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Favorite Heavy Distortion

Sir Edward V

Sir Edward V

Not Actually Knighted... Yet!
Dec 11, 2006
3,062
5
Massachusetts
#1
Come, rant about your favorite heavy distortion! I am looking to replace my ME-50B and I want to hear some opinions from people.

I was checking out the Boss Metal Zone and the EHX Big Muff Pi, so comments on those as well would be appriciated.
 
#2
I have the Boss ODB-3 (Bass Overdrive Ped) and I can get a really 'mean' tone out of it, have a look into that. Ive also heard that you can get a fantastic distortion from the Big Muff. I'm gettin one of those soon!
 
#3
I can't really "rant" about my favorite distortion as I just use what works for me.

For over the top distortion I really do like my Hughes & Kettner Warp Factor. It keeps it bassy and is a full on rip-your-throat-out kind of distortion. Just perfect for when the guitarist doesn't want to turn down! :D
 
#5
When I don't give a d@mn about losing precious low end in the name of all out ugly distortion, I'll probably use either a combo of a Big Muff and a Fab Metal, or a Fab Distortion through a Fab Metal. I know, we're talking less than $100 for three pedals, and one of them cost me more than the other two combined, but it's pretty effective. If you have a tube emulator (I use a Behringer ADI21, I know, yet another cheapo), it makes it even better. If you have about four chorus pedals lined up after the distortion, even better. :mad:



[add:] Also, I noticed that two distortion pedals in a row gives major distortion. Three in a row and the law of diminishing returns big time comes into play.
 
#7
The Tech21 XXL is by far the best heavy distortion I've ever used. The old, silver one that is. I haven't tried the Bass Edition yet, but a few people around TB seem to like it.

As an alternative, I really like my T-Rex Mudhoney. It can be very subtle, way too nasty or anywhere in between. There isn't a more variable distortion on the market, IME. At high gain settings with the "Boost" button engaged, it would probably be too buzzy sounding for a lot of folks, but it's exactly what I was looking for. Actually, it's more of a fuzz than a distortion.

If I could only have one, it would be the XXL, though.
 
#9
"Favorite Heavy Distortion" ...Ok just wanted to make sure I read this right ... You have so many questions about just overdrive.


After a fair amount of searching on my part I found the Roger Mayer Voodoo Bass ... Jaw dropping HUGE sound I guess Jimi Hendrix knew what he was doing employing Roger to build his FX pedals.


:eek: ... 1000 lb bumble bee ... NO wait angry 1000 lb bumble bee!
 
#11
Damn you for this thread Edward, or should I say thank you??? You made me plug my Bass XXL in again and I realized that this thing is the best heavy distortion I have ever owned for bass guitar.....then I preceded to remove the pedal from a classified listing I posted the other day here on TB. Woulda prolly regretted that sale so, Thanks!
 
#14
Trevorus said:
Heavy distortion is best achieved by my English Muff'n. Fuzzing it out is done by my Flaming Funkdrive, which is a Foxx Tone Machine clone.
Click to expand...

been meaning to try out a english muff'n... i should have while i was at guitar center today, but i was getting a little burned out, i tried out like 15 different pedals, a sweet ampeg tube amp, and discovered just how wonderful warwick basses are... such an amazing tone... i must have one! lol

Earwaxsculptor said:
Damn you for this thread Edward, or should I say thank you??? You made me plug my Bass XXL in again and I realized that this thing is the best heavy distortion I have ever owned for bass guitar.....then I preceded to remove the pedal from a classified listing I posted the other day here on TB. Woulda prolly regretted that sale so, Thanks!
Click to expand...

glad to help!
 
#18
I own both the Metal Zone and the Little Big Muff... and these are two totally different beasts.

The Muff gets a great big, thick, smooth fuzz. Fantastic low-end. Usually scoops your mids a bit.

Metal Zone is completely different. I use mine for a more subtle distortion that I can't achieve with the Muff. I have the bass maxed out, and I still use a little low end... but not too much. (I use a Pbass, btw. If I used, say, an MM or something that's known for a bigger low end, I'd probably lose more lows) The Metal Zone is good, to me, because I can boost the low mids... which are quite boosted. This creates kind of a weird solo tone, but in a band setting, I cut through better than a muff. It also allows the nuances of your bass and technique to come through more than a muff. Although I generally like many things about the MZ-2, I sometimes feel that I'm "settling" and that I can find another pedal with all of the good qualities... without the bad. I'm drooling over the Crowther Hotcakes (XLF version) right now. I'm hoping that it'll provide a nice medium-heavy distortion that can cut through the mix while preserving my tone... without sounding thin, like the Metal Zone does without the SABDDI.

I also want a Zvex Woolly Mammoth (outrageously expensive) for huge, mean fuzz that can be gated for cool synth sounds (yay!) and an Ezekiel by D*A*M for everything from the perfect OD to the perfect fuzz.
 
#19
+1 to the XXL.

I have the XXL Drive Edition which is covered in silver swirls, besides that I am not 100% sure of the differences between it and the purple one. I tried out a couple more generic pedals at my local music store (boss and digitech) and hated them all. So I went and ordered the XXL Drive never having heard any sound samples and I love it. Gives me a nice thick distortion with great note clarity, or at least that's what my less then perfect ears are telling me. It only does heavy distortion though. None of the lighter stuff.
 
#20
SpankyPants said:
I own both the Metal Zone and the Little Big Muff... and these are two totally different beasts.

The Muff gets a great big, thick, smooth fuzz. Fantastic low-end. Usually scoops your mids a bit.

Metal Zone is completely different. I use mine for a more subtle distortion that I can't achieve with the Muff. I have the bass maxed out, and I still use a little low end... but not too much. (I use a Pbass, btw. If I used, say, an MM or something that's known for a bigger low end, I'd probably lose more lows) The Metal Zone is good, to me, because I can boost the low mids... which are quite boosted. This creates kind of a weird solo tone, but in a band setting, I cut through better than a muff. It also allows the nuances of your bass and technique to come through more than a muff. Although I generally like many things about the MZ-2, I sometimes feel that I'm "settling" and that I can find another pedal with all of the good qualities... without the bad. I'm drooling over the Crowther Hotcakes (XLF version) right now. I'm hoping that it'll provide a nice medium-heavy distortion that can cut through the mix while preserving my tone... without sounding thin, like the Metal Zone does without the SABDDI.

I also want a Zvex Woolly Mammoth (outrageously expensive) for huge, mean fuzz that can be gated for cool synth sounds (yay!) and an Ezekiel by D*A*M for everything from the perfect OD to the perfect fuzz.
Click to expand...

...good man, i like the explanations, thanks

I want to be able to take each of these pedals I'm interested in and actually have them next to each other and tweak them all and compare them without having to walk to a different area and re-setting up...

i suppose i could buy all of them, then return the ones I dont want... i think that would work...

actually, there might be a local store I can do that at... well local to my hometown, not to my college town... damn the inconveniences of moving for college and not having a car!
 

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