A good bass distortion pedal

[markiegiscool]

Hello all.

When performing live, I usually play the piano, which means that all electric guitars from our recordings cannot be played. The way we have always got around this is by our bass player using a bass distortion. However, the one we currently have is a bit cheap, and basically crap.

Can anyone recommened a good one? Ideally, one that doesn't thin the bass sound out too much, if you know what I mean.

Also, preferably one that's available in the UK!

Thanks.

[brandondrury]

I've never been big on the idea of using distortion on the bass in order to compensate for "holes" in the mix (either live or studio).

I think a person should use distortion on their bass because they like it for tonal reasons.

Bass distortion will never ever compenstate for a lack of guitar. It doesn't work that way.

I don't think you'll be happy here so I'm hesitant to recommend anything. Bass distortion is it's own thing. I could see why a person would call it "cheap", but I think pretty much all of them sound like that. Some retain their low end more than others.

Here are my thoughts:
1) If the bass player isn't going to use this distortion all the time, you probably shouldn't buy it. I know at least 50 bass players who have a dust collection machine known as a bass distortion pedal. The ones that do use them use distortion pedals as part of their sound all the time.

2) Why can't the song with the piano just be a piano song with holes and all? This is called dynamics. Just a thought. If it's a big deal, you may need to add some band members or get a buddy to play guitar on just that one song for you with no serious commitments.

If you still want to do it check out the Rat distortion pedal and the Boss bass distortion pedals as they retain their low end well.

Brandon

[markiegiscool]

Cheers for the reply!

I'm not necessarrily trying to re-create the song of an electric guitar. I've just found in the past that it does seem to 'pad' the songs out a little more. Switching from a clean bass to distorted bass for the chorus seems to give a song more of a dynamic range. Especially if the other instruments playing are just a piano and drums.

A good example of bass distortion can be found in most Muse recordings, especially live recordings. They seem to use loads of different distortions, and in my opinion, to quite a good effect.

I have been looking at the Boss pedals actually. I may see if I can demo one at our local music shop.

[brandondrury]

A good example of bass distortion can be found in most Muse recordings, especially live recordings.

Oh yeah. The bass sound on Absolution is incredible!

[Rax Jaggr]

I have a SansAmp GT2 that works well on recordings, I can only assume it would work well live. It has a fair number of controls and knobs to let you dial in a good sound.
Buy Tech 21 SansAmp GT2 Tube Amp Emulator online at Musician's Friend Give it a look.

[Corndog]

I've used a Marshall Guv'ner pedal. It can go WAY over the top.

[metal4ever]

The muse uses Big Muff Distortion and Boss overdrive pedals.
I look foreward to using tech 21 sansamp bass driver and XXL overdrive.

[magno]

I guess if I had to do that I might split the ouput of the bass with a DI or something and blend in some distortion with a Boss DS-1 or a DOD American Metal. And for sure you gotta have a wah pedal on the distortion ch.
Are you going to be OK with the bass player getting all the chicks now?

[markiegiscool]

Our bass player is a chick, so yeah, that'd be awesome!!!!!!!

[gs1800]

I disagree with you Brandon, many bassist use to turn on and off dist during a same song, like timmy C of audioslave/rage, who has a third amp wich he turns on and off and it adds hard distorsion, he states this is used mainly to fill better in Tom morello's solos...

Anyway I agree the idea is to look for a sound, a constant sound... it is hard to recommend ONE bass dist as it is very personal, in fact sound is personal, you will never get everyone to like it...

I use a Marshall guv'nor of the 90s for dist and a little bit of overdrive sometimes in my sansamp, if you take presence out on a 40% you can get some nice overdrive with it, but the guvnor is a bomb, I love it. The combo of dist + little drive is great.. the muff in muse songs is killer! incredible bass lines also

Again, it is personal! try many and look for your sound..