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Looking for my first OD pedal

A

AppalachianBen

Jan 1, 2018
86
123
#1
After reading countless threads, I've come to some conclusions about the sound I'm after. Please keep in mind that I'm still a bass effects rookie.

1. Must be able to do subtle OD well. I don't need a very heavy OD, just something with a little grit. I play a bass with flats, so anything that can help add some upper frequencies would be cool.

2. Must sound natural (or as natural as an OD pedal can I guess). For reference, I've owned a Boss ODB-3. It sounded very digital and not at all what I'm looking for.

My price range is $150 US, and I am open to used pedals. I'm probably going to have to order online, so please keep that in mind. The two pedals I'm considering are the Source Audio Aftershock and the Electro Harmonix Bass Soul Food. Darkglass sound kind of cool, but I've never really heard them used outside of a metal/hard rock type setting.

Appreciate the help!

Edit: Forgot to add the Mad Professor Blueberry OD to the list.
 
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#8
AppalachianBen said:
Not going to lie, I don't know the difference between these two. If I had to guess, it would be more tube than a crunch.
Click to expand...
Just a general difference in sound - tube style OD tends to be more round and fat and pillowy than sharp and jagged and crunchy, and includes a range of farty type tones =0)

I really like my little micro Rodenberg "Flux Mr. Fusion Mini 808" overdrive - despite all that longass name it's simple, only has ONE knob! And that knob is just gain, far as I can tell, yet it keeps all the low end and volume in check somehow! there aren't even internal trims!! It's a somewhat tubey sound that is a little bit dark but thick. Less transparent than a Barbershop, which is the other one I'd probably recommend in that realm.
 
#9
220_Hz said:
You have a pretty wide range of options available to you luckily!

Here are a few that I've tried within your price range that fit the bill:
Southampton Fifth Gear
Fuzzrocious Demon
Broughton SV-Pre
Smallsound/Bigsound Mini
Dunwich ODB

Bass Soulfood is okay IME, I'm not a subscriber of Klon-types for bass
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recommendations. I've heard a lot about Broughton and Southampton pedals, I've just never seen them in the wild before.
 
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#10
DDXdesign said:
Just a general difference in sound - tube style OD tends to be more round and fat and pillowy than sharp and jagged and crunchy, and includes a range of farty type tones =0)

I really like my little micro Rodenberg "Flux Mr. Fusion Mini 808" overdrive - despite all that longass name it's simple, only has ONE knob! And that knob is just gain, far as I can tell, yet it keeps all the low end and volume in check somehow! there aren't even internal trims!! It's a somewhat tubey sound that is a little bit dark but thick. Less transparent than a Barbershop, which is the other one I'd probably recommend in that realm.
Click to expand...
Definitely more Tube then. I can't find that Rodenberg, but I completely forgot about the Barbershop.
 
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#13
AppalachianBen said:
Thanks for the recommendations. I've heard a lot about Broughton and Southampton pedals, I've just never seen them in the wild before.
Click to expand...
You likely won’t see Broughton in stores anytime soon, he’s a one man operation currently. Despite that, the thread here on TB is filled with people who can tell you about their experiences with his gear!
Broughton Audio Super Thread
 
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#18
AppalachianBen said:
1. Must be able to do subtle OD well. I don't need a very heavy OD, just something with a little grit. I play a bass with flats, so anything that can help add some upper frequencies would be cool.

2. Must sound natural (or as natural as an OD pedal can I guess). For reference, I've owned a Boss ODB-3. It sounded very digital and not at all what I'm looking for.
Click to expand...

You are describing the Broughton Terraformer. It has a 3-band EQ and a very useful blend knob, which makes it extremely flexible for everything from light hair/crunch all the way up to distortion territory.
 
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#19
NKBassman said:
You are describing the Broughton Terraformer. It has a 3-band EQ and a very useful blend knob, which makes it extremely flexible for everything from light hair/crunch all the way up to distortion territory.
Click to expand...

This is the right answer to the OP’s question.

Also though, do consider the Southampton Fifth Gear, Fairfield Barbershop, Hudson Broadcast, Cog Knightfall, Wounded Paw Black Sheep, and SolidgoldFX Beta as well. All solid choices that will do what the OP is looking for.
 
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#20
blindrabbit said:
This is the right answer to the OP’s question.

Also though, do consider the Southampton Fifth Gear, Fairfield Barbershop, Hudson Broadcast, Cog Knightfall, Wounded Paw Black Sheep, and SolidgoldFX Beta as well. All solid choices that will do what the OP is looking for.
Click to expand...

+1. I've used 3 of these 6 pedals mentioned (5th Gear, Barbershop, Beta), and agree they'd be good choices as well.
 
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