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Thickener-upper for modern-sounding basses?

steve_rolfeca

steve_rolfeca

In Memoriam
Nov 21, 2006
8,774
17,152
London, Ontario, Canada
#1
I'm looking for something to put a bit of a motown spin on my Dingwall on occasion.

Not looking for fuzz or even moderate overdrive. Just a slightly compressed, tubey, rounded fatness.

I recently played through a borrowed Joe Meek ThreeQ, that had been extensively modded with a tube front end, and it added a pleasing girth when pushed, without getting all the way into overdrive.

Prospects that I'm considering, include the Darkglass Vintage Microtubes, the new Radial Bassbone OD, and the Diamond Bass Compressor that I rejected last year. I'm also considering swapping my G-K MB800 for an MB Fusion 500 or 800, but I'm leaning more towards a pedal, as it makes it easier to manage my FOH feed.

I'm currently thinking that I want more than just a clean comp, no matter how much "opto sag" it has.

EDIT: Not considering large/expensive devices like the REDDI, as portability and cost are factors.
 
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#3
Well the Diamond is a compressor, definitely not the same sound. I wouldn't turn mine on if I was going for a motown sound. I also wouldn't add any kind of dirt if I was playing motown, but to each their own.

The VMT is decent for some light overdrive but I personally prefer the tone out of my B3k. I don't think it is what you are looking for tonally as it just adds dirt in my opinion.

If you want the motown sound just use Bob Babbit's advice. A precision bass and any old amp, just roll the highs off. He has a post on his forums that explains this in slightly more detail.
 
#12
HolmeBass said:
PB_OldSkool patch on the Zoom MS-60B
Click to expand...
That's the closest thing I have to what I want in my current arsenal. Not quite doing what the "pushed tube compression" from the modded Meek was doing for me, though.

It's hard to judge by videos, but the Fuzzrocious and the Tone Hammer seem to be too buzzy for what I'm after, and the Fairfield Accountant wasn't thick enough. The Beta sounded good, but maybe a little too dark for my tastes.

I'm not familiar with the Submarine. Who makes it, and what sort of effect are we talking about?

I think I have a line on a used VMT, so that will probably be my first step.
 
#17
steve_rolfeca said:
That's the closest thing I have to what I want in my current arsenal. Not quite doing what the "pushed tube compression" from the modded Meek was doing for me, though.

It's hard to judge by videos, but the Fuzzrocious and the Tone Hammer seem to be too buzzy for what I'm after, and the Fairfield Accountant wasn't thick enough. The Beta sounded good, but maybe a little too dark for my tastes.

I'm not familiar with the Submarine. Who makes it, and what sort of effect are we talking about?

I think I have a line on a used VMT, so that will probably be my first step.
Click to expand...
Ziebek made the Submarine. It has since been discontinued, but there are a few floating around in the classifieds. Check out john_k's demo of his build of a submarine (which you could also nicely ask him to make) on his soundclips page.
 
#18
The Zoom MS-60B is *so close*. It works, but I am finding consistently that it is not really inspiring. The sounds in it are good, serviceable for live use, but not killer, and I would never record with it. I still find dedicated effects that I like have more refinement and just sound so much better, and it's not a digital vs analog thing, because purpose built digital effects, like the Polytope and Manta, sound fantastic.
 
#20
You don't need to spend more than a few bucks if anything.

As already stated.
Tone knob and Foam mute.
I often mute with my palm and Thumbpick.

Waterproof Sunscreen smudged onto your strings to 'age' them.

Halfrounds or Flats for extra credit.
Felt Picks can come in handy.

Pretend that you have a bridge cover and pickup cover on your Bass and only pick there.
 

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