Smooth crunch to nice overdrive before a Nobelium

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XjFred

New member
Hello guys !
I already have my diy Nobelium at the end of my signal chain, that I love, and I'm looking for a pedal that can add some smooth tube grit, lite crunch (and why not full overdrive, but not too much), to put before my nobelium. To play for example some slow blues. I need to mention I'm not a hairy metal player, but more a soulful jazz, blues and neo-soul bass player so no fuzz, no big distorsion to summon any devil, just a tasty "vintage" tube overdrive.
I want that pedal with a switch that allow me to add this crunch without changing to much the volume. And I'm looking for a diy kit.
So where should I go ? Particule accelerator ? Bassdude ?
Thank you !
 
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If you're specifically looking for tube grit (which I assume is why you posted here), here's how I would compare the C2C offerings:
  • Particle Accelerator - excellent for grit and light-ish overdrive when cranked, nice low frequency response makes it great for bass
  • Bassdude - everything Particle Accelerator can do but with more gain on top and a unique EQ that I'm a big fan of
  • King Nothing - great for light-mid overdrive on guitar, but would need modification to work for bass
  • Ambassador - also does really well on guitar for a wide range of tones, but would need modification to work for bass
  • Lab Rat - excellent on both guitar or bass, but is more of a heavy drive/distortion. That being said if you use a lower value gain pot (I like A50k) it can actually do lower gain quite well
  • Wrecking Ball - absolutely terrible choice for light overdrive
 
I can second that the Particle Accelerator, Bassdude, and Lab Rat can all provide some nice light dirt before the Nobelium but I don't have any of them on my board because I have many other excellent choices with a fraction of the power requirements. Maybe it's silly to build all these tube pedals and then refuse to upgrade the power supply but I feel like I've thrown enough cash at the underside of my board. All three of those pedals sound amazing though. I've historically been a non-rat guy but the Lab Rat is the best rat for bass that I've ever tried. Changed my mind on the circuit entirely. It might be the most versatile of those choices while being the least "amp like."

If you're thinking about non-tube pedals that pair well with the nobelium, I use a Moonn Big Bass Bro (actually 2 in 1 box) for "barely there" grit and a PPCB Kliche (Chuck D Bones Klon bass mods) for light/medium dirt.

Edit: just remembered you said you wanted a kit, neither of those non tube suggestions will come in a kit. Womp womp.
 
vigilante398 said:
If you're specifically looking for tube grit (which I assume is why you posted here), here's how I would compare the C2C offerings:
  • Particle Accelerator - excellent for grit and light-ish overdrive when cranked, nice low frequency response makes it great for bass
  • Bassdude - everything Particle Accelerator can do but with more gain on top and a unique EQ that I'm a big fan of
  • King Nothing - great for light-mid overdrive on guitar, but would need modification to work for bass
  • Ambassador - also does really well on guitar for a wide range of tones, but would need modification to work for bass
  • Lab Rat - excellent on both guitar or bass, but is more of a heavy drive/distortion. That being said if you use a lower value gain pot (I like A50k) it can actually do lower gain quite well
  • Wrecking Ball - absolutely terrible choice for light overdrive
Click to expand...
Thank you Nathan, I couldn't wish for a more precise and complete answer.
After earing some sounds demo of the PA and the Bassdude, I think I will opt for the latter. Obviously, it can deliver more gain than initialy expected, but as we say in France : "what can do more, can do less". And maybe one day I will be happy to have a full overdrive by cranking that gain knob.
I'm a fan of Ampeg sound, but this Dude (which is based on a Fender tweed tone stack, as far as I understand) sounds awesome.
The Particle Accelerator should have been enough for my actual need, with more space saved in the pedalboard, but now that I have sold the HX Stomp XL, I have plenty of room left for the Bassdude. Can't wait to figure out which tone stack is better between the Nobelium or the Bassdude (as they will belong together side by side in the pedalboard).
Another question for Nathan : do you plan to offer the Redacted preamps serie as diy kits one day ? The 3 tubes Redacted ii is highly desirable.
 
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Mentaltossflycoon said:
I can second that the Particle Accelerator, Bassdude, and Lab Rat can all provide some nice light dirt before the Nobelium but I don't have any of them on my board because I have many other excellent choices with a fraction of the power requirements. Maybe it's silly to build all these tube pedals and then refuse to upgrade the power supply but I feel like I've thrown enough cash at the underside of my board. All three of those pedals sound amazing though. I've historically been a non-rat guy but the Lab Rat is the best rat for bass that I've ever tried. Changed my mind on the circuit entirely. It might be the most versatile of those choices while being the least "amp like."

If you're thinking about non-tube pedals that pair well with the nobelium, I use a Moonn Big Bass Bro (actually 2 in 1 box) for "barely there" grit and a PPCB Kliche (Chuck D Bones Klon bass mods) for light/medium dirt.

Edit: just remembered you said you wanted a kit, neither of those non tube suggestions will come in a kit. Womp womp.
Click to expand...
Thank you for these suggestions. Even if it won't apply to my needs, it will surely help someone else.
 
XjFred said:
Another question for Nathan : do you plan to offer the Redacted preamps serie as diy kits one day ? The 3 tubes Redacted ii is highly desirable.
Click to expand...
I doubt it. I may offer something Ampeg-flavored at some point, but for now the redacted b and redacted ii are staying under the Sushi Box lineup.
 
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