The eternal search for bass distortion.

[Bill Mountain]

I got into DIY a few years ago because as a bassist I found the selection of bass dirt boxes lacking.

I thought I could do better than what was out there at the time.

I have declared to myself on more than one occasion, "I got it figured out."  My wife has heard the, "I have a million dollar idea babe" so many times that she no longer believes me.  At first is was diodes in the feedback loop.  Then it was no IC's.  Then it was IC's are cool but no diodes.  Then it was discrete all the way.  Then is was a clean blend.  Then it was back to opamps but diodes to ground this time.  Then it was low voltage tubes.  Then it was back to diodes in the feedback loop but with a twist.  Then is was cmos.  Then it was high voltage tubes.  Then it was half of this pedal into half of that pedal with a clean blend and an effects loop.  Then it was high voltage transistors.  Then high voltage opamps.  Then it was minimum parts counts.  Then excessive filtering between stages.  Then it was only mojo components.  Then no mojo allowed.  Then ok some mojo and some not mojo...

Two years later I'm back where I started.  With a sound in my head and no way to achieve it.  The funny thing is that while on the search for "my" overdrive sound I've been getting by just fine with a Bluebeard Fuzz, Boss Bass Overdrive, Roger Mayer Voodoo Bass, and most recently a Ross Distortion.  I may not have loved every minute of playing these other pedals but it got me through the gig and not a single person has ever complained about my sound.

So now I have to ask myself.  What the hell am I searching for?

[DavenPaget]

I got into DIY a few years ago because as a bassist I found the selection of bass dirt boxes lacking.

I thought I could do better than what was out there at the time.

I have declared to myself on more than one occasion, "I got it figured out."  My wife has heard the, "I have a million dollar idea babe" so many times that she no longer believes me.  At first is was diodes in the feedback loop.  Then it was no IC's.  Then it was IC's are cool but no diodes.  Then it was discrete all the way.  Then is was a clean blend.  Then it was back to opamps but diodes to ground this time.  Then it was low voltage tubes.  Then it was back to diodes in the feedback loop but with a twist.  Then is was cmos.  Then it was high voltage tubes.  Then it was half of this pedal into half of that pedal with a clean blend and an effects loop.  Then it was high voltage transistors.  Then high voltage opamps.  Then it was minimum parts counts.  Then excessive filtering between stages.  Then it was only mojo components.  Then no mojo allowed.  Then ok some mojo and some not mojo...

Two years later I'm back where I started.  With a sound in my head and no way to achieve it.  The funny thing is that while on the search for "my" overdrive sound I've been getting by just fine with a Bluebeard Fuzz, Boss Bass Overdrive, Roger Mayer Voodoo Bass, and most recently a Ross Distortion.  I may not have loved every minute of playing these other pedals but it got me through the gig and not a single person has ever complained about my sound.

So now I have to ask myself.  What the hell am I searching for?

I think what bass means , a pedal with high-pass the frequency of your bass and a low-pass the top end frequency .

[nick d]

         Ha ! The old familiar " search for the  Grail " !
       
        Many years ago , late '70's , I played a Gibson EBO copy through an ancient Marshall Supabass ,
        wel-cranked . Sounded just like Lemmy ! Trying to get the same sound now , just using pedals ,
        is totally frustrating - either not dirty enough , or just plain " fuzzy  ".
       
        It's a bit like trying to get the perfect " valve sound " - the only way is to get a valve amp !
       
        Doe's stop us trying , though!!
       

[LucifersTrip]

I guess it really depends on only your ears...it's too subjective, but you can always start by researching other current masters of distorted bass, like Al Cisneros

[Bill Mountain]

I guess it really depends on only your ears...it's too subjective, but you can always start by researching other current masters of distorted bass, like Al Cisneros

DOD 250 and Electric amps.  He may use a fuzz but I'm not sure.

"At Giza" owns my soul.  It makes me wish I did a lot of drugs.

[sewage666]

Al gave a friend of mine his old Sovtek Big Muff which she let me demo. I got my own and never looked back. I also liked my Rat2 after I did the bass mods Brian Wampler had in his book. Good, miles beyond the ODB-3, but the green muff still rules.