Who here feels like drive slows down their playing?

[klattman]

This is why I ALWAYS, always, have a good solid clean underneath any effected tone I utilize. I always want that solid bottom and clear midrange underpinning things.

It is BASS after all.

I like a bit of drive but I have to have some biamped or blended clean mixed in or I don’t like my ability to control articulation.

If no blend is available or I’m using a tube rig, then I try to set it so normal volume is clean and only when digging do I get drive.

The new tech 21xb and the morning glory clean are examples that work well for me.

 

[Jantelagen]

This thread is clearly for just open discussion…

There are some responses on here that clearly not understanding my initial post and borderline on adolescent in response.

Let me just clarify things a bit…

- I never said you cannot play progressively with OD….OK

- I give a s what Geddy or Billy, or Ron Jeremy does with OD on their own perspective sounds…I really don’t,
however it works for them does not affect what I’m trying to do. (Even if I’m a Geddy fan, and what Gen X kid isn’t’a fan of him)

- I’m literally just speaking from my own perspective. Me personally (and I’m not speaking for anyone else) can play significantly more complex material easier clean than with OD.

Now I’m curious why you asked for other people’s perspectives if it doesn’t affect what you’re trying to do

 

[bulldean]

I have never noticed drive slowing my playing down. I probably will now.

 

[bobomatic]

Nah, see you’re looking at it all wrong.

Do what I do.

Crank the drive, and play doom metal. If it slows you down… GOOD!

 

[micguy]

Drive adds sustain to your notes, making it tough to stop them fast. Note length is important in a lot of tunes - If you want to play something bouncy and/or staccato, you probably don't want drive.

Not a complicated concept.

 

[lamarjones]

I'm not a drive or fuzz guy, I'm a distortion guy. And I'm playing extra precise because that gain and tone is very pronounced, which if in emulating rhythm shred but on bass, then it does require extra speed and care to be rhythmically on point.

So my experience is the opposite, I hear players that are the opposite as well.

 

[Solipsistik]

shot of testosterone cypionate to the right delt.

I switched over to enthenate, at 250% strength. This way I can do three shots a week of around .18ml with an insulin pin. Helps keep my red cell count lower. YMMV. The result of a big concussion during a motorcycle race.

 

[TonyP-]

Now I’m curious why you asked for other people’s perspectives if it doesn’t affect what you’re trying to do

Discussion, this is Talkbass?

I was not debating, asking for advice or wanting anyone sending me cookies …Purely discussion, (something I think severely lacking in society today…but I digress )

 

[TonyP-]

I'm not a drive or fuzz guy, I'm a distortion guy. And I'm playing extra precise because that gain and tone is very pronounced, which if in emulating rhythm shred but on bass, then it does require extra speed and care to be rhythmically on point.

So my experience is the opposite, I hear players that are the opposite as well.

Interesting, I’m guessing your sound has a lot more top end…Actually cool it hear it’s the opposite for you.

 

[TonyP-]

I switched over to enthenate, at 250% strength. This way I can do three shots a week of around .18ml with an insulin pin. Helps keep my red cell count lower. YMMV. The result of a big concussion during a motorcycle race.

I’m taking about 180 ml a week broken up in 2 shots, but I run late all the time. I take it you feel much better. I didn’t do it for Douchy reasons, I had to take to a for a long complicated med issue…Not fun, however…I would be lying if I said I don’t take advantage of the side effects

 

[TonyP-]

Drive adds sustain to your notes, making it tough to stop them fast. Note length is important in a lot of tunes - If you want to play something bouncy and/or staccato, you probably don't want drive.

Not a complicated concept.

Nope not at all, I have used the B3K in a prog rock settings but really blended way way done.

Currently use the lightest drive (to my ears) the EHX Soul Food, but it’s really just to get but it’s either to drive another effect or to pretend I’m Geezer from the Dio days…Not the doom stuff and that is only for a those kind of specific projects, my “fusion-esq” stuff is clean like as a porn star getting sphincter bleaching.

 

[TonyP-]

Nah, see you’re looking at it all wrong.

Do what I do.

Crank the drive, and play doom metal. If it slows you down… GOOD!

If I played that kind of music (which I don’t mind listing to on occasion) I would had the X or whatever it’s called by DG.

 

[skier 913]

I'm old enought to see how overdrives, fuzzs and distortions have gotten more popular in the last 25 years.

I honestly feel that I'm playing progressivly busy parts that with drive can feel way to blurried and not defined.
It feels sluggish to me.

This is not a knock to this effects, I mean I use slight overdrive on occasion, but not on buys parts.

This is just a discussion...
Cheers

Yah, one day a while back I said to myself "gee look, I can make every note on my $7000 rig sound like wet farts"...
so now I only use mass drive for 1 in every hundred songs..

 

[SactoBass]

If you listen to solo'ed bass on a lot of recordings you'll notice more drive than you realize listening to it in the mix.

I agree! Take, for example, Limelight by Rush. To my ears, it's pretty grindy sounding solo'ed, but it fits beautifully in the mix and doesn't sound as grindy in the mix.

SOLO'ED:


IN THE MIX:

 

[2saddleslab]

I've had drive/ OD "get in the way" rather than slowing me down. That was until I found the TC Spark. It's given me the Goldilocks OD that cuts thru, w/ no loss of low or high end, but just the right amount of grit.

 

[TonyP-]

I agree! Take, for example, Limelight by Rush. To my ears, it's pretty grindy sounding solo'ed, but it fits beautifully in the mix and doesn't sound as grindy in the mix.

SOLO'ED:


IN THE MIX:

You have a valid point…
I have had this discussion with several engineers that describe some saturation effects in the top end.

A good example is the type of soloing that influenced me by Jimmy Earl.
That dude, is seriously underrated.

Skip to the 4:15 mark in this video. I would find that type of playing challenging with dirt. I’m not saying this is for everyone, however I dig it and it’s also similar to how I approach.

 

[EricOnTheBass]

I find that overdrive warms the sound and helps it blend into the mix, at the expense of articulation, which was not what I’d expected when I first started using it myself. Sure, there’s some clipping, but most of what it does is add more harmonic content to the tone.

 

[RattleSnack]

Same here, I don't use OD/fuzz/dist except for synth sounds.
For me, bass tone has to have a precise sharp transient and it loses it (somewhat) with most OD/fuzzes/dists I tried.
That sharp transient is e.g. same with bass drum; it needs that 3.5kHz "peak".
I could close tone pot and mellow-down my tone for specific music genres and songs like ballads, but not in general.

 

[Solipsistik]

It seems like a lot of you guys consider "drive" to be an on/off thing - you can blend and control the level of drive to mitigate your concerns. Practice with it and find a setting that fits your playing or just leave it off - nobody is forcing you to use drive (unless you're playing through a tube amp that naturally has it).

 

[sunbeast]

Depending on what you are using to drive, it doesn’t have to be terribly different than using a compressor that just has some added flavor on top. I find light drive actually helps me play faster lines in the same way compression would, with the added benefit of some touch-sensitive harmonic grit on top when I dig in. I rarely play without a bit and only when using the wrong drive devices (or a tube amp without enough headroom for the particular gig) have I ever felt slowed down