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Tone shaping/warmth pedal on a small board

CuiFoo

CuiFoo

Supporting Member
May 5, 2023
90
188
New York City
#1
Hi there!

I'm setting up a small pedalboard for practice/jams with a group.
I'm using a compressor (Walrus Mira) into an octave pedal (OC-2 type) into an amp (Ampeg Micro CL stack).

I find my sound a little "lifeless" and lacking body, I'm looking for a pedal (ideally just one) to help me shape my tone a little bit and add some color, warmth and even some light grit/distorsion, but I'm struggling a bit figuring out which "kind" of pedal I should be looking into.

Would a preamp be a good option here? Or should I be looking into boosters or drive pedals?

I don't mind getting something used but I would like to avoid "unobtanium" pedals if possible. Open to any recommendations - thanks!
 
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#4
CuiFoo said:
Hi there!

I'm setting up a small pedalboard for practice/jams with a group.
I'm using a compressor (Walrus Mira) into an octave pedal (OC-2 type) into an amp (Ampeg Micro CL stack).

I find my sound a little "lifeless" and lacking body, I'm looking for a pedal (ideally just one) to help me shape my tone a little bit and add some color, warmth and even some light grit/distorsion, but I'm struggling a bit figuring out which "kind" of pedal I should be looking into.

Would a preamp be a good option here? Or should I be looking into boosters or drive pedals?

I don't mind getting something used but I would like to avoid "unobtanium" pedals if possible. Open to any recommendations - thanks!
Click to expand...
AMT Bass Crunch….
IMG_9854.jpeg
IMG_9855.jpeg

AMT BC-1 | AMT Electronics official website
 
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#7
CuiFoo said:
Hi there!

I'm setting up a small pedalboard for practice/jams with a group.
I'm using a compressor (Walrus Mira) into an octave pedal (OC-2 type) into an amp (Ampeg Micro CL stack).

I find my sound a little "lifeless" and lacking body, I'm looking for a pedal (ideally just one) to help me shape my tone a little bit and add some color, warmth and even some light grit/distorsion, but I'm struggling a bit figuring out which "kind" of pedal I should be looking into.

Would a preamp be a good option here? Or should I be looking into boosters or drive pedals?

I don't mind getting something used but I would like to avoid "unobtanium" pedals if possible. Open to any recommendations - thanks!
Click to expand...


"Lifeless" and "lacking body". This is interesting. Compressor to have this effect when used in a certain manner.
How do you generally use your compressor ? Is it always on ? How the attack/release and ratio are set ?
How your bass is sounding when you switch your pedals off ?
 
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#8
Now to the OP @CuiFoo - I am having some luck with my Source Audio Zio Bass DI. Very simple controls, mild grit, HPF, 2 band baxandall EQ and a Pultec mid scoop and can be a boost as well as an under drive. I have pushed it with DBX 160 as well with an Atlas and Keeley compressor into a flat amplifier (Acoustic Image) as well as recording. I just bring this preamp and the Atlas when I have to play back line or to PA and I am getting a uniform sound that IMO sit's well when I am playing electric bass. I have another setup for upright (just a preamp). I also have minimal effects, envelope filter and maybe an octaver.
 
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#12
CuiFoo said:
Would a preamp be a good option here? Or should I be looking into boosters or drive pedals?
Click to expand...

Yes and no. Trick question.
There are preamps that do exactly what you're looking for. There also are boosters and drive pedals that do the trick. And from all these categories, you'll find pedals that won't help at all.

If you want the bottom end a bit more round and pronounced, you basically need a pedal that either has that kind of tone baked in, or you need a pedal that has a bass knob.

Big, warm and round bottom with a grit that sounds more like a white collared shirt with the tie loosened and less like a tuned up Harley Davidson spitting fire from the exhaust: Origin Effects Bassrig '64

Tube grit from a real tube, with the Fender Tonestack: Sushi Box FX Underground Accelerator

A spendy choice for the patient: Jad Freer Capo

Origin Effects DCX Bass: A pedal that is already labeled Preamp/OD.

Maybe worth your attention: Fairfield Barbershop. Will not boost bass in any way, but adds a very nice grit to the tone that is often associated with warmth.

...and not to forget the Aguilar Tonehammer!
 
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#13
CuiFoo said:
Hi there!

I'm setting up a small pedalboard for practice/jams with a group.
I'm using a compressor (Walrus Mira) into an octave pedal (OC-2 type) into an amp (Ampeg Micro CL stack).

I find my sound a little "lifeless" and lacking body, I'm looking for a pedal (ideally just one) to help me shape my tone a little bit and add some color, warmth and even some light grit/distorsion, but I'm struggling a bit figuring out which "kind" of pedal I should be looking into.

Would a preamp be a good option here? Or should I be looking into boosters or drive pedals?

I don't mind getting something used but I would like to avoid "unobtanium" pedals if possible. Open to any recommendations - thanks!
Click to expand...

"Lifeless" -- that's lack of playing dynamics. Great bass players constantly adjust note length and volume. Your bass lines should be as articulate and animated as your voice is in conversation with friends. You could have a pedalboard the size of an aircraft carrier, but if your playing is monochromatic . . .

Lacking body -- "body" is mid-range. EQ accordingly.
 
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#15
"Lacking body" is how I would personally describe these Ampeg Micro rigs, and no pedal is ever gonna fix that. Maybe a bigger amp/cab is the way to go?

But then again, one person's "lacking body" is another person's "midrange growl". Maybe you like "the Ampeg tone" better than me. I've never been a fan of the tone I get with most of Ampeg's sealed cabs, including the 8x10 "fridge". To my ears it's... lacking body.

Of course you might find a pedal that will get you closer to the tone you want, but you also risk wasting your money on pedals that will only give you a marginal improvement, or no improvement at all. If you don't like the tone of your current rig, it's a much better solution to replace it with something that can actually deliver the tone you need.
 
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#17
I think between the compressor and the OC-2 you might have too much squish going on. So I’d suggest trying each pedal in isolation and playing with the settings a bit since both those pedals tend to sit on the signal and render it lifeless sounding. Especially the OC-2 which is a very ‘synthy’ and electronic sounding octave effect.

If I were to guess what the core issue is, I think you might have too much compression going on. I’d try maybe backing off on the threshold and ratio settings a bit and try engaging the HPF sidechain button. The Mira, like many optical compressors, has a smooth warm character, which is why optical compressors are so popular to begin with.

Don’t know what to suggest about the OC-2. While it is my favorite octaver (I own an MIJ) I’ll be the first to admit it’s not a very responsive as far as playing dynamics goes. It’s basically going to be on, off, or glitching due to the limitations in its design. To me it sounds kinda like a Minimoog. And just like the Minimoog, it has all the subtly of a sledge hammer swatting a fly. That makes it great for some things but not for others. So I’d suggest treating your octaver more as an occasional use effect rather than a tone enhancer or thickener. Because you should be able to get all the warmth and thickening you need without losing any dynamics from a combination of your playing technique plus your amp and compressor settings. So I’d start out by pulling the octaver out of the chain and going from there.

Luck! :):thumbsup:
 
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#20
CuiFoo said:
Hi there!

I'm setting up a small pedalboard for practice/jams with a group.
I'm using a compressor (Walrus Mira) into an octave pedal (OC-2 type) into an amp (Ampeg Micro CL stack).

I find my sound a little "lifeless" and lacking body, I'm looking for a pedal (ideally just one) to help me shape my tone a little bit and add some color, warmth and even some light grit/distorsion, but I'm struggling a bit figuring out which "kind" of pedal I should be looking into.

Would a preamp be a good option here? Or should I be looking into boosters or drive pedals?

I don't mind getting something used but I would like to avoid "unobtanium" pedals if possible. Open to any recommendations - thanks!
Click to expand...

An EQ could help out a lot IMO. I use the Whirlwind Bass X 10 band EQ. That is one of the more powerful and full range EQ's I've ever tried. I'm not EQ aficionado. But I have tried a quite a few preamp pedals. The Whirlwind has had the most impact on my tonal game since I stopped using a B7K Ultra years back.

Other than that, when I think of warmth in a preamp, I think of an Ampeg preamp pedal. Or if you've got the money, a Noble pre possibly. Never tried one of those though. And a drive pedal can do this too. The Damnation MBD cannot be recommended enough from my end. That is one of the top 2 or 3 pedals I've bought in the last 10 years. Amazing OD/dist pedal. You can add a ton of warmth to your signal with that bad boy.
 
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