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EQ/OD Recommendation

B

BooshBass

Sep 2, 2013
669
236
Chicago, IL
#1
Hey there, after taking a bit of a hiatus from bass tone obsession and significantly upgrading my guitar board, I'm back to the bass. I used to have a bunch of bass pedals that I didn't even use that much so I sold everything and now all I have is two pedals: a 3Leaf Wonderlove (V1) envelope filter going into a OvniFX Smoothie compressor.

I am on a quest for an awesome tone shaper that also does a nice overdrive for around $250 or less. I don't need a DI, headphone amp, or other features but I understand many pedals that would suit me have them so those functions are certainly not a disqualifier.

What I want to do is put a versatile EQ as the third and last pedal in the chain to boost/clean up/shape the tone, but also have a nice overdrive option, in hopefully one pedal, but if you have a two pedal setup for a reasonable price I suppose I would consider it.

I think really what I'm looking for is really nice overdrive pedal with at least gain, volume, and a three band EQ and the gain can be turned down essentially turning it into a clean boost with EQ.

EQ - looking for clean and versatile (main priority)
OD - looking for fairly smooth and not too high end (required, but doesn't have to be the greatest OD of all time or anything, just add a little dirt here and there)

The MXR M81 seems like what I want for the EQ, but does it even do OD at all?
I had a Darkglass B3K for a small while, and the Behringer Clone of the SansAmp BDDI for a longer while. Darkglass is too metally and high end for me, I'm more looking for some smooth OD. The BDDI clone was pretty okay, but I think maybe still a little too much on the high end. I don't have a whole lot of other experience with bass OD or EQ, so a little help is appreciated. I did own the Hardwire Tube Overdrive CM-2 for quite a while that I really liked a lot, but something about effecting $300 pedals with an $80 pedal bothers me psychologically (which is irrational, I know).

Thanks!

Edit: Anyone every tried an API TranZformer LLX?
 
Last edited:
#2
BooshBass said:
Hey there, after taking a bit of a hiatus from bass tone obsession and significantly upgrading my guitar board, I'm back to the bass. I used to have a bunch of bass pedals that I didn't even use that much so I sold everything and now all I have is two pedals: a 3Leaf Wonderlove (V1) envelope filter going into a OvniFX Smoothie compressor.

I am on a quest for an awesome tone shaper that also does a nice overdrive for around $250 or less. I don't need a DI, headphone amp, or other features but I understand many pedals that would suit me have them so those functions are certainly not a disqualifier.

What I want to do is put a versatile EQ as the third and last pedal in the chain to boost/clean up/shape the tone, but also have a nice overdrive option, in hopefully one pedal, but if you have a two pedal setup for a reasonable price I suppose I would consider it.

I think really what I'm looking for is really nice overdrive pedal with at least gain, volume, and a three band EQ and the gain can be turned down essentially turning it into a clean boost with EQ.

EQ - looking for clean and versatile (main priority)
OD - looking for fairly smooth and not too high end (required, but doesn't have to be the greatest OD of all time or anything, just add a little dirt here and there)

The MXR M81 seems like what I want for the EQ, but does it even do OD at all?
I had a Darkglass B3K for a small while, and the Behringer Clone of the SansAmp BDDI for a longer while. Darkglass is too metally and high end for me, I'm more looking for some smooth OD. The BDDI clone was pretty okay, but I think maybe still a little too much on the high end. I don't have a whole lot of other experience with bass OD or EQ, so a little help is appreciated. I did own the Hardwire Tube Overdrive CM-2 for quite a while that I really liked a lot, but something about effecting $300 pedals with an $80 pedal bothers me psychologically (which is irrational, I know).

Thanks!

Edit: Anyone every tried an API TranZformer LLX?
Click to expand...
So, this is going to be all subjective. But here are some suggestions that have worked or seem to look like they would fit the bill:
Master Effects Super 300
SushiBoxFX May have something that works
The new Badwater from Walrus Audio looks like it would fit this if you could find a b-stock or used one.
I’m sure there are others, but those are the ones I can think of real quick.
 
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#3
BooshBass said:
Hey there, after taking a bit of a hiatus from bass tone obsession and significantly upgrading my guitar board, I'm back to the bass. I used to have a bunch of bass pedals that I didn't even use that much so I sold everything and now all I have is two pedals: a 3Leaf Wonderlove (V1) envelope filter going into a OvniFX Smoothie compressor.

I am on a quest for an awesome tone shaper that also does a nice overdrive for around $250 or less. I don't need a DI, headphone amp, or other features but I understand many pedals that would suit me have them so those functions are certainly not a disqualifier.

What I want to do is put a versatile EQ as the third and last pedal in the chain to boost/clean up/shape the tone, but also have a nice overdrive option, in hopefully one pedal, but if you have a two pedal setup for a reasonable price I suppose I would consider it.

I think really what I'm looking for is really nice overdrive pedal with at least gain, volume, and a three band EQ and the gain can be turned down essentially turning it into a clean boost with EQ.

EQ - looking for clean and versatile (main priority)
OD - looking for fairly smooth and not too high end (required, but doesn't have to be the greatest OD of all time or anything, just add a little dirt here and there)

The MXR M81 seems like what I want for the EQ, but does it even do OD at all?
I had a Darkglass B3K for a small while, and the Behringer Clone of the SansAmp BDDI for a longer while. Darkglass is too metally and high end for me, I'm more looking for some smooth OD. The BDDI clone was pretty okay, but I think maybe still a little too much on the high end. I don't have a whole lot of other experience with bass OD or EQ, so a little help is appreciated. I did own the Hardwire Tube Overdrive CM-2 for quite a while that I really liked a lot, but something about effecting $300 pedals with an $80 pedal bothers me psychologically (which is irrational, I know).

Thanks!

Edit: Anyone every tried an API TranZformer LLX?
Click to expand...

Dr Scientist The Elements would fit the bill.

With the gain down it can do the same duty as The Cleanness pedal, which is a very effective 3-band EQ. Broad overdrive/distortion range, although it shines better at medium to high gain I think. Can get fuzz-like. Also has a blend.
 
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#4
Also, two pedals would obviously be more expensive but you could go with something like a Tech 21 q/strip or Genzler Re/q for the pristine eq and Spaceman Saturn VI or Creation Audio Grizzly for the overdrive.
 
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#11
Deleted member 360599 said:
Ampeg Classic, Scrambler, and /or SCRDI may be another option to consider.
Click to expand...

I go back and forth on the SCRDI. Not that I don't think it's good, I do and it comes highly recommended, I just don't know if I'm looking for the "Ampeg tone" with this pedal. What prompted this purchase is I'm a casual basement player and use a GK MB-112 that I love, but it's very modern sounding and once in a while I wish it had a deeper bass tone. So, I dunno, maybe I am looking to add a little Ampeg deepness to my rig and don't even know it lol. Something about pedals from amp makers turns me off, I always just think, well if I want Ampeg I should just buy an RB115 or used BA115 for a cheaper option, and end up gravitating toward something that's not a model of a real amp.
 
#16
vvvmmm said:
TCE Spark offers.
Click to expand...

I've seen this come up in a bunch of threads for this purpose. I actually have one on my guitar board after dirt and before mods so I'm going to try it out. Lol on the price thing, super stupid I know, I can get over it.

bassbrad said:
ain't nothing wrong with that Hardwire CM2 it is a great pedal.
Click to expand...

I agree, I remember really liking it. I think the only reason I get rid of it was a full liquidation to simplify my bass stuff to a Zoom B3. That didn't last haha. The only reservation I have is lack of EQ controls, specifically mids.
 
#17
BooshBass said:
I've seen this come up in a bunch of threads for this purpose. I actually have one on my guitar board after dirt and before mods so I'm going to try it out. Lol on the price thing, super stupid I know, I can get over it.



I agree, I remember really liking it. I think the only reason I get rid of it was a full liquidation to simplify my bass stuff to a Zoom B3. That didn't last haha. The only reservation I have is lack of EQ controls, specifically mids.
Click to expand...
The CM10 is tricky on the EQ in the Modern mode it is active 2 band but in vintage it is classic Baxandall that can imply the mids it also changes the saturation a bit. That is a reason I keep mine around. Sadly Zoom has never really gotten their distortion game on, everything else is pumping imho but not the distortions.
 
#18
bassbrad said:
Baxandall.

Sadly Zoom has never really gotten their distortion game on, everything else is pumping imho but not the distortions.
Click to expand...

Interesting I'll have to look further into that.

I agree regarding dirt but I really like Zoom stuff. I could easily see going back to one of their multis at some point, I have had a lot of fun with the B3 and MS60B, I just decided one day I really only use EF and Comp regularly for bass so I just wanted really good ones of those. I had the Wonderlove from when they were still being produced a normally priced, so I splurged on a nice compressor to go with it. Now the idea is the potentially splurge on tone shaping EQ and OD and be done with it for a while. For the occasional fun with other effects, I could see running my GK combo in stereo with one of those new Boss Katanas for bass sometime in the future.
 
#20
legalbass said:
Check out the Source Audio EQ2 pedal. It's the most user-friendly, shape-able EQ device I've ever interacted with, and has dual inputs and outputs.
Click to expand...

It absolutely is the best eq out there - ridiculously flexible, yet at the same time pretty easy to use. It won't get you overdrive, but it's an EQ that you'll be happy with for a VERY long time. I have 2 pedalboards. I have 2 EQ2's.
 

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