Bass

Bazz · 11-03-2005 9:50pm #1

I've been wondering what effects are necessary and what aren't for Bass basically. The Boss range is huge and has a plethora of pedals, but I'm trying to create a full, clean sound without spending too much money. A feel a lá John Myung's sound on Train of Thought. He creates a really massive groove but his effects rig isn't that complex. Any ideas and advice would be appreciated.

david · 11-03-2005 10:05pm

Bazz wrote:

I've been wondering what effects are necessary and what aren't for Bass basically. The Boss range is huge and has a plethora of pedals, but I'm trying to create a full, clean sound without spending too much money. A feel a lá John Myung's sound on Train of Thought. He creates a really massive groove but his effects rig isn't that complex. Any ideas and advice would be appreciated.

Try a compressor and maybe some eq of some sort for good clean sounds. Get bass specific pedals if you can.

feylya · 12-03-2005 12:54pm

A good amp and a good bass along with some skill goes a long way.

Bazz · 12-03-2005 7:47pm

I have a 5 String Warwick Corvette and a half decent amp. The effects department is what I'm concerned about.

feylya · 12-03-2005 7:48pm

Personally, I prefer the sound of an amp going straight into the amp. Perhaps the Boss bass overdrive and a Dunlop bass CryBaby if you're that way inclined.

Bazz · 12-03-2005 7:54pm

I take it you actually use those pedals, I like the CryBaby but it's more for Slap.

feylya · 12-03-2005 7:56pm

Nope. I've just heard very impressive results from various people using them. I'm a guitar player primarily.

Zapp Brannigan · 12-03-2005 10:07pm

a good compressor and a chorus pedal wil help ya!
im a bassist but i swear by my Bass PodXT, its all ill ever need!

John · 13-03-2005 10:06pm

Whatever you want to use is all that is essential. I use flanger and fuzz but mainly clean. If you want to have a certain sound that uses an effect, find what company does the best version of that effect for your needs and get it. Don't just buy effects for the sake of having them. And don't get into the mentality of

Bazz wrote:

I take it you actually use those pedals, I like the CryBaby but it's more for Slap.

as all effects and modulations are simply tools for you to use and can be used in any way that you see fit. IMO it's far more rewarding to find sounds that are unique (and sound appropriate to what you are playing) than to just always use an effect in a traditional way.

Is there a particular bass sound that you like that uses effects? Any artist or song that has made you want effects?

Doctor J · 14-03-2005 9:39am

Bazz wrote:

I've been wondering what effects are necessary and what aren't for Bass basically.

Emmmmmm, none are necessary, all aren't necessary. Colour your tone if you need to, but don't do it cos your guitarist has a plethora of pedals. Bass is such wonderfully versatile instrument, you can get a myriad of different tones and sounds from your hands alone. The only effect I've ever used on bass is a bit of distortion every now and then and even then I could get away without it.

As for compression, well good technique will do the same thing pretty much and any gig you play, the engineer will compress the bejesus out of your bass before it hits the PA anyway. Chorus, meh, sounds like an 80's hair metal ballad and wah, well you can't use it that often without sounding like 70's porn music. As for the rest, pshaw to them. Invest in your technique, learn different styles, be a good bass player, rather than a purveyor of low end effected soup.

magpie · 14-03-2005 9:46am

Invest in your technique, learn different styles, be a good bass player, rather than a purveyor of low end effected soup.

Amen brother. Take a leaf out of Entwhistle's book: the only effect you need is earth-shuddering volume.

eoin5 · 14-03-2005 2:14pm

good use of effects makes all the difference I think, pink floyds earlier stuff like saucerful of secrets and meddle have some great examples, tho on the opposite foot you have pearl jam's why go studio version with chorus on the bass that it certainly could have done without. Be tasteful people!

John · 14-03-2005 5:19pm

eoin5 wrote:

Be tasteful people!

That should be every musician's motto whether talking about effects, technique or even the finish on the instrument.

Bazz · 14-03-2005 5:31pm

Cheers for the suggestions.

Mongo · 14-03-2005 8:12pm

Word of advice.Unless your playing solo or in a quiet enviroment Bass Wah doesn't cut through.It sucks the low end outta your rig.I'd recommend Autowah or Envelope Filter.Possibly Bass Balls

Bazz · 24-03-2005 10:22pm

Mongo wrote:

Word of advice.Unless your playing solo or in a quiet enviroment Bass Wah doesn't cut through.It sucks the low end outta your rig.I'd recommend Autowah or Envelope Filter.Possibly Bass Balls

Well I never use Wah anyway. It's not appropriate in a live envoirenment in terms of effect. Bass Balls?

GiantSpacePanda · 25-03-2005 12:37pm

buy the Boss me-50b great effects pedal, has everything you want with a couple extra thrown in, very user friendly too.

Bazz · 02-04-2005 10:27pm

What do people think of the Zoom 506II Bass Multi-Effects Pedal?

Would it be a good purchase in the effects department??

Heres a link:
Zoom 506II

Cheers.

dabhoys · 02-04-2005 10:42pm

I've never been a fan of them. they seem to crap out alot and add alot of hiss to signals.

Bazz · 02-04-2005 10:47pm

Really? I've heard good things about them. "Crap out"? What do you mean?

david · 02-04-2005 10:58pm

Bazz wrote:

Really? I've heard good things about them. "Crap out"? What do you mean?

They sound... not great...

crap out = stop working

They are good pedals for beginners for messing around with effects... but not so good for gigging bassists. Theyre unusable live...

I had the guitar version..

Bazz · 02-04-2005 11:02pm

Ok, thanks for that.

dabhoys · 03-04-2005 6:19pm

The guitarist in my old band had one and it let us down alot!!!

I wouldn't waste me money on one to be honest...

jcoote · 04-04-2005 8:01am

a 506 is not a bad buy if u want to learn about the different effects but thats it. they are very unreliable and the effects themselves leave much to be desired... you sound like u want tone rather than effects... good amp and technique and thats it for sweet tone...maybe a chorus and flanger might add an extra dimension if u really wanted em

Ravelleman · 07-04-2005 3:55pm

Try a Sansamp BDDI preamp. Not really an effect but well worth the money apparently. + you can plug it directly into a PA without an amp. It'll allow you to get good SVT and Bassman like sounds (among others).

alansan · 08-04-2005 10:12am

I've heard the Bass Pod pro is intended more for studio use. Does anyone use it at gigs? If so do you use it on its own as a di into the pa system or just as a tone-shaping pre amp to your miked rig.

Also with the big bells and whistles rack mountable version would this become the amp that drives your cabinets or is it still just a pre-amp?

How cheesy (or not) are the built-in effects?

Any advice based on experience appreciated.

GiantSpacePanda · 12-04-2005 1:16am

Im having trouble lately getting a fuzz effect were i can play bass lines that require two or more strings to be going at the same time and not sound all muffeled. I know that you really arnt meant to but **** it. Any suggestions?

Bazz · 12-04-2005 7:51pm

GiantSpacePanda wrote:

Im having trouble lately getting a fuzz effect were i can play bass lines that require two or more strings to be going at the same time and not sound all muffeled. I know that you really arnt meant to but **** it. Any suggestions?

You need to clarify your question a little. Are you trying to play chords? Are you playing a B and an E at the same time or what, hence the muffled effect? Explain your question better please.

GiantSpacePanda · 12-04-2005 8:09pm

i mean bass parts like eg. Hsyteria by muse, you know what i mean

Bazz · 12-04-2005 8:32pm

Well he's using an effect on his bass to get the sound, it's not the way he's playing.

GiantSpacePanda · 13-04-2005 12:52am

Thats what im asking you tit, how did he get that level of tone while playing two strings at once without getting all muffeled, why dont you stop talking at let someone whos knows what they are talking about answer, iv been playing for 11 years, i think i know what a effect is.

feylya · 13-04-2005 12:55am

Try a multiband eq and a Boss Bass overdrive pedal. And relax a bit when someone tries to help.

Oeneus · 13-04-2005 4:04pm

Keep it cool GiantSpacePanda. Put a Bamboo in it or something!

Bazz · 14-04-2005 10:12am

GiantSpacePanda wrote:

Thats what im asking you tit, how did he get that level of tone while playing two strings at once without getting all muffeled, why dont you stop talking at let someone whos knows what they are talking about answer, iv been playing for 11 years, i think i know what a effect is.

What a gimp.

Oeneus · 14-04-2005 12:14pm

Bazz, What the hell was that? If I see anything like that again, you're banned!

GiantSpacePanda · 16-04-2005 12:39pm

Hey bazz, how about we meet up and finish this.

John · 16-04-2005 9:26pm

How old are you panda, 14?

Oeneus · 17-04-2005 12:03am

Banned. "You are a Saaaaad Panda!"

Mr. CooL ICE · 17-04-2005 2:55pm

Feckin women.

Anyway, i have a Zoom 708][ bass pedal (two pedals for cycling through effects, and an expression pedal) which i got 2 years ago in a shop in cork for €99. It does add an annoying amount of hiss, especially when recording. And when playing through an amp, the tone just doesnt sound right. Anytime i use it, its just for tuning and little else, so i leave it plugged in and in bypass mode. I would change it for a tuner, but i like the way it has a bright red LCD display.

With my experience of it, i wouldnt recommend it to anyone, especially beginners, since its not the easiest to use and itll give you far from an ideal introduction to effects.

Bass

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