Lost in a sea of effects...

EduardoJoel · #1 02-28-2011, 07:14 PM

In all my years playing I've never used effects. Now I have been reading about it for a week and I still can't figure out most of it. I think it's because it's very hard to describe sound. I think I got the gist of it but I just want to confirm a couple of things because I go spending money on pedals. Maybe i'll try to borrow an old effects pedal from a friend just to hear what every effect does.

1. I think I need compression. Looks like almost everyone uses it. I want a "fatter" sound (there I go using words to describe sound)

2. I want the distorted sound. Is Overdrive, fuzz and distortion all capable of achieving this in different manners? I think they might be redundant.

3. Chorus. Does it kind of repeat the sound a bit? Is it like delay, like extending the sound for a couple microsecond to make it "richer"?

My last question is if all effects are variations of just a couple of main effects.

cybersnyder · #2 02-28-2011, 07:44 PM

I'd suggest picking up a used multi effects unit so that you can sample a lot of different effects for a low price. Then you'll have a better idea of what you like.

insomniac2295 · #3 02-28-2011, 07:52 PM

chorus detunes your sound for variable amounts of time

RNV · #4 02-28-2011, 07:52 PM

There are a lot of great reviews on youtube. Just find a pedal that you want to hear and type it in on youtube. Be sure to type X brand X effect name and bass.

wshines1892 · #5 02-28-2011, 08:05 PM

Looks like you've got your head on straight for a decent board. There are a ton of effects out there and it can be pretty overwhelming. For the board you're describing, an overdrive would be most useful in my opinion. In my experience, fuzz tends to sound a bit synthy unless you have an overdrive to give it some grind.

The Tubescreamer circuit is one of my favorites for overdrive. It just gives it a really nice grind. You may hear some guys here talk about it sucking some low end, but a simple capacitor swap can bring it right back. Or you may not care about the little bit of low end you lose with it engaged and leave it stock.

Really, in the end, the only thing we can offer you is our opinions. Your best shot at being 100% happy is sitting down in the music store and trying out the pedals before you buy them. Especially when it comes to things like distortion where it's all sort of the same principle, but there's 1000 different flavors.

The chorus effect makes it sound like you have a bunch of guitars sounding at once, sort of. It's made to make it sound like you have a chorus of guitars, meaning it throws in little things like delaying the signal and detuning it a bit to give that impression. Sounds nice on bass, but you have to try them out to get what you want.

In SOME cases, the pedals are similar; but I stress some. Overdrive and distortion pedals can be very similar, but changing one thing can change the entire sound and that's why they make different versions. They may be based off of the same circuit, but you can see for yourself how many different versions of the Muff that there are. The same applies to all pedals. There's usually only a couple of ways that you can make a sound wave do something, but how it does it can change the way it sound.

I hope this helped?

as for compressors, this website should help you in that quest.
http://www.ovnilab.com/
a ton of reviews and more information on compressors than you'll ever need to know.

Bassmike62 · #6 02-28-2011, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

I'd suggest picking up a used multi effects unit so that you can sample a lot of different effects for a low price. Then you'll have a better idea of what you like.

+1

EduardoJoel · #7 02-28-2011, 08:33 PM

Thanks for the advice guys. I will definetely grab a multi effects for now and after I define what I am going after i will try different pedals.

arsie · #8 02-28-2011, 08:38 PM

As a person who doesn't usually use pedals, I would recommend that the first pedal you should look for is an amp simulator or pre-amp of your taste. You'll probably end up using that 100x more than any other effects pedals unless you are changing genres of music.

cheapbasslovin · #9 02-28-2011, 10:51 PM

I don't like compression while I'm playing. Maybe I should. I always prefer the sound when I apply it post recording, but I don't like the feel it gives while I'm playing (I've played a few that I like, but not enough to buy and incorporate into my gear).

I'm not a big dirt fanatic, but there is a huge amount of nuance to choosing your distortion. They may be redundant, maybe not. Some have 3 or 4 fuzzes on their board, and don't feel like they're being redundant. You will need to experiment. You may repeatedly go broke if you get the bug.

Vibrato (in an effect) is a short delay that oscillates how long the delay time is. When you change the delay time while the delayed signal is active, the delayed signal gets detuned. The warble of the vibrato is caused by this detuning action. It becomes a chorus effect when you blend it with the clean. More voices getting delayed, fuller chorus sound.

Bassbat · #10 02-28-2011, 11:02 PM

I just picked up the Ibanez PD7 Phat Head Distortion pedal and I absolutely love it. apparently it sends a clean signal to the amp so you don't lose anyone the things you love about your tone, also it has a clean, OD, and distortion channel, so you can try on different types.

warwick.hoy · #11 03-01-2011, 12:07 AM

Every type of Fuzz and OD circuit has a unique character.

JimmyM · #12 03-01-2011, 12:22 AM

here's the best advice for getting into pedals you will ever get...

1. after you buy a multi and you decide what sounds you want, buy only one pedal at a time, and only buy a new one once you've got the first one fully figured out.

2. buy pedals you think you can use on a regular basis. if you don't think you can use it on a regular basis, then just use the multi instead. for example, once in a great while i need fuzz or chorus. i'd love to get a nice $200 fuzz pedal but i have better things to spend $200 on, and i hate chorus, but i need both once every year or two, so i'll just use the zoom b2 i have. works fine, saves me money, satisfies the needs of the gig.

3. never buy an effect because you "think" you need it based on what other people use. like some people think you need a compressor, but the truth is you really don't. i know plenty of bassists who never used a compressor on a gig. if you think you can find a use for a compressor, then by all means get one, but make sure it's something you want and not because you're succumbing to peer pressure (also, don't judge compression by multis...all compressors on multis pretty much suck and are nothing like really good ones).

4. never ever use your amp's effects loop. they all suck the life out of your pedals. just plug them in-line the way god intended.

EduardoJoel · #13 03-01-2011, 12:07 PM

This is all good advice guys. I never bothered with effects and I haven't played in a band in 10 years. A friend and I have started working on music and plan on recording and I want to explore those options.

Marko5657 · #14 03-01-2011, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EduardoJoel

This is all good advice guys. I never bothered with effects and I haven't played in a band in 10 years. A friend and I have started working on music and plan on recording and I want to explore those options.

It’s typically preferable to record clean, so you can work with the sound when mastering it. Recording it with effects severely limits what one can do with it later.

If you’re doing digital, or otherwise with no real mastering capability, that might be another story.

Marko5657 · #15 03-01-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

...

4. never ever use your amp's effects loop. they all suck the life out of your pedals. just plug them in-line the way god intended.

That's interesting to note. I have the music room guitar pedal board set up that way and the amps set for clean, but never really got into effects for bass.

So if I decided to add a compressor pedal (I have one, just haven't been using it), it's be best to put it in front instead of the effects loop?

gastric · #16 03-02-2011, 01:59 PM

You should find some recorded bass sounds you like. Then try to figure out what effects, if any, they use to get their sound. Then you'll know what you want/need.

For example, compressor doesn't equal instant fatness. You could simply have a thin sounding instrument. Or thin sounding amp. Or you want the thick, deep sound of finger playing but are using a pick instead.

Now, if you're trying to play The Cure, depending on the song, and are finding your bass melody isn't sounding quite right, then yes, you need a nice chorus.

If your trying to play some Truckfighter but your bass is too clean then YES you need some serious overdrive or a tube amp with good overdrive and roll your tone off.

Crystalman85 · #17 03-02-2011, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EduardoJoel

In all my years playing I've never used effects. Now I have been reading about it for a week and I still can't figure out most of it. I think it's because it's very hard to describe sound. I think I got the gist of it but I just want to confirm a couple of things because I go spending money on pedals. Maybe i'll try to borrow an old effects pedal from a friend just to hear what every effect does.

1. I think I need compression. Looks like almost everyone uses it. I want a "fatter" sound (there I go using words to describe sound)

2. I want the distorted sound. Is Overdrive, fuzz and distortion all capable of achieving this in different manners? I think they might be redundant.

3. Chorus. Does it kind of repeat the sound a bit? Is it like delay, like extending the sound for a couple microsecond to make it "richer"?

My last question is if all effects are variations of just a couple of main effects.

a multi-effects processor is usually an easy way to discover your sound. If you want some recommendation of a decent multi-effects processor and want some sound samples just to give an Idea on how they sound, I have sound samples of many different multi-effects processors on my soundclick website. here's the link.

www.soundclick.com/crystalman85

Feel free to check it out. hope this helps you out.

**bassybill** · #18 03-02-2011, 06:58 PM

I have some really nice effects pedals that I love to play with. But I cannot remember the last time I felt the need to take them out of my house to use on a gig. Go figure, YMMV.

Pbruno · #19 03-03-2011, 08:15 AM

Jimmy U say do not use the effects loop, Is that the Power amp in and pre Amp out sockets?
And does one end connect to the Power Amp in and the other end to the Pre Amp out. Or are they two seperate loops?

caeman · #20 03-03-2011, 08:47 AM

Just take it slow, one effect at a time. Try not to pile on the FX too quickly. For example, start with the sound-fattening. This can be achieved by using a quality pre-amp/EQ unit. With my guitar, I use something called a Nocturne Dyno Brain. It has a marked improvement in the tone of my Gretsch, and even my fretless bass.