Beck effect

[alex1fly]

I understand, but I'm not talented enough to get the timing right. I'd have to practice for hours and hours and hours.

Nah. I have faith in you based on our non-existent digital interactions. If you can walk, you can swell with a volume pedal. Trick is to start the pedal movement before the note. Also you can try it both standing and sitting to see what's more natural. Volume pedals are so useful even if you don't use them for swells. Even better, you can get a wah/volume combo pedal if you like analog or a multi-fx with an expression pedal if you like digital and use either one for more than one thing.

 

[bholder]

I think this would do the trick.

Ooh that polyphonic function is especially impressive! I'm ordering one!

 

[ThudThudThud]

I think this would do the trick.

1:17 of the video: "Here is a classic Roy Buchanan sound" - Proceeds to play Jeff Beck piece.

 

[sunbeast]

I think this would do the trick.

Yeah these are very cool and maybe the most full-featured dedicated auto-swell right now

 

[Watchootognbout]

Anthony Jackson uses a volume pedal for swells on bass to great effect.

 

[Goatrope]

1:17 of the video: "Here is a classic Roy Buchanan sound" - Proceeds to play Jeff Beck piece.

LOL, yeah. I was thinking the same. Maybe it was a bad edit. “Cause we’ve ended as lovers” is a good example, though.

I asked ChatGPT about it, and it said Beck dedicated the track to Roy in the notes on Blow by Blow. Maybe a connection after all?

 

[jerry]

Randy Tico using volume swells to replicate whales.

 

[slagheap]

LOL, yeah. I was thinking the same. Maybe it was a bad edit. “Cause we’ve ended as lovers” is a good example, though.

I asked ChatGPT about it, and it said Beck dedicated the track to Roy in the notes on Blow by Blow. Maybe a connection after all?

Jeff spoke about his admiration for RB many times. Common knowledge.

 

[J Wilson]

BOSS called it 'Slow Gear' as at any thing past fairly quick half-notes, it couldn't keep up

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I'm interested in a pedal that would make my bass sound as if I plucked the string with the volume pot down and then quickly turned it the whole way up. Like what Jeff Beck does (did) effortlessly with his little finger. But automatic. Is that basically what a synth pedal is? I guess that's the same sound? I have an extra dbx rackmount compressor. Would I get this effect if I set the threshold really low and the ratio really high and cranked the output?

You want an envelope filter.

Mxr

 

[bassrique]

Beck was a master if dynamic playing, even without volume swells.

What is your default volume on a scale of 1-10? Most electric bass guitar players are in the upper range.

 

[LukeSlywalker]

I’m using the TC Electronics Crescendo for this effect. I use it to get bowed sounds for intro and bridges. Not hard to set the swell tempo. And it’s cheap.

 

[Nathan in NJ]

Nah. I have faith in you based on our non-existent digital interactions. If you can walk, you can swell with a volume pedal. Trick is to start the pedal movement before the note. Also you can try it both standing and sitting to see what's more natural. Volume pedals are so useful even if you don't use them for swells. Even better, you can get a wah/volume combo pedal if you like analog or a multi-fx with an expression pedal if you like digital and use either one for more than one thing.

It's having to (presumably) pluck the string a microsecond early that worries me. I guess I just need to try it, maybe it's a more natural thing to do than it sounds like.

 

[LowActionHero]

I use a Mooer Slow Engine pedal. It does a volume swell. There are other volume swell pedals, but I like this one the best. The cool thing about the Mooer is the signal stays open or strong after the swell.

I had high hopes for the TC Crescendo pedal accept that it closes up and cuts the signal off after the note begins to die.

I love that slow engine though, and I would never give that up.

I also have a Mooer Slow Engine, I was just thinking about putting it back on my board.
Looks like they are around $80 new, but there are a couple other knockoffs that are cheaper.

 

[alex1fly]

It's having to (presumably) pluck the string a microsecond early that worries me. I guess I just need to try it, maybe it's a more natural thing to do than it sounds like.

It is a bit weird even with practice. But, you get to have your foot landing be the downbeat, so that at least anchors you in time.

 

[J Posega]

It's having to (presumably) pluck the string a microsecond early that worries me. I guess I just need to try it, maybe it's a more natural thing to do than it sounds like.

If you can play in time, you can learn how to volume swell.