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Driven Tube Simulation?

mebusdriver

mebusdriver

Jun 11, 2001
900
23
42
USA, Warner Robins GA
#1
What's up TB? Im looking for a pedal of some kind to simulate the sound of slightly driven tubes. I'm going to be using it in a blues setting so I won't need a balls out distortion. More of the fat sound with a little bit or break up. However, if there's one that can do both, that would be awesome. :smug: Any recommendations? I play mainly passive basses and I'm using an Ampeg PF500. Thanks for the help.
 
#9
musicxfactor said:
Tell us why you think it's lame.....
Click to expand...

It gets clangy really quick. It kind of sounds like a pillow in front of a tube amp. I had a deluxe for awhile, I got some okay sounds. Then my DHA VT2-Twin EQ-Std showed up. I have never looked back. I also switched to a real tube amp.
The vT is just missing something...mainly tubes, particularly big sweating power tubes that pummel you with tubey goodness.
I have tried a Swell tube OD pedal as well and I liked it as well. A friend used it with his SS amp and it destroyed the VT too.
You want tube sound, use a tube or two at the minimum.
 
#11
DeltaPhoenix said:
It gets clangy really quick. It kind of sounds like a pillow in front of a tube amp. I had a deluxe for awhile, I got some okay sounds. Then my DHA VT2-Twin EQ-Std showed up. I have never looked back. I also switched to a real tube amp.
The vT is just missing something...mainly tubes, particularly big sweating power tubes that pummel you with tubey goodness.
I have tried a Swell tube OD pedal as well and I liked it as well. A friend used it with his SS amp and it destroyed the VT too.
You want tube sound, use a tube or two at the minimum.
Click to expand...

Well I cant buy a tube head in the near future. And I dont think I can gig with one either. I gig a ******** and cant carry a huge head around all the time. I got the pf500 because of the portability, light weight, and the reliability of a ss amp. It sounds great. But every now and then I want to "warm" it up a bit and add some fuzz. I dont like the vt bass for the reasons you mentioned. The whole clanky sound. Thats not really what I want. But I haven't used it yet so I dont know....
 
#14
I could get non clanky sounds but it took it to a lifeless tone as I remember. On a real tube amp I have never suffered from clankiness.
Mebusdriver, I told you my best solution, a tube based OD. It won't get you all the way there but it will add warmth to your SS head.
EBS Valvedrive pop up used on here. Sometimes a Valvecaster pops up cheap (in fact I know where one is for really cheap on another forum, not mine, pm me I can shoot you in the right direction). The DHA, and Swell units are great, a little pricey though.
 
#15
blue tube 903 has a tube not simulated, used with my ss marshall, very good results

bass mod wmd geiger counter, can do a convincing tube od simulation as well as all of the noise and crazy synth stuff, used with pignose hog 30, very good results

actual tube head by mesa, great sound and more dynamic, but much more expensive
 
#17
I have and use the EBS Multidrive for mild OD and a TAFM for brutal fuzz ( my preamp is an RBI though).

As for preamps with one tube in them, they do not and can not sound like a tube amp. the preamp in my head has a tube in it, the RBI sounds more like a tube amp then it does. The only way to sound like a tube amp is (wait for it) with a tube amp. I don't think the OP is trying to emulate EXACTLY a tube amp. I do not own a VT Bass. I have used one and it sounds similar to the RBI ( obviously) and I think it will do what the OP needs it to without him spending a ton or lugging a 90 lb amp around.
 

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