Let's make a list: Magic tone sweetener pedals.

[el murdoque]

I've crossed a number of pedals in the past that had a reputation of sweetening the sound, even if not used for their intended purposes.

Example:
Many a player uses the Effectrode LA-1A compressor pedal not for compressor duties, but to give their tone that certain je-ne-sais-croix that it adds.

Another:
Lower gain overdrive pedals that are used at minimal settings, where they do not overdrive per se, but rather .... you guessed it, adding that certain bit.

Then there are pedals that seem to be made specifically for that purpose.
The Noble comes to mind, or the Sushi Box FX Space Heater or the More. Eden has the Glowplug.

I have owned and/or used the following pedals that I would stuff into that category:

-The Noble Preamp DI. The venerable one. The endgame in the 'adds tube magic sparkle mojo to your tone' category.

-The Hudson Broadcast. An OD that drives a Transformer, which can do pleasant, yet subtle things to your tone at minimal drive settings.

-The Fairfield Barbershop: Low gain OD - so popular as an always on device that Fairfield built a mini version without the stomp switch

-JPTR FX Jive: A low to medium gain drive pedal that mimics tape saturation. You can switch off the clipping diodes.

-Spaceman Saturn VI: Harmonic Booster / low gain OD. Introduces smooth harmonics into the signal at low settings, can bring dead flats back to life

-Sushi Box FX pedals. I've had Particle and Underground Accelerators, but many others will fit this category just as well.

What's your secret sauce pedal that you run as an always on to sweeten up your sound?

 

[guitarflinger]

Two Notes Le Bass preamp

 

[gtirard]

Edison preamp

 

[Bass Boy]

but to give their tone that certain je-ne-sais-croix that it adds.

QUOI?

 

[johnk_10]

Chase Tone Secret preamp:
Secret Preamp

 

[el murdoque]

QUOI?

of course!

 

[Hot Rats]

Night Owl Edison

 

[HelpImaRock]

BOSS BC-1x > Tech 21 BDDIv2

 

[heavyfunkmachin]

I enjoy the vt bass, the jive and the pork, BUT I’m really in love with the ehx hot wax!

 

[TomB]

Chase Tone Secret preamp:
Secret Preamp

John, Your own “Blackface” pedal is my secret “tube” sweetener and it aced a few virtual sessions during the pandemic!

 

[roller]

Henretta Engineering Emerald Prince. It's modeled after the preamp section from the Echoplex EP-3 units. It simply makes a great tone sound fantastic.

 

[dave64o]

I've crossed a number of pedals in the past that had a reputation of sweetening the sound, even if not used for their intended purposes.

Example:
Many a player uses the Effectrode LA-1A compressor pedal not for compressor duties, but to give their tone that certain je-ne-sais-croix that it adds.

Another:
Lower gain overdrive pedals that are used at minimal settings, where they do not overdrive per se, but rather .... you guessed it, adding that certain bit.

Then there are pedals that seem to be made specifically for that purpose.
The Noble comes to mind, or the Sushi Box FX Space Heater or the More. Eden has the Glowplug.

I have owned and/or used the following pedals that I would stuff into that category:

-The Noble Preamp DI. The venerable one. The endgame in the 'adds tube magic sparkle mojo to your tone' category.

-The Hudson Broadcast. An OD that drives a Transformer, which can do pleasant, yet subtle things to your tone at minimal drive settings.

-The Fairfield Barbershop: Low gain OD - so popular as an always on device that Fairfield built a mini version without the stomp switch

-JPTR FX Jive: A low to medium gain drive pedal that mimics tape saturation. You can switch off the clipping diodes.

-Spaceman Saturn VI: Harmonic Booster / low gain OD. Introduces smooth harmonics into the signal at low settings, can bring dead flats back to life

-Sushi Box FX pedals. I've had Particle and Underground Accelerators, but many others will fit this category just as well.

What's your secret sauce pedal that you run as an always on to sweeten up your sound?

The Spaceman Saturn VI is my always-on pedal on my small board. It works SO well in this role.

On my bigger board, I use a Broughton FlipTop as my always-on. It's a different flavor than that Saturn VI but equally sweet. That being said, if you put a gun to my head and told me I had to to pick between the FlipTop and the Saturn VI, I'd go with the FlipTop. As tasty as the Saturn VI is, I like the FlipTop even better.

I recently bought a JPTR Jive but haven't had much time to play with it. I need to spend some time with that one.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Diamond Bass Comp- Barber Linden - Sadowsky SBP-1

 

[WG Plum]

Broughton Studio One
Broughton Omnicomp

 

[REV]

I like the VT bass, the Broughton HP/LP filter and the EBS compressor.

 

[Treyheartsweed]

I absolutely love the tone I’m getting through my paraeq mkii>empress bass comp>JT Amps Alpha DI Box.

It’s mostly the alpha di that giving me the sauce, but the rest take it to nirvana

 

[Thumpin6string]

My amp is sweet enough. However, I do use a Markbass Compressore for compression and to add a little tubey goodness.

 

[scubaduba]

The Motor City Big Block DI is a secret sauce “everything more bigger” device.

 

[tpaul]

Diamond Bass Comp- Barber Linden - Sadowsky SBP-1

That sounds like a killer board.

 

[JimmyM]

VT Deluxe these days, mostly for the convenience of an all in one unit with speaker sim, clean + 2 types of dirt, and DI. And a second channel for doubling gigs.