If you might have use for a SansAmp anyway, they do touch o’ drive very well. I use the Para Driver for both bass and guitar.
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Mild overdrive with active high output basses : which pedal?
- Thread starter Inconnu
- Start date
Just got the Blumes so don't know.
But the Earthquaker is great, no low end loss and you can actually add bass - excellent, flexible EQ.
The Blueberry and also the bigger Spark can be good.
For context, I have the Darkglass Vintage Microtube, Solidgold Beta (v.1), the nano Bass Muff, and a Sushibox on my board at the mo'.
I use all of these with an L-2000 set "active".
Most of my basses are pretty high output and active - two Stingrays, a Big Al, an L-2500 (which I usually use in passive mode, but even passive it has high output!), and a parts Jazz bass with an Audere preamp.
The only one of the ones in the OP that I've used and currently own is the Walrus Audio Ages. With the Dry knob, I find there's plenty of low end. Also, I really only really used Modes 1 and 2, which are fairly mild OD so there's not a lot of additional high end in them to make it seem like the low end is reduced. I like it enough to keep it, but I have other drives I like better and get a lot more time on my board.
Among those others that I also own and think fit your criteria (as opposed to just OD pedals I like):
- Broughton FlipTop - I simply love this one and use it most of the time as my "standard" tone. It truly is low gain, but it does it very well, giving you a pretty old school bass tone when you have the Cabinet control above 12:00.
- Spaceman Effects Saturn VI - This is my second favorite low gain pedal and is my second choice for my "standard" tone when replace my FlipTop with it for a change of pace (as I'm doing right now, the Satrun VI is currently on my board). I prefer the Boost knob (even order harmonics) between 12:00 and 2:00 and the Gain knob (odd ordered harmonics) between 10:00 and 12:00. It gives some nice soft warmth that gets a little growlier when I dig in. You cna get quite a bit more gain out of it than I use, but I set it this way for low gain, "standard" tone and love it.
- Most BlueBerry variants. I own, and LOVE, the Bearfoot FX Blueberry. It does a great warm OD, especially with the Gain below 2:00 and the Nature (a tilt EQ) between 10:00 and 12:00 to taste. I also own and like the One Control Blackberry and Bearfoot FX Queen Bee. Both of those work well and have an additional midrange (Body) and Treble controls, respectively. However, the way I use my Blueberry, I don't need the Body or Treble controls so I prefer the simpler BlueBerry. But all three sound great.
- Solidgold FX Beta - I have the original, not the Mk II (with an additional midrange switch) or the current model V (with several additional controls). It's another I like a lot, espedcially for a deep and warm Motown or reggae-like tone. It does color your tone that way, but it's a REALLY nice color.
- JPTR FX Jive - This has three different clipping options that can be used in any combination in additition to the Gain control, but I mostly use it with no LEDs enabled and just go with the gain. It's pretty transparent that way and it doesn't get too gnarly. But you can get quite a bit dirtier as you add in the LEDs.
- EHX Bass Soul Food - This is truly low gain and I don't really like the tone with the Gain above 3:00. But below that level, and especially below 1:00, I like it a lot with the Blend knob between 10:00 and 2:00 (to taste). I also tend to keep the Treble knob below 3:00 and I never use the 10 dB pad, even with my high output basses. A lot of TB disagrees with me, especially those who tried it when it just came out, but I think it's a good low gain OD.
The only one of the ones in the OP that I've used and currently own is the Walrus Audio Ages. With the Dry knob, I find there's plenty of low end. Also, I really only really used Modes 1 and 2, which are fairly mild OD so there's not a lot of additional high end in them to make it seem like the low end is reduced. I like it enough to keep it, but I have other drives I like better and get a lot more time on my board.
Among those others that I also own and think fit your criteria (as opposed to just OD pedals I like):
- Broughton FlipTop - I simply love this one and use it most of the time as my "standard" tone. It truly is low gain, but it does it very well, giving you a pretty old school bass tone when you have the Cabinet control above 12:00.
- Spaceman Effects Saturn VI - This is my second favorite low gain pedal and is my second choice for my "standard" tone when replace my FlipTop with it for a change of pace (as I'm doing right now, the Satrun VI is currently on my board). I prefer the Boost knob (even order harmonics) between 12:00 and 2:00 and the Gain knob (odd ordered harmonics) between 10:00 and 12:00. It gives some nice soft warmth that gets a little growlier when I dig in. You cna get quite a bit more gain out of it than I use, but I set it this way for low gain, "standard" tone and love it.
- Most BlueBerry variants. I own, and LOVE, the Bearfoot FX Blueberry. It does a great warm OD, especially with the Gain below 2:00 and the Nature (a tilt EQ) between 10:00 and 12:00 to taste. I also own and like the One Control Blackberry and Bearfoot FX Queen Bee. Both of those work well and have an additional midrange (Body) and Treble controls, respectively. However, the way I use my Blueberry, I don't need the Body or Treble controls so I prefer the simpler BlueBerry. But all three sound great.
- Solidgold FX Beta - I have the original, not the Mk II (with an additional midrange switch) or the current model V (with several additional controls). It's another I like a lot, espedcially for a deep and warm Motown or reggae-like tone. It does color your tone that way, but it's a REALLY nice color.
- JPTR FX Jive - This has three different clipping options that can be used in any combination in additition to the Gain control, but I mostly use it with no LEDs enabled and just go with the gain. It's pretty transparent that way and it doesn't get too gnarly. But you can get quite a bit dirtier as you add in the LEDs.
- EHX Bass Soul Food - This is truly low gain and I don't really like the tone with the Gain above 3:00. But below that level, and especially below 1:00, I like it a lot with the Blend knob between 10:00 and 2:00 (to taste). I also tend to keep the Treble knob below 3:00 and I never use the 10 dB pad, even with my high output basses. A lot of TB disagrees with me, especially those who tried it when it just came out, but I think it's a good low gain OD.
I used to have an L2500 and used it with great results with my Xotic BB. Very responsive to playing dynamics too--very amp-ish, and can go from basically clean to fuzzed-out and everything in-between. On sale now too: Bass BB v1.5 – Xotic California
I have enjoyed using the Fairfield Barbershop with my active Jazz Bass.
You can run it at 18V for more headroom and less clipping. Very transparent and touch-sensitive. Not sure what they go for these days.
The TC Electronic Spark (4 knob version) is a mildly dirty boost and is also pretty good. It has a little bit of hair when you crank the gain.
The TC Electronic Spark (4 knob version) is a mildly dirty boost and is also pretty good. It has a little bit of hair when you crank the gain.
All my basses are active, and I also prioritize zero (actual or perceived) low-end loss. Having tried many, the ones I gravitate to:
- Origin DCX - simply awesome. Doesn't really excel at high-gain/distortion, but I don't really need it to.
- Broughton Scorpion - bassy without getting muddy (unless you want it to).
- BFJE Blueberry Futura - arguably the ideal bass drive, no low end loss. Also, unlike non-Futura Blueberries, no loss of high-end/clarity either.
- Shiftline Buzz (V1) - has a 3-way bass switch, either slight cut (nope), slight boost (great), or heavier boost (amazing).
- Origin DCX - simply awesome. Doesn't really excel at high-gain/distortion, but I don't really need it to.
- Broughton Scorpion - bassy without getting muddy (unless you want it to).
- BFJE Blueberry Futura - arguably the ideal bass drive, no low end loss. Also, unlike non-Futura Blueberries, no loss of high-end/clarity either.
- Shiftline Buzz (V1) - has a 3-way bass switch, either slight cut (nope), slight boost (great), or heavier boost (amazing).
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Creation Audio Grizzly.
Incredible headroom (runs internally at 36v)
Separate overdrive and distortion circuits.
Adjustable low pass filter.
Adjustable mid scoop.
Top quality output buffer.
Incredible headroom (runs internally at 36v)
Separate overdrive and distortion circuits.
Adjustable low pass filter.
Adjustable mid scoop.
Top quality output buffer.
G&L 2500 user here and another +1 for the Damnation MBD2, though it's more in the distortion camp than overdrive. For overdrive I really like the AGS mode on the Aguilar Tonehammer DI.
lol, personally I hated the Barbershop with my hot active bass that I had at the time. Just goes to show that no matter what suggestions you get in a thread like this, there's no real substitute for trying it yourself at the end of the day. Also musical context is important, too.
Yeah, I figured that out!
The idea was to get inspiration, see what I could try out.
The main problem is that local stores don’t stock much of anything now…
I wanted to avoid the process of ordering and returning (or hopefully not returning!) but it seems impossible. Nobody’s fault! There’s just so many things that are a matter of taste.
I listened to demos of some people’s favourites… some I hated, some I liked.
Anyways, thanks for all the replies, I’ll report back when the final decision is made.
EQD Westwood. You won’t lose the lows, it has an active eq so you can boost and cut lows and highs. I’m able to regain my uneffected tone pretty closely. Also, it goes from extremely mild to somewhat heavy, not too heavy or into serious distortion though. I like a mild OD and it does that really well.
I had the Bass Soul Food at some point and it’s definitely not what I’m after… so I’d label it as the least interesting.
Up to now, the Westwood seems to be the best sounding in videos (to my ears) and everybody tells me not to worry about the lows on that one. There’s something about how that one breaks up that I like.
I’ve ordered one. I’ll see (or hear, rather) how it goes!
Since I can very much agree to your list, I actually own or owned all of the mentioned pedals and liked them (apart from the FlitTop which I did not like at all), I'd like to ask if you ever played an original Blueberry, the BJFe version?
I just got my hands on a Bearfoot Blueberry and compared it to my BJFe. To my ears, there is no competition here. The Bearfoot tries to do the Blueberry thing but falls painfully short. The Original has so much more going on.
It's like stepping barefoot on a bunch of blueberries - with that rich and sweet goo squeezing through the spaces between your toes compared to stepping bearfoot on a dirt road.
The Bearfoot Blueberry is a nice low gain drive pedal, true.
However, the BJFe Blueberry is one of the Holy Grails for the Magic Bullet Chaser.
YMMV, of course.
Nope, I've never had an opportunity to try an original BJFe version. But, based on my recollection of the price, I probably never will.
I've spent a lot on individual pedals, but I don't think I've ever spent that much. Would like to try it if one fell into my lap, though.
Another +1 for the Broughton Scorpion. I have an active Deluxe Precision and it works great with keeping the tone intact and adding a little wool, without diminishing the original sound.
SolidgoldFX Beta V is floating my boat at the moment. It handles higher output basses better than the regular MkII, and can sound more transparent with the LPF bypassed and the active bass/treble controls. Plus it can run at 18V for more headroom.
It beats the Jive for me, which I finally also recently received!
It beats the Jive for me, which I finally also recently received!
