Sustain Pedal? vs Volume Pedal?

jpalir · #1 11-03-2008, 08:15 PM

Does anyone know if there it a Sustain Pedal out there for bass? Some one told me just to buy a volume pedal and use that. I just need some insight ... Thanks John

shirky · #2 11-03-2008, 08:24 PM

I don't know of any pedals that do sustain other than the Boss me-50 and the new gt-10b. I have used the me-50b and it's pretty cool - you play a note, and when you push down on the expression pedal, that note is held until you let up on the pedal. You can even play other stuff over the held note. However, that note doesn't sound all that great (it's not really your bass tone - it's generated by the pedal). I'm pretty sure that the gt-10b is the same effect.

The other option would be the Boss syb-3 (or 5 I think). There, when using the synth settings, you can hold down the pedal and your note will hold - however, again it's not really your bass tone but instead a synthy tone.

To indefinitely sustain a note, you could maybe use a swell effect and delay pedal. Or, possibly an e-bow.

Good luck.

Shirky

tomhanzo · #3 11-03-2008, 08:26 PM

go check out electro harmonix's website. they have alot of cool pedals for sustain that i have heard work on bass well

jpalir · #4 11-03-2008, 08:30 PM

Ok thanks! Let me try to explain what i am looking to do and maybe someone out there could give a little more insight on what i need to achieve this...here it goes...the main thing i am looking to is to take a note make it last for a little bit and while it holds and make the note wave out a little bit (make it sounds wavy)...like during a slow worship set while playing with my band...

tomhanzo · #5 11-03-2008, 08:45 PM

umm whammy maybe. im not sure. if you could find a clip of it somewhere in a song or such then we could help for sure.

**TheMutt** · #6 11-03-2008, 08:46 PM

The EHX HOG can do this. It's not gonna sound exactly like your bass signal, but it's pretty close if you're a careful player. (not letting other strings ring, setting filter/resonance/attack and decay/etc, and timing when to slide the expression pedal)

An additional bonus is that there are two ways to sustain notes, one uses portamento to glide the sustained note into the next one, the other is a volume setting where the sustained note decreases in volume until it is no longer played (heel down). The latter sounds like what you need.

The HOG is a bit pricey of a unit though, and unless you need an awesome octaver as well, it's probably way more than overkill for what you need (and for your wallet as well). There are some cheaper multi-effects out there that have sustainers in them as well. You could also use a compressor for some added sustain.

jpalir · #7 11-03-2008, 08:48 PM

I just bought the cry baby 105Q and it does not effect the low end...just mids and highs...i will have that up for trade soon as i find out what i am looking for..

Thunderscreech · #8 11-03-2008, 08:51 PM

I think what the OP is talking about would be best accomplished by a Boss DD-3 or DD-7. (I, personally, would choose the DD-3, because it is significantly less expensive than the DD-7, and has less features that wouldn't get used) They both had a "hold" feature which engaged when the pedal is held down. It holds the note. Now, the "waving" (I will assume phaser or chorus here) will need to be accomplished with another pedal, but those two (DD-3 and DD-7) will hold or "sustain" the note for as long as the pedal is held down.

jpalir · #9 11-03-2008, 08:52 PM

i just watched the video on the HOG ... That is a nice set up but a bit pricey...

bongomania · #10 11-03-2008, 08:52 PM

A "volume pedal" just attenuates your signal, turns it down. There are a couple of volume pedals which incorporate a booster (which increases your signal level) and then the pedal turns your signal down from there... that kind of boosting volume pedal might be what you want, because you can control the amount of "sustain" (increased boost while your note naturally fades out) and you can also create the tremolo (wavy) effect by rocking the treadle. A "sustain" pedal is typically a compressor, and one of those might work out for you but I don't really recommend it for the application you describe. You'd have to pick a comp that was particularly good at adding sustain, and then be happy to have it on most of the time, and then add a tremolo (or vibrato for wavy pitch changes) pedal for those note trails. It can be done, but to be done well it requires some serious work to dial it in, and practice engaging the pedals at the right moment, with careful gain staging.

jpalir · #11 11-03-2008, 08:57 PM

The DD-3 does sound close to what i am looking for...

jpalir · #12 11-03-2008, 08:59 PM

Thanks bongomania...does any certain item/pedal ring a bell for this?

irvinz · #13 11-03-2008, 09:06 PM

so your wanting more sustain in your notes? or wanting a short slapback delay? =) do any of us know what we really want?

since ur playing in a worship band as mentioned before. try a simple delay going into a reverb pedal like the tech 21 rvb boost. =)

bongomania · #14 11-03-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpalir

Thanks bongomania...does any certain item/pedal ring a bell for this?

I know Morley makes a couple of boost/volume pedals, and there's the ZVex Tremolo Probe, but it's probably more than you want.

jpalir · #15 11-03-2008, 09:14 PM

Ok, guys thanks...this can get me going in the right direction...

My 105Q is up for sale or trade in the accessories thread...

davidmurphy · #16 11-07-2008, 12:24 PM

Gonna hi-jack this thread.

I'm playing in a slow, doomy type band.
There's a lot of space in between the notes so I'm looking for pedal that'll sustain the volume till I switch it off.

I have an EBS multicomp which I leave on all the time for mild compression.
I also have a Marshall ED-1 which will give endless sustain (especially when used with EBS) but tends to suck a lot of the low end.

I'm planning to keep the EBS but can anyone recommend a second compressor that'll add plenty of sustain & is good on bass?

Here's the band, btw.

www.myspace.com/nosinger

bongomania · #17 11-07-2008, 08:43 PM

There's a difference between

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmurphy

I'm looking for pedal that'll sustain the volume till I switch it off.

and

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmurphy

can anyone recommend a second compressor that'll add plenty of sustain & is good on bass?

There are very few devices that do the first thing; there are at least a dozen that do the second.

For best sustain within normal compressor behavior, choose a pedal with a low ratio and a very slow release, and adjust its threshold (or your input level) until the majority of the signal is over the threshold. I liked the T Rex Comp Nova and the Frantone Sandwich for this application.

For sustain that holds indefinitely until you switch it off, check out the Pigtronix ADSR.

JohnDavisNYC · #18 11-07-2008, 09:09 PM

i'm gonna reccomend practicing. unless you want to be able to play OVER the sustaining note, a good bass with good strings and the right technique will get you plenty of sustain, and some simple, well controlled left hand vibrato will give you the 'wavy' sound.

unless i'm totally missing something.... but i can't see why you need anything other than your hands to give you sustain and vibrato.

john

Thunderscreech · #19 11-07-2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpalir

Does anyone know if there it a Sustain Pedal out there for bass? Some one told me just to buy a volume pedal and use that. I just need some insight ... Thanks John

It just hit me. The OP is referring (or might be) to the type of sustain pedal like those found on a piano?

newbold · #20 11-07-2008, 11:09 PM

http://www.pigtronix.com/products/ASDR.htm