Overdive pedals, on the prowl..

[tommorichards]

Im looking for a pedal. A specific pedal. Im not up for all out fuzz, but more like playing a very low wattage amp and getting distortion from it. Anyone use a pedal for something similar and point me in the right direction? Youtube demos a plus.

Ive had a look round and most seem to just do fuzz.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

The Tech 21 character series does the whole 'pushed valve amp' wonderfully well. They are very strong tonally however and don't have a blend so will tend to make you sound like which amp the pedal is emulating... Could be good or bad. Luckily I leave mine on all the time - I use it as a preamp - so it's not an issue for me.

[dannybuoy]

Lots to choose from in this area, depending on budget. Are you after a brighter more clanging sound, or a more vintage/wooly/thumpy sound?

The VT Bass is a top shout, I liked it so much I bought the VT500 amp. The DI, amp, and Fly Rig variants also have a 'bite' switch unlike the others (they have the bite permanently baked in), turning that off gives you access to some nice mellower sounds too.

[Bolo]

There's only one way to do this properly.
Get all of them.

Possibly sell the ones that don't make your face go a funny shape.

[dannybuoy]

Bolo is right. I recently did this with filters, I only kept the pedal if it made me gurn.

[tommorichards]

Yeah, ive got the sansamp. Its good for clanky, but im more after an old school wooley atyle overdrive

[dannybuoy]

Bearfoot Blueberry, Aguilar Tonehammer, or Xotic Bass BB Preamp would be my recommendation then. Also heard good things about the Creation Audio Grizzly but I can't vouch for it personally.

SolidgoldFX Beta, Catalinbread SFT and Way Huge Pork Loin are all good for this also (but I preferred the ones previously mentioned to these).

Edited August 23, 2016 by dannybuoy

[elephantgrey]

Basically your looking for an overdrive or preamp.
I use a zoom ms60b to simulate a sansamp bddi (but with a MIDs frequency knob)

[Musicman20]

[quote name='elephantgrey' timestamp='1472022506' post='3117672']
Basically your looking for an overdrive or preamp.
I use a zoom ms60b to simulate a sansamp bddi (but with a MIDs frequency knob)
[/quote]

Luckily you now get a mids knob on the new V2.

[cheddatom]

I'm sure it's not the intended purpose, but I love the sound of the Stone Deaf PDF-1 on dirty mode. It's a parametric EQ, and I think it's supposed to be for guitarists to do the "stuck wah" thing, but I love it on bass.

[NancyJohnson]

Sansamp GT2. It's more a guitar dirtbox, but superduper for bass. I do love the BDDI/VTBassDI, but this is a little less controlled. Loads of shizzle. Cheap too if you can pick a used one.
P

[elephantgrey]

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1472026073' post='3117701']
Luckily you now get a mids knob on the new V2.
[/quote]
It has a mids knob, but only a switch for the mids frequency.

[stuckinthepod]

Behringer BDI (sansamp clone)?

[Sibob]

My votes would be for a COG 66 or an Xotic BB Bass Pre

Simples

Si

[Musicman20]

[quote name='elephantgrey' timestamp='1472042738' post='3117931']

It has a mids knob, but only a switch for the mids frequency.
[/quote]

To be fair, it's enough....otherwise you'll be tweaking forever.

[elephantgrey]

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1472046573' post='3117980']
To be fair, it's enough....otherwise you'll be tweaking forever.
[/quote]
i have been known to put pedals in a feedback loop so make them self oscillate, and then use my tuner to tune the pedals tone knob to concert pitch…

[tommorichards]

Maybe to help get words into sounds, im after this sound in a pedal. Just made the video. Its playing through the tiny Marshall MS-2 amp.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNgtYCuIFLA[/media]

Edited August 24, 2016 by tommorichards

[cheddatom]

it's a bit difficult to tell with the acoustic sound of the bass mixed in there. Out of my collection of dirt pedals, I'd try my tube screamer (high gain, low tone) and my danelectro french toast. Two very different pedals, but I reckon I could get close to that sound with either one.

[doctorbass]

SolidGold FX Beta will nail that!

[GazWills]

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1472045261' post='3117965']
My votes would be for a COG 66 or an Xotic BB Bass Pre

Simples

Si
[/quote]

can't argue with this, but I'd add the SS/BS mini to the list too, does a lovely overdrive, but for playing finger style, BB kills

edit: just watched the video - I don't want to be one of those guys who recommends whatever he has just bought, but the SSBS mini is spot on for this, though from videos I've seen, the beta is similar too.

Edited August 25, 2016 by GazWills

[tommorichards]

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1472045261' post='3117965']
My votes would be for a COG 66 or an Xotic BB Bass Pre

Simples

Si
[/quote]

From the online demo, it does seem like the xotic bb might just be the one.

[Pinball]

[quote name='tommorichards' timestamp='1472152506' post='3118977']
From the online demo, it does seem like the xotic bb might just be the one.
[/quote]
That's what I was going to suggest too

[Skybone]

On the prowl, or "On the growl"?

[tommorichards]

Just placed an order for the xotic. Though none in the Uk, ordered from reverb, and its in america, so ive got a little wait til it arrives

[GazWills]

It's a proper good pedal... For fingerstyle, nothing comes close!!