Chorus on bass

Vlad5 · #1 08-15-2011, 06:44 PM

Anyone else use a chorus pedal to 'widen' out their distortion effect?

I ask because I notice many effects players here tend to use phasers instead of chorus pedals. I have both (mxr phase 90 w/r28 mod and mxr micro chorus). The micro chorus is tin canny, loud and a bit low frequency attenuating. I certainly don't like it with my clean signal, but I like what it does to my fuzz/distortion. Makes it kinda epic sounding... Um, sorry for the lame descriptors.

I'm just curious what others think about chorused distortion, or if any of you have used a different effects pedal to make your distortion effects sound 'bigger', 'wider', etc...

Thanks everyone!

GnRDuff1 · #2 08-15-2011, 08:08 PM

I almost always have my digitech bass multi chorus on if I have more than a little grit added. Just lets the distortion "breathe". Epic was not a bad description. A lot of metal solo's have a slight chorus to it for the added "bigness" a chorus inherently provides

boomertech · #3 08-15-2011, 08:15 PM

In one of the bands that I was in, we only had one guitarist. To keep the sound full for whenever he dropped into a solo I would run just a bit of chorus, delay and dirt on the high-band side of my signal. Just a touch of effects and I always kept the lows clean… I always had a really nice big sound that worked well in that band.

I used a Boss CEB-3 chorus and I bought an Arion DDM-1 digital delay to experiment with. I figured if the delay worked well, then I would upgrade it to something better. I was so impressed with the Arion’s sound quality that I never replaced it and after 12 years it’s still working great.

-Frank

Basehead · #4 08-15-2011, 08:15 PM

My TC SCF definitely brings my dirt sounds to a new, "epic" level. I love that sound...and the stereo separation takes it up a level!!!

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #5 08-15-2011, 08:36 PM

I have a Micro Chorus and I use it after my dirt pedals now but did really like how it sounded before my Gnome. Are you running your chorus before or after your dirty bits?

Vlad5 · #6 08-15-2011, 10:37 PM

Thanks guys. I'm running my bass into two channels, and the effects are currently in this order:

ch 1: muff-distortion > fuzz > phaser > chorus > mid-boost/sweep (to bring back some low-mids)
ch 2: octave > delay > preamp/boost (to boost low/high-mids)

I mix both channels with Frank's (FEA) 2 Channel mixer (easily my favorite pedal), then into my amp. So channel 2 is my 'clean' channel, and channel 1 is my 'dirty' channel. I haven't messed with the delay or the octave in the dirt channel yet. Its fun to run channel 1 alone for muffled distortion, then kick in channel 2 for lots of low-end articulation, and sometimes over-bass it with the octave, and double up the 'clean' with the delay. Still figuring it all out. Both channels together are pretty devastating.

I'm currently playing with one guitarist in our 'space metal' project, and its nice to see similar setups used by others here for similar purposes. You know, to fill in the space a 'rhythm' guitar would normally occupy in a two guitar setup.

champbassist · #7 08-16-2011, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad5

Anyone else use a chorus pedal to 'widen' out their distortion effect?

I do it using the BBM with my CE-5 or Micro Flanger (I use the latter with Regen turned all the way down for a really thick chorus), inspired by Peter Steele. His tone is the ideal example of what you're talking about.

Vlad5 · #8 08-16-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by champbassist

I do it using the BBM with my CE-5 or Micro Flanger (I use the latter with Regen turned all the way down for a really thick chorus), inspired by Peter Steele. His tone is the ideal example of what you're talking about.

Hmmm.... thanks, I'll check him out.

I think my challenge right now is finding the ideal amount of chorus to add to the distorted signal. Lowering the 'rate' or maybe lowering the volume somehow.

There are some nice chorus pedals out there with depth and volume knobs that I can't currently afford, but wish I could (analogman, TC, etc...)

Crystalman85 · #9 08-16-2011, 05:30 PM

I use distortion with chorus all the time. it gives me a grungy but heavy sound. I have a hartke vxl bass attack preamp pedal, a danelectro fab chorus pedal, and a digitech xbd bass overdrive/distortion pedal. when I combine all these pedals, I got myself one killer sound. I also own a korg ax5b and a zoom b2.1u. I create some awesome sounds with those multi-effects processors. I use my multi-effects processors for recording and I use my stomp-boxes for live performances. If you're thinking about experimenting distortion with chorus, give it shot. you might dig this combination.

lunarpollen · #10 08-16-2011, 05:41 PM

I often use a Clone Theory chorus when I am playing post-punk or new wave types of stuff, but I don't use distortion, just mild tube-like overdrive.

A good example of how it sounds in a band context (just guitar, bass, drums, and vocal) (lo-fi living room practice recording)
http://www.esnips.com/doc/ee4b03b2-e...ce3dca9e7dd/11

Explorer · #11 08-16-2011, 08:29 PM

I'm a huge fan of detuned oscillators in an analog synth, and I use either a Boss PS-3 to get a "three oscillator sound" out of my instrument, or a chorus. This isn't just with synth pedals, but also with dirt or just straight.

Vlad5 · #12 08-16-2011, 09:13 PM

Cool guys! and thanks for the clip lunarpollen. I'm seriously considering making a loop pedal so I can switch on my distortion and chorus at the same time with one stomp. But that will have to wait until I wrangle up some free funds.

Nice to see others liking modulated distortion too.

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #13 08-16-2011, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Explorer

I'm a huge fan of detuned oscillators in an analog synth, and I use either a Boss PS-3 to get a "three oscillator sound" out of my instrument, or a chorus. This isn't just with synth pedals, but also with dirt or just straight.

I like chorus after synthy sounding pedals as well. I just spent an hour messing with my Micro Chorus and Gnome in magic mode with oscillation and feedback switches activated and it was super fun. I also pretty much always use chorus with my Orbit. It really makes the every thing come together(I don't know to describe this with words)and sound epic I guess.

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #14 08-16-2011, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad5

Cool guys! and thanks for the clip lunarpollen. I'm seriously considering making a loop pedal so I can switch on my distortion and chorus at the same time with one stomp. But that will have to wait until I wrangle up some free funds.

Nice to see others liking modulated distortion too.

The more time I spend messing with my pedals the more I wants a LS-2 or some other sort of loop pedal. I can think of so many ways I could use one. I can also think of all the headaches deciding where to put stuff would cause. Thinking about it really makes me realize why M Sterling has 2 OC-2s.

wmheilma · #15 08-16-2011, 11:07 PM

I use an old TC Chorus/Flanger which works well for clean playing or with distortion. It is pretty 'dry' as choruses go, but sounds great. I typically use the Chorus setting, but the Flanger sound on it is great too!

Shinji · #16 08-17-2011, 01:56 AM

for sure bro most people say to use chorus after overdrive, but i like it before (set nice and slow, with depth set to 2/3rds, a mid to high EQ and effect volume slightly subtle) just love the overdrive tones and also great all round clean sound.

Vlad5 · #17 08-19-2011, 12:56 PM

Thanks for all the input guys! I'm sure others will search for this in the future and find all this very helpful and inspiring, I know I do.

Cheers!