How can I simulate...

CTC564 · #1 04-16-2011, 08:39 AM

....the bass synth on Stevie Wonder's "Boogie on Reggae Woman"

Any ideas are appreciated

Explorer · #2 04-16-2011, 11:27 AM

Given the speed of the bassline, I'd probably go with a fuzz and an autofilter in order to get that tone on bass guitar. If it were me, I'd be running something like the Mastotron in the effect loop of the Groove Regulator.

Then again, if you visit YouTube, you'll find a few videos where someone is just playing bass guitar on it with no effects, and it's still just as funky. Maybe you can get buy with somehting dry or with a bit of fuzz....

Now that I'm thinking about it, probably the first choice I'd reach for is my Ibanez SB7 pedal. I haven't seen a lot of videos on it which feature the kind of analog synth tones I like from it, but the following would give you an idea.

YouTube - Ibanez Bass Synth SB7 Demonstration. Bass Tapping.

Good luck!

voodoobassist · #3 04-16-2011, 11:33 AM

I use my boss oc-2 and a BEF and get a fairly passable tone happening. There's nothing wrong with going with a straight bass tone either though, it's a groovin little line that stands on it's own just fine!

cultrvultr · #4 04-16-2011, 04:40 PM

I've played both the Stevie and Phish versions of this tune. The orig. tone is hard to cop on bass but fuzz>filter will get kinda close. Phish version is a deep impact, but I can get 98% of the sound with a bassballs and chorus.

Mark Olson · #5 04-16-2011, 07:37 PM

I've had luck getting some Stevie Wonder synth tones with an Akai Deep Impact.

Funkinthetrunk · #6 04-16-2011, 08:27 PM

This is what I'd use.....Ed, too.

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

CTC564 · #7 04-16-2011, 11:08 PM

Wow...thanks for the link

VERY cool effects...copped that sound perfectly IMHO

Explorer · #8 04-16-2011, 11:24 PM

That was a very cool clip. I've been buried under work this week, and haven't had a chance to try out my BMS since I picked it up from the TB classifieds. This just makes me want to take a week of vacation to get my priorities straight. *laugh*

Thanks for posting that!

cultrvultr · #9 04-17-2011, 04:10 AM

Ed Friedland. Every Single Time.

Meddle · #10 04-17-2011, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Explorer

Now that I'm thinking about it, probably the first choice I'd reach for is my Ibanez SB7 pedal. I haven't seen a lot of videos on it which feature the kind of analog synth tones I like from it, but the following would give you an idea.

YouTube - Ibanez Bass Synth SB7 Demonstration. Bass Tapping.

Good luck!

Thats my video bud!

Thanks for linking to it. One thing, I was using groundwound strings for that demo as I found the pedal responded much better with a strong fundamental. With roundwounds the envelope is a bit more jittery.

Explorer · #11 04-17-2011, 10:40 AM

@Meddle - I'm a huge fan of the SB7, and own a couple due to their being very inexpensive. For what it does, I like it better than the BSW (which gets a surprising amount of love here), and using tapping above the fifth fret just nails the analog synth sound. That chord in your video at 3:51 is great.

Anyway, loved the demo. I already owned the thing, and feel ambivalent about letting more people know about it and possibly driving up the price, but I already own a few. I suppose it doesn't do to be greedy....