good clean overdrive sound......

[ojplaysbass]

right......

i'm looking for a good overdrive sound to play a solo with - it's a pop arrangement so it needs to be not too aggressive

i'm not sure if i'm searching for an impossible tone

i was kind of inspired by the bass note at the beginning of Marcus Miller's arrangement of 'Frankenstein'

can anyone recommend anything suitable? I've already tried using a big muff but that was way too aggressive and saturating.

cheers

James

[lettsguitars]

not sure there is such a thing as clean overdrive.

Edited January 28, 2012 by lettsguitars

[Geester]

Xotic Bass BB pre-amp - would be perfect for what you're looking for........

[I am not excane]

[quote name='Geester' timestamp='1327786075' post='1516883']
Xotic Bass BB pre-amp - would be perfect for what you're looking for........
[/quote]

+1

I second this. Great sound and great price.

[GazWills]

ha - you both beat me to it, i was going to say that too - turn up the bass a bit and wind down the treble, and just a smidge of gain, and there you go!

[REDLAWMAN]

Either the Darkglass BK3 or BK7...?

Edited January 29, 2012 by REDLAWMAN

[ahpook]

i'm still very impressed by my wounded paw black sheep for that kind of sound (i had to check a you tube recording of 'frankenstein' to see what you meant tho)

[ojplaysbass]

thanks guys - plenty of food for thought there - time to go out and start testing pedals

[Ghost_Bass]

Ibanez Tubescreamer TS9B! The clean blend will allow you to retains some good clean definition on your sound.

[mcnach]

[quote name='REDLAWMAN' timestamp='1327796801' post='1517059']
Either the Darkglass BK3 or BK7...?
[/quote]

I love my BK3, and it's inded quite transparent and does a good mild overdrive, but it's slightly aggressive sounding.
I just got a Xotic Bass BB and I think it would be much more suited. I bought this for a "always on" kind of very mild overdrive sound, and it is very good.

[REDLAWMAN]

Apolgies in advance for this blatant hijack: mcnach- which of the two would you recommend if I'm seeking to emulate the Bryan Adams/Steve Harley-type, pleasant, golden overdrive, please?

[mcnach]

[quote name='REDLAWMAN' timestamp='1328138817' post='1522675']
Apolgies in advance for this blatant hijack: mcnach- which of the two would you recommend if I'm seeking to emulate the Bryan Adams/Steve Harley-type, pleasant, golden overdrive, please?
[/quote]

The Xotic Bass BB, in my opinion. More of a "classic" overdrive.

[skidder652003]

DHA VT-1 or VT-2 nice clean overdrive.
[url="http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/page18.html"]http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/page18.html[/url]

[sk8]

SFX Red Dragon

[ojplaysbass]

cheers guys

[RichF]

[quote name='sk8' timestamp='1328171532' post='1522837']
SFX Red Dragon
[/quote]

yes to this - very "clean" OD with added advantage of tiny footprint on board.

[ojplaysbass]

has anyone seen any video demos / sound samples of the sfx red dragon? it looks awesome

[ratman]

here's a link you should check out for the micro red dragon-
[url="http://soundcloud.com/marklatimour/sets/a-set-of-bass-overdrive-distortion-clips-anonymised"]http://soundcloud.co...lips-anonymised[/url]
clips 3 and 6 are the ones.

the pedals used in the clips are:

Clip 1: Fuzzrocious Dark Driving

Clip 2: FEA Dual Band Distortion - this was run on full range with both the high and low bands distorting.

Clip 3: SFX Micro-RD - this was run in a "low gain" [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/#"]mode[/url] with just a touch of break up (gain at 11 o'clock).

Clip 4: SFX Micro-BD - this was run in a "high gain" mode with the gain set about 3 oclock.

Clip 5: BJFE BBBOD - this was run "low gain" with the gain about 11 oclock

Clip 6: SFX Micro-RD - this was run in "high gain" mode with the gain set at maximum

Clip 7: Darkglass Electronics Harmonic Booster - this was a little unfair as the pedal is not an overdrive or distortion pedal but a boost pedal. In order to get break up in the pedal (and not at the input of the saffire) I had to cut the bass and treble and it shows in the midrangy tone. This pedal sounds wonderful clean.

Clip 8: SFX Micro-BD - this was run with gain at minimum

Clip 9: FEA Dual Band - this was run with the high end distortion circuit bypassed (ie distortion on the low end only).

Clip 10: BJFE Blueberry - this was run at high gain with the gain set at maximum.

Edited October 3, 2012 by ratman

[paul_5]

[quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1328144383' post='1522750']
DHA VT-1 or VT-2 nice clean overdrive.
[url="http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/page18.html"]http://www.davehalla....uk/page18.html[/url]
[/quote]

The VT2 might be a bit of an overkill for this, the second channel goes from fairly mental to King George 6th pretending to be Napoleon whilst making love to a space-hopper in the bath. On a wednesday.

The VT1 EQ will allow you to EQ the drive sound too, so you could roll off some od the high end and boost a little bit of the bottom end.

[51m0n]

[quote name='ojplaysbass' timestamp='1328315049' post='1525586']
has anyone seen any video demos / sound samples of the sfx red dragon? it looks awesome
[/quote]

Had a play with one at the SE Bass Bash - it goes from "no gain, very clean", up to "starting to rock out" very smoothly indeed - there is definitely a point in that transsition which would give you just the bite you need and no more, am now GASing for one myself

Edited October 3, 2012 by 51m0n