Sigh. I cannot seem to find a dirt sound that I like.
Current chain: Passive PJ or Active J > Line6 Relay > MXR Bass Compressor > Blueberry Bass OD > Tuner > Distortion > MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe > MXR M81 Bass Preamp > Amp (GK 500MB Fusion) or FOH
Other than the tuner, I normally have everything on except the distortion. It gives an excellent sound with which I am ecstatically happy. But for a couple of tracks, I need to get my level of dirt up - think "Ace of Spades" or The Hives' "Hate To Say I Told You So". So far, I have tried a Darkglass Vintage Microtubes Deluxe, a Darkglass BK3 clone, an MXR M85 Bass Distortion and a Rat clone. The best out of all those four was the Rat clone, but it had no bottom end at all.
I am after something which will retain a little clarity whilst simultaneously give a heap of dirt. A load of bass so that it hits you in the guts. I bought the MXR M85 thinking it was, essentially, a Rat with a blend, but I cannot get it to make a sound I like. It is either too muddy or too tame.
Any suggestions? Or is it time to look at a line selector and a Rat? Truth be told, I have been considering a line selector to help balance the output of dirty v clean and/or active v passive.