Ampeg Scrambler or EHX Bass Soul Food?

#5
I'm going to disagree with my esteemed colleagues :) I like the Bass Soul Food. There I said it. IMO it sounds better with active basses though. You can have the drive 100% wet, you just need to adjust the blend control accordingly to keep the bottom end. It does the job for adding a bit of grit without sounding fizzy. I've not tried the Ampeg though.
 
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#6
Thanks for your replies!

The COG Mini 66 is very interesting but with the exchange-rate pound/euro and the shipping costs (155 euro), it would be above my price range of 100 euro.

I tend to the Scrambler.
I don't like tweaking a lot to get the effect/sound I want, so I think it would be easier to get the effect/sound with the Scrambler. Ease of use is also important.

I will look at and listen to the demo's on youtube again to make up my mind.

I should try them both in a store, but the stores nearby don't have them both :(.
 
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#7
If you're in Europe, I can't recomend more the Tritonlab jFet bass OD. It's a bit more than your 100 euros limit (mine cost me around 130 euros) but it's worth the diference. It's a great pedal with 2 gain stages, a great eq section and works with high voltage.
On the cheaper side, you should also look at the TC Mojomojo. It's a really good OD at a really low price.
Also the Joyo American or the California are options that you should look at.
 
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#8
Nunovsky said:
If you're in Europe, I can't recomend more the Tritonlab jFet bass OD. It's a bit more than your 100 euros limit (mine cost me around 130 euros) but it's worth the diference. It's a great pedal with 2 gain stages, a great eq section and works with high voltage.
On the cheaper side, you should also look at the TC Mojomojo. It's a really good OD at a really low price.
Also the Joyo American or the California are options that you should look at.
Click to expand...

All those options, choice stress! ;)

I listened to the demo's of the Scrambler and the Soul Food.
I think the Soul Food colors the sound to much. With the Scrambler I can add just a little bit of grit to the original sound without affecting it.
 
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#10
Yesterday the Ampeg Scrambler arrived that I had ordered.
Today I had time to test it.

For the test I used my self made Rickenbacker Rick 4003 walnoot with Duesenberg single coil pickups and my recently purchased Ampeg B2-48.

The setting that did the trick for me is:
Drive 12 o'clock
Blend: full
Treble: 2 o'clock
Volume: 2 o'clock

That gives me enough overdrive without being to fuzzy.

The B2-48 can, to my ears, sounds like "hifi" but depending on the room also a bit "boomy".
But with the Scrambler on the "boomy"-ness was not there.

I could here myself very well when playing along with songs from my phone into another amp/speaker.

So I think it will do well in a band situation (gig, rehearsel, practice). Monday I can test it with my band and let you how that works.

For now (at home, living room) i am happy with the srcambler, it is a keeper!
 
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#11
This evening I could use the Scrambler for the first time in a band situation (rehearsel/practice.

I played through an Ampeg B2 4x8 combo in the place where we practice.
Settings on the Scrambler:

Drive 12 o'clock
Blend: full
Treble: 2 o'clock
Volume: 2 o'clock

Wow what a sound!

Without the scrambler engaged I could hear myself ok with two guitarist and a drummer.

But with the scrambler on I could hear myself much better and with a very nice growl!

One of my band mates said it sounded like a SVT-rig.

I like the sound the sound in a band situation, very usefull!

No regrets buying the Scrambler!
 
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#13
So glad I found this thread, I was asking the same question too. I liked the EHX BSF for a while because of how mellow and subtle is was. But then I got worried because in almost all the demos I've seen, the player would max the Drive knob. Even then it was still a bit mellow. The primary method that they could get really dirty would be to reduce the low end using the Blend knob, which sounds risky.

Then I found the Scrambler and I noticed it had the mellow-ness but could also go nuts when dimed. Seems like it's a more dynamic pedal IMO which has more use cases for different genres. Haven't ordered one yet, but it looks like the Ampeg Scrambler might be a better choice. Is that still true today?
 
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#14
mondo2501 said:
So glad I found this thread, I was asking the same question too. I liked the EHX BSF for a while because of how mellow and subtle is was. But then I got worried because in almost all the demos I've seen, the player would max the Drive knob. Even then it was still a bit mellow. The primary method that they could get really dirty would be to reduce the low end using the Blend knob, which sounds risky.

Then I found the Scrambler and I noticed it had the mellow-ness but could also go nuts when dimed. Seems like it's a more dynamic pedal IMO which has more use cases for different genres. Haven't ordered one yet, but it looks like the Ampeg Scrambler might be a better choice. Is that still true today?
Click to expand...
Well the Scrambler will get quite dirty. It won't quite get to fuzz but it gets about as close as you can without being fuzz. Your description of it is pretty much what it is.
 
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