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Top 6 Dirt Pedals on 7/31/2009

#21
1. Aguilar AGRO
2. Malekko silicon B:Assmaster with freq. mod
3. DHA VT1 Bass OD
4. Wren and Cuff Pickle Pie B
5. MXR Bass Blowtorch
6. Electronix Messdrive

As I've tried out the many dirt pedals I have, I've realized a few things: I do not like having a light overdrive (I vastly prefer a clean, aggressive tone); I keep trying to get distortion-type sounds out of fuzzes, so I should just stick to distortion; I hate Muff circuits (the fact the PPB still ranks so high is due to its overall quality); I really have no need for synthy tones.
 
#27
My top six (in no particular order)

Chunk Brown Dog
My fuzz of choice at the moment. Super versatile and does everything from vintage "around the edges" fuzz to synthy gated sounds.

BJF Blueberry Bass Overdrive
One of the only overdrives I've tried that doesn't sound like stepping on a OD pedal, but like a magic switch that transforms your rig into a battle worn tube amp being pushed hard.

Urso Splinter
With flats and a pick, still my favorite "vintage" sounding dirt box. And I love it even more on guitar. Since I tried it I've kept my eyes peeled for the box it's based on, the Interfax Harmonic Percolator but to no avail. I've wanted to try Barge's take on it (BP-1) but haven't yet.

MI Audio Neo Fuzz
Sweet creamy fuzz. I liked it better than the GI Fuzz but both are solid. This one just has a smoothness and character I dig.

Frantone Bassweet
It gets very spitty, but at minimal Sustain settings I dig it for massive low end fuzz.

Guyatone TZ-2
Super aggressive fuzz that is great for leads. It cuts like a buzzsaw. I also love upper register stuff (especially sliding fourths on a fretless) because you get this interesting ring mod type clang from the octave up. Not versatile, and doesn't sit well in a mix but great if you want your bass fuzz to be upfront and in your face.


Honorable mentions
Two other pedals I absolutely loved, but needed in a blend loop to truly use: ProCo Rat and Lovetone Big Cheese/OLC Chunky Cheese. Dig the Big Muff in a blend loop too. The Tech 21 XXLB is just too crunchy to ignore.
 
#29
All IMHO:

DHA VT-1 - Warmest, most organic overdrive in a pedal ever
BJFE Blueberry - Darkest, heaviest overdrive ever
Devi Ever Dark Boost - Adds more low-end/cajones than any other dirt pedal
TheSyle Umiom - One of the most versatile distortion pedals ever, good low-end
Electro Harmonix Germanium OD - great vintage overdrive, instant Geezer tone
Devi Ever Hyperion - Can do muff, can do octavia, can do scrambled goodness

EDIT: I reconsidered my list and swapped a pedal in. I reserve the right to continually change this list :)
 
#30
grygrx said:

If you've tried at least 7 dirt pedals... list your top 6 ;)
Click to expand...

Note: I only own 2 of these now

  1. Tech 21 XXL Bass Edition-Nice and aggressive. cuts through mix really good
  2. EHX Bass Big Muff-Good and Fuzzy, not too much gain, just enough
  3. Earthbound Audio Effects Supercollider-nice muffish fuzz, good feedback
  4. Behringer BDI21-Good copy of the SansAmp BDDI
  5. EHX Metal Muff-Very Aggressive and Gainy. Not much low end, but it was fun.
  6. MXR El Grande Bass Fuzz-so-so fuzz. Could've been better, but wasn't bad.
 
#32
In no Particular order, well, maybe the first two...

*Way Huge Pork Loin-Good for adding grit in a transparent way (if that makes any sense). Just perfect to me
*Malekko Germanium Assmaster-Does crazy and O/D like tones, no box of bees here.
*MI Audio Neo Fuzz-What Jared said
*OLC Flipster-Keeps lowend, has a cool name. Sounds like an overdriven Fliptop. Nothing wrong here.
*Chunk systems Brown Dog-What Jared said
*Way Huge Swollen Pickle-A good muff variant with a lot of low end, easy to get bad sounds with though if you aren't careful
 
#34
* Fulltone OCD V4 - Warm and smooth without any ugly fizzyness. A gorgeous sounding overdrive.
* Fulltone fatboost V3 - Extremely subtle warm overdrive. Completely nails what I was using the SABDDI for.
* Little Big Muff. Smooth and creamy fuzz. Sounds sublime with chorus.
Ok I only have three favs right now.
 
#36
Way Huge Pork Loin - Transparant OD used to sprinkle grit on top of already good tone

Way Huge Swollen Pickle - After using the LBM, I realized that I really like muffs on bass, and this one is perfect for me, low mid punch out of a heavy heavy fuzz

EHX Little Big Muff - my first intro into fuzz and will always be a good memory

Sansamp VT Bass - play a clean amp and want an overdrive channel like all those guitarists? This pedal is for you...

Sansamp GT2 - Yes, a bit JC wannabe, but the California setting on this is the best bass distortion I have heard. Not too much bass loss plus sounds like you are tearing up a guitar amp

GGG Muff Clone (Modded to Jumbo Tonebender specs) - Still not 100% satisfied with not having a Tonebender, but this clone works awesome for its size for a good, stable fuzz
 
#39
Foxx Fuzz Wa Volume - switch on the "OCTIVE" for ringmod goodness.
Tonebender MKII clone from some guy on ebay - 3 OC75 germs, gnarly nasal rasp.
Woolly Mammoth - too many good sounds, and some bad ones.
80's Tom Scholz Bass Rockman - sounds like Rainy on "Hear Nothing".
Danelectro French Toast - Disposable Tone Machine for $20, not bad!
Acoustic 360 head - sorry Mom, I just had to do it. :spit:
 
#40
EBS Valve Drive- smooth, natural sounding warm grit.
Fulltone OCD v4- edgier and crunchy, great into a filter.
Seymour Duncan Power Grid- little known wonder of crunchy distortion, with a 3 band eq.
ZVex Fuzz Factory- over the top gated fuzz that's hard to dial in, but when you do....
Xotic Bass BB- alot like the OCD to my ears, and tiny too.
Seymour Duncan Twin Tube- a big pedal, but 2 channels of dirt, each with 2 band eq.

Then, I would imagine I'd like the Trex Bass Juice, but never seen one in real life. But my instinct says it should be on my list over either of the SD pedals I listed.
 

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