Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: brian_ward on August 09, 2010, 07:04:11 PM

Title: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: brian_ward on August 09, 2010, 07:04:11 PM
i have a metroamp superbass clone i built and im looking for a good dirty boost/overdrive pedal to get more gain out of it. i have a rat w/ lm308 and its not quite "in your face" enough. i also tried a fulldrive 2 non-mosfet and i liked the general character but didnt like that it cut my low end too much so that i ended up with a lot of low mids and sounded kinda boxy. suggestions?
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: Denim n Leather on August 09, 2010, 07:16:25 PM
Try the Death By Audio Fuzz War ... if you dare!!
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: brian_ward on August 09, 2010, 07:36:41 PM
haha. im not sure if i do. i really wish i could just drive down to my stupid ass guitar center and try one out. its possible.
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 09, 2010, 08:25:24 PM
search my user name on this forum - I posted clips of my old Superbass with an OD-1 and Crunchbox running into it - will give you an idea of what you can get from the SB.  btw, my SB had a master volume added, so the amp could be fairly crunchy (AC/DC levels) even without any stompbox and at bedroom levels.

Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: Denim n Leather on August 09, 2010, 08:28:54 PM
Cascading boosts will DEF give you some crazy, thick distortion. But not what I would necessarily call 'in your face'; certainly not as in your face as the Fuzz War.

I love running my BB Preamp into the z.vex SHO for a crazy-ass thick distortion.
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: BigB on August 09, 2010, 09:26:52 PM
i have a metroamp superbass clone i built and im looking for a good dirty boost/overdrive pedal to get more gain out of it. i have a rat w/ lm308 and its not quite "in your face" enough. i also tried a fulldrive 2 non-mosfet and i liked the general character but didnt like that it cut my low end too much so that i ended up with a lot of low mids and sounded kinda boxy. suggestions?

The french DIY forum Techniguitare (http://www.techniguitare.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=9301) sells a pretty good modified 808 kit that really has this "in your face" character, works pretty well as a dirt boost (more gain and extended - both directions - drive range so you can use it as an "almost clean" boost), and has an optional "fat" switch to keep more low ends - can use it as a bass OD too (I do and it works just fine). If you were able to build a superbass amp, this kit should be a no-brainer for you.
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 09, 2010, 10:10:09 PM
a treble booster into the bass channel will give you plenty of overdrive and an in-your-face tone, worth trying for sure.
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: brian_ward on August 09, 2010, 10:42:49 PM
a treble booster into the bass channel will give you plenty of overdrive and an in-your-face tone, worth trying for sure.

now this is an idea! hmm. xotic ep booster?
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: hunter on August 09, 2010, 11:21:54 PM
I like Flat Boosters into Marshalls, like the Radial PB-1 or the MXR Microamp or the MXR CAE Driver.

Treble Boosters are too ice picky into Marshalls IMO - well - I have to say I am talking JCM800 types. Actually I think you might wanna get a treble booster for yours though. What about a BOR? Great Overdrive AND awesome quality booster in one?
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: gwEm on August 09, 2010, 11:30:40 PM
I like Flat Boosters into Marshalls, like the Radial PB-1 or the MXR Microamp or the MXR CAE Driver.

Treble Boosters are too ice picky into Marshalls IMO - well - I have to say I am talking JCM800 types. Actually I think you might wanna get a treble booster for yours though. What about a BOR? Great Overdrive AND awesome quality booster in one?

in theory, the treble booster ought to be great in a superbass.

i do agree about treble boosters and jcm800 type amps not really working, however some treble boosters have a tone control to tame the high end. i'm using such into a jcm800 type amp.

i have a thundertomate phil hilbourne and i can recommend it, though it is pricey and not really working with high gain humbuckers. massive sustain and great definition with that pedal. crunchy too!

i like the od-1 tone hugely, but it does take out bass, so if you are worried about that the crunchbox would be a good affordable choice - at least from the pedals i have experience with.
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 10, 2010, 10:45:07 PM
a treble booster into the bass channel will give you plenty of overdrive and an in-your-face tone, worth trying for sure.

now this is an idea! hmm. xotic ep booster?

no idea about the majority of pedals out there, I roll my own.

however, there must be literally thousands of different guys out there building Rangemaster clones.  don't worry about it being too bright, your Superbass is WAY darker than a JCM800 (which are much brighter than any Superbass I've ever played).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbfFo1swwWM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQCItPWV0eE&feature=related


Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: PPPMAT on August 11, 2010, 08:40:01 AM
Flynn amps hawk booster - can't recommend them highly enough, will boost flat or treble and has eq options aswell. Expensive but is utterly brilliant (youtube has a few clips)

Matt
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: murraymurray on August 12, 2010, 07:03:05 AM
I just discovered the magic of stacking OD's.
got my OD1 with the level up pretty high into my Big D with gain around 6ish, level round 5, into the low input on my redbear (800ish)
sounds so thick and awesome, just having to work on controlling the noise from all the gain on the pedals, have a boss NS1 but to cut the noise its up a bit high and is cutting ringouts short. wont gig like this until ive got that under control
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: Denim n Leather on August 12, 2010, 06:26:13 PM
Big D DEFINITELY has some in-your-face to bring to the table!
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: djl on August 12, 2010, 06:43:23 PM
Have you tried ZVEX Box of Rock? It's designed to give that marshall sound but more of it, and it's got two channels - ones a straightforward volume boost, the others a distortion which is very convincingly marshall-like. I like mine a lot, although I run it through a blackface type amp when I need a distorted sound. It's well worth a look if you can find one.
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: horsehead on August 13, 2010, 06:27:15 AM
I've got a provalve 2 for sale...amazing soundsthat would suit the superbass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE_7_CIR7Zs
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: gwEm on August 14, 2010, 07:18:21 PM
alot depends on the guitar your using as well (obviously(!)) but i've been playing round with pedals this afternoon and decided my od-1 is my absolute favourite for humbuckers, and the treble booster for single coils and lower output buckers.

IMO strats sound good with a slightly fuzzy drive or a distortion, but i dislike that style with humbuckers - clean drive or boost all the way there.
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 14, 2010, 08:43:42 PM
alot depends on the guitar your using as well (obviously(!)) but i've been playing round with pedals this afternoon and decided my od-1 is my absolute favourite for humbuckers, and the treble booster for single coils and lower output buckers.

IMO strats sound good with a slightly fuzzy drive or a distortion, but i dislike that style with humbuckers - clean drive or boost all the way there.

I use an OD-1 as my main gigging overdrive tone.  Its an SD-1 that I modded to OD-1 specs (plus other mods so you get no bass dropout).
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: gwEm on August 14, 2010, 08:52:17 PM
alot depends on the guitar your using as well (obviously(!)) but i've been playing round with pedals this afternoon and decided my od-1 is my absolute favourite for humbuckers, and the treble booster for single coils and lower output buckers.

IMO strats sound good with a slightly fuzzy drive or a distortion, but i dislike that style with humbuckers - clean drive or boost all the way there.

I use an OD-1 as my main gigging overdrive tone.  Its an SD-1 that I modded to OD-1 specs (plus other mods so you get no bass dropout).

that was a great tip you gave me there ian, its my favourite pedal for humbucker guitars by far. i left some bass dropout in there, but thats just me. i'd like to hear your version someday mate.
Title: Re: dirty boost/overdrive for plexi?
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 15, 2010, 02:48:10 PM
alot depends on the guitar your using as well (obviously(!)) but i've been playing round with pedals this afternoon and decided my od-1 is my absolute favourite for humbuckers, and the treble booster for single coils and lower output buckers.

IMO strats sound good with a slightly fuzzy drive or a distortion, but i dislike that style with humbuckers - clean drive or boost all the way there.

I use an OD-1 as my main gigging overdrive tone.  Its an SD-1 that I modded to OD-1 specs (plus other mods so you get no bass dropout).

that was a great tip you gave me there ian, its my favourite pedal for humbucker guitars by far. i left some bass dropout in there, but thats just me. i'd like to hear your version someday mate.

here it is...  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFqQZjJ828c