Overdrive Help

[HOTSPUR1992]

Hi guys,

I'm in the market for an overdrive pedal and I'm so close to pulling the trigger... I just can't decide between a few pedals.

I've narrowed it down to 4 pedals: Fairfield Circuitry Barbershop, Bearfoot Blueberry BOD, Xotic Bass BB Pre amp and Way Huge Pork Loin.

I want some light natural drive/warmth that still has plenty of articulation and the character of my bass remains there, something I can maybe leave on all or 90% of the time. I'm not looking for something buzzy and really farty, or something that just sounds like a mosquito sitting on top of my clean bass sound (I experienced this with the Darkglass stuff. To me it made my bass sound really unnatural and clanky, just didn't get on with any of their stuff at all). It has to be real natural sounding. I want something that really interacts and sits well in the mix that I can rock out with when playing with the band and the guitars are distorted. I play passive basses (fingerstyle) through a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.2 so it's generally a real clean neutral sounding amp.

I live in the UK so don't get a chance to try as much as my American friends do. I've tried the Xotic and Pork Loin, and was wondering how the Barbershop and Blueberry compares to them? I've been close on pulling the trigger with the Xotic but just want to try and cover all the angles.

I was thinking of getting the Xotic and one of the other pedals as well and running them both, or using one to boost the other maybe. What do you guys think of that?

Let me know what you think.

Thanks,

 

[SteveCS]

The key to nice overdrive is how the pedal interacts with your amp - you need to try them with your amp. With a nice tube amp like yours and in the £ range you are considering, have you thought about the Mesa Grid Slammer?

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

The key to nice overdrive is how the pedal interacts with your amp - you need to try them with your amp. With a nice tube amp like yours and in the £ range you are considering, have you thought about the Mesa Grid Slammer?

My amp does have a Tube in it but it doesn't really break up loads and I have everything on it set around 12 (including the gain) so I'd like something that has its own natural drive but interacts well with various amps/other pedals etc. I haven't considered the Mesa, is it any good on bass? Does it loose low end etc?

 

[dannybuoy]

My take on those 4:

Fairfield Circuitry Barbershop - much raved about on here, but can't help feeling that it's a flavour of the month kind of thing that may be forgotten about when the next new pedal comes along. This is the only pedal out of the bunch that I have not tried so bear this in mind! But I have listened to a lot of clips, and in those clips I hear it transition fairly quickly into harsh clipping when pushed, sounding quite buzzy more like when I overdrive my Behringer mixer than when I overdrive a tube amp.

Bearfoot Blueberry BOD - I effing love this thing, warm and creamy drive that reacts very well to my playing. It has the most pleasing sound to me when playing thumpy fingerstyle lines.

Xotic Bass BB Pre amp - Big fan of this too, this and the Blueberry are my main ODs. The drive on this one sounds a bit rougher, but the big thing with this one is it's touch sensitivity. I can go from almost clean to very dirty just by adjusting playing style. Very early-Geezer-Butler-esque.

Way Huge Pork Loin - Ok, but did not bowl me over, sounded a little bland. Plus the clean channel overdrives with a hot bass when you set the internal trimmers for maximum low end, in a buzzy way like I described the Barbershop.

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

My take on those 4:

Fairfield Circuitry Barbershop - much raved about on here, but can't help feeling that it's a flavour of the month kind of thing that may be forgotten about when the next new pedal comes along. This is the only pedal out of the bunch that I have not tried so bear this in mind! But I have listened to a lot of clips, and in those clips I hear it transition fairly quickly into harsh clipping when pushed, sounding quite buzzy more like when I overdrive my Behringer mixer than when I overdrive a tube amp.

Bearfoot Blueberry BOD - I effing love this thing, warm and creamy drive that reacts very well to my playing. It has the most pleasing sound to me when playing thumpy fingerstyle lines.

Xotic Bass BB Pre amp - Big fan of this too, this and the Blueberry are my main ODs. The drive on this one sounds a bit rougher, but the big thing with this one is it's touch sensitivity. I can go from almost clean to very dirty just by adjusting playing style. Very early-Geezer-Butler-esque.

Way Huge Pork Loin - Ok, but did not bowl me over, sounded a little bland. Plus the clean channel overdrives with a hot bass when you set the internal trimmers for maximum low end, in a buzzy way like I described the Barbershop.

Cheers Danny, excellent breakdown, just want I was looking for. Looks like it could be the BB and Blueberry for me. How do the two work together? do you put the BB infront of the Blueberry to drive it harder etc when needs be?

Also, I see you're from London as well. How did you go about getting the bearfoot? Did you order directly from them?

 

[GMC]

Out of the four listed I would go for the blueberry. It's designed specifically for Bass, the others work on bass with varying degrees.
The Pork Loin needs a capacitor swap out to make it work really well on bass. A Bass over drive which I really like is the Black Sheep Outlaw (look him up on facebook). It's a really good bass overdrive and it's a pedal I keep coming back to. The drive can go from light to very heavy, it has a blend if that's your thing and the tone control really works on bass too. It easily goved the other OD's a serious run for their money and it's cheaper than most. Another great overdrive which really works on bass is the Wamper Ecstacy. If you really want to save a few quid and have something that also really works, get a Joyo American sound. Cheap but very very good. It sort of depends on what Overdrive sound you want, each unit has it's own particular sound.

 

[Wito]

From those 4 I've only used the Pork Loin, so I can't give you the whole picture (dannybuoy already did that very nicely). But I do play passive basses (Lakland DJ4, jazz bass "clone"), mostly fingerstyle, through a GB Shuttle 9.2, so I guess that I'll give you my opinion, anyway

First of all, I LOVE the Pork Loin. It's a very versatile pedal (within the low gain territory) and I find that it has many usefull settings, but it takes time to find the ones more suitable for each one's sonic goals. A LOT. Really! But if you don't mind spending some hours with it, the possibilities are wide. I've read before about the capacitor swap that GMC talks about. And even if it may help (which I'm sure it does), I thing that the pedal as it is works perfectly with bass. At least for what I'm looking for in this pedal, which is a fat, warm, slightly overdriven sound. To my ears, I'm not as much high end loss as it is low end boost (at least with my settings). I am able to bring the clarity back messing with the internal trim pots (mainly the filter), but I like it darkening my sound a bit.

Some people (and advertisments) claim it to be a failry transparent pedal. I wouldn't say exactly so. To my ears, it adds some character to the sound. It's nothing extreme, and I like that extra "something", but I wouldn't consider it that transparent. In fact, one of the things I like most about this pedal is that its character changes a lot between fingerstyle and pick-playing. Playing it with my fingers, the sound is warm, fat and a bit darker (as described before). But when I play with a pick, using the exact same settings, the sound changes drastically (even more than what one would expect from changing between fingers and pick). It sounds like the clean side of the pedal (that "British preamp" part) takes over the overdriven channel and it adds a beautiful growl to my tone. It makes my bass sound very Spector-ish. I have no idea why this is happening, but it has became my always-on effect whenever I play with a pick.

As for the stacking overdrives. Again, I've not tried it with the other ODs listed, but I do play my Pork Loin in front of a T-Rex Bass Juice and I love how the two of them work together. It boosts some frequencies (probably mids or hi-mids, who knows? ) that really make me cut through the mix, specially when using a pick.

Good like with your OD quest!

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

From those 4 I've only used the Pork Loin, so I can't give you the whole picture (dannybuoy already did that very nicely). But I do play passive basses (Lakland DJ4, jazz bass "clone"), mostly fingerstyle, through a GB Shuttle 9.2, so I guess that I'll give you my opinion, anyway

First of all, I LOVE the Pork Loin. It's a very versatile pedal (within the low gain territory) and I find that it has many usefull settings, but it takes time to find the ones more suitable for each one's sonic goals. A LOT. Really! But if you don't mind spending some hours with it, the possibilities are wide. I've read before about the capacitor swap that GMC talks about. And even if it may help (which I'm sure it does), I thing that the pedal as it is works perfectly with bass. At least for what I'm looking for in this pedal, which is a fat, warm, slightly overdriven sound. To my ears, I'm not as much high end loss as it is low end boost (at least with my settings). I am able to bring the clarity back messing with the internal trim pots (mainly the filter), but I like it darkening my sound a bit.

Some people (and advertisments) claim it to be a failry transparent pedal. I wouldn't say exactly so. To my ears, it adds some character to the sound. It's nothing extreme, and I like that extra "something", but I wouldn't consider it that transparent. In fact, one of the things I like most about this pedal is that its character changes a lot between fingerstyle and pick-playing. Playing it with my fingers, the sound is warm, fat and a bit darker (as described before). But when I play with a pick, using the exact same settings, the sound changes drastically (even more than what one would expect from changing between fingers and pick). It sounds like the clean side of the pedal (that "British preamp" part) takes over the overdriven channel and it adds a beautiful growl to my tone. It makes my bass sound very Spector-ish. I have no idea why this is happening, but it has became my always-on effect whenever I play with a pick.

As for the stacking overdrives. Again, I've not tried it with the other ODs listed, but I do play my Pork Loin in front of a T-Rex Bass Juice and I love how the two of them work together. It boosts some frequencies (probably mids or hi-mids, who knows? ) that really make me cut through the mix, specially when using a pick.

Good like with your OD quest!

Thanks for your review on the Pork Loin. I did try it out in a store and thought it was very nice, I just like to cover all the ground. I'm looking to have 2 ODs as Danny says. One for very hint of hair and another with a bit more to drive the first one on occasions. Damn it's so diffi

 

[GMC]

Out of the four listed I would go for the blueberry. It's designed specifically for Bass, the others work on bass with varying degrees.
The Pork Loin needs a capacitor swap out to make it work really well on bass. A Bass over drive which I really like is the Black Sheep Outlaw (look him up on facebook). It's a really good bass overdrive and it's a pedal I keep coming back to. The drive can go from light to very heavy, it has a blend if that's your thing and the tone control really works on bass too. It easily goved the other OD's a serious run for their money and it's cheaper than most. Another great overdrive which really works on bass is the Wamper Ecstacy. If you really want to save a few quid and have something that also really works, get a Joyo American sound. Cheap but very very good. It sort of depends on what Overdrive sound you want, each unit has it's own particular sound.

Blacksheep Outlaw vid

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/pork-loin-mod.1088576/ Pork Loin bass capacitor swap thread, posted by the legendary John K

http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/Overdrive-Pedals.html John K's overdrive web page...a must go to for any bassist who's looking for a definitive list with comments and probably the biggest archive (although not exhaustive) of bass samples.

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

Would you say the BB preamp sounds better before other dirt pedals? or after? Also does anyone know how any of the pedals I mentioned take to buffers before them? (Bypass or a dedicated buffer) or are buffers best placed after?

 

[caligula]

Have you checked this out?



I bought the Blueberry last week and my first impression after fiddling with it for an hour ... superb.
I was looking for a pedal to be used as an "always on" in order to give me some extra dirt (somewhere between Gary Willis on steroids and Billy Sheehan's 90s tone), and the Blueberry does that wonderfully.

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

Have you checked this out?



I bought the Blueberry last week and my first impression after fiddling with it for an hour ... superb.
I was looking for a pedal to be used as an "always on" in order to give me some extra dirt, and the Blueberry does that wonderfully.

Yeah I saw this video and was very impressed. I'm always sceptical about demo videos because it has a lot to do with what bass, amp, strings you're using etc. I've purchased things based only on videos before and thought I was in for a winner but never lived up to what I wanted. On this occasion I don't have much choice! Even though that video did impress me a lot.

 

[Dave W]

I think any of those will work well for what you're looking for. I'm running the Barbershop with my GB Shuttles and I think it kills for giving a lsightly pushed tube amp type of tone. I've always used effects as a flavor adder to certain passages and kept away from using them as an on all the time type of pedal, but my Barbershops are on all the time now...

I like it so much that I own three of them, one for each of my boards.

As for it being a flavor of the month, just about every pedal talked about on here (cept' maybe an OC-2) is a flavor of the month. They're always going to come out with something better next month, that's just the way the industry is. I will say it's a damn good flavor though...

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

I think any of those will work well for what you're looking for. I'm running the Barbershop with my GB Shuttles and I think it kills for giving a lsightly pushed tube amp type of tone. I've always used effects as a flavor adder to certain passages and kept away from using them as an on all the time type of pedal, but my Barbershops are on all the time now...

I like it so much that I own three of them, one for each of my boards.

As for it being a flavor of the month, just about every pedal talked about on here (cept' maybe an OC-2) is a flavor of the month. They're always going to come out with something better next month, that's just the way the industry is. I will say it's a damn good flavor though...

Dammmmmmmn this is not helping me decide! haha If only I could try all 4 side by side.

How does the Barbershop play with other dirt pedals (before and after)?

Same goes with a buffer (again, buffer before or after)?

 

[blindrabbit]

Barbershop is what you are looking for. The Blueberry sounds really nice too, but I've not tried that one so I can't comment. I wouldn't go with either of the others. The Barbershop is fantastic with other pedals, I've used it with fuzz and other dirt both before and after. Very nice. As for buffers, again I've had other pedals that are always on before and after it, and again its fine.

Just get it and be done with your search.

Dammmmmmmn this is not helping me decide! haha If only I could try all 4 side by side.

How does the Barbershop play with other dirt pedals (before and after)?

Same goes with a buffer (again, buffer before or after)?

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

Barbershop is what you are looking for. The Blueberry sounds really nice too, but I've not tried that one so I can't comment. I wouldn't go with either of the others. The Barbershop is fantastic with other pedals, I've used it with fuzz and other dirt both before and after. Very nice. As for buffers, again I've had other pedals that are always on before and after it, and again its fine.

Just get it and be done with your search.

Hmmmm, decisions!

I see you play a Rickenbacker, as do I. I take it the Barbershop sounds killer with it? The only thing I'm worried about is what Danny said about it getting a bit too "farty".

 

[Dave W]

Hmmmm, decisions!

I see you play a Rickenbacker, as do I. I take it the Barbershop sounds killer with it? The only thing I'm worried about is what Danny said about it getting a bit too "farty".

I can't stand farty type sounds and go for a very punchy tone with tight low end. Typical J bass tone in a rock setting. To my ears the low end comes through fairly unscathed.

If the Barbershop was a fart I wouldn't use it.

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

I can't stand farty type sounds and go for a very punchy tone with tight low end. Typical J bass tone in a rock setting. To my ears the low end comes through fairly unscathed.

If the Barbershop was a fart I wouldn't use it.

I also play a Fender J bass! I know exactly the sort of sound you're describing and I love it! Would you say the Barbershop can be used in a standard Rock setting? If you were doing say some Cream, Thin Lizzy, Stones etc? I'm just asking because besides my own originals band I am part of a classic rock Pub covers band. The guys in that band (vocalist, lead guitar, drummer and me bass) are very good individual musicians and quite thorough. They like to get close to the originals, within reason.

 

[Dave W]

I also play a Fender J bass! I know exactly the sort of sound you're describing and I love it! Would you say the Barbershop can be used in a standard Rock setting? If you were doing say some Cream, Thin Lizzy, Stones etc? I'm just asking because besides my own originals band I am part of a classic rock Pub covers band. The guys in that band (vocalist, lead guitar, drummer and me bass) are very good individual musicians and quite thorough. They like to get close to the originals, within reason.

Absolutely. I'm in a power trio cover band. I can't say that you'll get all of the various tones of those particular bands, but it works extremely well in a rock setting.

I should have added to my last comment on the fartiness (is that even a word?)...I typically run mine with the drive setting no higher than 2:00, sometimes lower depending on the venue we're playing in. I'm sure it's possible that at a higher Drive setting it's not as tight. With the Sag fully up you'll get the most headroom...so if you turn the Sag down it'll be less tight as well. So if you combine a higher Drive setting and a lower Sag setting you may experience it.

In a live setting you may notice it less. Most of the demos I've seen are pretty crappy and don't really seem to showcase what it does all that well.

It's very important to keep in mind that it's a very low gain pedal. In that setting it's where most people rave about it. When you try to make it do something else (like higher gain) it doesn't score so well. My goal was to sort of emulate a pushed tube amp, like an SVT or similar, without actually lugging an 85lb amp to gigs. Think Jason Newsted's tone on The Black Album. For my purposes it does that very well.

 

[johnk_10]

IMO, the Barbershop is one of the best bass OD's period. it's definitely not the flavor of the month. (great will always be great).
the Blueberry is also excellent, as is the Xotic and Pork Loin (with the top end mod IMO), but if I had to pick one, it would be the Barbershop.