Distortion that keeps the 'thump'?

[dannybuoy]

It can be hard to hear bass distortion in a mix with distorted guitars. The 2 very different pedals that have worked best for me:

SolidgoldFX Beta - a mild overdrive without a blend (no need for one either), but it has a boost in the lows/low mids that helps you to be heard when everything else gets louder. At low volume it sounds kinda muffled/murky, but at high volume it excels where other pedals that sounded great at bedroom levels seemed to disappear in the mix.

 

Tech21 DP-3X - this splits your signal with a crossover, applying a really punchy compressor to the lows and Sansamp distortion to the top end. If you play quietly, you just hear smooth bass, and when you play more agressively you get distorted high mids coming though. Then you’re punching below and cutting above the midrange where the guitars and vocals typically sit, rather than battling them for the same frequencies.

[krispn]

It’s funny how we all understand or think of these worlds differently as DB above says the SGFX Beta does a lovely thing in the lows and would be a good shout. I tend to think of that as oomph whereas the Boss LMB and the cheapie clone I mentioned ( and the basswitch dual band comp that I use) does add that something in the low/low mids but I consider that to be more ‘thump’ like the tight low thump of a kick drum. Both work in a mix and both might be the thing you’re after!

 

 

 

[fretmeister]

On 30/03/2025 at 20:28, uncle psychosis said:

I've still to find a bass overdrive I like as much as the zvex basstortion.

 

It's really rather good.

Is there a clone that isn’t in a silly sideways enclosure?

[uncle psychosis]

1 hour ago, fretmeister said:

Is there a clone that isn’t in a silly sideways enclosure?

 

Not that I know of. I've always assumed its a variant of the Distortron/Box of Rock but 1) thats an assumption and 2) I don't think there's many clones of those either.

 

There is a Pedalpcb board for it, so you could build your own. Musikding sell kits if you wanted.

 

The enclosure is irritating, but I don't mind too much because I use so few effects on bass anyway - so putting a "board" together isn't an issue.

[fretmeister]

Alas I have no soldering skills.