Light Overdrives (with Sound Clip)

[Smallmouth_Bass]

So, not tons of votes, but drives #3, 4 and 5 have an almost even split with a 21 - 23%. One of the main features of these drives are that they all have mix or blend controls. They are all ones that I would consider as having a baked in sound.

And here they are (and with the settings they were recorded with):
Drive #1
Fairfield Circuitry - The Barber

Drive #2
Spaceman - Saturn VI Harmonic Booster

Drive #3
Darkglass - Vintage Microtubes

Drive #4
Darkglass - Alpha Omicron
(This one is not a light overdrive, so it's at it's lowest drive setting)

Drive #5
Tech21 - SansAmp Bass Driver DI (v2)

I was surprised at how similar the Barbershop and Saturn VI are. I would say the character of the overdrive is really really close, but would say the Saturn VI sounds a little fuller and 3 dimensional. I don't think you'd be able to tell the difference in a mix.

Both Darkglass pedals have more of a tube-like give to them and the distortion is smoother. Obviously, the Alpha Omicron can get really nasty and full-on distortion in the higher settings.

The Vintage Microtubes is a good sounding pedal and the only thing I don't like about it is the ERA control. I am not sure what it does and it doesn't seem to operate in a predictable way, but overall the type of overdrive is smooth and pleasing.

The SansAmp BPDI speaks for itself. I like that the version 2 has the mid control as it have an inherent mid scooped sound, so it allows you to recover that if you want. I find that the drive excels when played with a pick.

And, so there it is!

 

[Derek Williams]

So, not tons of votes, but drives #3, 4 and 5 have an almost even split with a 21 - 23%. One of the main features of these drives are that they all have mix or blend controls. They are all ones that I would consider as having a baked in sound.

And here there are (and with the settings they were recorded with):
Drive #1
Fairfield Circuitry - The Barber
View attachment 4519249

Drive #2
Spaceman - Saturn VI Harmonic Booster
View attachment 4519250

Drive #3
Darkglass - Vintage Microtubes
View attachment 4519251

Drive #4
Darkglass - Alpha Omicron
(This one is not a light overdrive, so it's at it's lowest drive setting)
View attachment 4519252

Drive #5
Tech21 - SansAmp Bass Driver DI (v2)
View attachment 4519253

I was surprised at how similar the Barbershop and Saturn VI are. I would say the character of the overdrive is really really close, but would say the Saturn VI sounds a little fuller and 3 dimensional. I don't think you'd be able to tell the difference in a mix.

Both Darkglass pedals have more of a tube-like give to them and the distortion is smoother. Obviously, the Alpha Omicron can get really nasty and full-on distortion in the higher settings.

The Vintage Microtubes is a good sounding pedal and the only thing I don't like about it is the ERA control. I am not sure what it does and it doesn't seem to operate in a predictable way, but overall the type of overdrive is smooth and pleasing.

The SansAmp BPDI speaks for itself. I like that the version 2 has the mid control as it have an inherent mid scooped sound, so it allows you to recover that if you want. I find that the drive excels when played with a pick.

And, so there it is!

I voted 4, which just happens to be my favourite distortion (I usually run it at 0 drive). It's good to know I'm not just following the hype. Thanks for doing this!

 

[Kijuer]

I was sure about the Barber-fart-shop being #1 LOL

 

[StayLow]

I thought the Barbershop might be the 1st sample, esp. after the OP’s earlier comment.

I love the Barbershop but can’t stand that splatter peaking sound, so I typically have Sag between 2 o’clock and fully clockwise (off) with Drive at maybe max 9 o’clock depending on the bass’ output.

Nice to see the good old easy-to-find and economical SansAmp still showing why it’s so widely used and beloved.

Thanks OP for doing this.

 

[mouthmw]

Looks like I recognized VMT straight up.

 

[dedpool1052]

certainly would want to have my hands on my bass to make any decisions involving things this subtle, even though subtle is what I look for in an overdrive. I have heard many times, on overdrive demos, something close to the tone I'm looking for....and......then they kick on the pedal, and it's another damn box of bees.

Agreed.

It's funny, as I hear this play-thru, and I like the tone of the VMT, yet when I played one a while back, I found it too dark.

My personal favorite among the bunch (that I own or have used) is the Saturn VI.
That thing is special.

 

[jcburn]

I guessed correctly before actually knowing that #1 was the Barbershop and #3 was the VMT.
I actually think my fav is somewhere between 2 and 3, although I think I would liked to have heard them all with a little more drive/saturation. Not heaps - but I feel that in the context of a live mix the subtleties of the actual drive would be lost. As recorded tones though I think all sound nice, including the clean track.
I'm about to go on a new hunt for light overdrive. I bought an Aguilar Tone Hammer DI to try to scratch the itch but the drive tone really doesn't do it for me. I wanted a preamp that also could do mild-medium drive with a variable mid control. I don't like the drive of the Darkglass suite.....maybe I need to revisit ye olde T21 Bass Driver?

 

[groovaholic]

I guessed correctly before actually knowing that #1 was the Barbershop and #3 was the VMT.
I actually think my fav is somewhere between 2 and 3, although I think I would liked to have heard them all with a little more drive/saturation. Not heaps - but I feel that in the context of a live mix the subtleties of the actual drive would be lost. As recorded tones though I think all sound nice, including the clean track.
I'm about to go on a new hunt for light overdrive. I bought an Aguilar Tone Hammer DI to try to scratch the itch but the drive tone really doesn't do it for me. I wanted a preamp that also could do mild-medium drive with a variable mid control. I don't like the drive of the Darkglass suite.....maybe I need to revisit ye olde T21 Bass Driver?

I'm a fan of the V2 Bass Driver (with the mid control) but what has really changed the game for me is the Line 6 HX Stomp.

There is so much that it can do that it's going to be useful to almost any bassist.

I initially purchased it when I was working overnights and wanted something decent sounding for playing bass through headphones - and the ability to plug my computer or iPod into the stereo Aux In jacks, plug my bass into the mono input, plug my headphones into the dedicated output, and then play along with tracks or a drum machine made it a great practice aid.

Then I joined a cover band and needed to duplicate a wide range of tones - and it was perfect for that, and it also has a really good tuner, and solid pitch-shifting capabilities...

I'm out of the cover band now, and using my individual pedals again, but I keep running into limitations - and finding things that the HX Stomp just does more easily.

I've tried several digital processors that sounded good to me, but the HX Stomp is the first digital processor that hasn't felt digital to me; it responds how my amps and pedals respond.

I will say that the HX Stomp is too small for some folks, and I've been eyeballing the Stomp XL for the extra footswitches, but when I really break down what I need it to do, I'm kinda all set...

 

[bass12]

I prefer a clean sound when a bass is solo. After that it all depends on the specific mix, so I couldn't really pick a favourite from amongst the different clips.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I'm a fan of the V2 Bass Driver (with the mid control) but what has really changed the game for me is the Line 6 HX Stomp.

There is so much that it can do that it's going to be useful to almost any bassist.

I initially purchased it when I was working overnights and wanted something decent sounding for playing bass through headphones - and the ability to plug my computer or iPod into the stereo Aux In jacks, plug my bass into the mono input, plug my headphones into the dedicated output, and then play along with tracks or a drum machine made it a great practice aid.

Then I joined a cover band and needed to duplicate a wide range of tones - and it was perfect for that, and it also has a really good tuner, and solid pitch-shifting capabilities...

I'm out of the cover band now, and using my individual pedals again, but I keep running into limitations - and finding things that the HX Stomp just does more easily.

I've tried several digital processors that sounded good to me, but the HX Stomp is the first digital processor that hasn't felt digital to me; it responds how my amps and pedals respond.

I will say that the HX Stomp is too small for some folks, and I've been eyeballing the Stomp XL for the extra footswitches, but when I really break down what I need it to do, I'm kinda all set...

I bought an HX Stomp with the intention of replacing a slew of pedals I would only need for one song each. The problem is I am not savvy enough (i.e. too lazy) to use it. I've tried it once in about the two years I have had it and just find that single pedals with the old fashioned control knobs are more my thing. My biggest departure is the Source Audio C4, but even then, I am just programming 3 sounds available on the pedal.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I prefer a clean sound when a bass is solo. After that it all depends on the specific mix, so I couldn't really pick a favourite from amongst the different clips.

I find that envelope filters tend to sound good soloed, but almost always get lost in a mix. They have to be really extreme to hear well.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I guessed correctly before actually knowing that #1 was the Barbershop and #3 was the VMT.
I actually think my fav is somewhere between 2 and 3, although I think I would liked to have heard them all with a little more drive/saturation. Not heaps - but I feel that in the context of a live mix the subtleties of the actual drive would be lost. As recorded tones though I think all sound nice, including the clean track.
I'm about to go on a new hunt for light overdrive. I bought an Aguilar Tone Hammer DI to try to scratch the itch but the drive tone really doesn't do it for me. I wanted a preamp that also could do mild-medium drive with a variable mid control. I don't like the drive of the Darkglass suite.....maybe I need to revisit ye olde T21 Bass Driver?

Maybe I'll make a second clip with some more drive.

 

[jcburn]

Maybe I'll make a second clip with some more drive.

Hey man - I would really appreciate that. I'm most interest in the Saturn and the Tech 21 BDDI. I'd even like to hear the Saturn with varying amounts of tone roll off but understand you may not have the time/interest etc!!

 

[bass12]

I find that envelope filters tend to sound good soloed, but almost always get lost in a mix. They have to be really extreme to hear well.

Again, I think it depends on the envelope filters and the mix. Envelope filters are one of the few effects that I use live but it's been a while since I used one on a non-in-ear gig. With my in-ears I hear the filters really well but I'm not sure how they sound out front.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Again, I think it depends on the envelope filters and the mix. Envelope filters are one of the few effects that I use live but it's been a while since I used one on a non-in-ear gig. With my in-ears I hear the filters really well but I'm not sure how they sound out front.

I tried in-ears for the very first time at my last gig! It's definitely a different experience, but I liked it.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Hey man - I would really appreciate that. I'm most interest in the Saturn and the Tech 21 BDDI. I'd even like to hear the Saturn with varying amounts of tone roll off but understand you may not have the time/interest etc!!

I'll see what I can do. My initial recording was trying to get similar amounts of drive so that the character of the overdrive could be compared.

The Saturn VI is my newest acquisition and I had been eyeballing it for a long time. I had seen a few favourable videos and heard lots of good things about it that I wanted to try it out for myself.

I don't think there's another effect that has as many choices or variations as overdrive/fuzz/distortion. Just @johnk_10 's dizzying amount of overdrive's is crazy! ( see them and hear them here! )

 

[bass12]

I tried in-ears for the very first time at my last gig! It's definitely a different experience, but I liked it.

There are definitely things I prefer about in-ear set-ups - and things I prefer about non-in-ear set-ups.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

There are definitely things I prefer about in-ear set-ups - and things I prefer about non-in-ear set-ups.

The "stages" I tend to play most often are really small, so my amp is usually just vibrating the back of my legs. It often makes it less than ideal for me to hear myself, so having the extra volume and definition in the in-ears is a welcome change.

 

[smeet]

I liked #3 the most. But I didn’t care for the VMT when I tried it.

My standard response for overdrive pedals is always MBD-1 (or 2), and this is no exception. It sounds good at any gain level.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I voted 4, which just happens to be my favourite distortion (I usually run it at 0 drive). It's good to know I'm not just following the hype. Thanks for doing this!

I noticed that I recorded the Alpha Omicron with both the growl and bite buttons engaged (which is not a bad thing), so this pedal can in fact get milder/lighter.