What's a good overdrive for a J-bass?

GuitarStv said:
My amp is pretty clean sounding unless cranked, and I think I want a slightly overdriven bass sound for some songs. What's a good OD for bass? I've tried my Boss BD-2, and don't like it . . . cuts lows. The fuzz face that I have can be tweaked to sound OK, but I think it kills a little too much low end. Big muff doesn't kill bass, but seems ludicrously oversaturated for what I'm looking for. Any suggestions?
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Russian Muff is my favorite for bass, the low end doesn't disappear. As you mentioned, they are pretty saturated. I use my Tech21 VT Deluxe for pushed SVT type sounds, the regular VT bass pedal is awesome if you can find one in your price range. For a cheap option, look into an OCD style pedal like the EH Glove. A couple of youtube videos show good results with those. My bass player used an EH Soul Food but there's now a bass specific version that sounds great in videos.
 
No problem; I was looking at bass preamp/ DI pedals for my wife for gigs where she would be using a provided back line, so she could get a more consistent tone dialled in easily, but we ended up getting her a Trace Elliot Elf micro-head instead.

Also, I believe that the Dr J (Joyo) Sparrow is based on one of the Tech 21 pedals.
 
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Mincer said:
Actually didn't know about that- thanks for the heads up!
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Bass Battalion was my 3rd call

Amp SCR-DI, MXR DI+, or the Battalion are all great Bass direct tools, or into an amp even...


9tNGrmG.jpg
 
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Aceman said:
Bass Battalion was my 3rd call

Amp SCR-DI, MXR DI+, or the Battalion are all great Bass direct tools, or into an amp even...


9tNGrmG.jpg
Click to expand...

When I see that Synth Wah Bass pedal on your board and then I picture your pink Dean bass - I get a vision of pure glam glory!
 
One of my favorite bass players, Greg Chaisson, uses an Ibanez TS-9 in front of his bass amp. Gives it that little extra punch.
When I had one, I ran the TC Electronics MojoMojo in front of my bass rig. I didn't like it much for guitar after I got more familiar with it and gave it some time on the pedalboard but with the bass setup it was really nice.
 
I've recorded with the Bad Monkey on bass, and it does work Being a TS-style pedal, it does take away he actual bass and hype the mids, though. I'd think a more broad spectrurm OD would be better.
 
formula73 said:
It’s not. I actually play bass, not just cover them in tape and house paint.
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I was actually gonna ask that....Is Formula Bass a new-is thing or have you always. I have been dabbling in bass for the past ~4 years maybe.
 
Mincer said:
I've recorded with the Bad Monkey on bass, and it does work Being a TS-style pedal, it does take away he actual bass and hype the mids, though. I'd think a more broad spectrurm OD would be better.
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It might be but the J could use a bit of midrange in my opinion. I never had issues with it cutting bass. I always found it a bit soft and bottom-heavy for guitar, which was why I eventually tried it on bass.
 
I was working on a song tonight and didn't feel like working downstairs, so I plugged a bass into my living room setup. Both the gain channel on my tube driver combo and joyo Taichi provided nice grit to full on distortion tones.
 
I'm still praising my EHX Allied Overdrive.

Blend control, two series overdrive circuits with each their gain control.

3-band EQ. I use it for "everything". :)
 
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