What kind of pedal am I looking for?

Anon2962 · #1 12-15-2008, 08:23 AM

I was playing in a show recently, 25 piece band. I found the bass definately needed to be amlified for pizz, but needed next to nothing for arco. Does anyone know if there is some kind of volume footswitch that will allow me to switch between two volume settings?

millsbass5 · #2 12-15-2008, 08:37 AM

WOW.Bass in a 25 piece band.I bet thats a rush.I would love to experience that.

Clay_Bass · #3 12-15-2008, 01:23 PM

just get a volume pedal. Ernie Ball makes a nice one, or dunlop. It functions like a wah so you can have a big range of volumes. Nice for spots like you're talking about where you need lots of amp for some parts and less for others.

Peck_Time · #4 12-15-2008, 01:24 PM

How about a volume pedal?

great minds think alike! Here's the Ernie Ball pedal:

Bob Gollihur · #5 12-15-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conor MacCarthy

I was playing in a show recently, 25 piece band. I found the bass definately needed to be amlified for pizz, but needed next to nothing for arco. Does anyone know if there is some kind of volume footswitch that will allow me to switch between two volume settings?

You'll find a lot past threads with info on this topic. I've used a Morley volume pedal, a clone of the Boss GEB7 (better, offers EQ as well as volume for the #2 sound), and a Radial Tonebone BassBone (switchable between channels when only one plug is inserted) for this purpose.

Anon2962 · #6 12-16-2008, 01:21 PM

peck + clay - thanks for the advice, but i dont think a volume pedal is what i'm looking for. i dont like the idea of 'aiming' to hit the volume i want for pizz and jazz - if im playing for a musical i could be changing every minute or two between pizz and arco - i'd almost certainly lose control of the volume i want at some stage....

Thanks Bob,the bassbone looks amazing -but expensive! Would it be a cheaper option tp get an a/b switch, leaving channel 'a' as loud as i'd like for pizz, and then get ... something ... that would simply reduce the volume of channel 'b'? i wouldnt need to control it by foot... any recession-busting, budget ideas greatly appreciated

Touch · #7 12-16-2008, 06:11 PM

I use a Boss GEB7 for exactly this application.

I adjust my pizz sound using my iAmp and get the loudness and tone I need.

When I switch to arco (probably only 20% of the gig running time), I just step on the Eq pedal. The volume and tone have been previously set for the volume and any tonal modification that I need for arco.

One can find these pedals new for about $100 and probably half that used on E-bay or Craig's List or on the TB classified pages (check on the slab side too...).

Now if they could combine that with an intonation adjuster I would be all set!

Anon2962 · #8 12-17-2008, 05:00 AM

Looks like the GEB7 might be my best bet. it would be great to have an equalizer for the bass anyway - and i guess i won't need an a/b switch if i'm happy with the pizz sound without the GEB7. thanks!

CindyB · #9 12-17-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Gollihur

, and a Radial Tonebone BassBone (switchable between channels when only one plug is inserted) for this purpose.

+1 on the BassBone. You can use both channels if your bass is plugged in to input one, or you can use the built-in "boost" function. It also has a great balanced DI. Very cool!

Cindy

Anon2962 · #10 12-18-2008, 10:48 AM

thanks cindy. i've been looking at the bassbone again. it seems to be the only product that does EXACTLY what i want, in that i can adjust the sound of pizz and arco seperately with one device, on one input. also i havent read any bad reviews about it. Maybe it's worth splashing out...

McGryff · #11 04-09-2009, 09:27 AM

I'm looking into a solution for this too. I can't swing a Tonebone right now, so I'm thinking about either the Morley volume pedal, as the adjustable minimum level might help, or the Boss EQ pedal. I have a SansAmp ParaDI right now, and I like being able to EQ out some quack from my RS II, but I can't envision using it as a switch for pizz-arco, as I'll need EQ on both of them. Perhaps the EQ pedal is the most affordable solution...?

I'm thinking I'll go RSII --> Boss EQ (engaged for arco) --> SansAmp --> amp & board. That would work good, yes?

Bob Gollihur · #12 04-09-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McGryff

I'm looking into a solution for this too. I can't swing a Tonebone right now, so I'm thinking about either the Morley volume pedal, as the adjustable minimum level might help, or the Boss EQ pedal. I have a SansAmp ParaDI right now, and I like being able to EQ out some quack from my RS II, but I can't envision using it as a switch for pizz-arco, as I'll need EQ on both of them. Perhaps the EQ pedal is the most affordable solution...?

I'm thinking I'll go RSII --> Boss EQ (engaged for arco) --> SansAmp --> amp & board. That would work good, yes?

I think you should put the Sansamp before the Boss EQ, I know the Sansamp Bass Driver has a 940K input, more suited for pairing with a piezo transducer, and I believe (but could be wrong) the Boss is a lower impedance device that would not work as well.

mr.hughes · #13 04-09-2009, 04:10 PM

Conor - One thing to bear in mind with something like the ToneBone is the switches. They make an audible click when you switch back and forth. Doing this once in a while is no big deal, but every few minutes isn't great. I went through the same process, and ended up with the Boss GEB-7, which switches silently.

A Volume pedal like a Morley has a minimum volume level setting s you can set it for the different volumes and then not need to worry about hitting the right setting.

On a tangent - what was the 25 piece band you were with? I'm up here in Co.Down, just past Newry. Always good to see a big band.

McGryff · #14 04-09-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Gollihur

I think you should put the Sansamp before the Boss EQ, I know the Sansamp Bass Driver has a 940K input, more suited for pairing with a piezo transducer, and I believe (but could be wrong) the Boss is a lower impedance device that would not work as well.

Bob, thanks for the suggestion, much appreciated! I did think of this however, and checked the specs on Boss' website. Somewhat to my surprise, it says that the EQ pedal has a 1 M ohm input, so I could go with either that or the Sansamp Para first, as far as impedance is concerned.