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insane over the top distortion noisefest pedal

N

ntula

Feb 2, 2011
10
0
#1
insane over the top distortion noisefest pedal :D

hi, the search continues for an over the top distortion pedal for a bass range that actually is a distortion pedal and not a fuzz or overdrive pedal trying to sound like a tube amp at high volume and overdriven.

it is actually for a cello mainly, which has a range similar to a 5 string bass, but would like to use it on a bass as well. yes i play the bass, and yes i searched for similar threads..

i tried the tech 21 red ripper, xxl, and double drive.. they sort of worked.. but more just like fuzz and overdriven vintage amps.. combining all three got close to what i am looking for.

i tried guitar pedals by boss.. you know.. i think they are all the same with just little eq variations... mega, ds, turbo, metal.. etc.. tried them all.. yawn..

the mark bass distorsore sounds great with the cello, better than it does with a bass, but it just warms the sound. the problem is a bowed instrument has so much sustain, so i cannot even hear the distortion on it like it does to a bass...

i tried the ehx nano metal muff, it sounds like a poorly made clone of the danelectro cool cat metal II, which actually sounds okay on a bass and cello, but does not really distort, just colours the sound.. it was such a piece of crap it looked like the kebler elves made it.

i looked at some dwarfcraft pedals but they looked like they would fall apart if actually used and taken out of the display case.

the devi ever ones seemed closer but they have a 3 month wait on them.. anyone try these..

anyone have any recommends.. .. something with a ridiculous amount of warm think crunchy distortion .. not just something that sounds like a small fender amp being overdriven.. but real distortion.. d i s t o r t i o n...

and yes, i used to have a vintage svt ampeg head.. the huge 300 watt one.. and when you overdrive an amp like that, it does not distort because it has so much natural headroom, it gets a "wall of sound" full sound with an edge.. it is hard to describe.. the sound is so full and warm and at the same time eerily hollow.. ... the xxl comes sort of close to that minus the warmth.. which i suppose is what the svt tech 21 pedal is based on, but that as well is not what i am looking for.. i have the xxl already..

i've even been considering the digitech ones or even the danelectro fab tone ...
 
#5
thanks, i am going to look into those three...

i am also considering using a loop pedal to add a loop of guitar effects i can mix into the bass path on the return to preserve the bass and add that option..
 
#6
I recommend a Superfuzz variant (and recommend skipping any Big Muff variant). Superfuzz have loads of texture, as opposed to Muffs which generally sound warm and smooth.

Examples: Malekko B:assmaster, Guyatone TZ2 "the fuzz", and many more. The Malekko pedal has a bass blend built in. I absolutely love mine -- I like lots of texture, and string definition ("say no to mud"). The Guyatone is a low-budget pick, not as versatile, but nasty. Look around for a Superfuzz clone. I don't think you have tried one yet, looking at your list.
 
#9
You might also need to try a combination of pedals, a fuzz into an OD pedal is what I use to get the mondo distortion sound.
In my case it is a GGG BrassMaster clone into a Hjart Muller Lo|Fat OD. On gtr I get a close sound using a Dano French Toast into a Dano DaddyO.
 
#13
i just saw the ebs metaldrive universal pedal.. that could work..

i use mutliple pedals already to get close to what i want, the red ripper and the double drive, which by the way is a great bass distortion/overdrive pedal with no low end loss and will give a really wicked feedback..

i would like to do it with one simple pedal, or one that works well with one i am already using, as i have to change the setting on the red ripper to get that tone and as well hit two pedals. i only want the intense distortion on parts.

i am using a tube eq ehx, .. you know that actually give a tone closest to an ampeg.. must be because the ampeg also had tube eq'ing... you can actually peak it to clip and give you an overdrive tone.

i heard of someone using a boss blues driver combined with a danelectro fab distortion pedal to get a good crunch over the top distortion on a cello. the issue with using a bow is pedals that give long sustain or grind do not work will with it while pedals that give tons of noise and feedback in the distortion with a grind or crunch to. the bow already sustains the note and the friction gives a faint subtle grind sound as well.

what is the story on the exar pedal, are those any good.. i saw a youtube demo and it seemed okay and got some interesting tones, not what i was exactly looking for, but could work in other parts..
 
#14
I can't say much about the Exar except Bongomania sent a tour around of a few Exar pedals. The Bass distortion was one that I liked much better when I was done with it than I did when I started. It really grew on me while I was playing with it. I'm not normally a dirt hound or I probably would have bought one.

It is definitely a distortion which is why I recommended it, but it sounds like you have a very specific idea of what you are looking for.
 
#17
okay, 2 votes for the rat tail, that just made my list of must have now :D

i think i want to try the exar as well just because they give a lifetime warranty on it and any company that stands behind their product like that deserves a purchase..

there was an early version of tube distortion ehx make, it was discontinued for the zipper, but i may try that as well..

russian tall font and the elements, are on the list now too.. maybe look for a modded sovtek muff as well..

couple others i heard may work are the mi crunch, which the danelectro fab is an exact disposable copy of. red threat and devi ever truely beautiful disaster.. as well..

does the blow torch really blow like people say it does, never tried one but the demo from mxr seems to not really cover the pedal very well..
 
#18
ntula said:
it is actually for a cello mainly, which has a range similar to a 5 string bass
Click to expand...


DidacticMan to the rescue!

Um... no.

The open C string on a 'cello is the same frequency as the 3rd-fret C on the A string of an electric bass...so a 5-string bass (with a low B string) goes more than an octave lower than a 'cello. And even if it's strung with a high C string the bass doesn't go as high as a 'cello.

Okay, back to our fuzz discussion...
 
#19
Roscoe East said:
DidacticMan to the rescue!

Um... no.

The open C string on a 'cello is the same frequency as the 3rd-fret C on the A string of an electric bass...so a 5-string bass (with a low B string) goes more than an octave lower than a 'cello. And even if it's strung with a high C string the bass doesn't go as high as a 'cello.

Okay, back to our fuzz discussion...
Click to expand...

i am aware that the bass is an octave lower, but as far as electronics and the way it acts on a circuit, a bowed cello is similar to a 5 string bass... which is why one must use a bass amp with an amplified cello as opposed to a guitar amp and that is where it gets tricky as the cello acts like both a bass and guitar. the subharmonics (bass) and overtones (guitar) give it this similarity, not an exact frequency. a plucked cello behaves more like one expects an electric bass to sound.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#20
Wish I knew more about the pedals you've tried to have a good point of reference, but FWIW when I want insane or over-the-top, I use an ugly face (Tim Escobedo) through a paralooper (moosapotamus). But that IS a lot of fuzz, with synthy edges and the octave options...delightfully nasty.
 

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