Am I missing something (effects)

[failuresXbass]

I have been around here a while now, and notice most of you guys use effects.

I never have, when I was younger I always figured its one more thing to break, and now - I figure if I like the way my amp sounds, then what is that thing for?

Should I be looking at effects? Does my sound suffer due to lack of effects? What do you all look for in effects?

pls discuss, my curiosity has got the best of me!

 

[Petebass]

I use effects, but they're turned off 90% of the time. I'm sure most people here are the same. And a lot of my effects are non intrusive - things like EQ and compression. The balance of my effects came about when some of the songs my band were covering seemed to have synthy, wha, octave type effects and I decided to try and mimic them live, partly for authenticity but mostly for fun.

The bottom line is if you don't feel you need effects, don't be pressured into getting any.

 

[erochelle77]

I only use a compressor. I see all these effects that sound cool, but then I ask myself if I would ever actually use them. The answer so far, has been no.

 

[Baird6869]

I use effects, but they're turned off 90% of the time. I'm sure most people here are the same. And a lot of my effects are non intrusive - things like EQ and compression. The balance of my effects came about when some of the songs my band were covering seemed to have synthy, wha, octave type effects and I decided to try and mimic them live, partly for authenticity but mostly for fun.

The bottom line is if you don't feel you need effects, don't be pressured into getting any.

+1.

I use a Sansamp RBI, BBE Sonic Maximizer in my rack and the only pedals I use are: MXR 10 Band EQ, Boss Chorus Ensemble, MXR Auto-Q and a EB volume pedal. everything except the Auto Q is on 100% of the time and I never touch them. The Auto Q is used for a couple funky tunes as well as RHCP covers.

I plug directly into an amp when I practice or rehearse. ALL of the above effects are only used for gigs and recording.

 

[Bass_Pounder]

Same as most of the other posters.................

I use compression, and a sonic maximizer only.

Tried all kinds of different effects over the years (delay, chorus, flange, distortion, etc.), and found that they were a waste of time, and mucked up my sound.

 

[CElton]

I'm too busy trying to sing and play at the same time. I don't even want to think about what it would be like to try and use my feet to turn effects off and on.

I'm sure I would fall over...

 

[nad]

I'm a freakin' tapdancer.

 

[kauhi17]

Aphex Bass Exciter for me that pedal does some good things! I used to have a Sansamp Bass Driver DI but that took the back burner to the Bass Exciter.

Aloha

 

[bongomania]

To the OP, just spend some time reading in the Effects forum. You'll see what all the excitement is about. OTOH, you'll also find that most of us over there will advocate focusing on technique and good amplification whenever somebody asks how to improve their sound.

Effects are fascinating and fun, but are not a substitute for technique and a good amp.

 

[fishtx]

I have a pedal board full of toys, but typically only take a DI, compressor,chorus and a tuner to the gig with me...

 

[Jeff A]

Sometimes an Aphex compressor, if I feel like hooking it up, but usually nothing.

 

[RickenBoogie]

I used to use nothing. ok, maybe some chorus. Now, because of this disease, I have to use at least a compressor, overdrive, and envelope phaser, oh and a BBE Sonic Maximizer, and sometimes an octave, or more envelope filters, delay, distortion, and still a little chorus, it's just not right. Save yourself... run.

 

[YCBass]

My SWR Mo'Bass head that I just sold had 5 built-in effects - OD, Octave, Synth, Chorus & Mo'EQ (which is pretty much a boost). Before I sold it I thought I wanted to buy all 5 effects individually... But looking back I never really used them all that much.

It's very easy to get carried away buying effects - because they are cool and relatively inexpensive compared to new basses/amps (temporary GAS fix) - but my suggestion is to think practically... Buy effects that you can really imagine using in your most perfect/ideal musical situation... But if a solid clean tone is all you need then save your money!

Now that the head is gone I use 2 effects - a Boss OC-3 Octave and a Dunlop Wah... I don't use them a lot but enough. I've played with the idea of getting a synth but I can't imagine a use for one at the moment. I also feel that having a lot of effects kinda sorta forces you to use them and that takes away from what the bass is supposed to do. I let my million-pedal guitarist handle that department.

With that said, I am also open to the argument that a new effect/sound can spark up new ideas as well. Just think hard before you start buying them.

Lastly, no your sound is not suffering from not using effects.

IMHO.

 

[fdeck]

No effects. Bass --> Amp --> Speaker.

Nothing against effects, but they have simply never been part of my sound, plus I like a simple setup.

 

[Kael]

Not using effects and wondering what you are missing eh? Tone suck I'd guess.

I buy effects, use them a few times thinking they sound great Then a month or two into using them I notice that I have less than stellar tone on a gig. Sure enough, I'll wind up yanking those effects out of my signal and blammo. There's my tone back. Those effects go back on the shelf.

I've just never found an effect that is worth the dough in my mind. I'll still keep the toys, but that is what they remain to me. Toys. The only pedal that I would qualify differently is the SABDDI. It is incredibly useful for no-amp gigs, but even it sounds like butt when I am using my rig.

 

[dominic54321]

I'm in the same boat, I've been playing for 18 years, but just recently started trying some different effects. I thought it would be GREAT. Then I discovered TONE SUCK! So, I researched on how to minimize it, then came along the problem of the low end dropping out. So I learned that they have these nifty pedals that will blend your signal...GREAT! Now, I don't have to use the 2 amp, 2 cab setup I just put together..lol I can use a blender. There's just SOooo much involved, and I feel it's all really neat stuff, but at the end of the day, just give me my bass and a cord, and I'll plug straight in ANYDAY! No sound can compare to plugging straight in, IMO. I crave the articulation, nuances, and dynamics of my bass playing above all else! And I just don't seem to get that with any type of effects.
BTW, I've currently been using a Boss ME50B multieffects pedal. I only use it for some compression and overdrive during normal playing, and some distortion while my guitar player is soloing. It obviously doesn't sound as good as multiple pedals, but it gets the job done, and it's easy to setup, breakdown, and carry.

 

[g00eY]

I use effects minimally. On my GT-6B I really only use the compressor, EQ, and subtle delays and choruses. Not much else has proved useful yet.

 

[SteveC]

I've had tons of effects, no effects, multi effects. Right now I have no effects. Coul dI use some on a few tunes we do, sure. Is it worth the hassle and cost, I don't think so at this time. No one has ever come up to me after a gig and said you didn't use a this or that effect on that tune.

 

[Petebass]

Those of you who have discovered "tone suck" now need to discover "true-bypass pedals". I use one from Loopmaster, effectively creating an effects loop that bypasses the multi effects unit that has the "tone suck". I was cheap and is simply brilliant.

 

[waffle puzzle]

I tried to wax poetically about my love for "true bypass systems" on another thread, but no one really seemed interested. (I have a loopmaster 6 on the way....)

But this thread is not really about that....check the effects forum.

To the OP, like many have said.........the music dictates the pedal usage. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using no pedals----If you don't have a tuner, though, I would recommend one.