How to get an unique sound...

[Gashaponcito]

Hi, been a long time since I started a new thread, well this is my "problem": I want a unique sound... what do I mean by this? well have you ever heard the bass lines of Robert Levon Been (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) thats why I call an unique sound, I have read he gets that with a lot of pedals and combining diferent types of distortion and I would like to know what do you think about this ideas I got (from using de search pedal =P) and if u guys have some suggestions they would be really helpful.

1.- I think an envelope filter will give me a lot of new tonal options and I fell in love with the Tube Zipper (actually is on Rob's pedalboard and I saw some youtube videos of it)

2.- I want to get some "tube warmth" so maybe I should add a tube emulator (Sansamp,Flipster(SB-12 Portaflex adapted for use as a bass overdrive stompbox)) and a tube overdrive or preamp (Any of the EHX ones)

3.- Obviously I need some fuzz so I think I'll put to of them, I already have the Little Big Muff (reissue) and I'm going to buy a Malekko B:assmaster.

4.- I love synth sounds but I need something versatile so I'm thinking of probably getting a Bass Micro Synth.

5.- I'll like to blend the clean sound with the distorted one (Wolstenholme style) so I'm thinking of the new VFB-X (Bargue Concepts)

6.- I'll need some octaves (up/down) there I don't really have much information so suggest please (As I have stated I need something versatile and with characteristic sound)

7.- Maybe some chorus/delay/flanger I'm thinking about the Electric Mistress and The Clone theory (thanks to Mystic Boo for the clips)

8.- What else do you suggest????

Also I'm thinking of building some pedals of my own since I want unique sound I think there's nothing better than having some Home Made Pedals, in fact the Flipster I mentioned before would be Home Made.
Aswell I would like some options of pedals that are alike Lovetone's Meatball, Big Cheese since they are very hard to get.

That was long I hope you guys don't get bored and thanks in advance for the help.

Cheers!

Gashaponcito

P.D. Maybe the Flipster thing is not so famous so I'll post the thread where I learnt from it
Ampeg Fliptop in a stompbox......The Flipster.

[SnakeAnthony]

Anyone that ever got a unique sound did so through hours of experiementation. Taking what they know sounds good from previous players and recordings and bulding upon that. Its just the way it works.

I don't think that you should look to effects to serve as that kind of legacy. 'That guy always had some different sound with those wacky effects' isn't the guy I want to be (just me). Instead, I prefer to look at them as tools for certain oppourtunites. The idea is how often do those oppourtunities arise? If in your head, you truely think 'Alot,' then you've come to the right place, because we'll give you GAS( ), but many a player has found themselves spending thousands on effects they don't use, so there's a fair warning.

All of the pedals your considering are fine pedals. The Tube Zipper is supposidly very out there, and I really suggest you get your hands on one before purchasing. Sound clips aren't always as helpful as you'd think. You can love something through computer speakers and hate it through your amp.

The B:Assmaster is being heralded as the greatest fuzz to show up in the past decade or more, so I'd say your safe there.

On the Octave Up/Down thing, I'd suggest EHX's new Micro POG, which is either freshly out or will be out very soon. One octave up, one octave down, both adjustable. Can't go wrong there.

There was some speculation from Effects browsers that the VFB-X may be more trouble than its worth, as it can be difficult trying to make slight adjustments in the middle of a song, even with the pedal, but I don't see many issues with it, and BargeConcepts make some brillant products.

[Gashaponcito]

Originally Posted by SnakeAnthony

then you've come to the right place, because we'll give you GAS

Then I'm home xD

[bongomania]

The "unique" sounds are almost always happy accidents discovered while experimenting. The best ones I think come from experimenting "outside the box", so instead of thinking something like "I'll run a fuzz into a phaser, that'll sound kool", go way out and say "I'll run my signal through a toaster oven and a cell phone and the metal parts of a box spring mattress". I'm not even joking, uniqueness requires breaking some rules. One of the most-requested bass distortion sounds here last year was from a guy fully clipping solid-state amps, where most people would only run tube amps that way.

I've been meaning to put a speaker and a mic inside a little toy piano, and use the reverberations inside the piano as an effect on my bass.

[Sean S]

Originally Posted by bongomania

One of the most-requested bass distortion sounds here last year was from a guy fully clipping solid-state amps, where most people would only run tube amps that way.

If you mean DFA1979, you can't forget the chorus!!!!

[olaff421]

Heh, '...run my signal through a toaster...'

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by Sean S

If you mean DFA1979, you can't forget the chorus!!!!

Which makes it all the more unique. Most people don't dare put chorus before distortion!

It pays to break a few rules.

[Sir Edward V]

I like that toy piano idea bongo

might sound sitarish

speaker and mic in a toaster sounds like a good idea as well

[Sir Edward V]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

Which makes it all the more unique. Most people don't dare put chorus before distortion!

It pays to break a few rules.

I was doing that for a while, but I like it much better after

[astralis]

Gashaponcito, I would really reccomend checking out the diystompboxes forum.

I have found that diy = versatility. There are so many loop/blend options that would cost small fortunes to buy retail that are peanuts to diy.

My signal path right now is pretty crazy, it includes; An independent blender for each effect then various looper blender pedals along the way to blend one loop of effects with another loop into the dry bass tone. Quite a mouthful

Even some of the more expensive pedals you've mentioned are fractions of the price to diy.
Ive actually built a few of the pedals you were talking about, and LOVED them (working on getting clips up now).

I think you should give diy a try