--WHY THE HECK DO BASSISTS CARE ABOUT PEDALS???--

jmcdan3 · #1 11-09-2007, 11:20 AM

The only pedal that i feel is neccessary is my boss chorus. i have had a flanger, wah, synth, and distortion and i find them all to be a waste. we are bassists, i have learned to appreciate the tone of my p-bass with a nice ampeg b-100r. anyone else find that a chorus is all you need if anything????we arent lead guitarists-why use them. i understand that this depends on the genre of music but still.....

syciprider · #2 11-09-2007, 11:24 AM

Having one pedal makes you equally as guilty. Oh and thanks for sharing your limitations with us.

dancehallclasher · #3 11-09-2007, 11:32 AM

Your findings truly are gospel! Let us all go out today, sell our overdrives and buy a chorus, for it is the word of poster jmcdan3.

**David Wilson** · #4 11-09-2007, 11:33 AM

While it may or may not be your intent, coming info an effects forum and starting a "bassists don't need effects" thread is asking for trouble... as moderator I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread, so let's keep it civil.

Overuse of effects is certainly bad, on the other hand saying bassists don't need effects is needlessly limiting your options.

Even just playing in a covers band, I use octave, overdrive, distortion, chorus and flange to reproduce original bass sounds on recordings. Those players certainly found a usage of effects that fit / enhanced the song.

If all you need to do the songs you play is your p bass and an ampeg, that's great. But that doesn't mean that's what we should all use, does it? I don't get to tell you you should use an overdrive pedal, so why should you get to tell me that I shouldn't use one?

de1orean · #5 11-09-2007, 11:33 AM

chorus lol

syciprider · #6 11-09-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancehallclasher

Your findings truly are gospel! Let us all go out today, sell our overdrives and buy a chorus, for it is the word of poster jmcdan3.

I got dibs on your stuff.

syciprider · #7 11-09-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkyAssBassMan

Who said you decide what everyone should be using?

We all follow our Saviour Spanky Pants. He will be resurrected in the second coming. Mystic Boo is his messiah.

Jeff Martinez · #8 11-09-2007, 11:38 AM

Good thing the NFL never allowed the forward pass... that just wouldn't be real football.

JanusZarate · #9 11-09-2007, 11:39 AM

If you understand that it depends on the genre, then why even ask?

There are those who argue that effects shouldn't even be on guitar. Think about the parents of those kids who were exposed to the first songs with overdriven guitar... many of them were purists who thought guitar should remain clean - or in some cases, acoustic!

And IMO, what works for you (chorus, P-bass, Ampeg B-100R) doesn't work for everyone. Honestly, there's little I like about Ampeg beyond their SVT-CL. But again, that's me.

Just because rock was initially defined by a P-bass played fingerstyle through an Ampeg rig doesn't mean that's all there is to bass. Funk could NOT exist without changing the techniques of bass playing, and for many bands, effects were necessary to further develop the genre. Punk couldn't exist without the pick. A lot of modern bands - VERY popular ones, in fact - use effects on bass: Tool, Muse, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers... just to name a select few.

So... if you can't comprehend it, that's fine. If you think effects are just for lead guitarists, that's fine. You're entitled to your opinion. But for those of us who have heard the expansive range of music that requires us to go beyond the stereotypical role and gear limitations of the bassist... it's a completely different story.

Just to warn you... you're probably going to get flamed pretty badly over the next few hours. Don't take it too harshly - you're in the Effects forum, after all.

JanusZarate · #10 11-09-2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syciprider

We all follow our Saviour Spanky Pants. He will be resurrected in the second coming. Mystic Boo is his messiah.

Where do I even begin with addressing that?

Sigged.

syciprider · #11 11-09-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

Just because rock was initially defined by a P-bass played fingerstyle through an Ampeg rig doesn't mean that's all there is to bass. Funk could NOT exist without changing the techniques of bass playing, and for many bands, effects were necessary to further develop the genre. Punk couldn't exist without the pick. A lot of modern bands - VERY popular ones, in fact - use effects on bass: Tool, Muse, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers... just to name a select few.

Mystic Boo Chapter 12 Verse 5.

Azoore · #12 11-09-2007, 11:42 AM

Hey! We are bassists. Not lead guitarists. How can you argue with that?!

dman_113 · #13 11-09-2007, 11:42 AM

IMHO, If you use 30 pedals and make beautiful music isn't that better than using none and making crap? My point being what does it matter how many or how few pedals you use as long as you own your sound.

Dave Bassincus · #14 11-09-2007, 11:44 AM

I'd love to jump on the arrogance and cluelessness of the original poster proclaiming he has found the secret of good bass tone (no effects at all.....except for the one I use), but everyone seems to have beaten me to the punch.

jomahu · #15 11-09-2007, 11:45 AM

interesting question. some other questions to ponder:

why shouldn't we care?
why the heck do you care what other bassists are doing?

Tony G · #16 11-09-2007, 11:49 AM

I don't use a single effect. I've had a number of them in the past, but never found them to be much use to me. If you guys want to use them, it's no skin off my back. I also am not a fan of p-basses or ampeg gear. But please continue to use them if it makes you happy. Who am I to tell you what gear to use? Why should I care? If you sound good using the gear you have, that is what matters. If you sound bad, it does't matter what gear you are using to get there. You still sound bad.

Jeff Martinez · #17 11-09-2007, 11:49 AM

I guess "real" bassists are only permitted to have a pre-determined tone, or risk having their bass card revoked.

T-MOST · #18 11-09-2007, 11:50 AM

[quote=jmcdan3;4889567]The only pedal that i feel is neccessary is my boss chorus. i have had a flanger, wah, synth, and distortion and i find them all to be a waste. we are bassists, i have learned to appreciate the tone of my p-bass with a nice ampeg b-100r. anyone else find that a chorus is all you need if anything????we arent lead guitarists-why use them. i understand that this depends on the genre of music but still.....[/QUOTE

Because everyone doesn't like what you like. Ask Doug Wimbish about using pedals with bass...

bassgod0dmw · #19 11-09-2007, 11:53 AM

I use more effects than both of my guitarists. I'm not using them to be a "lead bass player" but more to add a little spice to certain sections in our songs.

Also, your dream rig is not mine!

mjolnir · #20 11-09-2007, 11:55 AM

I play clean, no effects, 95% of the time, but every once and I while I see no problem with busting out the wah and the flanger and etc. etc. and goin' nuts. Where's the fun in being a musician if you never wanna branch out a little and experiment with your music?