Name the best/favorite tone shaping pedals!

Poor Tom · #1 11-03-2009, 11:37 AM

Recently I have been wanting to look into some tone shaping, trying to find "my sound" and all that jazz.(or was it rock?)

We all know about the sansamp and VT bass. What else is there that is worth looking into? I have been wanting to get my hands on the Electronix Submarine, can't wait for Os to come back.

Since I have never used one, based on sound clips I've heard, my vote is(please tell us yours!):

Electronix Submarine

JFace · #2 11-03-2009, 11:39 AM

A good EQ is always nice to have. I think investing your time on developing your hand technique to produce the tones you want will be more worthwhile to your music and your wallet.

bigchiefbc · #3 11-03-2009, 11:40 AM

ElectroniX Submarine

bobbass4k · #4 11-03-2009, 11:55 AM

As odd as it sounds, I use my dd-20 for tone shaping quite a lot of the time, probably not what you're looking for, as it obviously doesn't do dirty, but some creative setting tweaks can get some very interesting clean tones out of it

TheWoodShed · #5 11-03-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poor Tom

Recently I have been wanting to look into some tone shaping, trying to find "my sound" and all that jazz.(or was it rock?)

First, please don't take offense in what I am about to say. I am trying to give and honest perspective and am sincere in wanting to assist you.

If you are looking for "your sound" in a pedal, then you are looking in the wrong place. It is my opinion that pedals are there to enhance the fundamental sound you already have. Perhaps you should look into your bass or rig to find what you are looking for?

There are times when EQ's and Pre amps are great, specially if you have a weak link in an amp. They are handy for re-sculpting your basic sound in an effects chain (for example, to achieve a "dub" tone that you normally don't use all the time).

Din Of Win · #6 11-03-2009, 12:37 PM

Right now i'm pleasantly surprised with the minor tone shaping of my Digitech Bad Monkey... however, i'd love me a SansAmp VT Bass or BDDI... I've been looking for the Behringer version for a bit. It has great reviews and is like $40 new... i just can't find any around here

T. Alan Smith · #7 11-03-2009, 12:38 PM

If your using a Moog Freqbox, it is your sound. Whew!

Matt Dean · #8 11-03-2009, 12:39 PM

Catalinbread SFT.

nad · #9 11-03-2009, 12:49 PM

Hand placement, string choice, and two volume knobs on a jazz bass really.

I'm in the Effects Are For Raping, Not For Shaping camp.

Poor Tom · #10 11-03-2009, 01:33 PM

I don't see how effects pedals don't make up part of your sound. What makes you draw the line there? So bass, rig, strings; those you get to switch out and try different things and it gets credit for being part of "your" sound? But not effects pedals?

I call BS!

nad · #11 11-03-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poor Tom

What makes you draw the line there? So bass, rig, strings; those you get to switch out and try different things and it gets credit for being part of "your" sound? But not effects pedals?

I tried to come up with a clever response for at least 30 seconds and failed, so perhaps you're right. So in that case, my favourite tone shaper is a B:Assmaster.

TheWoodShed · #12 11-03-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poor Tom

I don't see how effects pedals don't make up part of your sound. What makes you draw the line there? So bass, rig, strings; those you get to switch out and try different things and it gets credit for being part of "your" sound? But not effects pedals?

I call BS!

Call it all you like, but that is the facts.

More bassists go with no pedals than with, histrionically speaking. The great players that use pedals don't need them to define their sound either.

Before you can use effects to build texture in a song, you need a foundation to build them on. Bass and rig, and as nad mentioned things like string and technique.

Discover your "sound" isn't in or defined any particular pedal only enhanced by it.

As far as "drawing the line", there isn't any to draw.

SteveC · #13 11-03-2009, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWoodShed

First, please don't take offense in what I am about to say. I am trying to give and honest perspective and am sincere in wanting to assist you.

If you are looking for "your sound" in a pedal, then you are looking in the wrong place. It is my opinion that pedals are there to enhance the fundamental sound you already have. Perhaps you should look into your bass or rig to find what you are looking for?

There are times when EQ's and Pre amps are great, specially if you have a weak link in an amp. They are handy for re-sculpting your basic sound in an effects chain (for example, to achieve a "dub" tone that you normally don't use all the time).

I do agree with this to a point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poor Tom

I don't see how effects pedals don't make up part of your sound. What makes you draw the line there? So bass, rig, strings; those you get to switch out and try different things and it gets credit for being part of "your" sound? But not effects pedals?

I call BS!

This is true as well. While they aren't part of MY sound, they may be part of someone's sound. There are plenty of people who won't play without their BDDI, REDDI, etc. I am happy plugging into any FOH system. I get "my sound" from my bass and my style. I do love my amp, but it isn't vital to my sound.

Jared Lash · #14 11-03-2009, 01:49 PM

I get where nad is coming from and TheWoodShed's earlier post is in line with my thinking too. Now, if I were in a cover band that had a wide ranging number of tones that I wanted to cop as closely as possible, I'd likely have a VT Bass as a tone shaper.

You're right that everything is part of your tone, including things like a preamp, EQ settings, or compression and so a pedal could just as easily be included. But as big of a pedal junkie as I am, I've never liked the idea of using them to get "my sound". To me, it's all about having a fingers-bass-amp setup that I love and then using effects to open up my musical palette rather than help provide the foundation. Again, just my point of view.

NortyFiner · #15 11-03-2009, 01:50 PM

The only "tone shaping" that I really do with a pedal is that I like what a little compression (I currently use a Demeter Compulator) adds to my clean playing. Otherwise, "my tone" is just from my bass and amp.

Other pedals, like fuzz, I use to achieve a specific sound to suit my current mood or a certain song. I don't really think of them as "my tone".

RickenBoogie · #16 11-03-2009, 02:12 PM

The Barber Linden is a great, and easy to use eq pedal, and the Trex Squeezer is a great, but more difficult to dial in compressor. These 2 pedals shape my tone between me and my bass, and my amp and speakers.

tigerbass · #17 11-03-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nad

I'm in the Effects Are For Raping, Not For Shaping camp.

Haha! Amen brother!
I think I need to sig that!

nad · #18 11-03-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerbass

Haha! Amen brother!
I think I need to sig that!

To be fair, someone else said something similar to that first, I don't remember who though. Although odds are they got it from someone else to begin with, who in turn found it amongst the sayings of yet another, and finally it likely traces back to where everything else that matters in music originates from: Black Sabbath.

ksandvik · #19 11-03-2009, 02:48 PM

Volume and tone knobs including your fingers.

BuffaloBill · #20 11-03-2009, 03:00 PM

I think strong effects make you sound affected or fake. However a tiny bit can work like a little salt and spice for your cookin'.
Your speaker size will have the most sound shaping effect, so much so it can make or break your sound suitability for the kind of music you want to play.
Bill