I've had great results both live and recorded with the EHX Germanium OD, the DHA VT-1, and currently with the Tech 21 Leeds.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Good Overdrive Pedal
- Thread starter Jayice
- Start date
If you haven't looked into the Zvex Distortron yet, I would recommend that.
I use that as one of my overdrives for bass, and it sounds great with guitar. It's meant to emulate a cranked Marshall JTM45. Very high-gain capability, with a sub-frequency toggle switch to dial in more lows. Here is a clip I did with it and varying drives dialed in. This was a direct in, and it actually doesn't even really do the pedal justice to how it sounds when it is driving an amp. Especially if you are driving it in front of more tubes (such as the tube pre on my Fender Bassman TV Combo). In front of an amp, the tone is a little less fuzzy and more grindy. Anyway - maybe this will help:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I also own the Agro that was mentioned prior. I've never tried it on guitar before (and to be quite honest don't really know how that may sound), but if you are still curious in the next day or two I can try it out on my Tele and let you know what I think.
I use that as one of my overdrives for bass, and it sounds great with guitar. It's meant to emulate a cranked Marshall JTM45. Very high-gain capability, with a sub-frequency toggle switch to dial in more lows. Here is a clip I did with it and varying drives dialed in. This was a direct in, and it actually doesn't even really do the pedal justice to how it sounds when it is driving an amp. Especially if you are driving it in front of more tubes (such as the tube pre on my Fender Bassman TV Combo). In front of an amp, the tone is a little less fuzzy and more grindy. Anyway - maybe this will help:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I also own the Agro that was mentioned prior. I've never tried it on guitar before (and to be quite honest don't really know how that may sound), but if you are still curious in the next day or two I can try it out on my Tele and let you know what I think.
As far as best bang for the buck, I would recommend the Electro-Harmonix Bass Blogger. I have actually found it more useful lately than my Bass Big Muff. The OP said he was looking for OD. This thing adds a real nice amount of dirt to my Warrior/Phil Jones/Euphonic Audio rig. It also has the fuzz side to it that can be rather useful. You can find them wicked cheap.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
My vote is for the ZVEX Distortron. It has a very good tubey feel, and can do low or very high gain. I had an SFT and got rid of it because it just really didn't work for me. I felt that it cut way too much lows and highs and I could never find the right balance with the tone controls. The ZVEX, though, is meant to be tonally transparent (maybe a 1db high end boost) and can give a very, VERY low tube gain all the way to a thoroughly saturated OD leaning toward a fuzz.
I owned a Distortron, too and agree that it sounds great. If you want something that works on both guitar and bass, this is probably a good option.
If you're using it with bass and a lot of gain, maybe put it in a blend loop. It's not that it loses much low end, but it adds a lot of mids (as most distortions). So as you turn down for the perceived change in volume, you'll "lose" low end.
I sold it, but there are moments when I miss it and think about getting one again. It just has a really great, aggressive and crisp sound that I can't get out of my other pedals!
If you're using it with bass and a lot of gain, maybe put it in a blend loop. It's not that it loses much low end, but it adds a lot of mids (as most distortions). So as you turn down for the perceived change in volume, you'll "lose" low end.
I sold it, but there are moments when I miss it and think about getting one again. It just has a really great, aggressive and crisp sound that I can't get out of my other pedals!
Homebrew Electronic Hematoma.
MXR Blowtorch.
Swollen Pickle.
Grey Stashe
+1 on the Pork Loin and Fulltone Bass Drive Mosfet.
MXR Blowtorch.
Swollen Pickle.
Grey Stashe
+1 on the Pork Loin and Fulltone Bass Drive Mosfet.
I went on Beck's recomendation and he is dead on correct. I'm sure there is some botique pedal out there that is as good or better, but for $119 you can't go wrong with Visual Sound's Open Road pedal for adding a nice warm and natural sounding SVT tube break. Works great in front of a solid state amp to give it some character. I run mine in front of a MarkBass F1 and it sounds like my Aguilar DB751. Fantastic!!!
just got my modded digitech bad monkey...i would have to say go with that, with the mod one, the gain and low end retention are absolutly insane
Do you have any soundclips?
No clips, no pedal.
No, no clips yet but it still sounds really good to me.
i didn't like the pork loin because the clean blend was needed to keep the lows. i've got a modded red llama that sounds superb with my p bass and keeps the lows without blend.
tonefactor.com actually has a 12-month return policy. Try 'em at home and return what you don't want. Need to be returned in minty condition though.
