OD/Dirt pedal recommendation

[poropara]

Hi All! Good day!

I have an Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass (always on start of chain) and '64 preamp (always on at end of chain), and an incoming Benson Amps Germanium Boost (always on boost/sweetener).

Currently, I am considering Hudson Broadcast Dual Footswitch, since it is quite well received over here + it has 2 channels which are very convenient and functional on paper.

What would be your recommendations for OD/Dirt pedal in this setup? (Only on for songs that requires it)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Smurf-o-Deth]

You’ve opened the floodgates of subjectivity, especially since you’ve not really mentioned what sort of sound you’re looking for. I will say that the Hudson, with its gain controls being internal trimmers, would really irritate me.

The two, footswitch-selectable gain stages can be useful (I have that on my Fuzzrocious Cat Tail, which is a great Rat-style distortion).

 

[poropara]

You’ve opened the floodgates of subjectivity, especially since you’ve not really mentioned what sort of sound you’re looking for. I will say that the Hudson, with its gain controls being internal trimmers, would really irritate me.

The two, footswitch-selectable gain stages can be useful (I have that on my Fuzzrocious Cat Tail, which is a great Rat-style distortion).

Still very new to bass now, but mainly playing with my casual band will be pop punk/punk/rock.
But my own personal time I do like mainly the 80-90s hard rock/heavy metal/alt rock/grunge, but I'm open to most genre in general.

Regards to the internal trimmers on the Hudson, won't it be a one time config to your taste (ideally), and then forget about it afterwards?

Thanks again!

 

[el murdoque]

I'm gonna be the first to suggest the Fairfield Barbershop. I can safely suggest that one without you telling what you like. It's hard to not like that pedal.
It is a low gain OD that feels more like an amp frontend, because the dynamic range is there. You can use it to have a 99% clean sound and only the last bit is getting a little dirty when you dig in a little.
It works very well in front of the Cali76 - the touch responsiveness of the Barbershop and the compression of the Cali can be set that you have a broad range where you can control the amount of OD with your playing dynamics, but the volume stays the same. The fattening of the Cali when engaged works very well with the grind of the Barbershop. It is a very transparent pedal, yet it adds just a hint of its own magic. It is a pedal many people leave on all the time - that's why Faifield made a mini version without foot switch.

Now you can either go and order a barbershop or you can specify a little more what kind of sound you're looking for

 

[poropara]

26242129[/URL], member: 239366"]I'm gonna be the first to suggest the Fairfield Barbershop. I can safely suggest that one without you telling what you like. It's hard to not like that pedal.
It is a low gain OD that feels more like an amp frontend, because the dynamic range is there. You can use it to have a 99% clean sound and only the last bit is getting a little dirty when you dig in a little.
It works very well in front of the Cali76 - the touch responsiveness of the Barbershop and the compression of the Cali can be set that you have a broad range where you can control the amount of OD with your playing dynamics, but the volume stays the same. The fattening of the Cali when engaged works very well with the grind of the Barbershop. It is a very transparent pedal, yet it adds just a hint of its own magic. It is a pedal many people leave on all the time - that's why Faifield made a mini version without foot switch.

Now you can either go and order a barbershop or you can specify a little more what kind of sound you're looking for

Thanks for the input!

I did consider the Fairfield Barbershop too after reading though a bit of the forum. But would have thought of a dual foot switch would be convenient for songs needed different gain stage without adjusting the knobs again. (Will put this pedal into consideration too!)

My apologies, but really not sure how to explain or know the tone/sound I would like since I’m only playing for a few months during my free time. But similar to those genres I’m playing would be a good start.

Thanks again!

 

[el murdoque]

Sometimes stacking different pedals gets you further than having more gain on your one pedal, but this is purely subjective.

Maybe take a look at the Jam Pedals Lucydreamer Bass (watch out, there's a Lucydreamer and a Lucydreamer Bass), and at the Crazy Tubes Planet B+

 

[poropara]

Sometimes stacking different pedals gets you further than having more gain on your one pedal, but this is purely subjective.

Maybe take a look at the Jam Pedals Lucydreamer Bass (watch out, there's a Lucydreamer and a Lucydreamer Bass), and at the Crazy Tubes Planet B+

Thanks for your recommendations!
Watched some of the demos of Jam Pedals Lucydreamer Bass, it is quite interesting and also 2 gain stages via footswitch.

Will probably think through and choose one of these 3 options for now; Hudson Broadcast Dual, Jam Pedals Lucydreamer Bass, and Fairfield Barbershop.

 

[el murdoque]

I tried more than a few pedals recently and was a bit surprised at what I actually liked and what I did not.
It is a highly personal thing and depends a lot on your pedal chain and personal preferences. It can make a world of difference to put a pedal in front of or behind the comp in the chain, just to name one.

So if you want to embark on a lengthy and expensive quest, start looking for the perfect pedal.

 

[poropara]

26244658[/URL], member: 239366"]I tried more than a few pedals recently and was a bit surprised at what I actually liked and what I did not.
It is a highly personal thing and depends a lot on your pedal chain and personal preferences. It can make a world of difference to put a pedal in front of or behind the comp in the chain, just to name one.

So if you want to embark on a lengthy and expensive quest, start looking for the perfect pedal.

I agree 100%!

Thus getting input from the many experts and/or experienced players here for suggestions. At least I could cut down to a few to try out.

In my country, most musical shops have no returns policy (unlike the US or Europe with 30 days returns policy) and some shops charge 20% for restocking fee. So I couldn’t possibly try out as much as I want, could only shortlist a few and buy blind. It is what it is over here.

 

[el murdoque]

Where are you?
Is there a second hand market?
I've bought quite a few pedals used, tried them out and sold them again. Sometimes with a loss, sometimes breaking even, sometimes even making a profit (to cover the loss).

 

[el murdoque]

I can give you my personal insight into the Lucydreamer in a couple of days. I just ordered mine on Saturday, expecting to receive it Wednesday.



You, on the other hand, made me interested into the Broadcast. I've always put that off as a guitar pedal and never really looked into it.

 

[el murdoque]

....just to cast an oddball: The Pedal that's currently on my board (competing with the Barbershop) is the SolidgoldFX Beta DLX. It's a bit more special, but maybe you dig it. ..

 

[poropara]

Where are you?
Is there a second hand market?
I've bought quite a few pedals used, tried them out and sold them again. Sometimes with a loss, sometimes breaking even, sometimes even making a profit (to cover the loss).

Secondary market in my country for bass equipment is very very limited, but for guitar equipment is a lot haha.
If I have to gauge, guitar equipment is like 3/10 difficulty, bass equipment is like 9/10 difficulty to buy/sell. Much more guitarists over here I would guess.

When I used to attempt to learn guitar, 50% of the stuff I bought used, very easy to try stuff and sell those I didn't like (either breakeven or at a slight loss, fair enough). Bass equipment is a whole different ballgame over here in the secondary marketplace.

I can give you my personal insight into the Lucydreamer in a couple of days. I just ordered mine on Saturday, expecting to receive it Wednesday.

You, on the other hand, made me interested into the Broadcast. I've always put that off as a guitar pedal and never really looked into it.

Appreciated, thanks!

Hahaha! I got interested in the Broadcast because of it being highly recommended over in this forum too.
I even asked one of the music shop locally what they think about it, the shop owner is a guitarist, but he has friends that are bass players, and one of them who has the pedal mentioned it is quite good for bass too.

 

[MtManiac]

You’ve opened the floodgates of subjectivity…

Great quote.

 

[el murdoque]

You’ve opened the floodgates of subjectivity, especially since you’ve not really mentioned what sort of sound you’re looking for. .

Great quote.

Yet, the avalanche of suggestions is somehow amiss. Weird.

There should be people suggesting the Southampton Fifth Gear,
the Free The Tone Bass Blaster and the Genzler Four To The Floor - as well as the odd vote for some Ampeg Scrambler device by now.

 

[crapusername]

And don’t forget the obligatory- “you must buy the source audio this and that, because they’re the best thing ever invented” suggestions.

 

[bisticlz]

....just to cast an oddball: The Pedal that's currently on my board (competing with the Barbershop) is the SolidgoldFX Beta DLX. It's a bit more special, but maybe you dig it. ..

YES! I was gonna suggest this, plus its got a boost function, which can be put before or after the main drive. A really lovely sounding drive that also has an internal gain knob to change the overall gain range.

 

[poropara]

And don’t forget the obligatory- “you must buy the source audio this and that, because they’re the best thing ever invented” suggestions.

This is the one!
During one of the conversations with one of my local shop staff, I was asking does he has any recommendation for a chorus pedal for bass (by the way he is a guitarist and not a bassist), he mentioned he do know most bassists uses Source Audio pedals for that.

 

[el murdoque]

If you have no problem going digital, Source Audio is great. You get a stomp box with 3 presets already loaded, which is more than most pedals do. However, you also get software to tweak your sound in ways that are not possible with standard pedals.
The big problem with those pedals is that your signal gets all the distortion you want, but it will exit the pedal with ZERO mojo. Not only will it not add any mojo, it will also deplete your signal of any mojo it had beforehand.

 

[poropara]

If you have no problem going digital, Source Audio is great. You get a stomp box with 3 presets already loaded, which is more than most pedals do. However, you also get software to tweak your sound in ways that are not possible with standard pedals.
The big problem with those pedals is that your signal gets all the distortion you want, but it will exit the pedal with ZERO mojo. Not only will it not add any mojo, it will also deplete your signal of any mojo it had beforehand.

I actually have 2 digital pedals I got in a trade + some topup from the other party, traded away my CBA Automatone Preamp for Universal Audio Astra + Starlight.

But didn't get to use it yet, but mainly at least I know I might be using those 2 pedals rather than the Automatone since I only playing bass now.