Best bass distortion pedal out right now...I have couple but they aren't doing everything I need.

Wrylygrin85

Wrylygrin85

Dec 18, 2016
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Fayetteville, NC
#1
I have an electronic Harmonix Deluxe Big Muff, a Tech21 SansAmp Programmable drive, and the scrambler on my Ampeg SCR-DI. The only one I'm not happy with is the SansAmp, I feel like I can't get what I want out of it but I bought it because I could program 3 different drives if I wanted but I'm not getting exactly what I want, I used my friends MXR di and the distortion on that seems to be my favorite for what I'm going for. I would like one with at least 2 to 3 presets if possible. Any ideas? I'm going for a glassjaw type bass distortion. Thanks
 

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#3
My board includes:

Wampler Low Blow, set for mild distortion, though it will do any amount
MXR Bass Distortion, set between moderate distortion and major fuzz
I also have a Seismic Audio Aftershock which I have not played with enough yet to fit it into the right category for me.
Tried the Darkglass offerings and they weren't for me (though the Duality Fuzz has a permanent place on my board
 
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#4
The mxr di distortion is my favorite so far. I use my big muff on 2 songs and it has more of a guitar type distortion I guess you could say and the scrambler on my Ampeg SCR-DI is cool for 1 part or a mild distortion. The drive on he SansAmp just isn't for my I guess it sounds good with my big muff at times but I dont know. I think I might have to trade out my SansAmp for the mxr di but I don't need the di part because I already have he ampeg, but that could also why the distortion sounds so good. Just looking for other options. I like a big mid sounding distortion and darkglass is what I'm looking at but they seem like a higher trebly and low bass distortion than a mid focused distortion.... If that makes any sense. But I hate to get rid of my programmable SansAmp but that looks like the case...
 
#7
I have the source audio pro envelope filter which is insane but finally figuring it out somewhat lol. I'll have to check this out. I had the mxr blowtorch that I loved on my last pedalboard but the whole board was stolen. I hate to buy stuff I've already owned :(
 
#9
The answer to this is so subjective. I've tried many distortions, including the Aftershock. I'm currently into rat and OCD derivatives by Dunwich Amps, but there are so many good sounding distortions, you could select any one of a dozen or more and have great dirt.

Edit: you could probably edit a dozen types of distortion in the Aftershock, but I find that tiresome and frankly a little soulless.
 
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#12
A LOT of love around here for the aftershock isn't there??
Not slating but I can't be doing with presets etc. That's why I sold my Manta, just too damn fiddly!
I like a few nobs to twiddlehink if I were to start again with dirt I'd go for the Rat based MXR Bass Distortion and probably a TAFM. I reckon I could cover most sh*t with those two.
 
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#15
Dude. It's a good time to be a bassist looking for dirt. There are a ton of great dirt boxes out there for us nowadays. I'll name some I use and or know about that work for me or sound great to my ear.

DOD Carcosa- great versatile OD to fuzz. Affordable too. One of my favs

Way Huge Russian Pickle- Great green muff

Big Game Bedlam- OCD style drive/dist.

Way Huge Pork loin- I have a modded one and it's become one of my fav all time ODs

Idiotbox Blower Box- Rat style OD to heavy dist. Its a really sweet, mean and unique rat drive. Love that pedal

Fuzzrocious Rat/Cat Tail- It's a bass rat. It rips it tears it pillages. Its rules.

I havent had much success with it, but many others here have, the team awesome fuzz machine (TAFM) by small sound big sound (SS/BS). Its pretty versatile.

Of course there is the Darkglass stuff, the B3/7K or the Vintage series. All are awesome and great, but not for everyone. Plenty of YouTube demos out there for you to check out to see if they are for you.

I havent played one but I am hearing a ton of great stuff about Damnation Audios MBD1- versatile, monster of a bass dirt. And Electrical Audio is making some killer products as well.

It all depends on what you're after @Wrylygrin85. I hear good things about the Aftershock too if that's something that sparks your interest. Seems hard to go wrong. But def do your demo shopping, there is so much great stuff out there right now be it fuzz, dist or OD or all of them! I named a lot of what I feel is among the stuff that actually worked for me in a band mix. My band mix anyway ;) And almost all those companies are wonderful to work with. Good dudes/people building good/great pedals.

And what type of band are you in??
 
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#17
Manny used a Rat on the first album and Justin, their guitarist who also did the bass on the second album, I believe also used a Rat on Worship & Tribute. After that I think it's been Manny with a Line 6 HD handling all the effects.
 
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#19
Wrylygrin85 said:
I have couple but they aren't doing everything I need.
Click to expand...

So you don't need to replace them, you need to add to them! :)

Seriously, I too have never found any one fuzz/OD/distortion pedal to ever be capable of filling all my needs...but I've found that having several really helps codify how I use each one. That way I don't try to use one of them for a sound it doesn't do particularly well, I just use it for the things it excels at, and I look to a different pedal for the sounds it excels at, and with two or three pedals I'm able to nail all the important colors. No need for presets, or less-than-ideal compromises.
 
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