Overdrive/distortion just not working right

red_ice

I need overdrive/distortion for a couple of songs that i do. I play bass and i notice that when ever i hit the pedal i just lose alot of everything, and my bass kinda just fades into the background, then when i take it off it sound like the volume on the bass jumps really high, when its just the distortion sucks.

I was thinking, considering the fact that anytime i play im DI'ed, would it be possible to get 2 DI boxes. One with distortion on fulltime, and the other a clean signal. Then get a pedal to choose which line i want to use?

Is this a good idea or not? Theres no volume in the pedals i have at all, and its the same with most bass pedals i've come across.

If you wanna hear the type of thing i use the distortion for, go here and listen to shoulder shrug. that will give you an idea of what im trying to get sounding right. Its the same setup used to record the track, just that section was bumped up. Is there anything that i can do to get that signal right?

Cheers

feylya

What sort of distortion are you using? I use a Double Muff which is nice because you can boost the level with the second muff while setting the distortion with the first.

Dord

It sounds like the bottom end is dropping out, obviously whatever you use for your dist/drive doesnt have a blend control, or if it does you're not using it. I'd recommend getting a pedal like the Boss LS-2. I use a similar pedal myself to mix my clean signal and my big muff. Pure evil!

red_ice

Im using a Boss DS 2 or SD 2, have to look into it. I also have a beringer bass overdrive pedal.. they are not the best pedals i know.. But no matter what theres always that drop.

Would that DI idea work?

Ive been looking into getting a fuzz pedal or an electroharmonix mini synth(will give a fat sound) as an alternative solution. I just need that distortion to stand out a little more.

Dord

red_ice wrote:

Im using a Boss DS 2 or SD 2, have to look into it. I also have a beringer bass overdrive pedal.. they are not the best pedals i know.. But no matter what theres always that drop.

Would that DI idea work?

Ive been looking into getting a fuzz pedal or an electroharmonix mini synth(will give a fat sound) as an alternative solution. I just need that distortion to stand out a little more.

Well thats your problem right there, you're using effects designed for guitar. Because of that you're losing precious low end which just makes your song sound weak when you turn on the dist.

I think a DI that will let you blend signals like that, usually its just for mic and instrument blending. You really need something like the Boss LS-2. I dont know of many other pedals that do the job.

red_ice

joe robot wrote:

Well thats your problem right there, you're using effects designed for guitar.

Well i am using the beringer bass overdrive for live shows, it is a bass overdrive. But it still drops. the only way to get more volume is to up the gain on it. The sound gets terribly rinsed, so much so that the notes are barely audable, but the volume is there

punchdrunk

you need this...

darrenw5094

Try something a bit more expensive than Berinhger......

Boss etc....You get what you pay for.

Dord

Red Ice, I could tell you what I've told you twice so far in this thread but I don't think you'll pay attention. You DON'T need a more expensive distortion pedal, you probably don't need a DI, although if you're playing live it might help with your sound.

I'll try post up some clips tomorrow of bass distortion with and without a blended clean signal.

Royale with Cheese

I have the boss bass overdrive pedal and the same thing happens. It's not actually quieter but when you're playing with a full band and switch the overdrive on, it seems quieter and it can be fairly hard to actually hear that the bass is even using distortion. Maybe the boss pedals are just crap? Was thinking of getting a big muff to use for it.

red_ice

joe robot wrote:

you probably don't need a DI, although if you're playing live it might help with your sound.

Dont really have a choise. Im very particular about the sound i get from my bass. Sound engineers seem to prefare using A DI and letting you use the amp as a monitor. Depending on what speakers your using they will let me play miced, but that only happened at one gig where we had a HUGE ass bass amp that could provide enough low/mid. I dont really mind playing DI'ed as long as the engi doesnt mind me on the dance floor fine tuning my tone with him for a good 10 minutes.

joe robot wrote:

I'll try post up some clips tomorrow of bass distortion with and without a blended clean signal.

Please do!!

darrenw5094 wrote:

Try something a bit more expensive than Berinhger......

Boss etc....You get what you pay for.

I have tried alot of pedals, but they all turn out the same.

red_ice

punchdrunk wrote:

you need this...

Whats the range on it? Looks very simple, i like that, but will it be a farty distortion or does it have a bit of muscle?

Dord

Tried to record the samples today but it didnt go so well, apparently the rest of the house doesnt like very loud fuzzed out bass

I'll try record some samples at the weekend. I hadn't taken the big muff out in a month or so, I forgot how much fun it is.