Yeah, GC is on hard times these days. They’ve pretty much always been on the verge of bankruptcy for years.
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Metal pedal chain
- Thread starter Donald Wormuth
- Start date
Yeah, GC is on hard times these days. They’ve pretty much always been on the verge of bankruptcy for years.
If you can find one, a Marshall Gov'nr is a super drive with 2 bands of low EQ, anything from Lemmy to more massive lowend.
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V Man and Tony Campos both use Darkglass pedals. Darkglass wasn't around when Static X was gaining steam (assuming you're after the WDT/Machine sound)
No pedal will get you Ryan Martinie sound. That's a Warwick Thumb and he uses weird tunings and has a very unique style. A lot of the nu metal bands used Warwicks, like P.O.D. and Limp Bizkit. Paul Grey used Warwicks on those early Slipknot records too.
No pedal will get you Ryan Martinie sound. That's a Warwick Thumb and he uses weird tunings and has a very unique style. A lot of the nu metal bands used Warwicks, like P.O.D. and Limp Bizkit. Paul Grey used Warwicks on those early Slipknot records too.
You said you were on a budget, but I'm still going to suggest the Darkglass X7 (or X Ultra).
I've spent (wasted) more money than I care to admit on the "perfect" dirt pedal for metal, and was never satisfied until I got the Darkglass B3K. About five years later the X7 came out. I told myself I didn't need it but GAS got the better of me, and I have zero regrets.
The thing about bass distortion is it very easily gets buried by the guitars. The best way to get around this is to process your clean signal and dirt signal separately. You'll want clean and compressed lows and distorted mids and highs, for example:
Bass>compressor with slow attack/fast release>distortion or preamp with blend knob (B3K/B7K)
Or
Bass>blender (eg.Boss LS-2)>distortion in one loop, compressor in another, blend together for clean lows/distorted highs
I prefer the Darkglass X7 because it does all that in one box, but it is fairly pricey. But take my word for it, it is worth it. I have happily sold all my other dirt pedals (except for a fuzz and the B3K for sentimental reasons).
Whatever you end up buying, make sure it at least has a clean blend, make sure your amp and cab can produce the sound levels you want without farting out, eq your signal so it fits with the rest of the band (don't boost bass too much, cut a bit at 400-500Hz, boost at 800Hz to 1kHz) and make sure you're using new strings! Preferably stainless steel roundwounds. The best gear in the world will sound like crud if you're using dead strings.
Good luck!
I've spent (wasted) more money than I care to admit on the "perfect" dirt pedal for metal, and was never satisfied until I got the Darkglass B3K. About five years later the X7 came out. I told myself I didn't need it but GAS got the better of me, and I have zero regrets.
The thing about bass distortion is it very easily gets buried by the guitars. The best way to get around this is to process your clean signal and dirt signal separately. You'll want clean and compressed lows and distorted mids and highs, for example:
Bass>compressor with slow attack/fast release>distortion or preamp with blend knob (B3K/B7K)
Or
Bass>blender (eg.Boss LS-2)>distortion in one loop, compressor in another, blend together for clean lows/distorted highs
I prefer the Darkglass X7 because it does all that in one box, but it is fairly pricey. But take my word for it, it is worth it. I have happily sold all my other dirt pedals (except for a fuzz and the B3K for sentimental reasons).
Whatever you end up buying, make sure it at least has a clean blend, make sure your amp and cab can produce the sound levels you want without farting out, eq your signal so it fits with the rest of the band (don't boost bass too much, cut a bit at 400-500Hz, boost at 800Hz to 1kHz) and make sure you're using new strings! Preferably stainless steel roundwounds. The best gear in the world will sound like crud if you're using dead strings.
Good luck!
Imo for metal all your really need is a good drive and a tuner. My favorite drive is my darkglass microtubes X. They run about $200. If you’re playing more modern stuff like Architects something like the source audio c4 could be cool to be able to get those keybass tones.
Metal Pedal Chain makes a decent bicycle worshipping punk band name.
Yea Gray went to that Ibenez signature after that, which is basically an ATK refined for him. Which I am saving for. Being a beginner I bought a beginner bass to get started. I've messed a round for a long time but never learned instrument learned songs of video or friends. I became disabled 2 years ago with cancer and I know have a pants load of free time. So I started taking lessons from SBL and got invited to join a band. So i did now trying to fine tune tone. Not sure what WDT/machine means. Dark Glass right now is way outside my budget.
I wouldn’t be surprised. King Buzzo used one before switching to Hilbish, and I’m guessing the Hilbish Pessimiser is based on that pedal. I’ve got one of the Hilbish units and I’m very satisfied with it. I’ve even considered picking up one of the Boss units just to compare.
The sounds in this demo make me think it could work for the OP’s goals, but the demo is using EMGs and who knows what else in the amp/cab/mic/DI/blend signal path.
For someone playing for 6 months, there’s a lot to consume and process about how all those sounds have been made in the studio vs. playing live. There’s parallel processing of multiple signals, mic and DI choices, tons of EQ sculpting, and layers of compression.
I’d say distortion/od/fuzz with a blend and a compressor would be a good simple starting point. The chorus and octave effects can have a place, but they’re more for “featured” sections than for always-on sounds.
Also, some wildly (okay, wildly might be a stretch) different sounds being sought. Mudvayne vs Slipknot are two very different approaches.
7:05 has a good isolated bass sound for reference.
Some different sounding isolated drum & bass.
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I am super weird I change my strings often. Like really often. The guys I'm jamming with are like ya don't have to change them every couple weeks. I just like sound of fresh strings.
Got to do a gig with Ryan. He doesn’t even use a compressor anymore. He had two Warwick thumbs. His old modded shaved neck fretted nt5 and his newer custom shop fretless. He had the Warwick LWA 1000 heads and a pair of Warwick 410 cabs but his front of house sound was just him, bass, and a Di that he had sitting next to the amp on top of the cabs. His sound on the LD50 album is what it is because he biamped using an ampeg rig plus a SWR workingman 10 powering a Mesa 412 guitar cab which gave him that unique midrange. But since then he’s been a DI kind of guy. I even talked to him about what new amps he likes and he said he doesn’t really care, that amps are just “sound reinforcement/monitoring” he likes a good DI and in ears if he’s playing anything big like when Mudvayne was still together and when he toured with Korn. His basses are very unique though. He literally let me hold and play his old fretted thumb. His are completely modded. There are no Warwick MEC pickups in his basses. He said playing shows with Mudvayne he would get sweaty and his basses would get soaked and the electronics would go bad so he’s replace them. The neck profiles of his basses are also very different. The fretted thumb was shaved and the fretless was made to be more like the shaved neck. It feels more like a jazz bass like neck profile which I assume is more comfortable for him being a smaller guy. He makes me look like like a giant in the picture below but I’m not even 6’ tall. The action on his basses was a bit of a surprise. It’s relatively high. Which a lot of guys really into getting their tone out of their basses do, but it was surprising because of how technical his playing is. But yeah I think the setups on his basses have a lot to do with his sound
But yeah Ryan is a super nice guy. One of the nicest I’ve met as far as musicians I look up to that I’ve had the pleasure of opening for. Had no idea he lives less than an hour away either. Kind of wish he’d do some private lessons because he has a very unique playing style.
If you like the sound of fresh strings, the X7 might be up your alley, if you want to save for one. The Alpha Omicron might be an easier purchase on the wallet if you want to dip your toe in the Darkglass water. It’s got a wide range of tones, and I suspect a few you’d like.
Another long term plan might be to aim for a Damnation MBD. The blend on it is one of the better blends I’ve tried. I think the distortion sound is more in line with the bands listed, which recorded a lot of material before Darkglass was around.
Tom Araya of Slayer does not use any pedals. He only has a dbx 160 rack comp. You don't need pedals to play metal really, and for some dirt your ODB-3 is a good one.
Definitely second the darkglass x series for helping to make old strings sound fresher. I love my little microtubes X and that’s part of the reason. It helps make dead strings sound better. Actually when my strings are really dead I don’t want to turn that pedal off lol
All of my pedals are selected first and foremost for use in an extreme metal setting.
Boss ODB-3 was my first overdrive, it was useable but ultimately disappointing. (If you want to keep yours, my best results were running the ODB-3 into a compressor).
Two very different and satisfying dirt pedals I use the most are Sansamp Bass Driver and Darkglass B3k.
Boss ODB-3 was my first overdrive, it was useable but ultimately disappointing. (If you want to keep yours, my best results were running the ODB-3 into a compressor).
Two very different and satisfying dirt pedals I use the most are Sansamp Bass Driver and Darkglass B3k.
Oh yeah, and using Dr Hi Beams made a big difference too.
Now I'm down this rabbit hole of isolated bass.
This sounds like a fuzz.
This isn't all that high-gain.
Here's Tony a few years later with, what else... a Darkglass X on his board.
Get to around 5:40 where he mentions the rig changes from gig t gig.
This sounds like a fuzz.
This isn't all that high-gain.
Here's Tony a few years later with, what else... a Darkglass X on his board.
Get to around 5:40 where he mentions the rig changes from gig t gig.
Oh I wholeheartedly agree. These are the strings I use 99% of the time in my 20 years of playing mostly metal.
I have been thinking about trying Lo Beams... my taste did change a bit and I'm looking to go a bit darker.
I just bought a great distortion pedal for $19 on Amazon. iSet distortion pedal. Maybe it will work for you without a lot of cash going out.
In my opinion, most of the sound you’re probably wanting is a product of your technique and practice, rather than gear. I’ve spent considerable cash lately trying to get a better tone but all the pedals and gear in the world doesn’t affect my sound like dedicated practice and warmed-up, calloused finger tips.
i remember when I first started playing years ago, that I was always feeling like something was missing trying to learn metal songs on guitar, when I finally started playing with drummers and bassists I realized that the sounds I had in my head were a collective product of those multiple instruments layered together. You’ll get a better idea what your tone is when you start playing with other people and become more aware of how to adjust your sound trying to fit in the mix more, or stand out more etc...
Just my two cents as a former beginner metal music player
i remember when I first started playing years ago, that I was always feeling like something was missing trying to learn metal songs on guitar, when I finally started playing with drummers and bassists I realized that the sounds I had in my head were a collective product of those multiple instruments layered together. You’ll get a better idea what your tone is when you start playing with other people and become more aware of how to adjust your sound trying to fit in the mix more, or stand out more etc...
Just my two cents as a former beginner metal music player
99% of metal bass sounds are either based on sans amp or dark glass. Your lowest common denominator is the underpowered amp. Putting pedals in front might help the bedroom tone, but it’s polishing a turd when it comes to playing with live drums and half stacks. Save the pedal money for a decent amp and cab and start from there.
