Bass overdrive vs. guitar overdrive

[endsjustifymeans]

I was just reading and interview with King Buzzo and he said he prefers the sound of Bass Overdrives on his guitar rig over guitar overdrives. What exactly is the difference? is there a high scoop in Bass overdrives or something that forces the signal lower?

[Doog]

More of a focus on mids and lows, I'd imagine.. especially good with big fat rigs.

[aen]

For a long time dirtboxes were made with only guitars in mind, so to acheive the preferred treble punishment, some (sometimes a LOT) of low end was sacrificed. It's kind of tricky finding a good balance, from a builder's perspective. I choose to err on the side of bass, though.

Mike probably has more practical knowledge on this though, I just throw components together until it sounds like a werewolf.

[Mike]

I think he's referring to Guitar Overdrives as Tubescreamers and the ilk, which deliberately dump a lot of the low end content of your signal prior to the diode clipping stage, since a lot of lows can flub up with that type of clipping arrangement. A Bass overdrive would be less inclined to do this and presumably sound fuller on a guitar

[aen]

man, have i flubbed up some distortionz.