62P-Bass Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Hi there, I'm after a distortion pedal. I'm running a vintage bass and valve amp, so I don't need it to warm up the sound or make it sound 'tubey', as it already does. I'm looking for something to sound raspy, but not too fizzy - if that is in any way a helpful description! Preferably with a small footprint - anything I should look into? I already have an EBS Valve Drive, but I don't need that much added warmth and is too big. I also have an Bass Blow Torch, which is pretty flexible, but just sounds too fizzy when I dial out the warmth/bottom end. Cheers, Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clauster Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 I love my EHX Bass Blogger for distortion. But it's not that small a foot-print. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvis Valentine Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 I like my cheap as chips EHX Bass Muff. Its pretty small but dunno if its what you mean by raspy or fizzy though. Its fairly versatile. I used to have A wooly mammoth clone , it was called a fuzzy elephant and that was pretty darn good. Also very small. Is there any tunes you have in mind that have the sort of sound you mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simwells Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 I tend to go straight to my Darkglass B3K for all things distorted, have you any examples of distorted sounds you like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 I like the MXR blowtorch. I haven't vast experience of distortion pedals but it hits the spot for me. http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/mxr-m181-bass-blowtorch-bass-guitar-effects-pedal--65034 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 I love the Emma Electronics ReezaFRATzitz. It can go from mild overdrive to full on distortion and doesn't lose the low end. Alternatively,I also really like the Pigtronix Polysaturator. It sounds great,it's pretty small and has a 3 band EQ.The Aria is similar but more overdrive than distortion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 I love my Fuzzrocious Oh See Demon - just great! Covers all my distortion needs. Alternatively you could try a RAT - go very nicely with your P and amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victor5string Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Xotic bass BB preamp, is really worth a look. Nice and small with great tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassPimp66 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Aguilar AGRO. Get one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Fretbuzz Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 I've only got one pedal...... So far :-) It's an Ashdown LoMenzo and it's great fun :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Marshall jackhammer is a great cheap option, it's got an EQ on it so you can pretty much get any tone you want! No blend knob, but it can sound great without anyway! I'm really intrigued by the Darkglass stuff at the moment though, very expensive but I've never heard a bad word about em! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1352402143' post='1862678'] I've only got one pedal...... So far :-) It's an Ashdown LoMenzo and it's great fun :-D [/quote] if I hadn't fallen head over heels with my DHA pedal then that's one that I'd have kept. Sounds brilliant and looks awesome. Fairly mahoosive footprint though. Edited November 8, 2012 by paul_5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62P-Bass Posted November 10, 2012 Author Share Posted November 10, 2012 Thanks guys - some great info. I don't know much about distortion so you've given me some great places to start. V helpful! Will let you know how I get on. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salt on your Bass? Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 Check out the Tech 21 XXL as well - very aggressive pedal that gives you what I'd call distortion rather than a fuzz or overdrive. Very in your face and solid. I a/b's this with the aguilar and preferred it, but the aguilar is also in the same ball park I think - I think I did a brief comparison on effects forum if you have a quick search - my thoughts only of course! Also a +1 for the Rat - I ran a turbo rat for a while that worked well. I'm intruiged by the B3K, but dont know that much about it. Loads of choice, just try out loads and have fun. Only difficult thing I find with distortions and fuzz is you dont get a proper feel until your at band volume in a band context as to whether its actually to your taste or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotelEcho Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) I've had some success getting a good metal distortion out of the MXR M-80 DI+, but I've caught the Darkglass bug recently too... Bit cheeky of me, but I'm selling off a modded Turbo Rat in the Effects marketplace at the minute - it wasn't quite the right tone for my zingy death metal sound, but with an old P-bass and a valve amp, I bet it would sound bloody marvellous. [/plug] Edited November 20, 2012 by HotelEcho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 I'm a big advocate of the Xotic BB Preamp. I have one as well as a clone, they're both awesome, although I favour the clone slightly. For most people the Darkglass B3K is the best distortion around, it's probably also the most expensive (for what it is). Definitly also check out the Fuzzrocious offerings, the Oh See Demon is probably the most similar to the BB Pre circuit, being based on a hyped up OCD circuit. Their Rat Tail is also great, obviously based on a Rat but voiced more for bass with loads of features. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clauster Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 ARRRRGH!!!! Gas attack! I had to go and look at the Fuzzrocious page. I'm more of an od/distortion rather than fuzz kinda guy. For two years I've been pretty happy with my Bass Blogger, but now I've stumbled across the Rat Tail. Lovely, just what I want. Except I then looked at (and listened to) the King Rat. I don't need all the extra features, but I've got to have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Haha, let me know if you order one Ryan and family are great to deal with! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 I've been looking for another distortion pedal (well,more overdrive really),despite already having the EMMA, Pigtronix and a EHX Bass Big Muff. I was looking at all the funky stuff and was very tempted by Fuzzrocious and Wampler,and I was leaning towards the Xotic BB Preamp. But....the other day I tried a pedal on a whim and bought it there and then-an Ibanez Jemini. What a great pedal. It's got a really good overdrive channel, based on a slightly modded Tubescreamer,and a good distortion channel based on Vai's modded Boss DS-1. I was expecting it to have a lot of low end loss,but with the tone knobs you can dial in quite a lot of low end if you want. I think I'm going to be using this pedal quite a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prunesquallor Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 There's also the Malekko Bassmaster, Flea's fave fuzz. Never gets much love on these pages, tho, for some reason - probably the cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 [quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1353634975' post='1876920'] I've been looking for another distortion pedal (well,more overdrive really),despite already having the EMMA, Pigtronix and a EHX Bass Big Muff. I was looking at all the funky stuff and was very tempted by Fuzzrocious and Wampler,and I was leaning towards the Xotic BB Preamp. But....the other day I tried a pedal on a whim and bought it there and then-an Ibanez Jemini. What a great pedal. It's got a really good overdrive channel, based on a slightly modded Tubescreamer,and a good distortion channel based on Vai's modded Boss DS-1. I was expecting it to have a lot of low end loss,but with the tone knobs you can dial in quite a lot of low end if you want. I think I'm going to be using this pedal quite a lot. [/quote] I'd seen the Jemini pedal and did wonder what it'd be like on bass. Can you have both halves on at the same time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 [quote name='dood' timestamp='1353667997' post='1877111'] I'd seen the Jemini pedal and did wonder what it'd be like on bass. Can you have both halves on at the same time? [/quote] No,you can't have both on at once-when you turn one side on,it turns the other off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 [quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1353678073' post='1877304'] No,you can't have both on at once-when you turn one side on,it turns the other off. [/quote] poopie! lol. Ok. Shame as I think paired they could generate some rather nasty noises Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 What cabs are you using? Please don't say you're using tweeters! Old school bass and amp deserve an old school cab. I'm using a Boss ODB-3 into an Orange Terror Bass and Ampeg SVT210AV, the natural rolloff from the cab filters out the fizz that the pedal is notorious for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Eugh, ODB-3 . You might roll off the fizzle, but I just didn't find any decent grind/texture in the low-end whatsoever. It's worth just trying as much as you possibly can....in a gig setting, playing in your room or a shop doesn't tell you anything about how a pedal (or anything) sits in a mix!. You might love something that we hate and vice-versa. Another random suggestion is a Bogdan Polish Love, excellent low-end retention, but slightly more 'Fuzz' than 'Distortion' Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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