Got an Aguilar Agro. Does everything from mild OD to full blown distortion. Not that cheap though. Seems like the Darkglass B3K is in the same ballpark, but not as midrangy.
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Recommendations for bass overdrive / distortion pedal?
- Thread starter Reedt2000
- Start date
This.
Bonus: The Joyo Ultimate Drive sounds similar (to me) to the Bass BB mentioned above, AND the Zoom MS60B has the Bass BB available as one of the drive effects, so it's kind of a win-win.
Yes. They're great. Warmer than the Darkglass stuff.
I use one when I'm not using my Aftershock, which is way more versatile wrt fuzz and stuff. But I don't always use all that so the MXR bass overdrive suits me fine.
All of them. One can never have enough drive pedals.
I fear I may be developing an unhealthy obsession with OD/Dist/Fuzz Pedals.
Oh dude, myself as well - B3K, VMT, TAFM, Oxide, Black Russian Muff, Swollen Pickle.. and that's just what's currently on the board. It's a problem, but what a problem to have!
I'm currently on 1590A kick. I want a One Control Hooker's Green Bass Machine so bad I can taste it. Plus an OCD clone or a DOD 250 clone with a clean blend. I'm thinking about building the 250 myself.
It's funny, I use other types of pedals but the only ones that really pique my GAS are dirt and compressors. I use Phase, Chorus, Envelope, Flanger, etc but I never get too picky with them. I love optical compressors. My favorite is the old BBE Opto Stomp and right now I have a DIY MAdbean Afterlife that seems to push all the right buttons for me.
It's funny, I use other types of pedals but the only ones that really pique my GAS are dirt and compressors. I use Phase, Chorus, Envelope, Flanger, etc but I never get too picky with them. I love optical compressors. My favorite is the old BBE Opto Stomp and right now I have a DIY MAdbean Afterlife that seems to push all the right buttons for me.
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I picked up a Mad Professor Blueberry Bass Overdrive for the same purposes as you...really to emulate a slightly overdriven tube amp, and I love it. Granted, I haven't played it in a mix yet, but by itself, it seems to check all the boxes- retains the low end, versatile level of drive, gets wooly and thick (tubey!).
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I'm personally quite fond of the Joyo Orange Juice, which is an analog Orange amp emulator, like the now discontinued Oxford by Tech 21.
Even got 2, one for slightly overdriving my tube amp in my 2 amp rig (tube amp dirty/solid state clean), and one as regular overdrive pedal.
Have this raw grindy crunchy kind of drive.
Also got the Joyo's California Sound pedal, that emulates a Mesa Boogie, but don't care too much for that sound and am beginning to think I should have grabbed an American Sound instead, which emulates a Fender.
Anyway, although not owning one myself, from what I heard from YouTube demos the EHX Bass Soul Food, as some also suggest, seems to be a good choice for light overdrive.
Finally I am soon investing in a Behringer GDI21, which is a pretty accurate clone of the Tech 21 GT2 guitar preamp, but at a small faction of the price.
Really seems to do a nice job as overdrive/distortion unit for bass, and with a ton of tonal options.
Also heard somewhere that Justin Chancellor from Tool utilizes one as part of his dirt sound.
Try giving this video a look for a demonstration of the GT2 capabilities as dirt unit for bass:
Here's another demonstration of the GT2, just at one setting of someone covering Summertime Blues:
Even got 2, one for slightly overdriving my tube amp in my 2 amp rig (tube amp dirty/solid state clean), and one as regular overdrive pedal.
Have this raw grindy crunchy kind of drive.
Also got the Joyo's California Sound pedal, that emulates a Mesa Boogie, but don't care too much for that sound and am beginning to think I should have grabbed an American Sound instead, which emulates a Fender.
Anyway, although not owning one myself, from what I heard from YouTube demos the EHX Bass Soul Food, as some also suggest, seems to be a good choice for light overdrive.
Finally I am soon investing in a Behringer GDI21, which is a pretty accurate clone of the Tech 21 GT2 guitar preamp, but at a small faction of the price.
Really seems to do a nice job as overdrive/distortion unit for bass, and with a ton of tonal options.
Also heard somewhere that Justin Chancellor from Tool utilizes one as part of his dirt sound.
Try giving this video a look for a demonstration of the GT2 capabilities as dirt unit for bass:
Here's another demonstration of the GT2, just at one setting of someone covering Summertime Blues:
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+1 on the joyo orange juice. that pedal has great grind to it. the joyo golden face is another great pedal for grinding distortion. it's based on marshall amps and it sounds killer on bass. check out this clip.
Orange juice at 1:07 and golden face at 1:21
Thanks for all the suggestions. I've ordered a Golden Face after watching a couple videos. More in my price range too! 
I've gone slowly/slightly down that road too. Currently, on my board, for dirt pedals, I have:
EHX Bass Soulfood
Ampeg Scrambler
EHX Nano Big Muff
Darkglass B3K
Not too crazy, but, it's a start!
