Bass Pedal Geek Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 I gathered my drive pedals for a comparison. So far, that would be 7 pedals, but I plan to add more pedals to this shootout as I get my hands on more drive, distortion and fuzz pedals in the future Just for fun, I threw in a poll. Please do give the pedals a listen before voting and let us know which one you voted for - and why! I am aware that the drive range of these pedals are very different, so I tried to work by these guidelines. There are 4 samples in each of the 5 rounds (except for round 4): subtle, medium, heavy and max. Max is 100% full-on and in many cases this is way over the top, but figured many wanted to know the outer extreme, so I guess you could say that the range from "subtle" to "heavy" is the usable range (in my very subjective view, of course). [url="http://bass-pedals.com/big-drive-shootout/"]BIG Drive Pedal Shootout[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbowskill Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 (edited) you'r dry tone is lush. having owned all but the exh and the b3k........ I'd say with your bass (which sounds very nice) the microtubes wins it. great Demo,review, contest Edited October 16, 2015 by danbowskill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 (edited) Great stuff. To me, the two Darkglass ones were the best, and the B3K just pipped it. Disappointments were the Blueberry and the TC. I'd love to hear a Cog Knightfall in this test Edited October 16, 2015 by Roland Rock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Pedal Geek Posted October 16, 2015 Author Share Posted October 16, 2015 (edited) Yeah I tend to agree that the Darkglasses top the list. Currently the B3K is one of my absolute favorite drives. Just got a B7K that I will add later to this shootout - also deploying the EQ curcuit. Edited October 16, 2015 by Bass Pedal Geek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Pedal Geek Posted October 16, 2015 Author Share Posted October 16, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1445024935' post='2888319'] Great stuff. To me, the two Darkglass ones were the best, and the B3K just pipped it. Disappointments were the Blueberry and the TC. I'd love to hear a Cog Knightfall in this test [/quote] That Cog Knightfall looks intereting. Will try to get a hold of one. (But no promises ;-) Edited October 16, 2015 by Bass Pedal Geek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Try and swap that Mad Professor Blueberry out for the Bearfoot version too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 I did a Knightfall 66 demo ages ago if that sways anyone http://youtu.be/Mv0oqDxP6_I Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 The Microtubes wins it for me across the levels of dirt but I was pleasantly surprised at the sound of the EHX at low gain levels and how well the Spark Boost added a nice depth, although again only at low drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Pedal Geek Posted October 18, 2015 Author Share Posted October 18, 2015 [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1445072031' post='2888544'] Try and swap that Mad Professor Blueberry out for the Bearfoot version too! [/quote] Yes, had that suggestion a few times by now and the search has begun :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Pedal Geek Posted October 22, 2015 Author Share Posted October 22, 2015 [quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1445176521' post='2889281'] The Microtubes wins it for me across the levels of dirt but I was pleasantly surprised at the sound of the EHX at low gain levels and how well the Spark Boost added a nice depth, although again only at low drive. [/quote] The EHX also surprised me when I started comparing. But as you mention, only at the low setting. It easily becomes too much, but just for some gentle grit, it sounds very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higgie Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 I liked both the Darkglass pedals best, which is lucky because I own both! If I didn't I'd be in a world of pain! Haha. And yes, your dry tone is awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) I'm gonna go against the grain a little and say I actually thought the Darkglass pedals actually lost a fair bit of the weight, heft and punch of the dry tone (have to agree with others here though that these are some very sexy clean tones) and on the last 'Jaco-ish' section I'd even go so far as to say I thought they sounded really quite boxey. Personally I loved that the Tech 21 pedals seemed to accentuate the heft and punch being the grit - but then I'm a big fan of the Ampeg sound so I guess my preference is to be expected. Just to add to Bass Pedal Geek that I'm loving the site you've put together - great resource and nicely and simply laid out! Edited October 25, 2015 by Painy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 [quote name='Painy' timestamp='1445776504' post='2894015'] I'm gonna go against the grain a little and say I actually thought the Darkglass pedals actually lost a fair bit of the weight, heft and punch of the dry tone (have to agree with others here though that these are some very sexy clean tones) and on the last 'Jaco-ish' section I'd even go so far as to say I thought they sounded really quite boxey. [/quote] I was underwhelmed by the B3K but it looks like we're in the minority! Out of interest, does anyone know if you can get a similar sound as the Spark Boost with the mini version? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FretNoMore Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Great job! I know I'm in the minority but I really don't like the tone of Darkglass pedals. Of those on your list I choose the VT Bass DI. The Bearfoot Blueberry is my current favourite though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) [quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1445779816' post='2894064'] I was underwhelmed by the B3K but it looks like we're in the minority! [/quote] [quote name='FretNoMore' timestamp='1445931135' post='2895406'] I know I'm in the minority but I really don't like the tone of Darkglass pedals. [/quote] Vive la Resistance!!! Edited October 27, 2015 by Painy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 (edited) [quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1445779816' post='2894064'] I was underwhelmed by the B3K but it looks like we're in the minority! [/quote] [quote name='FretNoMore' timestamp='1445931135' post='2895406'] I know I'm in the minority but I really don't like the tone of Darkglass pedals. [/quote] [quote name='Painy' timestamp='1445986718' post='2896030'] Vive la Resistance!!! [/quote] Me too! Strangely the best sounding pedal to me from these examples is the Darkglass VMT, which I HATED when I owned it! And don't even get me started on the B3K... Yuk! I couldn't pick a favourite from any of those I'm afraid. I'll stick to my Ashdown J-Lo as it's the best subtle drive I've used. Edited October 28, 2015 by Bigwan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Very close between the B3K, BDDI and VT for me and it varied dependent on the style being played. However, outside of the clips, because the VT has more EQ control, I plumped for that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Pedal Geek Posted November 5, 2015 Author Share Posted November 5, 2015 Sorry for having been out of the conversation for so long. I do love the Darkglass pedals a lot (especially the B3K), but I totally respect different opinions and tonal taste. Tone preference is always a subjective matter I guess, which is a good thing in my view. Long live diversity! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FretNoMore Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Bass Pedal Geek' timestamp='1446753041' post='2902141'] Sorry for having been out of the conversation for so long. I do love the Darkglass pedals a lot (especially the B3K), but I totally respect different opinions and tonal taste. Tone preference is always a subjective matter I guess, which is a good thing in my view. Long live diversity! :-) [/quote] Pedals don't make sounds on their own, so to speak, they are used in combination with other gear and without knowing what bass, amp, pedals, speakers etc are involved you can't really judge opinions. A dirt pedal may sound quite different depending on all that other stuff. Which makes it necessary to try yourself, and go down that rabbit hole of searching for "the tone". Edited November 6, 2015 by FretNoMore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Pedal Geek Posted November 6, 2015 Author Share Posted November 6, 2015 [quote name='FretNoMore' timestamp='1446792509' post='2902337'] Pedals don't make sounds on their own, so to speak, they are used in combination with other gear and without knowing what bass, amp, pedals, speakers etc are involved you can't really judge opinions. A dirt pedal may sound quite different depending on all that other stuff. Which makes it necessary to try yourself, and go down that rabbit hole of searching for "the tone". [/quote] Abslutely agree. For that same reason, the shootouts i do are not intended to be the truth in any way. Just to give a rough idea about a certain pedals core sound. Also for that reason, I re-fx the exact same recording and run it through each pedal, so it is the same take, bass, strings, cables, fingers, etc. that you hear in each round. At least these elements are consistent, but you are absoutely right that the pedals may well sound totally different in someone elses hands, setup, etc. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elephantgrey Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 It would be nice to hear a few clips of different combinations of them in series. In particular I'd like to hear the b3k/b7k into bddi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Pedal Geek Posted November 6, 2015 Author Share Posted November 6, 2015 [quote name='elephantgrey' timestamp='1446828833' post='2902766'] It would be nice to hear a few clips of different combinations of them in series. In particular I'd like to hear the b3k/b7k into bddi. [/quote] Could be fun! I have borh pedals at the moment so will try to combine these at some point. Better try B3K -> BDDI as well as the other way around... :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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