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Overdrives... again

9YGBass

9YGBass

Jan 2, 2020
87
81
#1
Hey all,

I know this has been asked before on here and I have read most of them but I am looking at a couple of different overdrives, the DarkGlass B3K and the DarkGlass AlphaOmicron. I don't need full on distortion just some dirt here and there. We play rock, borderline hard rock. My current set up is Fender Aerodyne PJ, GK MB212 combo. Pedals: Tuner, Spectracomp, Big Muff Fuzz, OD (Bass Soul Food or DOD 250), DOD Boneshaker, Boss Chourus, Sans Amp BBDI V2. The Bass Soul Food just doesn't sound good to me and the DOD 250 loses low end. I am not a huge fan of the Boneshaker either, I have to run the distortion basically all the way down otherwise its too hot.

I am also looking at the Ampeg Scrambler and the Aftershock.

Thanks for your input!!
 
#2
If you are ready to try to create your own dirt tone then get an Aftershock. Plus there is a large selection of tones created by other Neuro Community Users that may get you close to your needs that you can then tweak to your need/want. Below is my boilerplate response.

Source Audio Aftershock offers a broad range of overdrive (pedal and amp like), fuzz and distortion engines with gain and saturation staging as well as mix and EQ options to allow the player to virtually custom design engineer* their ultimate dream distortion sound plus the free Neuro Application and community where users can source, explore and share created sounds with others. *This type of creativity is usually only afforded engineers or those willing and able to build and experiment with their own circuits but through the design brilliance and generosity of Source Audio delivers a value unparalleled in the effects marketplace.
 
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#3
bassbrad said:
If you are ready to try to create your own dirt tone then get an Aftershock. Plus there is a large selection of tones created by other Neuro Community Users that may get you close to your needs that you can then tweak to your need/want. Below is my boilerplate response.

Source Audio Aftershock offers a broad range of overdrive (pedal and amp like), fuzz and distortion engines with gain and saturation staging as well as mix and EQ options to allow the player to virtually custom design engineer* their ultimate dream distortion sound plus the free Neuro Application and community where users can source, explore and share created sounds with others. *This type of creativity is usually only afforded engineers or those willing and able to build and experiment with their own circuits but through the design brilliance and generosity of Source Audio delivers a value unparalleled in the effects marketplace.
Click to expand...


Thanks for this! I am not trying to create my own. At least not at this point.
 
#4
If you want tons of versatility look into the Aftershock like @bassbrad says.

Others to check out are the full sized TC Spark, WayHuge Pork Loin, and the Broughton SV-Pre. The PL & SV-Pre get nice and especially creamy running at 18v.
 
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#8
If you already have a Sansamp, you don't need the Scrambler. Both are based on the classic Ampeg SVT tone, and I dare say the Sansamp does a better job than the Scrambler does. In fact, with the versatile array of stuff you've listed, I'm not sure how you're not able to get what you want out of it. Can you link us a Youtube music video or something with the kind of tone you're looking for?
 
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#10
9YGBass said:
Hey all,

I know this has been asked before on here and I have read most of them but I am looking at a couple of different overdrives, the DarkGlass B3K and the DarkGlass AlphaOmicron. I don't need full on distortion just some dirt here and there. We play rock, borderline hard rock. My current set up is Fender Aerodyne PJ, GK MB212 combo. Pedals: Tuner, Spectracomp, Big Muff Fuzz, OD (Bass Soul Food or DOD 250), DOD Boneshaker, Boss Chourus, Sans Amp BBDI V2. The Bass Soul Food just doesn't sound good to me and the DOD 250 loses low end. I am not a huge fan of the Boneshaker either, I have to run the distortion basically all the way down otherwise its too hot.

I am also looking at the Ampeg Scrambler and the Aftershock.

Thanks for your input!!
Click to expand...

The Aftershock is superversatile, but you do need to spend some time with it as it's got a LOT of parameters to play with.

If you're looking mostly for the lower gain side of things, maybe try a Joyo American Sound. There's no or very very little low end loss, with the 3-band EQ in the pedal can correct for easily. I personally leave it flat and it sounds good to me.
Its voice control gives you a wide range of 'characters' so you can easily dial the type of sound you want: smooth and creamy, or aggressive... I find it beautiful for low gain sounds, the kind that in the mix doesn't sound obviously distorted, but add a nice fat and round edge to the bass. It can also do much more distorted sounds of course, but my point is there is a lot of adjustability within the low gain area, which was a criticism you had on the BOne Shaker.

In addition... it sounds great on guitar and it records well and... it's amazingly cheap, but doesn't feel cheap :)
 
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#12
NortyFiner said:
If you already have a Sansamp, you don't need the Scrambler. Both are based on the classic Ampeg SVT tone, and I dare say the Sansamp does a better job than the Scrambler does. In fact, with the versatile array of stuff you've listed, I'm not sure how you're not able to get what you want out of it. Can you link us a Youtube music video or something with the kind of tone you're looking for?
Click to expand...

Good call! I run my Sansamp as an always on pedal with just a touch of drive. I need to be able to go back and forth between cleanish and dirtyish depending on the song we are playing. I don't really know who to compare the sound to that's in my head. Maybe a Tim Commerfield but not quite as dirty, if that makes sense. I dont want to replicate anyone but that is the first that came to mind. Not full on distortion/OD but still present. I hope I am making some sort of sense. Basically looking for something that has some range.
 
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#13
9YGBass said:
I know this has been asked before on here and I have read most of them but I am looking at a couple of different overdrives, the DarkGlass B3K and the DarkGlass AlphaOmicron. I don't need full on distortion just some dirt here and there. We play rock, borderline hard rock.
Click to expand...

You mentioned these Darkglass pedals specifically, so I'll comment:

The B3K tends to lean modern: it has presence on top and a dip in the mids. I mostly play P-style basses, and love my B7K with them. I generally run it at lower gain for just a bit of grind and sizzle, but it can get more distorted.

The AlphaOmicron has two distortion engines for added versatility. You can use either individually by panning the MOD control full left or right, or blend to taste. Like the B3K, the AOm sounds good at lower or higher gain levels. I think it's important to mention because most Darkglass product demos feature the heaviest distortion settings.

Both of these Darkglass pedals (and the other models they make) are great at maintaining low end, and also have a clean Blend for subtler settings.
 
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#14
NortyFiner said:
Can you link us a Youtube music video or something with the kind of tone you're looking for?
Click to expand...

^^^ This!

Here's the good news and the bad news: these days we bassists have about a gazillion overdrive/distortion pedals to choose from. So, if you can describe your tone goal -- providing a YT video would be helpful if you know of one -- then we can give better suggestions.

If you don't know/aren't sure, that's OK. Sometimes we don't know what we want, or aren't sure how to describe the tone we have in our head.
 
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#15
Fuzzbass said:
You mentioned these Darkglass pedals specifically, so I'll comment:

The B3K tends to lean modern: it has presence on top and a dip in the mids. I mostly play P-style basses, and love my B7K with them. I generally run it at lower gain for just a bit of grind and sizzle, but it can get more distorted.

The AlphaOmicron has two distortion engines for added versatility. You can use either individually by panning the MOD control full left or right, or blend to taste. Like the B3K, the AOm sounds good at lower or higher gain levels. I think it's important to mention because most Darkglass product demos feature the heaviest distortion settings.

Both of these Darkglass pedals (and the other models they make) are great at maintaining low end, and also have a clean Blend for subtler settings.
Click to expand...


Thank you for the response! The demos I see, the DarkGalss sounds bada$$ but generally a lot heavier than what I will be playing. But you can hear the quality in the pedal.
 
#16
Fuzzbass said:
^^^ This!

Here's the good news and the bad news: these days we bassists have about a gazillion overdrive/distortion pedals to choose from. So, if you can describe your tone goal -- providing a YT video would be helpful if you know of one -- then we can give better suggestions.

If you don't know/aren't sure, that's OK. Sometimes we don't know what we want, or aren't sure how to describe the tone we have in our head.
Click to expand...

Its hard to place what I am looking for. Not super aggressive but still noticeable. We are a 3 piece and the our sound is a classic rock meets grunge meets blues. I have been looking though YT to find something similar to what I am looking for. If I come across it I will post.
 
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