Mildest Distortion Pedal

[klattman]

The rocket bass has the SGT circuit which sounds good to me just barely pushed.

If you like the character then even an eq boost or a compressor that has some extra gain available in front of it might be enough. I like the unit67 in front of amp emulators so I can adjust gain staging on the fly with one big dial.

If you don’t like the SGT character then there are so many options. Unfortunately it’s hard to know which one until you hear it under your own fingers.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

So - the amp already has it!

if you like pedals a full range switchable rangemaster is a classic dirty boost.

 

[Steve Dallman]

How about a Fat Phuk?

I built one of these a couple years ago. I also used an external pot for the bias adjust. This circuit definitely does what the OP asks.

 

[Fynn]

I got an EHX OD Glove a while back, because I wanted a Marshall type distortion sound, to see if I can replicate the feel of playing bass through a Marshall stack. I don't know how close I actually got with that, but it's definitely one of the better Plexi clone pedals! I use it more as a overdrive/distortion, and not a sort of edge of breakup pedal, but if you turn the gain down a bit, you definitely get there too... Did I mention that it's very affordable? haha

 

[guitarflinger]

Ampeg Scrambler - my go to pedal for mild overdrive

 

[HolmeBass]

CAL Grizzly Bass does this for me.

 

[Flatwound]

I hope the Blumes will do it, because I just ordered one.

I have a London Underground that can make that sort of low, soft distortion that you hear on some Motown stuff. I use that for ampless playing like at church. It’s been replaced by the Underground accelerator, which I haven’t tried.

I have used my Terror Bass 500 as a preamp, and it sounds fantastic. But it’s not a pedal.

 

[Sternodox]

The rocket bass has the SGT circuit which sounds good to me just barely pushed.

If you like the character then even an eq boost or a compressor that has some extra gain available in front of it might be enough. I like the unit67 in front of amp emulators so I can adjust gain staging on the fly with one big dial.

If you don’t like the SGT character then there are so many options. Unfortunately it’s hard to know which one until you hear it under your own fingers.

The SGT circuit is fun to play with, but I guess it sounds a bit analog to my ears. Might be my messed up ears though.

 

[Erithon]

You are describing what is known as "edge of breakup." Some pedals I've owned/own and recommend for that sound:

• Broughton Audio Quicksilver
• Broughton Audio Silver Deluxe (at 9v)
• Damnation Audio MBD
• Fairfield Circuitry Barbershop v2
• Free The Tone Black Vehicle
• Fuzzrocious The Demon
• Origin Effects DCX Bass
• Spaceman Effects Saturn VI

 

[DuluthDank]

A dirty boost or overdrive seems to be what you're looking for.
There are so many choices, it's really hard to make a good suggestion. Off the top of my head, I'd suggest looking at:
Spaceman Saturn VI
Audio Kitchen Fake Plastic Trees
Jad Freer Capo
Sushi Box FX Underground Accelerator
Fairfield Barbershop
Hudson Broadcast
Damnation Audio MBD
Broughton SV-Pre
Xotic BB Bass Preamp
BJFe Blueberry (or variants)
EBS Valve Drive DI
AMT Bricks O-Bass
JPTR FX Jive
Nobels ODR-1 (or the bass variant, anything but the mini)
Wampler Belle
Wampler Pantheon
SS/BS Mini
NSA Piggy

....those are a few of those that I own or owned and liked enough to recommend them to fellow bass players.
They all work great as lower gain overdrive pedals for bass, no matter how they are labeled/marketed.

Can the Exotic Bass BB go all the way to clean? So many pedals that are marketed as capable of low gain actually have headroom issues. IMO, it's difficult to find a true low gain bass OD. What I've heard of that pedal sounds good though.

 

[DuluthDank]

IMO, the spark booster is very good at low OD.

I perceived some low end loss and didn't like where the EQ points were with the Spark. If I'm the only one maybe I didn't give it a fair shot though.

 

[antfarm]

The One Control Sonic Silver Peg is an inexpensive option.

SONIC SILVER PEG (OC-SSPn)

 

[LowendG]

Xotic BB FTW. Can go from clean to all out distortion and all points in between. Has a very "ampy" feel to it. No loss of low end if you use a touch of the EQ on it.

 

[el murdoque]

Can the Exotic Bass BB go all the way to clean? So many pedals that are marketed as capable of low gain actually have headroom issues. IMO, it's difficult to find a true low gain bass OD. What I've heard of that pedal sounds good though.

Yes. It is one pedal where I'd actually have liked a little bit more gain on tap than less of it.

 

[Gorilla Monsoon]

The Trickfish OD ticks all my boxes. Take a listen to Jake’s video on yootoob.

 

[Sternodox]

Seems to be lots of recommendations for the Damnation Audio MBD. Thinking about giving it a try.

 

[LowendG]

Yes. It is one pedal where I'd actually have liked a little bit more gain on tap than less of it.

What's interesting is how the BB at its cleanest setting sounds different than the RC. I use both for different purposes. I use the RC with the gain at about 11 oclock for my "clean" sound. I only use the BB when I definitely intend to have more obvious grit (the RC doesn't do that at all). Subtly different. Glad to see they brought back the BB!

 

[FaithNoMan]

I have an RB-115 and these work well.


Might want to check this out too. I really dig mine:

The Microtubes Vintage is our tribute to some of the most legendary sounds in rock history. It provides warm tube-like tones with a natural dynamic response that echoes the organic compression of old tube amps and reel-to-reel tape machines.
Type
Stompbox
Effects
Distortion, Overdrive
Brand
Darkglass

Def a +1 on the Vintage. It can cover Meshuggah to STP to Motown.

 

[markjazzbassist]

Try a boss bd-2 blues driver pedal. Waxa craft or keeley mod. Very transparent amp like OD

 

[Sternodox]

Any opinions on this one? Looks intriguing.