Bass synthesiser, first time purchase!

SamWebsterbell · #1 12-01-2009, 04:45 PM

Hi, i have never bought any sort of effects pedals or stomp boxes before so bare with me. I really need some help deciding on what to get as i want to get some more versatile sounds and as christmas is coming up my Girlfriend wants to buy me something nice.

Now i have looked into some pedals, i expecially like the sounds of Synth pedals.

I have looked into a few producers of these including Boss, Behringer, Dunlop, Electro Harmonix and Digitech.

I especially like the Micro synth by Electro harmonix but they are a little pricy. There is also the Boss Bass synthesiser and the Behringer Bass sysnthesiser.

The behringer one is alot less money than the Boss product but i can't seem to see much difference other than the behringer one is made of reinforced plastic and not metal.

Can i please have some advice on purchasing, producers, what to steer clear of. people with experience of these products would be very helpful. Thankyou.

SamWebsterbell · #2 12-01-2009, 04:50 PM

Just got looking at the Digitech Product. The Bass synth Wah. Is that synth and wah together? is this any good? not too pricy this either.

kevteop · #3 12-01-2009, 04:53 PM

"Synth" in pedal terms is a minefield. While there's usually some overlap of functionality between pedals which call themselves "synth" (they usually all contain a low-pass filter), the full feature set will often be very different.

The Boss and Behringer (the Behringer is presumably a clone of the Boss) units produce a variety of waveforms. The EHX Bass Micro Synth is an analogue octaver, octave up fuzz and a distortion which can be mixed (with your clean sound if you prefer) and its filter is quite unique and IMO the main reason its sounds are so good. The Digitech I don't know much about, I think that's going more the way of the EHX offering - a couple of mixed voices through a filter.

Bear in mind the Boss-type units pitch-track your notes in order to produce the waveforms, so you might get a little lag or glitchy behaviour if you don't play very cleanly, and it might struggle with fast playing. The EHX is all-analogue so it doesn't have such obvious issues in that regard, but it also doesn't produce quite the variety of sounds of the Boss.

Really you won't get a good idea of which pedal will work for you without trying them. For what it's worth the Behringer is supposed to compare very well to the Boss, but I haven't tried one myself.

wolf7883 · #4 12-01-2009, 08:20 PM

Dude I just ordered the Digitech Bass Synth Wah. I never used the newer model Boss SB5. But I know there is the SB3 and the SB5 ...Most say that the SB 5 (the more recent model) sucks because the effects are not musically useable..From the youtube vids this seems true unless ur making basslines for some House/trance music or something. I kinda like the SB3 though. Not as many sound options but this almost seems better. It seems like the 5 has way too many parameters crammed into this small stompbox so it's hard to retrieve a sound when you find one you like.

BUT - I will always say and never back down from it... IF IT SAYS BEHRINGER- DO NOT BUY IT- Behringer products are ALWAYS much "more affordable" (Cheaply made) You get what u pay for basically. Either a mechanical part will break or it will just have a shoddy sound or it will crap out VERY quickly. This is for ALL Behringer Products....Can u tell I don't like Behringer?

The EHX Bass synth is really cool because you have so much control over the sound. And if its an analog sound you want, I'd say go for it.

But I picked the Digitech because. It has the envelope filter setting(auto-wah) plus some really cool Filter Sweeps. It is WAY easier to use IMO. If I want to make a quick adjustment mid gig I could kinda eye it as opposed to the EHX where I'd have to tweek and test to get the sound I want.

Hope that helps...Hit up guitar center and see what YOU like though...That's MOST important

ItsMichaelYeah · #5 12-01-2009, 09:50 PM

I had the Digitech Bass Synth Wah. IMO it took a lot of my volume and cut it down. there's really only 2 real "synthy" modes, the others are octave/envelope filters.

my Favorite synth pedal is the EHX Bass Synth.

Sean S · #6 12-01-2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf7883

BUT - I will always say and never back down from it... IF IT SAYS BEHRINGER- DO NOT BUY IT- Behringer products are ALWAYS much "more affordable" (Cheaply made) You get what u pay for basically. Either a mechanical part will break or it will just have a shoddy sound or it will crap out VERY quickly. This is for ALL Behringer Products....Can u tell I don't like Behringer?

Their rack EQ's and Crossovers are actually quite well regarded in terms of budget gear. I think a lot of it is how it's (ab)used.

fightthepower · #7 12-01-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean S

Their rack EQ's and Crossovers are actually quite well regarded in terms of budget gear. I think a lot of it is how it's (ab)used.

+1, the FCB1010 is pretty solid as well. Some of their metal EHX knockoff pedals look pretty legit, but the majority of the plastic pedals leave much to be desired in terms of build quality. Depending on the demands of the application and care taken when used, they can be decent options.

JimmyM · #8 12-01-2009, 10:32 PM

For a first pedal, you'll get a lot more mileage out of a decent overdrive or distortion. The synth pedals are cool, but they're more of a specialty act because of their tracking (or lack of it), whereas you can use an OD with a lot of stuff.

ItsMichaelYeah · #9 12-01-2009, 10:44 PM

I agree with jimmyM a good OD is a great 1st pedal. But maybe a fuzz pedal would be a better option?

sonic assassin · #10 12-01-2009, 10:48 PM

a cheap fuzz, octave and filter perhaps? better control of the 3 parameters, synthy sounds. and can all be used separately.

kevteop · #11 12-02-2009, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

For a first pedal, you'll get a lot more mileage out of a decent overdrive or distortion. The synth pedals are cool, but they're more of a specialty act because of their tracking (or lack of it), whereas you can use an OD with a lot of stuff.

That really depends what sort of music you're playing. I haven't had an OD on my board for about 18 months, and the one I had (for a year) I never used on a song.

Tandrew · #12 12-02-2009, 07:09 AM

As kevetop mentioned it depends on your style of music and what you're looking to get out of the pedal. If you're looking for synth I would not get the Digitech, b/c it's synth sounds are pretty cheesy.
Digitech Bass Synth Wah - it is basically only useful with 2 out of the 8 modes as ItsMichaelYeah pointed out. However, I happen to love those two sounds.
The first is setting is an envelope filter think wet sounding wah, but you can also tweak the settings on the same mode to have a sharp percussive attack. This setting tends to reduce volume when playing.
# 2 is an octave setting which gives you a much deeper sound with some wah sprinkled on top. This boosts your volume.
The rest of the settings as mentioned before are cheesy and range from vocal efx to synth (distorted synth) that are difficult to apply to a lot of the music I play.

Also try and look up soundclips (online i.e. this forum, youtube, etc.) of pedals you're interested in, if you are not able to try them out in person.

SamWebsterbell · #13 12-02-2009, 10:44 AM

took into account what you have said and have looked into the EXH Bass Big Muff pedal.
It's seems to be kinder Fuzz and distortion effects and quite simple to play with. What do you think.

Also the EXH bass synth is way to expensive for me... you guys think the digitech is the best option then?

I play kind of Punk, Funk rock, i suppose similar to the chili peppers or rage against the machine. I know timmy c is very secretive about his kit and i know their kit is gonna be way too pricy but i want some similar sounds. I also idolise the bassist from muse (dunno his name) but his bass lines are quality, think he uses a fuzz.

SamWebsterbell · #14 12-02-2009, 10:46 AM

planning to get two pedals with around £80.00

Kinder now want a Fuzz and a Synth!

kevteop · #15 12-02-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamWebsterbell

you guys think the digitech is the best option then? ... I also idolise the bassist from muse (dunno his name) but his bass lines are quality, think he uses a fuzz.

He does use the Digitech Bass Synth Wah on some stuff. His gear has been discussed to death here - do a quick search. His name's Chris Wolstenholme.

MakiSupaStar · #16 12-02-2009, 11:25 AM

Your first pedal should be a EHX bassballs. Period. Done and done.

BigOldHarry · #17 12-02-2009, 11:34 AM

I've had the Digitech pedal, as well as the Boss pedal - they didn't do what wanted. Very buzzy sounding, and maybe had a useful wah effect... but if you want *bass synth*, then the standard is Electro Harmonix Bass Micro Synth. Period. Usually ~$225 street.

ItsMichaelYeah · #18 12-02-2009, 12:22 PM

the bass big muff is a excellent choice in a 1st pedal purchase. That and a bass balls you might get some cool sounds.

Jumbotron · #19 12-02-2009, 12:35 PM

If you want something very versatile that has a ton of cool sounds and is available used for quite cheap, you might try to track down a Line 6 FM4. Mucho filter and synth goodness, and the growler function will get you a nice fuzz-synth thing going on.

jmellon · #20 12-02-2009, 12:36 PM

Depends upon your budget but the Roland VB99 can give you just about anything you want including mixing different synth modes simultaneously. Hugely powerful tool but it may be overkill for what you require

Joseph

Spector NS2A, Fender Geddy Lee, Roland VB99, Ampeg SVT3