I'm playing more bass these days but I'm not so knowledgeable on bass OD/dist/fuzz other than the Muff and the Rat. The Dark Glass stuff looks cool but I'm looking for some opinions. What do you all like?
i love my morley cliff burton signature fuzz wah. i tried a swollen pickle but i dont like it on bass, cant quite put my finger on it but it just doesnt sit right in the mix to my ears. i also have an old dod classic tube pedal that sounds great with bass.
I recently picked up a Boss Metal Zone used to mess with, but using it primarily as a boost. Turn the dist to zero, crank the level, 12 o'clock on the tone knobs . On guitar it sounds incredible going into a Valve Jr linked with a 410. Particularly for the guitars without super hot pickups. The hotter ones i need to pull the level back a bit because it gets inconsistent and muddy. Might try it with bass to see how it responds.
Not exactly fuzz, but really awesome sound.
Burton fuzz wah looks intriguing.
Interesting about the Metal Zone on bass. I know the metal zone gets a bad rap on a lot of forums but I thought it sounded good if you could take the time to get the eq right. Those eq's were super finicky.
This thread made me break out an old bass multi fx pedal ive had since the early 90s and havent used in much since then. Boss be-5b. Man this thing sounds great. Im not sure why i discontinued using it. Not a pic of mine but mine is this one. I think you can find these used for not too much money.
(https://i.ibb.co/2M9h8FZ/boss-be5b-bass-guitar-effects-unit-360-58d255494461d95195af7c57f96f5ff6.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2M9h8FZ)
When my bass player brought in his new distortion/fuzz box it was one of the worst days of my life. I really had to rein in his propensity for turning it on 10. Whatever Cliff Burton used was probably what he brought in, all I know is that I then and there understood what can of bees meant. He was giddy as a maniac. Good times.
Haha. I recall Dr. Madvibe.
I just picked up a DarkGlass MicroTubes Ultra. I've only spent a few minutes with it but I'm already pleased with it. You can high pass the distortion to keep your low end clean. And in response to MuffinMan, yeah, don't turn the gain all the way up.
blah blah blah (Gibson rape) oh, oh look! there's a sucker over there, where? over there!
Quote from: Submarine on January 11, 2023, 09:22:59 PM
And in response to MuffinMan, yeah, don't turn the gain all the way up.
Neato! I jumped at the cat a second ago. But anyway, all in the family my friend. Keep in touch. I think we might have a song or two. I'll call you up for a session! (sorry about the jump)
Quote from: Muffin Man on January 08, 2023, 04:56:28 PM
When my bass player brought in his new distortion/fuzz box it was one of the worst days of my life.
Really?!
(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1213896632464543745/aPr0bvbs_400x400.jpg)
Idiotbox Effects makes a couple fantastic & unusual distortions that are great on bass. I use the Landphil which is a modified RAT circuit mixed with a BBE sonic maximizer and I also use their Deathmaster which is a modified tubescreamer with a filter that gives you that Celtic Frost sound.
I am looking too for the perfect bass distortion
seems like it could be good:
https://fuzzworship.com/product/bass-mountain/
Im thinking giza would be too much distortion even though I love sleep:
https://doesitdoom.com/product/giza/
I have been using my keeley modded rat but I think it takes out the low end and is way too much distortion. been using it with another clean rig but that is too much trouble a lot of times.
i was looking at the MXR M85 seems pretty adjustable and go used for $90:
I just use a Russian Big Muff for all my bass distortion, it's worked for me for 20 years. I love the aggressive tone it gets when paired with my 4003.
Quote from: Stonergrunge on January 12, 2023, 08:04:25 PMQuote from: Muffin Man on January 08, 2023, 04:56:28 PMWhen my bass player brought in his new distortion/fuzz box it was one of the worst days of my life.
Really?!
(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1213896632464543745/aPr0bvbs_400x400.jpg)
Really. hahaha :) I found out that a bassist can change things radically and quick! A drummer can change the beat and wreak havoc on a dime but the bass can shift the whole program, which is what happened. After the initial shock things settled down and even the player dialed back. We went from an 4x10 SWR cab clean and tight to a 1x15 floppy thing and that was also a revelation. Nothing wrong with any of it. Good times.
I thought I had my bass overdrive dialed to all fuck, like every EQ band on the amp tweaked to molecular precision, but the second you add a guitar it changes the whole thing. How to get bass to sound good on its own AND in the context of the full band?
Dial the fuzziness back. After many years I basically played a mostly uneffected "clean" amp, where the dirt was coming mostly from amp gain and a little overdrive from a modded tube screamer. In the full band context and would kick on my distortion, with a healthy amount of boost dialed in for solos and parts that warranted it. Basically I was selective with the heavy fuzz tone.
Whith the last 3 records I made I'd track with an amp live in the room, plus a DI to get straight bass tone, but still be able to capture the feedback and harmonics that come with having a 150 watt amp right next to me. Then we'd re-amp a base amp tone, then an overdrive and fuzz, then mix as needed for the song.
Insofar as sounding good in both settings, I'm not sure it's actually that possible. I've kind of never liked any of my tones on their own, bass or guitar. But when complimented by all the other sonic complexity they work well.
You probably need less drive than you think. Also its helpful if there is a mix knob so you can let the lowest frequencies stay clean. If you are recording, you can put your di before the drive and then mic the amp with the drive or fuzz and blend them together.
crappy gear will sound crappy especially when it all adds-up. one pile ontop another. Precision! is your friend. If there's a loose-goose the sound will wilt like an old salad. Stay fresh! Get the best! Think Vince Lombardi, paraphrased, it's not the little things that matter, it's everything. Why does a 3-piece outfit even work, at all? Space and Air! Why does a 3-legged barstool not tip-over?
Quote from: renfield on May 06, 2023, 02:18:13 PMbut the second you add a guitar it changes the whole thing
individual musicians stand on their own, such as yourself, as monsterly gifted and then when they mix-and-mingle they have to mix-and-minlgle. there is only one problemo when they meet. can they smell what the rock is cooking? no smell, no rock. It has to pass the "sniff test" aka chemistry.
Muffin, don't mean to be a dick. But what in the actual fuck are you talking about? I can't really comprehend what you have written, much less what it has to do with the topic of how to get a bass sound that is fuzzy, yet works in the context of a band.
James! always a pleasure... "yet works in the context of the band" um, let's not mince words. A bass player is a nice person but the very.fucking.second they push a button on a pedal they become a bastard. How is that a surprise? Distortion pedal dumb as fuck. They should get their woofer-squakin' from the, um.woofer. Or tubes. And not even tubes. the woofer!
Quote from: James1214 on May 09, 2023, 11:49:10 PMMuffin, don't mean to be a dick. But what in the actual fuck are you talking about? I can't really comprehend what you have written, much less what it has to do with the topic of \
this too shall pass
Is this one good? I'm kinda surprised that I like it. Solo outside a mix but heck. I've been checking out various bass pedal demos and then this popped up. I actually could use this box.
see, that's just it, dammit. at 0:20 everything is beautifully in focus then, at :045, all hell goes pancake/disaster. OMG it drives me nuts. but I do like this demo, if I can a get a deal on the pedal I'll try one.
always room for another dirt pedal! ha
I love using my Pharaoh and Rat for my bass in the mix with another clean signal bass amp and them mix it in....sounds good in the mix
a lot of dirt pedals really take out the low end and you loose clarity
thats why I like the blend knob
this video goes over the options pretty good... https://youtu.be/7LsuyUClZbY
of course if you are using an active bass it may not play nicely with pedals etc
also consider just boosting etc with a compressor pedal
what bass and amp are you using? I get the best dirt tones out of my guitar amp and bass amp and then use a boost/eq and compression in front
I am using build your own clone's Bass Overdrive. Dirt is set to about 11 on the clock. It has a blend knob but I'm not using any of the clean signal.
I want to add a little bit of CRACKLE to the tone, not the farty sound I'm currently getting. Is crackle the right word?
Here's some DI from the amp. Critique my bass tone:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LxXykByw1Nw-SsQDvZ_o-DiLf25mCWtB/view?usp=drive_link
I just pulled the trigger on my bass mountain pedal today
heads up, 25% off today, I have not seen a sale on these before:
https://fuzzworship.com/
Use code SaturdaySavings on your entire cart!
post a vid of you playing through it. im curious how it sounds.
cool man it'll be killer
not my clip but heres a clip i found that convinced me:
thats got a sweet scratch to it. dripping wet tone. proper saturation.
thats a terrible clip. I agree with Mort though, excellent description - I'm learning from his description. The clip is still shit becuase, beers
Quote from: everdrone on September 06, 2023, 08:51:43 PMcool man it'll be killer
not my clip but heres a clip i found that convinced me:
I like that tone and just like Mort said, "proper saturation". Just enough to get the point across. The low freqs are still intact.
lol ...my clip is highly anticipated...thanks yall :-) j/k
ya not too many clips....I have been asking the builder for more clips ....there are a few others out there on facebook group for Frost and on youtube...
builder is in Texas...Im in Austin Tx....he gave me a description of what I am looking for (downtuned doom/sludge is what I play) and I dig his band he designed it for his bassist in his band and all that jazz...proof is in the pudding of course, pedal has not been sent out yet...cant wait to make clips thanks
ok cool, let us know if you like the pedal and I certainly look forward to any clip you might post. I knows yours will be super tasty, natch.
Quote from: Submarine on September 11, 2023, 06:28:31 PMQuote from: everdrone on September 06, 2023, 08:51:43 PMcool man it'll be killer
not my clip but heres a clip i found that convinced me:
I like that tone and just like Mort said, "proper saturation". Just enough to get the point across. The low freqs are still intact.
i dont know if any of you guys are like this but i suspect some are. my ear drums are like taste buds on the tongue. its like certain sounds and different tones and fuzz tones and all that are like ear candy to me. its as physically satisfying as tasting food you love. some taste better to my ears than others.
ok thanks for yalls patience....finally uploaded a clip. I like the pedal! It does let in low end. Newish Pedal Day! Incoming: BASS MOUNTAIN BY FROST GIANT ELECTRONICS. it is a bass distortion pedal. I bought it new on sale for $150. I really love the rest of my rig, so I am not that into any pedal in front of the amp just by itself. I played the first half of the video with my Rickenbacker 4003 Standard with fingerstyle. Second half is with my modern Schecter with Fishman Fluence pickups which really excels for modern rock. I played with a pick toward the very end with my Schecter. I plan to make more videos and all in the future....the signal chain is: RICKENBACKER -->eMPRESS PARAEQ EQUALIZER PEDAL-->DEMONFX CALI 76 COMPRESSOR-->FREQOUT DIGITECH FEEDBACK PEDAL --> FUZZ WORSHIP FROST GIANT BASS MOUNTAIN PEDAL--> ORANGE THUNDERVERB 50-->TORPEDO CAPTOR X --> OZONE 5 MASTERING SOFTWARE. tHATS IT LOL!
holy smokes sounds great on guitar too! as you guessed.....ultra heavy bass chugging.
Quote from: everdrone on October 22, 2023, 03:22:40 PMI like the pedal! It does let in low end.
Agreed! I like it!
8)