Pique, rather. But I can see "peak" if that's what one really meant to say. Like peak wattage, peak oil or peak interest.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
New Origin Effects DCX Bass
- Thread starter Derek Williams
- Start date
Pique, rather. But I can see "peak" if that's what one really meant to say. Like peak wattage, peak oil or peak interest.
Didn’t become a musician because I could write goodPique, rather. But I can see "peak" if that's what one really meant to say. Like peak wattage, peak oil or peak interest.
Is that Uranus in your avatar?Pique, rather. But I can see "peak" if that's what one really meant to say. Like peak wattage, peak oil or peak interest.
Origin_Effects
Commercial User
- Feb 12, 2018
- 76
- 1,030
- Disclosures
- British Boutique Effects Pedal Builders
Origin_Effects
Commercial User
- Feb 12, 2018
- 76
- 1,030
- Disclosures
- British Boutique Effects Pedal Builders
It shouldn't have any effect. The Adaptive Circuitry isn't reliant on impedance or anything interaction outside of the pedal itself, it's entirely signal level and clipping dependent. The only way a DI should or would cause issue is if it is dropping your signal level. At which point you'd just need to counteract with a higher DRIVE setting to match.
Something to bare in mind (though, it has little to do with the DCX), passive DIs can load down your signal. It's usually best to place something with a buffer before your DI. When recording in the studio, I usually place a tuner pedal before any DI. Obviously for tuning, but also purely to buffer the signal before it hits anything that'll load it down. The difference is subtle but noticable and well worth the effort in resolving.
- Jacob
This is exactly the quality of response I was seeking. Much gratitude!
Does any of you use it in EQ mode with the Drive cranked all the way up? I feel like it’s an interesting sound, different than having the pedal in OD mode. Or would you say that if you want drive out of it, it’s best to play it in OD?
I bought the DCX Bass for drive and I found that the level of overdrive I'm looking for is easily achieved with pedal in EQ mode and drive around 1 or 2 o'clock.
The shame is we never know how truly glorious everyone sounds...
Second-favorite non tube drive pedal, yepAnd it’s still one of your favourite OD pedals ever… in EQ mode?
I know you are making a joke, but I was quite surprised by how much drive the EQ mode offers. I had planned to use it in OD mode, but I don't need the level of drive OD mode offers. And I much prefer to have the Adaptive Circuity engaged.
Second-favorite non tube drive pedal, yep
what is your number one btw?
Free The Tone Black Vehicle. Like the DCX Bass, it has that organic, natural, and not overly compressed feel. The Black Vehicle uses an IC design to simulate tube saturation and it does an excellent job. It is the most tubey of all non-tube drives I've played. If you are familiar with the Fairfield Circuitry Barbershop, the Spaceman Saturn VI, or the Origin Effects DCX Bass (I know you know that one) it's like those only with a more articulate low end thanks to its mix control. You can use that to dial in the balance of your clean tone and overdriven tone. The DCX Bass as a fatter, warmer low end than the Black Vehicle which is also nice in its own way. I think that comes from the vintage studio console tone Origin Effects was aiming for. So think something like:
Black Vehicle = tube amp saturation
DCX Bass = studio console overdrive
Both are great, and they are more similar than not (compared to other the full offerings of overdrive available), but they are definitely each doing their own thing.
Like the DCX Bass, the Black Vehicle has a nice sizzle to its trebles so if you need something with a little more high-end bite, this might be a solid option. (And if you need a darker tone, that sizzle can be EQed out with the treble pot, like the adaptive voicing toggle on the DCX Bass.) And also like the DCX Bass, it has a 2-band EQ instead of a tone pot so you have that added flexibility. But while the DCX Bass is voiced to keep the drive in the upper register (I'm sure you've notice it doesn't clip the full spectrum), the Black Vehicle clips more (but not all) of the spectrum so its drive tone is a thicker than the DCX Bass's. The gain and mix knobs, of course, let you control how heavy that drive tone gets. At higher gain settings I find the Black Vehicle too farty so I want to stress this is a true overdrive. If you are looking for fuzz, then this is not the pedal for you.
The coolest and most unique feature of the Black Vehicle is its secondary stompswitch: it has a boost that you can set to be pre- or post- the drive stage so it can be a gain boost or volume boost. I set mine to be a low-gain overdrive (just past edge-of-breakup) and then have the boost turn it into a medium-gain overdrive for intensifying a bridge or second chorus. The secondary stompswitch does mean this in enclosed in a 1590BB (turned the long way) rather than a 125B so it will take up a bit more space on a board; at the same time, that boost option gives you two gain-stages in one so it might actually save you space by removing the need for a separate boost or second dirt pedal.
Ultimately, the DCX Bass and Black Vehicle are both excellent pedals and I'd be happy with either on my board. They are a little different in their features and voices, but I don't think one is vastly superior. I love the responsiveness and tubeyness of the Black Vehicle, but the warm low-end and 125B enclosure of the DCX Bass are also great. Although I like the clipping of the Black Vehicle more than that of DCX Bass, I could easily see someone else preferring the opposite. There's no right or wrong here. Just different options of excellent.
The DCX just arrived. Showed up a day early 
Them OE pedals are built like tanks
I was playing a bit at home this morning. Pedalboard was on the sofa. I lean over to reach the amp (on the floor), my bass, which was hanging from me on its strap, makes contact with my Cali76… there you go. It took a chunk out of my bass. Oh well, it’s rock’n’roll I guess.
^^^^
Crash Test Dummies LOVE Origin Effects DCX Bass...!
Crash Test Dummies LOVE Origin Effects DCX Bass...!
I just received my rehoused Rothwell Love Squeeze Compressor (from our good friend JohnK) this afternoon. I've named it "Stanley" and will be sticking it right after my DCX Bass. (I've also decided to get one of those Little Bear "Woolly Mammoth" clones and attach it to the side of the board before the DCX Bass in EQ mode.) I think the audience should take cover...
Special "thank you" shout out to @johnk_10 - Amazing!
Special "thank you" shout out to @johnk_10 - Amazing!
