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Looking for a nice LIGHT distortion!

O

Oreo

Dec 26, 2005
39
0
New York
#1
I've been looking around for a pedal that can give me a nice distortion/overdrive sound without getting too heavy/muddy. The best audio clip example I could find of what I am looking for is the Sansamp Bass Driver DI, which I've heard a LOT of good things about.

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The other option I think could work would be a Boss Overdrive, apparently it's also the kind flea uses. I'm running through a G-K 1001RB-II, and I know he uses G-K too, so I this seemed do-able as well. My guitarist has the 'guitar version' of this pedal and I seem him get some really nice sounds out of it. Also, it mentions that it can even handle the low B string of a 5 string bass no problem. I tune to C tuning (two steps down...C F Bb Eb) so that is something to keep in mind.

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Any opinions, suggestions, etc?
 
#2
The SansAmp works fine on any tuning, from my experience.

I sold my Boss Bass Overdrive a long time ago. Flea does use it on a lot of RHCP songs, but I don't think he's used it on any intense settings. It sounds nice and gritty at lower drive settings, but if you crank it up too much, it gets annoyingly noisy and buzzy. The problem for me was that it didn't take much drive at all to make this pedal sound bad.

I should also note that I've used both pedals through GK amps.

If you want just a bit of grit, an ODB-3 will work fine, but for more flexibility and a tube-emulated tone, I'd go for the SansAmp Bass Driver (a.k.a., BDDI) or Para Driver (a.k.a. PDDI). I own the Programmable Bass Driver for a reason :D

For a recent example of Flea using that pedal through a GK amp, listen to "So Much I" from the album Stadium Arcadium. I'm pretty sure that's the Boss ODB-3 running in there. There's a few other songs he uses it in too on that album, but I can't remember which ones at the moment.

For a recent example of the SansAmp being used through a GK amp, try listening to some of the new Tool songs on 10,000 Days. The bassist for Tool (Justin Chancellor) plays in drop D tuning.
 
#9
Actually syciprider, I was just looking up Justin's gear list and he says he uses the Sansamp GT2.

The GT2 and the Bass Driver are only are 10 dollar difference....but whats the difference in sound? Looks to me like the Bass Driver is more-or-less the GT2 with Bass, Treble, and Blend controls....and the DI of course. And then how does the Para Driver compare?
 
#10
The GT2 also has tiny switches that add color and instant EQ settings to the sound. I use Classic, Hi Gain and Tweed to get a mids heavy overdriven tone.

I like the GT2's response to slight changes in attack and volume. Very tube amp like yet not as compressed. I've never used a BDDI and a Para but I imagine that they behave the same as the GT2 and react just as good to playing dynamics.
 
#16
EricF said:
Just to throw another option in the works - especially since you seem to be headed in the direction of a SansAmp (a good choice for a lot of reasons). Take a look at the Programmable Bass Driver DI. It's like having 3 SABDDIs in one box - plenty o' options.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was looking at that, too. I was going to link it instead of the first BDDI but forgot to!
 
#17
Personally, I'd shy away from the GT2 for live use. Recording direct to the board it's great for bass and guitar, but live it can be hard to work with, and through a bass amp any weaknesses in it show through.

As a preamp for a guitar live it sounds awesome.
 

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