Do I need dist/OD when playing with three guitarists?

BassMonstrum · #1 06-03-2010, 01:24 PM

Do I? Or is that a kinda sonic overkill?

wetzelman1 · #2 06-03-2010, 01:36 PM

well, you don't really need any effects but overdrive isn't just something to fill up space. If you're after a certain sound, then you should get an appropriate pedal.

asherthemachine · #3 06-03-2010, 01:38 PM

its up to you, but i play with 3 guitars and have a boost, an OCD, and a pickle pie fuzz. o and an octave. it doesnt matter, as long as it sounds good. do something different, have fun with it

scottbass · #4 06-03-2010, 01:41 PM

You need whatever will help you achieve the sound you want to achieve. No amount of finger technique will give you big distortion/OD sound if that's what you want.

In my case, no amount of effects will improve the sound I want to achieve.

bongomania · #5 06-03-2010, 01:49 PM

I love OD and distortion as much as the next pedal fiend, but if you want to cut through a wall of distorted guitars, nothing does that better than clean, pure, powerful bass.

BassMonstrum · #6 06-03-2010, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I love OD and distortion as much as the next pedal fiend, but if you want to cut through a wall of distorted guitars, nothing does that better than clean, pure, powerful bass.

That is EXACTLY what I thought!

tomhanzo · #7 06-03-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I love OD and distortion as much as the next pedal fiend, but if you want to cut through a wall of distorted guitars, nothing does that better than clean, pure, powerful bass.

+1
My band just went from one guitar to two. I still have two overdrives that i use interchangeably. I just never have them both on at once now

Stanley Design · #8 06-03-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMonstrum

That is EXACTLY what I thought!

I'll agree. A clean sound will wrangle those fizzly sounding guitars. Get a ton of wattage though to drive through them. Make sure you guys aren't stepping on each others toes with EQ.

megadan · #9 06-03-2010, 02:15 PM

I think it depends more on the style of music than the number of guitarists.

Instrumental/post-rock: yes, definitely.

Country - probably not!

See what I mean? As mentioned above it's more a question of the sound you need. What kind of band is it? More importantly, do you think that a distorted bass sound will sound good for the material? If yes, then should make it work!

slipkyes · #10 06-03-2010, 02:18 PM

I agree with Bongodude, a clean tone should in fact prove more cutting than distorsion when you already have three distorted guitars.

Of course, depends on the style and what you want to achieve with your tone

BassMonstrum · #11 06-03-2010, 02:33 PM

Here's a link to one of the songs. Have in mind that this is just a pre-production with sampled drums. And no, I did not play bass on it, I just joined them.

http://www.myspace.com/monolitt

jumbo_steelie · #12 06-03-2010, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megadan

I think it depends more on the style of music than the number of guitarists.

Instrumental/post-rock: yes, definitely.

Country - probably not!

See what I mean? As mentioned above it's more a question of the sound you need. What kind of band is it? More importantly, do you think that a distorted bass sound will sound good for the material? If yes, then should make it work!

yeah, this is so true. It all depends on how thick the guitars are and the sound that's trying tobe achieved...

zippydog · #13 06-03-2010, 08:30 PM

you need a second bassist

Demonator · #14 06-03-2010, 08:50 PM

Be careful, you dont want to get lost in the mix. A little is ok but remember Cliff Burton, lots of Distortion and at times was not heard, songs like battery, but it helped him a lot in other songs like Fight Fire with Fire or Orion.

pnut166 · #15 06-03-2010, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I love OD and distortion as much as the next pedal fiend, but if you want to cut through a wall of distorted guitars, nothing does that better than clean, pure, powerful bass.

+++ 1 - be different from the guitars to stand out !

champbassist · #16 06-03-2010, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I love OD and distortion as much as the next pedal fiend, but if you want to cut through a wall of distorted guitars, nothing does that better than clean, pure, powerful bass.

Every sane bassist will agree with this.

M0ses · #17 06-03-2010, 10:37 PM

IMHO and IME three guitarists is almost always huge sonic overkill

ThunderV · #18 06-03-2010, 10:39 PM

do whatever you need to do to cut throug and be heard!!!!!

pnut166 · #19 06-04-2010, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMonstrum

Do I need OD to play with three guitarists? Or is that a kinda sonic overkill?

No, you do not need OD or dist. To be heard, you need to fire 1 or more guitards

Crystalman85 · #20 06-04-2010, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMonstrum

Do I? Or is that a kinda sonic overkill?

In my honest opinion, having three guitar players in a band would be overkill. one of the bands I play in tried experimenting in having three guitar players and it was just overkill. I was unable to hear my bass because of that.

If you really play in a band with three guitar players, a boost pedal would be suitable for that. the devi ever dark boost would be a good choice for a boost pedal. it can give you an overdriven boost kind of sound. give that pedal a shot.