Bass effects issue

Maybe_Memories

I'm using a Fender Jazz and a 30W Carlsbro combo (terrible I know) and running the bass through an EHX Bass Big Muff Pi and Boss OS-2 (this is a guitar pedal btw).

The set up is bass -> big muff -> OS-2 -> amp.

I love the tone this produces, but the low end is really, really messed up, to the point where all the notes on the E string sound the same.

Tone is set to max on both pedals, volume in the 9'o'clock position, sustain on the muff is about 3o'clock, haven't really decided where I like the drive and colour on the OS-2 yet. :rolleyes:

Any suggestions?

auti

The boss distortion pedal is probably responsible for distroying your low end. The effect is not designed to work with the bass guitar and it is probably filtering out all those valuable low frequencies. If you really must use it, turn the tone down for starters, turn it right down. You will find that by laying off the gain too your notes will become more defined and you might even get some deep tones through the mess if you are lucky.

I use the big muff for my bass too but your settings sound a little extreme. Again, this is a guitar effects pedal so you need to be careful with the tone... turn it down! I normally have all the controls set around 9o'clock, I find that if I go much further past this I loose low end. With the bass, less is definately more, if you loose low end will be better off not using any effect at all.

To keep definition on your notes keep the sustain down too or things will get muddy.

The best way to set bass distortion is to keep switching off the pedal every time you make an adjustment, if you hear the low end thinning out undo what you have just done.

You need to remember the function of your instrument. BASS guitar. Do you play in a band? Your primary task is to bridge the rythmical and melodic gap between the drums and the guitars, a weak low end and wildly fuzzy inarticulate tone will not help you do this.

You will be better off using a dedicated bass distortion which will allow you to blend low end and distortion together. I get good tones from a cheapo Ashdown Drive Plus, it sounds a little rubbish on its own but with the band it really sounds great and the low end isn't sacrificed at all, nice gritty sound. I also use a Markbass Super Synth and a Boss SYB3 - both of these will give great distorted sounds without killing low end, especially when I mix them with either the Ashdown or the Big Muff I can get REALLY wild distortion but with articulate notes and a full bass end. Using an envelope filter before a distortion pedal can produce some pretty cool distorted tones too (depending on the filter settings).

I hope this helps.

zafo

OP uses a bas big muff so he has a blend option there. I'd still echo turning you're tone down on both. All they way up on any muff cuts nearly all bass from your signal so you want to be below the 12 o'clock position for starters.

Looks like the tone control on the OS-2 works in a similar way so try between 9 and 12 o'clock on that too. I'd also try try the colour all the way down to the overdrive side and keep the drive control pretty low too.