How do you use overdrive?

[mpdd]

for shows where i am overdriven the whole set i just use the mesa d180, when i need to have a clean/dirty dynamic i use the rat tail pedal into the d180

 

[JimmyM]

I use overdrive a handful of different ways according to the song I'm playing. Sometimes it's just barely on to add a little fattening to a clean sound, sometimes I crank it a little hard to make it noticeable but not overly so, sometimes I blast it. And sometimes I turn it off.

 

[Hobobob]

I use it to consume the souls of my enemies. But more often than that I use it to fill out the space in single-guitar bands.

 

[bigmoosepi]

my overdrive goes at the end of everything to basically simulate amp distortion when my tube amp is either not working or I'm in my bedroom with my little 30watter ss.

fuzz into a wah then into OD is insanely fun.

 

[BASS_TARD]

I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum ... I turn the drive down until it just adds character to the sound without being obviously distorted; it makes the sound less "nice" and it sits better with other instruments in the mix. I think I hear the bass better without increasing the volume too, probably because the overdrive adds mid-range and treble content.

Nowadays, in the band I play, I use OD exactly how Fretnomore describes.

 

[bigchiefbc]

In my covers band, I have my amp overdriving a bit for most of the show. I also have a power soak for the songs where I need heavy overdrive for the whole song. For the songs where I need heavier drive for just a part, I use an overdrive to hit my amp hard for those sections.

For my other band, I set my amp cleaner (but still slightly dirty) and use a lot more effects. I use overdrive pedals to make the modulations and filters more prominent.

 

[bass_case]

Never use it when pulling a trailer. Otherwise, at speeds over 50 mph unless I punch it or downshift manually.

 

[father of fires]

I used it cover the peaks and valleys of my inconsistent playing.

 

[Skeeter1]

I have played around with OD, tube screamers, distortion and fuzz. Never really was getting what I was looking for until I added a Boss LS2. Being able to split signals and have the OD/Distortion/fuzz either riding on top or just under the true unaffected signal is what I was looking for. I have a love hate relationship with boss pedals. To my ears some models are either manna from heaven or bitter disappointment from the bowels of hell, there is no in between. But the LS2 is the gold jewel IMO. I can't really formulate a good usable OD sound without it unless I'm going gonzo, I always want that ls-2 on.

 

[Skeeter1]

I have played around with OD, tube screamers, distortion and fuzz. Never really was getting what I was looking for until I added a Boss LS2. Being able to split signals and have the OD/Distortion/fuzz either riding on top or just under the true unaffected signal is what I was looking for. I have a love hate relationship with boss pedals. To my ears some models are either manna from heaven or bitter disappointment from the bowels of hell, there is no in between. But the LS2 is the gold jewel IMO. I can't really formulate a good usable OD sound without it unless I'm going gonzo, I always want that ls-2 on.

And I believe that a lot of the overdrive "sound" is greatly influenced by strings and how hard or soft you play. All OD/ distortion/fuzz increase the harmonic frequencies of your tone and IME string choice and setup greatly affect those factors in guitars and basses, more so in basses. IMO, rounds produce more of the frequencies I want to hear in my OD bass tone 90% of the time, but flats have there own flavor too. Whether I'm on a bass strung with flats or rounds they are always set with action that is low enough so when I want to go into OD/distortion/fuzz mode I can really dig in and get those harmonics an overtones of the strings slapping off the fretboard.

 

[Mjinsk]

I use it to add some "thickness" to our heavy parts, in my main band, as we just have one electric guitar.
I use the Darkglass Electronics B7K. The blend knob works really well, so i can keep a clear bass tone, and get a really heavy distortion. It sounds awesome.

 

[gregmon79]

I use my ODB3 as my go-to going through my B7K for low gain, grindy and smooth grind. I would say I use this combo 50% of the time, then about 30 to 40% of the other time Im using dist or another taste of OD. Its just an effect I use a lot. The only time Im really clean are in certain, quieter, passages. Im super happy with the ODB3 and B7K mix, its like heaven to me.

 

[zapped777]

I turn it on and adjust it until my tone is disgusting and evil and then I don't turn it off until it's time to go home.

That's how you do it alright

 

[lokikallas]

I tend to push the gain on my amp until I get some breakup when I dig in.

 

[seanm]

I don't always use OD, but when I do, I generally overdo it. Some songs just need overdrive (Blur Song 2).

In one band we played Neil Young's "Into the Black" (the My My Hey Hey song). I used a Torn's Peaker to get the heavy guitar sound in the song.

 

[Vlad5]

I have played around with OD, tube screamers, distortion and fuzz. Never really was getting what I was looking for until I added a Boss LS2. Being able to split signals and have the OD/Distortion/fuzz either riding on top or just under the true unaffected signal is what I was looking for. I have a love hate relationship with boss pedals. To my ears some models are either manna from heaven or bitter disappointment from the bowels of hell, there is no in between. But the LS2 is the gold jewel IMO. I can't really formulate a good usable OD sound without it unless I'm going gonzo, I always want that ls-2 on.

Yeah, I use a Schism for the same reason.

I have a Lomenzo Hyperdrive (my favorite od, right next to a B3K), it has a mix knob, but I like the distortion full on and high-mid frequency, then I blend with a decent amount of clean, which yields a really nice chimy/grindy/punchy overdriven bass sound.

Sometimes I shut off the Hyperdrive for a clean effect, but not often, and usually just to get a bubbly/spacey effect with a filter.

So yeah, how do I use overdrive?
Like all the time, blended with some clean.

 

[FretNoMore]

YMMV, I think ... sometimes blending (with a separate pedal, or built-in) works, more often I feel I hear two separare instruments playing in unison. I think I'm slowly moving away from blending, it doesn't quite work for me.

 

[Vlad5]

YMMV, I think ... sometimes blending (with a separate pedal, or built-in) works, more often I feel I hear two separare instruments playing in unison. I think I'm slowly moving away from blending, it doesn't quite work for me.

Yeah, variable millage for sure.
I've blended some drives that work great, and others that, yeah, sound like they are sitting on top of the signal, or next to it, whatever; not blended at all.

My current setup sounds seamless, which I am happy about, knowing it doesn't always work out that way.
Most definitely a frequency compatibility thing since the LHD is only overgaining the high-mids (@ 1kHz).
The rest of the signal merges with it nicely.

The fuzz I'm using now is an example, where it sounds great all by itself, or pushed by another drive.
But parallel blending it sounds like fizzled poo squirts,
no matter how I adjust the phase inverter.

Now the TFR I had blended real nice, but I rarely did that cause I liked the uber wall o' low-end fuzz it generated without interjecting any clean articulated bass.

 

[iamdenialNJ]

Always on

 

[cnltb]

i got overdrives on the brain. what do you look for in an overdrive? how do you incorporate it in a song?

Recently I've had it on all the time.
Low gain and jus a smidgen of OD on the signal.
Gives it almost a chemical or chorussy quality.
a lot of fun and most importantly; useable.
I use a Musiciansounddesign 'silverstone' OD but am looking to expand( or may just start experimenting with a RAT2 that#s been sitting in my cupboard for a while.
One thing I have noticed with RAT2...no two seem to sound the same ,even when trying in the shop...