Pedal effects 101? Help a neanderthal

bherman · #1 11-19-2010, 10:16 AM

OK, could use some help or a pointer to a thread (tried searching on TB forum but didn't find anything). I've been playing bass for all my life (I'm 55 now) EXCEPT for a 20-year gap that ended 6 months ago. During that 20 years the bass effects world has changed dramatically and I am looking for some basic info to catch up and understand some of what is out there on the market. The FAQ section has a link to a basic effects topic on Harmony Central, but its no longer there. Anyone have a good reference link that I can look at?

Thanks for the help from a returning and mildly confused TBer

bassman1185 · #2 11-19-2010, 10:19 AM

Just hang around in this forum. You'll learn more than you thought possible.

Was there a specific area that you were looking to learn more about, or a specific model you were interested in?

eyeballkid · #3 11-19-2010, 10:21 AM

check the reviews section here or ask for pointers on specific types of pedals here. Also "how do i get this sound" questions with a link to the sound you want is useful.

You could also check out the 'effects' forum and do a search for threads on particular pedals (either make, or just type of pedal)

OR.. go to youtube and type in things like "bass fuzz", " bass overdrive", "bass chorus", "bass filter", "bass effects pedal" and waste as much time as you want.. LOTS OF GOOD DEMOS!!

once you find things you might like start a thread here asking for folks experience with em pro and con.

Winnb · #4 11-19-2010, 10:28 AM

+1 for using you tube. That has helped me tremendously. I'm in the same boat as you bherman. I played in bands for over 2 decades. Got burned out 10 years ago on the travel, the BS, the pay, and the business in general. I kept my chops up playing my own stuff (and some oldies) at home, but no bands.

Now, like an idiot, I'm back in the business. And the effects just in the last 10 years have blown me away.

bherman · #5 11-19-2010, 10:30 AM

Thanks gus, no specific questions at this point, just trying to get up to speed so I can ask more informed questions (and understand some of the threads - many are way over my head, but thats ok!)

I'll keep watching and take your advice on youtube time....part of the problem is that there is no good local store that carries a decent range of bass pedals to try (only GC)

Ben

bherman · #6 11-19-2010, 10:32 AM

Winnb - that's for sure on the changes in 10 years! Basses and amps still pretty much the same (much better variety and quality, although the whole onboard preamp thing is new), but effects are on a different, parallel universe.

johnboy65 · #7 11-19-2010, 10:33 AM

A couple of months ago Brian Beller did an article on this in Bass Player.
http://bassplayer.com/Lessons
his video came up first on the left hand side.

Winnb · #8 11-19-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bherman

Winnb - that's for sure on the changes in 10 years! Basses and amps still pretty much the same (much better variety and quality, although the whole onboard preamp thing is new), but effects are on a different, parallel universe.

I know! Tell me about it. I'm amazed at the stuff that's out now.

Anyway I can tell you what I've done in the last few months as far as effects, but your style and what you're looking for may be completely different. But what the hell, it's supposed to be fun!

I've kept it simple. Picked up a Boss compressor (a must have for me), Boss reverb, an EQ pedal, a chorus, and one of those **inline** tuners. That tuner rocks. Just click it, kills your signal to the amp, tune up, click it, and your signal comes back.

And yes I know there are people laughing at that! But hey man that inline tuner is sweet.

bassman1185 · #9 11-19-2010, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bherman

Thanks gus, no specific questions at this point, just trying to get up to speed so I can ask more informed questions (and understand some of the threads - many are way over my head, but thats ok!)

I'll keep watching and take your advice on youtube time....part of the problem is that there is no good local store that carries a decent range of bass pedals to try (only GC)

Ben

Don't let yourself get stuck on bass-specific pedals. I only have one bass-specific pedal on my board (Tech21 Bass VT); all the rest (Line6 M13, Pigtronix Disnortion, Danelectro Cool Cat Fuzz, Boss LS-2) are all guitar-oriented. Many "guitar" effects work just fine for bass. The distortions are the ones that you mostly have to look out for.

bherman · #10 11-19-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winnb

I know! Tell me about it. I'm amazed at the stuff that's out now.

Anyway I can tell you what I've done in the last few months as far as effects, but your style and what you're looking for may be completely different. But what the hell, it's supposed to be fun!

I've kept it simple. Picked up a Boss compressor (a must have for me), Boss reverb, an EQ pedal, a chorus, and one of those **inline** tuners. That tuner rocks. Just click it, kills your signal to the amp, tune up, click it, and your signal comes back.

And yes I know there are people laughing at that! But hey man that inline tuner is sweet.

Funny, got the same tuner - for us neanderthals its a revelation. I'll start poking around. How are you using the compressor - all the time, or just with other pedals?

Winnb · #11 11-19-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bherman

Funny, got the same tuner - for us neanderthals its a revelation. I'll start poking around. How are you using the compressor - all the time, or just with other pedals?

I use the compressor all of the time. I play fingerstyle only, lots of jazz and blues stuff. That compressor smooths me right out.

EDIT: And yes, LOL! at the tuner. It makes it so simple to tune on stage. It's ****ing ridiculous! Why didn't someone think of that 20 years ago?

bassbrad · #12 11-19-2010, 10:57 AM

Electronic tuners are so essential and i do recall being the 1st person in town with a quartz tuner, a Justina. Before that I was often the only person in the band that could really tune guitars and basses, so it was me with a tuning fork getting all the guitars in tune, what a chore in a band where there were 3 guitar/bass players with a total of 12 guitars 2 of those being 12 stringers and 3 basses before every show and every set break.

Pedal compressors have come a long way, I use a BBE OptoStomp that is on all the time just the right amount of "over easy" to keep it phat and in control.

bherman · #13 11-19-2010, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbrad

Electronic tuners are so essential and i do recall being the 1st person in town with a quartz tuner, a Justina. Before that I was often the only person in the band that could really tune guitars and basses, so it was me with a tuning fork getting all the guitars in tune, what a chore in a band where there were 3 guitar/bass players with a total of 12 guitars 2 of those being 12 stringers and 3 basses before every show and every set break.

Pedal compressors have come a long way, I use a BBE OptoStomp that is on all the time just the right amount of "over easy" to keep it phat and in control.

This is what I love about this Forum, I've learned more in the last 10 minutes than the last six months! BTW, the Bass Player Brian Beller video was very helpful. Thanks guys, back to work to earn more money to spend on....Pedals!