Searching for new bass sounds in synthpop/pop punk genre...

valentine1 · #1 11-03-2011, 07:02 AM

Hi guys, I'm sorry if this is the wrong place to post a question such as this, but I know you guys will have some good ideas that'll help me out. I'll give you all a little background info to help outline what I'm after.

I play in a synthpop/rock band, and the only effects I use are a compressor (soon to be empress compressor, i toyed around with my friends one for hours the other day and it was phenomenal) as well as an mxr m80 di pedal. if you care to hear what sound i have, you're welcome to listen here.

In any case, I've gotten to the point where I want something a bit different, but I don't know what it is yet. I've mucked about with a bit of a chorus effect, but the crappy boss pedal i used (oh, it's my guitarists old pedal he was going to throw out) and it was fun, but it sucked too much low end for it to really sit well in any mix. I don't want to be the next bass superstar or anything, but I'd like to have a bit of a distinctive sound yet my style of genre is quite limiting in what is acceptable. There just doesn't seem to be a huge variety of bass sounds modified through effects - I am not talking about the notes/techniques in which these bass players make their grooves, they're of course reasonably distinctive. The bands I talk about are like - blink-182, motion city soundtrack... etc.

For this type of music, what sort of effects would be decent to use occasionally / all the time? I don't think I have much of a chance getting any delay in to the tracks, nor real heavy fuzz, although a light blend might work. I am primarily trying to sit in the low-mid range so an octave pedal really wouldn't do much I think... What does that leave? Phasers? Flange?

Anyway, I'm open to all ideas and yes, I understand what I'm asking is pretty silly. Just thought if anyone could think of any effects that could help improve my synthpop tone, it'd be you guys.

Oh, and before someone says 'try them all!' it's much harder to do bass pedal swapsies here in Australia like you lucky US guys can do, and yeah I'll go into a shop and have a play around but I don't know where to even start!!

Thanks,

valentine

JPSBassist · #2 11-07-2011, 12:57 PM

These videos are of Miles Mosley. He does things with an upright bass, a bow and a set of Dunlop/MXR pedals that will blow your mind.

It's worth looking into but I'd say that if you like the different synth/tones that Miles gets out of his Blast Cult bass, then search for his MXR demos online. He's very good about explaining what works and why.

I hadn't considered MXR before filming this demo at Bass Player Live! two weeks ago and now I'm saving to buy several.

Bass Player Live Performances:

upright):
Flight of the Bumble Bee
BPL Jam

Dilly · #3 12-13-2011, 01:09 AM

try out an mxr micro flange. ive used mine quite a bit in my band. especially during those those mark hoppusy bridges

sonic assassin · #4 12-13-2011, 03:56 AM

both blink and MCS are dependent on a very hefty p bass + pick + svt sound. so a little bit of tubey grit wouldnt hurt. from that track, its hard to tell where you'd fit with effects. i tend to use chorus for mellowing a track out. doesnt seem like you'd want to suck the energy out of that.

valentine1 · #5 12-13-2011, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

both blink and MCS are dependent on a very hefty p bass + pick + svt sound. so a little bit of tubey grit wouldnt hurt. from that track, its hard to tell where you'd fit with effects. i tend to use chorus for mellowing a track out. doesnt seem like you'd want to suck the energy out of that.

wow i thought this thread was dead, and when i saw it while browsing i clicked it thinking 'omg someone posted the same thing as me!' but... it actually was me. lol, i'm pretty stupid today.

anyway, yeah i do have the svt3 pro + custom p bass + pick sorta combo going on, and your opinion as well as Dilly's are what i think are probably the right ones... there isn't much room for effects, a little bit of flange/chorus here or there but anything too much and it will be over the top and won't sit as well. the tubey sound is so nice, i should learn to love it a bit more.

i won't ask which types or anything, there's volumes of stuff already out there just waiting to be searched!

thanks dudes!

Dilly · #6 12-13-2011, 11:31 PM

dude i have the svt 3/custom pbass combo as well and the mxr flanger sounds f-ing great with it. its pretty subtle but still has a three-dimensional sound. i kinda wanna wanna get the mxr micro chorus too...

valentine1 · #7 12-14-2011, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dilly

dude i have the svt 3/custom pbass combo as well and the mxr flanger sounds f-ing great with it. its pretty subtle but still has a three-dimensional sound. i kinda wanna wanna get the mxr micro chorus too...

mmmm you tempt me, sir. christmas is just around the corner, i think i shall treat myself! mxr micro flange or the big one?

Will T.M. · #8 12-14-2011, 08:05 AM

Dunno if this will help, but my band has been going in a more electro/rock direction, and I find I'm able to get a pretty grimy sound almost like some of the synths I've been using by running the bass through a ring mod.

-Will

old-fashioned · #9 12-14-2011, 08:13 AM

octave>fuzz>envelope filter is a classic.

Dilly · #10 12-14-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

mmmm you tempt me, sir. christmas is just around the corner, i think i shall treat myself! mxr micro flange or the big one?

Do it! The big one would probably be pretty sweet, but i like the micro flanger. its simple and super easy to get cool sounds from it. Also, i think it can be found for about $60 used!

Dilly · #11 12-14-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

I'm able to get a pretty grimy sound almost like some of the synths I've been using by running the bass through a ring mod.

Sweet. What ring mod do you use?

Will T.M. · #12 12-14-2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dilly

Sweet. What ring mod do you use?

Right now I'm just using the ring mod in Steinberg's Cubase software because we are just recording and aren't going to be playing shows until mid-january, but I'm looking at either getting an EHX Ring Thing or a Moogerfooger. I was looking at the Pigtronix Mothership as well, but I think it's a little bit out of my price range.

-Will

Baron Von Vik · #13 12-14-2011, 08:02 PM

Guyatone TZ-2. Fun. Or search through the Danelectro catalogue.

Pricier: Electro-Harmonics POG.

Whatever floats the boat you're in. Have you tried a talk box????

Dilly · #14 12-16-2011, 08:08 PM

Thanks Will. I think any ring mod is out of my price range atm :/

darius8 · #15 12-17-2011, 06:08 PM

For a synthpop group, I'd get a digital/analog delay pedal.

As a matter of fact, Musicians Friend sells a cheap multiFX pedal called DeltaLabs DBFX1 for the bass for $99 (USD), to me it's like a sampler plate of allkinds of effect for dirt cheap.
54 built-in effects, Simultaneous up to 11 effects

But, a delay is my goto in a synthpop/ electronic band.