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Low gain overdrive

#41
I just got a ZVex Mastotron, and that puppy cranks serious low end. Based on what I've heard from the Distortron (and the same subs switch on both), I'm going to check that puppy out. In fact, I'm going to go A/B the LTD and the distortron. I'm very interested in the replicating the super deep sound from the mastotron but as OD/Distortion.
As far as I can tell, one can get a low gain distortion from the Distortron. Add it to the list of ones to check out.
 
#45
if you're looking for the ocassoinal ' tube warmth ' ... why not use something with a tube ..?

you can change and try different gain tubes to suit your personal gain touch/noise level ...

and my Aguilar Tone Hammer gives a little grit if you can get it set to your touch ...

after my TH , i run into a cheap old Art TubePac tube pre/comp ... but it has been upgraded with some slightly pricy 1970's Mullard tubes ... at a lower/quieter gain ...
12AT7/ECC81 ... 70% gain ... they come on smoother ...

have also tried 5771 , which are mil spec 12AX7 tubes which run at 80% gain ...

but all my usage is in the studio ... if i were to play live again i'd probably want an amp or preamp with tubes ... nothing fake sounding about the slew induced distortion of real tubes .

just my 2 cents .. Dave C.
 
#46
I've been searching for the right overdrive for the longest time. Then markjazzbassist made me realize that I've had an amazing overdrive in my possession for a great deal of time. I've had the Cream Pie, using it as more of a slight dirty boost. This thing slays as a semi-transparent OD!
 
#54
i picked up an EHX Hot Tubes overdrive / distortion pedal in a trade. i took out the stock 12ax7s and replaced them with JJ ECC81s which i believe are 12au7 equivalents. by doing so, gain was reduced significantly.

the pedal used to be all sputter and sizzle unless i had everything turned down. now what i get is big grunty fat tubey overdrive. the transformation was amazing. the pedal is now completely usable throughout the entire range of the controls.
 
#55
Smallequestrian said:
I haven't noticed the clipping at all, and I play hot passive basses and one active.
Click to expand...

+1

I ran a bass with a high output bass with an 18 volt preamp and had no clipping issues on the clean channel of the Pork Loin, my G&L L2500 doesn't have any problems either and it has serious output too.

dannybuoy have you tried another Pork Loin? I have a feeling that the one you tried was defective. My first one had problems, but my second one works great.
 
#57
I never tried another Pork Loin, no. But try fiddling with the trimpots, turn the drive mix all the way down so you can only hear the clean side, then adjust the filter to let the most low end through. Then pull hard on your E string and see if you can hear it!
 
#58
dannybuoy said:
I never tried another Pork Loin, no. But try fiddling with the trimpots, turn the drive mix all the way down so you can only hear the clean side, then adjust the filter to let the most low end through. Then pull hard on your E string and see if you can hear it!
Click to expand...

If I understand right, that is not the same clean side as the clean blend, it has two different gain circuits that it blends between one "warm" sounding which is supposed to be like a vox preamp and another which comes out more like a tubescreamer.

I've honestly never changed the internal pots from the stock factory setting to see how how this sounds in the real work. At the stock settings it sounds fine. I will pop it open eventually and set it as you did and see what happens.
 
#60
JMDT said:
If I understand right, that is not the same clean side as the clean blend, it has two different gain circuits that it blends between one "warm" sounding which is supposed to be like a vox preamp and another which comes out more like a tubescreamer.

I've honestly never changed the internal pots from the stock factory setting to see how how this sounds in the real work. At the stock settings it sounds fine. I will pop it open eventually and set it as you did and see what happens.
Click to expand...

It doesn't strictly have a clean blend, the 'clean' knob is just a volume control for the clean sounding 'vox' preamp. It's this channel that clips when it shouldn't. It's not that bad, I'm just picky and do a lot of listening on headphones (it's not so apparent through a typical bass amp) and it bugged me.
 

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