charic Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 For my metal band I was thinking of getting a pedal or two in the future just for scaring the pants off of the guitarist. I really want the bass to sound huge and fairly evil. Was thinking a distortion may do this but most that I have listened too seem to cut a lot of low end. Any recommended listening? I've not really ventured into pedals as of yet (have two) and so am pretty clueless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 I'd start off with a Boss ODB-3, especially as you can pick en up dirt cheap used. I saw Acid King play last year and the bassist used one through a cranked SVT and it sounded immense. In fact I might just hold onto mine, perhaps have a go at modding it... Also the Bass Big Muff and new MXR Bass Fuzz Deluxe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterfire666 Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 ibanez phat-head pedal is pretty good for metal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mog Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Some sort of OTT distortion and a synth/octave are called for methinks.......... Fuzz generally dies in the mix so I'd stay away from most units. I really like the MXR Blowthorch as it has a very useable blend control. Maybe team that with an OC-3 or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pantherairsoft Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Octave down & a fuzz. Wall crumbling stuff Or... a ZVEX Mastotron with the sub switch to 3! BOOM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Jamin Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 That new Tech 21 Bass Boost Fuzz looks pretty cool? Individual knobs for distortion mix and clean mix, plus an independent boost! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 That Tech21 unit looks of interest. I'm another for octave down & fuzz. If you can split the signal after the octaver & put 1 channel through your fuzz & then filter the clean so it just sounds like sub then blend back together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Only thing with octavers is that they can sound synthy and don't keep up with fast playing. Perhaps a digital one like the MicroPOG would though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 The tiniest smidgeon of delay and/or reverb will proper big your sound up! Don't forget the essentials though. Good pickups and a well EQ'd amp will do more for you than some pedals! Try Karoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Middly drive and bit clean lows is the way. Problem is most rives are scooped, and low cut for chugging guitars and sounding good on its own. I used Sansamp into valve amps for a pretty big sound. Wasn't super defined, but tuning to A will do that for you, I reckon I can get much more definition and the same size with my newer rig that is half guitar stuff, much more middle there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 I'm thinking an octaver is unlikely to keep up with riffs tbh. Especially with the drop C tuning. Will check out the suggested pedals Ofcourse when at the computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxxwj Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 amptweaker tight metal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Tipping Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 The hugeness of your sound is really down to your amp or sound man if your going through a house PA ... a simple distortion pedal like the boss will add plenty of dirt to get it sounding fat and nasty without getting lost in the mix. In my experience fuzz sounds great in the house but on stage it's like somebody has turned your bass off! My wee zoom B3 has lots of distortion / bass boost / driver combinations I was able to get a massive sound in a club on sat night with a simple bit of distortion and boost .. might be an idea if you're not sure exactly what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Start at the start and get some strings manly enough to be fulll sounding in drop C, chances are you are using standard ones, and that is like trying to rock a shortscale in standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Try a Boss HM-2 if you can find one of the older ones. The newer ones sound too tinny and thin, IMHO. IIRC, such a pedal was used by Godflesh, Codeine, and a few others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1329166526' post='1538333'] Start at the start and get some strings manly enough to be fulll sounding in drop C, chances are you are using standard ones, and that is like trying to rock a shortscale in standard. [/quote] Using a custom set of Newtones on my acg. Very clear and defined :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomProddy Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Octaver should do the trick. I also personally recommend a Boss MD-2 - bloody crazy through a bass rig! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 I suppose it depends on the octaver & how cleanly you play, but I don't have any trouble with the Boss OC-3 keeping up with any riffs that I play (& many solo pieces too). EHX HOG or POG will give you a HUGE sound, but they're not cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Not much point in an octaver for subs unless your cab can keep up, and generally they don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 any particular sounds you'd like to get close to? I can think of so many different "heavy" bass sounds and ways to get them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Yeah there is... I just can't remember where I heard it probably dream theater knowing me.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 (edited) Ahhh, I could do without checking them out but my guess is you want a dirt pedal that gives a big mid boost - something like a clean blended rat or tube screamer. This seems to be the sort of sound I hear on modern metal (my girlfriend listens to loads). I'm not sure what would do it in one pedal - i'd love to try out that Tech 21 bass boost pedal. I got a Tech 21 XXL recently which is very cool but probably too high gain for what you're after. EDIT: I was playing straight through my Red Llama clone the other night with just the bridge pickup and even on very high gain settings it's really punchy and loses almost no low end. I don't know if anyone uses these on bass usually though? Edited February 14, 2012 by cheddatom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Basically the first time I turn it on I want my guitarist to sh*t himself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 [quote name='pantherairsoft' timestamp='1329150338' post='1537889'] Octave down & a fuzz. Wall crumbling stuff [/quote] This is what I use! I like the OBD3 for the overdrive - very cheap and simple, and would be good if you want more attack in the sound; but I think, as others have said, a lot will come from the ability of amp and cabs to carry that sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 I love octave down and fuzz but I really don't think it's going to cut it in a metal band - too mushy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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