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Distortion Unit Help

mbizy

mbizy

Dec 20, 2005
12
1
63
Greensboro, NC
#1
Hey all,

After playing for 20+ years, I've been out of business for quite some time and I need a boost up on technology.

Perhaps you can help me find a suitable device to create the sound I'm looking for. Maybe there isn't a single unit that will do the trick and I need a few pieces to make it happen. Please lend your experience.

I'm looking for a unit that will split the signal coming from the bass, sending the high frequencies to be EQ'd and distorted, while the low frequencies remain clean and can be EQ'd. With the technological advances made available to musicians, I'm certain a device exists, I'm just struggling to find it. The more functions the device offers, the merrier. I'm sure there are many ways to accomplish the task. I'm not super rich, so I'm looking for good bang for the buck solutions. If you could point me to some specific units, that would be great.

I will genuinely appreciate all input.

Best,
Mike
 
#2
That really depends on what kind of distortion you're looking for. there's a variety of distortions that sounds totally awesome on bass. if you want a distortion that adds boost to your rig, the zvex distortron would be a good choice. even though this pedal is design for guitar, it does work well on bass. not to mention it sounds totally awesome on bass. the xotic bb bass preamp pedal(which I believe is more of a distortion pedal than a preamp pedal) would be another good choice. but the most recommended distortion pedal right now is the microtubes b3k bass overdrive pedal. it's a kinda pricey, but it's worth it.
 
#4
Thanks for the feedback.

As far as the type of distortion, I'm trying out for RUSH tribute band and I would like to emulate the tone Geddy used on the Moving Pictures LP, the same tone he revived on the Time Machine tour.



To my ear, he only distorts the high frequencies and leaves the low end clean and fat. The high end is very six string like in that it can be driven and distorted more by a more aggressive attack on the strings. The low doesn't wash out because it's kept clean and that enhances the fullness of the tone. I think I need two separate signals, but I'm not sure and I'm very technologically challenged!

Any help in achieving a similar tone would be GREAT!

The Iron Ether QF2 box might do the trick. Any more thoughts?

Thank you!
 
#5
A few overdrive boxes allow you to overdrive the low and high frequencies separately, but that leaves you limited to the overdrive sound in that particular stompbox. A crossover splits the signal into high and low frequencies, and then allows you to send each signal through a different effects setup or even different amps. For example:
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You have a control to choose at what frequency it's split, then you can send the high end to an overdrive and the low end through another one (or keep it clean), and then both signals return to the crossover to be mixed back into one signal. This particular unit is being revised by the builder, but if you e-mail him (Max) he'll almost certainly build you one.
As for the effects that you apply to each band, that's more complicated. I think Geddy uses Orange amps for the high end, so an Earthquaker Devices Monarch will probably do the job. And I think he uses a Tech 21 Sansamp for his low end, but if that's a bit too expensive to just pick up to try, the Behringer BDI21 sounds pretty much identical and is much cheaper. I'd say maybe a compressor on th low end as well, but the BDI21 probably compresses it enough anyway.
 

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