Anyone else ever want to give up effects?

TheGrizz · #1 02-09-2009, 09:25 PM

About a year ago, I had a pedalboard filled to the brim with pedals that I used for every show I play, but as time went on I started taking one away here and there. Now I'm left with a Bass Driver and a TU-2. My flanger, chorus, wah, and fuzz are all gone. I don't even use my beloved Morley PWF anymore. I'm thinking about hocking it all and starting over again.

I guess I just like having a simple rig. Has this happened to anyone else or am I going crazy?

El Raro · #2 02-09-2009, 09:30 PM

I never understood why some bass players find the need to use so many effects. I would like to be enlightened.

TheGrizz · #3 02-09-2009, 09:34 PM

I honestly don't know why I used what I did. I think I was trying to create my own "sound". I finally found that sound, but it doesn't involve any major effects. I guess you gotta try everything haha

Some of the guys I have seen can put effects to good use. I'm not one of those guys

warwick.hoy · #4 02-09-2009, 09:43 PM

nope.

EDIT: See Sig

LarryR · #5 02-09-2009, 09:54 PM

From someone who played in bands for 29 years with no pedals 'cept a tuner, I don't think it's crazy to just want to plug in and play. Most of the classic music we grew up to whether it be Rock, R&B, Soul or Jazz was Bass into a tube head period. That said, if you fell in love with Chris Squire's tone, or Bootsy et al you had to go shopping.

I once heard a band. Good bassist who later turned out to be a friend. Due to the small stage I couldn't see his rig. His tone was great. Turned out to be a B15, Fender P w/an EMG. I thought for sure he had a compressor, fuzz, even some flange.
Another bassist friend, Steuart Liebig in LA is a pedal nut. His sounds are very cool and he's a phenomenal player. Given his music interests, his bands, he likes a big pallette and uses it well.

Different strokes.

Nyarlathotep · #6 02-09-2009, 10:03 PM

**** no! Effects are awesomesauce

phatbass · #7 02-09-2009, 10:13 PM

I go back 'n' forth between effects and no effects over the years, but I only ever have a couple of effects max onstage at any one time anyhow - never a huge pedal board. At the moment I just use a wah (or sometimes an envelope filter) with one act, and a Big Muff with another.

Jared Lash · #8 02-09-2009, 10:18 PM

There are a couple things to address in your post, but the simple answer to your question is, no I haven't ever wanted to give up effects.

Now, I've had a couple nights where I got really frustrated when something on my board didn't work right and I had to go straight to my amp, but even those experiences taught me something. At one point I set up a switch box so if anything on my board failed I could bypass it completely. In effect I could go straight to my amp any time I wanted. It's not much different than having a six string bass. It's not for everybody (I'm now primarily back to fours) but it gives you everything you'd have on a four string and more. Same thing with pedals. I can play clean whenever I want, but I also have a greater sonic palette whenever I want.

Your second post is also interesting to me. I've never thought of effects as a way to get "my sound". I think my sound comes from my bass & amp but primarily from my technique. I look at effects as a way of taking that basic sound and adding to it.

How much you add to it depends on whether it fits what you are trying to do musically. Two of my gigs use effects sparingly. In fact, in one of them I initially used no effects at all until the singer/songwriter/pianist said she'd like to hear me experiment a bit. In my new project I use effects extensively.

But as I said in another thread, using effects is a skill in and of itself. A poor effects user makes you wish they would turn them off. A good user makes you take notice of their tasteful application. And a great effects user makes you forget they're using them because they just become part of the musical tapestry.

That's my take anyway.

stingray56funk · #9 02-09-2009, 10:31 PM

I'll go ahead and say that I've given up on effects twice. Primarily out of necessity because I needed the money to spend on another bass. I then proceeded to save up gig money and buy more pedals...then just to do it again. I rarely use effects in a live situation but I do enjoy having them around when I'm doing studio work and when I'm playing original bass stuff by myself or jamming with my best friend who is a drummer.

I love effects, especially filters and fuzz, but I can live without them.

JimmyM · #10 02-09-2009, 10:35 PM

I gave them up twice for long periods. I'm currently back to using them again, though I still get annoyed with them, but I hate giving up that VT so I might as well use the Zoom B2, too.

B.C. · #11 02-09-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingray56funk

I'll go ahead and say that I've given up on effects twice. Primarily out of necessity because I needed the money to spend on another bass. I then proceeded to save up gig money and buy more pedals...then just to do it again. I rarely use effects in a live situation but I do enjoy having them around when I'm doing studio work and when I'm playing original bass stuff by myself or jamming with my best friend who is a drummer.

I love effects, especially filters and fuzz, but I can live without them.

I will agree. I gave up twice, for lack of knowledge on how to use them and that I needed to use them always. Now, I know what I want and that effects are to enhance, not to cover up. Its a state of maturity for effect users, such as it is playing a million notes a second which, at one point or another all bassists want to do. YMMV

TheGrizz · #12 02-09-2009, 10:43 PM

It's nice to hear I'm not the only one.

When I first started playing with the band I'm with now I used the effects to add some depth and texture because we only have one guitar player. As time went on I was saddled with back up vocals and triggering samples. I looked like I was having spasms as I was jumping all over my board, singing, playing, and trying to kick on the samples. It was just too much for me. SO i started phasing pedals out on certain songs to keep myself sane. Now I'm looking at my board with a tuner and a BDDI.

newbold · #13 02-09-2009, 10:49 PM

I've never had a bass that made me go 'wow' enough to not think effects aren't useful to open up my tone.

Filters and phasers, drive and fuzz, octave? they're all great but I've never had a killer bass that makes me go 'yea that's it'.

this week if all goes well...

almix12 · #14 02-09-2009, 10:52 PM

i've had times where i think of giving up on pedals. I'm at there atm (ehx BMS, moog mf-102 (soon to be traded for a 101) and digitech BSW). all I want is a ehx worm. After I add some expression pedals and a volume pedal I think i'm done unless the ehx worms expression pedal and/or the moog 101s expression pedal isn't wah-y enough for me i'll get the dunlop 105q....
other than those, i can't see myself wanting anything else.
My other 'board' is a green sovtek ehx big muff.

FatherDH · #15 02-09-2009, 10:58 PM

I gave up all my pedals years ago. I used to use a Big Muff, Delay, Zoom, Bass wah, BBDI, etc. I got sick of always trying to find some cool sound. So I ditched them all except my tuner, which I wish I didn't need either. Now its just Me-Bass-Amp, no fuss just solid tone. I have a stash of pedals that I keep for recording purposes only, but every few years I get rid of those too, only to buy others later. Its a vicous cylcle!

Vetchking · #16 02-09-2009, 11:16 PM

Get a Great Pre-amp, Great Power amp, Great cab.

Your good to go.

Heay, nothing wrong with some pedal stuff here and there,

Just use good taste...........

Later

fightthepower · #17 02-09-2009, 11:25 PM

Mmmm vanilla.

Jared Lash · #18 02-09-2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vetchking

Get a Great Pre-amp, Great Power amp, Great cab.

Your good to go.

Heay, nothing wrong with some pedal stuff here and there,

Just use good taste...........

Later

What's the grift pally? It ain't big font day yet. . .

nad · #19 02-09-2009, 11:27 PM

I've contemplated selling it all except a dirt box or two, sure. Giving up effects entirely? Nah. We go way back, and I'd miss them. Besides, I already quit smoking a few years ago, so I'm allowed to indulge any other vice I want.

M.Wrenn · #20 02-09-2009, 11:39 PM

Personally i dont rely too much on effects, they're fun sometimes but they just dont work for the style of music i primarily write/ play (alt/jazz/progressive, which is ironic considering how many of those bassists use effects)

ill use some delay every once in awhile but other than that im pretty much Bass-Amp

although, no one can deny the great feeling of throwing some wah on a great slap line