Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I know this has been done over and over. But what is the general opinion of the stomp box style distortion pedals? I have a ZOOM 506 that has distortion, but even when I tweak the parameters myself, I still cant get anything close to what I am looking for, (Geddy Lee type distorted sound). I realize that Geddy sends three different signals to the board, but still, it seems that something out there should give me a tone similar. What does everyone use??

I know that Jeff Rath swears by the bass Pod, I've also heard of the Hartke VX pedal, what else is out there??????????

I have an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff. It's the big black one, not the original nor the vintage re-issue one. Just be careful to not be as dumb as I have, blowing out speakers while goofing off playing too loud!!! Boy, was that a stupid costly mistake. Those voice coils do heat up pretty quick.

Fulltone Bassdrive - takes a bit of tweaking, but no loss of low end.

Sans amp and bass pod ... my first 2 choices ... Geddy uses the Sans amp ...

In spite of the fact that Geddy uses one, I use a SansAmp as well. I also have the MXR M-80.

Anybody use a Variac for distortion on their tube amp? I've heard those are really good for your amp!

I use an Ibanez Tube Screamer and it's awesome!
But that's common knowledge I think.

distortion rules!!!

I have no idea if it would give a Geddy Lee sound, but I absolutely LOVE the Z. Vex Woolly Mammoth as a bass FUZZ (not distortion, not overdrive, but FUZZ, no subtle effect possible) pedal. Not cheap, but I haven't heard any other type of distortion pedal where the low end holds up (which is one of the main reasons for splitting your signal).

(Immediate edit: I haven't heard the Fulltone Bassdrive, but I'm sure that holds the low end well for a more subtle distortion; I do have a SABDDI which does a pretty good distortion, but won't rip your face off like the Mammoth.)

Geddy uses and has used many different basses and effects ... I know some of what he uses is a sans amp and a speaker simulator ... he runs 3 signals into the PA one normal, one with boosted bass and one with distortion ... these three signals are blended into what you hear ...

I've been looking for that elusive crunchy tone Geddy had on Permanent Waves/Moving Pictures for ever. I came close using an SWR amp, 4x10 cab, Keeley compressor, & fiddling with the gain and compressor settings. Just the natural bite of the 4001 (with Seymour Duncans) and the eq of the amp seems to come close but still too clean. I haven't tried overdrive. I've got a very nice Diamond Fireburst overdrive I use for guitar. Might try that soon (if the soundguy doesn't freak too much).
The Keeley Compressor doesn't effect your tone but seems to allow you to bump the gain a little more without actually driving the amp too hard.
Anyway, I highly recommend both SWR amps & cabs and Robert Keeley's compressor for anyone looking for "boutique" quality gear.

I 2nd the suggestion of a Fulltone Bassdrive. It maintains great lowend and can range from very subtle overdrive to "Anesthesia" filth. I started out using it for just obvious effects but found the more subtle settings great for in my "normal" tone. I was shooting for a Geddy (not a fan) type tone leaning towards Lemmy (BIG fan). Done !

For nailing a specific tone there are so many variables from technique, Ric model, other effects, amp/head and speaker cabinets. So what I find provides a great tone may not appeal to you and our definitions of a signature tone could be interpreted differently......so my $0.02 is pretty worthless.

I use the MXR Distortion +. It gives me some great tones. . .but personally I like the distortion my amp provides. I have a crate GT212 and it has great distortion. It responds quite well to tone changes, very dynamic and tweakable.

Slightly off topic, but the HOLY GRAIL reverb pedal is the HOLY GRAIL of reverb pedals..... GREAT sound.

I was once with a band that played Moving Pictures in it's entirety and to get that sound, I played my '75 4001(with neck toaster) through an old GK 400RB. I've long since forgotten the actual tone settings but the main component of the sound was turning the pre amp volume and boost up all the way and overdriving the main gain.