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EBS Valvedrive?

I've been searching for just a little bit of distortion when the bass gives a lot of output, like when i hit a string particularly hard, or a chord, or what have you. Pretty much like you would if you were playing through a guitar tube head with a teeny bit of gain. I've tried using a few overdrive pedals, but I can almost get what I want, but then I turn it off and realize how much warmth and bass tone the pedals cut. I'm just looking for a subtle overdrive that doesn't cut my low end so much. I have a GK 1001-rbII and a bass with EMG's. What are your thoughts on the ebs (I've used the multidrive ebs with tubesim, that was the closest I got, but it cut too much, is this any better?) or have any suggestions that aren't rediculous?
 
I'd say get the valvedrive- you won't regret it. My setup is spector (w/emg's) into a variety of pedals, then into 2 GK 800rb's. The valvedrive is always on, and it is by far the best pedal I've ever bought. It adds just enough grit (in the modern channel) without sucking out any low end or mids or making it too trebly. The "vintage" channel gives a pretty good "fuzz-like" sound (think Geezer), but I really don't use it much.
 
I'd say get the valvedrive- you won't regret it. My setup is spector (w/emg's) into a variety of pedals, then into 2 GK 800rb's. The valvedrive is always on, and it is by far the best pedal I've ever bought. It adds just enough grit (in the modern channel) without sucking out any low end or mids or making it too trebly. The "vintage" channel gives a pretty good "fuzz-like" sound (think Geezer), but I really don't use it much.

+1 to everything Gasman said! That's my opinion/experience exactly - especially the difference between the modern & vintage modes.

After owning many od's (I still have a few of them), the Valve Drive gave me exactly what I wanted for a responsive lower-gain od. It can wail at higher gain settings, but it sounds so absolutely natural & big when on the modern setting with just a touch of grit!!!
 
I'd say get the valvedrive- you won't regret it. My setup is spector (w/emg's) into a variety of pedals, then into 2 GK 800rb's. The valvedrive is always on, and it is by far the best pedal I've ever bought. It adds just enough grit (in the modern channel) without sucking out any low end or mids or making it too trebly. The "vintage" channel gives a pretty good "fuzz-like" sound (think Geezer), but I really don't use it much.

Now THAT'S what I've been looking for!
 
I also own a ebs valve drive and that's the best overdrive for bass you can get. It doesn't cut bass at all whatever the level of distortion you need. And it does a really nice tube preamp for any solid state power amp even if you don't want distortion.

the perfect thing would be a pedal like Xotic RC Bass Booster (absolutely crystal clear and transparent) + the ability to give some grit...if valvedrive do this than...it makes my day

i've to say that i also own a bass juice: it's great..but it's not what we're talking about

maybe Bogdan PL? (i'll try it this evening for the first time)
 
I got one too, awesome pedal. I use it with a LMII for the same reason as you, just a little bit of grit. Even boosting the gain to halfway won't really destroy the low end and sound very bad**s.

But: As I'm looking on the markbass website, I stumble onto this:

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A (presumably tube) distortion with a highpass filter that applies distortion only to the high end, leaving your low end clean. I'm seriously gassing for this now.

But really, the Valvedrive is awesome and you should definately check it out.