What are the essential effects for a rock bassist seeking new sounds?

[jazzboi]

Hi guys,

In the past me and our band got a lot of compliments about our sound and ideas,but recently we participated in a competition (they call themselves" talent-show". ),and got a verdict,that our sound is more-or less great,but nothing special,and really "old",so we lost the round. I got an idea to improve or to change the "ordinary sound" of my bass with some bad-ass effects,and to funkify it a little. So I was just wondering which are the most necessary effects (let's just say the ten most important ones) for a creative rock bassist. Like some compressor,and wah-wah pedal,some overdrive,or fuzz... If you write down a few please specify,like: wah-wah-Dunlop Cry Baby and so on.

Hopefully this gets a lot of replies,and if it was discussed before please let me know...

Thanks!

[OptimusPrime]

In order of most to least important ... to me. And my picks for the best pedal in each category.

Overdrive - EBS ValveDrive
Octave - Electro-Harmonix MicroPOG
Flanger - MXR flanger
Fuzz - Earthbound Audio Effects Supercollider
Envelope filter - Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron
Phaser - MXR Phase 100
Wah - Dunlop 105Q
Compressor - EBS MultiComp
Chorus - MXR Chorus
Delay - Boss DD-3

[Swift713]

If you're seeking new sounds you probably will want to seek , well, lets say not "essential" pedals. I don't know if that makes any sense. Your profile seems to indicate that you have most of the standard fare. Maybe get a fuzz, keep reading this forum and check out the weird stuff that comes through. Maybe check out the Octavious Squeezer if you've got the $, that looks very promising for new sounds. Maybe some Moog pedals?

On a side note, don't rely on pedals for "your sound" what gives a band an interesting sound is the relationships of the musicians, instruments etc. Try redefining your roles or something. Effects can add to that or inspire some of that but if you just play the same stuff the same way except with some weird effects it wont necessarily be interesting.

All that said, with a grain of salt...here's what I like, so far.
BJFE Blueberry bass overdrive
EHX Q-tron, envelope filter
Maxon CP9, compressor
Hardwire DL-8, delay (coming soon)
Korg Pitchblack tuner
and I'm contemplating a phaser....

[Ampeg SVT]

I have been thinking of getting a Whammy for some crazy octave up unison's.

You could try that with some delay.

[katri]

Pretty much agree with optimis but
Fuzz- Sanford and sonny Bluebeard or Malekko B:Assmaster
Envelope filter- tone factor 442 red or boomstick bottom feeder (they are the same)
and for overdrive- mojo hand cream pie.

[phxlbrmpf]

How would you describe your band's style and would you say there's enough room for you to use effects? Even the fanciest effects won't help you if the guitar player is covering everything up with distortion. Personally, I do use effects but always switch them off when our guitarist is playing heavy parts as they always got lost and the overall low end was suffering.

I agree with stflbn, by the way.

[stflbn]

If everyone in the band starts doing weird different things your sound is going to go from "more or less great" to muddled and weird.

My feeling is that if the guitars are doing unique sounds the bass should be solid, if the guitars are more consistent and expected sounding then the bass can step out a bit as far as unique sounds go. When everyone does some thing different it gets just odd.

I'd suggest trying small things first to liven or freshen up your sound, but to do so with a purpose rather than just poking and hoping.

[HelloJerk]

If you want a “new sound,” and you want to achieve that sound with bass effects pedals, then you will probably want some unique pedals. I recommend that you look to some of the boutique pedal designers and custom pedals builders for your pedals; if you are using pedals that everyone else recommends, you might end up sounding like everyone else.

Good luck!

[markjazzbassist]

octaver - foxrox octron/boss oc-2
fuzz - big muff
overdrive - tonefactor creampie/dod 250
filter - mutron or qtron
phaser - small stone

volume pedal
tuner

[debassr]

Focus on the song structure first. Practice as a band more. Get the songs (as you play them now) so tight that you can all play them in your sleep. Areas of songs that can be made more (and less) interesting will come out of the practices. Sure, buy some effects but use them sparingly to emphasize or de-emphasize a phrase, not just to sound different.

That being said I think every rock bassist should have at least a good pre, overdrive, octaver, chorus, and compression pedal at their disposal. If you have some of your songs available online, post links - we can make more specific recommendations if we understand the music better.

[OptimusPrime]

Originally Posted by HelloJerk

If you want a “new sound,” and you want to achieve that sound with bass effects pedals, then you will probably want some unique pedals. I recommend that you look to some of the boutique pedal designers and custom pedals builders for your pedals; if you are using pedals that everyone else recommends, you might end up sounding like everyone else.

Good luck!

I disagree. If someone played through my rig, they would still sound completely different than me.

[rarisgod]

When I think of rock bass, I think of a TINY bit of distortion, like just enough to make your tone a bit crunchy but obviously not so much that you sound like a guitarist tuned really low. I also think your highs should be good as well (think Geddy Lee, John Entwhistle).

But that's just what I like, I might not even be sure what you're looking for.

[dannybuoy]

Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer! Expensive though. Oh, and a bloody great dirty filthy overdrive. The Digitech Bad Monkey gives you a lot of grunt for not a lot of cash.

[crapusername]

IMO:
for fuzz - you should check out the bass big muff, mxr blowtorch,
for drive - the ashdown lomenzo hyperdrive (sounds awesome running from hyperdrive into muff on the dry mode!), Dod Bass grunge, mxr Distortion 3 / classic distortion (same pedal)
wah - Ibanez weeping demon
octave up - ?micro pog?
octave down - Boss oc2, or Dod Octoplus
flanger- Dod stereo bass flanger.
chorus - boss ceb3 or dod Stereo bass chorus

it's not just about the sound though - your playing should be enhanced by what the pedals bring to the table, rather than the sound being the focal point.
For example if chris wolstenholme from muse was to play clean all of the time, he would still be great bassist, but the sounds he uses bring out the bass part really well. The same could be said for Stuart Zender with Jamiroquai, or many many other players.

[K2000]

Originally Posted by debassr

Focus on the song structure first. Practice as a band more. Get the songs (as you play them now) so tight that you can all play them in your sleep. Areas of songs that can be made more (and less) interesting will come out of the practices. Sure, buy some effects but use them sparingly to emphasize or de-emphasize a phrase, not just to sound different.

I think this is solid advice. Try to develop some more interesting arrangements via songwriting.

There *are* some bands who make "ordinary pop music using noise instruments" and that kind of approach (conventional music via unconventional instruments) but IMO that's already on the verge of becoming not-so-fresh at this point. Writing cool, interesting arrangements will have a longer shelf life (if you know what I mean). Your effects are frosting on the cake, IMO.

You can certainly benefit from adding cool effects, but working out cool arrangements will pay off as well.

[jazzboi]

Originally Posted by phxlbrmpf

How would you describe your band's style and would you say there's enough room for you to use effects?

Alright,I think or maybe we can call or music as classic rock-or simply rock. We are compared recently to Guns'n Roses,or Whitesnake,but I think we've got a more fresh,and modern taste,but I don't know how it sounds "from the outside". Some say my lines are like Timmy C's from Audioslave/RATM,but well...you'll hear,I'll post a link with our MySpace address at the end of my post,so you'll get the better idea what is our music like.
We're doing as much practice as possible,and I agree with debassr that focusing on the song structures is really important,so I keep this in mind. And I also agree with stflbn that too much effect would ruin the whole thing. I just want to have some interesting things going on in my sound,like you wouldn't expect a massively synthed bass in a "gunsnroses kind of music" would you? But I don't want it to sound like some techno music,or comletely electrified,XXIII century thing. Like we were kidnapped by UFO's or something. Our "image" is so to speak a combination of the '70's,and the early '80',so I think if we're at the ground of effects I would need something analog,that's why I really like the Electro-Harmonix stuff,but they're a little pricey.

My other idea was to involve some folk-instrument,because in the country I live in we've got some awesome sounds going on in the countryside,so maybe this can be sonsidered.

So I don't know how much would this help,but I write down some parts of my gear...maybe...you know...there's some hidden potential or anything.
-Amp: Ashdown ABM evo 900+Ashdown Klystron 4x10 cab
-Basses: 1.) Fender MIM jazz+badassII+Fender CS PU's. 2.) '75 Fender P-bass
-Effects in the box (not used at the time): EBS-Multidrive+Multichorus,Dunlop Cry Baby,Ibanez PD-7

I set my amp like a little bass,more low-mids,and mid-mids,a little bit of top boost,and a cranked tube pre stage. And a switched off horn in the cab.

Thank you for your help,and keep the good opinions coming!

oh,our MySpace: www.myspace.com/johnnyrogerband here you can hear our previous Ep,or something like that,but we've got a newer one,I'm trying to upload it ASAP. On this one I was using the full tube vintage studio bass amp,and my Jazz bass. In the newer recordings (which ones I'm eagerly uploading in the near future) I've used my own amp,and the jazz too...

PS.: on the website listen to the songs called "Erection","Night With a Bottle of Whisky",and "Nervous Breakdown",I think they roughly shows to how our band sounds like...

[debassr]

Originally Posted by jazzboi

PS.: on the website listen to the songs called "Erection","Night With a Bottle of Whisky",and "Nervous Breakdown",I think they roughly shows to how our band sounds like...

Actually, I think the music is fine - I'm not a fan of the singers voice and the keyboard work though - I think your band needs someone who sings at a lower range and I'd delete the keys altogether. Also, the lyrics are pretty simplistic - they don't really convey anything worth knowing to me.

Hope you don't take the above the wrong way - just being honest.

[jazzboi]

Originally Posted by debassr

Actually, I think the music is fine - I'm not a fan of the singers voice and the keyboard work though - I think your band needs someone who sings at a lower range and I'd delete the keys altogether. Also, the lyrics are pretty simplistic - they don't really convey anything worth knowing to me.

Hope you don't take the above the wrong way - just being honest.

Oh,well yeah. These are the three main problems which I discovered too. The singers voice,the keyboard and the simple lyrics. It's not a thing to be proud of,but our singer is not that good in writing lyrics,and they don't want to write something in hungarian,because the rest of the band thinks it sounds better in english...well I don't know,I really dig those songs that have "meaning"... I don't know if my english is satisfying,or not,but maybe I will try to improve our lyrics if it's possible...
Has anyone other opinions about our music? That would be immensely helpful.

[gm jack]

Originally Posted by debassr

Actually, I think the music is fine - I'm not a fan of the singers voice and the keyboard work though - I think your band needs someone who sings at a lower range and I'd delete the keys altogether. Also, the lyrics are pretty simplistic - they don't really convey anything worth knowing to me.

Hope you don't take the above the wrong way - just being honest.

I think the keys work at some points, but they do need to be tones down or removed from other points.

I have to agree on the singer as well though. His voice isn't powerful and/or particularly pleasant on the ears. The lyrics are also lacking. I was thinking that a singer with more power behind his voice would do well, and the lyrics need serious work.