If you were in an all 70's cover band, what effects would you choose?

[Irishbass]

We have just started gigging a 70's cover band. Songs from Chic, ABBA, Bee Gee's and all that disco / funk era... I'm trying to decide what effects would work best on the bass to funkify the tunes a bit more, envelope filter maybe?

[Deluge Of Sound]

envelope filter definitely.

[OptimusPrime]

Wah.

[JimmyM]

Envelope, chorus/flanger, distortion.

[Ric5]

playing disco ... that would be painful ... I don't think I could do it ...

[tomvelsor]

synth
envelope filter
suboctave
maybe a fuzz

[zac2944]

I am and I don't use any. Not that you couldn't though. I just try to replicate the tune's original funkiness.

Envelope, and some type of chorus/flange/phase would be my choice.

[RickenBoogie]

Definately a filter, or two, and some overdrive. After that, modulation of some flavor, prolly phaser.

[cheezewiz]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Envelope, chorus/flanger, distortion.

What Jimmy said.


I play in a 60's/70's band. I have a compressor, an envelope filter, a chorus, a distortion pedal, and a Sansamp VT bass.

[bassbmx]

A ring mod

70s disco/funk definitely calls for an envelope filter!

[JoshC]

Synth, Fuzz, Filter. Those are the effects that strike me as essential.

[JimmyM]

There really wasn't a lot of synth bass in the 70's. Maybe Gary Wright on "Love Is Alive," or some of the progressive art bands like Kraftwerk. Disco/funk is almost all electric bass. And really, if you didn't have any effects at all, nobody would care. They'd probably actually like it better

[ibnzneksrul]

Originally Posted by Ric5

playing disco ... that would be painful ... I don't think I could do it ...

+100, doubly painful -- you'd have to hear it and play it.

[JimmyM]

Bass players complaining about playing disco? What's wrong with you?!? Disco had some of the coolest bass lines ever!

[prsbass]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Bass players complaining about playing disco? What's wrong with you?!? Disco had some of the coolest bass lines ever!

I agree, disco isn't my favorite music but the basslines from that era helped put bassplayers out front and herd.

[ga_edwards]

+1 I've recently joined a disco band too. And I'm a passionate rocker.

You've got to open your eyes up to different styles if you want to progress and a player and a person.

But on the OP question. I'm using a compressor (always on), sometimes, chorus, occasional octaver, wah and synth. An eq pedal is also useful for switching tone on the fly as some disco line are more middly than others. None of the stuff we're playing needs a filter, i think that that's more funk than pure disco. But if I need one I can always break out the bass balls.

BTW, my new attitude nails the Bernard Butler tone on Everybody Dance. It get that meaty classic P bass tone with massive extra, floor filling low end. Who says it's just a rock bass

[Vetchking]

Buy an acoustic 360/361. That's the Holy Grail, of bass amps.

Only made a few years.

But, Jaco didn't have the wrong Amp. It also works real good for Zepplen. Ask J.P.J. It worked for Mahavishnu also. Later

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Bass players complaining about playing disco? What's wrong with you?!? Disco had some of the coolest bass lines ever!

+1

envelope filter, phaser, octaver, synth, fuzz, and overdrive.

[SpankyPants]

Just a big explosion to set everyone else in the band on fire - like The Who.

[derelicte]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Bass players complaining about playing disco? What's wrong with you?!? Disco had some of the coolest bass lines ever!

+1 to that!!

discos got some sick grooves man

I'd go for a Moogerfooger board. Get all of em! Every last one of em!!!!