Effects Dump

[kirkm24]

I've spent several years pouring over effects and trying different things out and have come to a realization and appreciation for natural tone from my technique and bass. I don't bash effects or people who use them I'm just realizing that I never use them or very rarely use them in the context of my music and when I do, I feel like I am forcing them in. Has anyone else honestly felt this way? Buying and trying gear is fun but at the end of the day how practical is it really? I have a pretty fancy pedalboard and almost feel embarrassed taking it to a gig because it is nicer than what the guitarists use. I am considering selling everything (minus my compression and I'll keep my envelope for giggles). I just wanted to hear everyone else's opinions and arguments for keeping them or getting rid of them. I could probably make about $1,000 by selling everything off and I could buy another bass or something else. It's a crossroads I suppose.

[Liko]

Well, some of the way-out effects like phasing, flanging, octave, etc. are only useful in a few covers; I've never found a real need for those and similar effects in everyday bass playing (and therefore I do not own them). I have played a Bass Balls and was completely underwhelmed by what it did; the effect works best with funk, but when you slap all it does is thin the tone.

However, there are pedals I use constantly on my board. First of all, my tuning pedal is indispensable, though for guitar I find I still have to tune the harmonics to get it just right even after the tuner says I'm good. It's also the start of my power chain (though that can be changed). I also have a limiter/enhancer that is a godsend when I slap my Jazz, and works well with other basses (actives don't need the enhancer half, but most will benefit even more from the limiter). Lastly, my CEB-3 chorus pedal is always on whenever I'm playing with acoustic guitars. The extra shimmer helps the electric tone blend better with the guitars, whether amped or unamped.

I think if I had a good reverb pedal I would use a drop of it on bass; just a little hall or spring effect to open the tone. But, I'm pretty sure that would primarily be a guitar effect.

I have a compressor/sustainer that would work well on bass, but I use it more for guitar and the desired settings between guitar and bass are very different. I also have an ODB-3 that is also pretty good for both guitar and bass once you learn what it will and will not do, but again I use it more for guitar as a distortion pedal.

[kirkm24]

I agree wholeheartedly about guitars, but on bass it just seems like effects are forced most of the time. I like playing around with them but when it is time to play, I find little use for them. I can see an envelope and compression being used but beyond that, it's a stretch (for me anyway). I'll post a pic of my board.

[sonicvi]

I like playing with my pedals for fun but I never use anything other than overdrive or fuzz in my band and even then it's sparingly.

[JanusZarate]

Generally, I only use my clean and overdriven tones from my amp. But my brother and I have been working on writing a few three-piece songs that require effects.

I have a lot of musical ideas that could only be fully realized with an effect pedal - which is why I keep a bunch of modulation pedals and a fuzz pedal on my board.

[eyvindwa]

In a band setting, I find the most useful effects for me are slight overdrive, chorus and wah wah, and I really think they bring a lot of musical goodness to our songs (not really counting my compressor as an 'effect'). I also own a phaser and a couple of fuzz pedals that gets rather limited band use. Still, I have constant GAS for more mad fuzz pedals - next in line is the B:ASSMASTER

[EricF]

For a lot of music, I would agree that an un-effected bass tone is the right call. However, there certainly is music that needs a particular effect to create the right flavor for the song - Sly and the Family Stone just ain't the same without Larry Graham's fuzzed bass sound. If the music you're playing doesn't need those flavors, then you shouldn't use them.

I have tuner, compression, overdrive, distortion, fuzz, synth, chorus, and delay pedals. They all have their purpose within a certain context. For the band I'm playing with currently, my board consists of tuner, comp, OD, and fuzz. That's what I need for our music - nothing more, nothing less.

I also record some of my own music outside of what I'm doing with the band. Somtimes effects get used on bass, but usually not. I'm just happy to know that I have the tools available to me when I need them.

The bottom line is: Serve the music...always.

[Swift713]

I mostly use pre amp/OD models, compression, and sometimes a filter. When I think about upgrading from my multi those are the only effects I think about. Oh wait, I forgot my phrase sampler, but is that an effect or a recording device? Anyway, I have some tunes that use filter, one with Lazy Sprocket, sometimes I fool around with delay, but for the most part I'm into pretty clean tone. I don't care much for modulation effects or crazy fuzz or pitch shift. I fool around with all that stuff from time to time but it's really not my bag.

[BigBassBob]

I always go through phases with effects... it's fun to have an army of gadgets and cool sounds but when it comes down to it, you don't NEED effects on bass for most applications. Don't get me wrong, some songs wouldn't be right without some effects, but I tend to run clean mostly.

I think I've found a balance in the sense that when my board is finished (as if lol) all of my pedals will only add their own flavour without over-colouring my tone.

Envelope Filter>Compresion>OD>Chorus

I like to view effects as spices... use too much and it loses it's magic, and can ruin the song. However, if you use just a pinch here and there, it can make a good thing great

Never let effects get in the way of good music, use effects to compliment the music

[Swift713]

I've found that my effects sound really good when subtly blended with a clean signal (a little comp and a 50/50 blend of OD and clean). Very much like spices. Of course this theory sort of goes out the window when you start jamming with a live drum kit and/or wailing guitars.

[tycobb73]

If it wasn't for us not having a second guitarist, I would only run comp. and chorus.

[syciprider]

If you write your own material on the side, FX can open up an entire new world for you.

Most of us will probably not know what to do with, say the Moogerfoogers but those whose Muses speak to them will easily find uses for these weird FX in their original work.

[waffle puzzle]

+1

I am in an unconventional band where fx are not only encouraged, but necessary. We've written songs (we are instrumental) based on some of the wild fx that myself and the guitarist (who has a barge of fx also) have created.

As far as "conventional" music goes, if you were to bust out the envelope-wah-ring modulator-flange effect I sometimes use, you might be encouraged not to ever do that again.

[Geddyfleaharris]

I have a 105Q wah but rarely use. Fairly new and have not experimented with it much but I do intend to use it. I had a Boss ODB distortion pedal (gave it to my friend's nephew) but could only get 1 buzz saw-like sound out of it. Was not for me. Plus since I unplugged it the volume on my rig only needs to be at 10 to 11 o'clock instead of 1 to 2 o'clock. I also have a Digitech BP200. Multi effects pedals are most definately not for me. I am going to sell it or something.

I have an RBI, a DTR200 tuner and a Shure wireless in my rack if you count those as "effects". I don't.

The other thing to think of is that the more effects you run the more power you have to supply (batteries or adapters) and the more cables you need for linking. So when something goes screwy in the middle of a gig the more places you have to trouble shoot. Not withstanding the fact that you can by-pass all your pedals if you have troubles.

I sort of go by the K.I.S.S. principle - keep it simple stupid.

[kirkm24]

I guess I've found that when the volume goes up (aka, concert) and your in a full band context most of your effects get lost in the overall mix unless it's something really drastic. For all the fretting about tone among all of us (myself included) it all kind of gets lost and/or blended with the mix of a whole band and the louder the overall volume gets the more it's lost. I saw Rush two weeks ago in concert and after about song number 8, everything really just started to sound like a bunch of loud noise. I like their music and appreciate it, but at the loud live volume levels the individual player sound can kind of get lost in the overall mix. Occasionally I would hear Geddy's growl but it wasn't like his studio tone. I would assume most of us on here are live players and do some occasional studio recording. Given that, I would assume that the only time we can really have our voice heard is in the studio and what do we usually do as bass players in the studio? Go direct w/ nothing between our bass and the board! What an irony!

I guess the place I'm arriving at as a player is that our technique and our guitar itself make up the bulk of our sound, the amp makes up about 25-30% and effects probably make up 10-15% (unless it's something drastic). I've heard guys sound great who used cheap Samick basses and Crate amps but they sounded great and were better players then me. I then take the stage with my Stingrays and GK rig and feel embarrassed. I love my Stingrays and my GK rig but I think my playing ability is what makes up the bulk of my sound. So until I become a better player, I am going to ease off the effects (at least for a season). I go into the studio on Saturday to lay down some tracks for a friend of mine and I intend to bring my Radial JDI, a cable and my Stingrays.

I appreciate everyone's feedback and I like the discussion of topics like this. They can be reflective and encourage and challenge us as players. I think most of us are serious players (or at least want to be or else we wouldn't visit this board) and topics like this can help us all grow as players. I'm not saying effects are bad and people who use them are bad, I'm just opening up dialogue and encouraging people to step back and look at how they've grown and where they're heading as players. I know I have lately and I think I am going to come our on the other side as a better player than I am now. Maybe I'll whip out the pedal board again in a couple of months though.

[Baird6869]

I have a racked Sansamp RBI and Sonic Maximizer that are on all the time and I have shrunk my pedal board down to:

Boss Chorus Ensemble (on all the time)
MXR Auto-Q (I use it for parts in Paralyzer, Brick House and Higher Ground and never on other songs)
MXR 10 Band EQ (for a bit of mid boost but usually on all the time)
EM Volume Pedal Jr (I use this a lot)
Dunlop Bass Wah (never use this beyond extended song endings).

I could likely do without everything on the floor except the volume pedal.

[fishtx]

I use Compression and Chorus all the time...the rest of the stuff very sparingly...

[DbNBassist]

I use all of my effects, ALOT!!!

mostly overdrive and compression.

phase and delay used fo spacy parts.

and synth is Toxic.