Drive for 9050 Flats?

[WilbursaurusRex]

Hey Talkbass. Last time I used flats (chromes) I noticed not all drives react the same way to the different string type.

For those of you who have used fender 9050 flats, were there any particular drives you enjoyed with them? I just put some on my jazz bass and enjoy them, but am in the market for a drive pedal under $150. I’ve considered the TC mojo mojo or Poison Noises crook or maybe even a Sushi Box space heater.

 

[T-34]

Plugging mine into an Ashdown Drive Plus: it's a two channel bass drive with separate low and high frequency drive circuits. Not that easy to apprehend at the beginning, but after some learning it's pretty awesome. I even used it in post prod to "reamp" the basses that were too clean.

 

[WilbursaurusRex]

Plugging mine into an Ashdown Drive Plus: it's a two channel bass drive with separate low and high frequency drive circuits. Not that easy to apprehend at the beginning, but after some learning it's pretty awesome. I even used it in post prod to "reamp" the basses that were too clean.

inwonder how that compares to their new double shot multiband distortion

 

[Marihino]

I'm enjoying mine into TC Electronic Spark

 

[WilbursaurusRex]

I'm enjoying mine into TC Electronic Spark

I was thinking that, but I feel I may want more drive which led me to the mojo mojo option. Does it resist fartiness like the spark, I wonder.

 

[T-34]

inwonder how that compares to their new double shot multiband distortion

Don’t have one,…

 

[StevewiththePbass]

There's a YT video I found recently of a nice Vintage Microtubes sample on a P with flats. Nice and *chewy*, if that makes sense

 

[WilbursaurusRex]

There's a YT video I found recently of a nice Vintage Microtubes sample on a P with flats. Nice and *chewy*, if that makes sense

I’ll need to look into it

 

[StevewiththePbass]

I’ll need to look into it

Here ya go! Would have linked it originally but I had trouble finding it. Kept getting sidetracked watching pedal demos

 

[ole Jason]

+1 I liked the Vintage MT when I had those flats on a Mustang bass

 

[Ronzo]

There's a YT video I found recently of a nice Vintage Microtubes sample on a P with flats. Nice and *chewy*, if that makes sense

It would to Leland Sklar. He developed the “Producer Switch” when he was asked to make his sound “more chewy”.

 

[WilbursaurusRex]

I’ve considered something rat styled as well. I played a Rat2 and enjoyed the distortion texture but when I hear things like the MXR m85 in demos it sounds more gurgley and less grindy

 

[Timmah]

I keep switching back and forth between an Xotic Bass BB and a ZVEX Basstortion with a P and Fender Flats. Both sound great at low gain settings, but very different. The Xotic sort of hardens the sound, providing a little extra punch in the mids and a sizzle on top, whereas the ZVEX has a softer, more amp like effect. Lately the latter is winning out, but I’m sure it’ll swing back around.

 

[sifrancis]

My favourites with flats are similar to those already mentioned:
Audio Kitchen Fake Plastic Trees
Blackstone Mosfet
Darkglass VMT
Earthquaker Devices Westwood
SolidGoldFX Beta
Xotic BB
Zvex Basstortion

I have a COG effects Rat based drive that works really well with flats too which would lead me to believe other Rat based drives would be successful.

Seems that in general, a drive with a slightly more mid-forward base character seems to work well.

I would also highly recommend the Tronographic Rusty Box with flatwounds - it has a midrange voicing that works really well IME, and gives some lovely cut in the mix, and particularly when used early in the chain to push other drives really gets some great flat wound drive and distortion tones.

 

[keto]

Not quite OT, but I ran Labella DT's on a Gibby DC short scale thru an EH HotWax last night and was very pleased.

 

[WilbursaurusRex]

My favourites with flats are similar to those already mentioned:
Audio Kitchen Fake Plastic Trees
Blackstone Mosfet
Darkglass VMT
Earthquaker Devices Westwood
SolidGoldFX Beta
Xotic BB
Zvex Basstortion

I have a COG effects Rat based drive that works really well with flats too which would lead me to believe other Rat based drives would be successful.

Seems that in general, a drive with a slightly more mid-forward base character seems to work well.

I would also highly recommend the Tronographic Rusty Box with flatwounds - it has a midrange voicing that works really well IME, and gives some lovely cut in the mix, and particularly when used early in the chain to push other drives really gets some great flat wound drive and distortion tones.

That Blackstone looks really interesting, but I couldnt justify spending that much. I just sold a Rusty Box a couple of months ago before deciding to go back to flats

 

[pbass2]

Big fan of the Xotic BB on my P and J w old Labella flats FWIW. I gather it's a tube screamer kinda design, but to me it's actually pretty "ampy".

 

[Frodolicious]

Damnation Audio MBD-1 or 2
Tech 21 VT bass DI
TC Electronic Spark

 

[WilbursaurusRex]

So I decided to go for the Mojo Mojo PG to try something a bit different. I've seen a lot of love for the MM and most sound clips I've heard sound pretty good. I've heard the Spark handles flats well, and, from what I understand, the MM is based off of the same drive. Thanks for the feedback, though some of the suggestions where well out of my price range.

On a side note, Id like to try the Bass BB, and the Demhe/Carcosa bc I hear some nice drive sounds coming out of those with the bias low and the gain to taste.

 

[arepa_funk]

I don't use 9050s, but I do use flats (Chromes, LaBella LTFs) exclusively on passive axes. These are my favorite drives (not fuzzes):

- SSBS Mini
- Jam Pedals Lucydreamer Bass
- Broughton Fliptop/SV-PRE
- Xotic RC Bass Booster, though technically not a drive (it won't add hair to your tone) can increase clean gain and has a great James EQ stack.

The Lucydreamer needs the tone knob almost fully CW since it runs dark, and playing with flats already darkens your tone. With the mix knob, you can choose how much clean you're blending in, plus there's a second footswitch for higher gain.

The Broughton preamps all have overdrive gain knobs and area really musical and useful.

The Mini has attained almost legendary status, prices are through the roof now because the builder hasn't made new ones in a long time. Can do everything from clean boost to gated fuzz, including a really great overdrive.

Hope this helps.