Anybody else feel a bit overwhelmed?

[ClaytonCroft]

I'm just a basic, plonky bass player in a classic rock band. I watch a lot of YT to learn and keep up with the latest toys, and try to figure out what I really need and want, gear-wise. But, does anyone else feel like it's getting to be just too damn much? Every week some new supertoy drops for excited reviews.

I couldn't begin to tell you the difference between "the SansAmp" sound, or the "fizziness" of Darkglass. I barely know what the heck I'm doing with a compressor (that they say I MUST have), or have any idea how people are hearing that THIS cab IR was from THIS mic and THIS distance, with THIS pickup configuration, etc. I'm probably not even using my pedals "right", anyway. I just hope it sounds good when I plug it all in.

TB is super knowledgeable, but often forgets that there are a lot of basic n00bs like me who just feel dizzy, absurd and a bit intimidated by it all.

 

[31HZ]

100%

Just remember that the only criteria is that you like how it sounds.

 

[Sam Evans]

That's internet-fueled FOMO. The cure is to ignore it, practice, and get together with other musicians to play, if it tickles your fancy.

 

[-Stingray]

The beauty of playing bass is that you don't need ANY of that stuff.

Good bass>>>Chord>>>>Good Amp>>>Profit

 

[Lo-E]

Think about how many bassists* just show up to the gig and plug a bass into an amp - bassists who are doing just fine.

*most of them.

TB is great. It’s a lot of fun to talk about all things bass but don’t put THAT much stock into it. You can get as into gear as you want to but you don’t NEED to. Most of the best working bassists I know have been using the same simple rig for years; they show up with a bass they’ve played forever - often nothing special - and they plug into a simple, reliable amp, play the gig, get paid and go home.

I like gear a lot and really get into it but there’s nothing that says I need anything more than a solid bass and a solid amp and anybody else’s opinion about that would be…. somebody else’s problem.

 

[ValleyBass77]

I’m like you. It’s totally overwhelming to me too. In general, I try to ignore the the hype the internet can feed me.

I regularly play with a a group of guys in their mid-70’s. These guys play gear they’ve owned for 40 years or more. When I get the urge to “upgrade “, they set me straight.

 

[BGroovy]

That’s capitalism at play!

All you need is a bass, a cord, and an amp. That’s where the magic happen.

The rest can be fun. But if it’s NOT fun just ignore it all. Practice. Play with other humans in real life.

 

[RandomKaren]

Nobody needs anything except a nice bass and a decent amp with a cable connecting the two. Compressors are not necessary unless you have a reason to feel they are. IRs are for those who like playing with technology. If you just want to play bass then ignore all the paraphernalia and just plug in and play.

 

[Wasnex]

Being aware of the latest toys and having to have the latest toys are two different things. Based on your self-description, you don't necessarily need any toys. For bass I generally plug straight into the amp. Lot's of other bassist do the same thing and it's just fine.

IMHO, anybody that insists you need a compressor on stage needs to MTOFB. Use a compressor if you like, and don't if you don't. I typically don't like compression for my stage sound, but I expect the audio tech will apply appropriate compression to the bass in the house mix.

I could see a situation where some effects would be appropriate, but my sound is generally clean. I had a long career and don't ever remember using any processing on stage beyond an ABY pedal and rack mount EQ.

I own a bunch pedals and have experimented for fun...but I never used them live for bass.

AFAIK, any pressure you feel is coming from yourself.

 

[red_rhino]

There are indeed a lot of fun toys and effects for bass. Every now and then I’ll try something that looks interesting, but eventually I lose interest in it or discover that it’s not really for me. About the only thing that’s stuck around are compressors, and even then, my tastes are pretty vanilla. (I don’t obsess about millisecond release times.)

There’s nothing wrong with have minimal or no effects. There’s nothing wrong with have a pedalboard the size of an aircraft carrier, if they’re giving you what you’re after. It’s all about your tonal goals, and whether what you’re playing actually uses those tools. (e.g. I like phasers, but I never use one more than once in a great while.)

 

[MIMike]

I’ve played hundreds of gigs in my life and guess that 98% of them have been bass directly into the amp…maybe a DI added in the chain, but even then, usually the built in amps DI.
I now have a pedalboard that I play around with just for fun, but I never feel like there is something I must have on it.

Don’t let it overwhelm you; try a few things out to see if there is a sound you can use on a gig…or not. The choice is yours.

 

[WG Plum]

I use effects extensively, but my use-case is unusual. If I was playing rock I would use about a fifth of what I regularly use now. If I was playing blues even less.

 

[GrowlerBox]

I love gear, especially effects pedals and the sonic explorations they can facilitate. I have way more than I need, but I’m probably not even close to the top 100 of TB members in terms of numbers of pedals owned. But all that is just about the lowest stakes game in town. I don’t for one minute think I’m going to look back on my musical (highly amateur) “career” with regret over the pedals/amps/basses I’ve not had or by congratulating myself for the ones I have. A little perspective is in order, as seems to be the majority (perhaps the unanimous) position being expressed here, and all to the good.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I feel decently whelmed right now.

Anyway, gear is one of those things you have to find your level at. You don't need the latest thing but sometimes it fits the bill. I wouldn't worry about this sound vs that sound. It's more about your sound and how you get it.

 

[Krisfield]

Don't allow yourself to influenced by stuff you don't need. Great skill to have. Especially in a consumer driven society.

I'm just a basic, plonky bass player in a classic rock band. I watch a lot of YT to learn and keep up with the latest toys, and try to figure out what I really need and want, gear-wise. But, does anyone else feel like it's getting to be just too damn much? Every week some new supertoy drops for excited reviews.

I couldn't begin to tell you the difference between "the SansAmp" sound, or the "fizziness" of Darkglass. I barely know what the heck I'm doing with a compressor (that they say I MUST have), or have any idea how people are hearing that THIS cab IR was from THIS mic and THIS distance, with THIS pickup configuration, etc. I'm probably not even using my pedals "right", anyway. I just hope it sounds good when I plug it all in.

TB is super knowledgeable, but often forgets that there are a lot of basic n00bs like me who just feel dizzy, absurd and a bit intimidated by it all.

 

[Snibborwocky]

I definitely got overwhelmed by getting an HX Stomp right off the bat which I very quickly realized I needed to take a breath, step back a moment and think about what I really wanted out of the sounds I was looking for. I learned to understand that it's okay to start from bare bones to begin with and slowly go from there. FOMO definitely still gets me from time to time when something new comes out but I've learned that most of the time that feeling will pass within days or weeks. A lot of the time, like many others have stated in here, it's back to just direct to amp, maybe compression and a tuner and that's it.

 

[eldoctorbass]

This is my favorite thread on TB right now.

I have a lot of stuff. I strive for minimalism and fail.

My favorite local bassist has been playing the same bass through the same amp for 30+ years. No effects, no tuner.

Doesn't mean I won't keep looking at new equipment all the time, but he grounds me.

Don't worry, be happy (sorry).

 

[ItsmeSantiago]

I’m a heavy effects guy, love making robot sounds with my bitcrusher and octave pedals, but when it comes down to playing in a band, 90% of the time it’s just me, the bass, and whatever DI is available.

With that said, all the new toys can get overwhelming. I’ve made a small board just for sticking to the basics but wanting the best sound I can get which is a compressor a mild dirt and a clean pre.

 

[devnulljp]

have any idea how people are hearing that THIS cab IR was from THIS mic and THIS distance, with THIS pickup configuration, etc.

They (mostly) can't. It's all internet bravado by people who've for the most part been playing loud rock n roll for 50 years and can't hear anything over the tinnitus but listen with their eyes and their wallets.

 

[HolmeBass]

I joined TB specifically to learn about effects. It’s been almost two decades and I finally have a handle on my effects - I pick my spots and put them to musical use. But it was a long road and a lot to learn.

But you don’t need any of it, especially not a pedal compressor!! That was about the last effect I finally found something that I reliably like better than no comp. It took a while and I tried many and even bought a few that I then had to sell. Anyone who says you need a comp in your bass rig is instantly suspect as far as I am concerned.

As for the rest of the effects, I have found that it’s all about figuring out what really works with the projects I play in. A lot of it is about picking the right spot for the right effect within a particular song.

So don’t feel overwhelmed. Take it at your own pace, it’s not a race. Playing the bass is the main thing. You know what they say: how do you eat a whole elephant? One bite at a time.