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Classic Rock Bass sound

F

FranciscoJP3D

Jan 14, 2024
14
12
#1
Hello, everyone. I am new here, but I am not new to playing Bass. I am starting a classic rock band with some friends. Nothing too serious like before, but we are planning to do some gigs around town. I have a Fender Precision bass and a Harke Head and cab. I haven't played in years, so to practice at home, I got a Zoom B1. But now with the band I wonder I will need something better. I used to have a Boss pedal board because I am not a fan of having many small pedals. I like simple sounds for now. We are paying Grand Funk, so I have a very thick sound with Zoom, and it sounds OK to practice, but I would like something a little more real.
Sorry for the long intro, guys; My question is, Would you recommend getting a bigger Zoom like a B2 or something similar in the multi-effect realm, with all these new 'Modelers', or should I go the route of single pedals? I think for me, it would be a compressor, something to flex my sound (EQ or pr amp), a distortion such as a Tube screamer. Maybe Chorus? or reverb? Delay? I haven't heard that on Grand Funk Bass or Deep Purple stile.
Thank for your input guys, I have been following this forum for years, Just now I decided to write. Cheers!
 
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#6
Wow, thank you, guys for the fast response; this is great info!
I didn't know about Mojo Mojo or the Blumes; both sound great and about the sound I wanted.
Regarding overdrive, the bass only with the amp, the Harkey head I have doesn't have that option. (LH1000) I used to have an Amper SVT with tall 8x10 speakers, with that one, I had the option of Ovedrive with the head. But that was years ago, now after being out of the music I am starting again that why I got the Hartkey, it seems like a good option for a more 'modern' sound, but now I will play classic rock so, the joke is on me LOL.
Yea I know old timers used to crank their amp and that was it, and today we need to buy effect and pedals to get that old sound, it is funny
 
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#7
I will test those pedals, the Mojo Mojo and the Blumes, and leave the zoom for another effect, such as chorus and whatnot; that's a great idea.

Do you guys use the effect loop in your amps?? or do you run everything linear into the input of the head? I read several opinions but it is always good to ask. I guess I could put the compressor, the overdrive into the head and use the loop with the Zoom for extras?? that's a lot of cables any ways.
Thank you.
 
#9
Once Upon a Time back in the 80s I had this Carvin LB50, it was pretty heavy, set neck, two humbucks, 4 knobs 3-way pickup selector and a micro switch that I never really did figure out what it was for...

I don't know what it was made out of, I think it was solid Maple and it was heavy and it was a little weak so I got a set of EMG humbuckers for bass, and it held one battery in the control cavity that I taped up with electrical tape and laid it up in there. That thing turned into Thunder! Wow... it was impressive and I was playing it through a B200 combo with a 15 and a tweet. I also went through the house sometimes... amazing. Total Rock.
 
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#10
FranciscoJP3D said:
I will test those pedals, the Mojo Mojo and the Blumes, and leave the zoom for another effect, such as chorus and whatnot; that's a great idea.

Do you guys use the effect loop in your amps?? or do you run everything linear into the input of the head? I read several opinions but it is always good to ask. I guess I could put the compressor, the overdrive into the head and use the loop with the Zoom for extras?? that's a lot of cables any ways.
Thank you.
Click to expand...

FranciscoJP3D said:
any specific compressor you would recommend? I like to keep the volume consistent and add more sustain if possible, I don't like too compressed signals.
Click to expand...
I’d try it both ways but I bet it all sounds better running straight into the head.
As far as what compressor, there are many to choose from and I advise you to look at the compressor thread at the top of the effects forum. Personally, I just bought a Walrus Audio Mira and I like it so far. Before that, I was using the compressors in my boss Gt-10b.
 
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#11
FranciscoJP3D said:
Wow, thank you, guys for the fast response; this is great info!
I didn't know about Mojo Mojo or the Blumes; both sound great and about the sound I wanted.
Regarding overdrive, the bass only with the amp, the Harkey head I have doesn't have that option. (LH1000) I used to have an Amper SVT with tall 8x10 speakers, with that one, I had the option of Ovedrive with the head. But that was years ago, now after being out of the music I am starting again that why I got the Hartkey, it seems like a good option for a more 'modern' sound, but now I will play classic rock so, the joke is on me LOL.
Yea I know old timers used to crank their amp and that was it, and today we need to buy effect and pedals to get that old sound, it is funny
Click to expand...
Ah! I forgot that there is not a separate gain/volume on that amp. So getting not-quite-driven warmth from the gain stage being run hot isn’t gonna happen.

I’d recommend a good preamp ahead of the amp to get that classic tone going.
 
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#14
Chorus, Reverb, Delay - I don't recommend these pedals for a classic rock band unless you are trying to replicate a specific tone. These effects are not needed for the majority of classic tunes. (60's through 80's classic rock)

As others have eluded to, try playing through your bass rig with just you and the bass. Learn how that works and choose effects that will help you achieve tones you are looking for in the future. One pedal at a time is what I recommend, otherwise, it's easy to accumulate a bunch of pedals and how no idea how to use them all.

@HelpImaRock makes a fantastic point - try out some effects through your Zoom and see where it takes you. Half the fun of effects is simply experimenting. You can get a broad view of what several of these effects can do for you.

The LH1000 head is basically flat at these settings (Bass, Mid, Treble). 1.5, 10, 1.5. Try setting the LH1000 like that anytime you play and adjust from there. As you turn up the Bass or Treble knobs, you will introduce more midrange scoop. That scoop could work just fine for you or could make your bass tone disappear in the mix.

Effect loops - Try it out! See what your ears tell you. For everything I do with pedals, I always send my pedal signals straight into the input jack.
 
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#15
I've been playing rock and jazz for 40 years. I've used a little compression at times in the studio. I used distortion when I covered a Muse tune. I used a little chorus when I did some Pink Floyd, and had to cover some guitar parts. That's it.

You don't need anything. But experiment.
 
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#17
I have a Zoom B6. I dont play a lot of rock or styles of music that require distortion or speaker breakup but the B6 gives you very very good Amp Sims and allows the use of IRs (including built in ones) to really get as authentic classic amp/cab tones such as the SVT without breaking your lower back hauling around a large rig.......

The only thing I consider possibly better than the B6 is the Helix Stomp, and thats only because it has parallel chaining if thats important to you
 
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#19
FranciscoJP3D said:
Hello, everyone. I am new here, but I am not new to playing Bass. I am starting a classic rock band with some friends. Nothing too serious like before, but we are planning to do some gigs around town. I have a Fender Precision bass and a Harke Head and cab. I haven't played in years, so to practice at home, I got a Zoom B1. But now with the band I wonder I will need something better. I used to have a Boss pedal board because I am not a fan of having many small pedals. I like simple sounds for now. We are paying Grand Funk, so I have a very thick sound with Zoom, and it sounds OK to practice, but I would like something a little more real.
Sorry for the long intro, guys; My question is, Would you recommend getting a bigger Zoom like a B2 or something similar in the multi-effect realm, with all these new 'Modelers', or should I go the route of single pedals? I think for me, it would be a compressor, something to flex my sound (EQ or pr amp), a distortion such as a Tube screamer. Maybe Chorus? or reverb? Delay? I haven't heard that on Grand Funk Bass or Deep Purple stile.
Thank for your input guys, I have been following this forum for years, Just now I decided to write. Cheers!
Click to expand...
look at the sansamp modeling, svt model, B15 model, Acoustic 360, and a amp420 mods in the zoom.
 
#20
Man, I couldn't agree more with starting with just bass>amp and possibly some kind of overdrive or pre to get some dirt (and a tuner of course). I started out in the 70's and while I was a progger and tried as many pedals as I could get my mitts on, the classic sound to me is a Pbass with Roto 66s straight into an SVT. It was simply ubiquitous at the time. There were other amps of course--Sunn, Acoustic, etc. Most bassists didn't use any effects, the overdrive came from the amp or from a DI'd bass hitting a mic pre hard. Compression was done down the line in the studio and at the mix stage, and at FOH for live (still the most common approach anyway for good reason). I wouldn't just slap a compressor in there until you determine you really "need" it. Reverb? Never, for this particular application. Chorus? That's more of an 80's thing.
It's way more flexible to get your dirt from a pedal than to have to rely on your amp to get there these days(and if you need to use backline you're covered for your tone). So many great options--but take a look at the Xotic BB. It's based on a tube screamer, and goes from clean to very overdriven, and everything in-between. No loss of low end, great EQ, and very simple. It's very "amp-ish" in how it feels and sounds IMO. Great pedal--favored by lots of pros: Bass BB v1.5 – Xotic California
 
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