Do you like your 'Balls Clean, Dirty or Gritty?

[Busterkilrain]

Woops I forgot Fuzzy too.
Sorry Guys ,I couldn't resist! I've been reading many posts on the forum regarding Markbass amps and cabs, Hi Fi cabs like Bergantino and EA. Clean, clean stuff. I was wondering if any of you use distortion or overdrive in your signal? What types? I'm currently just overdriving my GK head just a wee bit it sounds great with my Ric, unfortunately I am without an EB currently ( I sold my Trans Teal Sterling HS I know I'm an idiot) But I think the next one will be a Bongo HS. There is just something about an EB with a pickup blend knob that gets me.( One of the great features)
Take Care,
Brent

 

[Psycho Ward]

I use dirty strings.


The blend knob is one of my favorite things in life.

 

[mynan]

I've actually been thinking about getting a dirt pedal...just not sure which one to get.

 

[Dr. Nick]

I've actually been thinking about getting a dirt pedal...just not sure which one to get.

I just picked up a Boss ODB-3 a few weeks ago. I'm still playing around with it, but I think it has potential. I'm sure there are better options, but they are probably a lot more expensive as well! Full-on-Fuzz is easy to achieve, but, with some experimentation, you can also get that "pushed SVT" sound (sort of).

A lot of the reviews I read about it complained that it sucked the low-end out of the signal. Well, they must not be using an EBMM, because I can still get plenty of low-end!

 

[mynan]

I was thinking the same thing. I was looking at the MXR Blowtorch, but it's 18v. I hate the thought of another battery-powered gadget and the last thing I need is another gadget to plug in on stage. With the ODB-3 I could daisy-chain the power with my Phase 90 and TU-2, but I wasn't too keen on the reviews it got either. I guess a trip to GC is in order.

 

[Dr. Nick]

I was thinking the same thing. I was looking at the MXR Blowtorch, but it's 18v. I hate the thought of another battery-powered gadget and the last thing I need is another gadget to plug in on stage. With the ODB-3 I could daisy-chain the power with my Phase 90 and TU-2, but I wasn't too keen on the reviews it got either. I guess a trip to GC is in order.

Try it, you might like it! I'm not a dirt pedal expert, by any means--I bought this for my own enjoyment and to use live on one or two tunes--but I like it! It's inspired me to play for several hours more than usual per week--and it scares the children, as well!

Regarding the reviews, I get the feeling that some folks may be dissapointed when they plug in their $200 ibanez and 65 watt Rumble combo and then wonder where their tone went...I think if you have a powerful rig (which it appears that you do) and a great bass (of course), then it is quite nice! Sometimes people get disappointed when an $80 pedal does not reproduce the sounds that their hero obtained by running through three amps simultaneously through a rack of studio gear. I'm a little more realistic!

Whatever way you go, good luck in your quest for dirt!

 

[mynan]

Thanks...

 

[cdb]

Woops I forgot Fuzzy too.
Sorry Guys ,I couldn't resist! I've been reading many posts on the forum regarding Markbass amps and cabs, Hi Fi cabs like Bergantino and EA. Clean, clean stuff. I was wondering if any of you use distortion or overdrive in your signal? What types? I'm currently just overdriving my GK head just a wee bit it sounds great with my Ric, unfortunately I am without an EB currently ( I sold my Trans Teal Sterling HS I know I'm an idiot) But I think the next one will be a Bongo HS. There is just something about an EB with a pickup blend knob that gets me.( One of the great features)
Take Care,
Brent

I overdrive my GK too. The SR5 sounds great, a little broken up but retains that ballsyness...

I also overboost the gain when I use my GB head-- again, ballsyness,

 

[Aussie Mark]

All of the above.

 

[saxnbass]

I keep my Balls clean.

 

[Peter Murray]

Woops I forgot Fuzzy too.
Sorry Guys ,I couldn't resist! I've been reading many posts on the forum regarding Markbass amps and cabs, Hi Fi cabs like Bergantino and EA. Clean, clean stuff. I was wondering if any of you use distortion or overdrive in your signal? What types? I'm currently just overdriving my GK head just a wee bit it sounds great with my Ric, unfortunately I am without an EB currently ( I sold my Trans Teal Sterling HS I know I'm an idiot) But I think the next one will be a Bongo HS. There is just something about an EB with a pickup blend knob that gets me.( One of the great features)
Take Care,
Brent

I was playing my Bongo 5H on a gig last weekend with a Little Mark II and two 2x10 cabs (one front ported, one rear ported) and I was really impressed with the grit I got just by cranking it up. Pinball Wizard especially kicked ass!
Yes, the Markbass amps can be very clear, but they also rock if you want them too!

That said, the new classic series amps were designed for this purpose.
I think if you're looking for grit, you will love the R500 and the Classic Series cabs!

MARKBASS

No pedal will really give you the sound of an overdriven tube preamp.

Cheers,
Peter

 

[Kristopher]

I own an American Big Muff, an Ibanez TS9DX, and a Boss ODB-3. I honestly haven't been using any distortion lately, but out of all of them I've used the Big Muff the most. The Ibanez is great for a little overdrive, kinda vintage sounding. I don't like the Boss petal much at all, it sounds too brittle to my ears, too much high-end fuzz.

Now I gotta go try them out again, I haven't used them with my Sterling or my SR5. Really these basses sound so great I don't think about effects much anymore.

 

[Micolao]

I like it dirty

I've passed trough several Od/distortion/kinda fuzz pedals, and a few pedalboards (Boss GT6b-Me8b-Me50b) for example:
(i have a sansamp BDDI but I useit for a clean valve sound into my Mark Bass head)

Ibanez Phat head
EBS Multidrive
EH nano muff
EH vintage little big muff
Behringer Bod100 (does it count? )
Proco Turbo Rat
Digitech bad Monkey
Boss ODB3 (I have it now)
Marshall Guv'nor (I have it now)


Ok, maybe not high end stuff but at the end of it all, the best pedals IMHO are:

-Marshall Guv'nor for OD; not noisy at all, 4 band eq, great tone, simply the best, you can get any od flavour out of it.

-Digitech Bad Monkey again for a really realistic Od, but with less eq (2 band -bass mid oriented) and less pushed Od (half of the guv'nor) perfect if you need a gritty sound, really good, as good as the Guv'nor in terms of sound but the 4 band eq on the Guv give more versatility)


Boss ODB3: more fuzzy modern tone but if you mess around a little bit you can get great sounds out of it, the key is the blend knob)
Ps: don't use too much gain and too much highs or it can be a little hissy
my settingso'clock)
bass: 13
highs 9/10
blend: 13
Gain: 9/10

here's the board

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/micolao/pedaliera2.jpg

ps: I still have samples of them all except the EBS-Ibanez and Behringer.
let me know if you want to hear them

 

[roballanson]

Boss ODB-3 user here for a long time. Its a great pedal and does not suck any low end out of the signal. I use it for serious heavy filling (and worrying the guitarist) and feedback to colour songs (and worry the guitarist and cause structural damage).
I think its a great tool used in moderation of course.

 

[adouglas]

I play with dirty thoughts.

I hate the thought of another battery-powered gadget and the last thing I need is another gadget to plug in on stage.

If you've got a way to get phantom power (I do because of my rig) the SansAmps have the ability to be powered through the cable.

Right now I'm using a Programmable BDDI to get distortion. I need it on some songs where I play necessary guitar hooks, because my band has no lead guitarist.

It's noisier than I'd like but it's small and convenient for gigs.

I also have a Damage Control Womanizer, which is a guitar pedal but it works really great with my bass. Fairly large and heavy, and you have to plug it in. I prefer its tone, but the BDDI wins out because it's more convenient.

 

[jaylegroove]

Always clean for me.

The only exception was when I was playing Rickenbacker : I used to add some drive to it and liked it very much. But I definitely prefer the tone of an EBMM when clean.

Have to know I've never been that of an effects guy.

 

[Busterkilrain]

Always clean for me.

The only exception was when I was playing Rickenbacker : I used to add some drive to it and liked it very much. But I definitely prefer the tone of an EBMM when clean.

Have to know I've never been that of an effects guy.

See, that's what I was thinking. My Rick sounds great with overdrive even my Jazz. But my Sterlings never sounded right with distortion or overdrive, it just sounded like too much ya know? Maybe I never found the right distortion.
B

 

[Micolao]

Did you tried to roll off the highs a little bit and add some mids and bass?

 

[AnthonyD]

Always clean, but lately I've been tweaking me amp to get a bit of 'growl'!

 

[Busterkilrain]

Did you tried to roll off the highs a little bit and add some mids and bass?

Actually I found that made them sound too woofy. The highs were the key.
B