Hi, I have been playing bass for 40yrs and never used effects peddles, I now play in tribute band playing UB40 and have purchased a Boss ME50B effects peddle, I am looking for advice and suggestions on the best settings and effects to use, at the moment my bass gets lost in the mix even though my volume is nearly 3/4 my rig consists of a markbass little 3 with a markbass 151p traveller cab my bass is a customised bass with Delano P bass pickups and a fender high mass bridge and di’addario flatwounds
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Effects for reggae
- Thread starter Gary1964
- Start date
What is the ME50 not doing for you? I’m not a multi-FX fan, so I’d look into an EQ pedal first, like the Source Audio, or even just an MXR graphic, to further tweak tonality, and then perhaps a synth box of some kind. What out of the ordinary is used on the original recordings?
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I'd say reggae music would need a dedicated envelope filter...like a q Tron, or mxr bass envelope...something to give clean quacky sounds. Then an octaver of some sort, like a pog, mxr octave deluxe, or sub,n,up. Something that can get you into the deep dub sounds when needed.
Some of my favourites for Reggae:
Probably most importantly is playing technique - plucking near the neck. Don't get new strings. And roll back the tone.
You can muck about with envelope filters and octavers and synths for more modern sounds but that's not traditionally what's used for Reggae and not what I'd think UB40 used on the stuff I've heard.
- Good EQ (My favorite has been the Q strip) to boost around the 80-200hz sort of area.
- HPF and LPF to cut highs and the very lows.
- Compression with a HPF sidechain so it doesn't squish the lows too much (Empress, and FEA Opti-FET are good for this)
- Mild drive to add a tiny bit of grit (Creation Audio Grizzly Bass on mild settings)
- One Control Crimson Red (Instant dubbyness)
- Amp with a lot of headroom and a hefty 2x12 cab.
Probably most importantly is playing technique - plucking near the neck. Don't get new strings. And roll back the tone.
You can muck about with envelope filters and octavers and synths for more modern sounds but that's not traditionally what's used for Reggae and not what I'd think UB40 used on the stuff I've heard.
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An envelope filter? An octaver? We're clearly listening to different reggae.
An envelope filter? An octaver? We're clearly listening to different reggae.
boss OC5
Or mxr vintage deluxe
And a good comp
reggae has always been pretty clean
99% of reggae bass is about technique. Roll off the tone on your instrument. Turn up the bass, turn down the treble on your amp and focus on smooth, even playing with no fret noise.
Here's an older UB40 discussion if you want to copy some of their keybass sounds: noob in effects need help UB40 content
Here's an older UB40 discussion if you want to copy some of their keybass sounds: noob in effects need help UB40 content
Too funny! I was thinking exactly the same thing.An envelope filter? An octaver? We're clearly listening to different reggae.
Classic reggae = no tweeter action, push the lows and low mids, be felt as well as heard.
No effects needed for reggae. Boost bass, cut treble and high mids. Flatwound strings and cabs with 15s are great for that sound as well.
BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
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- Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
Indeed. Flabba Holt plays the fattest basslines with Israel Vibration on a Steinberger with - I suspect - rounds. But he FEELS what he plays, he IS what he plays. And that makes all the difference in the world.
And here with pink strings, which most likely are not flats.
What I would do: Adjust EQ at the amp for heavy bass and no treble. Use neck pickup. Compressor always on. Maybe some chorus when a special effect is desired. Nothing else. If you're still having trouble being heard, add some mids.
The only effect that comes to mind is the DOD FX25 as used by Bill Laswell. It's an envelope filter, but he sets it so it just barely opens up when he digs in a bit, giving a burpy sound. The rest of the time it's just removing all the high end. He's been using it on his dub lines for decades.
Heck, try a crossover
Heck, try a crossover
Effects are not the answer to being lost in the mix. Talk to your bandmates. Talk to the person running your live sound. The band needs to agree as a whole on what the band should sound like. Whether that means the bass should be upfront or the bass should be buried in the mix, that needs to be understood and agreed upon. The solution to your problem is clear communication.
