Almost no effects.... am I nuts????

[Baird6869]

I played with a new band tonight and we played everything from Stone Temple Pilots to Prince to Green Day to the Stones.... etc.

I played a Fender Jazz and a MM Bongo5 through a Carvin 600 watt combo attached to an Ampeg 2x10 Classic cab. The only effect I used was a $29.95 DOD Bass Chorus set very low.

The band said my tone was amazing and I agreed. My sound was really good tonight.

What other effects would you recommend that might add some oomph to a really clean sound without going nuts and/or screwing with my sound?

 

[bongomania]

Hey, if you don't need effects, then save your money! Seriously! Those of us with a pedal monkey on our back are having fun, but I wouldn't recommend effects to "improve" an already good clean sound, unless you're looking for a back alley good time on a solid gold budget.

 

[AxtoOx]

I'm wierd, I don't use any. Don't have anything against them. Just not my thing.
I've played guitar for over 30 yrs. The only effect I use besides my Marshalls' overdrive is an MXR phase 90. I've been using them since the 70's. I might get a chorus, I do like that sound.

 

[Sir Edward V]

i agree with bongo, but some overdrive/distortion/fuzz is a common flavor that adds a lot to what you can cover

if you dont know much about effects, overdrive is usually very light, fuzz is basically controlled noise with a pitch, and distortion is in the middle (thats how I generalize it anyways)

this is definitely one of the most commonly used pedal types

 

[NKUSigEp]

The only effect I use is a dbx 160A compressor. I've tried a LOT of different choruses and flangers and overdrives and the only thing I'm interested in getting again is some fuzz.

A fuzz would beef up your sound a lot, but the problem with that is that it doesn't fit well into a lot of music styles and also REALLY likes passive pickups. So...try it if you want.

 

[Britsie]

You are not nuts. You are just in the wrong part of the forum.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Yes. You are nuts. Get a POD

Seriously though, +1 to what Bongo said

 

[these_go211]

wha.....no effects....what? are you taunting the rest of us?

 

[OrangeSun]

I would say your lucky you don't play a style of music that facilitates spending hundred of dollars on shiny little metal boxes. That being said, I love all of mine and would never give them up !

 

[manicbassman]

no, you're not mad... less is more... if you must, then get a decent limiter/compressor and set it up to limit gradually and also get a decent stompbox type tuner so that you can silently retune during an interval

 

[Baird6869]

no, you're not mad... less is more... if you must, then get a decent limiter/compressor and set it up to limit gradually and also get a decent stompbox type tuner so that you can silently retune during an interval

I do use a Boss TU-2. I don't consider that really an effect though.

 

[SteveC]

I use a Boss TU-2 and a Radial JDI and that's it. I always have a great sound. I have a PA of some kind at most of my gigs and I use a Roland Cube 100 combo for a stage monitor and for small stand alone gigs.

I keep thinking I need a Pod or some other gadgit, but I really don't.

 

[steve66]

Check out the Behringer V-TONE BASS BDI21. You can do alot with it. I used to use it as a DI and for tube emulation but eventually bought the Behringer BassVamp. I think they are about $30.00 online

 

[bass-shy]

It sounds to me like you and your band-mates are all pretty happy with your tone and I wouldn't want to mess with that. However, if you are thinking about changing things up a bit and want to do some experimenting with various effect types, I would suggest a smaller, inexpensive multi-effect. Korg and Zoom both make units that are pretty highly regarded, don't cost a lot and are capable of acheiving lots of different sounds. Once you have played with a multi- for a while, you will have a pretty good idea of what you would actually use with the band and you could seek out single-purpose effects after that. Good luck.

 

[uly_]

Naww, you're just fine, mate!

I came from a semi-big board with loads of effects. Tried using them a few times with my band and realised that it sounded 10 times better if I were just running clean.

That said, I've kept 3 pedals:
Barge VFB-2
Original marshall guv'nor
Boss TU-2

Using the barge/guvnor combination in 2 songs out of 16.

 

[Crabby]

I have no problems just plugging bass into amp but I also have a board with lots of pedals. Mypedals however, are effect pedals...not "this magic box defones my sound" pedals.

I dont rely on any pedal to get my tone and use my effects simply to add neat sounds to an already good tone. If you go by this way of thinking, than effects can be fun because you know they are not crucial to your sound but can add colour and inspire you to try new things.

If you are going to venture into effect aquisition, try to stick to pedas that dont degrade your tone when turned off so that you can still keep your fundamental tone in tact.

 

[Stinsok]

Do you really need them?

 

[manicbassman]

Check out the Behringer V-TONE BASS BDI21. You can do alot with it. I used to use it as a DI and for tube emulation but eventually bought the Behringer BassVamp. I think they are about $30.00 online

I have one of those beasties as well... nice little box.

My board is (in order from Bass to amp):

Behringer TU100 tuner
Behringer BLE100 limiter/enhancer
Behringer V-Tone BDI21

 

[brianbj46]

i like to mess around with effects at home sometimes, but i have almost never used them while playing with other people. I would like to have a sinthy/wah type effect for playing songs like chameleon, however.

 

[Descent2Cocytus]

i, personally, don't use ANY effects ever.