dannybuoy

I don't suppose you or your bass player have tried the Keeley Neutrino? Haven't seen many comparisons about between the two!

The pre is hot but mine doesn't distort - as long as you pad the input or turn down the gain on your amp you'll be fine. I use an Orange Terror... are you sure the distortion is coming from the bass and not the next thing in the chain? I tried the Stinger and it sounded dull to me, so put the original back in. I have a John East Stingray pre to try out next when I get time to mess about with it!

The SFT is certainly warm, but doesn't have really deep bass I find. If you try and boost it it sounds bad since the EQ is before the clipping section. Nice pedal though, and it was my main od until the Bearfoot Blueberry arrived (so check that out too!). The BB Preamp is another one worth a look, since it has a hi/lo EQ that can give a healthy wallop of boost. I hear that the Digitech Hardwire CM-2 is comparable if you want something cheaper and easier to find. Downside of the Beta though is that the bass boost is always there, and it always sounds a tad dark even with the tone all the way up.

+1 for the Beta. Definitely fat in the lows, it boost the bass.

Idiot Box Blower Box. Seriously the best bargain drive pedal out there - you have to order from the US but it's worth it. It's like a RAT but with crazy amount of low end on tap, and with a growly bass like a J / PJ / Ray and a pick, I have not found anything better for aggressive sounds. It offers something very different to the VMT and BBM, which I have too. The demos concentrate on the high gain sounds but there are some lower gain examples too (which is where it sounds best), check[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] this video at 6:45:[/font][/color] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbIFevxp-1Q#t=405 [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbIFevxp-1Q[/media]

Those adapters can work but since the inputs are not buffered and connected directly to each other, it can sometimes produce strange results depending on the pedals in question. Worth a try though. By the way, any blender pedal can be used to combine 2 signals - just plug into the input and return, ignoring the send. I'd recommend one of these since not only will you have the possibility of a phase switch, but you can also repurpose it as a standard wet/dry blend at a later date when you next have different ideas and change your pedalboard.

This would almost fit the bill, but only does 9/12/18v: http://www.cioks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=90

A owl?! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQMsgDnH0j8

The best sounding P I ever played was a Classic 50s, but I found the neck too wide and the fingerboard edge too sharp, not a good combination for my small hands. But a used US standard would give you the best value (and resale value)!

If you're considering the Beta, check out the Beaefoot Blueberry too (similar but ten times better if you ask me!). Pedals respond in very different ways to different players and basses (and ears!), so expect a long journey ahead of trying different things out you see what works for you!

I didn't think it sounded that great in the online demos on Youtube, the octave sounded quite warbly. An average overdrive with a sub-par octaver in a cool-looking box, if you ask me!

I would seek a new overdrive, and which one would depend on your sound and playing style... But a Darkglass VMT Deluxe is great for adding blendable 'guitar amp distortion' on top of your basic bass sound.

I would put the freeze before the organ sim. Assuming the organ has some kind of rotary speaker sim or other modulation, it won't sound quite right when 'frozen', but if a frozen note is put into it, it can add its goodness on top. Also consider getting an EHX B9 or C9 for organ sounds, there is nothing better!

One of my favourite pedals, and I've tried many! Most people that slate it were probably looking for a warm overdrive - this is not the droid you are looking for. I use mine at high gain though, blend at 1 o'clock, gain at 3 o'clock, slight bass boost and treble cut - going into a relatively dark sounding rig (Orange TB500 + Ampeg SVT210AV - tweeterless, which tames the fizz)). I first saw the light after seeing Acid King live where the bassist was playing one with a Jazz into a cranked Ampeg SVT and 810 in a small/medium venue, absolutely crushing tone. It needs a growly scooped sounding bass to shine though - I don't like it with a P-Bass, but with a Stingray or the PJ pickups from my BB, it snarls like a dog.

I thought you were going to tell us you were leaving because you didn't like the other band members' dress sense or haircuts. But it sounds like you have valid reasons, so not shallow at all!

Bear in mind removing the tone and/or volume pots changes the load on the pickups and makes the tone brighter (too thin IMHO). Best to leave those knobs intact!

I guess you'd have to avoid placing it on a deep pile rug or carpet to stop blocking that port on the bottom?

I got quite a good tube drive out of my old Zoom B2 too, but struggled with the B3 (and it's current generation siblings like the B1on and MS60B).

Sounds good at low gain, like a watered down ODB-3 at high gain though. I bet they are similar circuits.