depending to the music you are playing, they can be very useful. I not a pedal user myself, but if my music required it, I’d be using as many pedals as I need.
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Am I silly for not using any pedals?
- Thread starter DTRN
- Start date
depending to the music you are playing, they can be very useful. I not a pedal user myself, but if my music required it, I’d be using as many pedals as I need.
I've got a few random pedals I bought on a whim. The only pedals I consistently use in my setup are my Sansamp Tech 21 Preamp to help sculpt my tone as well as for DI in live setups where it makes more sense, and my Crybaby bass wah.
I used to use it for the wah effect and slap solos, but that was maybe 15 yrs ago. Now its more for increasing volume or slightly tweaking the tone to make things interesting.
I also have several bass distortion pedals, none of which I like. I've got a cheap Boss one that is generally the one I fool with. I just don't play enough stuff with others that would even require it. 99% of the time, especially in one off jam sessions, its just me, amp, and preamp pedal.
I used to use it for the wah effect and slap solos, but that was maybe 15 yrs ago. Now its more for increasing volume or slightly tweaking the tone to make things interesting.
I also have several bass distortion pedals, none of which I like. I've got a cheap Boss one that is generally the one I fool with. I just don't play enough stuff with others that would even require it. 99% of the time, especially in one off jam sessions, its just me, amp, and preamp pedal.
If you creative ideas and gig(s) need no pedals then you need no pedals. Not even a tuner.
Lucky you!
The key word being "conventional."
This is more of an identity crisis than a real question. What is the bass sound you're trying to achieve?
My own "clean" tone usually has significant amount of drive and I also like massive walls of fuzz tones as well. I would be silly if I didn't utilize pedals to better replicate that sound/tonality I hear in my head. Saying the "traditional role of the bass" is like saying the "traditional role of the left hand" when playing piano. Seems rather limiting but I understand it's contextual application.
My own "clean" tone usually has significant amount of drive and I also like massive walls of fuzz tones as well. I would be silly if I didn't utilize pedals to better replicate that sound/tonality I hear in my head. Saying the "traditional role of the bass" is like saying the "traditional role of the left hand" when playing piano. Seems rather limiting but I understand it's contextual application.
It can be a tad overwhelming looking for and trying out all the profiles available, but the adventure is definitely worth the effort.
If you want a pedal or think you need one then get one, and the opposite is true.
I never knew any bass players who used pedals for years, then I found I was wanting a preamp and parametric eq for a lifeless amp I had, and boom! I got some pedals.
Just because you get a pedal or two doesn’t really mean you have to go all out with a pedalboard... sometimes we’re just not completely happy with our amp sound and want to add something that might be found on a more expensive amp, but don’t want get a whole new amp when one pedal could fix this one.
I never knew any bass players who used pedals for years, then I found I was wanting a preamp and parametric eq for a lifeless amp I had, and boom! I got some pedals.
Just because you get a pedal or two doesn’t really mean you have to go all out with a pedalboard... sometimes we’re just not completely happy with our amp sound and want to add something that might be found on a more expensive amp, but don’t want get a whole new amp when one pedal could fix this one.
I have never used pedals for bass...but I have never had a gig that called for them. I wouldn't have many qualms about using them if they were called for by the gig.
Absolutely yes! How could you deprive yourself the wonder of the envelope filter? The phatness of the analog octaver? The nastiness of a maxed out fuzz?
Just kidding! Of course not. It is bass, after all, and the natural tone is great for working with a band.
But seriously, like 3 EFs, an octaver, fuzz, and phaser - so much texture! So much gain!
Just kidding! Of course not. It is bass, after all, and the natural tone is great for working with a band.
But seriously, like 3 EFs, an octaver, fuzz, and phaser - so much texture! So much gain!
No.
You would be silly if you thought you were better for not using pedals, or that others shouldn't use pedals.
If you personally don't want to use pedals, then do what you want to do.
You would be silly if you thought you were better for not using pedals, or that others shouldn't use pedals.
If you personally don't want to use pedals, then do what you want to do.
I've got a small board and a large board and use them for subtle tone stuff and pretty wild atmospheric stuff.
I also gig and jam with bass, cable, and head/cab pretty regularly. Thankfully, I've worked up some quality equipment and spent quality hours with the metronome, so it seems to go over well.
No pedal will fix bad-sounding gear or poor technique (nope, compressors aren't meant for that either!), but being able to play well without any means you're in a position to get the most out of effects if you choose to use them. Also, learning to play with pedals is its own venture, as many have their own technique requirements (often, just extra-clean playing) to sound their best. A sloppy player won't survive a vibe check with a fuzz pedal amplifying all their mud.
If you've got some sounds you think you'd enjoy (e.g. envelope filter sounds for some funk), now's as good a time as any to see just how much fun you can have with them!
I also gig and jam with bass, cable, and head/cab pretty regularly. Thankfully, I've worked up some quality equipment and spent quality hours with the metronome, so it seems to go over well.
No pedal will fix bad-sounding gear or poor technique (nope, compressors aren't meant for that either!), but being able to play well without any means you're in a position to get the most out of effects if you choose to use them. Also, learning to play with pedals is its own venture, as many have their own technique requirements (often, just extra-clean playing) to sound their best. A sloppy player won't survive a vibe check with a fuzz pedal amplifying all their mud.
If you've got some sounds you think you'd enjoy (e.g. envelope filter sounds for some funk), now's as good a time as any to see just how much fun you can have with them!
I fixed that for you :
Your personal preferences and opinions are in fact not universal absolute truths, so please be careful about pretending that they are and acting as if they were.
Do what though will.
This also means don't try to prevent others from doing so as well, which again implicates not at the expense of other people.
Follow your passion!
Live and let die!
Live and let live!
And do it out of love, out of will, the will of love, the love of will...
E.t.c...
E.t.c...
Just do it!
But whatever it is don't let Nike dictate how to do it...
Do the do thing - whatever you must.
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On one hand you have progressive players who wanna experiment with effects and synth sounds, and on the other you have conservative players who are averse to new ideas.
But really, it's a pointless debate. This is the Effects Sub Forum.
But really, it's a pointless debate. This is the Effects Sub Forum.
There's a parallel in the photographic community which kind of fits this scenario.
There are those that need the widest-range zoom lens one can buy; say a 17mm-300mm (example). Then there are those who argue it's best to buy a nice 35mm or a 50mm and learn to be a photographer by concentrating on your composition skills.
There are those that need the widest-range zoom lens one can buy; say a 17mm-300mm (example). Then there are those who argue it's best to buy a nice 35mm or a 50mm and learn to be a photographer by concentrating on your composition skills.
