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OD for active bass

T

TenaciousE

Feb 18, 2005
110
41
#1
I'd like to ask for some opinions for an od pedal to use for my active Sadowsky J bass. I've been through quite a few so far on my quest but none of them have blown me away. I don't know, I just haven't found one that I like. It's hard to describe but I just didn't find any of them real pleasing to the ear when used with my bass. So far I've tried the Sansamp bass drive and VT, Fulltone bass drive, MXR bass distortion, Ibanez bass tube screamer, and GK Diesel Dawg. Currently I have the Barbershop and it's ok. My bass must have a really hot signal--with the drive all the way down and the SAG all the way clockwise it already starts to overdrive pretty noticeably.
Lately I've been looking at the Grizzly Bass. The options for overdrive or distortion are appealing, but I haven't seen any discussion or demos with active basses. Does anybody have any experience in this situation? Btw way I'm going through a GK MB-500 with 212 neo cabs playing loud heavy rock.
Thanks!
 
#2
Personally, I would get a ball buster/ buffer buster. If you think the barbershop is too aggressive at low gain mode, you won't find what you're looking for.

The barbershop should do mild to wild. Try turning your guitar volume down and see if you can get better toanz
 
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#3
I think you are a good candidate for the S/A Aftershock. You can try a ton of different sounds.....

I haven't gotten one yet but I feel your pain. I have a Spector NS-4H2 which has an extremely hot pre-amp. Nothing I have tried sounds as good as the bass just by itself. Not even my very favorite Pedal which is a Basswitch Sonic Spark.
 
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#4
TenaciousE said:
I'd like to ask for some opinions for an od pedal to use for my active Sadowsky J bass. I've been through quite a few so far on my quest but none of them have blown me away. I don't know, I just haven't found one that I like. It's hard to describe but I just didn't find any of them real pleasing to the ear when used with my bass. So far I've tried the Sansamp bass drive and VT, Fulltone bass drive, MXR bass distortion, Ibanez bass tube screamer, and GK Diesel Dawg. Currently I have the Barbershop and it's ok. My bass must have a really hot signal--with the drive all the way down and the SAG all the way clockwise it already starts to overdrive pretty noticeably.
Lately I've been looking at the Grizzly Bass. The options for overdrive or distortion are appealing, but I haven't seen any discussion or demos with active basses. Does anybody have any experience in this situation? Btw way I'm going through a GK MB-500 with 212 neo cabs playing loud heavy rock.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Went through the same thing trying to find pedals that work well specifically with active basses. I use a darkglass b7k for drive and their duality fuzz when I want to get even dirtier. If you notice on most of their demos they are using active basses, for example all those dingwalls and Spectors are active basses they aren't just using p basses to demo dirt stuff like a lot of other companies.
 
#5
Do you have another bass handy to compare exactly how hot the signal on your Sadowsky is? If it really is running extra hot, you might try turning down the output on the active preamp (there is probably a trim pot inside the control cavity).

As was mentioned above, if a Barbershop sounds too hot for you then I don't know what else to tell you. I play active basses, but keep the preamp output down to average levels, and felt that I could barely get any breakup out of the Barbershop. Currently I'm favoring a SS/BS Mini for mild overdrive and boost applications, and a Fuzzrocious Demon for medium+ overdrive with more of a midrange focus.
 
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#8
TenaciousE said:
I'd like to ask for some opinions for an od pedal to use for my active Sadowsky J bass. I've been through quite a few so far on my quest but none of them have blown me away. I don't know, I just haven't found one that I like. It's hard to describe but I just didn't find any of them real pleasing to the ear when used with my bass. So far I've tried the Sansamp bass drive and VT, Fulltone bass drive, MXR bass distortion, Ibanez bass tube screamer, and GK Diesel Dawg. Currently I have the Barbershop and it's ok. My bass must have a really hot signal--with the drive all the way down and the SAG all the way clockwise it already starts to overdrive pretty noticeably.
Lately I've been looking at the Grizzly Bass. The options for overdrive or distortion are appealing, but I haven't seen any discussion or demos with active basses. Does anybody have any experience in this situation? Btw way I'm going through a GK MB-500 with 212 neo cabs playing loud heavy rock.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

All of the smallsound/bigsound pedals work really well with active basses, as do anything made by Broughton Audio and Southampton Pedals, and I say this from experience (all I play is active basses, and I've tried/owned hundreds of different pedals).

I'll also go out on a limb here and say the ODs you've tried to date are...kind of mediocre IMO/IME...with the exception of the Barbershop, and it might just be that it isn't dirty enough for your liking.

I'd start with a ss/bs Mini, that'll probably be a perfect fit for you.

 
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#10
BassBrass said:
By the way, the Grizzly works great with actives. When I read your question it was the 1st thing that came to mind. 2 freq. bands of drive, high cut, mid cut, it's a high value purchase. It's only liability is a high current draw.
Click to expand...

Agreed, I have the Grizzly Bass and use it with active Music Man basses. No problems at all with them, you can dial in a really subtle OD or get into distortion.

blindrabbit said:
All of the smallsound/bigsound pedals work really well with active basses, as do anything made by Broughton Audio and Southampton Pedals, and I say this from experience (all I play is active basses, and I've tried/owned hundreds of different pedals).

I'll also go out on a limb here and say the ODs you've tried to date are...kind of mediocre IMO/IME...with the exception of the Barbershop, and it might just be that it isn't dirty enough for your liking.

I'd start with a ss/bs Mini, that'll probably be a perfect fit for you.

Click to expand...


Also agree with this. I would not hesitate to get a SS/BS pedal and use it with active basses, my experience with them has been great.
 
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#11
South Hampton Fifth Gear. I used the v1 with several active basses and was happy. Then stupidly sold it. So today I bought the new v2. Very nice breakup. I was somewhat happy with the barbershop but it got to sounding like a kazoo with higher gain preamps and when I dug in more.

The Grizzly is really cool too. I'd definitely recommend that one too.
 
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#14
Being familiar with all of the pedals you listed, I can understand your disappointment in them :)

Grizzly is the obvious choice, been using one with my active basses for a few years. It's a very natural transparent overdrive, very musical. Plus it has a low pass filter built in, as well as a Funkulator and Redeemer!

I use an AfterShock as well and I love what it does, but for what you're looking for I'd go for the Grizzly.
 
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#19
Dave W said:
Nope.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I got off my lazy butt and actually looked in the control cavity of my Sadowsky-equipped Valenti...lots of wires but no trim pot. This may be sacrilege but I actually like the tone in passive mode better than active using only the blend and vintage roll-off for character. It plays nicer with the compressor. Then again and as mentioned, one can always roll-off the volume a healthy clip to decrease the output.

Riis
 
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#20
My SA OFD doesn't have a ton of headroom with a hot signal into it. I know the Aftershock has different software but I don't know if the gain stages are new.

I play a bass with a G&L MFD split coil which is even hotter than my L2000. The Xotic BB Bass pre has loads of boost, takes a hot signal and sounds great. Of course, we don't know what your idea OD tone is, but it sounds good to me.
 

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