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Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

#8,768
JES said:
Yes, in Montreal.

Snagged a used Canadian one on reverb. It’s still stupid expensive but just less.
Click to expand...
I'll stick to scrounging around for dusty old mixers to experiment with for the time being.
Got an old small soundcraft yesterday for free. Scratchy pots included at no extra charge.

No input mixers are a blast.
Add pedals for random chaos!!!! Also have to try out the contact mic at the source of an AUX feedback loop......
Got a freebie boss metal zone this week also. Its beyond aweful on bass, but for the no input thing....its awesome because of the EQ.

RE: the metal zone, saw quite a few guitar vids that show the pedal used in the FX loop of a guitar amp. WOW....the difference is incredible. Almost as the pedal was designed to be a preamp and not hit the front end of an amp.
I couldn’t believe that I was hearing the dreaded MT2.....its sounded awesome and heavy as efff
I have to try this with my dual rig.
 
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#8,769
ugly_bassplayer said:
I'll stick to scrounging around for dusty old mixers to experiment with for the time being.
Got an old small soundcraft yesterday for free. Scratchy pots included at no extra charge.

No input mixers are a blast.
Add pedals for random chaos!!!! Also have to try out the contact mic at the source of an AUX feedback loop......
Got a freebie boss metal zone this week also. Its beyond aweful on bass, but for the no input thing....its awesome because of the EQ.

RE: the metal zone, saw quite a few guitar vids that show the pedal used in the FX loop of a guitar amp. WOW....the difference is incredible. Almost as the pedal was designed to be a preamp and not hit the front end of an amp.
I couldn’t believe that I was hearing the dreaded MT2.....its sounded awesome and heavy as efff
I have to try this with my dual rig.
Click to expand...

I wondered how the Metal Zone would be on bass using the FX Loop trick.
 
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#8,770
If I had a MZ I'd try it, but most of my experience with guitar dirt on bass has been less than stellar. I have a Dwarfcraft Necromancer that can get mean and nasty on bass but you have to really want that sound. It is glorious when you do, though. Almost makes me want to start a doom metal project just to use that one pedal lol.
 
#8,773
Speaking of dirt. This seems like a good place to ask: I’d love suggestions for a single pedal that can go from mild grindy overdrive to absolutely punishing distortion (or fuzz—not picky) and work well on bass. No apps, all analog. Surely @monsterthompson and others have opinions. This is for solo work so it’s not important to fit into a mix other than whatever mess I create.
 
#8,774
JES said:
Paul Malinowski of Shiner (one of my favourite rock bassists) used one in the 1990s. It did not have a lot of low end but was great for soaring fills and riffs. Usually went through a (nearly always on) tube screamer into a Mesa 400+.
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One of my buddies has on old mesa 400 all tube head. It sound incredible......when it works.....
He toured it hard and played it 90% of the time with busted of defective tubes in it.
 
#8,775
JES said:
Speaking of dirt. This seems like a good place to ask: I’d love suggestions for a single pedal that can go from mild grindy overdrive to absolutely punishing distortion (or fuzz—not picky) and work well on bass. No apps, all analog. Surely @monsterthompson and others have opinions. This is for solo work so it’s not important to fit into a mix other than whatever mess I create.
Click to expand...
I dont know if it checks all the “boxes” you need.
But the classic boss HM2 is an absolute crushing classic. (Many clones and variants are available)
I love it on both bass and guitar.
The one I own is the BYOC Swede with the same chip as the old MIJ ones.
Couldn’t afford a Boss, the prices have gone up.....AGAIN!!!!!

I'm sure others here will have excellent suggestions as well.
 
#8,777
JES said:
For the guitar side, very tempting. I’m a big Prince fan and he was known to use the HM2 for those classic 80s solos.
Click to expand...
You can order a byoc kit to build yourself or it can be built for you.
Gigged hard. Built like a tank. Zero issues.
Mine is exactly like this.
Godflesh bassist has been using one since the late 80s.
Many others.....too many to name.
swede_grande.jpg
 
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#8,778
JES said:
Speaking of dirt. This seems like a good place to ask: I’d love suggestions for a single pedal that can go from mild grindy overdrive to absolutely punishing distortion (or fuzz—not picky) and work well on bass. No apps, all analog. Surely @monsterthompson and others have opinions. This is for solo work so it’s not important to fit into a mix other than whatever mess I create.
Click to expand...

My current fixation is on the Hilbish Pessimiser. Not a lot of demos out there, and probably leaning toward the heavy side, but it has a clean blend and a powerful EQ. It’s also gigantic.

Dunwich Volt Thrower has quite a range. The no-clipping diode option can do a decent clean tone. If Magic releases a batch of these I’d keep an eye out.

The Damnation MBD-2 is certainly worth a look. Their LPF clean blend is nice. I had an MBD-1 and liked it, but sold it because I had a ton of other dirt pedals. Definitely a reputation for being heavy, but also has a nicer side from what I recall.

I’m sure I’m missing a few options.


I had a Dunwich HM-2. Should’ve waited about a year before selling it. It’s got interesting sounds, but I don’t know if the HM-2 would be a one-size-fits-all.
 
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