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I've got a fever, and DIRT is the cure!!

mmbongo

mmbongo

I have too many basses.
Inactive
Aug 5, 2009
25,372
30,975
54
Upstate, South Carolina
#1
I've gone crazy with the dirt pedals! A while back I went on a search for a killer overdrive pedal, bought a bunch, sold a bunch, and the only one that stayed was the Hardwire CM-2 tube overdrive. Great! After that, I figured everybody should have fuzz. Picked up a Big Bass Muff. Great! Done!

Not. I recently decided I'd like to have a light overdrive, something with just a hint of grit. So I scraped together some money and bought 4 pedals to try, and I would just keep the one I liked best! I'd get most of my money back, so no problem.

I'm keeping 3 out of the 4. Dangit! I bought:

Catalinbread SFT
Way Huge Pork Loin
Wren & Cuff Phat Phuk
Hardwire Valve Distortion

The Phat Phuk is the one that delivers most of what I was originally looking for. Just a nice little hint of grit and makes everything a little punchier.

I liked the SFT for the 'old school' feel it gave, and really liked using it for the classic rock covers we do. However in the end, I feel the Pork Loin does the old school tubby bottom, soft top end thing a little better for me.

Got a deal on the Hardwire Valve distortion and couldn't pass it up. I wasn't looking to get the sound it delivers, but I like it. I'm a Rush freak, and it basically sounds like Geddy on Exit Stage Left. Nails that tone.

So I've been talking about these pedals in various threads, and figured sound clips explain way more than words can. So I did a few demo clips of the pedals I currently have.

Keep in mind these pedals can do a lot more than how you hear them here, as I have them all pretty much set to minimal gain.

This is my Spector NS-5 with DR Sunbeams.

Clean
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Hardwire Valve Distortion. Gain all the way down.
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Phat Phuk. Set for minimal breakup. Mainly for clean punch with a bit of hair on top. My main basic tone now, used whenever no other pedals are used.
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Pork Loin. Tons of adjustment in this pedal! It can do about anything. Gain is all the way down. Gain blend is all the way down. Clean blend is about 9'oclock. British preamp all the way up. Very smooth, very old school, very tubey. Does what I hoped the SFT would do. Great for the 70's rock and stuff like Black Crowes that we do.
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Hardwire Tube Overdrive. Gain at noon. My main overdrive tone.
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EHX Big Bass Muff. Honestly, I never use this by itself...
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..the Big Bass Muff magically comes to life when fed by the Tube Overdrive
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Again, keep in mind that I have most of these set for very little gain and they can do so much more, especially the Pork Loin. This is not the be all, end all of what these pedals sound like!
 
#3
Dantreige said:
Nice! I have to admit that I liked your clean tone the best followed by the Hardwire.

I know I can keep my money now. :) Thanks for the clips.
Click to expand...

Like I said, don't NOT buy one of these pedals based on these demos! I have them set for very subtle, 'barely know it's on' levels.

My clean is the foundation. Phuk makes it punchier. Pork makes it fatter. Valve makes it grindy. Tube..well...it's not set for subtle.

Which Hardwire did like? Tube or Valve? I've said it before...Hardwire pedals are the most underrated pedals out there.
 
#6
Both Hardwire pedals just blew me away for sure.

Also consider that I'm no way claiming to be some sort of dirt guru :)
These are just the best pedals of the ones I've used...which is a lot for some guy in a local cover band..but not a lot on the grand scheme.

At this point, I consider $150 a TON of money to spend on a pedal, so I've not used anything that can't be had for less than that. I also have a short list of stuff I still want to try. Where does it stop???
 
#8
I love the Phat Phuk. It's my always on pedal. I think I have it set around 1:00 or 2:00. It's just a touch about unity. Then again, I don't have my rig at practices or shows at present, so this might change in the future.

It works especially well with my SVT-CL to give it a little more push. It breaks up quicker and sounds lovely. I use it on my VR to give it just the slightest hint of tube grit.
 
#10
mmbongo said:
Both Hardwire pedals just blew me away for sure.

Also consider that I'm no way claiming to be some sort of dirt guru :)
These are just the best pedals of the ones I've used...which is a lot for some guy in a local cover band..but not a lot on the grand scheme.

At this point, I consider $150 a TON of money to spend on a pedal, so I've not used anything that can't be had for less than that. I also have a short list of stuff I still want to try. Where does it stop???
Click to expand...

I was in the same situation as you. I bought a few pretty good, mid price point dirt pedals. I kept wondering how much better they got. this is where I've ended up...

SU1BRzAyNTcuanBn.jpg


Also had a WH swollen pickle and a pigtronix Fat Drive.
I've narrowed it down a little


SU1BRzAyNTguanBn.jpg



The real tests being tonight lol. I think I need 4 of them on the big board. I might out 5 on but that'd be pushing it... :bassist:


So yes I feel your pain....It doesn't end



::: Oh and I forgot to mention I also have a grey stache on the way to compete with the bluebeard...I have a problem...::: :help:
 
#11
Nasnederis said:
mmbongo said:
..the Big Bass Muff magically comes to life when fed by the Tube Overdrive
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very nice!!, which one goes first in the chain, mmbongo? is it bass-CM-2-BBM-amp or bass-BBM-CM-2-amp?
Click to expand...

What you're hearing is the Hardwire CM-2 going into the Big Bass Muff. But, I have since replaced the Big Bass Muff with a DMB Bumble. I'll always have a soft spot for the Big Bass Muff, but the Bumble is just an overall nicer pedal, and it's way smaller plus it has top jacks. I can put two of these pedals in the same space as one Muff.
Click to expand...
 
#12
HAHAHA...Friggin great!!!...I just started a thread about overdrive options! I'm a noob to pedals so I don't know what to look for and avoid. I currently use a Sansamp and i'm not to sweet on it anymore. Your sound clips are wonderfull!! I have never heard of those pedals you listed. You have unknowingly given me some options.....all those pedals sound great!!! I'm liking the Pork Loin so far! Thank You!!!
 
#13
mjac28 said:
I really like that Hardwire might have to check that one out
Click to expand...

First off I have little knowledge of pedals for bass. I used to use them with guitar years ago.
I just joined a band with a dirty punkish , blues sound think blue cheer mates with hole or the breeders.The band is 2 gals one guitarist other drums and I need a heavy bass tone to drive and fill the trio.

I went to a local GC where a good local bassist who I know works and he knows pedals. We tried a few and ended up with the Hardwire tube overdrive...it's awesome and I got it used..cool.

Even the GC basssit said its a great pedal one he never tried but is going to add one to his board. It doesn't loose the low end and you can mix it so well.
 
#14
mmbongo said:
Nasnederis said:
What you're hearing is the Hardwire CM-2 going into the Big Bass Muff. But, I have since replaced the Big Bass Muff with a DMB Bumble. I'll always have a soft spot for the Big Bass Muff, but the Bumble is just an overall nicer pedal, and it's way smaller plus it has top jacks. I can put two of these pedals in the same space as one Muff.
Click to expand...

Love the Hardwire tube overdrive! Since you are also a fan where do you rank it with these other pedals?
Click to expand...
 
#17
mmbongo said:
Nasnederis said:
What you're hearing is the Hardwire CM-2 going into the Big Bass Muff. But, I have since replaced the Big Bass Muff with a DMB Bumble. I'll always have a soft spot for the Big Bass Muff, but the Bumble is just an overall nicer pedal, and it's way smaller plus it has top jacks. I can put two of these pedals in the same space as one Muff.
Click to expand...


please forgive me for this stupid question, but when you say the CM-2 is going into the bass big muff, you are saying that the CM-2 goes first after the bass and the BBM goes second? I've heard that the fuzzes are better first and then the overdrives, how do you like it that way?:help:

oh, and thanks to you mmbongo, I just bought today my CM-2, it's freakin' awesome indeed!!! :bassist:
Click to expand...
 
#18
Nasnederis said:
mmbongo said:
please forgive me for this stupid question, but when you say the CM-2 is going into the bass big muff, you are saying that the CM-2 goes first after the bass and the BBM goes second? I've heard that the fuzzes are better first and then the overdrives, how do you like it that way?:help:

oh, and thanks to you mmbongo, I just bought today my CM-2, it's freakin' awesome indeed!!! :bassist:
Click to expand...


I've always liked ODs before fuzz. If the fuzz has a good clean blend, the OD will BEEF UP the fuzz after. I listened to the Hardwire clip a few dozen times tonight and I might pick one up if I can find a good deal. That thing sounds great!!
Click to expand...
 
#19
Nasnederis said:
mmbongo said:
please forgive me for this stupid question, but when you say the CM-2 is going into the bass big muff, you are saying that the CM-2 goes first after the bass and the BBM goes second? I've heard that the fuzzes are better first and then the overdrives, how do you like it that way?:help:

oh, and thanks to you mmbongo, I just bought today my CM-2, it's freakin' awesome indeed!!! :bassist:
Click to expand...

Exactly what falconspatriots said...OD before Fuzz, because the Big Bass Muff (and the Bumble which replaced it) has a clean blend. So in this case the 'clean' is actually the overdriven tone from the OD pedal, then with fuzz on top = delicious!
Click to expand...
 
#20
mmbongo said:
Nasnederis said:
Exactly what falconspatriots said...OD before Fuzz, because the Big Bass Muff (and the Bumble which replaced it) has a clean blend. So in this case the 'clean' is actually the overdriven tone from the OD pedal, then with fuzz on top = delicious!
Click to expand...


Thanks, I will wake up in the morning doing the CM-2 and the BBM :bassist:

Btw, I love how you say Big Bass Muff :ninja:

And thanks again for guide me to that awesome overdrive
Click to expand...
 

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