The Bass OD/DIS is an aggressive analog overdrive and distortion pedal for bass from RogerThat Guitar Electronics, a maker based in Holland. It sits in the bass overdrive and distortion territory, and it is aimed squarely at players who want a lot of gain: Premier Guitar's reviewer called the result "a fuzz-like screaming monster that has plenty of gain on tap for the heaviest music," with a sound described as "aggressive, punchy" and "not for lovers of subdued and mild overdrive."1
Where it comes from
The pedal is a variant of one of RogerThat's most popular guitar effects, the RogerThat Distortion. The company modified the circuitry to suit modern-rock and metal bassists, adapting a guitar circuit for bass use rather than building one from scratch.1
What it does to your sound
The pedal covers overdrive, distortion and fuzz territory, and its gain control is the heart of it. The gain knob has a very large range that spans relatively light overdrive and crispy distortion, so one pedal can move from a pushed, gritty tone into full heavy-gain distortion. Beyond that range it takes on a fuzz-like character with plenty of gain for the heaviest music.1
The reviewer's overall verdict on the tones was positive: "Rich and thick distortion and fuzz. Smooth tonality."1
Controls and power
The pedal uses four simple controls for dialing in tones, per Premier Guitar's review.1
On power, two points matter for a pedalboard build:
- RogerThat includes a power supply with the pedal.1
- A wall wart is necessary, since 9V battery power is not an option.1
There is no 9V battery option on this pedal, so it cannot be run battery-powered, and the included supply is the intended way to power it.1
Build quality and what reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer found the pedal's analog circuit board and wiring very neat and tidy, and reported that the pots and true-bypass switching all functioned smoothly. The review's pros line summed up the pedal as offering rich and thick distortion and fuzz with smooth tonality overall.1
Questions
Is the RogerThat Bass OD/DIS true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that the pedal's true-bypass switching functioned smoothly, along with its pots. True bypass means the pedal takes itself fully out of the signal path when switched off, so your bass's tone reaches the amp unchanged.
Does the RogerThat Bass OD/DIS come with a power supply?
Yes. RogerThat includes a power supply with the pedal. A wall wart is necessary in any case, because the pedal cannot run on a 9V battery, so plan your board's power around an outlet or a supply with the right output.
Is the RogerThat Bass OD/DIS analog or digital?
It is analog. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted the pedal's analog circuit board and wiring, describing them as very neat and tidy.
Can the RogerThat Bass OD/DIS do light overdrive as well as heavy distortion?
Yes. The gain knob has a very large range that spans relatively light overdrive and crispy distortion, so the pedal covers both ends. That said, the reviewer described its overall character as aggressive and punchy, not a pedal for players after subdued, mild overdrive.
Sources (1)
- RogerThat Guitar Electronics Bass OD/DIS Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2012-11-20