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Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 3:12 pm
by Mr. Hermetyowish
Hello there.
I'm looking for an overdrive pedal that is super-low to low-medium gain that gives me some room to tailor the bass frequencies. I have a v2 Timmy that I like because it can be totally clean with the Gain at minimum, but doesn't lose any character, and then I can add touches of gain here and there without it getting to sloppy or anything. The only problem is that is only has Bass cut, and I can't add a hint of bass if I need to. I'm looking for a pedal that does that super-low yet defined overdrive but allows me to add some girth to the signal. This is for 6 string guitar only, not bass guitar. So I guess the Timmy as a starting point, but with a bass knob that can ADD and not just take away.
Any recommendations? I have a ton of fuzz pedals, so don't sell me short! I just like an overdrive that isn't so much like a basic rock overdrive, and more like a signal enhancer that gets me thick low OD guitar notes and chords.
Thank you,
Mr. H
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 6:22 pm
by Blackened Soul
HAO Rumble Mod might work for you, the tone control adds some thickness, of a moog minifooger boost or you can try and find something with a BMP type tone stack..
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 6:35 pm
by Chankgeez
Not much room to tailor, but the Mantic Thug is pretty nice for addin' a little thump.

Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:04 pm
by Achtane
Dr. Scientist The Elements forever and always.
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:12 pm
by MechaGodzilla
pork loin doesnt really have bass boost, but it is a meaty od with a lpf on the front, tweakable trimpots inside
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 3:25 am
by coldbrightsunlight
Achtane wrote:Dr. Scientist The Elements forever and always.
Yep. This goes up to crazy gain but the clean/low gain side of it is great too and the EQ is lovely and very tweakable.
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 4:52 am
by Schlatte
+1 on the Elements!
Also the SS/BS Mini can do lovely low-gain and has great tonal options. I pretty much use it for the same thing you described, just with a bit more gain.
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:16 am
by JM Charcot
Not what I would call low-gain, but the discontinued EQD Monarch has some EQ you might be looking for :
The treble and bass controls function as frequency boosters, not the traditional roll off filters in most overdrives. They are located in the preamp section and have a large impact on the over all tone, nature and distortion characteristics.
https://www.earthquakerdevices.com/monarch
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:34 am
by Eivind August
The Ground Control Audio boosters might be worth a shot? They have two different ones, think one is a treble booster and the other more of a mid/low boost (?). Haven't tried them myself, but what I've heard has been good.
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:35 am
by D.o.S.
Elements and Mini are properly represented, as is should be.
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 10:43 am
by greyscales
Elements at 18v for extra headroom would be a good choice for an active instrument.
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 3:44 pm
by BoatRich
Elements or Damnation Audio MBD would be great for this. The Damnation has an LPF on the clean blend which helps a lot for retaining lows.
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:37 pm
by excane
Damnation is a great option, and I'll also throw out the Bass TightDrive from Amptweaker.
It has a clean low knob which only brings back a low passed signal.
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 10:06 pm
by echorec
Re: Nearly Clean OD with Active Bass Control
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 10:45 am
by Mr. Hermetyowish
Cool thanks everyone!
I've owned the Mini and the Elements. I think the Elements probably gets closer to what I want, as the Mini still had a some fuzz to it even when the gain was at minimum. Not to say it isn't a great pedal! Never tried the Elements at 18v so that would be interesting. Come to think of it I did have the Pork Loin at one point as well, but only ever tried it on bass I think, whereas this is specifically for guitar. I wondered about the EQD Monarch as well, but then see that maybe the Westwood that was just posted is almost the same pedal maybe? Can't tell, but looks good. Haven't heard of most of these other suggestions so looks like I've got some vids to watch!
Thank you again,
Mr. H