"Bassists should just plug straight in..."

ThudThudThud · #1 04-19-2011, 09:59 AM

Not sure if this should be in this forum, or in the 'Band Management' thread. Mods, please move if necessary.

I'm posting here because I assume you are all kindred spirits in the realm of 'effects are cool/good.'

So at practice last night the guitar player starts making cracks at my use of pedals. We're a four piece hard rock band with singer, guitar, drums and bass. During solos, and the very rare times when the guitar player isn't playing (VERY rare), I will use dirt, delay, octave, or chorus to fill out the sound. It's not every time, and it's not crazy sounds. Sometimes it's just SVT sounding goodness.
Guitar player seems to think that bass players shouldn't use pedals at all. Everyone else likes the occasional effects, and guitar player hasn't really mentioned it before.

What do you say?
Are guitar players the only ones who should have pedals?

bluewine · #2 04-19-2011, 10:04 AM

See my thread on the Boss OD-3 Overdrive, review.

tangentmusic · #3 04-19-2011, 10:04 AM

Pedals have their place in the Bass Kngdom too.
It seems to me you are using them appropriatley.
Some players go a little overboard on occasion.

insomniac2295 · #4 04-19-2011, 10:04 AM

I think the guitar player is afraid that you're stealing their fire!

Downunderwonder · #5 04-19-2011, 10:09 AM

I was chatting with a recording engineer earlier. He called pedals "lack of talent compensating units". But he thought an envelope on my EUB would be "cool". Go for gold.

BassMonstrum · #6 04-19-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by insomniac2295

I think the guitar player is afraid that you're stealing their fire!

That and he's jealous of your effects...

bigchiefbc · #7 04-19-2011, 10:29 AM

A lot of people (including a lot of fellow bassists) seem to think that ALL bass players should only sound like your username.

**Rune Bivrin** · #8 04-19-2011, 11:03 AM

Smurf-o-Deth · #9 04-19-2011, 11:34 AM

Sounds like ego trippin'. Effects and bass playing are in no way mutually exclusive.

bassplayer7770 · #10 04-19-2011, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThudThudThud

What do you say?
Are guitar players the only ones who should have pedals?

Heck no, and my guitarist actually encouraged me to get effects.

Jared Lash · #11 04-19-2011, 11:39 AM

To paraphrase the Simpsons (one of the Treehouse of Terrors)

Effects for all bassplayers.

[crowd boos]

Very well, no effects for any bass players

[crowd boos]

Hmm... Effects for some, unyielding musical rigidness for others.

Sheesh.

I'm from the school of thought that says that if it sounds good it is good. So for me it's a pretty simple equation. If effects aid the creative process and/or make the music sound better then use them. If they don't, then don't.

What I will always find funny is the arbitrary rules that people want to make up for others.

"Bass players shouldn't use effects" or "effects are just crutches" or even "effects can be used like a spice for a song, be careful not to overdo it".

Here's a TBer who is a plenty talented bassist and whose band is pretty much based around effects and the textures they can create:
YouTube - Highlights from Mouth's 2nd Birthday Party at The Jazzhaus

I completely dig what they do, just like I dig the guy going straight from bass to amp who has one great tone and plays in the pocket all night and everything in between. The final product is what matters.

Jared Lash · #12 04-19-2011, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer7770

Heck no, and my guitarist actually encouraged me to get effects.

That's a great feeling. It really is.

I've had a lot of interesting musical experiences, many of which just left me scratching my head.

There was the punk band that I tried out for years and years ago where I brought my GK rig and beat up Guild B301. The singer/guitarist dug my playing and tone but insisted that if I joined the band I had to get a Fender and an SVT to fit the image. Image? In a punk band?

And there was the keyboardist theory nazi who would stop the band while writing to say that this modulation or chromatic run wasn't "right". Not that it didn't sound good. That it wasn't "right" and therefore he wouldn't play it. Imagine if Jamerson got stopped every time he played something that wasn't technically right.

And I could go on. Hearing someone say "you can't do that" because they have some preconceived notion about some aspect of bass playing or music is disappointing just as having a bandmate encouraging you to explore is incredibly rewarding.

Snuggles · #13 04-19-2011, 11:48 AM

It's all about being tasteful. I've known bass players who use effects to the point that their playing is masked under a wall of ugly sound. Some use effects for the sake of using them. I personally put on a bit of overdrive when my guitarist is soloing or if we get into some intense riffs. However, I always make sure that my playing is tasteful.

My name is Mudd · #14 04-19-2011, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

he final product is what matters.

Jared speaks the truth.

Jared Lash · #15 04-19-2011, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snuggles

It's all about being tasteful. I've known bass players who use effects to the point that their playing is masked under a wall of ugly sound. Some use effects for the sake of using them. I personally put on a bit of overdrive when my guitarist is soloing or if we get into some intense riffs. However, I always make sure that my playing is tasteful.

And while I understand that outlook and certainly would adopt that mindset depending on the band or project, there are also times when what I absolutely want is a big ugly wall of sound.

Again, it comes down to executing your vision and what tools you need to do it.

Munjibunga · #16 04-19-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThudThudThud

Not sure if this should be in this forum, or in the 'Band Management' thread. Mods, please move if necessary.

I'm posting here because I assume you are all kindred spirits in the realm of 'effects are cool/good.'

So at practice last night the guitar player starts making cracks at my use of pedals. We're a four piece hard rock band with singer, guitar, drums and bass. During solos, and the very rare times when the guitar player isn't playing (VERY rare), I will use dirt, delay, octave, or chorus to fill out the sound. It's not every time, and it's not crazy sounds. Sometimes it's just SVT sounding goodness.
Guitar player seems to think that bass players shouldn't use pedals at all. Everyone else likes the occasional effects, and guitar player hasn't really mentioned it before.

What do you say?
Are guitar players the only ones who should have pedals?

I say your guitar player is right.

takfar · #17 04-19-2011, 12:50 PM

Bwah. The guys in my band mostly approve, and sometimes compliment my use of effects (I've got a 11-pedal-strong board); the guys (and girl) agree that some of our songs actually *need* bass effects. Every once in a while, I do something silly with the pedals and they kind of look at me sideways and I get the message. You just have to remain tasteful, I suppose, and use pedals that are appropriate to the stuff you play (and/or vice versa)

bassplayer7770 · #18 04-19-2011, 12:56 PM

I agree effects should serve the music and be used where appropriate. But the closed-minded view of "no bassplayer should use effects" boggles the mind...

Tell that to Bootsy, etc.

kaputsport · #19 04-19-2011, 01:54 PM

Does your guitarist like Tool, Muse or RATM? If he answers yes to any, tell him to STFU and GTFO.

Matt Dean · #20 04-19-2011, 02:06 PM

(shaking head)

I say: what every trips your trigger. If I played with a guitar player that said bass should not be effected, I'd go punk rock on him, give'em the bird and say EFFF you. Fortunately, I play with great and creative guitar players who love effects... including on the bass.

That being said, I play un-effected at least half the time.

I think Jared got it right: "Again, it comes down to executing your vision and what tools you need to do it."