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Discovering the deal with effects

Evil Undead

Evil Undead

Oct 31, 2009
3,844
587
#1
A while ago I was in complete ignorance where it came to bass effects and didn't really understand why anyone would want to use them. Bass sounds great on it's own, right? Bit strange considering I'm heavily into Cliff Burton :rolleyes:

So anyway, I was recently listening to a guitar solo and thinking that it sounded awesome with wah, and so I started looking in to bass effects. I have had (for about 6 months) a Zoom B1 multi effects unit to mess around with, but found it so complicated that I only used it for the tuner and the drum machine which seems like a bit of a waste of time really.

I guess the point of my lengthy and rather dull rambling is, would you guys be able to suggest some ways of expanding my horizons where it comes to bass effects, pedal boards, etc? I know nothing, even after reading about it all I still wouldn't know what order to put everything on the board etc.

Bear in mind that I'm a lowly paid worker bee, so I can't afford much :spit:

Thanks :bassist:
 
#3
Yeah? Ok. I'll have another bash at the zoom. Haha, the thing screwed with my head so much last time I tried to figure it out, that the thought of trying it again almost scares me a little!
 
#5
I've been in the same position as the OP for years, going back and forth about whether I want to use effects at all, and if so what. Here are my thoughts:

First, it's perfectly fine to NOT use effects.

Second, I agree that the Zoom is the perfect place to start experimenting and learning, especially given that you already have one (and don't have the dough to buy a bunch of other stuff).

Third, the way to get around the complexity and overwhelmingness of the Zoom is to break the task down into manageable chunks. Pick one effect -- say, octave, or distortion, or chorus -- and focus on just that for a few days. Get out the manual, figure out how to turn on that particular effect, and experiment with the various settings -- as if you had bought a pedal for that particular effect to try it out. There's no hurry, right? Then, pick a different effect the next week and focus on that one, etc.

Fourth -- and maybe most important -- be advised that what sounds good while you're messing around in your living room or basement might not work at all in a band context. So once you've found something you like while playing alone, bring it along the next time you're playing with other folks and try it out there. You might like it either more or less in that context, and there isn't really any other way to find out for sure.
 
#6
Start with one effect that you like. Figure it out. Live with it. Learn it's in's and out's. Then add another effect and do the same.

People usually try to mix to much to fast and it becomes jfkdlsfjkds;fjdksjfkds;jfkd rather than distinct sounds.

You can do this with the zoom also.


.
 
#7
Lobster11 said:
First, it's perfectly fine to NOT use effects.

Second, I agree that the Zoom is the perfect place to start experimenting and learning, especially given that you already have one (and don't have the dough to buy a bunch of other stuff).

Third, the way to get around the complexity and overwhelmingness of the Zoom is to break the task down into manageable chunks. Pick one effect -- say, octave, or distortion, or chorus -- and focus on just that for a few days. Get out the manual, figure out how to turn on that particular effect, and experiment with the various settings -- as if you had bought a pedal for that particular effect to try it out. There's no hurry, right? Then, pick a different effect the next week and focus on that one, etc.

Fourth -- and maybe most important -- be advised that what sounds good while you're messing around in your living room or basement might not work at all in a band context. So once you've found something you like while playing alone, bring it along the next time you're playing with other folks and try it out there. You might like it either more or less in that context, and there isn't really any other way to find out for sure.
Click to expand...

This is all pretty good advice. The thing about the Zoom is that once you get to a level of comfort with it, it becomes pretty easy to use. You may have to keep a manual in your gig bag to remember the led code for every effect, but you'll have most of them down and be able to tweak to a level you're comfortable with.

Another options is to start looking for singles, which involves a lot of shopping and trying out and hitting and missing. It's fun, but expensive, and consumes a lot of time trying to find the sounds you like best. The good thing about this one is when you find your sound it is exactly right and not a compromise, but it may have run you $1000 to find it. The last option is to look for a more intuitive, and likely more expensive multi effect. Line6 M9 and 13 are the most intuitive IMO, but are overwhelming to start with even for experienced effects users, not to mention expensive. Easy to use, hard to choose which effects inside the unit you want.

Good luck.
 
#8
With the world going digital you are going to have to learn to deal with UI (User Interface) soon and the B1 is a good place to start. Start with a simple sound, turn everything off and build up your sounds from there. The b1 has a good selection of the usual and some unusual sounds so you can discover what you like and want to use. BTW there are user cheat sheets for the B1 & B2 around find them and use them.
 
#10
My first recommendation would be to listen to records. Lots of records. Whenever you come upon a song that's got some really cool effected bass, google that song and/or ask us. Find out what pedals make sounds you like, find good deals on said pedals (our classifieds section is great for this), then buy them one at a time.
 
#11
All great advice, thank you

I shall have another bash with the Zoom, and possibly add a Wah as well, when I can afford to.

Few more further questions along the same topic if no-one minds?

Firstly, I noticed when I use the Zoom, it cuts my sustain right down. Kind mutes it out. Is that normal, or am I doing something wrong?

Secondly, I'm vaguely aware that pedals have to go in certain orders. So if I managed to get hold of a Wah, would I put it between the amp and the Zoom, or between the bass and the Zoom?

Lastly, I've seen dirt cheap Wah pedals for guitar on ebay (like, £15 shipped) are these going to be any good for bass, or at all in fact? Or just ****? :D
 
#12
The Zoom comes with a bunch of preset patches, each a combination of various specific effects. I think what's happening is that when you turn the unit it on, it automatically turns on the first preset patch (labeled "A0," or something like that). Try changing it to some other preset patch ("A1," or "B2," or whatever), and see what happens. Indeed, this is probably the easiest way to begin exploring effects with the Zoom: i.e., just making use of the many preset patches that come with it. (Apparently you don't care for patch A0!)

Given your other questions, I think you're getting ahead of yourself on the wah thing. Before you start looking into a separate pedal, experiment with the autowah effect on the Zoom unit, and/or any of the preset patches that use it. (But yes, there are wah pedals made specifically for bass, and you'd almost certainly want one of those rather than one made for guitar.)
 
#13
The placement of the wah in your effects chain depends on the type of effects you're using in the zoom. I own a 105Q Bass Wah and usually run it before dirt and after octavers, but that's the sound I like.
Experimenting with effect order is something you'll have to do to learn which effect order gets you the sounds you're looking for.
 

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