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DISTORTIOOOOOOOOOOOOON...which one?

Which?

  • BOSS OS-2

    Votes: 3 4.2%

  • BOSS DS-1

    Votes: 5 7.0%

  • BOSS SD-1

    Votes: 2 2.8%

  • ProCo Rat

    Votes: 43 60.6%

  • EHX Big Muff

    Votes: 18 25.4%
  • Total voters
    71
  • Poll closed .
A. D. Fairhurst

A. D. Fairhurst

Apr 19, 2015
1,604
1,319
25
Northwich, Cheshire, UK
#1
My local guitar shop has a pedal rack and three BOSS pedals. I want to use one for guitar and bass and I was wondering which one you would suggest. They are...

BOSS DS-1 Distortion
BOSS SD-1 Super Overdrive
BOSS OS-2 Overdrive/Distortion

I don't know which to go for, but I'm leaning for the OS-2 as it is extremely road worn and I love the look. Please use the poll.
 
#4
A. D. Fairhurst said:
Why?
Click to expand...
Boss pedals are not really known to be all that great for bass distortion. They're not even known to be all that special for guitar anymore. Perhaps if this was 1988 I'd have something different to say, but there are so many boutique builders making proper bass distortions for not much money. Pretty much all of these offerings will blow away any Boss pedal you may like. If the OS-2 is cheap enough, buy it for fun, but don't expect much.
 
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#13
A. D. Fairhurst said:
What about a ProCo Rat? Krist Novoselic used on on 'Breed'.
Click to expand...

Since we are all sort of rehashing topics that have been covered to death here, I suggest using the search function to research every pedal you can think of. Chances are that you will find reams of info that way. In a nutshell, you want a distortion that retains low end. So you either need something with a clean blend, pair it with a clean blender, or buy a pedal outright that doesn't lose any low end, like a Dungeon Master, or a B3K, or a Bedlam, or a Demon, or a Blower Box, or a Mr. Black bass OD and the list goes on and on...............
 
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#15
BigBobbyBass said:
I'm sure he has a clean blend in there to keep the bottom together. To me, an unmodded rat will kill the low end.
Click to expand...

Not if you put it in front of an eq. You can get those lows back, at least on a 4 string.

I'm more of a Darkglass/Ric(bright bass) guy, but here is my buddy's Rat going through his BDDI with me playing his MIM J. I think it sounded decent(only used to BDDI for speaker sim and for eq at 50% blend with clean settings):


Dropbox - RatBDDIJazz.mp3
 
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#18
rufus.K said:
Distortion is a highly personal taste. It's hard for speak to what someone else will like. Whose tones are you going after?
Click to expand...

I gave an example, but this is the most important thing. Everyone suggests stuff without really knowing what the OP wants. I provided a sample of an unmodded Rat, although it really isn't my favorite overdrive. (But the OP mentioned it in his poll:) )
 
#20
A. D. Fairhurst said:
My local guitar shop has a pedal rack and three BOSS pedals. I want to use one for guitar and bass and I was wondering which one you would suggest. They are...

BOSS DS-1 Distortion
BOSS SD-1 Super Overdrive
BOSS OS-2 Overdrive/Distortion

I don't know which to go for, but I'm leaning for the OS-2 as it is extremely road worn and I love the look. Please use the poll.
Click to expand...
some good ones mentioned, if I were you, I'd take these suggestions and search guitar forums/reviews to see how they are on guitar. I could recommend you some killer bass distortions, but I don't know how they do on guitar... (OD and fuzz I have a better idea, ha)

MXR Bass Distortion (it's rat-based, I bet it slays on guitar), Blower Box, Gunslinger, Big Game Bedlam all solid suggestions that aren't that expensive
 
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