I don't use any effects. Am I missing something?

[sparktone]

I'm a late-to-the game bassist (age 49) who is now in my second band and the first really serious band that's likely to play a variety of venues. (We play R&B and classic rock.)

Partly due to cost and laziness, but largely because I'm happy with my tone, I've avoided buying effects. I plug into my amp and go. Hell, I don't even have an inline tuner; I just use my clip-on. Is that unusual? Is there something wrong with me? Am I missing out?

As I said earlier, I'm happy with the tone I've been able to get with my fingers, strings, pickups and tone controls on bass and amp. I don't obsess about my tone beyond that, and I enjoy the simplicity of my setup. A big effects setup sure looks cool on stage, though.

[Matt Dean]

Maybe.

[chuck norriss]

No
Pure

[Plays_For_Dog]

Yes! At first, a bass player should focus on building chops. Once you got the down beat and the groove figured out, effects keep things interesting and dynamic.

[Fuzzbass]

Some people think effects suck, others think they rule. All that matters is what you think. And your bandmates!

Me, I'm lazy... all I do is dial in some light tube overdrive. But I envy those who use effects well. I heard one bassist absolutely nail Tony Levin's heavily effected tone on a cover of Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer".

[skulletwhip]

It all comes down to if it fits the music. My main band wouldn't sound right if we didn't blast off into space once in a while. I just started jamming with some other guys and It sounded weird trying to use effects.

[Evil Undead]

Meh... if you're happy with things as they are, don't change it

I only have a couple of pedals to mess about with but don't really use them live as I have no real need.

[shadow_FIX]

I've never been a big effects user, aside from compression and light overdrive. I can get a pretty good palate of sounds just by adjusting my playing style...closer to/away from the bridge, light/hard attack, etc.

[rpsands]

Your job is to make the song sound good. If it takes a pedal to get the right sound, use the pedal.

[Floridabwoy]

I find the better player and the better amps use, the less and less I am using effects.

My board does have

WM Clone (fuzz)
bass synth wah (I use the envelope)
French Toast (distortion)
Chicken Salad (Vibrato)
Deltalab Delay
VT Bass


tonite's gig I am not taking my board with me.

[ghiadub]

Effects are like some extra color, not essential but they can add some textures that are not otherwise available.

[JoZac21]

Just about every rehearsal/jam session/gig I have, I bring at least 2 effects pedals... AT LEAST 80% of the time they're turned off... for me, effects are for mixing things up, or when a tune calls for something other than a clean bass tone (which, IMO, is rare in the things I do). I just bought a MXR "El Grande Bass Fuzz" and had my Vox Wah modified to be a Bass Wah... let's see how often they actually get turned on lol.

[Meatrus]

Possibly, but you wont know until you have tried. I dont use many effects often, but its a choice after exploring all the different types. I have used many, but now rarely use them. Having said that I still wouldnt want to be with out on those rare occasions.

Bottom line being you dont know till you try, then you can make a decision on whether you need them often, rarely or not at all. The best bet to get into them cheaply may be to buy a multi effect pedal and play around with it, if you like it then invest in some more.

[m2k2p]

It all depends on the context you use them in.

[Gearhead17]

I use a blend pedal, distortion box, tuner, and a mute switch. Works fine for me. You really are not missing out on much. A good clean bass tone is where everything starts no matter what. Being in a cover band, the distortion box helps out a lot when I need that grindy/distorted pick tone to match the original version of the song.

If you have no use for it, don't worry about it!

[Ginsly]

Originally Posted by Floridabwoy

I find the better player and the better amps use, the less and less I am using effects.

My board does have

WM Clone (fuzz)
bass synth wah (I use the envelope)
French Toast (distortion)
Chicken Salad (Vibrato)
Deltalab Delay
VT Bass


tonite's gig I am not taking my board with me.

Wow, you use a French Toast on bass? How does it retain low end? Octave on or off?

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by sparktone

I'm a late-to-the game bassist (age 49) who is now in my second band and the first really serious band that's likely to play a variety of venues. (We play R&B and classic rock.)

Partly due to cost and laziness, but largely because I'm happy with my tone, I've avoided buying effects. I plug into my amp and go. Hell, I don't even have an inline tuner; I just use my clip-on. Is that unusual? Is there something wrong with me? Am I missing out?

As I said earlier, I'm happy with the tone I've been able to get with my fingers, strings, pickups and tone controls on bass and amp. I don't obsess about my tone beyond that, and I enjoy the simplicity of my setup. A big effects setup sure looks cool on stage, though.

If you like what you're doing, why change it?

[James Judson]

No. Effects like chords (on bass) tend to get covered up by guitards over playing their instruments. I would use effects if the guitards would shut up long enough (a rare thing). I prefer a nice clean tone eq'd to boom, thump and punch you in the chest. Couple that with a solid bass drum kick and you have a good band no matter what the guitards do.

YMMV

[lunarpollen]

R&B and classic rock? No, you are not missing anything. If you are happy with your tone, and that's the sort of stuff you are playing, then you are already complete without needing any effects.

[Blake Bass]

I've tried several effects over the past 25 years..but I always end up prefering a clean unaffected sound..I could probably put an octaver to good use on few tunes but that's about it..