Can DigiTech Bass Synth Wah pull off more subtle synth effects?

[tbassist4]

Hey everyone,
I've been really interested in getting some classic synth tones out of my bass. The Digitech Bass Synth Wah looks like a great pedal all around, and with a great octaver to boot. Can it also pull off more relaxed sub-bass synth type sounds too? I've been watching a lot of youtube videos on this pedal, and unfortunately, it just looks like there's a lot of wankers wanking with the pedal on full blast. I'd like to be able to pull off some more subtle punchy hip hop bass type sounds (Poison - Bell Biv Devoe) in addition to the crazy "WAAAHHH" type sounds this pedal is centered around.

Can this pull it off or am I best looking somewhere else?

[jbednarski]

If by "WHAAAHHHH" sounds you mean a dubstep type wobble then no, this pedal won't do it. If you mean keyboard bass type sounds or Moog Taurus pedals no to that too. The only way to get the true synth sound is with a keyboard synth. This pedal does however have some really cool sounds. I've had this pedal the Boss SYB-5 and the Behringer BSY600 and this one may be the best of the bunch for what it does. Warmer sounding than the Boss with a great octaver. You can find them used for $35 and up. It's a lot of pedal for the price.

[tbassist4]

Originally Posted by jbednarski

If by "WHAAAHHHH" sounds you mean a dubstep type wobble then no, this pedal won't do it. If you mean keyboard bass type sounds or Moog Taurus pedals no to that too. The only way to get the true synth sound is with a keyboard synth. This pedal does however have some really cool sounds. I've had this pedal the Boss SYB-5 and the Behringer BSY600 and this one may be the best of the bunch for what it does. Warmer sounding than the Boss with a great octaver. You can find them used for $35 and up. It's a lot of pedal for the price.

Haha, that's too bad - I'm after the old school Moog feel. So the DigiTech won't cut it then? I'm fully aware that nothing will sound exactly like an old keyboard synth but the real deal, but that being said, is there anything that will get me convincing results? It's alright if my bass still sounds somewhat like a bass guitar - I'd just like something that would make people think "synth bass" when they heard it.

Any ideas?

[kaputsport]

Do a search. There are many synth bass threads out there. The small list of synth pedals is below.

-Akai Deep Impact
-Korg G5
-EHX Bass Microsynth
-Markbass Synth
-Chuck OS
-Ibanez IB7
-Digitech BSW
-Many Boss floor boards (ME-8B, etc)
-Boss SYB-3/5
-Behringer BSY-600

[tbassist4]

Originally Posted by kaputsport

Do a search. There are many synth bass threads out there. The small list of synth pedals is below.

-Akai Deep Impact
-Korg G5
-EHX Bass Microsynth
-Markbass Synth
-Chuck OS
-Ibanez IB7
-Digitech BSW
-Many Boss floor boards (ME-8B, etc)
-Boss SYB-3/5
-Behringer BSY-600

I did do a search. General verbal descriptions of the entire pedal aren't very helpful and most YouTube videos involve the effect being maxed out. This is why I'm asking a specific question. Please read the post before responding. Thanks!

[blastjv]

As cheap as this pedal can be found for used, I think it's worth a try. I haven't tried to get those types of sounds, but I feel like I've stumbled on some settings that might be what you're looking for.

Regardless, it's a great pedal!!!

-JV

[jbednarski]

Originally Posted by tbassist4

Haha, that's too bad - I'm after the old school Moog feel. So the DigiTech won't cut it then? I'm fully aware that nothing will sound exactly like an old keyboard synth but the real deal, but that being said, is there anything that will get me convincing results? It's alright if my bass still sounds somewhat like a bass guitar - I'd just like something that would make people think "synth bass" when they heard it.

Any ideas?

I had an EHX Bass Micro Synth for a while and it got some really great sound similar to Moog Taurus, etc. and other synths. It even comes with a manual of a dozen presets of classic synth sounds. I bought one of the older ones without the bypass circuit and it didn't play nice with my other pedals. I've heard various opinions on the new one but it might be worth a try. Really the only thing that came close IMO.

[arginator]

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the song you mentioned, so I'm not sure of the tone you're going for. But this may help you. I did own the digitech, and it can get more subtle. But the tracking isn't the best (like most cheaper synth pedals), so fast basslines on it don't sound too good. This may be a dealbreaker for you. I now use a behringer bsy600 because I like the tones better, but it's tracking sucks too.

[taurus1]

yeah the EHX (the original at least) is a great synth, it can get you into Moog Taurus territory with a bit of bottom end eq boost and a chorus pedal. at first I didn't think it was that great but after I figured out how to really use it I'm blown away by how good it sounds.

[kaputsport]

Originally Posted by tbassist4

I did do a search. General verbal descriptions of the entire pedal aren't very helpful and most YouTube videos involve the effect being maxed out. This is why I'm asking a specific question. Please read the post before responding. Thanks!

For the record, I read your post.

There is no blend control, and no boost either. I get volume drop out of mine.

You can change sensitivity, type of effect and range and sweep characteristics.

Can it be subtle? Maybe. I have never found anything subtle that was suitable in any setting. Maybe try it out at the local store, or do what most of us do... Buy it, and use it. Maybe you resell it, maybe you don't.

There are tons of descriptions and soundclips out there. The most versatile pedals out there cost money. DI/BMS/G5 and the older floor boards.

Funny thing about some of these pedals, is that MANY people disagree about what they can do. I love the DI and have had one for YEARS, but others say that the G5 or the BMS is better. It all comes down to the person using it.

[blastjv]

Yeah, honestly, this is a $50 pedal on the used market, and it has a TON of different cool sounds in it. If you think you might use sounds of that type, then it's definitily worth buying one and playing with it for a while. I'd bet that if you can't find the sound you're looking for that you'd at least find a couple of other sounds you like and can use. If not, you can certainly make your money back re-selling it...

-JV

[tbassist4]

Originally Posted by blastjv

Yeah, honestly, this is a $50 pedal on the used market, and it has a TON of different cool sounds in it. If you think you might use sounds of that type, then it's definitily worth buying one and playing with it for a while. I'd bet that if you can't find the sound you're looking for that you'd at least find a couple of other sounds you like and can use. If not, you can certainly make your money back re-selling it...

-JV

I ended up picking up one here in the classifieds and it should be shipping out today. After going over everything, I realized that you're right - it's not expensive enough to be too critical about. As I'm listening to demos it seems like even if I can't pull back the crazy wah, it'll at least cover the more aggressive half of synth lines that I'd be playing.

Originally Posted by arginator

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the song you mentioned, so I'm not sure of the tone you're going for. But this may help you. I did own the digitech, and it can get more subtle. But the tracking isn't the best (like most cheaper synth pedals), so fast basslines on it don't sound too good. This may be a dealbreaker for you. I now use a behringer bsy600 because I like the tones better, but it's tracking sucks too.

Hmm, first time I've heard the tracking isn't so good. However, most of the stuff I'd be playing would be pretty meat and potatoes classic synth to 80's/90's pop synth bass, so nothing too virtuosic. I found a pretty cool YouTube video of a guy playing the bassline to Michael Jackson's P.Y.T. with a Digitech BSW, and it seemed like everything was working out just fine. I don't see myself playing anything too much more complex (synth-wise) than that.

Originally Posted by kaputsport

For the record, I read your post.

There is no blend control, and no boost either. I get volume drop out of mine.

You can change sensitivity, type of effect and range and sweep characteristics.

Can it be subtle? Maybe. I have never found anything subtle that was suitable in any setting. Maybe try it out at the local store, or do what most of us do... Buy it, and use it. Maybe you resell it, maybe you don't.

There are tons of descriptions and soundclips out there. The most versatile pedals out there cost money. DI/BMS/G5 and the older floor boards.

Funny thing about some of these pedals, is that MANY people disagree about what they can do. I love the DI and have had one for YEARS, but others say that the G5 or the BMS is better. It all comes down to the person using it.

Cool, thank you, this is helpful. I'm not going for subtle as in subdued, but subtle as in something refined enough to be usable as a bass line sound, as opposed to crazy, in-your-face type lead sounds. Either way, as I said above I took yours and JV's advice and did end up finding one, so I guess I'll find out for myself.

Out of all the ones you mentioned the BMS looks really interesting - it seems to cover classic type synth sounds really well, so I may be heading in that direction after having the BSW for a while.

Thanks for the input!