Empress distortion pedal

[Crystalman85]

I was visiting the empress website and then I came across the empress distortion pedal. one thing that came to mind is that it looks like a more compacted version of the empress multidrive. it does have the distortion type feature as the multidrive. and the other controls consists bass, gain, treble, and output. so I was wondering has anyone here tried this pedal out on bass. if so, how does it compare to the empress multidrive? here's the link to the pedal.

Distortion – Empress Effects Inc.

 

[Adamixoye]

My understanding is that it's just the distortion component of the Multidrive. It isn't more complicated; you get global bass and treble controls and the "type" switch on the Multidrive's distortion as well. And on the Multidrive you get a mids control too. So you get more on the Multidrive.

 

[Crystalman85]

Yeah that's true. you do get more options on the multidrive. and I would of figured that it has the same distortion sounds as the distortion channel on the multidrive. only without a mid control. thanks for the info. I will focus on saving some cash for an empress heavy or the multidrive. I'm interested in the heavy because of it's metal distortion sound. and I also like the mutidrive for it's heavy grind.

 

[Crystalman85]

Still I would be interested in purchasing that pedal. I would like to test out how it sounds. also If I purchase the empress multidrive, I would use the distortion channel anyhow. I like the sound of the distortion channel on the empress multidrive. I figure I would get the same results with the empress distortion. If I purchase it, I'll test it out. see how it is, and type down a review on it. according to the empress website, it says that the empress distortion works well on bass.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I have the Multidrive, and really like it. The distortion channel is really great, however my favorite sound comes when I blend distortion (lead setting) with clean tone from the overdrive channel (volume max, gain low). The Multidrive's Fuzz channel is cool too, but I really don't need fuzz.

As noted, the Multidrive has three-band EQ, with frequency shift for the midrange control. It also has the filtering switches, which are fun to play with: f'r instance if I use the fuzz, I tend to low-pass it so it isn't too buzzy on top. Sometimes I'll high-pass the distortion, low-pass the overdrive for dirtier top, cleaner bottom. That said, my current favorite setting (noted above) doesn't filter either the dist or od channels.

I'm sure the Empress Distortion will be killer for those who don't need the complexity of the Multidrive.

 

[TOOL460002]

Multi drive is great. Never found unusable sounds. Want the Heavy as well though.

 

[Crystalman85]

I have the Multidrive, and really like it. The distortion channel is really great, however my favorite sound comes when I blend distortion (lead setting) with clean tone from the overdrive channel (volume max, gain low). The Multidrive's Fuzz channel is cool too, but I really don't need fuzz.

As noted, the Multidrive has three-band EQ, with frequency shift for the midrange control. It also has the filtering switches, which are fun to play with: f'r instance if I use the fuzz, I tend to low-pass it so it isn't too buzzy on top. Sometimes I'll high-pass the distortion, low-pass the overdrive for dirtier top, cleaner bottom. That said, my current favorite setting (noted above) doesn't filter either the dist or od channels.

I'm sure the Empress Distortion will be killer for those who don't need the complexity of the Multidrive.

Well when you put it that way, I suppose the multidrive would be a better choice because of the 3-band eq. I do like the distortion channel on the multidrive. it sounds smooth and heavy. the one reason I was considering owning the empress distortion is because I would of thought that I would get the same results of the distortion channel of the mutlidrive from the empress distortion pedal. the empress website mentioned that it works well on bass. plus If I were to purchase the empress multidrive, I would use it for it's distortion channel. but if you think the multidrive is a much better choice, I suppose I could save some extra dough for one. my other choice would definitely be the empress heavy.

 

[Crystalman85]

Multi drive is great. Never found unusable sounds. Want the Heavy as well though.

Same here...I've been interested in the empress heavy ever since I've heard sound samples of the pedal from a clip on youtube and a sound sample from adamixoye. I am looking for a heavy distortion for my bass and I was looking at the empress multidrive and the heavy. I was also looking at the empress distortion since I like the distortion channel of the multidrive. I figure I could get the same results with that pedal. but since I was advise to purchase the multidrive instead, I would save some cash on getting that one. still, I am curious about the empress distortion pedal. I was thinking about purchasing that pedal and test it out on bass. see how it is. but I was told that the multidrive is a better choice mainly because of the 3-band eq. which I can understand that. I can go with the multidrive if it works a lot better on bass rather than the distortion pedal. I also would go for the empress heavy. I do like the heavy sounds that this pedal provides. either one, I am looking to by a new distortion pedal for my bass.

 

[hintz]

Same here...I've been interested in the empress heavy ever since I've heard sound samples of the pedal from a clip on youtube and a sound sample from adamixoye. I am looking for a heavy distortion for my bass and I was looking at the empress multidrive and the heavy. I was also looking at the empress distortion since I like the distortion channel of the multidrive. I figure I could get the same results with that pedal. but since I was advise to purchase the multidrive instead, I would save some cash on getting that one. still, I am curious about the empress distortion pedal. I was thinking about purchasing that pedal and test it out on bass. see how it is. but I was told that the multidrive is a better choice mainly because of the 3-band eq. which I can understand that. I can go with the multidrive if it works a lot better on bass rather than the distortion pedal. I also would go for the empress heavy. I do like the heavy sounds that this pedal provides. either one, I am looking to by a new distortion pedal for my bass.

If I could go back in time I would've gotten the Heavy instead of the multidrive.... I really dug the overdrive at low gain(up higher it was too farty), but the distortion and fuzz left me under whelmed , I ended up selling it after a couple of weeks of trying to get it to work for me...

But your tastes might be different so who am I to say... But my main beef was the distortion, maybe I'm not really a distortion guy though, maybe I like light-medium to heavy overdrive sounds and true distortion isn't for me...my favorite heavier tones come from my tubeworks real tube overdrive and my OCD, neither are considered true distortion AFAIK...

 

[Fuzzbass]

If I could go back in time I would've gotten the Heavy instead of the multidrive.... I really dug the overdrive at low gain(up higher it was too farty), but the distortion and fuzz left me under whelmed , I ended up selling it after a couple of weeks of trying to get it to work for me...

But your tastes might be different so who am I to say... But my main beef was the distortion, maybe I'm not really a distortion guy though, maybe I like light-medium to heavy overdrive sounds and true distortion isn't for me...my favorite heavier tones come from my tubeworks real tube overdrive and my OCD, neither are considered true distortion AFAIK...

I consider the Multidrive to be one of those complex devices (like the VFE Triumvirate, Brimstone Crossover Distortion) that have offer so many possibilities that it can be hard to find the tones that work best for you. The Fuzz channel is too much for me (though the buzz can be tamed by engaging the low-pass filter). I don't care for high gain on the Overdrive channel, either. As noted above, I like to blend the Overdrive channel run clean with the Distortion channel run at moderate gain at the highest setting ("lead"). This gives fairly in-your-face distortion, but maintains low end... it can be kinda-sorta Live-at-Leedsy (so to speak) with careful tweaking.

Of course I definitely understand that some will say "why should I get this complicated device when I can find a simple one that gives me the exact range of tones I want?" At the gig I prefer simpler ones because if my settings get messed up it's easy to dial 'em back in (but I do gig the complex ones from time to time).

 

[zontar]

I have the Distortion pedal--and it is the distortion part of the Multi pedal, as stated, and I love mine--I mostly use it on guitar, but have tried it on bass as well--works for both.
It's quite versatile in & of itself with Crunch/Mild/Lead switch.

Whether to get this one or the Multi depends on money you have to spend, whether you like the Fuzz & Overdrive sounds on the Multi (They also get their own pedals) and whether you might want more later, or if like me, you win the pedal in a draw.

 

[Crystalman85]

If I could go back in time I would've gotten the Heavy instead of the multidrive.... I really dug the overdrive at low gain(up higher it was too farty), but the distortion and fuzz left me under whelmed , I ended up selling it after a couple of weeks of trying to get it to work for me...

But your tastes might be different so who am I to say... But my main beef was the distortion, maybe I'm not really a distortion guy though, maybe I like light-medium to heavy overdrive sounds and true distortion isn't for me...my favorite heavier tones come from my tubeworks real tube overdrive and my OCD, neither are considered true distortion AFAIK...

I see what you mean. there was a time when I own a rocktron uptopia b100 and noticed that the distortion channels has no blend controls. but the rocktron uptopia b200 has a blendable distortion channel. if I can start over, I would save a little more cash on a rocktron b200.

 

[Crystalman85]

I have the Distortion pedal--and it is the distortion part of the Multi pedal, as stated, and I love mine--I mostly use it on guitar, but have tried it on bass as well--works for both.
It's quite versatile in & of itself with Crunch/Mild/Lead switch.

Whether to get this one or the Multi depends on money you have to spend, whether you like the Fuzz & Overdrive sounds on the Multi (They also get their own pedals) and whether you might want more later, or if like me, you win the pedal in a draw.

Oh so the empress distortion can work on bass after all, huh?...I was thinking of getting that pedal If I'm on a tight budget. plus I was gonna use the multi-drive for it's distortion channel. I do like how it sounds on bass based on the sound sample. thanks for the info, zontar.

 

[zontar]

Oh so the empress distortion can work on bass after all, huh?...I was thinking of getting that pedal If I'm on a tight budget. plus I was gonna use the multi-drive for it's distortion channel. I do like how it sounds on bass based on the sound sample. thanks for the info, zontar.

You're welcome.
Like I said I use it more on guitar, but it will work for bass...
but check it out with a bass first if you can.

 

[Crystalman85]

You're welcome.
Like I said I use it more on guitar, but it will work for bass...
but check it out with a bass first if you can.

Indeed I will. as soon as I save some cash, I will purchase one.

 

[hintz]

It most definitely will work on bass, it doesn't lose any low end IME,for my tastes I just didn't dig the distortion sounds

 

[Crystalman85]

It most definitely will work on bass, it doesn't lose any low end IME,for my tastes I just didn't dig the distortion sounds

Okay cool. I would of guess that it works well on bass. however, I do have my eyes on an empress multi-drive and the empress heavy at this moment. I am looking to buy a new distortion pedal for my bass and I've been looking at these pedals. I like the distortion channel on the empress multidrive. I figure I could get the same results with the empress distortion and that pedal would be my other choice if I'm on a tight budget. the empress heavy on the other hand has a more heavier sound and it sounded pretty cool on bass. so If I'm able to save some more cash, I will most likely will purchase the empress multidrive or the heavy. otherwise, my other choice would be the empress distortion.

 

[hintz]

Okay cool. I would of guess that it works well on bass. however, I do have my eyes on an empress multi-drive and the empress heavy at this moment. I am looking to buy a new distortion pedal for my bass and I've been looking at these pedals. I like the distortion channel on the empress multidrive. I figure I could get the same results with the empress distortion and that pedal would be my other choice if I'm on a tight budget. the empress heavy on the other hand has a more heavier sound and it sounded pretty cool on bass. so If I'm able to save some more cash, I will most likely will purchase the empress multidrive or the heavy. otherwise, my other choice would be the empress distortion.

I'm super picky about overdrive and distortion, I'd get the heavy instead...when I briefly had the multidrive I tried to see if it could replace my other dirt pedals and it really couldn't...

The overdrive could get close to my swell Bpro as far as touch sensitivity and character of the drive, but so could my hardwire cm2 which *I* much prefer(sounds more natural) .... the tone wasn't there for me, I don't know why exactly

the fuzz was pretty cool, but I liked the greystache better, and the distortion was too guitar like for me ( I spent days and days trying to get sounds out of it) where the heavy sounds just right for bass judging from demo's, but at this point in not gonna buy any more pedals and just work with what I got, good luck though!!

 

[Adamixoye]

I'm super picky about overdrive and distortion, I'd get the heavy instead...when I briefly had the multidrive I tried to see if it could replace my other dirt pedals and it really couldn't...

The overdrive could get close to my swell Bpro as far as touch sensitivity and character of the drive, but so could my hardwire cm2 which *I* much prefer(sounds more natural) .... the tone wasn't there for me, I don't know why exactly

the fuzz was pretty cool, but I liked the greystache better, and the distortion was too guitar like for me ( I spent days and days trying to get sounds out of it) where the heavy sounds just right for bass judging from demo's, but at this point in not gonna buy any more pedals and just work with what I got, good luck though!!

I really don't use my Multidrive on bass that much. It's my favorite guitar dirt, because both the overdrive and distortion sound great to me. I find it quite usable on bass, although there's not any "got to have it!" sounds. The Heavy is a different matter...it has great sounds on both guitar and bass. YMMV.

 

[zontar]

It most definitely will work on bass, it doesn't lose any low end IME,for my tastes I just didn't dig the distortion sounds

That's cool, but it has so many sounds--and none of them work?

The first time I tired one I spent nearly 10 minutes to get a sound I really liked--but after that different sounds I loved started coming out of it.

So it took a while, but it was so worth it.