which pedal to enhance the sound?

Tajue17 · #1 08-28-2009, 11:48 AM

hello all,,, I have a old GK 400RB head, pretty basic sounding I guess but I want to try to find a used pedal something that does the job and is fairly cheap.

I want to basically Enhance the sound of the bass or add Presence or texture to the sound,,, hope that describes it good but I don't want to change the sound completely just give it some warmth????
is there a pedal out there thats pretty basic and not one of them multi-effect pedals that I can just keep in the back of the rack case that would work.

b_carville · #2 08-28-2009, 11:50 AM

I'm sure a lot of player's will disagree,but I like the Aphex Bass Xciter a lot.The jacks are a bit cheezy but I sure like what it does to my rigs.

Adds a sweet high end & boosts the lows without making the speakers flap. They aren't dirt cheap but they aren't too bad price wise.Try & demo one first.Could be what you're looking for.

bassteban · #3 08-28-2009, 11:52 AM

*Enhance* is very vague & IMO subjective. That said, I like the Bad Monkey for my definition of *enhanced* tone.

jlane72t · #4 08-28-2009, 11:56 AM

Behringer BDI21

wetzelman1 · #5 08-28-2009, 11:58 AM

you can buy/trade my aphex bass xciter cheap. Thing sounds great, just doesn't work in my application. People often use the word fatter but I would say this makes your tone bigger.

afroman · #6 08-28-2009, 12:02 PM

I think you should check out some Booster pedals.
Since I bought my Xotic Bass RC Booster it is always on in my chain.
There are a lot more cheaper booster but I think a good one do enhance your sound, specially if you play passive basses.

Check out Xotic or the super small Catalinbread Picosso.

Funkinthetrunk · #7 08-28-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b_carville

I'm sure a lot of player's will disagree,but I like the Aphex Bass Xciter a lot.The jacks are a bit cheezy but I sure like what it does to my rigs.

Adds a sweet high end & boosts the lows without making the speakers flap. They aren't dirt cheap but they aren't too bad price wise.Try & demo one first.Could be what you're looking for.

+1
The difference this pedal can make is enormous. I never realized how flat and lifeless my amps sounded until I bought this thing.

At first, I didn't think much of it....until I switched this unit off. All the "tone" left.

KJAXE · #8 08-28-2009, 01:22 PM

I like a chorus. It makes the tone rich and smooths out the hi's. But use it to enhance the sound not as an effect.

groooooove · #9 08-28-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

*Enhance* is very vague & IMO subjective. That said, I like the Bad Monkey for my definition of *enhanced* tone.

yup. or a sansamp. or a deep impact..

im assuming you want a premp pedal or some kind of eq/tonebox. if i was in the market for one, i'd look for an electroniX submarine.

also dont completely rule out the idea of upgrading your amp/cab- although the silver faced GK 400 is a great amp.. what cab are you using?

ttomom · #10 08-28-2009, 01:33 PM

I have that exact amp and I have always loved the portability and reliability but always felt that the sound was bland... that was before I bought a Sansamp Bassdriver; that amp is a monster now. Check out that pedal.

I just use the GK as a power amp and use the Sansamp as the preamp(plug the pedal into the effects return instead of the input). I love the GK now, it is a great backup for my SVT or for when I dont want to haul an 80 pound amp head.

stflbn · #11 08-28-2009, 01:40 PM

Might have missed it, but I don't thing original poster has said what kind/size of cabinet he's using. That could also greatly effect his 'lack of character'.

FeuerFrei · #12 08-28-2009, 01:44 PM

I +1 the sansamp, it's a very rounded and versatile pedal that also give you a DI.

bassbombs84 · #13 08-28-2009, 01:44 PM

bass big muff

**jbybj** · #14 08-28-2009, 03:52 PM

My EBS multicomp does just what I think you are describing. I always have it on.

a_magg · #15 08-28-2009, 04:00 PM

I have a Demeter compressor on at all times, and [hopefully soon] I'll be adding an Electronix Submarine to my board. From the reviews I've read, it's a great little pedal for defining ones tone.

RickenBoogie · #16 08-28-2009, 04:36 PM

A compressor's a great idea. Or, something like a preamp/eq/DI. Actually, MXR M80 (not the distortion side of it) does a great job of "enhancing" the tone of a bland amp.

mav · #17 08-29-2009, 05:27 AM

Try pressing in the mid contour button on your 400rb, turn up the Low-Mid and Bass dials and turn down the Boost. You should be able to get a good sound out of that amp.

Tajue17 · #18 08-29-2009, 07:48 AM

thank you for the posts,,, someone asked but the cabinet I use with this is a Bagend B15-D the same cab I use with my ampeg head (see profile) but what I'm finiding is my gear is pretty good but nowadays I'm just jamming with people or trying out and I don't want to lug a 90# head and 110# cab to jams/auditions. especially if I have to go there right from work and the stuff has to sit in my truck all day.

I'll check daddys and see if I can find a few of those pedals you guys mentioned ---> someone said get the Sadowsky out board Preamp,, its not cheap but something I'd use with every bass and any cab I have plus its small --> any opinions on those?

thansk again for the posts.

qball26 · #19 08-29-2009, 07:55 AM

+10⁵ For the MXR M80
+10⁹ For Tech 21 Sansamp VT Bass

Past 11 · #20 08-29-2009, 08:06 AM

Another vote for the EBS Multi. I really like the tube simulation...leave it on all the time. Gives just a bit of sparkle to the sound while tightening things up. Kinda hard to describe because it is subtle.