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Looking for an Overdrive recommendation

#2
I've not found anything similar in a smaller package that does bandpass distortion mixed with clean. A Darkglass B3K might fit the bill though - with the grunt and attack switches you can filter the dirt sound to be really high-mid focussed and blend that with clean.
 
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#4
The VFE Triumvirate is a small pedal that does three-band distortion. You can set OD separately for bass, mids, and treble. I have the bass version, and love to run it with (mostly) clean bass and mids, and dirty treble. It doesn't have the frequency sweep knob of the Hyperdrive but it has a buttload of tones inside it. Here's a pretty good demo that covers a number of different tones:
Vfe Triumvirate for Bass - YouTube

I like the Hyperdrive... just got one last night, in fact. But I've had the Triumvirate for a week now and believe it should work well for you. If you want to get really crazy, it has internal trimpots to adjust the crossover frequencies, but I haven't gone there yet... works great as-is.

Tip: if you want to have some GAS-inducing fun, go to the Link Removed on their website. You can choose from literally dozens of colors and knob types. And maybe I was lucky, but turnaround for the custom order was really quick, I had the pedal within a week. :)
 
#6
Fuzzbass said:
Tip: if you want to have some GAS-inducing fun, go to the Link Removed on their website. You can choose from literally dozens of colors and knob types. And maybe I was lucky, but turnaround for the custom order was really quick, I had the pedal within a week. :)
Click to expand...

The pedal wizard is dangerous! Check out the Triiiumvirate I put together. Want this so bad :)

trium.JPG
 
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#7
I'm using a Catalinbread SFT. I was not using an OD with my bass. I bought it for my guitar. Loved it with guitar, tried it in my bass setup & liked it better. Had a chance to snag a used one at a good price, now I have 2. One difference, the new one had a red LED, the used one had a green. The one with the green LED had a lower range to the eq, it went with my bass. The SFT has a great eq, good headroom & smooth OD.
 
#8
dannybuoy said:
I've not found anything similar in a smaller package that does bandpass distortion mixed with clean. A Darkglass B3K might fit the bill though - with the grunt and attack switches you can filter the dirt sound to be really high-mid focussed and blend that with clean.
Click to expand...

+1 on the darkglass b3k. another good choice for an overdrive pedal is a darkglass vintage microtubes. this pedal has a smooth overdrive sound that's very useful for rock and metal.
 
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#9
mmbongo said:
The pedal wizard is dangerous! Check out the Triiiumvirate I put together. Want this so bad :)

View attachment 589169
Click to expand...

This pedal reminds me of this one pedal that was demoed on bass on youtube and I remember the control on this pedal consists 3 gain knobs that distorts lows, mids, and highs. I don't know if this is the same pedal or if it's a different pedal, but that's what I'm being reminded of when I saw this pedal.
 
#10
Crystalman85 said:
This pedal reminds me of this one pedal that was demoed on bass on youtube and I remember the control on this pedal consists 3 gain knobs that distorts lows, mids, and highs. I don't know if this is the same pedal or if it's a different pedal, but that's what I'm being reminded of when I saw this pedal.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's the Triumvirate!
 
#12
mmbongo said:
Yep, that's the Triumvirate!
Click to expand...

Oh it is the same pedal...okay...I've recently checked out a clip of that pedal and it has some pretty cool sounds. I like how it sounds when the treble gain is turned up while the bass and mid gain is lowered. it has a more modern sounding distortion.



The sound at 3:08 on this clip is a sound I like from this pedal. it's got a cool heavy grind with some warm lows.
 
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#13
Crystalman85 said:
Oh it is the dame pedal...okay...I've recently checked out a clip of that pedal and it has some pretty cool sounds. I like how it sounds when the treble gain is turned up while the bass and mid gain is lowered. it has a more modern sounding distortion.



The sound at 3:08 on this clip is a sound I like from this pedal. it's got a cool heavy grind with some warm lows.
Click to expand...


Me too! :thumbsup:

I'm a pedal n00b, transitioning (downsizing) from decades of using rack rigs. In the past month or two I've been doing research, and bought a half-dozen overdrive pedals to compare. I'm still getting the hang of 'em, but so far the Triumvirate is my favorite of the bunch, and my favorite setting is dirty treble, and (mostly) clean bass and mid.


P.S. Here's the kitchen sink version of the Triumvirate: the VFE Rainbows Unicorns Puppies pedal (not April foolin'). It's not quite out yet but should be soon. Unfortunately that laser etched box was only available to Kickstarters. It's a $500 pedal ($450 pre-order).
 
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#15
I just got that same Ashdown Hyper Drive bass pedal last week and really like it so far. I like that it only drives the midrange frequencies from 200Hz-2Khz, so the bass retains low end and clarity better than most other Overdrive pedals I've used.

I also have a Sansamp and the Big Muff, both of which I don't really like or recommend.

I made a video with the Ashdown pedal if people want to get a better idea of how it sounds:

 
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#16
TheBassWizard1 said:
I just got that same Ashdown Hyper Drive bass pedal last week and really like it so far. I like that it only drives the midrange frequencies from 200Hz-2Khz, so the bass retains low end and clarity better than most other Overdrive pedals I've used.

I also have a Sansamp and the Big Muff, both of which I don't really like or recommend.

I made a video with the Ashdown pedal if people want to get a better idea of how it sounds:

Click to expand...


Part time lover, nice.

Cool video and some great playing there.

To echo earlier thoughts, there aren't a lot of options that do multiband distortion in a small format. I've never tried the VFE but it seems worth a look. The other pedals I can think of that can sound similar are the Dr. Scientist Elements and the Aguilar Agro. As mentioned, the Darkglass B3K also can get some of those tones. The B7K more so but it's obviously more expensive and smaller than the Hyperdrive but not by a ton.
 
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#17
TheBassWizard1 said:
I just got that same Ashdown Hyper Drive bass pedal last week and really like it so far. I like that it only drives the midrange frequencies from 200Hz-2Khz, so the bass retains low end and clarity better than most other Overdrive pedals I've used.

I also have a Sansamp and the Big Muff, both of which I don't really like or recommend.

I made a video with the Ashdown pedal if people want to get a better idea of how it sounds:

Click to expand...


That sound pretty cool. and that's interesting that you demoed the ashdown hyper drive by playing man eater by halls and oates.
 

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