Make my Little Mark sound valvey

[malcolm.mcintyre]

Don't know about you, but increasingly the gigs I'm getting just call for my little Mark Bass rig, rather than my valve behemoths. The Little Mark does a job, but I'd like a simple pedal to just give some tubey sounding warmth (like a vintage Ampeg SVT would be nice).
I am NOT looking for actual distortion.
Many are advertised, but do any actually sound any good?

Edited December 30, 2012 by malcolm.mcintyre

[discreet]

I can certainly recommend the Tech-21 VT Bass for 'that' SVT sound. The Behringer BDI-21 punches way above its weight too, for the price. I used one with a MB LM250 for a time and it was amazing.

[danweb22]

The new Darkglass Vintage pedal sounds ideal for what you are looking for. I have the B7K and it can do valve warmth (as well as distortion) and it's an amazing pedal, so would think the Vintage would be equally as good.

[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Darkglass_Vintage_tubes.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Darkglass_Vintage_tubes.html[/url]

[stinson]

What Discreet says, I have a BDI-21 into a LMII and it does a great job, especially for the price

[Lozz196]

BDI-21 as already mentioned, or a DHA (Dave Hall Amps) VT1.

[malcolm.mcintyre]

Thanks. I have listened to quite a few (admittedly mainly on You Tube) and most sound more like standard distortion pedals to my ears. I'm wondering if it needs an actual valve or two to get the desired effect. So the Dave Hall looks interesting. Particularly as I'd like to buy British to avoid import duties. The EBS valve effect pedal sounds good on the samples too.

Edited December 30, 2012 by malcolm.mcintyre

[Ant]

I've got a darkglass vintage microtubes coming in January and it sounds like what you're after, there aren't any soundclips at the moment, but based on how much I love their b3k I dove right in!

[Muzz]

I used a BDI-21 as above, and also a Sansamp BDDI into my LMIII. They both sounded good and SVT-like, and so similar that if I ever went that way again I'd be tempted to save the money and just get the Behringer. Given how little they cost, it's worth trying one.

[Mog]

Ebs valve drive? Might be a little too woolly for some but I like the way it grits up at lower gain settings.

[skidder652003]

well as everyone will recommend (by and large) what they use themselves, i'm putting my pennys worth and recommending Dave Halls's VT-2 pedals, 2 valves per pedal, not much distortion but very warm. There you go.

http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/page18.html

not that cheap but very good, would never be without mine now.

Edited December 31, 2012 by skidder652003

[rmorris]

[quote name='malcolm.mcintyre' timestamp='1356869513' post='1914426']
I am NOT looking for actual distortion.
[/quote]

Well it is distortion ( if it wasn't it would sound the same as without the effect ! ) but I guess it's not "what I like to call" DISTORTION

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1356938921' post='1915290']
I used a BDI-21 as above, and also a Sansamp BDDI into my LMIII. They both sounded good and SVT-like, and so similar that if I ever went that way again I'd be tempted to save the money and just get the Behringer. Given how little they cost, it's worth trying one.
[/quote]

+1 from experience a BDDI with a modest Drive setting will give you a sound along the lines you're looking for and given that most people reckon the Behringer BDI sound similar then prob worth a go.

If you do fancy having a real tube on a budget then might want to think about giving an ART Tube MP mic preamp a go. It's a low voltage 'starved grid' circuit so tube purists will probably scoff but it may get you something you like soundwise. They seem to go for well under £50ish on ebay / gumtree etc.

[jaydentaku]

If you want [b]clean[/b] tube warmth, no messing, LBP-2ube by EHX.


OooH! I have one for sale, linked in my signature. How handy!

[Prime_BASS]

Personally, I'd use a both a valve preamp pedal and a valve loaded compressor.

[GarethFlatlands]

[quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1356953698' post='1915450']
well as everyone will recommend (by and large) what they use themselves, i'm putting my pennys worth and recommending Dave Halls's VT-2 pedals, 2 valves per pedal, not much distortion but very warm. There you go.

[url="http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/page18.html"]http://www.davehalla....uk/page18.html[/url]

not that cheap but very good, would never be without mine now.
[/quote]

I'd 2nd a DHA pedal, I had the VT1 and sold it because it wasn't enough growl but it certainly added a nice tube element to the sound.

[LukeFRC]

Caitlinbread SFT - the schematic is just a bit similar to a transistorised SVT....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_VjBTsx4gg

[dan670844]

How about an Art MP/C tube preaamp very good at adding tube warmth and the mpc has got a tube vatrol compressor on it will add nice tube preamp warmth, and add a bit of delicate amount of tube compression only £100 they sound nice, but you will not get the output tube harmonics and warmth which it is all about. Way i do it is an ashdown lb30 and a lb112 and di to FOH stage monitors the lb has a di which comes out of the output transformer. Sound is lush through a pa as it sounds deep, defined, you can hear the note, the tubes control the low end very well, no mud just tight warm and punchy, no pedal can do that and i carry the lot in one trip incl my bass

[BassPimp66]

VT BASS ! Done !

[yorks5stringer]

The obvious solution would be a Mark Bass Bass Tube Marker pedal.....!

[url="http://www.markbass.it/product_detail.php?id=193"]http://www.markbass.it/product_detail.php?id=193[/url]

[Stan_da_man]

BDI-21 is actually a bit better to my ears than a BDDI so I would give that the thumbs up. Or if you can stretch your budget a bit, a DHA VT1. Just got hold of the newer 'mini' version and it is very good.