Filling up the sound

allular77 · #1 01-11-2012, 08:22 AM

Im now playing in a three piece punk rock band. Im not used to not having that 2nd guitar there while guitar one is playing a lead. Whats recommended to have a more fuller sound during these breaks? I have been told a simple bass overdrive or even playing the power chord on the bass. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

**grygrx** · #2 01-11-2012, 02:23 PM

I'm pretty much in the same situation and I think the easiest solution is a blended fuzz pedal. Something that leaves you both a clean sound and a distorted one can often sound like bi-amping and helps fill out the spectrum.

Other options likely include octave pedals and chorus, but might not work so well in your musical context.

amfmsb · #3 01-11-2012, 07:53 PM

My opinion- you have to have an always-on, overdrive-type pedal. Or the most awesome cranked amp tone that you can always replicate at different venues, volumes, with different cabinet mics.... a pedal is easier. Any of the Sansamp pedals are great for sculpting a righteous amp tone. Get your "main" tone down first- then add fuzz to taste if you think you need it durring guitar solos and such.

And a compressor wouldn't hurt either.

JehuJava · #4 01-11-2012, 08:27 PM

No way. It's all about what the guitarist is playing in conjunction with what your playing. Almost all of my bands I've played with were three pieces and we got HEAVY...and I played in standard tuning.

G3Mitch · #5 01-11-2012, 08:28 PM

I'd definitely recommend a Tech21 VT for an always on pedal that will fatten up your tone, I use mine for that and love it, not so much for overdriven tone. Then an overdrive or fuzz into the VT to click on when your guitarist does a solo.

JehuJava · #6 01-11-2012, 08:29 PM

Have your guitarist play in DADGAD...

PaulDouglas · #7 01-12-2012, 10:58 AM

What is your drummer doing? Tell him/her to ride the ride a bit.
You may have to bone up on arpeggios. Use a compressor also...adds sustain

Toastfuzz · #8 01-12-2012, 11:15 AM

VT Bass to "thicken" your bass tone and and overdrive to "amp it up" when necessary. For me I use fuzz too but its on a song-by-song basis and generally if I use it for a song its on the whole time.

Played Mountain's "Mississippi Queen" with HEAVY muff fuzz in a 3 piece cover act and it sounded AWESOME. I played alot of ghost notes (that are pretty chunky when your fuzz is active) to fill in when my guitarist was doing his thing

change-jug · #9 01-12-2012, 05:48 PM

In the new issue of Bass Player magazine they review a pedal that plays 4ths, 5ths and a octave higher. Plus you can overdrive these new "guitar" notes while your bass notes are unaffected.The pedal has a two outs.One to plug into your bass rig and the second(guitar) amp. This way you are the bass player and the rhythm guitarist! I think it`s made by Daring Audio but I`m too lazy to go check.
Sounds pretty cool and useful to me. I don`t know how I feel about lugging around a second cab and head for the guitar parts though.

skwee · #10 01-12-2012, 05:54 PM

See, I don't know if it has more to do with what you play through than what notes you choose to play, and when.

droo46 · #11 01-12-2012, 06:35 PM

I love using an octave pedal to thicken up the low end. Chorus also does a great job of filling up the gaps.

JehuJava · #12 01-12-2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skwee

See, I don't know if it has more to do with what you play through than what notes you choose to play, and when.

Probably 50/50 I'd say. But I really think the guitar determines heaviness or lack there of. Consider skanky punk...super twangy guitar with throbbing bass...lots of space in the music. Consider Dead Kennedys...surf rocky but heavier guitar...bass still moving along pretty darn good...much fuller. Consider Dead Milkmen Punk...not heavy guitar at all...really good bass...empty sound. Consider Straight edge punk...super heavy guitar...simple-ish bass lines but driving...super full sound. Consider hard core...railing guitars...same driving bass...ultra heavy sound.

These are some generalizations, but I truly believe heaviness is dictated by the guitar. There are some things a pedal can't fix.

Kobaia · #13 01-12-2012, 08:54 PM

MEATBOX!!!!!

i can't say that loud enough

JehuJava · #14 01-12-2012, 08:58 PM

I need to play through this mysterious Meatbox one time.

krstko · #15 01-12-2012, 10:30 PM

Just add a soft overdrive, should fill the empty space

G3Mitch · #16 01-12-2012, 11:46 PM

devnulljp · #17 01-12-2012, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droo46

I love using an octave pedal to thicken up the low end.

I used to play with a real noodly textural guitarist -- lots of hanging diminished chords -- so I used an OC-2 and played up the neck a lot. Worked quite well. Just don't overdo the octave blend.

JehuJava · #18 01-13-2012, 02:38 PM

Maybe some micropitch tuning effect...like what the pitchfactor does...not to the point of a chorus sound though.

gumtownbassman · #19 01-15-2012, 05:17 PM

I use a Roland GR-55 synth to fill in the sound, with my normal bass tone going, the synth gives me modeled guitar tone (either LP or strat), plus two PCM synth guitar tones with the pitch of each to make a simple triad chord, then route that through the GR-55 distortion and guitar amp modeling, and i have a rhythm guitarist playing along with me.
Just got a Tech 21 VT pedal, so i look forward to trying that too, in the loop i drilled into my GR-55 for analog tones to the bass amp.

caeman · #20 01-15-2012, 08:42 PM

The FEA Growler offers an alternative to the overdrive suggestion. You get extra sound, and it is still your sound, but an extra bit of harmonic added in, with the option for asymmetric clipping for added texture. Combine it with an FEA 2 CH Mixer and use the wet and dry outs of the Growler into the mixer, and you can layer the two signals for an even more awesomer full effect.