Death/Extreme Metal bassists: Lets see your boards.

I plan on returning to the metal scene in the not too distant future, but I also have a pt pro which I plan on using for this that also works for my current gig(variety band) , but I will say from spending 10 years playing metal exclusively, I think you'd benefit from a b7k moreso, or have both!! I say this cuz most venue's will run you direct, and most will want a pre affected signal, making any dirt or chorus only heard onstage, unless you have a b7k, which is the best you can get in any price range IMO !! I would go tuner, comp, b3k,chorus, or put comp last, your choice, I'll post a picture here tommorow(can't do it on my phone), but I have at the moment 4 layers of dirt, 2 comps, oc2, EH bass microsynth(for phantom lord/tom sawyer intro sounds), fx25(can get cliff burton like wah sounds if I dig in), Ibanez sc10 chorus, into b7k last, cool thread, I am curious what current metal bassist use for their boards!!

 

Which DOD chorus do you have?? I dug the deep freeze the most, got me nice sparkly sounds!!

 

Yeah, I had the older DOD bass chorus, it was cool,but a little dull compare to the later DOD deep freeze.

as far as comps are concerned, bongomania has a very cool page dedicated mostly to compressors, but I know that running it first thing is preferred by most, it works on compressing your bass itself, but it can also kill touch response in dirt pedals, but you can get a more consistent drive sound. I run my trace Elliot comp last before my b7k to make sure a nice, even signal goes to direct box, plus my dirt/filter are allowed to respond to my dynamics, but I do plan on trying the comp upfront to see what I might be missing, having comp last can bring up noise level, so keep that in mind!! I will say though, just my opinion, but I'm truly convinced that a dual band compressor is the way to go for metal bassist, and not the crappy digitech one!! The FEA labs SMX is a super high speed version of my trace, and there are others, but Its the first where I can cut through with ease and sit in the mix perfect, I just compress the lows a bunch and just a tiny bit on highs, wish I had one when I was playing metal

edit: bongo's site is called ovnilab btw, very cool!!

 

I'm sure others more experienced will chime in... But you do get what you pay for with comps, but I've heard good about the milk box!!

seven years ago was the last time I played metal, my board was tuner, digitech bass squeeze (awful), DOD bass overdrive (set clean with tone cranked, real bright sound)into DOD bass grunge(for everything but clean parts, blend real low), stacked i got a nice cranked amp tone that neither could achieve indivually, digitech bass synth wah, DOD deep freeze, mxr bass preamp/DI(either m80 or 81, can't remember) into svt II full stack!!

I'm much happier with my current board, but still have the DOD dirt pedals(got the grunge new when I was 12)

edit: the digitech comp sounded great in the bedroom, but you disappear in the mix, stay far away, I later got the punch factory(aphex) also terrible...

 

being a pedal addict... i always found it hard to put my pedals into play. i remember using a rusty box, and a wah. that's about it. the fun effects (like fuzz) just gets me lost amidst the blast beats and double kicks

 

As for order, I'd start with this: BASS > tuner > comp > b3k > chorus > AMP and then switch things around, just to see how it sounds.

Links to page explaining the "pedal order theory":
http://m.humbuckermusic.com/peorar.html?more=true
http://www.rolandus.com/blog/2013/03/06/how-to-chain-your-guitar-effects-pedals/

 

Didn't really intend it, but I play metal almost exclusively these days, in 4 different bands, from power metal to extreme thrash/death.

Bass (either Warwick or frankenbass-thing) > wireless > tuner > EBS Billy Sheehan distortion >SansAmp > EBS Comp OR Boss LM-3 (I use this for the more extreme gigs) > GK rig.

The key thing I've discovered is getting enough dirt while keeping enough clean signal to not lose the low end. I use the distortion for highlights or solos, not so much for an 'all the time' thing - the main 'grind' is from the SansAmp and the GK's own sound.

So, plenty of dirt + enough clean signal at the end of it + keeping a lid on it with compressor or limiter = pretty decent, workable setup. Stick to those 3 things and you should be fine.

 

Warwick Corvette Proline --> Boss ODB-3, Fuzzrocious Heliotropic, MXR Analog Chorus

 

Here's mine.

It's a similar board to what you're putting together but with a boost instead of a compressor (I have an onboard limiter on my Hartke HA2500, very useful).

 

Usually just a B7k for me but I also like the Hartke Bass Attack a lot

 

I play mainly oldskool rock style music though, but I suppose I could rip this side of the planet open with my board if needed.

 

Add a wah-wah to your setup, it is great fun! Here you can see/hear mine in action:



[/shameless plug]

 

killer board man!! You got all the DG stuff!!!!
edit: I'm assuming you use the VT as the DI? I bet your rig can destroy planets!!

 

kickass!! Your tone reminds me a little bit like blacky of voivod in spots, your drummer, well whole band is awesome, keep it up!!

 

I don't need effects, I just go <insert best bass for metal>, cable, and amp. I make sure my amp isn't too loud so the guitarists and drummer don't hear me. Please note humor

 

My chain is whatever bass I'm using, MXR Compressor -> B7K (blend @ 2 oclock, level 12, drive 9, mids boosted, treble cut, grunt on RAW), Darkglass VMT for full drive, Sansamp RBI with drive at 12 and mids boosted into my GK MB800 Fusion.
The B7K is an always on pedal with the drive set pretty low, and when I need heavy drive in just a single part of a song I hit the VMT. When I can run distortion for the whole song I tend to boost the B7K's drive to 75% and then lower the level to balance the volume.

We're releasing this video today for our 3rd single. It's got plenty of my tone up front.


Our other 2 released songs are here http://www.reverbnation.com/hexcampaign

 

a lot of people say that octaves aren't metal. i think otherwise.