Bass Synth Pedal - Best One? Why?

whoatherechunk · #1 04-09-2008, 07:47 PM

I'm looking for a bass synth pedal. I don't have the budget for an Akai Deep Impact or even a EHX Bass Micro Synth at this moment, but I would just like to know which bass synth pedal you guys have had the most success with. I used to own a Boss SYB-5 and well....the tracking in my opinion sucked. Is the SYB-3 better or just about the same? I currently have a side project that would be best compared to bands like Hot Water Music, Fugazi, The Bronx, Small Brown Bike, Drive like Jehu, so it wouldn't get much use... But i still want to have an overall versatile synth pedal to mess with. I think JP of the Locust uses either an SYB3 or SYB5 but that's besides the point.....I definitely like his tone but the SYB-5 just wasn't cutting it for me. What do you guys recommend? Thanks!

bassbmx · #2 04-09-2008, 08:02 PM

The Ibanez SB7 gets pretty good reviews around here. For around us$70 you can't go wrong. The Digitech Bass Synth Wah is another option.

There's also the TB SearchSynth. It's supposed to have some pretty useful results.

Joe Gress · #3 04-09-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbmx

There's also the TB SearchSynth. It's supposed to have some pretty useful results.

He he, smartass. Right now I got a Qtron+ with a big muff in the effects loop. I can get some downright awesome synth tones.

But, bassbmx is right, do a search. You'll find some usefull threads here.

MakiSupaStar · #4 04-09-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeinsprings

He he, smartass. Right now I got a Qtron+ with a big muff in the effects loop. I can get some downright awesome synth tones.

But, bassbmx is right, do a search. You'll find some usefull threads here.

Joe, you got any samples of that? I've been toying with this idea for awhile now.

Mark Olson · #5 04-09-2008, 08:28 PM

I've done the SYB-3, SYB-5, Deep Impact, EHX Bass Micro Synth, Digitech BSW, and Ibanez synth and I don't know what else. If you can't play clean enough for a Boss synth to track and don't have the money for the Deep Impact or the Bass Micro Synth (my favorites), you're probably better off trying some suboctave/envelope filter/fuzz combinations. The Ibanez has a synthy sounding filter/distortion to it, and it's not really a synth, so there are no tracking issues. Might want to look into that one. You then might want to add a cheap suboctaver to it. There's plenty of less expensive envelope filters, overdrives/distortions/fuzzes, and suboctavers so search around and read up on them.

Joe Gress · #6 04-09-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Joe, you got any samples of that? I've been toying with this idea for awhile now.

Jeeze, I wish. But the only microphone that I have right now is one on an old taperecorder. Sorry.
I will say that the qtron sounds awesome though as a stand alone envelope filter. But when I add the muff, whoa! The only thing I can think to describe the sound is Les claypools synth bass solo on sheep from set two of the frog brigade. Just a little bit edgier and more fuzzy though. It's pretty cool sounding, expessially with some delay.

kevteop · #7 04-09-2008, 08:41 PM

Sorry, I've never "got" this: What exactly happens when you stick an effect in the Q-Tron+ effect loop? Presumably the envelope affects how the looped effect gets used, but in what way?

I'm going to have to replace my Q-Tron with an XO model to make room for more pedals soon (

) so I may trade up to the + if it's interesting enough.

JanusZarate · #8 04-09-2008, 08:46 PM

I've used a lot of synth pedals... check out the "Synthesizer Review Megathread" for info on a bunch of them - particularly the big three - EHX Bass Micro Synthesizer, Akai Deep Impact, and Korg G5 (which I love, but hasn't been mentioned in this thread yet).

But since your budget keeps you from buying the first two, the Korg G5 would be even more un-affordable for you.

So... under $100, check out the Ibanez SB7 (not a true synth pedal, but still very cool sounding) and the Digitech BSW (a digital synth pedal which sounds much better than the SYB-5, IMO, and is generally loved on TB).

Joe Gress · #9 04-09-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

Sorry, I've never "got" this: What exactly happens when you stick an effect in the Q-Tron+ effect loop? Presumably the envelope affects how the looped effect gets used, but in what way?

I'm going to have to replace my Q-Tron with an XO model to make room for more pedals soon (

) so I may trade up to the + if it's interesting enough.

The envelope is changed by the sound of the effect in the loop. It's better than sticking it before because you playing dynamics stay the same in the loop. It's better than after because, expessialy for a fuzz, the sound of the envelope still gets through. I just though it was better for playing very dynamicly controlled parts.

I've never had any of the other qtron, but if they have the same sound, but you don't need the loop, then you could probably make do. But if you looking for some pretty awesome tones that are controlled ay the envelope, it's super.

JanusZarate · #10 04-09-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

Sorry, I've never "got" this: What exactly happens when you stick an effect in the Q-Tron+ effect loop? Presumably the envelope affects how the looped effect gets used, but in what way?

The Effects Loop on the Q-Tron+ exists between the envelope trigger and the filter section. So... you essentially turn any effect you want into an envelope-triggered effect, and then that effect runs into the filter section. It's a very different result than running an effect before it. As Joe said, it preserves the dynamics of your clean signal, since it'll be your bass' signal - not the effect - that hits the envelope.

Joe Gress · #11 04-09-2008, 08:52 PM

Oh yeah, with a budget.

171 Qtron+
50 Big muff
100 Dunlop bass wah

Hmm, maybe I should have saved up and bought an actual synth.

kevteop · #12 04-09-2008, 08:53 PM

Yeah I sort-of figured that's how it works, just can't imagine how it sounds in practice.

I'd also probably never be able to decide which pedals to stick in there, and would end up re-wiring my board more often than I do already.

whoatherechunk · #13 04-09-2008, 08:54 PM

thanks guys! well i do have the cash for the ehx bms (maybe should have reclarified whether i could afford one or not....don't want to buy one just yet) and well i've always directed myself towards that one, but i'm trying to see which i can get for the "best bang for the buck". i bet the akai is awesome (never have personally played one) but i'll definitely try to test the ibanez and the digitech.

kevteop · #14 04-09-2008, 08:59 PM

The BMS does occasionally turn up on eBay (I've seen two sold in the UK over the past couple of months) and doesn't go for silly money because it's still in production. Might be worth saving a search for it and waiting a while to see if one shows up.

Or wait for the rumoured XO version expected in a month or so's time, thus avoiding the reissue BMS's infamously awful bypass.

whoatherechunk · #15 04-09-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

The BMS does occasionally turn up on eBay (I've seen two sold in the UK over the past couple of months) and doesn't go for silly money because it's still in production. Might be worth saving a search for it and waiting a while to see if one shows up.

Or wait for the rumoured XO version expected in a month or so's time, thus avoiding the reissue BMS's infamously awful bypass.

how does the vintage bms fare with the true bypass issue? and is the reissue's bms bypass that bad?

kevteop · #16 04-09-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoatherechunk

how does the vintage bms fare with the true bypass issue? and is the reissue's bms bypass that bad?

The vintage model's bypass will be exactly the same as the reissue, and the reissue's bypass is the worst tone-sucking bypass I have ever heard from any pedal ever.

Apparently it's not too hard to mod it, but I'm too much of a dunce to try it on mine without idiot-proof instructions.

fuNKmaster83 · #17 04-10-2008, 05:12 AM

i have lots of pedals... i have 2 specific synth pedals also... ibanez SB7 and digitech BSW... they are both good in their way... i can get better synth sounds than any single synth pedal on the market with combining my 30+ efx pedals... but not all of bass players have that... not most of any people have that

but if you really need synth sounds in a band or for general music purposes get a real synth!!! thay come in all forms... get some small monophonic synth and it has to have basic parameters of controling the oscilator, filter and envelop generator... some modulation is always nice to have!!!
i would recomend novation bass station, or Kstation, alessis micron, yamaha CS01, roland SH synths... moog... it all depends on your wallet

if you look at costs of synth pedals that come close to real synths its the same as any old synth!!! in fact i say a real synth is cheaper and you will not regret it!!!

ga_edwards · #18 04-10-2008, 05:36 AM

I can only comment on the digitech BSW. so here goes.

It has a good range of sounds, and tracks rather well. However, the volume of the synth only settings is substantially louder than bypassed (not a fault of the bypass). The synth sounds cannot be blended with your clean tone so can lack a bit of low end to site better in the mix.

The is however a 'patch' that you can blend a generic synth sound and octaver with clean, but the synth parameters on this setting are not adjustable. I only use the pedal on this setting on one tune (Let's Groove) and it will suffice for this purpose, but if I really wanted to nail the tone I would look elsewhere.

The digitech website has an online demo that might be worth checking out.

I do have the Boss GT6B as well with a synth based on one of their stompboxes. I quite like the tweakability and tone of this, but the tracking is terrible!

Liten · #19 04-10-2008, 05:41 AM

I may be missing something here.. but at the hart of every synth sound Ive always found a decent octave-generator??

I run a EHX Multiplexer - Moollon BassDrive - EHX q-tron setup for my synthsound.. were the bassdrive is kind of obsolete as the q-tron ads a bit of grunt as is.. play my fretless throug it for a moog-type sound..

fuNKmaster83 · #20 04-10-2008, 06:15 AM

in emulating synth on bass... you must have some sort of element that reconstructs the basic feeling of bass guitar... the guitar part in that matter... octave devices are very good at doing that

filters are just a part of that moogish or TBish type sound... or should i say analog synth sound!!!
but there are plenty of synth sounds that do not depend on a filter to be present!!!