Distortion for Bass

highway_star · Post by **highway_star** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:02 pm

Ampeg SVT with Gain knob set to "Stun".

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:07 pm

God I love distortion on a bass guitar ...

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:08 pm

My bandmate uses a Zvex fuzz that is INCREDIBLE!

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:11 pm

Jeff...

Do you use your POD for distortion? If so, what settings?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 9:07 pm

yep ... I have the 1st version of the bass pod ... and I use the amp 360 model and I use compression and distortion ... it makes for a really cool bass sound ... I can control the distortion and get distortion at any volume level ... I really really hate plugging straight into an amp now ... I just have to have distortion and compression ... as per the settings ... I will get back to you ... I am away from my equipment for a couple of days ...

clankchris · Post by **clankchris** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 9:21 pm

I've tried the Tech 21 BDDI, but not on my Rick, only on my active, EMG-equipped bass, and thought it sucked too much mids out of my tone.. it may be better on a passive bass, though... but I broke it

I also have a Boss Bass Overdrive, and I think it sounds like a bee in a can.....yech!

... Just won a Tech 21 Comptortion pedal on Ebay tonight, so I'll soon post a review...

I was looking for a sound to replace the grit of my all-tube Mesa Bass 400, so the jury's out on the Comptortion....

I know it's a guitar pedal, but many bassists give the comptortion glowing reveiws of the Just-Breaking-up sound of a real tube amp, and say they have more aggressive mids than the sansamp BDDI....

Another "guitar" pedal that bassists seem to embrace is the DOD Preamp 250...

I reccomend you try them if you're interested in an all-analogue tone, instead of digital...

Read the reviews on Harmony-Central for both..
look for Tech 21 Comptortion, and DOD Vintage Distortion... one bassist in all of those guitarists, and they both say the things that I like to hear...also try the Effects forum in Talkbass, as many pedals have been tried there, also..

clankchris · Post by **clankchris** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 9:26 pm

Oh yeah, sorry to repost, but the pedal is for the Hartke in our practice space, NOT to replace my beloved Mesa...much too heavy to lug back and forth every week, in a small Mustang

morbass · Post by **morbass** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 6:54 am

I've heard this Digitech pedal used to get a good SVT grind. http://www.digitech.com/products/xseriesflash/BassDriver.html

I've a friend who uses it with an uber clean Eden. Sounds pretty good!. Me, I lug the 400+ or the Marshall

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:49 am

The Digitech pedal is quite good, but at times it gets very transparently digital, i.e. the effect doesn't sound 'natural', so to speak. It really depends on what you're doing and what bass you're using, but I found that on my Ric, I can actually identify the cutoff point while I'm playing between the normal Ric sound and the digital distortion added onto it. That being said, it sounds BRILLIANT on my 5-string Tobias. Perfect for metal or really gritty rock or anything fuzzed out, as the pickups have a much less cutting and punchy character, and so the effects feel natural. It's a good investment (I'll be keeping mine in addition to the Fulltone), but you should definitely try it out with several different basses, all through the same amp.

As for the Tech 21, isn't the reason it sucks mids because it doesn't have a mid control? You could try just using the rackmount Sansamp (because it has mid control) for a distortion/overdrive box. Apparently that works, though I've not tried it.

bear · Post by **bear** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 1:54 pm

I've been getting fantastic distortion from my Fulltone Bass Drive and a Prescription Electronics Depth Charge for the past year or so.
I just added a Red Witch Fuzz God to the mix but I haven't had the chance to fire it up on the big rig yet but on the practice amp I got a sneak peek and this is some serious tone shaping buzz induced mayhem in this pedal.
I had to laugh when I noticed the control knob labeled "Wrath" which is invoked via the "Lightning Bolt" footswitch. My gosh does this control ever release some insane subterranean mayhem into the mix.
I'll try and post a review once I have it all sussed out, there are so many sounds in this little chrome box it boggles the mind.

refusedchad · Post by **refusedchad** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 9:38 pm

wow really dfa 1979 uses just his amps? thats crazy! i think i hear some flange in there too though

the cabs that guy uses are really large and have a lot of small speakers in them.... it looks like 8X12 or something with a lot of horns. thats from a distance though

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:26 am

I got a Sansamp Bass Driver for Christmas!! I also lost all respect for Sam Ash music and Guitar Center. But thats another story, anyone got some setting suggestions for a good Chris Squire tone???

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:29 am

Eric, or anyone else, I've got one of those digitech distortion pedals for sale (mint, with box, and paperwork) If anyones interested, email me.

http://www.digitech.com/products/xseriesflash/BassDriver.html

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 12:11 pm

ok here are my settings ...

amp model = amp 360, output level = 3-5, drive = 2-5, bass = 8, middle = 2-5, treble = 8, chan vol = 10, compress = 5, effect tweak = 0, effect = rodent, add a cabinet effect if you wish ...

then on my ampeg b2r I set my EQ like this ...

my tone controls are all at the 4-6 range and the volume is 3-4 ... I run into 2 2x10 cabs with eminence speakers and then mike it with an sm 57 into a big pa with 6000 watts and big 18" sub-woofers and 3 way mains ...

I tried the sans amp and digitech and sold them both and kept using the pod ...

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 12:38 pm

"anyone got some setting suggestions for a good Chris Squire tone??"

Scott, for a Squire like tone I set the Sansamp BDDI very similar to the SVT setting that comes with the manual, except I turn the Drive knob to about 1 to 2 o'clock. I also use the BDDI along with the Tech 21 Basscompactor (their compressor) to get sounds I want. The rest is in your technique. Have fun with that pedal, you'll love it, especially at a gig or for recording. That works out well through my SWR rig.
I've had people comment that my tone is like Geddy Lee's and Squire's at times...yeah when I want it to be.