give me a reason to stop buying pedals.

GearHeadBassMan · #1 01-05-2009, 03:38 PM

please. i just bought a bass synth wah on CL today, and im picking it up as well as my new ODB-3 tomorrow on my way to practice.

I don't even know when i'll use the synth wah. I just like the sound its making... im going from pedals i can hear use for in my band to pedals just to crowd my board! helpppp calm the G.A.S.!!!

stflbn · #2 01-05-2009, 03:42 PM

Honestly... don't even take them in to practice.

You'll only spend 75% of practice futzing with pedals that you're not familiar with and your band will not be enthused about your contributions.

Learn the pedals and come to terms with the idea that 'a little color via pedals is often usable'

markjazzbassist · #3 01-05-2009, 03:45 PM

hmmm.. can't find one.

keep buying

RickenBoogie · #4 01-05-2009, 03:46 PM

Stop buying entry level pedals, and only buy good quality pedals that you actually need. Since you asked.

mcm · #5 01-05-2009, 03:49 PM

Go back to the basics and just take your bass, amp, and cable to play. None of that stuff is needed. It will also be less hassle and cheaper.

Yango · #6 01-05-2009, 03:52 PM

Buy as many pedals as you can possibly afford... no, buy EVERY pedal available... then, presto you will be cured. There'll be nothing left to buy... for a while.

Get to it, you're wasting precious pedal purchasing time while you're reading this. GO FORTH AND PURCHASE!

Baird6869 · #7 01-05-2009, 03:55 PM

Many pedals suck your tone. I went through a pedalboard phase and now just sparingly use effects when they are needed.

To each their own.

Jared Lash · #8 01-05-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcm

Go back to the basics and just take your bass, amp, and cable to play. None of that stuff is needed. It will also be less hassle and cheaper.

In general I'd agree that while great for adding color to songs, most bass players don't NEED pedals and that it's good to occasionally rehearse without them at all to make sure that you are using them to enhance songs.

That said, it isn't true for every player. If you're a bass player playing live d'n'b or something along those lines, you can't actually do your job without them.

GearHeadBassMan · #9 01-05-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Stop buying entry level pedals, and only buy good quality pedals that you actually need. Since you asked.

to be fair, i'm on the used market, and poor. I like the bass synth wah, more so than the micro synth or the line 6 job. and the odb-3 was $20! how could i resist!

I had the same thing going with preamps, but they were expensive enough that i could reason with myself, but pedals are cheap used! and I got more compliments playing with my pedal board this weekend then i've ever gotten playing direct in!

Deluge Of Sound · #10 01-05-2009, 06:23 PM

That's because, in the right context, you can create beautiful sounds that would never have been possible going bass-->amp.

Beauty, of course, being in the eye of the beholder.

THUNDERboy · #11 01-05-2009, 06:33 PM

stop "playing arround" and start playing your bass man....nothing is gonna replace lackness of playing..learn to play and you won't want anything ruining your notes..

Zappstorius · #12 01-05-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcm

Go back to the basics and just take your bass, amp, and cable to play. None of that stuff is needed. It will also be less hassle and cheaper.

Well that's a nice idea, but maybe the guy needs those extra sounds at his disposal...I guess if he plays in an 80's thrash band they aren't neccessary, but if he plays in a funk/experimental band they most definatley are an essential part of the sound. I know they are for me.

I say keep buying pedals & experiment with different sounds/combos...it's only money anyway.

Jared Lash · #13 01-05-2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THUNDERboy

stop "playing arround" and start playing your bass man....nothing is gonna replace lackness of playing..learn to play and you won't want anything ruining your notes..

I don't know why I continue to be surprised by people that make comments like these and then have (in this case) Les Claypool listed as an influence in their profile.

kesslari · #14 01-05-2009, 06:41 PM

Given your user name, I think it might take a lot to get you to stop buying pedals...

One reason might be "I'm enjoying practicing too much to want to futz with getting good sounds out of pedals"...

niftydog · #15 01-05-2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GearHeadBassMan

give me a reason to stop buying pedals.

NO!

Quote:

I just like the sound its making...

Well, that's all that matters. Does my wife wear every piece of jewellery she owns? Heck no. Does she look just as gorgeous when she's not wearing any jewellery? Hell yes. Should that stop her from buying and wearing jewellery? Absolutely not!

Where did all these pedal-luddites come from and what are they doing in this sub-forum? Can they think for themselves or are they just following the trend? Claiming that their tone is magically pure and wonderful simply because they have slightly less electronics between their fingers and the speakers is a tad naive if you ask me.

If someone is going to seriously defend such a position then I expect to see your gear list contains no electric basses, no amps, not even a cable, because apparently the most pure form of the art is achievable with nothing but a washtub bass.

Marill · #16 01-05-2009, 07:10 PM

i can't give you a reason, but i would imagine that if anyone stops visiting the Effects forum, the chance of them buying pedals will be a LOT less!

i speak from personal experience!

emblymouse · #17 01-05-2009, 07:15 PM

"Damn it Jim, you're a bass player, not a guitar player!"

excane · #18 01-05-2009, 07:21 PM

Ditch the ODB-3, pick up a Landmine or Fulltone.

There is no reason to stop buying pedals, it's an addiction.

SteveMcB · #19 01-05-2009, 09:05 PM

Digitech BSW - set knobs as follows:
From L to R
1) All the way off
2) 12 o'clock
3) All the way off
4) Mode 7

Drop in when things get heavy/intense or whilst playing up an octave during guitar solos. Fantastic octaving.
No twidling during practice, just extra heaviness

Steve

fightthepower · #20 01-05-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I don't know why I continue to be surprised by people that make comments like these and then have (in this case) Les Claypool listed as an influence in their profile.

He's probably just regurgitating something that was said to him when he couldn't hack it as a player.

I could go 'back to the basics' and stop 'playing around', but then I'd be playing by myself, and my band would either have to find a synth player and a bass player... or some other maniac with too much gear, and too many great tones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

In general I'd agree that while great for adding color to songs, most bass players don't NEED pedals and that it's good to occasionally rehearse without them at all to make sure that you are using them to enhance songs.

That said, it isn't true for every player. If you're a bass player playing live d'n'b or something along those lines, you can't actually do your job without them.

Exactly.