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low gain OD

Amir Nehmad

Amir Nehmad

Guest
Jul 9, 2014
41
15
33
Mevasseret Ziyyon, Yerushalayim, Israel
#1
Hi everybody, first post in this forum :)

I started playing with stompboxes in the late few mounth and still trying to see what i I like and what I don't. Right now i Have EHX Micro POG and a Deluxe Bass Big Muff.
i was thinking about getting an overdrive that will work most of the time and give me a little dirt.
I dont need a high gain Distortion, just a little grit ( i thinkg it's the right term).
I was thinking about the Markbass mini dist or the MXR bass overdrive M89.
What are your thought's and suggestions? do you have another pedal in mind?
my budget is around 130$-150...
 
#3
Two suggestions:

+1 on the Barbershop - quickly has become inseparable from my board. Awesome, transparent, light OD - just like tubes breaking up and very dynamically sensitive. You don't dig in and it can seem like its barely on, you dig in and growl...

and the Bearfoot Blueberry (BJFE) - more aggressive but still on the light OD. More flexible than the Barbershop. At low gain settings you might actually mistake it for an OD with no clipping like the Barbershop but it has more gain and tricks up its sleeve.

Another great OD
 
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#5
I have tried neither the blueberry or the barbershop but I can say if I was looking for a low gain dirt that these two would be high on the list. Especially the Barbershop.

I tend to like my OD a bit more aggressive so I rather enjoy my Mesa bottle Rocket. I could probably get it a little more mild by swapping out the tubes.

What's your rig setup like?
 
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#6
I have tried neither the blueberry or the barbershop but I can say if I was looking for a low gain dirt that these two would be high on the list. Especially the Barbershop.

I tend to like my OD a bit more aggressive so I rather enjoy my Mesa bottle Rocket. I could probably get it a little more mild by swapping out the tubes.

What's your rig setup like?
Click to expand...
Right now i play a Musicman stingray with the effects mantiond above direct to PA, i dont have the money to get a decent amp the abillity to carry it with me.
One of the problems of the barbershop and the blueberry is the fact that they dont have a blend or a dry knob, and that is the reason i am leaning towards the MXR.
 
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#7
I appreciate my Barbershop more and more everyday, it's a fantastic pedal. It does not need a clean blend since it does not lose any low end. To me, clean blends sound artificial like it's just sitting on top of the effect. The only exception is the clean blend on Darkglass pedals which is a phenomenal execution. If you can stretch your budget, look at the Darkglass Vintage Microtubes. Otherwise you can't go wrong with the Barbershop or the Blueberry (NOT the Mad Professor Blueberry..you want the BJFE Blueberry).
 
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#9
Amir Nehmad said:
Right now i play a Musicman stingray with the effects mantiond above direct to PA, i dont have the money to get a decent amp the abillity to carry it with me.
One of the problems of the barbershop and the blueberry is the fact that they dont have a blend or a dry knob, and that is the reason i am leaning towards the MXR.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't rule out ODs based on whether it has a clean blend or not. Once you find a drive that has the sound you want you can always add an affordable blender and blend in how much clean tone you want and it will work better than most pedals that include a blend function IMO.
 
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#12
Depends on your bass and playing style - if you want a warm sound then I would heartily recommend the Blueberry, especially for fingerstyle where it has a nice bounce on the note attack. If you play with a pick or want a bright roundwound sound though then I would look elsewhere.
 
#16
dannybuoy said:
Depends on your bass and playing style - if you want a warm sound then I would heartily recommend the Blueberry, especially for fingerstyle where it has a nice bounce on the note attack. If you play with a pick or want a bright roundwound sound though then I would look elsewhere.
Click to expand...
The second option is the right one, im looking for that bright sound.
The maxon sounds great i'll check it out.
 
#17
Amir Nehmad said:
Right now i play a Musicman stingray with the effects mantiond above direct to PA, i dont have the money to get a decent amp the abillity to carry it with me.
One of the problems of the barbershop and the blueberry is the fact that they dont have a blend or a dry knob, and that is the reason i am leaning towards the MXR.
Click to expand...
The M89 clean channel really isn't clean. I bought one with the understanding it was supposed to be like a smaller version of the Pork Loin and was extremely disappointed. The Pork Loin's clean blend isn't perfectly clean either but sounds fantastic on it's own and it works awesome when blending in the overdrive channel. The M89 was like putting a blanket over my amp.
 
#20
MXR-M80 has a lot to offer in this category. You have the ability to blend the clean signal, so you maintain your definition. You can also use it as an EQ and/or a Boost and it's also a DI. Very useful pedal.....I use it on the dirt side for exactly what you describe when playing rock.
 
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