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I'm really digging the synths on my Zoom MS60b. With the Z-synth setting I can get close to the synth tone on Boogie on Reggae Woman.
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Bass Synth Pedals and Making Them Not Suck
- Thread starter JimmyM
- Start date
I'm really digging the synths on my Zoom MS60b. With the Z-synth setting I can get close to the synth tone on Boogie on Reggae Woman.
Ok, correction. Here is the nastiest synth sound I could get. This one is live. I believe its the IE Subterranea with a 3 leaf proton. Sits in the mix nice, too!
PS: Gotta love 3am sets at the festival!!!
PS: Gotta love 3am sets at the festival!!!
Chunk systmes Octavious squeezer, or Agent funk are great, allso EHX microBass syth has some nasty fat synth tones
Word! The Polytope really gave it that separate oscillator-type depth. Don't have one of them but I do have a Bass Chorus Deluxe and the detuner on the Pitch Fork that might work in its stead. Cool tip!
Yup, any chorus will do just fine! The more complex the pedal, the more options you get for retaining low end and what not. I really want to get a pitch fork. I used to use a line 6 M5 for pitch shifting and I got some great sounds, especially when combined with a fuzz pedal, some modulation, and delay/reverb.
This is a really cool thread. I've always felt that the magic in using effects pedals on bass is when you find a combination that works for exactly what you're searching for. When going for synth sounds, I try to view each pedal in my chain as a separate part of a synth. Oscillators, Filters, Modulation all can work together to get usable sounds.
Yeah, stacking pedals is how I've always gotten the most out of synthy chains. I never liked the SYB or BSW on their own. Even the BMS or the Deep Impact benefit from stacking. Adding dirt helps hide the latency and occasional yips, octave can fatten them up, chorus/detune gives a multiple oscillator sound, hard trem creates a sequencer sound, and things like phaser, pitch shift, ring mod, britcrushing, delay etc can all add to the mix.
I've gone through a few Prunes & Custard. It's a cool box on it's own but I struggled to find places to use it. But put an OC-2 in front of it and a TC Shaker (vibrato with a momentary latch capability) and it sounds like an old analog synth with the Shaker acting like a pitch wheel and I can do a bad Bernie Worrell impression for hours.
And for me I've both started with a sound I wanted to emulate and worked to stack pedals to create it and just fiddled with different boxes until something cool came about.
I've gone through a few Prunes & Custard. It's a cool box on it's own but I struggled to find places to use it. But put an OC-2 in front of it and a TC Shaker (vibrato with a momentary latch capability) and it sounds like an old analog synth with the Shaker acting like a pitch wheel and I can do a bad Bernie Worrell impression for hours.
And for me I've both started with a sound I wanted to emulate and worked to stack pedals to create it and just fiddled with different boxes until something cool came about.
Been doing the corporate cover band thing for a year now and got the hankering for a sadowsky, so I sold off most of the collection. Here's what I'm rocking for the pop/RnB/funk/rock gig.
As of today I added the cali76 and dimension reverb.
Nice. And actually pretty close to my current board now that I've shrunk down to a mini. I'll have to post a pic of mine.
I love the idea of a PT-2 or PT-Pro full of synthy/funky pedals but I can't really justify it with the current gigs and got tired of lugging a huge board that wasn't being used fully.
I'm digging my Keeley Bassist Limiter but definitely drooling over that new mini Cali76.
i love synth effects! its different enough from keyboard bass synth sounds that keep me from buying a keyboard. Some of the most unique basslines can stem from a synth tone..
That's awesome you nailed that tone! I didn't get back to you in the other effects thread, but his "Plug in Baby" tone is actually his Akai Deep Impact -> Line 6 FM4 (dunno if its in that order) in one chain; Black Russian Big Muff -> Boss OC-2 in the other chain, both blended together with an LS-2.
On topic, the Bass Synth Wah gets some unnecessary hate in my opinion, its a nifty little box for the price (I mostly use mine as an octave pedal, sometimes for synth on setting 4). Adding a little dirt really helps it break through the mix though, and I'm glad you found a sound that works.
On topic, the Bass Synth Wah gets some unnecessary hate in my opinion, its a nifty little box for the price (I mostly use mine as an octave pedal, sometimes for synth on setting 4). Adding a little dirt really helps it break through the mix though, and I'm glad you found a sound that works.
Oh cool, didn't know you were a member!! Great tones my friend and excellent playing, the band sounds great!
That's killer sounding too! The Sub T is my favorite in the Wonderlove fx loop. I just got a Chase Bliss Warped Vinyl to try at the end ala your Polytope trick. I can tell you that the Wombtone Phaser sounds cool too btw.
OMG I WANT THAT CALI76!!! My next purchase!
I keep thinking that I want to buy a little keyboard synth for those kind of sounds, but I have way too much fun experimenting with pedal combinations to pull the trigger. Right now it's variations of the MXR Bass Envelope Filter, EHX MicroPog, 3 Leaf You're Doom, 3 Leaf Groove Regulator, EBS Stanley Clarke Wah, and Strymon El Capistan. I'd like to add some modulation to the mix but promised myself I wasn't going to get a bigger board. 
I wish programming Xillinx was cheaper. that's the company / chip used in many synth and dsp devices.
For example, if the software for the Markbass was more open, you could really really get into the device and make some real crazy sounds and have more blend control as well.
I know it's probably on the chopping block but man I wish / hope they update it or come out with a new model.
I put my EBS Wah One after it and drive before it.
For example, if the software for the Markbass was more open, you could really really get into the device and make some real crazy sounds and have more blend control as well.
I know it's probably on the chopping block but man I wish / hope they update it or come out with a new model.
I put my EBS Wah One after it and drive before it.
I've been toying with a Bass Whammy and Ipad as Midi controller for the past days. Don't know if that qualifies as synthy but I get definitely out there sounds modulating a feedbacking bass by jumping from one program to another and other delicacies. Could have bought a theremin but why make it simple when you can make it complicated.
I keep thinking that I want to buy a little keyboard synth for those kind of sounds, but I have way too much fun experimenting with pedal combinations to pull the trigger. Right now it's variations of the MXR Bass Envelope Filter, EHX MicroPog, 3 Leaf You're Doom, 3 Leaf Groove Regulator, EBS Stanley Clarke Wah, and Strymon El Capistan. I'd like to add some modulation to the mix but promised myself I wasn't going to get a bigger board.
MICROBRUTE..cheapest, easiest, portable and sounds like a good analog should. Almost every sound I have heard in this thread is easily doable on it, without glitches. You can also play it and your bass at the same time. I started doing that trick in 1973, as one of my favorite bass players is Joe Zawinul.
Ohh..and there's no rule about not plugging it into all your fancy pedals either. I've modded mine to get the raw osc's out too. Lottza Big Time Fun.
I like beefing up the sound of synths by running a BDPG in front. That way, I'm getting a meatier clean-blended tone and dirtier synth tone.
I gigged with a Moog Sub Phatty for quite a while. Sounded great but pedals are too much fun. Lol.
Dang, doesn't use a single piece that I have except the OC-2! But what counts is the end result, and I copped it. I did try it with an OC-2 and played it an octave up, but I don't know...at that moment I was feeling tuning the E string down to D instead. Tonight I'd probably feel differently...you know how that goes. On the other hand, the likelihood of me ever playing "Plug In, Baby" with a band is pretty much nil, so it was for my own edification.
Now THAT's just showing off! The new Origin Cali compact....I didn't even know they were on sale yet!
