Effect Order... Yea, I searched

kaputsport · #1 04-30-2008, 11:58 AM

No antics please. I searched, but nothing is spacific to my set up.
I am looking for opinions on what order to put my effects. I have some noise when I engage any overdrive/fuzz, and I want to clean it up... Here is the order now...

Boss Compessor/Sustainer > Akai Deep Impact > Akai Unibass > Akai Intelliphase > EH Bassballs > Boss OC2 > Boss Flanger > EH Little Big Muff > Blowtorch(will be a WM real soon) > Peterson Strobo Stomp...

I think running the fuzz/distortion into flanger into comp into synth/octave/modulation/envelopes would be better. Any one have an opinion???

JanusZarate · #2 04-30-2008, 12:07 PM

You run your fuzz pedals at the end?

Personally, I agree with your idea - I prefer the sound of fuzz before filters and modulation. But I also prefer the sound of an octaver before fuzz. It sounds pretty cool after it, though... it's an interesting chaotic breakup that I like almost as much.

Jared Lash · #3 04-30-2008, 12:11 PM

Well, putting the compressor after your dirt won't "clean them up" in terms of getting rid of the noise. You'd need a noise suppessor/gate for that.

What kind of noise are you getting? Most gain pedals are going to be a bit noisy, especially high gain pedals.

I doubt it's the source of your problem, but the Boss pedals don't have a great bypass which may affect your tone a bit. A TBP loop would help in that regard, but again I don't think that's the problem here.

Tslicebass · #4 04-30-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

You run your fuzz pedals at the end?

Personally, I agree with your idea - I prefer the sound of fuzz before filters and modulation. But I also prefer the sound of an octaver before fuzz. It sounds pretty cool after it, though... it's an interesting chaotic breakup that I like almost as much.

Thats interesting boo. I remember reading in the FAQ links about pedal order that most guys like fuzz after mod. because it causes the fuzz to react differently to the sweeps in frequencies.
Care to elaborate. I only ask because I am putting together a board and I also originally thought it would be better to put overdrive after octave but before filters and mods.

kaputsport · #5 04-30-2008, 12:45 PM

I think the new order will be...

OC-2 > WM > LBM > Flanger > Comp > DI > UB > IP > BB > SS

kaputsport · #6 04-30-2008, 12:48 PM

My only issue is fuzz before synth??? I run both at the same time frequently...

The noise I am getting is feedback from my active warwick, and sometimes radio waves when fuzz is kicked on....

I want to be able to mute the strings, and actually mute them.

JanusZarate · #7 04-30-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tslicebass

Thats interesting boo. I remember reading in the FAQ links about pedal order that most guys like fuzz after mod. because it causes the fuzz to react differently to the sweeps in frequencies.
Care to elaborate.

I've read the exact opposite in most - if not all - of those "guideline" sites, including the ones linked in the FAQ. I also seldom see TBers recommending fuzz after modulation. So... I'm not sure what you're reading.

One of the PRIMARY reasons for effects loops on guitar amps is to allow the preamp's distortion (which guitarists love) to come BEFORE modulation effects. The same principles are popular with bassists, too.

However, you can get some pretty interesting sounds by having OD/Distortion/Fuzz after modulation. Some examples: delay repeats will get washed out in such a scenario, but chorus will create a very different kind of ambience than you'd get from running it after distortion (check out the band Death From Above 1979 to see what I mean).

Always try it both ways - the "popular" way isn't always the best way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

My only issue is fuzz before synth??? I run both at the same time frequently...

Give it a try. It'll sound very different than running fuzz after it. I'm not sure if you'll like it, but it's worth a test.

Tslicebass · #8 04-30-2008, 03:04 PM

Are wah's, phasers and filters considered modulation effects???

JanusZarate · #9 04-30-2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tslicebass

Are wah's, phasers and filters considered modulation effects???

I wouldn't really count a wah, but yes to the others.

Either way, I like the sound of all three of those after fuzz.

Toasted · #10 04-30-2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

No antics please. I searched, but nothing is spacific to my set up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

I am looking for opinions on what order to put my effects.

Use your ears. They're the only ones to tell you. Oh, and the Deep Impact must always, always, always, always and no exceptions be the very first thing connected to your bass. Always.

JanusZarate · #11 04-30-2008, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasted

Use your ears. They're the only ones to tell you. Oh, and the Deep Impact must always, always, always, always and no exceptions be the very first thing connected to your bass. Always.

I've tried it in other configurations.

I half-agree.

kaputsport · #12 05-01-2008, 05:44 AM

I actually have a compressor in front of the DI, to smooth it out and make consistant synth notes...

I use the Deep Impact and Little Big Muff together alot. I also you LBM and flanger, and will use the Woolly Mammoth alot as well.

Happynoj · #13 05-01-2008, 06:23 AM

I don't think that changing the order of your effects will get rid of noise from fuzz pedals. You need a noise gate for that. So the order you put your pedals in is purely personal preference. My setup goes:

Wah, synth, octave/filter, filters, OD/fuzz, more filters, modulation, delay.

Reasons?

I like the sound of wah before everything else. Synth and octave/filter are at the front because of tracking. I like two of my filters before the OD/fuzz. My third filter sounds best after the OD/fuzz. I like modulation after fuzz, and delay right at the end to catch everything.

Swimming Bird · #14 05-01-2008, 09:48 AM

Your noise problems may be reduced once you get the WM, assuming you use its gate.

+1 to trying out multiple pedal orders.

kaputsport · #15 05-01-2008, 10:09 AM

Yea, that is the thing. The Blowtorch I have is kinda noisy. It may be the position, and it may be the bass... I dunno. I will use the noise gate on it as it is what the Blowtorch lacks...

The pedal board is going to be shifted around a bit, to maximize tone...

Smu573 · #16 05-01-2008, 10:28 AM

hERE IS HOW i CURRENTLY RUN MY SIGNAL PATH.
WT1205,D210XLT8,D115XLT8
Basses: Modulus Q6 & 1930 Kay upright> Radial bassbone>Fulltone clyde dlx wah> amp
Pre effect loop:
Boss SY3>EBS octabass>Fulltone bass drive>Lovetone Meatball>amp

post loop:
Love Tone ? (flanger)>Boss PH2> Boss DD6>volume pedal> Avalon U5>aux 2 in

JanusZarate · #17 05-01-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

Yea, that is the thing. The Blowtorch I have is kinda noisy. It may be the position, and it may be the bass... I dunno. I will use the noise gate on it as it is what the Blowtorch lacks...

That's really weird. The Blowtorch is the quietest fuzz pedal I've ever had my hands on, TBH (not counting the gated fuzzes I've tried, which are equally silent).

kaputsport · #18 05-01-2008, 12:43 PM

It is weird. It might be my hot bass, squashed then added gain...

I don't know yet...

Geddyfleaharris · #19 05-01-2008, 03:42 PM

My LBM is insanely noisy. But not my Blowtorch. So much so that I thought about taking it off my board. I added a Boss NS-2 noise pedal and all my troubles are gone. I run everything throught the NS-2's loop. Even in noisy old venues as soon as I step on the NS-2 the garbage disappears.