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BOSS ODB-3 Bass Distortion

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:55 am
by cheyenne
Anyone got one?? I just picked up one off of Ebay cheap, and havent had a chance to play with it.

Setting suggestions?

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:59 am
by firstbassman
No Scott, sorry, I haven't.
But I've tried three or four others have been very unhappy with all of them. (Sans Amp, Ibanez, Behringer ...).
So if you do turn out to like it and can post some samples, I'd be curious to know.

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:27 am
by prog_rockin_metal_man
I have one and I hate it...I don't even use it anymore. It's only good for massive crazy distortion but it doesn't sound good...if you're looking for slight overdrive forget about it. But maybe my opinion is a little biased...I don't like digital stuff...I'm all about analog. Maybe you will like it...one man's trash is another man's treasure.

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:44 am
by captsandwich
I used one to record with in my old band. Strat through ODB-3 through solid state amp = monster heavy. Tons of low end & still screamingly trebly. It was the studios & I couldn't find one, so I bought an MT-2 Metal Zone to get similar (wall of noise) sounds live.

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:13 am
by loendmaestro
I could only seem to get a buzzsaw tone out of it & sold mine on ebay years ago. Hopefully it'll work better for you.

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:52 pm
by cheyenne
Yeah,,,Im not real happy with it.

I dont know why someone cant make a good sounding distortion pedal for bass.

The Sansamp is real close for me, but it just seems to scoop the mids to much.

Why??

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:52 pm
by hieronymous
Bass Drive! Bass Drive! Bass Drive!

(Fulltone that is - as in this thread...)

What kind of distortion sound are you going for?

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:40 pm
by cheyenne
Subtle. But ever-so present.

Nothing over the top. Chris Squire's Brassmaster sound. Some grind in the low end without "fuzzing" out in the top.

I want to get a good sound with my amp, then stomp on a box that will "add" some grind, without altering the EQ. (this for some reason beyond me, seems impossible for pedal makers).

Is this to much to ask for?

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 7:32 pm
by johnallg

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:12 am
by rickenbrother
The Sansamp is real close for me, but it just seems to scoop the mids to much.


Scott, you should check out the Sansamp Acoustic DI. The name makes it sound like it's made best for acoustic instruments, but it's basically a Bass Driver DI with a mid range control. It can produce the same amount of overdrive and distortion as the Bass Driver DI.
It was looking forward to picking up the newer programmable Bass Driver DI, thinking it had a mid control, but it doesn't. So, I'll just keep using the older one.

Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 2:06 am
by cheyenne
Thanks Joey.

Its called a Para-Driver now according to the Tech 21 website. I will be checking one of these out.

Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:43 am
by cheyenne
Im going to the local GC this weekend to sneer at the equipment and try out the Sansamp Para-Driver and MXR M80.

I will take my Fireglo 4003 with me.

Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:34 am
by rickenbrother
Scott, I didn't realize that they renamed the Acoustic DI. Para Driver is probably a better name for it so players won't just think it's only for use with acoustic instruments. If you like it, I might wind up with GAS for one.

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:03 am
by cheyenne
I ended up buying the MXR M80. Nice little box.
Its about $100 cheaper than the Sansamp Para Driver, has a mid control, built like a tank, and is dead quiet.

http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=257

I set my Ampeg B200R flat, plugged into the pedal and got some real nice tones, with and without distortion. the mid knob is nice.

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 11:39 am
by cheyenne
Ooooooh. This thing is really good with my 4004CII.

It brings out a low end presence thats not "dark" or "harsh" but maintains the "growl".

Me likes. Image

*Once again,,,its dead quiet.