PIGTRONIX DISNORTION

[PatO]

I'm a big fan of Stu Brooks and his playing with the Dub Trio (avant Heavey Metal / Dub outfit ala Bad Brains) In the latest Bass Player magazine (Meshell on the cover) Stu mentions that he uses the pigtronix disnortion in his pedal chain. Can anyone here either confirm or disconfirm that this pedal is the cause of Stu's static/fuzz/growl as heard on the dub trio's first album "exploring the dangers of" or really on any of their other live material. I'm up in the air about getting one, unfortunately here in VT test driving one isn't really an option.
Thoughts?

 

[bongomania]

I used to own one, so if you can post a link to some clips of the sound you're after, I can confirm or deny whether the Disnortion will do it.

 

[PatO]

head over to www.dubtrio.com on the upper right corner there is an audio player, switch over the song "sick im kid"

thanks

 

[Jared Lash]

Hmm, I don't hear any distortion on that track, just a very bass heavy dub tone with maybe a very slight touch of overdrive.

 

[bongomania]

It's a killer, killer sound, but it's not the Disnortion. At least not entirely. What I think I'm hearing is multiple overlaid tracks of the bass line. He might also be using an octaver, it reminds me of the DOD Meatbox, as well as a resonant filter. There could be some fuzz in there, on a parallel track, and yes the Disnortion can provide a very smooth, creamy fat fuzz. But again I am pretty sure if there's fuzz, it's much less than 50% of the bass sound there. My guess is it was something like 50% resonant filter, 40% octaver, 10% fuzz. But so much goes on in studio production like this that it's hard to know for sure.

Edit: even just overlaying tracks with no "effects" added can create "filter-like" or slightly distorted tonal results, and what I'm hearing as an octaver could be just really good chord playing. I guess I'm saying on the one hand, I know I could get that sound using effects, but OTOH they may not have used anything other than EQ, compression, and other processors or techniques that are not always called "effects".

 

[Jared Lash]

You've definitely got some good ears Bongo. A quick search shows that you're definitely right on at least one count. Here's part of Maki's report when he saw Dub Trio live:

Stu Brooks, bass player was playing Aguilar gear and was running a Moog Low Pass Filter. Just good clean heavy tone. Very nicely dialed in.

 

[PatO]

thanks for the response, I'll post a live version when I get back to my house this evening, i don't think he's using any studio tricks.

 

[bongomania]

Oh yeah, and the Moog has that "Drive" circuit, so there's your dirty filter! Now I have to re-listen a few times to decide whether I'm really hearing an octaver or not. What makes it tough is that I only hear it on certain notes.

 

[Swimming Bird]

I saw them open for Gogol Bordello two years ago, and I couldn't see any bass pedal board. Is it possible he used to just use the Moog Lo Pass and leave it on? I'm fairly certain he had that same killer tone all night.

 

[M.T.A.C.]

Theres a disnortion on ebay right now with no bids. If bongo got rid of his, im not trying it.

Ive never purchased a fuzz. And after searching many a thread, Im still confused of wich one to try.

The X Ray seems the best choice, from what ive read

The fuzz sound Im searching for is, the old you tube 70's clips of Bootsy doing the space bass solos.

Can anyone steer me in the right direction please ?

 

[bongomania]

Hmmm... if you haven't tried anything like that yet, your best bet for a starter might be the EHX Little Big Muff. With any and all fuzzes you really have to try them yourself with your own rig and bass to know whether they'll work for you. Something that sounds killer in a soundclip may sound totally different with a different bass/amp/EQ etc. Buy from a place with a good exchange policy, so if one flavor doesn't suit you you can exchange it for another. Or buy used pedals, that way you don't lose much if you decide to re-sell.

 

[M.T.A.C.]

Thanks Bongo, I went to GC and picked one up. Sounds awesome behind the ultron. The big muff definatly got the space bass hapening

 

[Stu Brooks]

I use the Aguilar AG 500 dual channel (bass head) to get my favourite bass distortion. They also produce a rack version of just the distortion channel, called the AGRO. Check it out. I swear by it. I've had a lot of problems with distortion pedals with my bass. I'm thinking it's because of the active pickups in my bass. Maybe too much gain for the pedal? Check out the Aguilar distortion.

 

[bongomania]

Stu, welcome to TB, and welcome in particular to the FX forum.

Edit: I don't know if Stu or anyone else read this post before this edit, but I made an ass of myself. I didn't catch that Stu is the guy from Dub Trio. So never mind what I said before, and my apologies to Stu.

Stu, would you say the AG500 was responsible for the tone in the clip that was posted earlier in the thread, and/or what other effects or amps may have been used? Thanks!