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What are some good drive/preamp pedals with dry out for parallel processing? Is Darkglass really the best option? Rusty Box? SansAmp? I just want a solid drive w/ EQ and maybe blend for my core bass tone, and a separate output (that's always active) for another chain of effects. Will also be playing guitar through this, so would like the option to turn it off and still have it function as a signal splitter. If it has to be on, a blend or supreme guitar-friendliness is key.

I used to have a VT Bass DI. Loved it, sounded great - till it broke and Tech 21 barely responded and shit, so I have a hard time recommending any of their stuff, but alas, when it did work, I liked it a lot.

Yeah, that was an early contender for me too, but I don't like the way it looks tbh. I'd give it a shot, but rather get a regular black & yellow SansAmp if I went that route. They are affordable, so that's a plus.

You've successfully hurt my feelings.

have u peeped the mxr m80?

i like my m81. which is similar minus the distortion and parallel output. nice preamp/eq

The Source Audio Kingmaker/LA Lady/Aftershock (pick your color, same damn thing on the inside including all algos) will do what you're asking in spades.

Includes blend, two simultaneous engines (parallel/series, your call), can have a pre/post fx loop if you're willing to sacrifice the stereo stuff, etc.

I did not mean to hurt anyone's feelings! The VT Bass looks good it is just not my flava, it reminds me of a sneaker colorway. On a sunnier board, yes.

The MXR M80 I did peep at one time, that is a strong option. Only wish it had top jacks. Trying to find every negative thing! nah, but that seems perfect feature wise.

Source Audio Aftershock, I was on the cusp of buying that one used recently. Dunno how it slipped, but definitely another one where I'm not crazy about the looks, but would happily rock if it came along and proved to sound good.

Thanks for the suggestions y'all!

That's why I mention all three as options - the *ONLY* difference is the color and what three patches are loaded from the factory.

If one of the others is not as ugly to you...

I, of course, bought the purple one.

Yeah, I mean the orange Aftershock would be my first choice (I have no orange pedals!), also because it does what it says on the tin so it's not confusing. I run Linux, so I'd have to load up new sounds/split configurations from another computer though. My biggest concern though, is that those One series pedals require 300mA, which I don't have available on on my power supply. So as with the Rusty Box I'd need a separate PS.

Darkglass is my drive of choice for bass although you could just as easily get a buffered splitter to run before your dirt and then run that second out to your other chain.

Yes, but then I wouldn't have the initaial tone shaping/mild dirt capabilities for my bass, which is an Epiphone Thunderbird Classic IV. It has a very dark and neutral sound, which is fine, but I'd like to spice up the midrange grit and tailor the lows to something that can be always on, then the split will go to a mid/hi-range focused, more effected chain. So a Darkglass, maybe not an Ultra necessarily, but something like the B7K would be perfect I guess. It's a lil out of my budget right now though.

As for what I use now, there's an Ibanez DS10 just splitting the signal first, then as a bass pre an SRC effects Bifet boost (w/ Colorsound one-knob fuzz, which is not that good on bass). The problem with that is I stumbled and fell on top of it one time, cut my arm on its switch even, and I don't know if sustained damage, but now I get scratchy sounds when adjusting the volume pedal before it.

Maybe just get a DI?
XLR out to desk/Interface and and link to pedals and amp?

And maybe a Rustybox would be cool?

Edith: read your post again and DI might not be for you. A splitter would be better.

Definitely need a DI. Got a couple mixers and defunct 4-tracks I could use to inerface with the board, but nothing real hi-fi. Ideally I'd like it all in one pedal though.

Rustybox is basically what I desire the most, but isn't the line out on that real hot/low impedance? Like I worry that it's going to drive pedals too hard, like there's no way to have a separate clean chain.

Pike Vulcan XL. Has a lot more bite than the Darkglass stuff.

frodog wrote:Yes, but then I wouldn't have the initaial tone shaping/mild dirt capabilities for my bass, which is an Epiphone Thunderbird Classic IV. It has a very dark and neutral sound, which is fine, but I'd like to spice up the midrange grit and tailor the lows to something that can be always on, then the split will go to a mid/hi-range focused, more effected chain. So a Darkglass, maybe not an Ultra necessarily, but something like the B7K would be perfect I guess. It's a lil out of my budget right now though.

As for what I use now, there's an Ibanez DS10 just splitting the signal first, then as a bass pre an SRC effects Bifet boost (w/ Colorsound one-knob fuzz, which is not that good on bass). The problem with that is I stumbled and fell on top of it one time, cut my arm on its switch even, and I don't know if sustained damage, but now I get scratchy sounds when adjusting the volume pedal before it.

You can put the splitter anywhere you like in your chain. Im just saying it doesn't have to be in a specific pedal.