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I want some umph when I dig in
- Thread starter SteveC
- Start date
I feel all warm inside
My vote for the VT Bass as its dynamic touch sensitivity is what kept it on my board, but then I dig the VT Bass tone coloring. Maybe give on a whirl? The other Sansamp products are similar, and Sansamp is a well regarded name round these parts.
I've found that I really like the Xotic BB Preamp (the guitar version) for this scenario. I have not tried the bass version.
Years ago I was in a similar situation as you - had a pretty clean basic tone (SS BBE 383 pre into SS power amp into an Eden 410XLT) - and I wanted something similar to what I think you want. Someone gave me one of these:
I found that if I had the output on full, there was a sweet spot on the drive knob just between 9 and 10 o'clock that boosted the signal just a bit, fattened it up just a bit, but made it really responsive - if I played lightly, it stayed clean, but it would break up noticeably when I dug in. Those pedals have a real 12AX7 in them, so they provide a real tube response. I wish I still had that pedal.
It looks like they're going for ~$100-120 on eBay. If you find someone locally that has one and will let you borrow it, I suggest you give it a try.
-Y
I found that if I had the output on full, there was a sweet spot on the drive knob just between 9 and 10 o'clock that boosted the signal just a bit, fattened it up just a bit, but made it really responsive - if I played lightly, it stayed clean, but it would break up noticeably when I dug in. Those pedals have a real 12AX7 in them, so they provide a real tube response. I wish I still had that pedal.
It looks like they're going for ~$100-120 on eBay. If you find someone locally that has one and will let you borrow it, I suggest you give it a try.
-Y
That description really sounds like my Shuttle 6.0 with the gain up a good deal and using a jazz bass. Unless I'm using my hot G&L SB-2, in which case I'll get full-on distortion with the gain cranked.
I have thought about a different rig, but the cost is a bit prohibitive, especially as I am no longer gigging on a regular basis. The little "mini-stack" I have now covers everything I need around here so I'd like to just add a pedal to take care of this. I also have no stage amp at church (my main gig these days) so having it in pedal form is a plus as I can bring it and my tuner pedal and plug in and I'm good to go.
Seems like the BDDI with some tweaking should be able to get me close to what I want.
Seems like the BDDI with some tweaking should be able to get me close to what I want.
+1 to this. I too had this same Blue Tube pedal years ago, and used it to warm up and give some "oomph" to my (at the time) solid state combos. When I moved to amps with tube pres, I gave the pedal to a guitarist friend who loved it to pieces before it was stolen from him. I wish I had the pedal back (as does my friend!)...it had a lovely tone to it, and they are tough to find now.
I've not tried one out, but along the same lines as this - what about an EBS Valve Drive?
I've not tried one out, but along the same lines as this - what about an EBS Valve Drive?
Years ago I was in a similar situation as you - had a pretty clean basic tone (SS BBE 383 pre into SS power amp into an Eden 410XLT) - and I wanted something similar to what I think you want. Someone gave me one of these:
I found that if I had the output on full, there was a sweet spot on the drive knob just between 9 and 10 o'clock that boosted the signal just a bit, fattened it up just a bit, but made it really responsive - if I played lightly, it stayed clean, but it would break up noticeably when I dug in. Those pedals have a real 12AX7 in them, so they provide a real tube response. I wish I still had that pedal.
It looks like they're going for ~$100-120 on eBay. If you find someone locally that has one and will let you borrow it, I suggest you give it a try.
-Y
I know you don't want to mess with pedals, but what I do is run a parallel blender to keep my clean tone steady and the same, and then when I need just a bit more growl, I'll blend in just a tad of overdrive pedal in the effects loop. It really gives quite an amazing dynamic effect because the clean tone never changes, yet you hear another layer rather than a boost. I will never use a wet/dry adjustment on a pedal again now that I have a blender. It's MUCH better!
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
He is saying normal clean tone underneath and od on top because it is a parallel signal the OD isn't taking over the signal completely.
I agree with the tube pedal suggestions. All of them have been solid. DHA, Swell, The Butler, EBS ValveDrive.
I agree with the tube pedal suggestions. All of them have been solid. DHA, Swell, The Butler, EBS ValveDrive.
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
Yeah, I understand the technical difference: only part of what you hear has gone through the OD pedal. But as a practical matter, how's it different than a blend knob on an OD pedal?
I kind of agree that a clean blend still affects clean tone. If you run through a pedal and only have the clean blend on, it doesn't sound exactly the same as pedal not engaged.
In fact on pedals I really like a "cleanish" blend, essentially a LPF on the clean blend so only lows come through.
In fact on pedals I really like a "cleanish" blend, essentially a LPF on the clean blend so only lows come through.
My solution is FREE.
Step 1. Steal one of your guitarist's pick.
Step 2. Play your bass with the pick!
Seriously, before you go preamp and overdrive pedal shopping, try playing with a pick! If you want more clean, back off your attack; if you want more drive, then pick harder baby!
Step 1. Steal one of your guitarist's pick.
Step 2. Play your bass with the pick!
Seriously, before you go preamp and overdrive pedal shopping, try playing with a pick! If you want more clean, back off your attack; if you want more drive, then pick harder baby!
...or mess with the tone knobs on your bass?
My bass has only the one tone knob, and I prefer it pretty much cranked,
but for some songs I need to roll off for a smoother tone. So just do the opposite.
My bass has only the one tone knob, and I prefer it pretty much cranked,
but for some songs I need to roll off for a smoother tone. So just do the opposite.
I guess it depends on the blender. I've only tried one, the Xotic XBlender and my straight tone doesn't sound any different from the one routed through the pedal.
The difference is that as you turn to the wet signal, the dry signal's volume decreases to adjust for the overall pedal's output volume. With the blender, my clean signal's volume never changes and you're just applying a layered effect over it using the second channel. Big difference to me. Think of it more as a 2 channel mixer rather than adding more or less effects to one signal.
You might want to investigate how you are attacking the string. What you are after CAN be achieved with technique! If I can do it you can do it! Unfortunately everybody's hands are different so how I do it may not "work" for you. What I do is hit the string in more of a downward thwack for instance like how Geddy Lee plays vs a more traditional plucking motion. Adds a whole new level of "grit" to the tone without touching a knob or buying anything new.
