mid-heavy bass OD/distortion w/ clean blend?

[blujosh]

looking for mid-gain OD/distortion pedals that can tighten up the bass and adds some mids and includes a clean blend.

these are some that i'm aware of:

• MXR M85 distortion (rat-based)
• VoodooLab Sparkle Drive (/Mod)
• Ibanez Bass Tube Screamer

any other recommendations?

 

[gh0st42]

Fuzzrocious Cat Tail with Clean blend comes to mind.

 

[dedpool1052]

The internal trimpot labelled "curve" makes the OD more mid-forward on the Way Huge Pork & Pickle.
And it has a clean blend & clean tone.

 

[Matt Dean]

If you want heavy with a clean blend, get a Damnation MBD2 my friend.

 

[bumble yeti]

Hmm… Idiot Box Effects Blower Box, maybe?
No clean blend but I've never needed it.
To paraphrase Spinal Tap: Big bottom. Big bottom. Talk about bum cakes. This pedal's got 'em!
Blower Box Bass Distortion
It'll do mild to wild. To my ears it's like a quasi-rat-meets-tube screamer-with a lot of bass on tap distortion. It's the secret sauce whenever I need something dirty to pop out in a mix.
Videos are on Atarimatt's website.
Good luck!

 

[gh0st42]

If you want heavy with a clean blend, get a Damnation MBD2 my friend.

Good call!

Can’t believe I didn’t think of that one!

 

[Matt Dean]

Good call!

Can’t believe I didn’t think of that one!

There are a lot of good options… like that Electrofoods PigPile you’ve got in the classifieds.

 

[bumble yeti]

There are a lot of good options…

Yeah, that's kinda the thing with OD/distortion/fuzz pedals… they all sound good until they don't and then nothing sounds the same.
And you're left chasing windmill dragons!
I guess better advice would be to say to try a whole bunch of pedals with YOUR bass and YOUR amp and YOU decide.
And then report back… because I'm still chasing those $@#% dragons!
Good luck, OP!!!

 

[gh0st42]

There are a lot of good options… like that Electrofoods PigPile you’ve got in the classifieds.

We are spoiled for choices these days!

Back in the days when I first started playing, you had Rats, Muffs, Tube Screamers, Boss DS-1, or some crazy painted DOD Death Metal or Grunge pedals. All sucked the low end like nobodies business.

You could go vintage, and get into a Fuzz Face or a Brassmaster if you were really lucky.

Then the Boss LS-2 came out, and changed life for us dirt loving bass players forever.

 

[bumble yeti]

Then the Boss LS-2 came out, and changed life for us dirt loving bass players.

Yep. And that's another windmill I've blunted a sword or two on.
First it sounds great blending full range clean with distortion and then I think it'd be better to shelve the dirt to the high freqs and keep the low end clean. And then I started looking for EQ/crossover pedals and effects loops.
FWIW, I've finally chosen ones that have what I perceive as clean low end built in, like the IBE Blower Box, EHX Russian Green and DOD Carcosa.
Of course, all of this is moot in a live setting but at home… alone… or recording… in the dark… all kinds of dragons emerge.

 

[Matt Dean]

We are spoiled for choices these days!

Back in the days when I first started playing, you had Rats, Muffs, Tube Screamers, Boss DS-1, or some crazy painted DOD Death Metal or Grunge pedals. All sucked the low end like nobodies business.

You could go vintage, and get into a Fuzz Face or a Brassmaster if you were really lucky.

Then the Boss LS-2 came out, and changed life for us dirt loving bass players forever.

I still pretty much use Rats, Muffs, and OCDs.

 

[soundsupport1]

JHS Moonshine.

Peace,
SoundSupport

 

[TheLowDown33]

I'd like to nominate the Adventure Audio Glacial Zenith. Pretty sure it's based on a tube screamer circuit and has a 3 band EQ.

 

[MTN.bass72]

looking for mid-gain OD/distortion pedals that can tighten up the bass and adds some mids and includes a clean blend.

these are some that i'm aware of:

• MXR M85 distortion (rat-based)
• VoodooLab Sparkle Drive (/Mod)
• Ibanez Bass Tube Screamer

any other recommendations?

Damnation Audio MBD-2 is what you seek..
Clean blend, Depth knob, and a mid switch..
You'll thank me later

 

[VitoMB]

I would suggest to use a Wounded Paw Blender that you can add any dirt pedals to blend with independent volumes and phase toggles. It is my secret weapon along with a always-on Barbershop and a SS/BS Mini for mild to medium OD. YMMV

 

[GreggBummer]

The SANSAMP GED-2112 "YYZ" pedal might fit the bill.

Honestly I thought it was a "one trick pony" kind of thing. It really isn't. Sure, you can get that prog rock bass sound out it. But it also sounds delightful when the distortion is dialed down for "just a touch of OD". Also, when stacked with a fuzz... it might peel the roof off your house.

 

[Waltsdog]

One of the Darkglass offerings in the Alpha-Omega line would be my choice.

 

[Matt Dean]

The Damnation Loop Blender also is an amazing clean blend.

 

[BaltBass5]

Darkglass B3K
Damnation MBD2
Way Huge Pork Loin

 

[BunchyMutt]

If you want heavy with a clean blend, get a Damnation MBD2 my friend.

I've owned the MBD-1 twice and the MBD-2 once. It can get heavy, but I disagree if you want a mid heavy OD. As a light OD I loved it and it was one of the most balanced pedals I've come across, but ime if you need to boost the mids it doesn't have that ability