Building my board for my Black Eyed Peas tour.

[Benjamin Strange]

Hey guys and gals. As some of you may know, I'm going out on tour with The Black Eyed Peas this March-April. Since this is a perfect opportunity to bring out the big guns (my Mesa BassTriaxis / Strategy 500 / Powerhouse Jr. rig), I thought I'd build up my pedalboard a bit to control the whole monstrosity. I've got the basic layout so far (though I'll be looking to stick one more pedal in there somewhere), and I'll be soldering together some cables later this week. Here she be:



Signal chain shall be: Kork Pitchblack>Boss OC3>EHX Microsynth>[not sure yet - probably another synth pedal]>EHX Bassballs>Fulltone Bass Drive Mosfet>ZVex Woolly Mammoth>amp. The Abacus is Mesa's midi controller which will control the Triaxis. The whole shebang is velcro'ed PedalTrain Pro.

I'm thinking of squeezing in a Boss SYB3 or SYB5 in there, right after the Microsynth. My band, Prototype, utilizes a lot of cold sounding synths, which is why I'm leaning towards the Boss stuff, but I'm open to suggestions. I'm also considering my options for powering all of these things (I've just got a One-Spot for now). What say you?

[bassman1185]

Very cool, man, congrats on the gig. You'll have to check back and let us know how it's going!

Are you actually planning on using the Dunlop Bass Wah?

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

Hey guys and gals. As some of you may know, I'm going out on tour with The Black Eyed Peas this March-April. Since this is a perfect opportunity to bring out the big guns (my Mesa BassTriaxis / Strategy 500 / Powerhouse Jr. rig), I thought I'd build up my pedalboard a bit to control the whole monstrosity. I've got the basic layout so far (though I'll be looking to stick one more pedal in there somewhere), and I'll be soldering together some cables later this week. Here she be:



Signal chain shall be: Kork Pitchblack>Boss OC3>EHX Microsynth>[not sure yet - probably another synth pedal]>EHX Bassballs>Fulltone Bass Drive Mosfet>ZVex Woolly Mammoth>amp. The Abacus is Mesa's midi controller which will control the Triaxis. The whole shebang is velcro'ed PedalTrain Pro.

I'm thinking of squeezing in a Boss SYB3 or SYB5 in there, right after the Microsynth. My band, Prototype, utilizes a lot of cold sounding synths, which is why I'm leaning towards the Boss stuff, but I'm open to suggestions. I'm also considering my options for powering all of these things (I've just got a One-Spot for now). What say you?

Very cool! I saw the BEP back in '98 on the Smokin Grooves Tour and they totally kicked ass.

As for the pedal, if you want a cold, 80's-style synth, you're pretty much limited to the SYBs, the Deep Impact or the Korg G5. The Deep Impacts go for over $500, and the G5 would never fit on your board. The only other one that might get there is the new Super Synth by Markbass, but it is still quite a bit larger than a Boss pedal, and I don't think it runs on normal 9v power. I personally like the sound of the SYBs just fine for what I use them for (filter mostly open, just as a straight synth oscillator)

[skiscem]

as far as power supply, i would go for this

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ply?sku=153509

very nice , quiet and reliable

[Matt Dean]

Congratulations on getting that gig Benjamin!!! Your going to definitely rock-it with your rig. I'd take a few things from your shop to rehearsal and try different effects to see what works.

While I'm kind of an analogue type of guy, that new source audio distortion pedal seems to be tripping a lot of triggers and makes some very tasty synth sounds.

Also, that space looks the perfect size for an Xotic X-Blender.

BTW, SF Bay Area bassists... Prototype's playing in Oak on the 14th.

[Nikoubis]

Congrats on the gig.

I think you should put an SYB on there and just maybe you'll bust the myth of them being crap.

[3toes]

Congrats! Great setup so far as well. And in case you ARE interested in an SYB-3, I happen to have one for sale currently :P

FS: Boss SYB-3 Bass Synthesizer

[Valerus]

God that MIDI controller is huge

[Eugene.thomas87]

Congrats on the gig, do you know who will be playing on the 17th of this month, theyll be here in KY.

[chrisp2u]

You should check out the Markbass Super Synth. Just got one, and pretty impressed in my limited use thus far. My old EHX BMS is going bye bye for sure.

I'd second the suggestion on the Voodoo PPII+ as well.
---
c

[ryognbass]

Wow please do keep us posted on this awesome gig. I'm personally a fan of alot of their stuff. Congrats!

personally, i would try to fit an LPF like the moog or robot factory on there to cop some of the crazy deep tones.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by Sound Chaser

thanks for sharing

[Sound Chaser]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

Seriously though, I don't want my little rant there to detract from how great the Source Audio Multiwave would fit for this situation (IMO).

[dbull]

Huh?

"Congrats on the gig [rant] Troll removed [/rant]"

Dude. It's the Black Eyed Peas. Not necessarily my cup of tea either, but. . . . geez, I'm a lawyer behind a desk playing bass in a cover band on the weekends!. Black Eyed Peas . . . I'd be jacked to play with Butterbean!

Congrats Benjamin!

[RBrownBass]

Butterbean has a band?

[dbull]

No. But damn it, if it could get me out on tour and out from behind this desk, I'd join it anyway!

[Step]

I personally didn't know that BEP had a bassist, awesoooome!

but seriously congrats on the gig, can't give any gear advice, other than AWESOOOME!

[warwick.hoy]

I have nothing to add other than have fun. I'm not a big BEP fan but I'd be stoked to land that gig.

[Coelho]

you really eed to get a more reliable power source, this would be concern #1 !

[Jared Lash]

Ben mentioned this in another thread, but just to clarify, he's touring with the band Prototype, which is signed to the Black Eyed Peas label and will be opening for BEP on this tour.

And I second the Markbass Supersynth for this band.