The Carl Martin Bass Drive is a Carl Martin overdrive pedal, currently around $297.45. Close alternatives include the Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive and the Orange Bass Butler Bi-Amp Bass Preamp. It pairs well with the Peavey MiniMAX and the Traynor SB110.
Carl Martin Bass Drive
Carl Martin · pedal
The Carl Martin BassDrive is a dedicated bass guitar overdrive pedal from the Danish manufacturer, providing warm harmonic saturation and drive character tailored to the bass frequency range without sacrificing low-end punch and definition. Features a blend control allowing the overdriven signal to mix with the clean bass signal for preserving fundamental punch. An EQ section shapes the driven signal for different bass and amp combinations. Suitable for rock, blues, and alternative bass applications where warmth and grind are wanted alongside defined low-end. Made in Denmark by Carl Martin.
- bass
- eq
- driven
- warm
- overdrive
- harmonic
- fundamental
- grind
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Carl Martin Bass Drive is commonly used in
- Blues
- Alternative Rock
- Rock
- Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Carl Martin Bass Drive
Peavey MiniMAX
Peavey
26% matchPeavey MiniMAX's bright balances out the warm tone
Traynor SB110
Traynor
24% matchWhere this leans warm, Traynor SB110 answers back bright
Gallien-Krueger MB115MK2
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger MB115MK2 takes that saturated character and pushes it toward tight
Peavey MiniMAX II Bass Head
Peavey
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Peavey MiniMAX II Bass Head answers back bright
Hiwatt DR504H
Hiwatt
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Hiwatt DR504H answers back bright
Peavey TKO 115
Peavey
tonal matchPeavey TKO 115 takes that saturated character and pushes it toward tight
Peavey TNT-115
Peavey
tonal matchStack Peavey TNT-115 on top and a saturated tone tightens toward tight
Marshall 1987X MK II Reissue 2-Channel 50-Watt
Marshall
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Marshall 1987X MK II Reissue 2-Channel 50-Watt answers back bright
Pedals that stack with the Carl Martin Bass Drive
Browne Amplification Carbon
Browne Amplification
24% matchBrowne Amplification Carbon's bright balances out the warm tone
Friedman BE-OD
Friedman
23% matchRun Friedman BE-OD after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
TC Electronic SCF Gold SE Stereo
TC Electronic
18% matchKeep Carl Martin Bass Drive's warm voice out front: TC Electronic SCF Gold SE Stereo goes after Carl Martin Bass Drive in the signal chain so its transparent voice doesn't muddy it
Roland Corp US LMB-3
Roland
17% matchCarl Martin Bass Drive's warm character and Roland Corp US LMB-3's bright voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other
Cusack Music Delay TME
Cusack Music
15% matchKeep Cusack Music Delay TME after Carl Martin Bass Drive in the signal chain, clear of Carl Martin Bass Drive's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Way Huge Electronics Aqua-Puss MkII Analog Delay
pedal
14% matchWay Huge Electronics Aqua-Puss MkII Analog Delay's analog warmth voice goes after Carl Martin Bass Drive in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Carl Martin Bass Drive's own warm character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Friedman Buxom Boost
Friedman
tonal matchInto Carl Martin Bass Drive, Friedman Buxom Boost is right at home: it's built around a high-gain amp's front end
Electronic Audio Experiments Longsword Eastside Exclusive Mono Camo
Electronic Audio Experiments
tonal matchElectronic Audio Experiments Longsword Eastside Exclusive Mono Camo leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Cheaper alternatives
Boss ODB-3
Boss
77% similarityShared character: blend, rich_harmonic_content, standout
Boss BB-1X
Boss
77% similarityShared character: blend, rich_harmonic_content, high_gain_settings
Behringer BOD400 Bass Overdrive
Behringer
72% similarityShared character: blend, rich_harmonic_content, high_gain_settings
Dunlop MXR M85 Bass Distortion
Dunlop
71% similarityShared character: blend, high_gain_settings, grit
Ashdown Jmy-dd
Ashdown
69% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, grit, warm
Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord
Electro-Harmonix
69% similarityShared character: mix, response, bass
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive
Ashdown
73% similarityShared character: clean_signal, grit, punch
Orange Bass Butler Bi-Amp Bass Preamp
Orange
71% similarityShared character: grit, response, bass
Mad Professor MP-Aod
Mad Professor
68% similarityShared character: grit, mix, warm
Mission Engineering Momentum Bass Overdrive
Mission Engineering
67% similarityShared character: bass, response, warm
Catalinbread SFT
Catalinbread
66% similarityShared character: bass, high_gain_settings, response
EarthQuaker Devices Scrolls V1
EarthQuaker Devices
96% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Carl Martin Bass Drive (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Carl Martin Bass Drive?+
The closest matches in character are the Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive, the Orange Bass Butler Bi-Amp Bass Preamp, the Mad Professor MP-Aod. Budget picks: Boss ODB-3, Boss BB-1X, Behringer BOD400 Bass Overdrive.
What pairs well with the Carl Martin Bass Drive?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey MiniMAX, Traynor SB110, Gallien-Krueger MB115MK2 — Peavey MiniMAX's bright balances out the warm tone.
How much does the Carl Martin Bass Drive cost?+
Around $297.45 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).