Heavy Bass Distortion

[JBNeedsBeer]

Any chance of getting some clips of this mad science experiment?

 

[Vlad5]

Clips, yes, soon...

I have to record some stuff over the next few weeks, so I'll run this project throught the mixer too.

It's just so time consuming!
TFR > B3k
TFR > clean
Unpleasant || TFR > B3K
Unpleasant || TFR > clean
OD2 ||TFR > B3K
OD2 > TFR > clean
TFR > OD2 > B3K

etc, etc....

 

[Vlad5]

Well... it's been a while, so time for an update.

I'm gonna use this thread as a living documentation of my distortion quest so that others can benefit from what has so far been an outstanding collective contribution to this effort. Even if I never achieve what I'm looking for, the collaborations and suggestions here are invaluable to any bass player interested in distortion.

Thanks again everyone!

Spoiler alert: I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

But the TFR blended with a bit of clean signal (Schism) pushed into the B3K with a 600/1000Hz boost on the Submarine Designer got me pretty close....

I've sold the BYOC Overdrive 2 as it was simply too scooped/muffled for my tastes. I understand it is a bit OCD'ish, but I didn't like the OCD either for the same reason. I need the low/mid-mids too much.

I've had to sell off most of my board to catch up on student loans (ugh), so the B3K, TFR and Schism are gone, but I'm going to get at least a B3K and Schism back as soon as I can. I'm 95% sure I'll get a TFR again too as I haven't found a muffled fuzz I like more.

In the mean time, I retrieved my Bluebeard from the lady's treble guitar board and have been using it for high gain and/or muffled fuzz stuff. It doesn't boost the low-mids like the TFR does, so it is no replacement, but it does the muffled fuzz thing really well. It is one of my all time favorite effects (which is why I etched a screaming Voltan on mine).

Anyways...

Prior to my current financial challenges I had purchased all the internal parts I needed for several diy projects involving distortion, fuzz and drive effects, as well as a few other devices. Though my income is decent, my monthly payments are stupid high (private loans) so basically I'm poor (like the most of us). So, I'm cloning now simply to try out effects I'm interested in at a fraction of the price of new effects.

Here is what I've done so far.

Mountainking Megalith:

It's no TFR, but it gets close. Plus it does scorching high gain high-mid frequency fuzz too.
But it is a fuzz.
But it is kinda amazing.
So I'm gonna keep it.
It may be redundant with the Bluebeard, but running the Beard into the Megalith produces the kind of screaming fuzz metal head guitarists have been striving for since the 80's.
It's ridiculous, and wonderful, and totally not what I've been looking for, but still worth keeping around for when I want to pretend I'm Skwisgaar Skwigelf.

Next, I built a Wampler Euphoria drive. (pics to follow).
I was hoping to stack this with the B3K, but that's not happening anytime soon.
I have discovered however that it is not the drive effect for me (like countless other drives I've tried).
It is very nice, and Mr. Wampler designed a fine circuit, but it doesn't stack well with fuzz effects like the B3K did.
So yeah, obviously I need to get a B3K back. It's topping my effects purchase list (just after a Schism).
I'm going to try the Euphoria on the treble board to see if it works well with the lady's guitar, but I may end up selling it.

Oh... here is what my board looks like now...

...more to come...

 

[Crystalman85]

If you want a heavy distortion pedal that's useful on bass, you should check out the digitech hardwire sc-2 valve distortion pedal. this pedal has a transparent but heavy valve-like distortion sounds that sounds phenomenal on bass. I plan to get one myself sometime soon. here's the youtube clip that inspired me to buy this pedal.

 

[Vlad5]

Thanks Cman, I'll look into those.

I'm about to wire up a GK Diesel Dawg (2001RB high gain channel based distortion).
It should be done tomorrow, then I'll see what the fuss is all about concerning this effect.
And yeah, it's going in a waaaaay smaller enclosure then the stock model.

Oh, the Euphoria drive sounds way more better on the treble guitar.
I think I'll leave it there for now.

 

[FilterFunk]

Arion Bass Distortion might be what you're looking for. It's definitely "heavy", and it's cheap.

 

[kohntarkosz]

My go-to distortion at the moment is this bad boy;

Invalid Link Removed

It doesn't soud that nice on its own, but I use it to push an OD pedal. I also increased the input and output caps.

 

[Adamixoye]

I haven't tried the SC-2 but I took it to the next level and got a Hardwire TL-2. Right now my favorite aggressive (heavy distortion bordering on fuzz) sound is the TL-2 ("loose" voicing, high gain, slight low boost, slight mid scoop) > B7K (low gain, medium blend, grunt on, low boost, mid-high boost, mid-low cut).

If you want a heavy distortion pedal that's useful on bass, you should check out the digitech hardwire sc-2 valve distortion pedal. this pedal has a transparent but heavy valve-like distortion sounds that sounds phenomenal on bass. I plan to get one myself sometime soon. here's the youtube clip that inspired me to buy this pedal.

 

[cnltb]

I would super appreciate (as I hope others would too) first hand experience with any and all Heavy Bass Distortion (not fuzz or overdrive).

I'm looking for a 'boulders rolling around a giant's iron cauldron' kinda distortion. Ever felt/heard a 7.0+ earthquake in the middle of a large city? Yep, that's pretty close to the sound I'm looking to recreate.

Possible candidates are:
EBS Metal Drive - samples seem promising, but I'm not convinced yet.

I don't know; something with a low-mid center, uncompressed, no fizz, generates concern over speaker damage, tectonic shifts, rifts in spacetime, etc..

Suggestions?

I'm using a Warwick Thumb 5 string into a Mesa M9, if that helps. I'm also using the heaviest strings I could find, DR Drop Down Tuning set to BEADG.

Also, please see my profile for a ridiculously long list of effects I've already tried and traded. If you've copped this tone before with any combination of anything I've used before though, do let me know. It's entirely possible I've missed something...

Thanks everyone!

Here's my current board setup too:

You can't get what you are after from the barbershop in combination with the unpleasant surprise?
The RAT can also get quite dirty.

 

[JBNeedsBeer]

I know that we previously spoke on the Behemoth, but have you given any thoughts to replacing the B3K with either than or a BDPG or a Submarine? Might get you closer when stacking with other dirt

 

[kleinenenten]

Thanks Cman, I'll look into those.

I'm about to wire up a GK Diesel Dawg (2001RB high gain channel based distortion).
It should be done tomorrow, then I'll see what the fuss is all about concerning this effect.
And yeah, it's going in a waaaaay smaller enclosure then the stock model.

Oh, the Euphoria drive sounds way more better on the treble guitar.
I think I'll leave it there for now.

Love my Diesel Dawg! It's just got this tone I can't find with other pedals, and it's pretty flexible. Mine can easily get into fuzz territory, but I think that's because I use active basses. It's very responsive. I'd be interested to hear what you think of it, especially if you're using passive basses. I have my gain at 9:00 for a gritty tube sound, fed into my B3K. Love the combo, but you seem to be wanting something a bit more specific. I really dig my tone, as do my bandmates, but I do find it to be fairly generic in that it fits in with just about any musical style. I think that's the B3K, really, but when I need a bit more crunch, the Dawg gets me there no problem. And done with my meandering post.

 

[mpdd]

while technically not distortion, my mesa d180 sounds great heavily overdriven, and when i need to reproduce this sound i use a rat variant pedal, which i'm not sure if that is technically distortion either, my geiger counter may be distortion, because i'm not sure if digital bit crushed tubey od is really od, nevermind i guess

 

[Vlad5]

Hey guys, thanks for the responses.

I feel there is a misunderstanding here.

I am NOT looking for a fuzz pedal, or anything of the like.
Also, I do not believe any single effect is going to get me the sound I'm after (read my previous posts for a description, short version, BOULDERS).

cnltb, that is an old effects board photo, and I do not currently own a Barbershop, but it's on my list of diy builds.
I do intend on stacking it with other drives though.

JB, I already have a Submarine, you can see it on my latest board posting above (on the left).
I've heard the BDPG and it isn't what I need.

As I may have mentioned previously (but certainly mention often around here) I absolutely HATE the Rat tone; like, all of them.
I've tried a RatTail and even with all the adjustments I couldn't get anything that wasn't fuzzy or honky.
Must be my active electronics, my hybrid amp, IDK.

I need to get a B3K back for drive stacking, that is for sure.
I've stacked that with other devices and found it has the magic sauce (most likely the mid-scoop with top end chime and low-end retention).

I will have a Diesel Dawg wired up, hopefully tomorrow; circuit is done, housing is done, just have to connect everything.
Then I'll see how that stacks up.

On my list of effects to sample (and almost ready for housings) are:

Fairfield Circuitry Barbershop
Wampler Triple Wreck
Paul Cochrane Tim

If you're interested, you can check out my profile page for all the effects I've already tried and/or currently own.

Again, I truly believe drive stacking is the way to go to get my 'boulders and iron cauldrons rolling down the mountainside and quaking the earth' kinda tone.
That and some careful eq'ing before and after the fact.

As can be seen in my latest pedal board photo (my post above) I'm stacking a Bluebeard into the Megalith, and it is CRAZY SILLY amounts of fuzz gain. I love it! But these are both fuzz pedals, and sound like it.
So I'm all good for fuzz tones, like all set, don't need more, done.

I use my amp to make my sound more louder, I don't rely on it for gain structure, which is why I use a hybrid amp and not an all tube dual channel thingy. Though I do mess with the eq settings to help alter drive/fuzz tones when needed.

I realize I'm talking about musical sound, which Pickles from Dethklok likens to painting about farting, but if it helps, think:

GLOGG GLOGG KLANGG KLANGG RUMBLE RUMBLE (repeat all at once, like really loud).

Thanks again everyone for contributing.
It all helps!

 

[JBNeedsBeer]

GLOGG GLOGG KLANGG KLANGG RUMBLE RUMBLE (repeat all at once, like really loud).

Now you're getting into drummer territy

 

[Crystalman85]

Thanks Cman, I'll look into those.

I'm about to wire up a GK Diesel Dawg (2001RB high gain channel based distortion).
It should be done tomorrow, then I'll see what the fuss is all about concerning this effect.
And yeah, it's going in a waaaaay smaller enclosure then the stock model.

Oh, the Euphoria drive sounds way more better on the treble guitar.
I think I'll leave it there for now.

That's crystalman, and yeah. the hardwire pedals sounds phenomenal on bass.

 

[Crystalman85]

I haven't tried the SC-2 but I took it to the next level and got a Hardwire TL-2. Right now my favorite aggressive (heavy distortion bordering on fuzz) sound is the TL-2 ("loose" voicing, high gain, slight low boost, slight mid scoop) > B7K (low gain, medium blend, grunt on, low boost, mid-high boost, mid-low cut).

Neither have I, but I do plan to buy that pedal real soon.

 

[Vlad5]

Here's the Euphoria I assembled.

And today I completed a johnk modded Diesel Dawg.
Thanks again for the vero layout John!

Of course they need some artwork.

Like I mentioned, the Euphoria doesn't work for my bass tastes, but I think the Diesel (henceforth to be referred by me as the 2001RB, or just 2001) is a keeper for while at least. I'm looking forward to stacking it, once I get some more boxes for building.

 

[kleinenenten]

Here's the Euphoria I assembled.

And today I completed a johnk modded Diesel Dawg.
Thanks again for the vero layout John!

Of course they need some artwork.

Like I mentioned, the Euphoria doesn't work for my bass tastes, but I think the Diesel (henceforth to be referred by me as the 2001RB, or just 2001) is a keeper for while at least. I'm looking forward to stacking it, once I get some more boxes for building.

What's the mod on the Dawg? I love my stock one (rehoused, though).

 

[Vlad5]

I think John's mod was to decrease the hiss (white noise) and increase the output volume. I've never tried the original, nor seen the original circuit so I couldn't tell you where on the board his mods go.

All I know is it's a solid layout, and sounds great! John is the bass drive master!

 

[kleinenenten]

I think John's mod was to decrease the hiss (white noise) and increase the output volume. I've never tried the original, nor seen the original circuit so I couldn't tell you where on the board his mods go.

All I know is it's a solid layout, and sounds great! John is the bass drive master!

Yeah, I use a gate at the end of my chain, and have never thought about MORE volume. It's got plenty with my active basses.