timmyo Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Seems like a popular topic :-) My situation is that I recently sold my roundwound-equipped bass because to my noob-type hands I just prefer the feel of my Squier CV P with flats. So that's the instrument it needs to work for for a start. I'd like something that's going to give me anything from a little bit of grit, through to something that'd hang in classic rock music if I have a hankering to break out the plectrum. I'm not sure if starting from a P with flats means that so,e pedals,rather than others might be a good first look. Any ideas? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Budget? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmyo Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 (edited) Good point. Budget is open - just nothing vintage/collect able Thanks Edited March 19, 2016 by timmyo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 My fave for a warm subtle overdrive to pair with a P and flats is the Bearfoot Blueberry. It's a dark sounding pedal though and not the best for aggressive pick playing (for which I turn to either an Aguilar Agro, Two Notes Le Bass or Pike Vulcan). Definitely check out the VT Bass, that can cover a wide range and sounds great. If there's one thing I've learnt from all my years of pedal fiddling though, it's that everyone's ears, opinions, gear and playing styles are different, and you can't even rely on a YouTube demo most of the time. The true path to enlightenment requires buying and selling to try as many as you can to see what works for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1458419259' post='3007558'] My fave for a warm subtle overdrive to pair with a P and flats is the Bearfoot Blueberry. It's a dark sounding pedal though and not the best for aggressive pick playing (for which I turn to either an Aguilar Agro, Two Notes Le Bass or Pike Vulcan). Definitely check out the VT Bass, that can cover a wide range and sounds great. If there's one thing I've learnt from all my years of pedal fiddling though, it's that everyone's ears, opinions, gear and playing styles are different, and you can't even rely on a YouTube demo most of the time. The true path to enlightenment requires buying and selling to try as many as you can to see what works for you! [/quote] I can +1 the Blueberry, although mine has a bit of a twist. I built my own to BJFE specs then made a few mods to brighten it a little. As Danny says they're a little dark as standard. For me it's a great pedal. Better than the EHX Bass Soul Food that will no doubt be suggested. If diy isn't an option you could try the uber bee from bearfoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbowskill Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1458419259' post='3007558'] My fave for a warm subtle overdrive to pair with a P and flats is the Bearfoot Blueberry. It's a dark sounding pedal though and not the best for aggressive pick playing (for which I turn to either an Aguilar Agro, Two Notes Le Bass or Pike Vulcan). Definitely check out the VT Bass, that can cover a wide range and sounds great. If there's one thing I've learnt from all my years of pedal fiddling though, it's that everyone's ears, opinions, gear and playing styles are different, and you can't even rely on a YouTube demo most of the time. The true path to enlightenment requires buying and selling to try as many as you can to see what works for you! [/quote] Perfectly put :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhet Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 You could pick up a Zoom B3 for the price of most decent drive pedals. The available patches would give you a lot of information on any pedals you might want to try with the added bonus of loads of other effects + tuner + looper in a giggable and very versatile unit. Don't write this piece of kit off because it is a 'multi' unit - it's really very good and fantastic value for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 (edited) Personally I would steer clear of Zoom multis. They're great for learning about effects, or having a lot of different effects in one box with presets, but if you're at all fussy (like I am) about your overdrive sounds I think you'd be very dissatisfied (like I was). I've nothing against digital effects though - in fact if I were you I would wait for the Source Audio Aftershock to be released in April, it has a ton of models from tubey overdrive to fuzz, including a model of the Darkglass B3K, and ridiculously in-depth parameter tweaking app to fine tune it: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/npd-sa-aftershock.1211545 I've owned it's its predecessor the OFD and a couple of the models were very good at copping the old school P Bass + tube amp tones. Edited March 20, 2016 by dannybuoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmyo Posted March 20, 2016 Author Share Posted March 20, 2016 Thanks all so far ! Yes I've been down the 'modestly'priced'multifx' route back in the day as a guitarist and it's really not for me. Fewer, quality, one-knob-one-function pedals are what make me happy. I already have an EBS Bassiq, Aguilar Octamizer, Markbass (actually DV Mark but it's identical inside) Comrpessore and happy with those - looking for a dedicated overdrive unit to 'finish' the set. That Source Audio does look interesting, will do some googling. A friend has recommended a Vintage Microtubes Deluxe I saw a demo of the Xotic BB Bass Preamp which seemed ok. As a wise man above said, I probably just need to pick something and begin the never-ending cycle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbowskill Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 Someone is selling a bb on here for £100....... Can't go wrong with em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbowskill Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 I would recommend my sparkledrive..... But,you know ;-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazWills Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 It's so much down to taste and the rest of your gear / setup. Personally, I love the xotic bass BB with my P , so a second hand one is as good a place as any to start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmyo Posted March 20, 2016 Author Share Posted March 20, 2016 Right then, if it's still there when my bits and bobs sell I shall have it, and begin the journey... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Otto Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 (edited) I'm in the same position as you are, testing out overdrives. A couple of recommendations: - if you have the cash flow, ordering a bunch from somewhere like Thomann, or anywhere else with a decent return policy, is not a bad way to go...this way you can a/b different pedals. - do a little research and find out what people like -- if you can get a decent deal on a popular used pedal in perfect working order, you should be able to flip it easily enough if you don't like it. i've been doing this too with good success. - there are LOTS of flavors of overdrive (dark like the bearfoot blueberry, transparent like the grizzly or barbershop, light od's without a ton of range, etc., etc.). i am personally in love with the grizzly, it can cover pretty much anything, especially when you consider that it has od AND distortion knobs. just be aware that if you play a passive bass, you might need a boost to feed into it -- i did for my precision. i can also vouch for the bearfoot über bee, although it's not as flexible as the grizzly. both are what you would call 'transparent'. the aftershock also looks pretty sick, btw... good luck navigating this rabbit hole Edited March 21, 2016 by Crazy Otto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamg67 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 You might want to stick the Digitech Hardwire CM-2 OD on your list of things to try, better than some boutique ODs IMO, very transparent and very flexible. Lots of people like the Solid Gold FX Beta If you fancy the "real thing" you can't go wrong with DHA preamps and ODs, very good and amazing customer service: [url="http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/page8.html"]http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/page8.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panamonte Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 (edited) [quote name='adamg67' timestamp='1458562737' post='3008545'] If you fancy the "real thing" you can't go wrong with DHA preamps and ODs, very good and amazing customer service: [url="http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/page8.html"]http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/page8.html[/url] [/quote] +1 Since I picked up a DHA VT2-Twin EQ-Std Bass here last year, my Tone Hammer, VT Bass, CM-2, BBBOD and B3K haven't had a look in. I just stick a Zoom MS 60B in front of the DHA for any additional bits and pieces I need and my big heavy pedalboard stays at home. Edited March 22, 2016 by Panamonte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 The Xotic BB is nice for very low gain sounds, but I didn't like it so much once the grit really kicks in. The EHX Bass Sould Food is pretty good sounding, to me, and does great with low gain sounds as well as higher gain, it just doesn't go very high gain. The YouTube videos on this pedal are all terrible, by the way... do not judge it based on them. The VT-Bass is very very versatile. It covers a very wide range of types of overdrive as well as low to high gain... if you don't have much experience on overdrives I'd probably suggest this one first. It's easy to find used, and if you hate it you'll sell it fast too. Regardless, it would probably allowe you ot experiment with different sounds and figure out what kind of overdriven bass you like best. From there, if you feel the VT-Bass is not exactly it, you can get much more focused suggestions later on if you tell us what you liked... The DarkGlass Microtubes Vintage is also nice, but I found it a bit too dark and I sold mine quickly, we didn't get along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmyo Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 Really helpful comments guys, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 [quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1458735971' post='3010286'] The DarkGlass Microtubes Vintage is also nice, but I found it a bit too dark and I sold mine quickly, we didn't get along. [/quote] If you want a brighter VMT, check out the Vulcan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmyo Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 I've plumped initially for for a used BB Bass Preamp from the classifieds and will see how I get on Cheers Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazWills Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 enjoy - I do love mine for low to medium drive, particularly backing back the treble a little bit and slightly boosting the bass on the pedals EQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 I leave my EQ dead flat. Great touch sensitive early Sabbath tones with a Precision! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazWills Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 yep - best sounding o/d I've ever used for playing with fingers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blank20 Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 I can recommend theese three effects http://www.ebay.com/bhp/bass-effects-pedal http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Electro-Harmonix-Bass-Soul-Food-Transparent-Overdrive/15ZS https://gb.muzyczny.pl/148530_Pigtronix-Bass-Fat-Drive-pedal.html I would choose soul food or pigtronix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubbersoul Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 I've been using the Digitech Bad Monkey for years and I absolutely love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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