DISTORTIOOOOOOOOOOOOON...which one?

[FaithNoMan]

OP, can you take your bass there and plug any of these pedals into an amp they have? That's really the best way.

 

[dannybuoy]

By the way, they need to be pretty cheap as my main budget is going towards an Ampeg mini stack.

A word of advice, the Ampeg Micro VR crackles and distorts if hooked up to two of the matching SVT210AV cabs. Only buy it if you're planning on using just one of those cabs!

 

[winterburn69]

Boss has made some great pedals, but their dirt sucks. Personally I've never found having one or two to suck tone, but having a pedalboard full of them does.

Go the Pro-Co route and get the MXR Bass Distortion. It's very niiiiiiiiiiice. High five.

 

[DavC]

i've spent the last few years trying out OD's/Dist looking for something that works equally well on gtr/bass ..!

after testing the high/mid price range ... used .. from the B7K , Barbershop , Beta , Sparkle MOD , Maxon ( various including real tube ) , Fulltone GT500 , Tone Hammer , and many more ...

probably my top 3 favs ( for gtr/bass ) #3 - TC Spark full size , #2 - Wampler Low Blow , ......... my current

#1 for now - Carl Martin Bass Drive ( w/1957 NOS JG5751 lower gain tube ) ... which runs into a Wampler Dual Fusion ( which i've only used in gtr so far , along with the tube warmth of the first OD )

i usually try to buy stuff USED .! after some research and watching/reading reviews ... but , nothing works like trying stuff with your own gear .!

 

[A. D. Fairhurst]

Distortion is a highly personal taste. It's hard for speak to what someone else will like. Whose tones are you going after?

I don't know. Probably Krist Novoselic in the aforementioned Breed.

 

[spaz21387]

Id avoid boss and look into darkglass or wren and cuff or the malekko diabolik or idiotbox. A good fuzz to start with is always a big muff. One with a mids knob or a blend and you cant go wrong. The blackout musket is also amazing...

 

[SunnBass]

I wouldn't suggest any of the pedals you listed in your poll.
All the pedals listed in your poll are voiced for guitar.
Guaranteed they will lose low end, including the Rat.
If you go with a bass distortion you can use it on guitar and dial out some low.

 

[ole Jason]

Buy an Idiotbox Dungeon Master and call it a day then. For what it's worth, it's partly modeled after an old Boss HM-2 but with a lot more goodness.

Dungeon Master

I have one and love it but I probably wouldn't recommend it willy nilly unless someone really wants an over the top doom tone. It is basically an HM-2 / FZ-2 hybrid. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

 

[kbakerde]

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.

I really like the Boss BB-1X

 

[MGR]

I have one and love it but I probably wouldn't recommend it willy nilly unless someone really wants an over the top doom tone. It is basically an HM-2 / FZ-2 hybrid. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

You know what. After thinking about it, I do agree even though I suggested the DM in the first place. It's an amazing piece, but more for special effect distortion rather than main distortion. I absolutely love mine. Trying to get Matt to build me one right now with EXP control over the bass knob.

 

[toddbooster]

I've never heard it used for bass, but the DS-1 is the most wretched, horrible sounding thing you can plug a guitar into.

 

[bikeplate]

What's your budget? I like units w blend feature. My fave is an EBS Billy Sheehan

 

[hintz]

+1 to say no to boss. I haven't heard one boss od/distortion sound even passable on bass..

Have you heard their newer bass overdrive?? Sounds pretty damn good IMO, but all the ones the OP listed I imagine are terrible on bass except the Rat, so thats what I voted for! If you get an LS2 or some other clean blend it could be really cool!! Or something like the fuzzrocious "Cat tail"(formerly"Rat tail")which are bass friendly, Blower Box, alot of new bass friendly rat clones available now!!

 

[dannoman]

Suncoast B1P. A great mix of clean with distortion that you can adjust to taste. Check the classifieds under preamps....

You can go from a mild od to Billy Sheehan to Cliff Burton all without loosing your clean signal.

 

[friendlybass]

Of rat clones, my fav is the fuzzrocious rat tail (now cat tail I believe) and the proco turbo rat is actually also fair on bass for the price.
My recommendation for you if you're starting out is grab a bass big muff, the ehx brand one or a nice clone, and learn to control a high gain distortion using your basses volume control

 

[nshuman]

If it fits your budget, @dunwichamps 's Volt Thrower. A new batch will be available soon: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[mmbongo]

I'm going to suggest two fantastic pedals, and I'm limiting my selection to pedals that can be had less than $50.

TC Electronic MojoMojo is $50 brand new and sounds huge and thick, but it is more of an overdrive.
Hardwire SC-2 Valve Distortion is a tighter grained pure distortion, nice and punchy with plenty of grit. Can be had used for under $50

I have both of these and they are true gems. I don't even use them, but I'm surely not going to sell them...you never know when I might get a wild hair to use them plus it wouldn't be worth it to sell them

 

[organworthyplayer337]

I've heard good talk about the EHX Soul Food. Pretty budget friendly

 

[Volunteerk9]

Since you said specifically Boss and that most of budget was going towards a mini stack, I'll mention the Boss OBD-3. Its not bad - probably not as good as some of the ones mentioned above but it isnt going to set you back $300 either.

 

[XXL]

Heres an Iphone vid I just made of the B3K and Gunslinger playing Breed




B3K:
Attack: Off
Grunt: Fat
Blend:1
Level:2
Drive:5

Gunslinger:
Ran at 18Vs
Gain: 10
Level:9
Low:4
High:11