Anyone playing bass clean with no effects?

[jazzyvee]

I just love the sound of my bass with no effects at all. ( I haven't ever used them live but tried a couple in a shop and it wasn't that I didn't like the effect ( envelope filter ), I didn't like what they took out of my sound, whether on or off. But in reality I have no need for them.

I wonder if the desire to play clean through a clean bass rig is popular these days as most gigs I go to the bass player has one or more effects pedals in their board.

I don't have any axe to grind with anyone using effects, as where I've heard them being used they work bang on with the music.

 

[Ghastly]

I like to play with little to no effects alot of the time. Maybe some compression.

 

[Mushroo]

I have 2 pedalboards and a whole bunch of pedals. When I am practicing at home, I use the pedals. When I am jamming for fun with my friends (the majority of my playing these days) I use the pedals.

When I have a gig? I leave the pedals at home and plug my bass into the house-provided DI.
When I have a recording session? I leave the pedals at home and do whatever the engineer suggests.

ps Please don't post this in the Effects sub-forum. They have a strict policy against "effects are unnecessary" type threads.

 

[charlie monroe]

I think you'll find that a clear majority of players do this.

 

[Nashrakh]

Ironically, I have a huge pedal board mainly full of all kinds of overdrives and and fuzzes, but most of the time, a clean sound is the most appropriate. Which males me kind of sad, but it's best for all.

 

[headband]

I never use pedals for shows. I do have a few that I fool around with at times, but they stay home.

 

[Biggbass]

My standard set up is bass>amp. It's pretty hard to beat.

 

[Element Zero]

Compression is the only pedal I have (besides a looper for messin around at home) and I shoot for the cleanest sound possible 99% of the time. Lately however, I've been diggin the La Bella Grape Ape Tapewound strings on my main fretted and running an ever so slightly overdriven input. Quite fun and different for me.

 

[EricMordus]

I have peds, but they stay in their boxes. The ONLY one that SOMETIMES gets used (besides a tuner) is my SansAmp Bass DI, but over the years it's not been used very much

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I know I ought to turn off my compressor once in a while, just to prove I can, but I don't.

 

[mikeoso]

What are effects? Ok, yeah, I know. I have never used, tried, or owned anything like a pedal. Strictly clean for me, often not even amped.

 

[basscapes]

Technically, while I DON'T play without effects, I feel that a good compressor is a must for every player- Hey, if it's gonna be compressed (or at least, limited) in the studio, then WHY does everyone get bent out of shape for a live rig?

The root of my tone starts with the bass through a Keeley Bassist . I simply like the way it gives the sound a "studio-tan" before anything else in my rig.

That being said- the core of the tone I go for is simple- try to mimic an SVT just on the edge of "grind".

So, the basics for me- Bass into the Keeley Bassist, then an Ampeg SC-DI, Quilter Bass Block 800 (which does its own, tubey goodness ad warmth without the tubes voodoo), and finally, driving into SVT810 cab.

I sub in a Tronographics Rusty Box for a different colored preamp (the SCR-DI does have tones of SVT mojo in it).

 

[Gee Man]

The only time I'm using pedals is on the rare occasion when I plug in one of my neglected electric guitars. Never with the bass.

 

[Blue Dragon]

Well, effects don't necessarily have to color the sound greatly either. I'm using compression and noise reduction. Technically they're pedals, but the noise reduction is just to make it silent when not playing, and the compression is set pretty light. I've yet to find any "real" effects that improve on straight though. There could be a song or two that might make sense to use something else though, but I've really yet to run into one that my band actually plays.

 

[mojomike001]

The only effects one really needs are in the fingers.

 

[Double E]

Playing clean is cool, playing with effects is cool too. I have a pretty decent selection of pedals that I can pull out if called for. Some stuff really benefits from some sound-scapin' with filters or chorus and even a little dirt here and there. It can be a little nerve wracking to make these things do what you really want them to do when you're on the spot at a gig, it takes practice just like anything else.

You can never really go wrong with a good clean tone though.

 

[Wisebass]

hi jazzyvee

I just love the sound of my bass with no effects at all.

Not a pedal boy either. The only effect I use is "louder". (gets that sweeeeet tube sound)

ps Please don't post this in the Effects sub-forum. They have a strict policy against "effects are unnecessary" type threads.

The question would be a "bit stupid" over there.

But it' s okay on "Basses"

btw: A poll would be great to get some %s (Don 't forget the "carrots" option!)



may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[Dana R Gregory]

I don't use effects and never have. I simply set the EQ from the amp and play. Keep it simple with less things to malfunction.

 

[bassbully]

I use a chorus pedal on maybe two songs and some overdrive to produce sustain at a few songs endings. Do I need them? No, matter but it makes it kinda fun. 95% of my tone is clean.

 

[Bassndrums73]

I don't use any pedals. The only thing I do is engage the limiter switch on my amp.