My dream analog dirt pedal

[Zbysek]

I have been day-dreaming lately...

I came up with a list of features which my dream drive pedal needs to have:

• two levels of overdrive on the dirt channel (footswitcheable, with separate volume controls)
• variable HPF on the dirt channel (going up to 500Hz at least)
• clean blend
• LPF on the clean channel (going down to 150Hz at least)
• compressor/limiter on the clean channel
• It would need to be analog.

At the moment, I need 3-4 pedals in order to achieve all the above-listed functionality (crossover looper/blender, compressor, drive pedal, booster/attenuator).

It would be great to be able to get it all from a single device. Anybody feels the same?

There have been some pedals recently which came close:

Damnation Audio MBD 3 features clean blend with LPF on the clean channel (kind of)...and two levels od dirt.. but it does not feature compressor on the clean channel.

Tech 21 XB Driver came even closer...with the variable LPF and HPF filters and compression...but it does not allow two levels of dirt on the drive channel...

Other runner-ups:

• EBS Billy Sheehan Ultimate
• Darkglass X line
• Genzler 4 on the Floor
• Genzler Crash Box 4
• Tech 21 DP-3x
• Becos Twain (V1)
• etc.

 

[BaltBass5]

I do exactly what you are describing with a Line 6 HX Stomp XL.
Digital processors are where it's at these days.

 

[Ritter667]

Mine is a 3 band drive, with crossovers to define respectively upper and lower band, and thereby mid band as well.

Eventual with a master HPF and LPF as well.

 

[burgerdj]

Sub’d. I’m completely stymied on dirt as my Sansamp BDDI isn’t getting me where I need to be with a new cover band. I’m 99% on the Genzler Crashbox but haven’t pulled the trigger.

 

[Zbysek]

I guess the Digitech Boneshaker by BlackArts Toneworks maybe fit what you are searching for.

I have not been aware of this pedal. I quickly searched it online...and it seems to me that it does not have most of the features I seek. Thanks for the tip anyway...

 

[DuluthDank]

to me, dream gear can't be planned, but only stumbled upon. Even if an OD pedal met all those specs, then you might find you aren't satisfied with the quality of the breakup, the mid voicing, or some such thing.

 

[Zbysek]

I do exactly what you are describing with a Line 6 HX Stomp XL.
Digital processors are where it's at these days.

I am fully aware that it can be done with HX Stomp and number of other processors.

I am just not interested in digital gear. That's why I put the term "analog" in the title of this thread...

 

[WG Plum]

That would be a heck of a pedal, for sure. I guess I'm glad I found the OxEAE Bass Drive, it's completely solved my dirt search. I think it has very little of the functionality that you're looking for, but good gawd amighty it brings the thunder.

 

[Zbysek]

to me, dream gear can't be planned, but only stumbled upon.

One can meet good fortune halfway.

Some designers are present here on talkbass. If they know what our dreams are, they might be able to make them come true...

 

[Hans Gruber]

I wonder if @Azure Skies would be up to the challenge...I'm pretty the raw parts have all been in utilized in many of his designs. Merge them together?

 

[Zbysek]

I wonder if @Azure Skies would be up to the challenge...I'm pretty the raw parts have all been in utilized in many of his designs. Merge them together?

Yeah, Josh is one of the designers who has been listenning to us, TB posters...

TBH, the idea of my dream pedal came (in part) from using his excellent FFXL pedal with various drives. I guess he could merge the FFXL design with one of his drive pedals and one of his compressors to create the ultimate do-it-all device... That would be an awesome pedal!

 

[burgerdj]

I wonder if @Azure Skies would be up to the challenge...I'm pretty the raw parts have all been in utilized in many of his designs. Merge them together?

Perhaps a TB limited edition?

 

[NickyBass]

Would it be possible to have the 3-4 pedals you are using rehoused into one?
It's hard enough to find a pedal that I love that only does one thing.

 

[micguy]

A Darkglass X7 would do that, except for the 2 levels of overdrive. For that you'd need 2 of them. Which is less than the "3 to 4" pedals you need to do it now. What you're asking for is a very tall order, unlikely to be done in one pedal. So, you have to compromise (get the closest thing you can), or you wait for something that may never come.

 

[Passinwind]

One can meet good fortune halfway.

Some designers are present here on talkbass. If they know what our dreams are, they might be able to make them come true...

I know a guy who does small modular open source HPF and LPF boards for DIY'ers as a non commercial thing...just sayin'.

 

[WG Plum]

A Darkglass X7 would do that, except for the 2 levels of overdrive. For that you'd need 2 of them. Which is less than the "3 to 4" pedals you need to do it now. What you're asking for is a very tall order, unlikely to be done in one pedal. So, you have to compromise (get the closest thing you can), or you wait for something that may never come.

I'm sure it can be done in one pedal, but it won't be small.

As for combining/rehousing, @johnk_10 has been doing a bit of that for one of the denizens of the Broughton thread. The results look spectacular.

 

[BaltBass5]

I am fully aware that it can be done with HX Stomp and number of other processors.

I am just not interested in digital gear. That's why I put the term "analog" in the title of this thread...

Understood. I was hesitant at first as well.....However, For $600 or less you can do just about ANYTHING you'd like to do effect and signal routing wise. The Line 6 platform is an easy learning curve and once you get there, you'll never go back.

 

[Grapevine921]

Not analog but you could do it all with the source audio ultrawave

 

[Zbysek]

As for combing/rehousing, @johnk_10 has been doing a bit of that for one of the denizens of the Broughton thread. The results look spectacular.

JohnK is another builder who came close to my dream pedal with his XOII design…

 

[Zbysek]

Not analog but you could do it all with the source audio ultrawave

I know-see post No.8…