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Which Dirt Pedal for Which Purpose?
- Thread starter SMB13
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- bass pedal dirt od
I have an SFT as an always-on part of my guitar rig. My "clean*" tone is that pedal, in the Stones setting, dialed up to about 3:30. My dirty setting is pretty much the same, but slamming the intput with another pedal (which at the moment in an Xotic SL Drive, set for very little drive, but a whole lot of volume, but you could honestly use just about anything). The mode select button is too small and tucked away to be useful on the fly, but I've found you can get all the Stoner sounds just by feeding it more.
That pedal has a pretty distinct sound. Kinda grainy and scratchy, with a top end that reminds me of preamp distortion more than anything else. As it happens, that's a sound I like quite a bit, but make you you like it too before you dive in, because everything you run through it is gonna sound like that.
*-for values of clean that include "that's not very clean at all" when you solo the track, but that don't really sound especially crunchy in the mix.
That pedal has a pretty distinct sound. Kinda grainy and scratchy, with a top end that reminds me of preamp distortion more than anything else. As it happens, that's a sound I like quite a bit, but make you you like it too before you dive in, because everything you run through it is gonna sound like that.
*-for values of clean that include "that's not very clean at all" when you solo the track, but that don't really sound especially crunchy in the mix.
I started doing something similar to what you're doing with your guitar rig for my bass. I run through the Darkglass Microtubes 900 amp with the VMT dirt sound always on as my "clean" tone and hit it hard with my Fulltone bassdrive in compcut mode.
This was inspired by the way guitarists use tubescreamer type pedals (which the bassdrive is). With the volume boost I no longer run it through a clean blend and I'm very happy with the results.
This gives me another level of DG goodness simply by boosting and imparting some of the Fulltone character onto my main "clean" sound. Maybe another option for the OP?
Wowee, thanks for all the input guys. It's nice to come home and see a lot of insightful posts waiting for me.
With all that said, I think I've narrowed it down to either an OCD or a Pork Loin. I've got a buddy who has an OCD (I'm not sure of the version), so I'll try it out and see how it is.
While I'd love to have a Dunwich or Fuzzhugger pedal, I can't afford to buy one out right unfortunately. Thank goodness for financing, or I wouldn't be able to afford half the stuff I have, lol.
The fuzz pedal suggestions seem nice as well, but I'm apprehensive about most fuzz pedals. I've tried a decent handful of fuzz pedals but never really found anything that I liked enough to hold on to. Maybe fuzz just isn't for me. I'd like to like fuzz pedals, but I dunno.
On a side note, hot damn that MBD-1 sounds good. I've got some serious gas now. I'll see if can't make that happen. Here's to hoping.
With all that said, I think I've narrowed it down to either an OCD or a Pork Loin. I've got a buddy who has an OCD (I'm not sure of the version), so I'll try it out and see how it is.
While I'd love to have a Dunwich or Fuzzhugger pedal, I can't afford to buy one out right unfortunately. Thank goodness for financing, or I wouldn't be able to afford half the stuff I have, lol.
The fuzz pedal suggestions seem nice as well, but I'm apprehensive about most fuzz pedals. I've tried a decent handful of fuzz pedals but never really found anything that I liked enough to hold on to. Maybe fuzz just isn't for me. I'd like to like fuzz pedals, but I dunno.
On a side note, hot damn that MBD-1 sounds good. I've got some serious gas now. I'll see if can't make that happen. Here's to hoping.
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I have a 4003, so based on my experience -
EHX Bass Soul Food - Never played. Not sure.
Way Huge Pork Loin - Had one, but not with my 4003. I think this is a good option for something different from the DG, but still usable with your rig (assuming the cab/speakers aren't too dark).
Aguilar Agro - Had one, but not with my 4003. I think it would work for specific sounds, but not what I'd pick. Too thin in the low end (can dial it to do decent lows, but that's not its strong suit).
Catalinbread SFT - Never played one.
Fulltone OCD - I have tried OCD clones, and own the Dunwich ODB. I like this one. Probably similar to the Pork Loin in some ways, but certainly not the same. The Pork is a "softer" or "smoother" clipping, to my ears.
Sounds like you prefer more vintage and mid-freq sounds, so I'd suggest avoiding Rat clones.
Any interest in fuzzes?
My feeling exactly. I love my BSF. But I don’t like fuzz or distortion so I was looking for mild but full sounding grit/break up that doesn’t suck out the bottom end. Much more OD than anything.
The BSF is gain structure is very low gain even with everything full up - which suits me perfectly. But I’d bet that’s exactly why many other people hate it.
Sure!
I also use it with the -15dB pad off, with high output basses (active and passive), which allows me to get more drive. Still, the sound is pretty smooth, nice. With a chorus/flanger (EHX stereo mistress) after it, I get a sound close enough to Geddy’s on Moving Pictures (while not dead on), with my own personality, to be very happy!
So, I tried an OCD tonight at band practice. It sounded awesome driving the Darkglass, but I wasn't too keen to it by itself. It was too... "honky" for my tastes. Not terribly honky per session, but it just didn't sound right to my ears by itself. Maybe it was pushing the wrong kind of mids for my taste.
To those who didn't like the Soul Food, what exactly did you not like? I get it's a mild drive, but if the Darkglass handles my heavy tones, maybe the Soul Food is what I'm looking for. Plus, if it can drive the Darkglass somewhat similarly to the way the OCD did, then I think it might be okay.
Also, in regards to the Pork Loin being dark... Don't the new ones have the JohnK mod in it already? Does it not help with the darkness as much as people say it does? The description for the tone knob says it's bypassed if it's rolled off (or on?)... Is it still dark even with the tone off?
Sorry for all the questions. I don't think I've ever had this much trouble deciding on a pedal. Maybe I'll just get another Darkglass pedal and be done with it, lol.
To those who didn't like the Soul Food, what exactly did you not like? I get it's a mild drive, but if the Darkglass handles my heavy tones, maybe the Soul Food is what I'm looking for. Plus, if it can drive the Darkglass somewhat similarly to the way the OCD did, then I think it might be okay.
Also, in regards to the Pork Loin being dark... Don't the new ones have the JohnK mod in it already? Does it not help with the darkness as much as people say it does? The description for the tone knob says it's bypassed if it's rolled off (or on?)... Is it still dark even with the tone off?
Sorry for all the questions. I don't think I've ever had this much trouble deciding on a pedal. Maybe I'll just get another Darkglass pedal and be done with it, lol.
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I can attest to the magic of stacking a B3K into a B7K Ultra- truly great! Sold my B3K but considering a v2 or VMT at some point..
Can’t say anything about the Darkglass, but I tried the Porkloin among other things before I went with the Soul food. Soul food was easier to control and has more mid presence.
I have played all the pedals on your list, except for the OCD. I have however tried an OCD clone (Joyo Ultimate Drive) which I really liked.
My favorite is however the SFT. I used to play really sludgy, downtuned metal, and the SFT cranked was perfect for that. Really fat and ballsy. It also works well for slightly less gainy settings.
The OCD Clone was nice, but lacked some low end. Not enough to really bother me, but anyway.
The other ones are all nice, but I still prefer the SFT. Ampeg-in-a-box, really.
With that said I'm looking forward to trying the EHX Hot Wax. From what I've heard it sounds great!
My favorite is however the SFT. I used to play really sludgy, downtuned metal, and the SFT cranked was perfect for that. Really fat and ballsy. It also works well for slightly less gainy settings.
The OCD Clone was nice, but lacked some low end. Not enough to really bother me, but anyway.
The other ones are all nice, but I still prefer the SFT. Ampeg-in-a-box, really.
With that said I'm looking forward to trying the EHX Hot Wax. From what I've heard it sounds great!
To OP, if you're thinking about another DG pedal that new Alpha-omega sounds great from low gain to high!!
Rusty Box into your Darkglass for medium grit, then something like MBD-1, Iron Pig, or COG Grand Tarkin into the Darkglass for heavy grit.
I don’t think Sweetwater carries it but the Source Audio Aftershock will give you any of the sounds on your list. Tweak them until your heart’s content. And then tweak again.
