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Do You Use Pedals Or Not?
- Thread starter Levitamin
- Start date
Pedals / Pedalboard - Yes.
"Effects" - not so much. (although I've always had them at home)
I've been wireless since '88. The advent of the Line 6 "pedal" wireless ushered in the pedalboard era for me - freeing me from the "rack"- just about the time I was changing up my sound and trying out new amps and cabs (after 20 + years of an SWR rig)
Mostly a (turbo) tuner, compressor, a Pre/Character pedal, and ParaEQ /H-LPF, although I've just been led down the Sushi Rabbit Hole.
At the same time, if the situation calls for it - I'm comfortable plugging right in, using a TC UniTuneif the situation calls for it.
I just don't like cables, and IME - wireless reduces (potential) hum issues.
"Effects" - not so much. (although I've always had them at home)
I've been wireless since '88. The advent of the Line 6 "pedal" wireless ushered in the pedalboard era for me - freeing me from the "rack"- just about the time I was changing up my sound and trying out new amps and cabs (after 20 + years of an SWR rig)
Mostly a (turbo) tuner, compressor, a Pre/Character pedal, and ParaEQ /H-LPF, although I've just been led down the Sushi Rabbit Hole.
At the same time, if the situation calls for it - I'm comfortable plugging right in, using a TC UniTuneif the situation calls for it.
I just don't like cables, and IME - wireless reduces (potential) hum issues.
Agreed - that is one draw-back. I try to "set & forget" - if possible.
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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If the song calls for effects, obviously you use the appropriate pedals. If the gig has tunes with songs with basslines requiring effects, you bring your effects. If it's like a blues or vintage R&B gig for example, you probably won't be using effects so you leave your pedalboard at home.
i have a small board (2-4 EFX, depending, including: C-4, reverb, tube pre). i use it ~20% - 25% of gigs, maybe. i like it. i'm not dependent. EFX are not a part of the secret signature tone i've developed......that no one else could ever duplicate...
i voted, "sometimes i do, sometimes i don't!"
i voted, "sometimes i do, sometimes i don't!"
I probably should have clarified that I meant effects pedals. If you go bass > tuner > amp, I think that counts as straight in.
Yes. For my electric guitars, I have a pedal-board with a tuner and 11 effect pedals, and mounted underneath are a power supply and a tiny always-on pre-amp. Other than the tuner and pre-amp, my use of the effect pedals depends on what is needed for each song.
I use my bass almost exclusively for recording, and the only pedal I have used with it is a Tech 21 Q-Strip EQ to add or emphasize a bit more high end, which lets me hear more of the attack. (I use flatwound strings.)
I use my bass almost exclusively for recording, and the only pedal I have used with it is a Tech 21 Q-Strip EQ to add or emphasize a bit more high end, which lets me hear more of the attack. (I use flatwound strings.)
Only to mess around at home with. I've been having fun with the EyeMaster pedal. Thing is brutal.
I use pedals, I love them. Some bands it's just a mild OD and a clean boost plus my compressor, but I like bringing the full board out with modulation and such. Not every band's material can use it, but a few can.
I played a gig last summer with an originals band that does not get to play out much, mostly because the tunes are pretty eclectic and many are not family-friendly. So this fellow who used to play this material with our guitarist/singer/BL before he moved away happened to be visiting and was at the show.
He came up to me afterwards and said it sounded great, he was very enthusiastic about my playing and the sound of the tunes. He said something to the effect of "when I saw your pedalboard I got worried because usually a bassist with a bunch of pedals sucks - but you didn't! And you actually used the pedals in cool musical ways!!"
Stoked! Years of work and effort paid off! Hahaha!
He was a total hoot. I kind of wished he would move back into town and be our 2nd guitar/keys player. But not really an option.
I played a gig last summer with an originals band that does not get to play out much, mostly because the tunes are pretty eclectic and many are not family-friendly. So this fellow who used to play this material with our guitarist/singer/BL before he moved away happened to be visiting and was at the show.
He came up to me afterwards and said it sounded great, he was very enthusiastic about my playing and the sound of the tunes. He said something to the effect of "when I saw your pedalboard I got worried because usually a bassist with a bunch of pedals sucks - but you didn't! And you actually used the pedals in cool musical ways!!"
Stoked! Years of work and effort paid off! Hahaha!
He was a total hoot. I kind of wished he would move back into town and be our 2nd guitar/keys player. But not really an option.
Fits in my gig bag, or I probably wouldn't bring it to gigs. None of it is really "necessary" for my band, but it's fun to turn sometimes during Pink Floyd like tunes or when we get into funky jams, only gets used (other than the tuner) about 5% of the time.
Also, this is an old pic, the OC-3 is now an OC-5.
Where is the line tho? Is a compressor a utility pedal or an effect? EQ? What about a DI with a gain control?
This is why I say if you use pedals, well, you use pedals. There's no shame in it. Not here, TGP, or "real life". Pedals are cool. The musician might not be, but that's a different story.
My main preamp is a pedal, or more accurately multi-FX: an Ampero II Stomp. So yeah, an effect pedal is the core of my tone.
If talking about additional effects, I may use a compressor before (pedal type) or after (1176-type) the preamp. I may use an overdrive or fuzz before the preamp, or a chorus after the preamp.
I sometimes use a bi-amp, or split signal. I often use the overdrive and chorus in one channel, leaving the other channel clean or just slightly compressed.
If talking about additional effects, I may use a compressor before (pedal type) or after (1176-type) the preamp. I may use an overdrive or fuzz before the preamp, or a chorus after the preamp.
I sometimes use a bi-amp, or split signal. I often use the overdrive and chorus in one channel, leaving the other channel clean or just slightly compressed.
Mainly different flavours and layers of drive, an occasional chorus, phase, octave and wah- dependant on the band I'm playing with.
Whilst I own filters, fuzzes and synths and many more, they don't tend to be used at the moment.
I still 'acquire' pedals from time to time, but they tend to be more in the vein of amp type emulations these days.
Whilst I own filters, fuzzes and synths and many more, they don't tend to be used at the moment.
I still 'acquire' pedals from time to time, but they tend to be more in the vein of amp type emulations these days.
I love playing with pedals, particularly grit and dirt. I spent a lot of time with just my bass into my GK but honestly I don't think I've ever loved my tone as much as I do now.
Yes, just a few sweeteners that let me dial in what I want/ need. But if they don't fit in this self-contained setup, they don't get used.
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
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I have two different pedalboards.
The main one has a Mesa Subway+ DI, an MXR Chorus and Compressor in its effects loop, and a Polytune in the tuner out. (the Alembic DS-5 is prior to all that...)
My secondary pedalboard has an array of Boss pedals including Chorus, Synth, Acoustic Simulation, and a Broughton Lowpass Filter.
The main one has a Mesa Subway+ DI, an MXR Chorus and Compressor in its effects loop, and a Polytune in the tuner out. (the Alembic DS-5 is prior to all that...)
My secondary pedalboard has an array of Boss pedals including Chorus, Synth, Acoustic Simulation, and a Broughton Lowpass Filter.
No shame at all. Compressor is 100% an effect, as it alters the sound/behavior of the input signal. Tuner, DI and line switchers are utility because they do not.
I use effects as the situation calls for it. I have a small-ish board with seven pedals on it.
Tuner (used as needed)
Comp (always on)
Very light OD (almost always on)
Octave (used as needed)
Heavy OD (used as needed)
Some type of light modulation (used as needed)
Pre amp (used as a mid boost when needed)
I currently play in a band that is guitar/bass/drums with a singer who sometimes plays guitar too. This line-up leaves a lot of room to fill when the guitar player takes a solo, so I have a few options on how to fill up that space. If I were in a band with a second guitar or keyboard my board would probably be similar. Always running through comp and light OD, but I would probably drop the octave for more modulation options.
I feel like I'm using a pedal correctly when I'm not that excited to turn it on. It is just what is needed for that instance.
Tuner (used as needed)
Comp (always on)
Very light OD (almost always on)
Octave (used as needed)
Heavy OD (used as needed)
Some type of light modulation (used as needed)
Pre amp (used as a mid boost when needed)
I currently play in a band that is guitar/bass/drums with a singer who sometimes plays guitar too. This line-up leaves a lot of room to fill when the guitar player takes a solo, so I have a few options on how to fill up that space. If I were in a band with a second guitar or keyboard my board would probably be similar. Always running through comp and light OD, but I would probably drop the octave for more modulation options.
I feel like I'm using a pedal correctly when I'm not that excited to turn it on. It is just what is needed for that instance.
