Distortion, nylon and bows

cvrator · #1 01-13-2009, 04:35 AM

I got my first EUB (Palatino) a bit ago, hoping beyond hope that it would sound good through distortion, among other effects. In my own grateful opinion, it most certainly does. (maybe this isn't exactly desireable to most of the community here,) Moving along, I've always wanted to play with a bow, so I just purchased a cheap-o german bow that I've not yet received, and although I know that you usually get what you pay for, it's the strings I ordered that I'm worried about. Thankfully, they were extremely cheap. They're nylon "Slap Happy Weed Wacker" strings. Obviously I'm not going for a clean, refined sound, but I would like input about what kind of potentially hellish time I'm going to have making this combo work at all. Yeah, yeah, I'm a double bass noob. Maybe I should have just gotten that fretless bass guitar, but the upright was so alluring...

The BurgerMeister · #2 01-13-2009, 04:43 AM

i'm mostly a bass guitar player, but i was playing upright for years in the past... and i love effects.

as far as the type of strings... can't help. start with the cheap ones and hope they work, i guess.

regarding distortion... just remember that arco is much louder and "higher output" than pizzicato, so you may want to turn down the "gain" or "drive" knob on your pedal when bowing. unless, of course, you're going for an over-the-top type of sound, in which case get a fuzz.

also: you may want to wander over to the Effects forum in the BG area. LOTS of fun there!

sorry i couldn't be more help on the string question...

Mudfuzz · #3 01-13-2009, 07:54 AM

If you have the the bow and the strings try it, You might want to try rosin that is really sticky like Pops or Jade.

As for FX, I see no reason it wouldn't work.