Synth player kinda stealin' my thunder over here...

ajota_di · #1 12-12-2009, 05:30 PM

Howdy doo friends...

Just wanted to ask about pedals in general... my synth player is swiping my delicious bass sound... damn you korg...
ANYWAY... just curious as to what kind of processing effects are out there for the bass... one where i can modulate it, mess with the tone, etc.

Thanks!
-AJ

Unrepresented · #2 12-12-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajota_di

Howdy doo friends...

Just wanted to ask about pedals in general... my synth player is swiping my delicious bass sound... damn you korg...
ANYWAY... just curious as to what kind of processing effects are out there for the bass... one where i can modulate it, mess with the tone, etc.

Thanks!
-AJ

Literally every single thread in this forum will discuss a different device to modulate or mess with your tone. You may need more specifics. Also, I'd browse the band management forum if you're looking to reduce your issues with your keyboardist's left hand.

ajota_di · #3 12-12-2009, 05:36 PM

hahaha nono... i do love my key's player...
but i want something that will make my sound more electronic... like something that makes the tone that's more electronic... or a modulation controler

Thunderscreech · #4 12-12-2009, 05:39 PM

Fuzz > Octave > Filter

EHX Bass Muff > EHX Pog > EHX BassBalls.

Boom. All from EHX, too...

Sean Baumann · #5 12-12-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajota_di

hahaha nono... i do love my key's player...
but i want something that will make my sound more electronic... like something that makes the tone that's more electronic... or a modulation controler

Maybe just buy a keyboard? I have a Alesis Micron.

I've tried for quite some time to find something easy to use for bass synth, and pedals just are not (except maybe the Deep Impact, but too expensive!). Maybe the new pedal from Markbass will do a good job.

Unrepresented · #6 12-12-2009, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

Fuzz > Octave > Filter

EHX Bass Muff > EHX Pog > EHX BassBalls.

Boom. All from EHX, too...

The consensus tends to favor octave>fuzz>filter rather than fuzz>octave>filter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajota_di

hahaha nono... i do love my key's player...
but i want something that will make my sound more electronic... like something that makes the tone that's more electronic... or a modulation controler

The two pedals I have that my guitarist complains about "sounding like a computer" are my Electro Harmonix Bass Microsynth and my Dwarfcraft Devices Shiva. That probably doesn't begin to answer your question though. Really, just read through some threads, check out some soundclips and try and pinpoint what you're lacking in terms of variety.

sikamikanico · #7 12-13-2009, 01:54 AM

if you already have the keyboardist, you do not need synth for bass guitar, imo.
work with him, not against him, and you can do wonders with you playing clean bass and him playing synth lines... that's the best option imo (also the cheapest)...

of course, if the music needs a second synth player, you or your guitarist might want to upgrade your equipment... I would suggest getting and learning to play a keyboard, it's not that hard... you're way more limited with bass synth pedals than with not being good at playing a keyboard... and for the price of a good synth pedal, you can already get a good cheap keyboard synth (I got me a Novation Bass Station, which replaced my Korg G5).

another option is getting different (non "synth") pedals. this is the most expensive and time consuming (and fun!) concept, with the least guaranteed results (at least in short term). if you just want to add another dimension to your e-bass sound, start with an octave pedal... I'd suggest an OC-2 (easy to get, cheap, good sound). Another one is Chorus. Getting to the next level with fuzzes and filters will take a bit more time, research and experiment... finish with a phaser, delay and/or ring modulator :P

But remember, music comes first. If equipment doesn't serve music, it's useless. Discuss it with your band members what you, as a group, want to achieve, and work in that direction. Trying to be louder/synthier/whatever than your band members will not get you anywhere music-wise (or otherwise) and will just make it an expensive hobby... not that it's cheap without the "gear competition"

phatbass · #8 12-13-2009, 02:20 AM

Line 6 FM4 has a variety of fairly rude soumds and also some filter fun. Plus you can blend with your straight Bass sound.

I'm not saying it's the best, as there are more tweakable pedals out there, but it's fairly quick'n'easy to dial in a few sicko's, and has four memories for your faves.

Thunderscreech · #9 12-13-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

The consensus tends to favor octave>fuzz>filter rather than fuzz>octave>filter.

My bad. That's what what rum will do to ye.

Dark Horse · #10 12-13-2009, 08:36 AM

Instead of cluttering things up by adding more effects and parts, you should talk to your keyboard player and work out your parts TOGETHER. That way you eliminate redundancy.

Jim C · #11 12-13-2009, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

Instead of cluttering things up by adding more effects and parts, you should talk to your keyboard player and work out your parts TOGETHER. That way you eliminate redundancy.

This would assume that:
* He will listen and remember
* Is capable of some sort of reasoning
* Can communicate
* Is not a raging drunk

Is this a reasonable expectation of a keyboard player in a rock band?

eggfan · #12 12-13-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

This would assume that:
* He will listen and remember
* Is capable of some sort of reasoning
* Can communicate
* Is not a raging drunk

Is this a reasonable expectation of a keyboard player in a rock band?

He saying the same thing about bass players right now on some other forum.

Higgins666 · #13 12-13-2009, 12:14 PM

Just get a great big tube amp, crank the hell out of it & blow him off stage.

cheapbasslovin · #14 12-13-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Higgins666

Just get a great big tube amp, crank the hell out of it & blow him off stage.

Yeah, 'cause nothing brings a band's sound together quite like volume wars

.

RickenBoogie · #15 12-13-2009, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sikamikanico

if you already have the keyboardist, you do not need synth for bass guitar, imo.
work with him, not against him, and you can do wonders with you playing clean bass and him playing synth lines... that's the best option imo (also the cheapest)...

of course, if the music needs a second synth player, you or your guitarist might want to upgrade your equipment... I would suggest getting and learning to play a keyboard, it's not that hard... you're way more limited with bass synth pedals than with not being good at playing a keyboard... and for the price of a good synth pedal, you can already get a good cheap keyboard synth (I got me a Novation Bass Station, which replaced my Korg G5).

another option is getting different (non "synth") pedals. this is the most expensive and time consuming (and fun!) concept, with the least guaranteed results (at least in short term). if you just want to add another dimension to your e-bass sound, start with an octave pedal... I'd suggest an OC-2 (easy to get, cheap, good sound). Another one is Chorus. Getting to the next level with fuzzes and filters will take a bit more time, research and experiment... finish with a phaser, delay and/or ring modulator :P

But remember, music comes first. If equipment doesn't serve music, it's useless. Discuss it with your band members what you, as a group, want to achieve, and work in that direction. Trying to be louder/synthier/whatever than your band members will not get you anywhere music-wise (or otherwise) and will just make it an expensive hobby... not that it's cheap without the "gear competition"

All I can add, +1.