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Overdrive pedal

f59bassman

f59bassman

Aug 2, 2011
46
2
Chattanooga, TN
Disclosures
Musician
#1
Hey guys! I'm needing a bit of help, since I'm a bit too far away from a music store to be able to try these out, which is what I would normally do, but wanted more of some opinions and see if I'm missing something. I'm looking for an overdrive pedal for my bass. Just something to add a little bit of dirt. Nothing extravagant, just simplistic. I've been looking for something that does NOT have a tone knob. Thinking about the dod 250 preamp overdrive, the mxr distortion plus, or something that's volume and drive knob only. Any other suggestions? Also I was wondering about the mxr micro amp. Would that give me any dirt or just boost the signal? Thanks!(:
 
#2
MXR micro amp is just a booster. Some boosters get 'dirty' at high gain but I don't think the micro amp is one of those.

Just because a distortion doesn't have a tone knob doesn't mean it won't roll off the bass frequencies. Reducing the bass response is standard in most distortion pedals because if they don't, guitars can sound "flubby" or "muddy" when the distortion is turned up.
 
#3
Nice non-answer there ^.

The DOD 250 is used by quite a few bass players. The reissue kills a little more low-end than the true vintage (gray box) model. But, they're cheap and sound good. Some bass players like that it tames low end a bit, they find it helps them cut though a little more. If you're going to use it as an always-on pedal, then dial some bass back in at the amp and you're good to go.

So if I were you, I'd get the 250 and see if overdrive is what you're looking for, then if you feel the need to upgrade (you may not) you can work your way up from there. The 250 is dirt-cheap, so it makes sense to me to start there rather than sinking a ton of cash into something that you may not like.

that's my $.02...
 
#4
Crater said:
MXR micro amp is just a booster. Some boosters get 'dirty' at high gain but I don't think the micro amp is one of those.

Just because a distortion doesn't have a tone knob doesn't mean it won't roll off the bass frequencies. Reducing the bass response is standard in most distortion pedals because if they don't, guitars can sound "flubby" or "muddy" when the distortion is turned up.
Click to expand...

I'm more looking at something that is transparent, and uses the amp's natural tone. I'm using the mxr bass overdrive, and it's sometimes difficult in different venues, to reset the tone according to the dynamics of the room. But I do see your point clearly, and thank you, for sure!
 
#5
@the janitor, thank you as well! The thing of "inexpensive" is totally nice right now haha. My fiancé isn't happy with me always buying and trading gear haha. She's focused on looking for a house and paying off her pretty little ring haha. Nevertheless, I think I will drive a few miles to the guitar center and check out the dod 250! Thank you!
 
#6
Also, I'm running a bbe sonic maximized, so will that help save my low end you think? Of course I'm also running a noise gate with my sovtek bi miff pi, a giga delay, flanger, and compressor. I love how dirty the big muffin gets, but again, just looking for a little bit of dirt on the signal with an overdrive. Nothing much too crazy. That's what that big muff is for haha(;
 
#8
Are you only considering the pedals you named in your first post? Due to them being the ones you have direct access to? Are you working with a preamp of any sort? I'm running an old boss ODB3 into a B7K for an almost always on OD/gritty tone. It's wonderful. Without the B7K though, the ODB3 is quite buzzy.
 
#9
gregmon79 said:
Are you only considering the pedals you named in your first post? Due to them being the ones you have direct access to? Are you working with a preamp of any sort? I'm running an old boss ODB3 into a B7K for an almost always on OD/gritty tone. It's wonderful. Without the B7K though, the ODB3 is quite buzzy.
Click to expand...

Yes, my chain runs as follows; amp to bbe sonic stomp, mxr smart gate, boss giga delay, mxr flanger, ehx big muff pi, the fore questioned to come overdrive, mxr bass compressor, boss tuner, Ernie ball volume junior(:
 
#10
Oh crud, I miss read that haha. Yes, considering something that's 2 knob only really. Something with volume and drive/distortion. I'm looking for that gritty tone that garret from brand new has on the song "I believe you but my tommy gun don't". He's using the sans amp bass Di, but I'm just looking for compact, extremely simple, and good sound. If all of that is possible haha. I might be asking for too much haha
 
#11
Even the emerson em drive or the black cat od-1 look cool, but I'm unsure, cause I can't find any demos on bass. Plus living miles away from a music store doesn't help haha. This post is pretty much asking for opinions, before I dish out the money on fuel and that I get the pedal that I'll be happy with. Which yes, that will take playing through one haha. But helpful suggestions are needed(:
 
#12
I don't really know of any pedals that only have TWO knobs to your description. Have you looked into fuzzrocious pedals. They make some great dist pedals. The dark driving is sort of a darker, maybe even tubey, sounding OD sort of thing. There's a lot out there. Idk if you're going to find something with just the 2 knob thing. But you'll def find one for the sound you're looking for.
 
#13
gregmon79 said:
I don't really know of any pedals that only have TWO knobs to your description. Have you looked into fuzzrocious pedals. They make some great dist pedals. The dark driving is sort of a darker, maybe even tubey, sounding OD sort of thing. There's a lot out there. Idk if you're going to find something with just the 2 knob thing. But you'll def find one for the sound you're looking for.
Click to expand...

Hahaha there are several 2 knob overdrive pedals. I mentioned a few in the very first posting. I'll check out that company for sure though! Thank you! The ones I'm looking at though, are for guitar, and I was hoping this thread would get someone's attention who has either used the fire mentioned pedals, and knows how they sound on bass, or any that I've not heard of that I need to try out. As I've said, I live several miles away from a music store, and I'm recently engaged. Didn't want to spend the mint in fuel and not have gotten something haha. The little lady would be pissed hahahaha. Thank you for your input, and I'll be Che king it out!
 
#14
f59bassman said:
Hey guys! I'm needing a bit of help, since I'm a bit too far away from a music store to be able to try these out, which is what I would normally do, but wanted more of some opinions and see if I'm missing something. I'm looking for an overdrive pedal for my bass. Just something to add a little bit of dirt. Nothing extravagant, just simplistic. I've been looking for something that does NOT have a tone knob. Thinking about the dod 250 preamp overdrive, the mxr distortion plus, or something that's volume and drive knob only. Any other suggestions? Also I was wondering about the mxr micro amp. Would that give me any dirt or just boost the signal? Thanks!(:
Click to expand...

The polish love seems to be a pedal like you describe. Two pots only.
There must be plenty more but this is the first that comes to mind at the moment.
 
#18
f59bassman said:
@cnltb how is it on bass? Your critical review would be helpful, and thank you!(:
Click to expand...

The PL works perfectly well on bass.
The only issue I have with it is that to my ear it is not the most interesting sounding pedal, not as open as I'd like...especially since I heard the silverstone by musiciansounddesign-which sounds amazing, I think.
Clips of the holy fire make me want that one as well.
It's perfectly fine and useable IMO.
I personally am currently looking for one as well...ideally in a 1590A box.
 
#20
f59bassman said:
@cnltb how is it on bass? Your critical review would be helpful, and thank you!(:
Click to expand...

I have one for sale in the TB classifieds right now, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

The Bogdan Polish Love is pretty good on bass; it has tons of gain and can get crazy with the boost switch, but a lot of guys around talkbass have used it as an "always on" dirt preamp by keeping the gain and volume low. I find that it's very articulate, especially higher up on the neck, but like most overdrives it gets a little squishy on the low end for my taste. Of course, my tone preference skews heavily to liking pounding, thick, bass-heavy low end with the tone knob dialed almost all the way off on my bass, which doesn't seem to be the norm.

There are also a couple of YouTube vids of the Polish Love online:


In general, I think "transparent" is an impossible search. Every pedal affects your tone, even "clean boosts" like the Micro Amp and EHX LPB-1 and most especially overdrives, and every pedal sounds different with every rig and in every room (at home, at practice, at the gig, etc). For some people, the right pedal with just volume and gain does the trick, but others need tone control to try to regain their tone settings. Still others have to have a blend knob or use a separate blend pedal to keep the original tone with the effects.
 

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