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Warm and subtle overdrive - pedal suggestions?

No clean blend, but I'll always suggest the Spaceman Saturn VI.
Excellent light overdrive.
No clean blend needed, IMO.

The Way Huge Pork & Pickle has a "clean" blend, but it's not a dry blend. The clean side is flavored, apparently based on the Neve 1073 console. The clean side can actually clip on its own. Running it at a bit higher voltage, like 12V, helps out.

Sorry, bit off-topic here, I know the Pork Loin can be run at higher voltages, but didnt realise that the Pork and Pickle could as well - have you tried it?
 
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i use the EHX hot wax - just the crayon side. Got it for like $80 used. You could probably get by with just using the EHX crayon, but why not have another circuit (hot tubes) for like $15 more? It's got a blend and a nice dynamic response. the volume knob makes it easy to keep at unity gain.

i have the blend at 11 o clock and the fuzz at noon, and it provides me a nice break-up when i play hard. it's a little more sensitive in the higher register, which i like.
 
No personal first hand experience with it, but from what I've read here on the forum and elsewhere and based on the demos I've watched on YouTube the regular big version of the TC Electronic Spark Booster seems to be a close to a perfect match to your requirements.

That is except for the fact that there is no clean signal blend option on the Spark Booster, but with this pedal and with as low gain overdrive as I got the impression from your OP you have in mind you shouldn't really need or miss it.

Otherwise perhaps the EHX Hot Wax, but only use the Hot Tubes half of it (with the included bonus of having the option for kicking in a higher gain different voiced OD by the stomp of a foot switch), or perhaps the EHX Operation Overlord Nano?

Those 2 EHX pedals do feature an option to blend in clean signal.
 
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Believe it or not, The EHX Bass Soul Food sounds like what you are looking for. Under $125 and shockingly good. Most everyone runs it with the treble near all of the way down


Was going to suggest this. It fits the description perfectly and is cheap as chips
Darkglass vintage microtubes can also do subtle if you turn the drive down and has a nice blend.
 
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I've found that the Art Pro Tube pres are SO underrated at this task! And so cheap too. For me, it does exactly what you're describing.

BUT if you don't wanna mess with the plate stuff, I have a couple of suggestions.

Change out the capacitor in a TS808! (If you know, you know!)

MXR Micro Amp (one knob deal. It just does MAGIC)

Darkglass Vintage Microtubes (NOT just a one trick pony! From barely there to Lemmy dirt and beyond. Such a wonderful baked in sound, but not everyone wants a sound they can't be free of)
 
My question is, does OP want this pedal to change his fundamental tone as well as add warmth and grit?
That’s what’s always bothered me whenever this question is asked.
If no, then the fullsize Spark, EQD Westwood, and Fifth Gear are my favourites.
If yes, change the fundamental tone, then the Bearfoot Blueberry (or Queen Bee, currently), Fuzzrocious Li’l Fella, EHX Soulfood, and most every other pedal mentioned here.