Best bass effects for 3-piece

[Deleted member 165050]

Looking for ideas for bass effects to fill out the sound in a 3-piece rock format, primarily for when the guitarist switches to lead passages i.e. single note. I already have a bazillion pedals I built in lockdown including octave, fuzz and overdrive but looking for something more. Maybe EHX bass mono synth or POG? All suggestions welcome although not wanting to go down the routing of adding a hex pickup... well not just yet anyway.

 

[AlvarHanso]

I love using Shimmer Reverb in a power trio as a kind of keyboad pad. Works specially well if you do spacey or psychedelic jams. If not, the POG achieves similar sounds on the higher end, and can thicken up on the low alone as well. Part of the success of this kind of idea is two amps, one clean, one effected, keeping he fundamental strong and adding extra harmonics. Adaptations to one's playing style may be ncessary, as well, such as holding some notes out a big longer, depending on the effect. Trios can be a very fun challenge!

 

[Boomhowertx]

Limiter compressor maybe? I have Boss octave and bass chorus pedals in my pedalboard, but neber use them.

What style music, and how big or intimate the setting?

 

[HelpImaRock]

Just started playing in a new trio. This is my board:

View media item 25549
I don't think there's much more to do, at least in this band.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Just started playing in a new trio. This is my board:

Invalid Link Removed

I don't think there's much more to do, at least in this band.

Can't see it?

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Quickly put this together from my DIY pedals... from R to L: compressor, octave (OC2 clone), 6-band EQ, dual ring modulator fuzz, arpeggiator (Arpanoid clone), 4-head delay. Not sure about the ring mod, probably a POG would be better.

 

[HelpImaRock]

Can't see it?

fix'd

 

[Spent]

Me pedal I found very useful when I played I a three piece was a distortion/fuzz/overdrive with a parallel clean channel. I would kick on my distortion/fuzz/overdrive during the guitar solo to fill in the empty space left when he stopped playing chords. The bass didn’t change, but there was some noise in the background and it did make a difference.

 

[Manticore]

A six string bass is the answer. Tapping a bass lines with the left hand and comping chords with the right does the trick...

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

This is what I do in my power trio, and it works pretty well. Lately, I've been using the guitar simulation on all the time.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Buy a MIDI pedal board and add more sounds with your big toe.

 

[bigtone23]

It's pretty classic to add some sort of octave, dirt and comp to fill out a power trio.

 

[Gothic]

Maybe something like the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]? Does a lot of stuff.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Looking for ideas for bass effects to fill out the sound in a 3-piece rock format, primarily for when the guitarist switches to lead passages i.e. single note. I already have a bazillion pedals I built in lockdown including octave, fuzz and overdrive but looking for something more. Maybe EHX bass mono synth or POG? All suggestions welcome although not wanting to go down the routing of adding a hex pickup... well not just yet anyway.

Tuner, compressor, drive (of some sort), and anything else would just be for fun.

 

[JonathanPDX]

Chorus is great in this setting, especially if you are doubling piano/organ parts and/or tapping. A little chorus will thicken things up a lot and a big wet shimmery chorus will change your bass tone entirely.

An EHX Freeze Pedal is super versatile and really handy, especially if you have times when the changes are slow or there's a droning note underneath. You can latch a note or chord and then comp or even solo over the top.

Adding a synth pedal that lets you play bass notes with your feet (a la Rush) is another option, though it takes a lot more work than just adding a stompbox to your board. I'm currently playing with a Line 6 HX Effects unit trying to set up some patches to fill this role.

 

[Wasnex]

IMHO, the best answer is to choose the right songs and arrangements to play, instead of adding effects to the bass. Then the guitarist has to play the right types of parts to fill out the sound...even when he/she is soloing.

Consider choosing songs with a busier bass line.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Looking for ideas for bass effects to fill out the sound in a 3-piece rock format, primarily for when the guitarist switches to lead passages i.e. single note. I already have a bazillion pedals I built in lockdown including octave, fuzz and overdrive but looking for something more. Maybe EHX bass mono synth or POG? All suggestions welcome although not wanting to go down the routing of adding a hex pickup... well not just yet anyway.

POG for an upper octave?

 

[hrodbert696]

IMHO, the best answer is to choose the right songs and arrangements to play, instead of adding effects to the bass. Then the guitarist has to play the right types of parts to fill out the sound...even when he/she is soloing.

Consider choosing songs with a busier bass line.

That's a conversation to have with a guitarist that may or may not go anywhere. I've played with great guitarists who completely got it and played solos in a way that didn't leave emptiness between us that I felt I had to fill. I've also played with guitarists who were dedicated to recreating the original solo from the recording, exactly as it was played, and never mind that the original recording has a rhythm guitarist behind the solo that we don't have in our band. A lot depends on what the OP's guitarist is willing and able to do.

In power trio playing covers, my solution is to embrace "gimmicky" and go with a Royal Blood-type setup - two amps and split my signal with an octave-up that then hits OD or an organ simulator (C9). With a PitchFork I can add a 5th up too and have power chords under that solo. "Gimmicky" doesn't bother me - it's an electrical instrument in the first place and additional circuits just expand the potential of the instrument.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

IMHO, the best answer is to choose the right songs and arrangements to play, instead of adding effects to the bass. Then the guitarist has to play the right types of parts to fill out the sound...even when he/she is soloing.

Consider choosing songs with a busier bass line.

It's original material...

 

[Wasnex]

That's a conversation to have with a guitarist that may or may not go anywhere. I've played with great guitarists who completely got it and played solos in a way that didn't leave emptiness between us that I felt I had to fill. I've also played with guitarists who were dedicated to recreating the original solo from the recording, exactly as it was played, and never mind that the original recording has a rhythm guitarist behind the solo that we don't have in our band. A lot depends on what the OP's guitarist is willing and able to do.

In power trio playing covers, my solution is to embrace "gimmicky" and go with a Royal Blood-type setup - two amps and split my signal with an octave-up that then hits OD or an organ simulator (C9). With a PitchFork I can add a 5th up too and have power chords under that solo. "Gimmicky" doesn't bother me - it's an electrical instrument in the first place and additional circuits just expand the potential of the instrument.

IMHO, If the guitarist is unwilling or unable to adapt and play in a way that sounds good in a power trio, then it's probably better to find somebody else for power trio gigs.

That's not to say I am opposed to using effects, experimenting, and having fun. What you are are doing sounds great! But I think it should be used to enhance the musical experience rather than trying to cover for an inflexible or inadequate player.

As always YMMV.