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Advice for power trio application?

mtonbass

mtonbass

Feb 24, 2011
603
109
Virginia
#1
OK - I'm old and I'm old school. I also don't have time (nor should I spend the money) doing extensive experimenting but I recognize I'll need to invest some time in the learning curve.

I tinkered with pedals back in the dark ages but in reality, I don't know a thing. Right now I have a MarkBass Super Booster (mostly for the two EQ knobs especially the VLE). Like I said - old and old school!

To the point: I'm in a power trio and I'm looking for ways to fill out the sound when the guitarist is soloing. Solutions that are simple and require no more than 2 pedals are strongly preferred.

Thanks so much, TB world!
 
#6
A booster can be sort of an overdrive if you run it before a tube amp and use it to boost the amp into break up. But, most are pretty transparent. I just got a Durham Sex Drive that is a dirtier than most boost with an optional compression circuit (which can be really nice for trio applications, too). It can definitely give a little grit to help beef up your sound.

And +1 that most octaves are going to work best as close to the front of the chain as possible for better tracking.
 
#8
There are some "subtle" effects that may interest you, in that your base tone will be your normal "clean" tone and the effect just layers on a bit "more." For overdrive or fuzz, you'd want one with a CLEAN blend so you can just dial in as much distortion as you want (both overdrive and fuzz are just varieties of distortion.) Phasers, wahs, and envelope filters can also funk up your sound a bit from normal. Modulation effects like delay and chorus are alittle trickier to adjust into the mix well but they thicken up your bass sound and set the "tone" if you're going for a spacey or echoing feel.
 
#9
Filling up space in trios I like chords, chorus, small amounts of delay, overdrive, or even better my POG if chords don't sound right. And depending what the song feels like that strymon bluesky pedal.

(edit: I wasn't meaning all those at once.. just by the way.. oh.. or a looper pedal, just record a drone like sound and go for it..)
 
#11
bassgod0dmw said:
I'm in a trio as well, and I actually just prefer to have a good solid tone when my guitarist takes a solo. It fills out the sound just fine, and I get to hear how awesome my rig sounds :)
Click to expand...

I think this is good advice for starters. Tommy Shannon didn't need any effects, but then again it was SRV playing the solos ;). I'd say if you want to keep it as simple as possible, just try to find an overdrive pedal that doesn't sacrifice any low end. The problem with overdrive is that there are a MILLION different options out there and finding one that works all depends on your amp, setup, and your tonal preferences. I'd probably start with some of the bass-specific options (like the Tech21 VT Bass) and go from there.

If you're looking for something a bit more gnarly and eyebrow-raising, perhaps something like a Malekko B:assMaster. But anything hi-gain like that is going to totally swallow up your original tone and turn it into something completely different.

Also, perhaps you're not the problem....maybe your guitar player needs to player better solos, or your drummer needs to step it up and fill things out a bit...just sayin'...
 
#13
All of this depends on the style of music and the song itself. I play in a rock trio and I vary what I do when the guitar is doing leads or solos. Sometimes I do nothing but let my bass tone shine, sometimes I change my part to fill up space (more notes, chords), sometimes I use an appropriate effect like overdrive, envelope filter, or chorus. The best answer is use your ears and your best judgment, you may not need any effects at all.
 
#14
Thanks for all the input. Good stuff but too much to respond to.
I do love my tone and wouldn't want to muck that up. That's been the root of my not keeping pedals for very long (sold on TB, of course).

Guitarist and/or drummer are not an issue. I'd estimate that maybe 15 or so out of 60 songs (for instance) could use a little something different from the mediocre yet competent bassist.
 
#17
I agree with having a great "basic" tone for starters. I've used huge racks of processing stuff in the past...really, though, I never used those type of rigs to their full potential, to be fair.

For me, it's pretty much a solid overdrive, and/or a phase that I use during guitar solos. I have a Carbon Copy delay that I use in one song, because the singer asked for something a little different. She really likes it in that song, so now I'm stuck with it.
 
#18
I play in a power trio that does Cream and Hendrix covers and funk rock originals. I use a Dr. Scientist The Elements and a Tonographic Rusty Box for broken up to distorted tones, and a phaser for that psychedelic flavor. I also occasionally step on other pedals that happen to reside on my board, but mostly use the above.
 
#20
+1 on the solid sound. I rarely use extra fx to fill during solo breaks, but if I do, it'd most likely be my mxr bass fuzz deluxe with a more dry than fuzz. Will thicken the sound up nicely
 

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