A question for effects users and non-users...

[FretNoMore]

Yes, let's see envelope filters being reproduced by the good old 3 finger technique

That's kind of a moot point though, the average no-effects missionary only has need for a thumping flatwound P-pass sound anyway.

 

[nshuman]

That's kind of a moot point though, the average no-effects missionary only has need for a thumping flatwound P-pass sound anyway.

If only they knew how many of us use flatwounds That's why I have a secret fantasy that one day Fender buys Ampeg. Can you imagine how many would have a hate induced stroke on here?

 

[FretNoMore]

The sky would fall.

 

[Kragnorak]

Yes, let's see envelope filters being reproduced by the good old 3 finger technique

Great GIF! But the issue goes even further than cover songs. I'll use Tony Levin as an example. He is consistently lauded as a bass player and has helped propel songs to the next level. When interviewed, he stated that oftentimes he would find a tone for the song, and then he would get inspired by this tone which would help him create a bass part. Guitarists and keyboardists do this all the time, so it's weird that's anathema for some bassists.

So a followup question for non-effect missionaries: Do you look down on ambassadors of the bass that tend to use effects themselves? So many greats do: Jaco, Billy Sheehan, Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Geddy Lee, Anthony Jackson, Justin Chancellor, Flea, Claypool, etc etc etc.

 

[keyofnight]

Playing bass is a springboard into so many other occupations/hobbies: repairing/modifying/building instruments, using/modifying/building amplifiers, using/modifying/building/selling effects, etc. I think some people just want everyone to stick to learning how to play bass, because it's easy to end up fiddling with knobs instead of playing the bass. Sure, there is something to that argument; lots of people use effects as a substitution for good technique/musicianship. Fine.

But why does it matter? I love the idea that a good musician can take any instrument and produce rhythmic melodies using just their bare hands. That sounds really cool. But half of the music comes from the timbre. There's only so much a cello player can do with their bare hands: if they want to sound like a piccolo, they'll have to grab a piccolo! But electronic music is amazing in that we get to produce our own timbres by building and trying different circuits. Effects become our instrument.

And even if we just play with effects for fun (and not to become the next rock star), so what? Deal with it.

 

[nshuman]

Playing bass is a springboard into so many other occupations/hobbies: repairing/modifying/building instruments, using/modifying/building amplifiers, using/modifying/building/selling effects, etc. I think some people just want everyone to stick to learning how to play bass, because it's easy to end up fiddling with knobs instead of playing the bass. Sure, there is something to that argument; lots of people use effects as a substitution for good technique/musicianship. Fine.

But why does it matter? I love the idea that a good musician can take any instrument and produce rhythmic melodies using just their bare hands. That sounds really cool. But half of the music comes from the timbre. There's only so much a cello player can do with their bare hands: if they want to sound like a piccolo, they'll have to grab a piccolo! But electronic music is amazing in that we get to produce our own timbres by building and trying different circuits. Effects become our instrument.

And even if we just play with effects for fun (and not to become the next rock star), so what? Deal with it.

Yeah, but, if you actually have fun, how will you generate all the band drama to post on TB?

 

[Gaolee]

If only they knew how many of us use flatwounds That's why I have a secret fantasy that one day Fender buys Ampeg. Can you imagine how many would have a hate induced stroke on here?

There would be orgasms and strokes, both. The rest of us would wonder what just happened.

 

[bluesdogblues]

I certainly agree that the intent is probably not malicious at all, but I also don't believe it's accidental either. 1st off, each thread on the home page still shows what sub-forum it's in. Secondly, some of those threads are titled "should I use-insert effect here-?" Or "where should I put this effect? ". It's pretty obvious what the thread is about.

If the thread is "Do you use effects?", all effects users and non-users should be welcome to engage in a healthy debate on virtues and pitfalls of effects. But, if the thread is "what compressor is the best for what I do?", then the answer "I don't need a compressor, it's in my hands", while being an admirable and useful skill, doesn't really address the spirit of the post.

It's almost the same as -or maybe better than- few people who insist posting about how they don't like old/vintage/relic basses repeatingly, annoyingly, insultingly, discustingly (LOL) in threads about (how someone likes or wants to have) old/vintage/relic basses...