech bad monkey as the cheapest "experiment" ... if it fits your band then good, if it sucks, i guess its easy to either sell it or just keep it around.
currently, i dont use any dirt pedals (or any pedals save for a redwitch moonphaser and a tuner), but i still do have the Bootleg Hizumi with me (i got it really cheap and selling it would only get me string money or something) ... here's what it sounds like:
the recording is terrible ... but well, you can still pretty make out what it will sound like in real life. i think some bassists might find a sound for it.
EH Bass Mico Synth; great distortion and it keeps the low end.
Fuzzrocious Grey Stashe is great of fuzz
I don't think these were yet mentioned as options.
Also Barber Deep Fryer!
Fuzzrocious Grey Stashe is great of fuzz
I don't think these were yet mentioned as options.
Also Barber Deep Fryer!
I have tried quite a few bass distortion pedals in my quest for the perfect(for me) distortion. And i have to say my TB edition creampie is by far the the best of about 15 that i have bought and sold / gave away. Check one out if you can. I always know when there are other bass players in the crowd at a gig. As soon as I turn on the creampie they migrate over to me and start checking out my pedal board and want to know where i got it. Get one if you can.
Zen
Zen
rsmith601
Commercial User
- Apr 14, 2009
- 4,461
- 8,356
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- CEO and Co-Founder, Source Audio
Distortion by its very nature creates higher frequency harmonics, and, as such, makes the output signal more rich in high end that what you start with. This is much more noticeable with bass than guitar as much of the low end can seem to disappear.
This problem is most traditionally countered by adding some of the original signal (called the "DRY" signal) back into the distorted signal (called the "wet" signal). Some pedals do this behind the scenes and some actually allow you to control the "wet/dry" mix level. A previous post discussed doing this with 2 amp channels (one clean and one wet). Another technique is to establish a distortion loop which has an EQ in the signal path after the distortion pedal. I would imagine that some bass distortion pedals apply some EQ behind the scenes (i.e. hidden from the user) but this seems to be a bit haphazard when not knowing the bass type or amp that follows.
That is the technical background as I understand it and given my bias, I must stop at this point.
This problem is most traditionally countered by adding some of the original signal (called the "DRY" signal) back into the distorted signal (called the "wet" signal). Some pedals do this behind the scenes and some actually allow you to control the "wet/dry" mix level. A previous post discussed doing this with 2 amp channels (one clean and one wet). Another technique is to establish a distortion loop which has an EQ in the signal path after the distortion pedal. I would imagine that some bass distortion pedals apply some EQ behind the scenes (i.e. hidden from the user) but this seems to be a bit haphazard when not knowing the bass type or amp that follows.
That is the technical background as I understand it and given my bias, I must stop at this point.
I'm very happy with my HBE Hematoma. Sounds full plus the clean Boost on a separate switch is a handy bonus, when my brother gets in one of his moods.
Just because you lost a guitar player is no reason to add distortion. When a bass is distorted it sounds like crap. There is no clarity or definition to the sound. Plenty of famous bands play with one guitar and few of their bass players use distortion.
A big ole fat woman with greasy fingers. Bottom end for days, and tone that slays (small animals when she sit on them).
Ah, but many do use a overdrive/distortion/fuzz in a three piece and sound completely bad ass. Check out Russian Circles, These Arms Are Snakes, Young Widows, and Torche (ok not a three piece).
