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Top 6 Dirt Pedals on 7/31/2009

I honestly find a list of six to be excessive. I could make a list of top six pedals in general, maybe. But I'll comply with the rules of the thread, I suppose.

Original ProCo RAT.
Fulltone FatBoost v1.
Sanford and Sonny Bluebeard (with Mid control).
Greedtone Overdrive.
Himmelstrutz Art Fetto.
Watson SuperFuzz.

In reality, I have played and seriously GASed over all of those, even owned most of them at different points in time, and wasn't let down. But I get bored easily, and my style continually changes. At this point I would be satisfied with a board that ran Tuner-> RAT-> Fatboost v1-> Cool delay. (I would probably take the Himmelstrutz over the Fatboost if I really just had the cash to toss around, but because I don't, I probably wont. Ever.)

Still, I'm never selling my Bluebeard (unless they end up selling for something ridiculous one day. At least I'm honest), even if I have no use for the Muff sound right now. I still think about getting another SuperFuzz from time to time, though.
 
Hmm...
I've gotten rid of some of the goodies.
No order, just listed.

EHX Holy Stain, set on dark/fuzz
Bogdan Tonebender Clone
Devi Ever Hyperion
Effector 13 Truly Beautiful Disaster
EHX English Muff'n, with a tube-swap
Boss ODB3, I can't believe I haven't seen one of these on here yet. I actually kept it instead of my XXL, but I haven't had it on my board in quite some time. :hmm:
 
lets see
modded sd1-now main bass dist sounds amazing
devi ever vintage fuzz maker, using it as a smooth fuzz
boss obd3 super clanky fuzz
modded bad monkey, when I need just a little grit
modded russian big muff, when the guitards decide to noodle and someone has to fill up the rythm its me and this pedal so full sounding and keeps the floor shaking bass.
and I guess the mxr m80, dont use its dirt much but it does add alot to my sound.
 
Chunk O.S. / Brown Dog - best filter-friendly fuzz ever.
Woolly Mammoth - thick or razor-sharp, good sounds blended or straight.
Pickle Pie 'B' - Muffy and very practical, unfortunately not Muffy enough sometimes, could use more fuzz.
Bassballs - it's a dirt pedal! It is!
USA Big Muff Pi - For when too much fuzz isn't enough, and you've got more volume than your guitarist so the low end loss won't matter. Still my favourite fuzz pedal on bass although I don't currently own one.
MXR Blowtorch - Just so versatile. I don't miss the one I sold all that much but it's such a clever pedal it's still on my list.
 
Modded GGG-tuned Big Muff Pi - The BMP circuit is classic and great for modding. I like having a mid hump in the tone stack.
Axis Face-style modded Fuzz Face - It takes the classic circuit and makes it work well with active instruments and tames the highs somewhat. The bias knob can get you close to a gated sound. Really versatile.
Electronix Messdrive Hybrid+ - Great fuzz if you still want lows and aren't bi-amping or blending. Some versatility as well and not a bad setting to be found.
Brassmaster clone - I tweaked the circuit a little bit so it gets better low end but it still needs an output volume knob. Love the octave-y/synth-y sounds you can get
VT Bass - Subtle to grind on the dirt scale. It can get pretty nasty if you want but I love the tube-like mild OD you can get.
Cream Pie "clone" - I've come to appreciate the simplicity in a single germanium transistor circuit that gives you that slightly mellow breakup when it saturates. I like using this as a boost at the beginning of the effects chain. Love how it adds harmonic content to my fuzzes.
 
Cream Pie "clone" - I've come to appreciate the simplicity in a single germanium transistor circuit that gives you that slightly mellow breakup when it saturates. I like using this as a boost at the beginning of the effects chain. Love how it adds harmonic content to my fuzzes.

Chit. I forgot all about my Cream Pie. It's always on so I don't even think about it any more. I may have to edit my list....
 
Malekko B:Assmaster - Cuts through like nothing else, best dirt I've ever used.
Dredge-Tone Angler - Sounds horrible alone, but like absolute butter in a mix.
Wren and Cuff Pickle Pie B - Still haven't used this in a band context, but it's my favourite Rock Out At Home dirt.
Frostwave Blue Ringer v2 - Yes, it distorts. Yes, it is awesome.
BJFE Blue Berry - Power tube distortion in a box.
Boss DS-1 - How can you not love it?
 
Boss ODB-3 - yes, I said it. It's like the girl you lost your virginity to. Not the best you've had but you will alwyas remember it starting your addiction.

Big muff Pi - same as above but in the fuzz category.

Polish Love - great boost/overdrive that sounds nice in a three piece and it has that polish boutique factor.

Malekko Assmaster - insane harmonic distortion that I have try not to turn on everytime it gets a little heavy

3xfx fatman - awesome distortion channel with the osco channel for scaring everyone at band practice.

Mojo Hand cream pie - the missing piece of dirt for me. It's always on, and a little tweak of the tone knob is all you need (with the gain maxed of course).
 
Katana Sound Supper Bass Fuzz- Killer pedal, great sounding fuzz, my #1 fuzz period.

Last gasp art laboratories Hachihachi shiki kebadate hizumaseki SUPER OSCILLO FUZZ" 88 - Just sick. I love it much, it makes me want to buy all their pedals.

HAO Rumble Mod - GREAT OVERDRIVE! keeps your lows and sounds great, has two modes, has a usable tone control. I find it works better for bass the HOA's Rustride which was made for bass.

Devi Ever Karaoke Party - nice overdrive or a very powerful dirty boost, responds very much like a vintage sunn tube amp; no not a substitute but it gets up in the territory.

Devi Ever Cherry Pop - It's big real big.

GGG Tuned Muff - Best muff ever
 
Here are mine, very different from each other, all of them being awesome.

Jacques TubeBlower : best bass Tubescreamer clone ever
Guyatone TZ-2 : mean, messy and inexpensive
zVex Machine : gets through anything, sounds like a razor blade cutting your eardrums
Catalinbread Heliotrope : the ultimate crazy noise box and you can even make music with it
Frantone Lo-tone Classic Fuzz : creamy, buzzy, full and plain sound
Prescription Electronic Depth Charge : time goes by and this pedal remains a reference when it come to industrial tones
 
1) Electronix GeminiDrive
2) Sansamp VT
3) Hardwire CM-2
4) Fulltone FatBoost
5) Line 6 LowDown Grind setting (Ok, not a pedal)
6) That other magical pedal that I don't have and will continue to buy pedals searching for "it".

Honorable mention would go to X-Blender because it can take pedals that I like the distortion character of and blend in some more bottom.