The last circuit block in a Blues Driver is a bass boost around ~120Hz but with only a small amount of gain. You can change that 6K8 resistor in the feedback loop of the opamp to a 25K pot to get a lot more low end boost at the end of the circuit.
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Klon and Blues Driver OD types on bass
- Thread starter Pidgeon5
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- #overdrive
Waiting on my JHS Notaklon. Been using the Nobels ODR1 on bass and it's pretty great. Once the Notaklon comes in, I'll figure out which one goes on the guitar board and which goes on the bass board. Currently use an SD-1 on the guitar board.
I've been wanting to try a BD for a while now, but still haven't bought one.
I've been wanting to try a BD for a while now, but still haven't bought one.
Seconding this option; the Bass Soul Food is basically their Soul Food Klone with a clean blend and a pad switch to tame hot actives. The circuit doesn't kill lows, but it does still boost mids, so if you set the master volume for equal loudness, you'll still hear a bass cut.
BB-wise, it's not an exact clone but the Timmy has bass and treble shelving controls and is a modification of the BB topology to add that bass control. You can get a Paul Cochrane one if you have f-you money, if you don't then MXR makes a licensed mini-pedal version for $150.
Also seconding the Nobels ODR; if anything the circuit adds bass at higher gain with the Spectrum control at noon or higher, which is why the current Nobels full-size and most ODR clones have a bass cut control. Wampler's Belle is a mini-ODR with a variable bass cut knob, very flexible, again about $150.
you'll find there is a reason certain things are just not popular on bass.
if you use a clean blend, any of those will work just fine. I use an LS-2 and have recorded with klon clones and things like that.
honestly, if you don't have a clean blend, you are better off just sticking to a bass-intended pedal.
I'm also messing around in this space a bit more. I've just started gathering a handful of things - Got my hands on a Tumnus that the guitarists aren't using, and I like it so far. Just received a JHS double barrel which I can't wait to try. The double barrel is a 2 in 1 of the Morning Glory (blues breaker style) and a Moonshine (overdrive with clean blend). I'm hoping to get it set up with the morning glory as an always on light breakup, the moonshine as a solid overdrive, and either combining them or dumping in the tumnus when i need LOTS of drive.
Forever I've just had a Tech21 Bassdriver deluxe, and I've been switching between sounds. I'm hoping that the new set up will allow a little more flexibility with layering pedals to get the right flavors.
Forever I've just had a Tech21 Bassdriver deluxe, and I've been switching between sounds. I'm hoping that the new set up will allow a little more flexibility with layering pedals to get the right flavors.
I used the EHX Bass Soul Food for awhile, and it's a pretty cheap and underrated bass-Klon type. Can't say I tore the circuit apart to analyze it, nor did I A/B it with another Klone, but it sounded pretty good. there's a good demo of it online somewhere by that guitar gear guy, who plays without a pick.
doodling around on breadboards to see what I could do with a Klon circuit, I do kind of agree with what killing floor said- it starts to sound unlike a Klon fairly quickly with a lot of low end, and at a certain point I find that a Rat with a clean blend sounds the same or better than a bassy Klon… I say that specifically because both famously have a peak around 1K, and also part of the Klon sound is using a curated clean blend as part of its Drive control.
doodling around on breadboards to see what I could do with a Klon circuit, I do kind of agree with what killing floor said- it starts to sound unlike a Klon fairly quickly with a lot of low end, and at a certain point I find that a Rat with a clean blend sounds the same or better than a bassy Klon… I say that specifically because both famously have a peak around 1K, and also part of the Klon sound is using a curated clean blend as part of its Drive control.
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I think "bass" is relative here in that "bass" for bass guitars would be like 60-100 hz, and the Nobels "bass" boost is at ~300hz when turned clockwise. I've found that the Nobels tends to work best for my bass rig with the spectrum close to centered. Turning it either way tended to get me away from what I really wanted out of it.
Bass specific dirt and compression are the two areas I stick to "bass pedals" with. Most pedals will have low frequency cutoffs that are above the range you want on bass. And while many pedals will sound great at home, you get to rehearsal or the gig, and you're completely lost.
All that said, the DOD Carcosa and Boneshaker sound great on bass. My main bass dirt is a Source Audio Ultra Wave, but requires spending some time learning how to dial it in.
All that said, the DOD Carcosa and Boneshaker sound great on bass. My main bass dirt is a Source Audio Ultra Wave, but requires spending some time learning how to dial it in.
I've used a Mosky Golden Horse as an always on pedal to add a hint of overdrive. Gain knob all the way down, treble at noon, output between 12 and 1 o'clock.
Definitely get the Deluxe version for bass if the Tumnus is the route you go, makes a big difference. I used one for awhile, didn't like it all that much for really overdriven tones, but for mild it works great.
D
Personally I think Klon's only do ONE thing well: Add mids to a scooped amp (like certain Fender amps).
In my opinion they're absolutely horrible with mid-forward amps like Marshalls. I also think they are pretty bad with bass guitar. It's just not what a Klon is designed for.
Klons can be cool pedals for the right guitar/amp though. The Klon clone that has really surprised me is the ultra-cheap DIY kit from Fuzzdog. I did a blind test (recording) with a friend. On that day we compared a real silver Klon, a Fuzzdog "Klone" and an EHX Soul Food. We couldn't tell the difference at all between the real Klon and the Fuzzdog. They sounded 100% identical to both of us. The Soul Food was noticeably lacking in clarity and "depth" compared to the other two, close but no cigar. But the Fuzzdog kit was very impressive.
I feel I should mention that although Fuzzdog make lots of superb pedal kits there are (in my experience) parts missing or components with incorrect values in around 1 out of 3 kits he ships out. It can be extremely frustrating to find part missing or incorrect values again and again and again... It's always sorted out in the end. He always ships out the missing parts relatively fast but it's still very frustrating. Fuzzdog seems to have a very "relaxed" approach to making sure each kit actually comes with the correct parts. ALWAYS make sure all parts are present and correct values when buying from this company!
In my opinion they're absolutely horrible with mid-forward amps like Marshalls. I also think they are pretty bad with bass guitar. It's just not what a Klon is designed for.
Klons can be cool pedals for the right guitar/amp though. The Klon clone that has really surprised me is the ultra-cheap DIY kit from Fuzzdog. I did a blind test (recording) with a friend. On that day we compared a real silver Klon, a Fuzzdog "Klone" and an EHX Soul Food. We couldn't tell the difference at all between the real Klon and the Fuzzdog. They sounded 100% identical to both of us. The Soul Food was noticeably lacking in clarity and "depth" compared to the other two, close but no cigar. But the Fuzzdog kit was very impressive.
I feel I should mention that although Fuzzdog make lots of superb pedal kits there are (in my experience) parts missing or components with incorrect values in around 1 out of 3 kits he ships out. It can be extremely frustrating to find part missing or incorrect values again and again and again... It's always sorted out in the end. He always ships out the missing parts relatively fast but it's still very frustrating. Fuzzdog seems to have a very "relaxed" approach to making sure each kit actually comes with the correct parts. ALWAYS make sure all parts are present and correct values when buying from this company!
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Interesting. I have this on my guitar board. I'll try it on bass and see what happens.
Yep that's on my list once I get a bigger board. Currently rocking a small-ish one for transportation purposes
Never heard of the Timmy! This is MXR right? Will check it out!
JHS stuff is something i'm interested in checking out eventually but currently i'm priced out.
I actually just sold this. I shot it out with a Giygas and liked the Giygas more!
There is a wide range of rigs that people use for bass guitar. If you're playing a 4 string through a bass amp, you'll be OK with some low end loss, as bass guitar cabinets don't go very low.. If you're playing a 5 through a very capable PA, you'll have a lot more stuff happening at 30Hz, and you'll notice any low end loss much more.
So when someone says a pedal doesn't lose low end, take what they say with a grain of salt.
So when someone says a pedal doesn't lose low end, take what they say with a grain of salt.
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I bought it just for the look, but pretty good pedal too which was a bonus.
This looks cool! And rather inexpensive. But getting it here might be difficult.
