Motown Sound in a Pedal?

[Anachronism]

In fairness, the question was about pedals, not finger techniques.

True. I was responding to someone who derided the suggestion that fingers have a role to play. As with most "how do I get that sound" questions, the answer is a combination of technique and equipment.
In response to the OP, I think a Darkglass Vintage Microtubes is likely to get you closer than the B3K someone mentioned earlier, though I don't know if it's better than some of the other, non-Darkglass pedals mentioned.

 

[ThePresident777]

 

[dannybuoy]

b3k

No

Am I alone in thinking a BDDI could cop that tone just about perfectly?

Yes

 

[johnk_10]

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[nshuman]

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Good one. Not the cheapest option but maybe the most "period" accurate

 

[+6dB Dan]

I agree with what's been said: flatwounds and a P-ish bass are the most important ingredients.

As far as a pedal goes, the Tech 21 VT Bass pedal has a mode that emulates the Ampeg B-15. Not having played a real B-15, I don't know how close it gets, but I like mine, and it may be worth a shot for you too.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Fairfield Circuitry Barbershop+P Bass+flats. And tort.

Ah! of course, Tort. I should have known.

 

[blastbass]

I got a Motown bass. A mim jb with suhrs and semi flats.

 

[Unemploid]

Catalinbread SFT (especially the older one with the white knobs, the newer one is a bit more clanky) or Bearfoot Blueberry (which replaced my SFT), or Creation Audio Grizzly (on my radar!):

i would pick the sft or the grizzly.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

If you promise not to reveal this secret, here it is: The Magic Pedal:

 

[_godspeed_]

It's been said before, but I'll say it again : P-bass with flats + VT Bass or Catalinbread SFT or Babershop or SGFX Beta. Cheapest would be VT and it nails that sound.

 

[winterburn69]

i think it's a combination of things, pbass + flats + fingers + fliptop, however if you need the bloomy kinda tubey mild to medium od you can't go wrong with a fuzzrocious dark driving od pedal

Jamerson used the DI, not a fliptop.

I'd suggest the SGFX Beta, just the "regular" one, if you wanted to do it all with one pedal. If you were going to add more than one, I'd suggest also adding a nice warm compressor, something like a Diamond. The Diamond + a warm OD would nail that tone.

+1, the Beta doesn't do it alone, a compressor is just as necessary as the Beta IMO. I've been switching between a CS-2 and a Saffron Squeeze but would still like something with more compression to it. I've been eyeing up the Analogman Bi-Comp.

 

[ExaltBass]

Noble Tube Pre/DI - flats, foam and a P-Bass

 

[nshuman]

Jamerson used the DI, not a fliptop.

Careful, you'll crash people's hopes and dreams

 

[FunkHead]

+1 for the Grizzly.

 

[Groove Doctor]

If you promise not to reveal this secret, here it is: The Magic Pedal:

You're such a tease.... what is it?

 

[dannybuoy]

You're such a tease.... what is it?

Some kind of joke it seems!

http://this1smyne.com/shop/mab-mini-ab-switch/

 

[petrus61]

FWIW, the Barbershop made me sell all of my Sansamp pedals. I still like them, but the BS just did what I was really looking for (similar to OP) for my purposes. I like my amps pre and with the BS I don't have to totally bypass it the way I do with Sansamp stuff to get a tone I like and I don't get any artifacts. I still really like Sansamp stuff.

 

[kevteop]

Mostly Precision, flats (La Bella), some sponge under the bridge, and a tube preamp or something that simulates it OK.

 

[ZorgRift]

instructions unclear, fingers stuck in tube of my vacuum