Fulltone BassDrive

[TonyToaster]

M currently looking at buying a Fulltone Bassdrive and I'm just looking for abit of feedback on this pedal.

I'm a big fan of the FullDrive I have with my guitar rig.

Also any insight into what people consider a descent second hand price for one of these?

 

[scotch]

Well, the Bass-Drive has fallen "out of vogue" here on TB... So be prepared for that.

The Bass-Drive Mosfet is still my go-to bass overdrive both live and in the studio. And I have options & have been through MANY od pedals! It has a great, classic tube screamer vibe, is touch sensitive, flexible and road worthy (I've only needed one knob repair in 10 years of heavy touring). It does have its' ceveats, however...

As it is tube screamer based, the pedal adds lots of mids. It doesn't 'kill' a lot of low end (as many will soon post), but the net effect of the extra mids raises volume & thus- you will probably turn it down (along with the lows)! The boost function and comp cut also change the gain makeup, so you have to be prepared to tweak to compensate.

The Mosfet version has a much better low end & the 'flat mids' setting helps a lot as well, so make sure to get the newer versions!

I should note that I now always use an Xotic X-Blender with my Fulltone. It allows me way more flexibility, the ability to dial in more lows at 'unity volume', etc. Still, in a rock context, the Bass-Drive can be a venerable stand-alone od!

There are so many of these on the market, I would think you can get one used for close to half retail. (guessing)

Anyone digging the Fulltone Bass-Drive sound really should also audition an Xotic BB Preamp. Same inherent tubescreamer tone, easier to dial-in low end & a smaller pedal! I keep one around for when I need to 'travel light'.

 

[benthughes]

It's a great pedal and pretty darn bombproof if you ask me. I've owned all 3 versions and finally have the latest ( greatest) MOSFET version. I dig the clean sound in Compcut mode with the tone dimed; you get a huge clean sound with more clarity and balls, especially with 18v supply to it. I wouldn't really consider it so much of an overdrive as a distortion with a fairly natural sounding breakup. If you're looking for an Ampeg style breakup (i.e..VT bass) this isn't it.

I prefer the tube-like breakup of my Sansamp and how well it responds to signal strength. I'll run my Fulltone into my SansAmp, click on the Fulltone to add some boost and grit then engage the boost switch for full on overdrive. I've recently started using is behind my Darkglass B3K. The sound you get with the boost on and B3K going is pure death.

It's a great stand alone pedal and pretty versatile in it's own right. Very good in combination with other pedals.

 

[markxander]

One recently sold here for $160 and that's what I see them at more often than not

I bought one for $99 last year, and picked one up for $110 last week. Both local

They seem to go cheaper when they turn up local, possibly because they're heavy as balls. If I was going to list it on here I'd ask for more just because I don't want to ship it.

 

[EskimoBassist]

Well, the Bass-Drive has fallen "out of vogue" here on TB... So be prepared for that.

+1

To be honest, all of what Scotch said is right on. I love mine, it is a very versatile pedal and so it did surprise me when it started getting bashed on this forum. Then again, doesn't bother me! It fits well into my rig and is a perfect overdrive for so many situations. This, together with my preamp and whatever fuzz I'm using at the time provide more than enough gain options for me.

If I weren't using the boost function, I would probably downsize to the BB, but only because it's smaller. But I dig the boost function and it's not THAT large anyway. Great pedal.

 

[Unrepresented]

Well, the Bass-Drive has fallen "out of vogue" here on TB... So be prepared for that.

The Bass-Drive Mosfet is still my go-to bass overdrive both live and in the studio. And I have options & have been through MANY od pedals! It has a great, classic tube screamer vibe, is touch sensitive, flexible and road worthy (I've only needed one knob repair in 10 years of heavy touring). It does have its' ceveats, however...

As it is tube screamer based, the pedal adds lots of mids. It doesn't 'kill' a lot of low end (as many will soon post), but the net effect of the extra mids raises volume & thus- you will probably turn it down (along with the lows)! The boost function and comp cut also change the gain makeup, so you have to be prepared to tweak to compensate.

The Mosfet version has a much better low end & the 'flat mids' setting helps a lot as well, so make sure to get the newer versions!

I should note that I now always use an Xotic X-Blender with my Fulltone. It allows me way more flexibility, the ability to dial in more lows at 'unity volume', etc. Still, in a rock context, the Bass-Drive can be a venerable stand-alone od!

There are so many of these on the market, I would think you can get one used for close to half retail. (guessing)

Anyone digging the Fulltone Bass-Drive sound really should also audition an Xotic BB Preamp. Same inherent tubescreamer tone, easier to dial-in low end & a smaller pedal! I keep one around for when I need to 'travel light'.

Good, accurate review.

I'm still a fan of mine, many years later. Multiple attempts to replace it with newer, trendier, and smaller gear have all failed.

I primarily use mine in compcut mode at 18V for the mild overdrive and gain available. Really brings my Ampeg to life.

 

[markxander]

It can sound a little dinky sometimes at home, but the mid boost (especially in vintage mode) can really help you cut in a mix. It might be inappropriately voiced for some music, but in the garagey/spacey indie rock band I play in, it really adds a lot. Both guitar players are typically playing single note lines with a lot of delay or higher-voiced chords, so I have a pretty big sonic space to occupy most of the time. When things get a little loud and tight, I step on the Bassdrive and it "focuses" my sound very well.

 

[eeyorebass]

...make sure to get the newer versions!

I'll agree with everything Scotch and others have said, except this.

Don't overlook an older one just because it's older. I have the original blue BassDrive, and I love it. I tried the Mosfet, and there was nothing it could do that made me want to upgrade. YMMV, etc.

Jeremy

 

[markxander]

My first one was pre-Mosfet silver and my current one is a Mosfet one.. I don't remember any significant difference, but I find that I like this one better in Mosfet mode.

I don't think it really matters, they both sound great. I've had 9 or 10 different Fulldrives in my guitar rig, and I definitely had some favourites there--doesn't seem to be quite as much variation with the bass version