What Overdrive pedals are you using?

[FretNoMore]

Ouch ... I have way too many overdrives, finding "that sound" was a bit of an obsession for a while ...

On one pedalboard or another right now
- Bearfoot Blueberry
- smallsound/bigsound Mini
- Tech21 VT Bass DI
- Sansamp Bass Driver DI (though I really only use the DI)
- Source Audio OFD
- Catalinbread 5f6

 

[NortyFiner]

The OD currently on my board is an Ibanez TS-9B Bass Tube Screamer. I also have a MXR M-80 Bass DI+ and Ibanez PD-7 Phat Hed.

 

[millahh]

I usually play active P-style basses, but I have a couple of passives I really love. I also have a couple of MM style basses (active, of course).

I haven't tried 'em all (very far from it), but I've been doing lots of research this year, and here are my favorites:

Darkglass B7K: Tilts toward the modern end of the tone spectrum, but amazingly versatile

Darkglass Vintage Deluxe: as you'd surmise, tilts toward vintage tones, also versatile

VFE Triumvirate: three band overdrive, you can adjust OD on treble, midrange, and bass frequencies separately. Capable of crazy synth-style sounds, but I use it for dirty highs and clean lows+mids -- it gets tones similar enough to a stereo clean/dirty rig

Ashdown LoMenzo Hyperdrive: very cool and underrated pedal that allows you to overdrive a sweepable band of midrange frequencies (goes from low mid into the treble range, actually). It's capable of heavier OD, but I use the Mix control to dial in somewhat-subtle always-on midrange distortion that sits great in the mix

Empress Multidrive has three channels: Fuzz, Overdrive, and Distortion. Sure, you can select just one channel, but the cool feature is that you can blend two or three together however you like. Also, each channel can be run lowpass, highpass, or full range! I typically use heavy Distortion on my highs, and blend that with the Overdrive channel run clean or with very light OD -- as with the VFE, it simulates a stereo clean/dirty rig. Despite my TB username I don't use fuzz when I gig, but that channel is fun to play with at home


Honorable mention to my SansAmps: Bass Driver DI and VT Deluxe. I've been spending more time with the newer pedals listed above, but these classics aren't going anywhere.

Ok, it's rare that I will base a major decision on a single post, but this did it.

I recently got a VMT and B7K (love both) and changed up a few other things, in the process bumping my Multidrive. I went and put the Multidrive up in the classifieds, alng with a few of the other castaways. However, when I read this, I realized that I'd assumed I didn't need it anymore without having tried it with the B7K...i already have a BlowerBox that I'd planned on keeping, and picked up a TAFM as well.

So I tried it in front of the B7K, and realized that I was about to make a horrible mistake! I can match my favorite tones with from the BB with the Empress, and I like the fuzz better than that of the TAFM.

So at the end of the day, Multidrive is back on, TAFM and BlowerBox will be on their way out.

 

[mrwood4]

DOD250
John/frank Appleton transboost
Fairfield barbershop
Johnk Gamma
Hudson broadcast
Mountain king stone128

 

[XXL]

Still got my B3K, Barbershop, and 250. also got a Gunslinger that can be used as a high gain OD.

I can safely say that my OD search is over.

 

[Jeff O'Connor]

Darkglass VMTD
Fuzzrocious Rat King
Black Arts Toneworks Pharaoh Supreme

 

[JohnnyWishbone]

DOD 250 and Cochrane Timmy clone for OD.
Idiotbox Blower Box for heavier distortion.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I don't have it yet,but i am gonna bye it in the future for sure.I thing is the best OD-Dist-Fuzz pedal ever made.
The great Brimstone Audio Crossover Distortion.

The Brimstone Audio Crossover Distortion (XD2) is truly amazing.

I didn't mention it when I posted my favorites because I hadn't really figured it out. Actually, the issue was that the XD2 doesn't play that well with a hot signal. What I want with that pedal is clean lows and dirty highs, with the crossover point set high, but the lows don't clean up with a hot bass. I realized this when I used a lower output bass and got exactly what I wanted. So... now, when I use my hot active with the XD2, I turn down the volume knob on the bass and also don't boost EQ on the bass.

The XD2 works fine with my Nordy bass, which is active, but the Nordstrand onboard preamps are designed not to boost output level.

 

[Teijo K.]

DOD 250 clone and Rodenberg GAS 808.

 

[TitaniumRx]

The Brimstone Audio Crossover Distortion (XD2) is truly amazing.

I didn't mention it when I posted my favorites because I hadn't really figured it out. Actually, the issue was that the XD2 doesn't play that well with a hot signal. What I want with that pedal is clean lows and dirty highs, with the crossover point set high, but the lows don't clean up with a hot bass. I realized this when I used a lower output bass and got exactly what I wanted. So... now, when I use my hot active with the XD2, I turn down the volume knob on the bass and also don't boost EQ on the bass.

The XD2 works fine with my Nordy bass, which is active, but the Nordstrand onboard preamps are designed not to boost output level.

What a coincidence!!! Just a couple days before i realize that my Rocktron Zombie is like the XD2.I was try it with one of my basses with very low output pickups and suddenly noticed that the Zombie can make sounds a lot softer that i thought..First time that i found a pedal with so sensitive input.

 

[Feral Feline]

...
Empress Multidrive has three channels: Fuzz, Overdrive, and Distortion. Sure, you can select just one channel, but the cool feature is that you can blend two or three together however you like. Also, each channel can be run lowpass, highpass, or full range! I typically use heavy Distortion on my highs, and blend that with the Overdrive channel run clean or with very light OD -- as with the VFE, it simulates a stereo clean/dirty rig. Despite my TB username I don't use fuzz when I gig, but that channel is fun to play with at home


Honorable mention to my SansAmps: Bass Driver DI and VT Deluxe. I've been spending more time with the newer pedals listed above, but these classics aren't going anywhere.

Ok, it's rare that I will base a major decision on a single post, but this did it.

I recently got a VMT and B7K (love both) and changed up a few other things, in the process bumping my Multidrive. I went and put the Multidrive up in the classifieds, alng with a few of the other castaways. However, when I read this, I realized that I'd assumed I didn't need it anymore without having tried it with the B7K...i already have a BlowerBox that I'd planned on keeping, and picked up a TAFM as well.

So I tried it in front of the B7K, and realized that I was about to make a horrible mistake! I can match my favorite tones with from the BB with the Empress, and I like the fuzz better than that of the TAFM.

So at the end of the day, Multidrive is back on, TAFM and BlowerBox will be on their way out.

Thanks! You and Fuzzbass have killed some OD GAS by reminding me I need to play around more with my MultiDrive. Gotta dig that out and dust it off (along with my other pedals ).

 

[socialleper]

I know the Black Arts Pharaoh gets a lot of love on TB, but has anyone tried their other pedals on bass? I'm interested in what the Black Forest, Witch Burner and Revelation can do, but bass demos are few and far between. Of course low end retention is paramount, but I also want something that won't eat up too much of my attack.

 

[vincent69]

I know the Black Arts Pharaoh gets a lot of love on TB, but has anyone tried their other pedals on bass? I'm interested in what the Black Forest, Witch Burner and Revelation can do, but bass demos are few and far between. Of course low end retention is paramount, but I also want something that won't eat up too much of my attack.

I have four from BAT
Pharaoh Deluxe (pre version of the Supreme)
A refined Big Muff going from overdrive to all out fuzz. Great bass retention, no low end loss.


Black Forest
A coloursound overdrive clone, with an input diode selection for more bass, it also has some more gain.
Mainly overdrive, but very fuzzy/fizzy when cranked up

Quantum Mystic
A great overdrive, based on the TL74cn with a 3 band eq, that is really powerful and has a good action on gain too. A keeper for bass IMHO

These three all sound great on bass, but are more on the heavy side of overdrive

Black Sheep
another fuzz with input diode selector based on the Roland Bee Baa. It's a strong overdrive/fuzz with a scooped sound good for doom. I modified mine for slightly less gain.


I unfortunately don't have the Revelation (choose Superbass, not Superlead, for use on bass I'd advise, nor the Witch Burner, one of Mark's latest creations.

The Revelation does interest me a lot too. I understand it as a kind of preamp or Klon type of overdrive but that's just me.

I've just built a bjfe bbod clone and by now it's my favourite light overdrive to crank up my B-15.

 

[Matt Dean]

I've use many an OD... too many to list, but include most of the popular TB flavors like the Barbershop and both Dark Glass ODs; I've currently settled on the Wampler Euphoria as my go to OD. It's a very versatile, transparent OD that sounds as wonderful at the edge of break-up as it does in full rage mode.

 

[Snakeman1066]

Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive

 

[Dan Knowlton]

Darkglass vintage microtubes deluxe for me - I've been messing with a Zoom B3 for a while and got really frustrated with the tones. I jumped in with the VMTD and am planning on buying a B3K as a second OD pedal. I started out with the Zoom, added the VMTD, added in my EBS MultiCOmp and UniChorus, ditched the Zoom and am now GAS'ing for more pedals. I figure my purchases will be the B3K, Super Symmetry and then a Wonderlove...good thing I already bought a bigger board and power supply!

I've used the pedals with all of my basses and it sounds great with all of them (5'ers - fretted and fretless, active and passive).

Dan

 

[cnltb]

DOD 250 clone and Rodenberg GAS 808.

What's the Rodenberg like?

 

[MatronMother]

Just ordered a BAT Black Forest to work with the Pharoah. Also a Radial twin city so I can run 2 amps. One with each distortion.

 

[Mr_Martin]

My new favorite is the Harley Benton BOD-1 Bass Distortion (Boss ODB-3 clone)

 

[shrigg]

I actually love my Joyo Ultimate Drive, run ahead of the Xotic EP Booster. With the drive set slightly above the minimum, I can get a touch-sensitive snarl, very reminiscent of a cranked Hi-Watt (i.e. John Wetton).

Tell me more about your setup: what bass and amp are you using? Also what settings on the EP Booster? Is it adding any gain or just the EP booster's "sweetness?"