Tech 21 dUg dp-3x mix function

[eddybuzzard]

That is precisely right. I have learned over the years when it comes to bass overdrive, I need it to be cringeworthy, almost unusable on its own so that when the band kicks in, and the cymbals and GTR eat up all that sizzle off the top, you are left with a beautiful mid-range grind and growl that cuts through without being “too loud” because you simply turned up the amp. I am a tone-chaser and that means never being completely satisfied-always looking for that new pedal or tweak to the existing one.
I thank you for your suggestions and have a feeling you are a wealth of knowledge. I believe I will be reaching out to you in the future.

Fellow dUg pedal lover here, but more than that, serious King's X fan, that switched from guitar to bass. Well, I'm more like two timing, just not enough hours in a day though, LOL!
Anyway, I got a new old Rocktron Taboo Twin recently (been wanting one for decades), and have spent some considerable time dialing in a decent early Ty Tabor guitar tone, which is somewhat centered around the 3.2Khz frequency that he got from his Lab Series L5. By itself, it's sorta awful, but when jamming along with their CDs, it's sounds very close. It's the same way with my bass and dUg pedal, alone it's almost cringy, but when everything is together, it sounds right. King's X have found the way to make all the different frequencies cooperate with each other, and it makes their sound huge.

 

[NYBassPlayer]

I was unable to get a good tone with the mix off. If you need a second one mine is for sale in the classifieds.

For Sale - Tech 21 DP-3X dUg Pinnick pedal

If you love the pedal like me, but can’t get a good “clean” (mix off) tone, please try some of the suggestion given to me in this thread. They’re very helpful may just solve the problem.

 

[eddybuzzard]

No worries

The other thing to add for a ‘3rd’ sound is that the tone knob is your friend, even if your sound dialled in is gnarly - roll the tone off, a more organic sound.

I may add that I have fingers like spring rolls, so if you are like me, it will give a bass heavy sound, I naturally play closer to the bridge and invariably with a pick most of the time.
If you have big fingers, player finger style and nearer the neck, dial them lows and compressor back a bit

There is so much to be said about the way our fingers play the strings, yet it is very hard to put into words. Also about those knobs right next to our fingers.
Some folks play hard...always, some play soft...always, and some play both, which IMO, is where the secret lyes.
I've played guitars and basses for 43 years now, and find it very difficult to explain to younger players, and maybe it's just something that comes with time, but it's those exact dynamics of all the fingers(/pick) meeting the strings that give playing the tone and emotion. Equipment definitely contributes, and inspires, but most of it is in the fingers connected to our mind.

I've noticed that not everyone bonds with the DPX3, and that's alright...
But I do really love my dUg pedal, partly because it reacts to those dynamics, and I find that inspiring!

 

[imdkoz]

If you love the pedal like me, but can’t get a good “clean” (mix off) tone, please try some of the suggestion given to me in this thread. They’re very helpful may just solve the problem.

I tried quite a few things but just needed something more versatile. It's a great pedal but just not for me.

 

[Cuzzie]

There is so much to be said about the way our fingers play the strings, yet it is very hard to put into words. Also about those knobs right next to our fingers.
Some folks play hard...always, some play soft...always, and some play both, which IMO, is where the secret lyes.
I've played guitars and basses for 43 years now, and find it very difficult to explain to younger players, and maybe it's just something that comes with time, but it's those exact dynamics of all the fingers(/pick) meeting the strings that give playing the tone and emotion. Equipment definitely contributes, and inspires, but most of it is in the fingers connected to our mind.

I've noticed that not everyone bonds with the DPX3, and that's alright...
But I do really love my dUg pedal, partly because it reacts to those dynamics, and I find that inspiring!

It’s so true - in my unofficial test I had my mate around who is a waaaaaaaay better player than me, and is a pro.

Same bass, same amp, same settings, we both fretted and played the same notes one after another, my mrs was the QC back turned (she hates my playing btw) each time she preferred and heard the difference in the individual notes that were made by my fingers - put them all together in a run, mine ‘sounded’ better, but his actually sounded and were better if you get my drift.
He has pipe cleaners, I have sausage rolls.

it really amazed me.

with some EQ, his sounded like mine, and then he is amazing - no EQ can get me sounding like him, that’s talent and practice!

 

[Lowbrow]

@Cuzzie slight derail - that Lehle Sonic Spark is something, isn't it? I don't even know what it does but it sounds great.

 

[Cuzzie]

Oh it really is good buddy.

Gives that fat tube amp type tone, to being a little overdriven.

For me it’s a good little source to poke a bit more mids through, and when I play a 12 string bass it allows the presence to be felt with the DP3X adding clarity.

Well engineered pedal and their manufacture is stopping as the guy is retiring!

 

[Fuzzbass]

I’ve recently been using the dUg dp-3x pedal and I am loving the dirty tone. However,
I require being able to switch instantly between a clean and dirty tone for some songs without bending over and turning knobs to adjust EQ. My issue is that when using the mix mode with the dUg settings, if I disengage the mix function, which essentially turns off “Chunk” & “Drive”, I am left with a very dark, bassy, undefined “cleaner” tone. Conversely, if I adjust the EQ to a desirable setting with mix disengaged, I am left with a shrill, unusable, trebly tone when I do engage mix. Does anyone else have a similar experience? Has anybody discovered a way to retain a bright clean tone when mix mode is not engaged without sacrificing the dirty tone?

As a couple/few others have said, I use the DP-3X either dirty or bypassed. It is too difficult for me to get a great sounding clean tone from the dUg without compromising my dirty tone. I've done it, but can't do it consistently, so I no longer bother to try.

I love the dirty sound on the dUg so much that I don't care one bit that I never use the clean channel solo. When I absolutely need a clean(er) tone then I bypass the dUg. Sometimes I have another pedal set up for the alternate tone, I want, but if the dUg is my only pedal then I bypass it and use my amp for clean tone.

Last but not least: I believe this trick has been mentioned, but I can get both "clang" and warmth from the DP-3X by leaving it always on and dirty, and rolling the passive tone control on my bass way back when I need warmth and not aggression. The warm tone isn't completely clean, but that's fine with me. It sounds clean enough in the mix.

 

[bass4u]

The only issue I have with the DP-3X is when switching from clean to dirty, there is a noticeable volume loss when engaging the dirty section of the pedal. Anybody experience this or have a work-a-round? I've been using it as a dirt pedal only, mostly because of the issue I mentioned.

 

[Cuzzie]

Can’t say I have but I will try it again and see.
Not being rude but, is it actual volume loss or apparent loss as you go from a very clear signal with the distortion cutting through, to one which is less clear and cutting?

 

[Jantelagen]

The only issue I have with the DP-3X is when switching from clean to dirty, there is a noticeable volume loss when engaging the dirty section of the pedal. Anybody experience this or have a work-a-round? I've been using it as a dirt pedal only, mostly because of the issue I mentioned.

Same. I have to engage the Gain to get close to equal volume between channels and also re-adjust settings. The workarounds don't work for me. I wish the DP3X was able to save different settings. A programmable version to switch from a dirty crossover preset to a clean or low gain crossover preset would be ideal

 

[bass4u]

Can’t say I have but I will try it again and see.
Not being rude but, is it actual volume loss or apparent loss as you go from a very clear signal with the distortion cutting through, to one which is less clear and cutting?

It's an actual volume loss. I may sell the DP-3X for this reason. Would like to hear any input from Tech 21 about this. Lately I've been using my DG X7 because I can switch on the Distortion channel and get a tremendous boost compared to the DP-3X.

 

[Cuzzie]

@tech21nyc see above please!

 

[tech21nyc]

dUg for the most part plays with both sounds engaged. That's his tone and the reason for the design of the pedal. From what I understand, he will sometimes only use the clean channel but that is for specific things. If you want to balance the tones between the two channels you may need to run the compression at a lower level to balance it all out. It depends on your purpose.

 

[bass4u]

dUg for the most part plays with both sounds engaged. That's his tone and the reason for the design of the pedal. From what I understand, he will sometimes only use the clean channel but that is for specific things. If you want to balance the tones between the two channels you may need to run the compression at a lower level to balance it all out. It depends on your purpose.

Thanks for the tip about the compression. I'll experiment with the compression adjustment and see what happens. I've been trying to use the dug pedal as a clean preamp then activate the mix channel to get an overdriven sound but the overdriven volume is lower compared to the clean channel. Was hoping I could get the dug pedal to do double duty on my pedlboard. BTW, I also have a YYZ pedal and a SH1 pedal on my board.

 

[dwade]

I love the DP-3X but I find the same issue. It's either good dirty or good clean.
Actually, it's pretty great dirty & just OK clean. It's my always on, never leave home without it tone machine. I don't crank the 'drive' control all the way up though. I leave it about noon with the gain switch engaged. It gives me the overtones and clank to cut but it's not really necessarily noticeably overdriven EXCEPT in the upper register. But I love the sound so much, I can live with that.

IF I were to have any complaints about the unit, I'd love to be able to clean up the extreme high end just a touch & I'd love to be able to clearly see whether or not a switch is engaged. I've had the gain switch disengaged before & fought like hell to get my sound back, only to discover the button got pushed.

But I'm splitting hairs here. It's a great pedal & I use it for everything from country to pop, funk to metal. One setting seems to work well everywhere. I use a MXR Microamp in front of it, to boost a few pieces over the course of the night but I could certainly live without it. I cannot, however, live without the DP-3X.

 

[NYBassPlayer]

Well, thank you all for your input. I appreciate you comments and suggestions. After experimenting for a week, including a full volume rehearsal with the band, I have come to the conclusion like many of you that I simply can not achieve a great dirty AND clean tone with the dUg. It’s either one or the other. And I choose dirty, of course. So for now, I will be returning to my set up bypassing the dUg and engaging a separate pedal (Tech 21 para driver) for my clean tone allowing me to adjust volume and tone independently. I, like many of you wish the pedal featured a separate channel like the SH-1 or had programmable presets allowing you to set the volume for each tone because with this pedal, one size does not fit all.