Overdrive, Not Distortion pedals

[PillO]

BingoTwinkie Severed Asparagus | TalkBass.com

 

[Agosix]

Damnation Audio MBD 1or 2

 

[Koshchei]

Ok, Bass geeks,
I've been playing a long time prof, and semi-pro. I have probably 200 pedals. I'm interested in knowing your thoughts on Overdrive pedals NOT Distortion pedals. I don't like the sound of distortion pedals. SO, what's your favorite " Overdrive " pedal for Bass?

The Earthquaker Westwood. After that, a grey box DOD 250.

 

[HolmeBass]

I have been enjoying the CAL Grizzly Bass. I leave the distortion control all the way off and add just a bit of of the overdrive control, all tone-shaping off. I am only using two of the knobs on the pedal! But it sounds really good, even without a clean blend.

 

[VitoMB]

I have also tried (and still have) a few OD pedals like Pork Loin, SS/BS Mini (more on the distorsion side), MXR, Fifth Gear, and Barbershop. This last is my favorite. I run it at 18Volts to avoid over clipping due to my active bass. Also, I cant use any OD pedals without using my Wounded Paw Blender. I like the harmonics that arise from the Barbershop. It is on the subtile side, so an always on pedal. I have found that it let shine the preamp tubes in my SVT 3PRO. I also like to have a compressor before the OD. I use an Opti-FET that fits very smoothly with the Barbershop.

 

[Ryan L.]

Damnation Audio MBD1 or MBD2.

 

[BasementWarrior]

EQD Monarch is my weapon of choice.

 

[Sayclean]

For those that don't know the difference between Overdrive and Distortion please read this below. I'm actually surprised how many that commented don't know the difference or say there is no difference.

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[Polkatronixx]

For those that don't know the difference between Overdrive and Distortion please read this below. I'm actually surprised how many that commented don't know the difference or say there is no difference.

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I dare you to say your bass resonates when unplugged and see what happens.

 

[Al Kraft]

For those that don't know the difference between Overdrive and Distortion please read this below. I'm actually surprised how many that commented don't know the difference or say there is no difference.

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Good article, but IME the absolute difference/dividing line between OD and Distortion for individual players is not quite as clear cut as the more obvious difference (at least to me) between effects like reverb and digital delay.

 

[Polkatronixx]

One might argue that all overdrive is distortion (of a type) but not all distortion is overdrive. In any event, they are different things in terms of what people generally understand them to mean.

 

[Lammchop93]

Spaceman Saturn VI. It ended my long search for a subtle overdrive. I run it about 50% and it just nails that saturated tube warmth drive.

the next closest 2 were the TC Spark, and the EQD Monarch at 18v

 

[bassjam]

Another vote for the Pork Loin....for my taste buds it was exactly what I was looking for.

 

[808State]

For those that don't know the difference between Overdrive and Distortion please read this below. I'm actually surprised how many that commented don't know the difference or say there is no difference.

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So then your going to tell us what amp you are " overdriving" then.
and then your going to ask if you like the booster to be clean or slightly dirty.
the article states exactly what was said. Overdrive is a boost to push a amp harder that is clean into distortion.
If your looking to overdrive your amp, Electro Harmonics made their first appearance at Namm with
a booster pedal called the LPB-1 its basically what started the company.

You can Overdrive your amp all day with it.

otherwise its just terminology when you overdrive a amp it creates distortion. plain n simple.

if you really think there is a difference between " overdrive" pedals or "distortion" bad news.

It would be better to actually know the topology's used to create these pedals, so you personally can find
a distortion type or overdrive type you want.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Ok, Bass geeks,
I've been playing a long time prof, and semi-pro. I have probably 200 pedals. I'm interested in knowing your thoughts on Overdrive pedals NOT Distortion pedals. I don't like the sound of distortion pedals. SO, what's your favorite " Overdrive " pedal for Bass?

Tube screamer, scrambler, behringer bass OD

 

[220_Hz]

if you really think there is a difference between " overdrive" pedals or "distortion" bad news.

It would be better to actually know the topology's used to create these pedals, so you personally can find
a distortion type or overdrive type you want.

I think what the OP was mostly asking about is if there are any distortion pedals out there with more of an "overdrive" characteristic I.E. wide frequency range, low gain, something that would make your ears think of an overdriving tube amp without necessarily being an overdriving tube amp. IME there's quite a few pedals out there that can do it, but without the context of a band mix there is potential to sound harsh or have that "artificial grind".

 

[MorningSound]

Really enjoy my Benson Preamp on bass.

 

[Stevorebob]

Fairfield Circuitry Barbershop
Damnation Audio MBD-2
Wren & Cuff Phat Phuk
Hudson Electronics Broadcast
Wampler Euphoria

 

[ctbass]

My use for a drive pedal is really just to add some grit. Only rarely to add a lot of wool to the sound. My Tone is sacred to me so transparency is about THE most important factor. I search and listened to a lot, albeit not all. In the end the JHS Moonshine was the one for me.

 

[Ellery]

My B3k V1 (the MXR di is long gone, I did not jive with that pedal). I keep the boost and grunt switches off, fiddle with the blend and gain and I'm good to go. Love that CMOS breakup.