Chorus for fretless?

jfh2424 · #1 06-26-2009, 07:01 AM

Hi, guys, I did a search on this subject and did not come up with anything.

I own several fretlesses and I would like to improve my sound. I own a Boss Chorus which is cool but I cannot really get a sound I like...it seems that by the time I can really hear the effect, it totally changes the sound of the bass.

What do you guys use?

Thanks!

John

René_Julien · #2 06-26-2009, 07:34 AM

FWIW

I almost play fretless exclusively, but I don't prefer chorus.

A good alternative for me is a "rotary speaker effect" (or even tremelo). For mellower passages.
My fretlesss overall sound isn't what you would call mellow, or typical fretless.

And off course, modulation will change the sound of your bass.

I prefer the BOSS CE-5 over the CEB-3 though if I was to get a chorus.

jfh2424 · #3 06-26-2009, 08:03 AM

Interesting. I don't know what those sounds are...do you have some audio tracks? I would be curious to hear them.

I have spent quite a while learning Continuum note for note...I'd really like to get close to Jaco's tone for that particular track and record it. The Boss gets me close but not quite. I'll check to see which CE I own. Is there really a big difference between them?

Thanks!

John

René_Julien · #4 06-26-2009, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfh2424

Interesting. I don't know what those sounds are...do you have some audio tracks? I would be curious to hear them.

I have to make some clips this weekend (I have more time on sunday, I'm at work now

) for reviews on some other pedal.
I'll try to make some soundclips with the Line6 Rotomachine I have.

But, my fretless doesn't sound like an ordinary fretless.
It's voiced for metal.

Very bright and sharp sound, not much mwah.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfh2424

I have spent quite a while learning Continuum note for note...I'd really like to get close to Jaco's tone for that particular track and record it. The Boss gets me close but not quite. I'll check to see which CE I own. Is there really a big difference between them?

Thanks!

John

Can't help you there on the Jaco tone.

I just got my first listening on Jaco this week, his self-titled album.
I'm getting into it.

I don't know which effects Jaco used.
I believe there was a thread about this some months ago, use the search function.

BOSS CE-5 is the Chorus Ensemble
BOSS CEB-3 is the Bass Chorus

some people prefer one, some people the other

Crabby · #5 06-26-2009, 10:38 AM

I used my fretless to demo chorus pedals and was completely blown away by the Diamond Halo Chorus. Its pretty expensive but in my opinion, was well worth it. It sounds do good with fretless.

Pros:Very warm and lush. Absolutely no noise, no volume or low end loss, and very full sounding without destroying or masking your original tone.

Cons: Its a bit large but really takes up no more space then an XO size box positioned longways. It requires 24v power but comes with a very small walwart. I had a custom cable made from Voodoo Labs to use my Pedal Power to power it. It's priced at about $300 US.

The pros outweigh the cons in my opinion which is really saying something as I usually won't touch pedals that dont use standard 9v power or take up too much room. Give one a demo if you can. best chorus I have ever heard bar none.

bassteban · #6 06-26-2009, 10:42 AM

I like the Boss Basss Chorus on fretless as it's fairly subtle & doesn't change the basic tone so much.
On the Jaco tune, I'm guessing it's possible ther's no effects on the track but perhaps it's double-tracked. Again- that's just a guess, & I imagine someone more knowledgeable of this specific song will chime in.

jfh2424 · #7 06-26-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crabby

I used my fretless to demo chorus pedals and was completely blown away by the Diamond Halo Chorus. Its pretty expensive but in my opinion, was well worth it. It sounds do good with fretless.

Pros:Very warm and lush. Absolutely no noise, no volume or low end loss, and very full sounding without destroying or masking your original tone.

Cons: Its a bit large but really takes up no more space then an XO size box positioned longways. It requires 24v power but comes with a very small walwart. I had a custom cable made from Voodoo Labs to use my Pedal Power to power it. It's priced at about $300 US.

The pros outweigh the cons in my opinion which is really saying something as I usually won't touch pedals that dont use standard 9v power or take up too much room. Give one a demo if you can. best chorus I have ever heard bar none.

Crabby, that sounds interesting. I have been looking around the net for sound clips or demo clips and have only found a demo for guitar...do you have any clips or know of any clips?

Thanks!

John

chuck1073 · #8 06-26-2009, 07:08 PM

I use my fretless 6 (Mr Potato) for my duo gigs along with an Azola Bug bass. I have the Boss Bass Chorus, but I have yet to find a tone with that pedal that is more useable than the straight-up sound of the bass. I did want to use the effect to emphasize solos, something I do alot of in the duo, but I find it really just "blurs things up". Mostly I end up just rolling the pan to the bridge pup and playing toward the bridge.

Any suggestions to make the chorus work for me? I'd love to get a nice/lush solo tone, especially for legato stuff...but I don't want to to loose all of my definition and attack.

JohnnyPustular · #9 06-26-2009, 07:25 PM

I like the sound of my Ibanez CS-9 stereo chorus. There are two controls- width and speed- which provide a broad array of choruses. Its warm and analog (I have an old one I bought in the early 80s).

Crabby · #10 06-26-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfh2424

Crabby, that sounds interesting. I have been looking around the net for sound clips or demo clips and have only found a demo for guitar...do you have any clips or know of any clips?

Thanks!

John

Sorry I have no way to make clips. Its frustrating that we bass players are always trying to determine if a particular pedal will be usable on bass. Manufacturers would do well to blatantly advertise any pedals that they make that work well on bass.

Jerry J · #11 06-27-2009, 01:51 AM

Here is a link to the Diamond Halo Chorus website. Go down about halfway and there will be some really great chorus samples with a fretless bass. BIG TIME PROPS to Diamond for realizing that bass players use effects and that we want clips before plunking down the kind of change that they want for these pedals.
http://www.diamondpedals.com/products/halo.html

I'm working on saving up for a Halo chorus based on Crabby's review and the clips that they posted on their site.

From what I understand Jaco used effects. During that period I'd bet it was the original Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble. I'd be surprised if the Halo or the Analogman clone couldn't get you pretty close to a reasonable Jaco chorus tone.

Swift713 · #12 06-27-2009, 07:58 AM

I don't know what Jaco used. I don't use chorus but I like a little doubling delay sometimes on a fretless. If you add a little vibrato with your left hand you get the most controllable, articulate chorus money can buy. It's there when you want it, not when you don't.

jfh2424 · #13 06-27-2009, 02:45 PM

I've spent hours on Continuum, both listening and playing it. I've learned most of it note for note and I know that he had to have used an effect on it. And it wasn't the Boss. The way he used his vibrato...he was using the effect, listening to it and using his vibrato with it, I'm sure. I guess I would need to know which effect pedals were around back then.

I listened to the Diamond Halo. Quite impressive.

Thanks!

John

fightthepower · #14 06-27-2009, 03:38 PM

As I understand it, he double tracked the studio version 'in two takes' or some bs like that, so no effects were used other than physically playing it twice with the second track being slightly behind and off pitch.. i think..

When playing it live, he used an MXR Digi Delay- a rackmounted modulated delay ala chorusing, but Im pretty sure that the vibrato was all him.

dave-chaulk · #15 06-27-2009, 04:47 PM

Man, if you really want the "Jaco sound", it's all about rotosound roundwounds, heavy gauge. And playing strictly bridge pickup, with full tone, and plucking close to the bridge pickup.

Lethean · #16 07-10-2009, 03:27 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdY-KAmj5fU what about this tone( 0:00-0:52 )? It has a chorus-ish sound, but I know it's not any chorus pedal he uses.

fightthepower · #17 07-10-2009, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lethean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdY-KAmj5fU what about this tone( 0:00-0:52 )? It has a chorus-ish sound, but I know it's not any chorus pedal he uses.

You're right, its not a pedal- its a rack!

Its an MXR Digi Delay; a modulated delay, akin to chorus. The EHX Polychorus can do a pretty good job getting in that sonic territory- much better than the Boss CEB-3.

jfh2424 · #18 07-10-2009, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fightthepower

You're right, its not a pedal- its a rack!

Its an MXR Digi Delay; a modulated delay, akin to chorus. The EHX Polychorus can do a pretty good job getting in that sonic territory- much better than the Boss CEB-3.

Cool! Do you have any soundclips or a demo? I've been looking around the net but all I find is guitar demos.

Thanks!

John

jfh2424 · #19 07-10-2009, 07:05 AM

I heard the Diamond Halo clips and they are impressive.

I'm wondering wether the EHX pedal muddies up the low end a lot? The Diamond sounds pretty clean on the low end.

John

barteroo2002 · #20 07-10-2009, 07:30 AM

Carl Martin Bass Chorus has always intrigued me.
I have an EBS UniChorus - very versatile and sounds great.

As for this Jaco discussion, I'm almost certain that Continuum is double tracked Bass. No effects. When he plays live, different story, but on his debut album recording of Continuum, its double tracked - thats what gives it its gorgeous 'chorus' sound (after all, thats what Chorus pedals simulate).