Good effects to build new sounds?

tlb91 · #1 12-03-2009, 08:58 PM

I'm new on here, and I read everyones posts on effects and it really is amazing how much everyone knows on here! I have been playing for about a hard 2 1/2 years now, and i feel im running a solid rig, and im ready to start experimenting with some effects. I play mostly melodic hardcore and metal-core based music, but i love playing jazzy things and love the tone they deliver. What are some good pedals that i could add to my rig to really start having more than just that "solid tone", and have an array at my feet?To give you all an idea what i am working with here is my gear line up: Yorkville XS800H head running through an Ampeg SVT 8x10, a three channel sans amp bass driver. I play two Ibanezes: an Ibanez Prestige 6-String with Bartolini Jazz Pick-Ups and an aguilar pre-amp, and an Ibanez SR400QM. Can't wait to start my effect collection! Thanks in advance.

bongomania · #2 12-03-2009, 10:11 PM

Well, I don't mean to sound dismissive, but really any effect is good for building new sounds. It's like having ingredients in the kitchen. You might not eat a lot of dill from day to day, but if you want to try a new recipe, maybe it needs dill!

One good approach for somebody just getting their feet wet with effects is to get a decent multi-effects unit. That way you can try a wide range of sounds out, and get an idea of which types of effects you want to use a lot more. That will help you focus your future searching on recommendations for those specific effects.

tlb91 · #3 12-03-2009, 10:23 PM

Thanks man! I think im gonna just keep searching on here and take some suggestions and see what pedals i might wan to give go.

rcubed · #4 12-03-2009, 10:28 PM

Read threads and listen to sound clips when available.

JimmyM · #5 12-03-2009, 10:51 PM

If I were just learning about effects, I'd get a Zoom B2. For $100 it's got some pretty good sounds and a wide variety of them.

warwick.hoy · #6 12-03-2009, 11:19 PM

A lot of it will depend on what kind of new sounds you want to build and what will fit tastefully (which can mean many different things to many different people) in the projects you are involved with.

JMDT · #7 12-04-2009, 09:46 AM

Check out the eventide pedals, especially the pitchfactor. If you want to find your own sound its definately in there somewhere.

Also look at some of the Moogerfoogers, especially the bass MURF. Nothing else quite does what these guys do.

A line 9 m13 also has a ton of avaliable options at your feet.

None of these are cheap, but when it comes to effects the good ones are rarely cheap.

NortyFiner · #8 12-04-2009, 10:32 AM

For the styles of music the OP favors, he will probably find a dirt pedal to be most immediately useful. I use an EHX Bass Big Muff, but there are a lot of good fuzzes and overdrives out there to choose from.

I have also found that you can get a really nice heavy sound for slower tunes, something different from the usual metal bass tone, by combining a phaser with a bit of delay. To get there, I run a EHX Nano Small Stone through a MXR Carbon Copy. The result is a thick, dark, eerie kind of tone, like you're playing in a dungeon.

Hope that helps.

jonotronic · #9 12-04-2009, 10:37 AM

A volume pedal. Great for bowed effects and pad type sounds. Check out some of Anthony Jackson's work, he can almost make it sound like the bass part is being played backwards.

tlb91 · #10 12-04-2009, 11:09 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I hope im going to be getting a decent overdrive pedal soon, and maybe a big muff. Add in a little bass boost pedal, and I will be on the way to a decent board I hope. Any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

bassman1185 · #11 12-04-2009, 02:04 PM

In my experience (and I play similar music to the OP) the effects that bring out creativity when I am at home noodling around are:

Delay - I use an EHX Stereo Memory Man with Hazarai. Great pedal!

Synth/sub octave - I have a Digitech Bass Synth wah. They're dirt cheap and have some pretty cool sounds, as well as a whole lot of really bad ones. I use mine just for sub-octave live, but I mess with the weird envelope sounds at home, and it helps bring out some interesting tones.

Dirt - I have an ever-evolving dirt setup, but right now I'm using a Pigtronix Disnortion (octave up into parallel overdrive and fuzz) running into a Tech21 Bass VT. Nothing quite matches the extra power you get with some cool dirt sounds.

tlb91 · #12 12-04-2009, 10:25 PM

Thanks for sharing your opinion, having someone with similar playing genres helps!