help me start putting together my first rig x

Isaac Young · #1 07-14-2009, 06:16 AM

Hello,

I was wandering if I could get some simple advice.. I've been a gigging bassist for 2 years.. I am not a technical person, but do want to sound professional. I don't trust the guys in the music shop, they seem to do their best to make me feel stupid and naive and can be quite patronizing. I need some guidance!

I have just bought my first pedal. (the Boss bass equalizer) I use a modest £300 amp (without an equalizer) I'm getting quite a boost with the pedal but haven't stuck on a particular sound just yet.. I was interested in a sansamp bass driver DI, but the equalizer was cheaper and I heard it basically does the same thing as the sansamp...Is this true? I'm thinking a bass big muff+ Chorus is something I should give a go. Is there any point getting the sansamp if I already have the boss equalizer?

I basically want a clear bouncy beautiful but powerful bass sound like the Smiths, or similar to Kings of Leon, Klaxons..

Is the fact I have a modest bass amp hindering me already, or do the pedals take you there even with an amp like mine?

tom once dead · #2 07-14-2009, 06:25 AM

The boss and sansamp are similar in what they are, but not what they sound like.

If I were you, i would get a sansamp. It will change your tone completly, in a good way.

NKBassman · #3 07-14-2009, 06:36 AM

Agreed. You can't really go wrong with a sansamp. As Tom said, it will change your tone drastically, but in a good way.

Your best bet would be to go to the guitar store and ask to plug one in to an amp similar to yours. That way you can have a pretty good idea of what it will sound like before you take it home.

I can't comment on if it will give you the Kings of Leon tone, but that's only because I don't listen to them.

dannybuoy · #4 07-14-2009, 06:45 AM

What's your 'modest' amp then? I'd look into the VT Bass, which is the newest version of the Sansamp. It sounds better than the BDDI (Sansamp Bass Driver DI) and has more control over the mids. It doesn't have a DI output for sending to the PA though, but you can either use a separate DI box or use the DI output on your amp if it has one.

Jared Lash · #5 07-14-2009, 06:56 AM

To be clear, the SansAmp is fairly different from the Boss EQ. For me an EQ is basically a way to change your tone instantly without having to go to your amp - that's the way I would use one anyway. Setting it for a mid scooped tone for slapping for instance. In this case it looks like your're just looking for more control over your tone?

Anyway, the SansAmp is actually an amp emulator. It allows you to make any amp sound more like an Ampeg SVT. It does a great job of taking mediocre gear and making it sound great. And it can take great gear and give it a different flavor. It can also add some grit to your tone or be EQ'd for a reggae or slap tone, but not as precisely as the Boss EQ. The SansAmp has the added bonus of giving you a DI which is can come in handy.

MNAirHead · #6 07-14-2009, 06:58 AM

IF you're a gigging bassist.

I'd consider one of the combination preamp/DI boxes...

Fewer boxes and clutter and confusion are better when playing out.

Eventually you'll be needing a DI box.

NOTE - do not trust the opinions (including mine) before posting what you're running for a bass, amp and strings... otherwise you'll receive the "I like my" replies.

Question - do you have a quality tuner?

Tim

FeuerFrei · #7 07-14-2009, 07:28 AM

I have a setup akin to what you're talking about, I use that same GEB-7 eq, it leads into a odb-3, a ceb-3 and a bass big muff. As far as I've dialed the muff around, it's not a clean tone, it's intentionally dirty (not a bad thing) so maybe check for a simple over drive pedal (like the odb-3) and then around the chorus.

I'm finishing a recording rig tonight (cross fingers), once I get it all up and running, if you want to request some sound combos, I'd be happy to oblige.

RickenBoogie · #8 07-14-2009, 07:45 AM

I would also be interested in this "modest amp'. Your tone problems may very well be as a result of that. Good solid tone starts with you, your bass and your amp. I wouldn't go spending money on gadgets until AFTER the basics are covered, and I suspect it's the amp that's holding you back.

kevteop · #9 07-14-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isaac Young

I basically want a clear bouncy beautiful but powerful bass sound like the Smiths,

Get a P-bass, leave the tone all the way up, play it with a pick. That's Andy Rourke's sound.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isaac Young

Is the fact I have a modest bass amp hindering me already, or do the pedals take you there even with an amp like mine?

For the standard bass sound you're going for, you don't need tons of fancy gear. Change gear when you think you're missing something (and you can identify what it is). So long as your amp can handle gig volumes cleanly you should be alright.

FWIW my amp has bass, mid and treble knobs on it, I don't have any other EQ available apart from what's on my bass itself. I've thought about adding parametric mids via an outboard preamp but I've never actually needed to.

bassman03 · #10 07-14-2009, 08:54 AM

One thing that might help out in your overall sound is a BBE Sonic Stomp. Does great things for me and about 98% of other people that i see post about it.

WaldoNova · #11 07-14-2009, 09:08 AM

I would be thinking about upgrading your amp before buying any pedals to shape your basic tone. Once you have a quality amp then get some pedals. The pedals will not take you there without a quality amp.

bassman03 · #12 07-14-2009, 09:59 AM

^ this is also true

stflbn · #13 07-14-2009, 10:10 AM

Personally, I've purchased Sansamp BDDI's several times just thinking that 'I must be missing something so many other people swear by'. End result... each unit sold within a week.

I did like the Tech21 PSA and PSA 1.1's I owned. And I like the VT-bass pedal's I've owned and currently own. The BDDI's just color (mask) the pure tone of a bass/amp to much for my tastes.

IMHO.

.

NKBassman · #14 07-14-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaldoNova

I would be thinking about upgrading your amp before buying any pedals to shape your basic tone. Once you have a quality amp then get some pedals. The pedals will not take you there without a quality amp.

This is very true. IMO pedals should be used to color/shape your tone, not define it. Your basic tone should still be coming from you, your bass, and your amp.

HOWEVER, if you don't have the budget for a new rig, then I'd say any of the sansamp boxes already mentioned would get you the most bang for your buck. Just my $0.02.

And, like I said earlier, and like anybody else here will (should!) tell you... TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! The only way to find out what works for you is to try all your options and pick the best one. My opinion is just that: my opinion.

kevteop · #15 07-14-2009, 12:03 PM

Personally I think the SansAmp boxes are more useful as recording preamps. I've tried a BDDI on my live board and an RBI in my rack but ended up letting them go again.

warwick.hoy · #16 07-14-2009, 12:15 PM

Check out the Sadowsky Outboard Preamp if you are looking for a pre/DI box.