• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Rat-type distortion for high output active bass

monkeyfinger

monkeyfinger

Moderator
Staff member
Gold Supporting Member
Oct 29, 2001
5,796
5,892
62
Warwick, Rhode Island, USA
#1
I just recently purchased a new bass with very high output. It's about 20dB higher on average than a bass with vintage jazz pickups. That amount of gain is causing issues with some of my pedals. So I am looking for a medium/high gain distortion pedal that will work with this bass without having to decrease gain from the bass radically. I probably need a pedal with high headroom for better dynamic response, possibly running at 18v. I also would like it to have decent eq options. I prefer a rat-type sound but am open to other ideas.
 
#2
Blower Box by Idiot Box maybe. I love mine, it will most likely never come of my board. I too use it with high output basses and it performs very well IMO. There is also the Big Ear Wood Cutter, Ive heard great things about that one. I also used to have an Abominable Don't Shred on Me that I really really liked too. Great with high output and on low end. Then theres the Dunwich Volt Thrower that is supposed to be like the end all be all Rat haha. But it really is crazy diverse. Just a little on the expensive side and harder to get.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Impermanence, spaz21387 and Fuzzbass
#9
gregmon79 said:
Blower Box by Idiot Box maybe. I love mine, it will most likely never come of my board. I too use it with high output basses and it performs very well IMO. There is also the Big Ear Wood Cutter, Ive heard great things about that one. I also used to have an Abominable Don't Shred on Me that I really really liked too. Great with high output and on low end. Then theres the Dunwich Volt Thrower that is supposed to be like the end all be all Rat haha. But it really is crazy diverse. Just a little on the expensive side and harder to get.
Click to expand...

+1 on the Idiotbox Blower Box (haven't tried the others). Even with my hottest active, it can do extremely subtle OD. Matter of fact, that's how I've been using it lately... it isn't just a high-gain box.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gregmon79
#10
monkeyfinger said:
Wow, this demo of the Volt Thrower sounds awesome:
Click to expand...

Thank you.
If you are on FB or Instagram follow/friend Dunwich Amps and Magic Pedals (Nick's mass production builder). They always announce the upcoming and new releases there. The last batch of VTs sold out in a day or two when I bought mine in July\Aug. Magic posted some pictures of printed VT enclosures, so they should be around the bend (meaning the next 6 months.)
Definitely get a 18v power supply if you get one. Totally opens up the pedal.

As for other pedals, one of the perennial favorites around here is the Fuzzorcious Rat/Cat Tail. Nice EQ section and 3 clipping modes. Affordable-ish and easy to get a hold of new or used.
I've been interested in the Abominable Electronics Don't Shred On Me Deluxe pedal, which is their upgraded Rat clone. It has an EQ and blend. The dude is always crazy busy, so it takes a bit to get your stuff, but if you order before the end of the year you can save a little since his prices are going up at the end of the year.
If you want to throw around some serious cash you can also look around for the Lone Wolf Audio Plague Rat.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: blindrabbit
#11
I've never known Rat based distortions to get blown out by higher output basses. I'm not sure I ever had one with as high an output as you're describing but I ran an Aguilar OBP-3 (on 18 V) with a pair of Seymour Duncan MM pickups and that bass was pretty high output and VERY high output if you boosted the bass control significantly and I didn't have any issues with my Rat or Turbo Rat.

Volt Thrower, Blower Box and Rat Tail/Cat Tail are good options. So is the MXR Bass Distortion which hasn't had any issues with my (not too high output) active bases.

Another option might be the Source Audio OFD. It's Rat emulation is close but not exact but it is affordable, super versatile and has no issues with high output. Personally I really dig the noise gate, especially for Rat based pedals which tend to be on the noisier side.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blindrabbit and Nic.
#12
Fuzzbass said:
+1 on the Idiotbox Blower Box (haven't tried the others). Even with my hottest active, it can do extremely subtle OD. Matter of fact, that's how I've been using it lately... it isn't just a high-gain box.
Click to expand...

Me too, I use it in a few songs now and I mainly use it as a grindy od. But I have cranked the gain a few times. Just depends how I feel that day. But yes, it can do a mean OD. Love that friggen pedal!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: blindrabbit and Fuzzbass
#17
I always sing the praises for Owen Electronics Bass Bomb Driver. It's a true holy grail overdrive /distortion unit. I've owned my fair share of high end OD pedals and nothing has even come close to the bass bomb driver. It's only downside is its huge and pretty damn heavy. Also it's hand made in the UK in relatively small numbers.
 
#18
Smit_Dogg said:
I always sing the praises for Owen Electronics Bass Bomb Driver. It's a true holy grail overdrive /distortion unit. I've owned my fair share of high end OD pedals and nothing has even come close to the bass bomb driver. It's only downside is its huge and pretty damn heavy. Also it's hand made in the UK in relatively small numbers.
Click to expand...
That is *WOW*!! I would love to get my hands on that some day.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Smit_Dogg
#20
monkeyfinger said:
That is *WOW*!! I would love to get my hands on that some day.
Click to expand...

It quickly replaced the Tech 21 VT Bass and ZVEX Mastotron on my pedal board once I got it. It's powered with a 12v battery pack and has a pentode Mullard tube at the heart of it. Two channels, one for OD and one for distortion/fuzz. Lots of switches and knobs to fine tune each channel. It has always meshed well with any active bass I've used or when using a passive bass with preamps before it too. It doesn't come cheap though, I think they retail at £230 ($350) plus shipping.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back