Recommendations for bass overdrive / distortion pedal?

[Reedt2000]

Normally I'm not an effects pedal guy at all, especially when it comes to the bass, but I find myself in a position where I wonder if an overdrive pedal would be beneficial.

I recently joined a band playing mostly 80s covers. The line up is two acoustic guitar players who also sing, me on bass, a drummer, and an electric guitar. I find that when the electric guitar plays solos on heavier tunes (such as the ending solo of sweet child o mine) the two acoustic sound kinda whimmpy as the background rhythm.

I'm wondering if a light overdrive on my bass will fill things out in such situations. I'd like something that preserves the bottom end but adds a bit of creamy drive to the mids and highs. I don't want over the top distortion, it needs to still sound like there is a bass guitar being played. I figure this is a good place to ask. Look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.

 

[bassbrad]

Joyo Ultimate Drive, cheap and creamy.

 

[Reedt2000]

I should mention I play 5 string in standard tuning. The guitarists all tu e down a full step (to help singing all those high 80s vocals) so I use the B string all the time.

 

[Reedt2000]

Joyo Ultimate Drive, cheap and creamy.

I was just checking out a video, sounds pretty good. I'm gonna pull it up on a better system to really hear what it does to the low end. The price is nice for sure.

 

[bassbrad]

Joyo also has the Sound series of pedals if you want more control, I have a California Sound pedal that is more like a MesaBoogie with a wide range of gain and tones.

 

[Crystalman85]

If it's an 80s cover band you've joined, a light overdrive might be suitable for that. if joy division tunes is on their setlist, you might wanna add a chorus pedal. as for recommendations, I would recommend these pedals for light overdrives.

Darkglass vintage microtubes
Joyo california
markbass mini bass distortion
ehx bass soul food
pigtronix bass fat drive

If you want a chorus pedal to add to your arsenal, I would recommend these pedals.

Joyo analog chorus
Joyo future chorus
mxr bass chorus deluxe
ebs unichorus

 

[skydivingninja]

Light distortion, creamy mids/highs? I think you're describing the bass soul food pretty well.

 

[BBQV]

I too recommend the EHX Bass Soul Food, it's great for adding that little extra fur to your tone.
If you want to be able to get a little more dirt, I'd recommend the Palmer Übertreiber. Same character, more drive.
Both have a blend knob, an absolute must in my opinion.

 

[morgan138]

I was just checking out a video, sounds pretty good. I'm gonna pull it up on a better system to really hear what it does to the low end. The price is nice for sure.

I have one, and you're better off putting the money towards a nicer and better-built pedal that won't actually cost a lot more.

1. The Joyo does retain low end, but it sounds like a clean rubbery bass sitting under the distortion. It's functional, but kind of weird.
2. My Ultimate Drive has some kind of wiring issue where it loses power sometimes, and the power supply sparks (!) sometimes when I plug it in. Plenty of people don't have this problem, but of the 3480843904 pedals I've owned this is the only one that has had an issue like this. You get what you pay for.

 

[OldFunBass]

From your description, I also would recommend the EHX Bass Soul Food. I use mine quite a bit just to warm up the sound a little. If you crank everything full you do get some distortion, but if you are looking for a pedal that delivers a lot of distortion this is not it. It is a much more subtle effect. I have other pedals for full on distortion grind if I need it.

 

[waveman]

xotic bb bass preamp

or get a Zoom MS-60B. Tons of overdrive and distortion options with a clean blend, and you can have two or three different settings for different songs that might require more or less distortion. and it functions as a tuner and many many other effects.

 

[Agosix]

Fairfield Barbershop is great..I'm seling one. Also BB bass preamp pedal which I'm also selling

 

[BadExample]

Mild overdrive = Way Huge Pork Loin!

I've never tried an up octive gizmo, but maybe one that allows you to blend the clean tone in would help you reach up to higher freq and keep your deep bass intact.

BTW: the Pork Loin has a clean preamp circuit built in that you can blend into the overdriven tone.

 

[5544]

80's cover band deserves an 80's distortion pedal

 

[Reedt2000]

I've been cruising YouTube and I think I like the mxr bass overdrive, anyone have experience with em?

 

[Johnny Mac]

I'd look at a Digitech Hardwire CM-2. It's a Tube Screamer-style pedal so it definitely has the mids/highs you're looking for, but it has separate bass and treble controls so you can dial in how much low end you need. And they're super affordable used.

 

[5544]

I've been cruising YouTube and I think I like the mxr bass overdrive, anyone have experience with em?

Keep in mind that the sound will change once in the mix.

 

[DavC]

this is simple and helpful ... got a demo for $87 ... or wait for another 20% off sale ... or Evilbay .. ?!

does as described ... i have one

Link Removed

 

[Charlzm]

Normally I'm not an effects pedal guy at all, especially when it comes to the bass, but I find myself in a position where I wonder if an overdrive pedal would be beneficial.

I recently joined a band playing mostly 80s covers. The line up is two acoustic guitar players who also sing, me on bass, a drummer, and an electric guitar. I find that when the electric guitar plays solos on heavier tunes (such as the ending solo of sweet child o mine) the two acoustic sound kinda whimmpy as the background rhythm.

I'm wondering if a light overdrive on my bass will fill things out in such situations. I'd like something that preserves the bottom end but adds a bit of creamy drive to the mids and highs. I don't want over the top distortion, it needs to still sound like there is a bass guitar being played. I figure this is a good place to ask. Look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.

I have a Darkglass B7K Ultra for full-on grind and a Line 6 BassPOD XT Live multi-FX for everything else (like when I just want some tube-like warmth or a touch of buzz).

Seriously, any good multi-FX unit and an hour or two of knob tweaking and saving presets will be some of the best time you have ever spent when it comes to tailoring your sound.

 

[skydivingninja]

I've been cruising YouTube and I think I like the mxr bass overdrive, anyone have experience with em?

I've used it and I liked it. I was a little miffed that what's billed as a "clean" blend isn't really your clean tone, but a pre-EQ'd version of it, but the pedal sounded good and I wish I hadn't sold it.