Hey guys, my stage rig is big enough to the point where I can set up a quasi bi-amp setup where one amp is EQ'd for all bass and highs, then that signal is sent into another amp that is EQ's for all mids and highs. I want to find a good distortion for the mid-high amp. What I don't need is a pedal that retains all of my lows, since it will only be run into the mid-high amp. I want to keep it under 50 bucks, so I was thinking of a Boss DS1/SD1, DOD 250, or a Digitech Bad Monkey. Anybody run a setup like this?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Distortion for a Bi-Amp setup
- Thread starter Thinkarogadum
- Start date
Do you have any reason to want to bi-amping? It's an outdated fix for a problem most cabinets don't have any longer.
I'm doing it more or less because I can do it. I like to play with a little distortion, but I don't want to lose my lows, and I don't want to drop a huge amount of money on a Fulltone Bassdrive or similar. Now that I can split it up, I can have distortion and lows at the same time.
Most distortions will probably work. The one thing I've read on here about cheaper ones is that a lot of people wish they had a blend, which you bi-amping bassically is 
Exactly, I don't need a blend or anything to keep my lows, thats what the bi-amping is for. Just wondering which sub $50 pedal sounds the best.
bongomania
Commercial User
I say go for it. Just because there are high-end full-range ODs and cabs doesn't mean you can't get some unique and fat tones running bi-amp. Since you aren't looking for a pedal that will pass clean low end, I would say use an old Boss or MXR distortion (and in this case I mean look for the word "distortion" on the box). 
Only one way to find out: Try 'em!
Sorry I can't be of more help. The 2 distortions I had were a BOSS MD-2 (110CAD, sounded like ***, but never tried bi-amping...), and the EHX English Muff'n (200$+, sounded too darn good to be biamped. It kept the lows like a K9 unit to a criminal!)
Sorry I can't be of more help. The 2 distortions I had were a BOSS MD-2 (110CAD, sounded like ***, but never tried bi-amping...), and the EHX English Muff'n (200$+, sounded too darn good to be biamped. It kept the lows like a K9 unit to a criminal!)
I won't tell you which make of effect I use, but I will tell you I have a bi-amped setup with a guitar preamp, rackmounted, that gets mids and highs. It rules. Many players will tell you that guitar amps have the best distortion for bass, but normally you lose the lows. Go to eBay or a used guitar shop and pick up a second-hand guitar pre. You'll have the most tone-shaping available, and some have Clean-channel EQ bypass so you keep the sound of your bass amp when the distortion's not running. This setup kills.
I believe Chris Wolstenholme of Muse uses a couple of overdriven guitar amps as part of his sound, with a a few other rigs for clean channels etc. The bass takes up 4 channels of the mixing desk at Muse shows apparently.
I think I read that somewhere at least, someone correct me if I'm talking out of my arse.
I think I read that somewhere at least, someone correct me if I'm talking out of my arse.
It was my understanding that biamping came from the limitations of older cabs. Splitting the signal to a subwoofer for the lows and a full-range cabinet for the mids and highs. But nowadays most cabs are better at projecting a full-range of frequencies than older cabinets, thus making bi-amping a little outdated.
I could understanding running two complete setups with both being fullrange, but biamping in the traditional sense doesn't seem to make as much sense as say twenty five years ago.
he does use 4 channels, but he has 2 marshall bass amp stacks, and each one gets a mic and a DI...totals 4 channels
after all of the overdrives/distortions/fuzzes ive been through, the 2 that give me the closest to hysteria sound are the prunes and custard and an EHX russian big muff (and chris actually has a russian big muff on his board...interesting)...at about $60 it seems to be a good candidate for biamping distortion
I biamp AND triamp myself (depends on which band im playing with)...for my 3 amp system, i had 2 custom fuzzes made, one of which is the effector 13 moldy peach fuzz, which starts at $35 before adding any options (like DC power and an LED)...it gets loud and nasty and gritty and just brutal - i may try swapping it into my biamp system for a gig or 2 to see how i like it with that band...for the 2 amp system, i am using an original marshall guvnor for distortion, and my little brother is running a russian big muff into an ampeg 115 combo and im definitely jealous of his sound despite all the great gear i'm using myself...i have never used one biamped, but, they are a GREAT nasty fuzz to use on bass...i can imagine it'd sound even BETTER biamped
One thing I don't want is a fuzz pedal. I have a USA Big Muff Pi and even with the sustain turned all the way down, there is way too much fuzz there. I'm looking for something with less gain, especially an inexpensive one.
i bet that boss fender bassman would sound killer on the high channel 
i might just do that myself
i might just do that myself
I had an idea of buying an active crossover and running the highs into my Fender Deville 212 for some tube distortion, but I think I'd be getting in over my head, and I already have enough stuff to lug around, let alone a 70 pound tube amp.
No- bi-amping is used for efficiency resaons, as well as frequency reasons.
Look at PA's and studio monitors- both have at least one cross over point. it is also the reasonong behind sub/statalite systems.
Look at PA's and studio monitors- both have at least one cross over point. it is also the reasonong behind sub/statalite systems.
But PA cabs are meant to do very different things than bass cabs. From what I've read on the subject, bi-amping (actually splitting certain frequencies to two seperate amps) doesn't have much advantage over just running two rigs fullrange.
bongomania
Commercial User
Seems to me that dedicating a large bass rig to clean tone and a small side rig to distortion would offer some tonal options not easy to achieve with a full-range single-channel setup. Although you could get close by using a mixer/blender and maybe a crossover. I've heard of many bassists using a little 30-watt tube guitar amp as their "distortion channel".
I wasn't talking about an actual guitar amp, i meant this-> http://www.bossus.com/index.asp?pg=1&tmp=162
Oh, I agree. Full-range plus a guitar amp for distorted mids and highs is a good way to achieve a more filling sound.
I've just heard less than positive things about splitting just lows to one amp and highs to another. I've heard that is more pain and finesse than it is worth most times.
