Does anybody just plug and play anymore?

[Watchootognbout]

Yes.
The only effect that I have are a Bass Pod,Hartke Bass Attack, and a Zoom B2.1u.
But I find that I really don't use them that much at all.

 

[cnltb]

Yes. 99% of the time.

 

[brianrost]

If the bass and amp don't sound good by themselves, then it's time for another bass and amp.

I do cheat and use a high pass filter with my DB to control feedback with amps that don't have one.

 

[lfmn16]

I have an EQ to adjust the volume and tone of my upright to where it's in line with my electric. Does that count as no nonsense? Because I really want to be part of the No Nonsense Club!

Sorry Jimmy but real men pluck the strings with their teeth and adjust the eq with their gums; they don't need those fancy pants finger things and show-off amplifiers

 

[middy]

Besides the different sounds I can get from my hands and my amp's eq, I only use three effects: a pick, and the volume and tone knobs on my bass.

We don't play covers, and every effect I've tried... It just sounds better off. A delay is fun to play with by myself, though.

I would like to try a low pass filter with an expression pedal for some synthy sweeps... I just know I'd probably never use it.

 

[Snibborwocky]

Yep, every single day I get a chance. Bass ---> cord ---> amp ---> GO.

 

[Canadian APII]

This thread got me thinking so I went and fired up my rig. NOTHING! Well it is early eighties vintage anyway. I guess it is time to shop for a new set up. Thanks guys.

 

[OrganicRobot]

Yes

 

[Plutonium244]

I forgot. I use a tuner now too. after all the years I've played this is the first one I've ever had.

I used to use a tuner in my rack, but now, in my golden age of simplicity and small gear, I have been using an $8 Snark tuner that just clips on the headstock and can tune without any volume through the amp/speakers. Simplicity, and affordable.

 

[Plutonium244]

Of course if you're playing into a tube head you are getting a little soft compression whether you're aware of it or not.

All this reminds me of something I'd like to acquire, advice appreciated. I am into using micro heads whenever possible, mainly an Aguilar TH-350 right now. My only complaint is that there is no on-board compression.

What's a high-quality micro amp in the 350-800W range that has built-in compression?

Don't wanna hafta use a pedal! That's just one more thing to plug in, I don't have time for that @^*%

But srsly, high quality micro amp w/ compression suggestions appreciated.

 

[beatlebass64]

Is there any other way?

 

[gorneyg]

The only way to travel.

 

[Petethebassman]

Bass->cable ->head->speaker cable-> cabinet(s). That's all, folks! (cue Looney Tunes theme)

And that's all I've needed in the 34 years I've played bass. And in all these years I've never, ever been asked "Do you have any effects?"

 

[Plutonium244]

If the bass and amp don't sound good by themselves, then it's time for another bass and amp.

I do cheat and use a high pass filter with my DB to control feedback with amps that don't have one.

Well, yeah, you gotta... that's not an effect, really, and a must for DB in my opinion.

 

[MaxThroughput]

I play a Carvin Icon6 through an Ampeg SVT VR and 410. I go straight from the bass to the amp, no effects. I love the tone that I can dial in with my 18v preamp. It feels wrong to cover it up with effects. I'm considering a volume pedal to increase the volume in chorus changes etc.

 

[jazzyvee]

Yep I'm a plug and play kind of guy. The only situation I can think of at the moment where I would use an effect is if I was playing something by Parliament Funkadelic. That hasn't happened yet.

 

[40Hz]

Bass->cable ->head->speaker cable-> cabinet(s). That's all, folks! (cue Looney Tunes theme)

... in all these years I've never, ever been asked "Do you have any effects?"

Same here. Not even once.

Some moons ago however, at the start of an audition, I was asked if I was "one of those bass players who's really into effects." I told them I didn't use any and could see an immediate look of relief wash over their faces.

I do own some effects. But they're kept at home. I ditz with them purely for my own amusement, or when I'm screwing around on a guitar.

 

[Rogatien022]

Always.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I tend to split my time between fairly "normal" rock, jazz, funk, theater, & general business gigs on the one hand, and really marginalized/fringe non-commercial musics (e.g., avant-garde comprovisational chamber jazz, ambient/noise, neo-contemporary post-prog math-rock, etc.) on the other.

For the former, I have nothing between my bass and my amp except a cable.
For the later, I have everything between my bass and my amp...by which I mean, I don't just bring one or two stompboxes or pick&choose pedals based on the gig; if the music requires I use signal processing, I bring all of it, everything I own, the whole kit'n'kaboodle.

I tend to be a bit more attracted to the music produced by those latter ensembles, but to be honest I much prefer the logistics of the simple plug-and-play gigs!

 

[bearfoot]

Live - I prefer an amp'd tone to straight DI, some sound engineers like to have both channels. There are FX that I would carefully use if I had them, and am always looking to improve my overall rig.

Recorded - I will use any software effect in the array, but have learned the hard way why you almost never want to record with FX. It sounds great going in, but turns to soup in the mix. Most of my mixes end up with little to no FX except the turning of compression knobs. Post processing is my friend.

I agree with the conventional wisdom of using as little effect as possible. As it is with reverb, any effect is easily overdone. It's amazing how little is needed in the blend, for instance with most reverb settings in my mixes the 'verb is seldom beyond 10%.