Looking for some instant clean (!) tube warmth.

[Norre]

Howdy folks. I'm looking for a pedal that can add some clean tube warmth to my sound. I'm a double bass player using an Acoustic Image amp and a MAS45 cabinet. It's super clean and sounds great for upright bass. Recently I'm also playing bassguitar in my band. However, my bassguitar sounds a little sterile throught that amp/cabinet. I'd love to add some clean tube warmth to it. I say clean because I really don't need any distortion extravaganza. Is there such a pedal on the market? Thanks ;-)

 

[father of fires]

Maybe a tube compressor like the Markbass?

 

[Dave W]

Creation Audio Grizzly Bass

 

[father of fires]

An overdrive can be helpful too. It'll thicken you tone and if you keep it low the fizz will get lost in the mix.

 

[J.D. Detroit]

I'm saving my pennies for this one.
Not sure what your budget is. The GP Lightstone Emperor is pricey.

 

[Norre]

Thanks for the recommendations guys ;-)
Wow, that Emperor is exactly what I'm looking for! It sounds great.
Just exactly how pricey is it? ;-)

 

[Norre]

OMG! It's indeed a little pricey. 485€. Ouch!

 

[Jay Corwin]

A sansamp BDDI will get you in the neighborhood a lot cheaper.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

OMG! It's indeed a little pricey. 485€. Ouch!

 

[Driven Crane]

You should try T Rex Room Mate 2 - it is exactly what you are looking for!

 

[J.D. Detroit]

OMG! It's indeed a little pricey. 485€. Ouch!

That was my reaction at first.
I sat on it and added up prices on really good preamp/tube based dirt pedals I was looking at and the Emperor was only $100 or so more. For me it made sense.

I hear ya though.

 

[Crazy Otto]

+1 Grizzly, transparent but can also be warm

 

[Dave W]

+1 Grizzly, transparent but can also be warm

And clean, or overdriven, or distorted. It's just a great pedal.

 

[mmbongo]

Yet another vote for the Creation Audio Grizzly.

 

[bearhart74]

Check out a used EBS valve Drive

 

[father of fires]

You should try T Rex Room Mate 2 - it is exactly what you are looking for!

That pedal looks really cool. Thanks for posting it.

 

[morgan138]

Maybe a tube compressor like the Markbass?

I was going to say: I use an EHX Black Finger for this, electric or upright. Definitely not a surgical compressor, but it warms up the midrange and controls the lows a bit.

 

[Ewo]

The Southampton 5th gear might be worth considering. With the gain turned down, it'll give a bit of warmth in the mids. Turned up, it'll snarl if you ever want that.

 

[Dynacord]

I'm happy with a Swell B-drive for tube saturation - sounds good on both upright and electric. I like it a lot more than a Blue Tube I had previously. Bought at a very reasonable price via the classifieds here.

 

[Bassist96]

I use the Darkglass Electronics Microtubes for that reason, can get very gritty or you can get that warm tube sound out of it.