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Unhappy with Boss ODB3 - other options?

Solarmist

Solarmist

Jul 24, 2007
5,800
2,319
near Mt. Rainier
#1
I just can't seem to get the right sound out of the Boss ODB3. It seems to be a bit overkill for a bass overdrive/distortion that might sound great with a guitar, but not so much with bass. It just doesn't sound good to me no matter how I set it.

I'm looking for a nice gritty sound, but one that sounds good w/bass - want to spend around $150 give or take a few.

Looking at the Rottweiler Distortion from TC. I like TC pedals, but not set on anything yet.

Thanks guys.
 
#5
Solarmist said:
I just can't seem to get the right sound out of the Boss ODB3. It seems to be a bit overkill for a bass overdrive/distortion that might sound great with a guitar, but not so much with bass. It just doesn't sound good to me no matter how I set it.

I'm looking for a nice gritty sound, but one that sounds good w/bass - want to spend around $150 give or take a few.

Looking at the Rottweiler Distortion from TC. I like TC pedals, but not set on anything yet.

Thanks guys.
Click to expand...

Since you've brung up tc electronic, the dark matter sounds pretty cool on bass. and so does the digitech hardwire valve distortion pedal. they both deliver a marshall plexi type distortion sound much like the zvex distortron. very useful on bass.
 
#7
Crystalman85 said:
Since you've brung up tc electronic, the dark matter sounds pretty cool on bass. and so does the digitech hardwire valve distortion pedal. they both deliver a marshall plexi type distortion sound much like the zvex distortron. very useful on bass.
Click to expand...

I forgot about Hardwire pedals, they are impossible to beat for the price. Great stuff. I have a Valve Distortion that I don't even use, but I don't want to get rid of it because it sounds so good! Heck, you can get a Valve Distortion AND a CM-2 Tube Overdrive for well under $150 used and would have a great arsenal there.
 
#13
If you want to go super cheap, I would say that the Joyo Ultimate Drive or American would be a massive upgrade over that Boss.

Another option that people seem to love since it came out is the Southampton Pedals Fifth Gear overdrive which can also be used as boost.

Getting more expensive, the Blower Box seems to be very highly thought of (I have only messed around with one). I get my dirt from a Darkglass VMT and a Darkglass B7K together with some fuzz pedals (which I struggle to use because they all get a little too heavy for the music we play).

RE: Boss - I think they make a few absolutely classic pedals that no one can touch. The OC-2 comes to mind. But I have never been a fan of their overdrive, distortions or fuzzes.
 
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#17
I have an ODB 3 and it has taken me 7 years to finally dial it in right

Set the bass level to about 4 (on the clock - almost 100%) and slowly bring the treble levels in - have your dry/OD to dry bias, about 10:30 - level set to just a little above dry level and gain to kick up the crunch

Try that before selling - works ok for my set up
 
#20
I like my odb 3 but i use it for more of a fuzz with a lot of dry bass (using the blend and eq) in the signal. I wouldn't say it sounds like an overdrive at all.

The b7k sounds fantastic but it's not cheap.

you might want to try a tech 21 vt, they are inexpensive and do some nice dirty tones. The speaker sim on it is just an eq that cuts out frequencies outside of the range of a typical bass cab. Really nice if you want to run an xlr from your amp to foh but don't want high frequency noise. For that reason it's also cool to run other dirt based effects in front if it.
 

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