Bass distortion/overdrive

[ThomasT]

What do you think about a distorted bass guitar?

What about a little overdrive/tube effect?
Sometimes I like it to use the SPL Charisma on a bass track.

 

[Frank'nfurter]

For me it depends on the sound idea. I try sometimes the old EH bigmuff for stoner rock. I also use the Sensamp bass DI driver and sometimes even a Boss SD1. As I say, depends on the sound idea. I also record the direct sound of bass by DI. So I have the chance to get a verry decent mix of both signals.

Franky

 

[Frank'nfurter]

And don't forget the verry important new strings!!!!

 

[ThomasT]

Hmm...man y people recommend the bigmuff. I tried it with my bass and amp, and I'm not very impressed. I like the old boss OD-1 much more.

But besides distortion I mean a slight tube effect on bass. An kind of overdrive you would hear through a guitar wall, but what gives the bass more definition.
E.g. the new Nightwish-Album. But it is a little more than I mean.

 

[egan.]

SansAmp bass driver

 

[Exsanguis]

Ampfarm has some pretty good distortions for bass, too, although I always use the Bass Driver during recording. I've never been a fan of the Big Muff, but have always found that the old Boss Overdrive and Distortion pedals, as well as the MXR Distortion+ gives me some pretty good bass distortion. But, I always reamp when going for bass distortion, as I never wanna get stuck with a great take but a distortion that doesn't fit.

 

[2dark]

we played a few shows with Immortal Souls from Finland and their bass player
uses the BigMuff too. Live and Studio.
While recording their last album they used 2 bass tracks. One directly into the
desk and the other one through the BigMuff -> Amp -> DI -> Desk.
And the sound is pretty descent.

 

[Forbiddenevil]

on first place: SansAmp bass driver

in case it is not available: Line 6 Pod xt

regards

 

[Wadi]

MXR Bass DI/preamp -- 2 channels (clean and distortion) and I'm able to blend both signals

This is what I'm using right now...

 

[ThomasT]

Btw. when you record a bass guitar do you prefer direct or micing an amp?

If the amp sounds good I prefer an real amp but record also the DI-signal.
Sometimes the mic-signals hat too less very deep lows.