Effects help please

GroovinOnFunk · #1 03-21-2010, 09:00 PM

Ok, so fortunately I am in a position now where I can satisfy some of my GAS needs in terms of effects pedals.

Currently I have: Micro Q-Tron; OC-2 Octa pedal

Would like to add: Fuzz (old school growl fuzz. check out the fuzz on the choruses in the song "Shakey Ground" by the Temptations); Boss Line Selector LS-2 (do people think this is wise so I can blend my signals? I'm thinking this way I can use the High Pass and Band Pass modes of my Q-Tron); Boss Limiter LMB-3. May not need both a line selector AND a limiter...

I want my set-up to have no more than 5 pedals including the 2 I already own and definitely want to add a fuzz pedal. The other 2 I'm flexible on. Please help with suggestions.

FWIW: I play a lot of funk or funky bass-lines. I also play reggae, trance/electronica, classic rock, folk, and jam-band style music as well as other types.

Thank you for help and advice in advance

GroovinOnFunk · #2 03-21-2010, 09:24 PM

EHX Steel Leather is looking really enticing at the moment

Mark Olson · #3 03-21-2010, 09:34 PM

Hmm, if you can fit it on your board I'd bet the Fender Sub-Lime Bass Fuzz would be up your alley. If not, something else groovy would do, maybe a Music Electronix CrossDrive? Check it out. You've got some really solid pedals already, personally if I were you I wouldn't bother with a limiter or a Steel Leather, but that's me. The blender would be a good idea if you find the Micro Q Tron gets peaky with your playing, but I've found that that can be pretty controllable just by varying up how you attack your notes.

Also, I have that Temptations cut, some really awesome bass on that!

GroovinOnFunk · #4 03-21-2010, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Olson

Hmm, if you can fit it on your board I'd bet the Fender Sub-Lime Bass Fuzz would be up your alley. If not, something else groovy would do, maybe a Music Electronix CrossDrive? Check it out. You've got some really solid pedals already, personally if I were you I wouldn't bother with a limiter or a Steel Leather, but that's me. The blender would be a good idea if you find the Micro Q Tron gets peaky with your playing, but I've found that that can be pretty controllable just by varying up how you attack your notes.

Also, I have that Temptations cut, some really awesome bass on that!

Thanks for the help...
Yeah, the reason for wanting the LS-2 was pretty much just for the Micro Q-tron. Right now Low Pass is the only setting in which I can use it because I lose ALL of my bottom end otherwise. Probably won't get a limiter... Steel Leather did look nice though. I am looking for a sort of "punch pedal". Why specifically do you think it would be bad?

Mark Olson · #5 03-21-2010, 10:07 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZquBfuTc5I

It's an interesting effect, but it's more about accentuating high frequencies than adding real punch, depending on your definition of the word. I guess it could add high end punch, but to me punch is more from lower midrange frequencies.

GroovinOnFunk · #6 03-22-2010, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Olson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZquBfuTc5I

It's an interesting effect, but it's more about accentuating high frequencies than adding real punch, depending on your definition of the word. I guess it could add high end punch, but to me punch is more from lower midrange frequencies.

So maybe a Bass EQ pedal (like the Boss one) is all I'm really looking for then.

I play a MusicMan SUB Stingray which only has 2 band active EQ with a Bass and Treble boost. No mid boost (which some people prefer and certainly makes it simpler).

Then I'd have: Q-tron; OC-2; LS-2; Fuzz; EQ ped.

gjbassist · #7 03-22-2010, 08:53 AM

+1 on the Fender Sublime Fuzz. Nice vintage fuzz tone. It is rather large so it might not fit on your board. I have a board with five other pedals on it and put the Sublime on the floor next to it.

GroovinOnFunk · #8 03-22-2010, 09:00 AM

I don't have a board for my pedals so that's not an issue. Let me put a stipulation on this request I've made for pedal suggestions. I can't afford to spend more than say $90 or $100 tops on 1 pedal. I'm not a pro (yet) and mostly play bass as a hobby (though I'm very passionate about it and do a lot of serious gigging and recording) so personally I would rather get, for example, 2 decent pedals (though perhaps not top of the line) than 1 really bomb-diggity dank-awesomeness pedal.

I'm sure plenty will argue "spend more money on one good pedal" but that's just not something I'm going to do. The Fender Sub-lime fuzz does sound EXACTLY like what I'm looking for but it's about twice what I was hoping to spend on a fuzz pedal.

Any ideas on something similar for about half the price? I may be asking for the impossible here but I can't thank you all enough for the help!

Extremely grateful,
Brian

GroovinOnFunk · #9 03-22-2010, 09:01 AM

Would EHX Big Muff Pi be similar? That's like $80

GroovinOnFunk · #10 04-10-2010, 11:16 AM

so I'm thinking about getting a line selector and a fuzz pedal to add to my collection. I definitely need help making that micro q-tron blend well. no matter how i mess with the trim pot i can't be happy with it. but i think that if i could run it through the line selector i could get an awesome sound. and it would let me use the band pass or even hih pass settings.

thoughts?

I want to add 2 or 3 pedals to my setup. open to suggestions.

GroovinOnFunk · #11 04-24-2010, 11:33 AM

So here's my final pedal inventory. I don't plan on getting anymore any time soon.

I need suggestions on how to hook them up though (like what order to put them in and whatnot)

LS-2 Line Selector; Compressor; Chorus; Octave; Envelope; Fuzz

I'm thinking:

Bass --> Compressor --> LS-2 input
LS-2 A-send: --> Envelope; Fuzz; Chorus --> LS-2 A-return
LS-2 B-send: --> Octave --> LS-2 B-return