Clean, grit, overdrive, or Distortion

[El Dunco]

I like having one “pushed tube” sound either on the very edge of breakup (that can be as aggressive or clean purely on how hard or soft the finger attack is) or early to medium overdrive through the 4x10 cabinet and a flat, pure clean low end to 1x15. I’ll mic the first with a fairly typical guitar mic and the second with something like a D112. I don’t skimp on the phase alignment even after crossing over the frequencies at the sweet spot for each. With the DI included, that’s technically tri-amped (The DI helps retain definition, especially when run through a crispy tube interface prevand is just good to have even if it isn’t used just in case. I find the DI doesn’t compare to the 1x15 for earth rumbling “felt” low end)

It gives a lot of options that yield amazing results especially automating the levels depending on what any given part of the song requires. Using appropriately different levels of compression on each is very helpful for retaining dynamics but with stable low end that’s not wobbling about.

I’ve also gotten some really cool results running the treble and mid side through a guitar rig for moderate to heavy distortion (without enough low end to hurt anything) blended with the clean 1x15 rig that’s still quite nicely coloured and a hair of dry DI.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Ace, you might like the Idiotbox Blower Box Deluxe. It's a Rat-type bass pedal with a clean blend that has its own filter.

I watched a few videos and decided on an MXR M80. Seems to have the distortion character I'm looking for and there's extra functionality in there with EQ, blend, noise gate, and DI outs.

I loved my M80. The Distortion was voiced nice and grindy, and the EQ was very well thought through.

Running it direct was kind of mehh, honestly, though. I liked it into either a clean amp just about to get gritty, but ideally, I preferred it into an FX return or a poweramp and then into a good cab. If the poweramp had some minor tweakability like resonance and presence controls, all the better.

I also liked the Tech 21 Bass DI, whatever it's called, but that one was less raspy/dirty than the MXR.

 

[Aceman]

I also liked the Tech 21 Bass DI, whatever it's called, but that one was less raspy/dirty than the MXR.

The Bass Driver by tTech 21....That's a Classic. The Tech 21 VTBass is also loved. by many I believe.

 

[donaldr]

OK - the Scrambler model SUCKS!!!!!

But the Rat is excellent....

I have an Ampeg Scrambler DI that I love and I came to the same conclusion about the Scrambler model in my HX Effects.
Do you have parallel chains on your Pod? I'm using the Teemah! model in parallel to a BDDI model and I like it a lot. I have a soft distortion on one switch and a heavy distortion on second switch so I can go from none to soft to hard in the same preset.

 

[donaldr]

The Bass Driver by tTech 21....That's a Classic. The Tech 21 VTBass is also loved. by many I believe.

IMHO, BDDI is more Fender Super Bassman and VTBass is more Ampeg SVT.

 

[Aceman]

IMHO, BDDI is more Fender Super Bassman and VTBass is more Ampeg SVT.

VT is indeed AMpeg like. The Character turns it into various shades of Ampeg.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

The Bass Driver by tTech 21....That's a Classic. The Tech 21 VTBass is also loved. by many I believe.

I like both, TBH.

The Bass Driver was kinda like the go-to for my style of music before the Darkglass stuff came out. But I personally preferred the MXR since it was a bit dirtier. The Bass Driver's gain sounds was more warm-ish OD, and the MXR's was more gritty distortion. Kind of oversimplifying, but that's MO.

 

[Seashore]

I should like playing warmer Ampeg-like tones, but I've tried and I don't. The MXR M80 showed up yesterday and I'm really impressed so far. It's not exactly what I had with my old board but it's pretty close, especially when I also run the parallel out through the old Traynor tube head. That amp is just great for bass. But it's good through my bassist's solid state head too. And considering it has basically replaced a noise gate, splitter, EQ, distortion pedal, and maybe the compressor, I'm even more impressed. I got it specifically to use as a distortion pedal with a blend, and it really delivers. Might still prefer the HX Effects Rat/comp blend but not by much.

Not thrilled with the action of the noise gate, and it doesn't drive the power amp section of this bass head very well on its own - usable but quiet. Into the front it's a monster.

 

[some_dude]

IMHO, BDDI is more Fender Super Bassman and VTBass is more Ampeg SVT.

IMO, the BDDI is more like an SVT with the ultra low engaged. VTDI is more like an SVT with the ultra low off.

Personally, I find the BDDI sounds kind of ugly on its own, but awesome in a mix. It has a punch to it, and some of those ugly frequencies are what helps it in a mix.

 

[donaldr]

IMO, the BDDI is more like an SVT with the ultra low engaged. VTDI is more like an SVT with the ultra low off.

Personally, I find the BDDI sounds kind of ugly on its own, but awesome in a mix. It has a punch to it, and some of those ugly frequencies are what helps it in a mix.

I don't have an SVT but I have an Ampeg SCR-DI and many SVT models in modelers and the BDDI sounds nothing like them...

 

[Aceman]

I don't have an SVT but I have an Ampeg SCR-DI and many SVT models in modelers and the BDDI sounds nothing like them...

Which is why they made the VT version.

 

[some_dude]

I don't have an SVT but I have an Ampeg SCR-DI and many SVT models in modelers and the BDDI sounds nothing like them...

I don’t really want to get into a pissing match over this. If you want to split hairs, most of the SVTs (solid state) don’t sound like SVTs (tube), however as a DI through FOH SansAmps can get close enough. If you want a more scooped SVT, BDDI. If you want a more mid heavy SVT, VTDI.

Edit - If you don’t like either, there’s plenty of other companies offering their own take on the SVT sound, and many of them are also great (I personally like the REDDI, however it won’t fit in a gig bag and it won’t run on batteries).

YMMV

 

[Securb]

Funny, this came up today at practice. My bass player mentioned that with the Morley Fuzz, he can dial in his ss Ampeg Powerflex very close to the vintage Ampeg tube head he uses in the studio.