Bass Distortion or Overdrive options

MovingPitchers

MovingPitchers

Jun 9, 2013
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#1
So I've been using a Tech 21 VT Bass DI for my overdrive effects. It's great. I really like the stuff that I can shape and mold with that beast, but I want something a little smaller that can do just that.

One big problem is that I can't switch it off without a having a massive volume drop. I am aware other distortion and overdrive pedals will do the same, but not to a huge extent?

My friend has an SA Aftershock Distortion pedal which sounds awesome but super hard to find. Classifieds doesn't have it and it's rather pricey to ship it to Canada.

I've been looking at alternatives: MXR Bass Distortion, MXR Bass Overdrive, and the EHX Bass Soul Food.

I've listened to demos on Youtube on all three. I really like the MXR models a lot and I can find them at L&M.

I might be inching towards the MXR Distortion one but the Overdrive is slightly cheaper and distortion isn't really mu thing....not sure.

Thoughts? Anyone with experience?
 
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#2
The ehx bass soul food is a good choice for a bass overdrive, however there are other great choices for a bass overdrive and bass distortion. if you want some other suggestions, check out these pedals.

Bass overdrives: Darkglass vmt, mad professor blueberry, fuzzrocious dark driving, xotic bass bb, voodoo lab sparkle drive, way huge pork loin, ebs multidrive, empress multidrive

Bass distortion: ebs metaldrive, boss adaptive distortion, digitech bass driver, biyang metal end, hardwire sc-2 valve distortion, zvex distortron, tech 21 paradriver, zvex basstortion, empress distortion, empress heavy, idiotbox blower box

Some of these suggestions are overdrive and distortion pedals made for guitar, but they do work well on bass.
 
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#7
Different strokes etc but I got the MXR dist at L&M and returned in a week. Not totally unusable at all but way more Big Muff than I was expecting, totally not what I was after.

Been using my Mooer OCD clone, sounds great tho some - not huge but- some low end loss.

Also pedals will vary greatly in sound from rig to rig, so test with yours if u can.
 
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#8
The MXR Bass Overdrive had poor reviews, the MXR Bass Distortion is great if you want real in your face, Rat type distortion. You probably want something like a Barbershop or Blueberry Bass Overdrive, that emulates a tube amp being overdriven.

The volume thing should not be a problem with any overdrive pedal that has a gain control and a volume control. Set the gain how you like it, then adjust the volume so pedal on and off are the same volume.
 
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#10
MovingPitchers said:
So I've been using a Tech 21 VT Bass DI for my overdrive effects. It's great. I really like the stuff that I can shape and mold with that beast, but I want something a little smaller that can do just that.

One big problem is that I can't switch it off without a having a massive volume drop. I am aware other distortion and overdrive pedals will do the same, but not to a huge extent?

My friend has an SA Aftershock Distortion pedal which sounds awesome but super hard to find. Classifieds doesn't have it and it's rather pricey to ship it to Canada.

I've been looking at alternatives: MXR Bass Distortion, MXR Bass Overdrive, and the EHX Bass Soul Food.

I've listened to demos on Youtube on all three. I really like the MXR models a lot and I can find them at L&M.

I might be inching towards the MXR Distortion one but the Overdrive is slightly cheaper and distortion isn't really mu thing....not sure.

Thoughts? Anyone with experience?
Click to expand...

Volume drop shouldn't be an issue at all with 99% of dirt pedals, the VT included. So that's a really weird part of what is going on for you.

Anyway, if you are looking at dirt pedals that you can get at L&M, I highly recommend the Empress dirt pedals - the Germ Drive might suit your purposes perfectly, or the Multidrive is an outstanding choice.

The MXR Bass Distortion is quite well regarded as well (and sounds absolutely nothing like a big muff, it is a Rat-based circuit), so you could try that one too.

I don't care for any of the current EHX dirt boxes, so I'd suggest you give those a pass, along with the other MXR dirt pedals.

There are literally hundreds and hundreds of excellent dirt pedals out there, so you'll definitely be able to find something that fits the bill for you, but don't be surprised if you need to try a bunch out before you are able to settle on one that you like. Have fun, and enjoy the search! :)
 
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#12
The BurgerMeister said:
Pork loin for overdrive, yes! Love mine!

If you have the volume up too high you absolutely will get crazy boost. But that's true with most, if not all dirt pedals... Right?
Click to expand...

I think that of all the stuff listed so far, the Pork Loin MAY be the one youre after. Its a really nice OD. I use one and I love it. It is modded though. I did that JohnK single cap mod. It makes it brighter. But you should be able to find those in Canada no problem. Not to expensive either.

The MXR bass dist may be able to OD, cant remember though. I had one for a time. I liked it. But it is a rat based dist after all. Maybe if you keep the effected signal down low and bump the clean up you can get an OD sound.

The Aftershock is still pretty new so that may be why youre having a hard time finding one. You could always consider its older brother, the Source Audio OFD. That really is a great dirt pedal. Worth a look anyway.
 
#15
MovingPitchers said:
So I've been using a Tech 21 VT Bass DI for my overdrive effects. It's great. I really like the stuff that I can shape and mold with that beast, but I want something a little smaller that can do just that.

One big problem is that I can't switch it off without a having a massive volume drop. I am aware other distortion and overdrive pedals will do the same, but not to a huge extent?

My friend has an SA Aftershock Distortion pedal which sounds awesome but super hard to find. Classifieds doesn't have it and it's rather pricey to ship it to Canada.

I've been looking at alternatives: MXR Bass Distortion, MXR Bass Overdrive, and the EHX Bass Soul Food.

I've listened to demos on Youtube on all three. I really like the MXR models a lot and I can find them at L&M.

I might be inching towards the MXR Distortion one but the Overdrive is slightly cheaper and distortion isn't really mu thing....not sure.

Thoughts? Anyone with experience?
Click to expand...
Exactly how much drive are you looking for?
The EHX Soul Food is a low to medium OD based roughly around the Klon Centaur. Its character is very different from the two MXR pedals you mentioned.
Any dirt pedal should have a unity spot with the bypassed signal, although it may not always be at noon on the knob.
 
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#16
Using a VT as an overdrive (and not an Ampeg SVT simulator) you'd have the drive approaching noon or more, maybe adding some low end and retaining mids... It's very difficult to get unity without having the gain at 8am, a shadow past Off. That's One of the reasons that when I use it, it's an always on enhancer. My go too overdrive these days are the Beta or the Grizzly, and a SSBS Mini, but that has a more synth vibe. The Zvex Bass Distortron is good and a Marshall Gov'ner is good too for much less money (has lo and deep eq for actual low end retention).
 
#18
Crystalman85 said:
The ehx bass soul food is a good choice for a bass overdrive, however there are other great choices for a bass overdrive and bass distortion. if you want some other suggestions, check out these pedals.

Bass overdrives: Darkglass vmt, mad professor blueberry, fuzzrocious dark driving, xotic bass bb, voodoo lab sparkle drive, way huge pork loin, ebs multidrive, empress multidrive

Bass distortion: ebs metaldrive, boss adaptive distortion, digitech bass driver, biyang metal end, hardwire sc-2 valve distortion, zvex distortron, tech 21 paradriver, zvex basstortion, empress distortion, empress heavy, idiotbox blower box

Some of these suggestions are overdrive and distortion pedals made for guitar, but they do work well on bass.
Click to expand...

I am on the point of nearly exclusively buying MXR - the best; very logical pedals.
 
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#19
gregmon79 said:
I think that of all the stuff listed so far, the Pork Loin MAY be the one youre after. Its a really nice OD. I use one and I love it. It is modded though. I did that JohnK single cap mod. It makes it brighter. But you should be able to find those in Canada no problem. Not to expensive either.

The MXR bass dist may be able to OD, cant remember though. I had one for a time. I liked it. But it is a rat based dist after all. Maybe if you keep the effected signal down low and bump the clean up you can get an OD sound.
Click to expand...
You totally can OD with the MXR Bass Distortion. I'm using mine for the heavier stuff now, but I have used it as a light OD and it kills, especially in LED mode. It's definitely a Rat style pedal, though, and it does have a bit of a mid boost, but I like it a lot. Still one of my very favorite pedals of all time.
 
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#20
keto said:
Different strokes etc but I got the MXR dist at L&M and returned in a week. Not totally unusable at all but way more Big Muff than I was expecting, totally not what I was after.

Been using my Mooer OCD clone, sounds great tho some - not huge but- some low end loss.

Also pedals will vary greatly in sound from rig to rig, so test with yours if u can.
Click to expand...
Don't mean to derail just wondering which Mooer pedal that is.
 
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