Does this pedal exist???

[drfrankencopter]

I'm thinking of building a pedal for the bassist in my band, and before I start on it I want to know if there's already something like this on the market.

What I'm thinking of is an active crossover (probably 2nd order) where the low frequency path is sent to an overdrive that is similar to the voodoo labs Sparkle Drive (i.e. a TS9 style overdrive with a clean knob where the dirt can be added in parallel to the signal). My thinking is that adding drive on a straight bass signal adds lots of hiss, and can get harsh or small sounding. By adding distortion only to the lo-frequencies it's like adding harmonics to mostly the fundamentals (as opposed to adding harmonics to the harmonics, like a full range drive would). I think this would help the bass seem louder/fuller without actually being significantly higher in level.

The whole intent here is to address an issue that my bassist has with regards to hearing his instrument when we jam...it seems he's got to crank up too high to be heard.

Using an active crossover also would allow for multiband compression (i.e. slow compressor on the low frequencies for level control, and a limiter on the high frequencies for handling click/pop transients).

Does this already exist? Is it a reasonable idea?

Cheers

Kris

[jyee]

i don't know of anything that does the crossover bit, but there are quite a few bass compressor pedals that do seperate low/highs (e.g. the digitech bass squeeze)

[Mickey Shane]

Tell him to reduce the bass eq and turn up the mids. A 'smile' on the dial is great when you play bass by yourself, but it doesn't cut through in a band situation.

[tedzepplin]

I'm thinking of building a pedal for the bassist in my band, and before I start on it I want to know if there's already something like this on the market.Kris

Please make one for my bassist too.:)

[Zim]

You know, the Boss Dis for the bass does something like that. His High/low distortion and has the clean mixed in, where you can put it up front or behind the OD part. Plus EQ ing! I like it, OD-3b or someting, I'm not at my practice space to look at it.

Another thing to try, speaker config, and placement. I really like a good tuned 410 cab, and for bigger places I ad a good tuned 115 with it.

And one more thing, I'd like to try that pedal if you build one!!! ;p

[fendernazi]

Get a real amp and you wouldn't have to worry about it. Have your bassist check out a Thunderfunk. The clearest and cleanest tones you will ever hear and it has enough volume to kill Africa! That's what I use and I can dial in any kind of tone that I can think of.