• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Anyone playing bass clean with no effects?

Do you prefer the sound of your bass when playing live?

  • I prefer the natural sound of my bass and do not use effects.

    Votes: 343 84.1%

  • I prefer to use effects to change the way my bass sounds.

    Votes: 65 15.9%
  • Total voters
    408
#42
jazzyvee said:
I just love the sound of my bass with no effects at all.
Click to expand...
me too.


Wisebass said:
The only effect I use is "louder". :D
Click to expand...
love this! :laugh:


re: the OP: i have reverb, chorus, and octave --- i don't really care for the octave. i like reverb and chorus for certain solos. but i'm not dependent on any of it = i don't even take the pedalboard to most gigs (just another hassle, IME).

i think i might like some synth EFX from time to time but i've been too lazy (busy?) to make a commitment....though i read the threads on the topic. in one band it might be fun, in the other band it's just not necessary.

clean with no EFX suits me fine! i usually use some compression, live, but not as an effect, per se.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wisebass
#43
mojomike001 said:
The only effects one really needs are in the fingers.
Click to expand...

I own a lot of pedals because they're fun, but play most songs clean on a gig; however, I've not figured out how to get a tape echo delay effect or a synth sound from my fingers. I need those sounds for a few songs we do. Can you teach me how to do that with just my fingers? :p
 
  • Like
Reactions: Real Soon
#45
Plutonium244 said:
Clean, 98% of the time.

While I have a few pedals to tinker with (reverb/delay is nice for solo performance, chorus, octave), the octave is the only one that comes out at a gig, and then not too often. It must be used judiciously*. I have compression on my board (a pretty good one, Keeley Bassist), and while some swear by compression, I really like to make use of the dynamics, not squash them. But, rarely, things need taming esp for DI to PA).



I know several engineers that like to use expanders, rather than compressors, on bass tracks.

The most valuable "pedal" I carry regularly is a nice High Pass Filter (FDeck HPF-Pre 3). That gives me more satisfaction in playing than any other piece of outboard gear. For me, good sounds depends a lot on the proper balance between too much boom and too thin-sounding. The HPF basically lets me dial directly to that sweet spot. I could twiddle knobs all day hoping to accomplish what the HPF does in about 20 seconds of tweak.

* totally off-topic... my seven year old is getting a knack for word-play, he said yesterday that he would "judiciously do dishes, Lee." It's fun to see them grow their brains.
Click to expand...
My OC-2 is one of those pedals that I have NEVER gotten rid of! It always seems to migrate to just about EVERY version of pedal board I've put together over the years.
 
#47
20181112_101225.jpg
 
#50
I don't use pedals. I've fooled around with compression a couple of times, but felt like I got lost in the mix. I've played with an octave doubler on rare occasions. Generally, though, the only "effects" I use are the tone and volume knobs, and whatever I can coax out of my fingers.
 
#52
I went pedal free for a long time when I was playing a lot of country. Then I used just overdrive in a classic rock band. In the garage rock project I'm playing with now, I need fuzz and distortion. I use a few other effects occasionally and just for fun at home.
 
#53
I have simplified my pedal board over the years. Tuner -> "Dirt" -> Amp. I have 3 flavors of Dirt at the moment. VMT -> Gaosline -> MBD-1. The VMT has traditionally been almost always "on". Recently the MBD-1 has been edging out the VMT, but it really depends on which bass/strings I'm using and what serves the song best. It's nice to have the stacking options for even more variety. I doubt many listeners know or care what pedals I'm turning on or off, only that it sounds "good" and fits the song.
 
#59
jazzyvee said:
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.
Click to expand...

I have used a smattering of effects in the past, especially in tribute/cover bands, but now it's rare for me to show up with anything other than instruments and an amp. Just depends on the job.
 
#60
Plutonium244 said:
I enjoyed seeing Wimbish give his pedal board rundown. It's huge! I liked that he says he sometimes uses an effect for just one bar or one phrase or even one note, sometimes. He uses a lot of pedals, but he's also very selective about when and how to use them.
Click to expand...

Yes, I used to be a "set it and forget it" player. He adds interest to playing with effects in a different way then most.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back