I'm what you call a mimimalist

[gnarlyopossum]

Okay, I know this is an effects section, but I'm not a huge effects fan. I own some, but I'm not the biggest fan. I'm just making sure I'm not crazy. Are there other's out there, like myself, that try to do everything they can not to use pedals to get effects?

[BassMan250]

I sold all of my effects a few months back, and although in the semi-near future I'm planning on getting a few (chorus, compressor, wah), I've been focusing on right-and-left-hand expression to get a varied sonic palette. Mostly I've been experimenting with harmonics, vibrato, and chordal work, since I'm still probably at intermediate level and haven't mastered chords yet.

[jesus_tequila]

If you don't feel the need to incorporate effects in your sound, and so in your rig, why bother asking if you're normal or not ?

Just a matter of personal opinion

[bongomania]

And why bother going into the fx forum to ask that? It's like going to a car show and asking them "am I the only one that tries to do everything they can to avoid using a car?

[JanusZarate]

Nothing wrong with not using effects pedals. In fact... there are several effects you can achieve without them, as long as you're willing to creatively use your fingers:

• octave harmonies (very difficult to do for most notes without two-handed tapping techniques, though)
• tremolo (if you have a two-pickup bass and a simple pickup selector switch, it's possible to wire it for tremolo-like uses, a la Tom Morello in Rage Against the Machine)
• dramatic pitch shifting (via a bass whammy bar on a capable bridge - a rare feature on basses, though)
• volume swells (via turning the volume knob)
• wah (via turning the tone knob)
• vibrato and mild pitch shifting (via bending the strings)
• overdrive and distortion (easiest way is to crank your amp's settings as needed)

And I'm sure I'm missing other possibilities.

Effects make many of these techniques easier by using your feet instead of your hands. And pedals can go beyond these techniques, too... but realistically speaking, the majority of bassists play without pedal-generated effects the majority of the time.

You're not crazy - that'd be us effects junkies. But "crazy" is often synonymous with "creative" and "revolutionary".

[Sipuri]

I think it's not wrong to go to the effects board and discuss about using or not using effects i. e. the purpose and experiences one has made using / not using effects.

I regularly check the effects board (also in the german bass communities) although having sold all my effects during the last months or so. Sound comes out of your fingers my bass teacher always told me, he probably was right.

I just bought a used TC triple C Stereo Comp and that's it. But still I am always interested to hear about the experiences of others...

Regards
Steve
Bavaria/Germany

[Crabby]

I have been seriously thinking of selling off my big board and maybe just keeping a few "essentials". Of course this is really cause I just want to buy another bass and need money!

[fenderhutz]

The only effect I kept and use regularly is my Boss ODB-3

[southshoreconor]

the only pedal i ever had was my sansamp DI which i used as a pre into my GK head to get a "tube sound" out of it. then i decided to man up and get a real tube amp. bass>amp>cab. k.i.s.s.

[Hawaii Islander]

I have to admit, I'm a full on effects junkie!

I play mostly through my computer and studio montors using Line6 Gear Box Gold edition with all the add-on modules.

A little chorus, delay and a touch of reverb through the right amp module can give a real sweet sound.

I do bends and vibratos, hammer-ons and pull-offs, and slides (and some other techniques) as well. Experimenting is half the fun for me.

[WashburnBasser]

I'm a little bit in the middle. I'm not a fan of huge sound changing effects, like envelope filters and synths. I enjoy chorus, and the occasional fuzz though. I find effects help me to progress and think of new musical ideas.

[Bhuti]

I'd consider myself a minimalist too. but my board would say otherwise:

Advanced EQ
Octave
Distortion
Low Pass Filter
Digitech Whammy (Maybe...)
Delay
Sampler
Volume Pedal

All of them have a very basic need though. Maybe i'm in denial...

[guy n. cognito]

A minimalist is someone who plug his bass straight into his head.

[Basshappi]

Mystic Boo made very good points.

I am a pedal junkie I have many and am aquiring more.

However, the band I was in for the last 3 years was a classic rock cover band and there was no practical need for them, I could get the few needed changes to my tone without them. For that matter, I never had much call for my 5 string either.

Now I am in an original music project and I will finally be incorporating my effects (and 5ver) into my rig full time. Yet dispite that, the most important duty is to serve the needs of the song. If that means balls-to-the-wall effected mayhem...cool, if it means straight and clean then that's cool too!

In the end you have to play in the way in which you are best able to express your own voice through the instrument.


Cheers!

[syciprider]

Originally Posted by gnarlyopossum

Okay, I know this is an effects section, but I'm not a huge effects fan. I own some, but I'm not the biggest fan. I'm just making sure I'm not crazy. Are there other's out there, like myself, that try to do everything they can not to use pedals to get effects?

I'm a minimalist compared to these pedal whores.

But seriously there are many who feel like you do, but they probably don't hang out in this here FX room.

[Bhuti]

Minimalist is a relative term. To me my rig is minimal compared to what i could use. It is bare bones meaning that i couldn't do a gig of one thing were missing. I do hip-hop/dnb so my rig is very minimal.

[the_fonz]

i guess i'm a maximalist. haw

i seriously could not play without my Zoom B2
i keep it on 100% of the time. integral part of my tone

[projectMalamute]

My current set of effects include:

a couple keys
8 and 16 penny nails
some string
a few largish alligator clips
a paintbrush

so I guess I do not use pedals to get effects.

[The Lurker]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

Nothing wrong with not using effects pedals. In fact... there are several effects you can achieve without them, as long as you're willing to creatively use your fingers:

• octave harmonies (very difficult to do for most notes without two-handed tapping techniques, though)
• tremolo (if you have a two-pickup bass and a simple pickup selector switch, it's possible to wire it for tremolo-like uses, a la Tom Morello in Rage Against the Machine)
• dramatic pitch shifting (via a bass whammy bar on a capable bridge - a rare feature on basses, though)
• volume swells (via turning the volume knob)
• wah (via turning the tone knob)
• vibrato and mild pitch shifting (via bending the strings)
• overdrive and distortion (easiest way is to crank your amp's settings as needed)

And I'm sure I'm missing other possibilities.

Effects make many of these techniques easier by using your feet instead of your hands. And pedals can go beyond these techniques, too... but realistically speaking, the majority of bassists play without pedal-generated effects the majority of the time.

You're not crazy - that'd be us effects junkies. But "crazy" is often synonymous with "creative" and "revolutionary".

In addition to the above, there's playing with a slide, muting the bridge (with palm of hand or foam or a diaper or something), and bending strings.

[Mayers]

I think I'm a minimalist too.

I only use : chorus , distortion( a la Les Claypool ) and reverb

I also use a loop station every time ... very cool pedal , so I play every role ( bass , guitar and do solo )