• 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.

Swollen Pickle v Multiwave bass distortion

F

Floyd Eye

Inactive
Feb 21, 2010
7,392
75
St. Louis
#1
So, I got a little Christmas cash and a few gift cards for the music store and I was thinking that it would be nice to supplement my EBS MultiDrive with a ridiculously devastating bass distortion/fuzz pedal. I've been watching YT demos of the Swollen Pickle and the SA multiwave bass distortion. Both seem to be in my price range. I am in a 3 piece hard rock/alternative band. We cover a lot of stuff like RATM, Tool, Godsmack, etc.. Any opinions on these 2 pedals?

Thanks.
 
#2
The Swollen Pickle is great If you are going for that sound. It was a bit to much for the music I play, but it sounds great at what it is meant to do. My vote would be Way Huge, I love my Green Rhino and Pork Loin.
 
#11
Kwesi said:
Just to clarify, my definition of devastating tone is right here:

Invalid Link Removed

Dunno how I forgot about the B:assmaster considering it is still (after years and years) the only other dirt pedal I could ever want. If you've got the cash, it's most definitely worth a look.
Click to expand...

It's still my go-to! How can you go wrong? Paul Barker is the king of devastating bass tones, after all. :bassist:
 
#12
Kwesi said:
You know, I wouldn't have put the MWBD into "devastating" territory a few weeks ago but I was messing around with a certain preset and my opinion has officially been changed. I'll post it here when I go look at my board. It sounds so MEAN!
Click to expand...

I will say that the very, very last octave up, single band distortion #22, if set properly (EQ, drive, etc.) definitely gets into Brassmaster territory and can sound pretty narly (in a very good way).
 
#13
I gotta say at this point I am leaning towards the Pickle. A lot of folks seem to dig it. I am getting suggestions from several friends for these pedals like the Assmaster and something called The Creepy Fingers Fuzznugget. They all sound real good, but they are also all pushing the $300 range, whereas I can get a Pickle right now used for about $80. Then again, I hate to spend $80 only to turn around a month from now and feel the need to drop $300 anyway.
 
#15
rsmith601 said:
The digital clipping is not in this pedal. Some day I need to post a video of it so you will know what I am talking about!!
Click to expand...

I had an Iron Ether FrantaBit and it did digital clipping that was cool. Still I don't know exactly what it was about the MultiWave Bass Distortion, just wasn't my cup of tea.

To the OP also checkout Smallsound/Bigsound TeamAwesome! Fuzz Machine, it is my favorite high gain fuzz. This pedal is handy when trying to destroy music.
 
#17
DeltaPhoenix said:
I had an Iron Ether FrantaBit and it did digital clipping that was cool. Still I don't know exactly what it was about the MultiWave Bass Distortion, just wasn't my cup of tea.

To the OP also checkout Smallsound/Bigsound TeamAwesome! Fuzz Machine, it is my favorite high gain fuzz. This pedal is handy when trying to destroy music.
Click to expand...

It certainly has its own sound, and it is not for everyone. Almost all the sounds have a hint of synthiness in them. This video by Pete Thorn is probably the best way to get a good sense of what makes multiwave distinctly different (guitar and bass).
Invalid Link Removed
 
#18
I love the MWBDP because it's more of a synth type distortion. IT can get very very mean though. The one I had seemed to have these weird random glitchy moments though, so I got rid of it. I bought it used though so who knows who had it before me and what they did to it.

I'd like to give it another shot and probably will one day.
 
#19
Well, I have been talking to Behndy, so as you can imagine I have several other ideas now. lol

One question though, I understand the usefulness of a blend knob, as in the Pickle Pie B, but if I were to opt for the Swollen Pickle, which is significantly cheaper, how much would I miss having a blend knob?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back