effects pedal for more "fill" of sonic space

[lfmn16]

1. it's the whole band's problem to fix. ex. drums should change up more, guitarist should solo better,

+1

There's no one size fits all solution, but it always starts with the whole band and starts BEFORE the solo. The guitar player needs to understand how to play in a three piece band and that means you don't blow the doors down with big fat chords and then hit the solo and disappear. The more the guitarist understands this, the less there is to "fill in" during solos. The drums and bass need to hit the groove a little hard and I think it helps if the bass simplifies, not throws more notes at the problem. Plus, learn to embrace the space. Too many bands throw a wall of sound at the audience all night long. If you do all that first, there is less that needs "fixing" with effects and they will be more effect-ive.

I also like the idea of a signal splitter. Maybe send one signal to an octave pedal into a guitar amp to subtlety fill in when appropriate.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Changing up playing style will get you further than any pedal. But if you want to try the effect route, I'd get either a Helix or HX Stomp and make a patch with some subtle pitch up, one octave and some chorus and/or reverb on that split off signal path going into a cleanish guitar amp model. Still need to change up the playing style unless you want something like the old country tic tac sound.

 

[40Hz]

I suppose I want a bit of both, but primarily to "occupy more space"

If that's the case then what you'll want to try is increasing the "dwell" or sustain of your individual notes so that there's less relative empty space and dropped level between them.

That can be accomplished using a:

• Delay - dozens to choose from. I prefer a tape echo type delay. Ideally one that also emulates the sound of the preamp found in an old Echoplex. I used an an Echoplex back in the 80s just for its preamp vibe.
• Reverb (works best at low volume levels -delay is a better choice IMO) Best reverb for bass is the Iron Ether Nimbus.
• Compressor - ideally a "colorizing" as opposed to transparent compressor. The Mad Professor Forest Green and Doc Lloyd Photon Death Ray being but two examples of that type of compressor.
• Boost/Overdrive - a low to medium OD can add fullness without altering your tone. The Southampton Fifth Gear is one of many good choices.
• Fuzz - would need to be applied with a light touch, but fuzz can add a pleasant thickening sauce to the mix without needing to be cranked to psychedelic rock levels.

 

[micguy]

Even for something simple and non-exotic like a blues you can take up quite a bit of sonic space plucking the root with your thumb then plucking the root and the the octave simultaneously with your index and middle.

My index finger plays the root, my middle finger plays the fifth or octave in a lot of situations. If someone doesn't like all the octaves I'm playing, well....metaphorically and to some extent literally, I'm giving them the middle finger - which I never mention.

 

[fishdreams]

Ive had good success with adding a touch of octaver (-1 octave, sorta 30% in the wet,) just bottoming out the sound in a way that people wont notice the octaver being there.

A touch of subtle minimal delay and/or compression can help to act as a thickener.

 

[Sid Fang]

Doubt that you'd really want to go this far, but when I think of "occupying more space" with a bass, I think of plugging my MIDI-enabled bass into a laptop and having some layers of pads and sequenced arpeggios swelling up behind my bass notes.

 

[Ffreddy]

sounds like you need a subharmonic synthesizer

 

[Ron Berenato]

Effects are great when used correctly. They're awful when they're not. I heard Quiet Riot back in their heyday and Rudy Sarzo had a flanger on the entire time. I always thought their sound was thin but the flanger didn't help at all in my opinion and I'm assuming he was using it for fattening/filling out his sound. It's too bad because he's a great player. I'd rather hear more tasteful notes than a thick effect. Leon Wilkinson's lines in Simple Man come to mind. His playing makes the song. Any Rush song (minus the heavy synth years) has great bass fills without effects.

 

[Rib 13]

I'm looking for a effects pedal...
I'd like to e-x-p-a-n-d my volume to fill sonic space behind our soloing guitarist in 3-piece (git/bass/drums primarily instrumental) group.
Not looking for crunch/distortion...our sound is clean.
Its not a matter of needing to be "louder", and I don't need it all of the time, just when my bass line is simple and there is airspace between my notes, but not wanting to "overplay" behind the jamming guitarist.
I'm demo-ing a Boss Chorus pedal, which helps....just want to know what other options I might consider.
Any suggestions of pedals I might try?

Keep your strings as new and fresh as possible (the piano wire tone) and allow that rich harmonic structure to help fill the backing gradient. Id start there

 

[smogg]

A touch of dirt with a touch of modulation (I like chorus) helps fill the void for me. Looks like you have a "legit" excuse to try some new pedals.

 

[GrapeBass]

Octave and OD/Distortion can help you sound BIG, other effects (IME) not so much. Compression does help but not that significantly IMO.

 

[OOD]

Overdrive or fuzz with a clean blend sometimes sounds like a doubling effect to me, even without a clean blend actually. Just be careful not to lose too much low end or mids.

Octave pedals fill out space really well if you like how they sound.

reverb is one of those that fills out a ton of space, but it usually muddies the mix too much. You could try a short delay for a similar effect with less chaos.

You pretty much just have to try it to see what works. Most effects add depth to the sound. You can ask 10 bassists what the best are and get 30 different answers.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I asked a very similar question in a recent thread

My solution so far has been an OC2 clone and a POG2 for when I want octaves, and a Darkglass overdrive to fatten the sound. I already use chords from double stop to all 5 strings stopped. For me delay/reverb/chorus aren't right but they work for a lot of folks. I wouldn't put the focus too much on what guitar or drums is or isn't doing, in a 3-piece this is precisely where the right bassist doing the right things really elevates the whole band and it's an opportunity to be creative and push the envelope a little.

 

[matante]

Listen to the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Led Zeppelin, U2... lots of bands that were trios as far as instrumentation. Those bassists didn't need delay or reverb to fill out the sound during solos. It's one thing to say you want effects to make a cool sound, but I reject the premise that a trio *needs* to sound more full.

 

[velobob]

some great suggestions here, thanks!

 

[Maynjo]

Compressor is one option, but I also think something like the Darkglass Harmonic Booster will help with what you're asking for.

 

[Sid Fang]

I'm looking for a effects pedal...
I'd like to e-x-p-a-n-d my volume to fill sonic space behind our soloing guitarist in 3-piece (git/bass/drums primarily instrumental) group.
Not looking for crunch/distortion...our sound is clean.
...
Any suggestions of pedals I might try?

They are old, rare and magnificent, but I think you can find one at something better than the asking price on this particular unit [indeed, further down the same page on Reverb]. It's an analog flanger (Boss' last) that also just happens to have a subtle but very nice "grit" to it, which gives me an amazing snarl, playing round-wounds fingerstyle. Boss BF-2B Bass Flanger | Reverb

(I think that guy really doesn't want to sell it, but figures, "OK, if I can get a grand for it....")

 

[Ric5]

I'm looking for a effects pedal...
I'd like to e-x-p-a-n-d my volume to fill sonic space behind our soloing guitarist in 3-piece (git/bass/drums primarily instrumental) group.
Not looking for crunch/distortion...our sound is clean.
Its not a matter of needing to be "louder", and I don't need it all of the time, just when my bass line is simple and there is airspace between my notes, but not wanting to "overplay" behind the jamming guitarist.
I'm demo-ing a Boss Chorus pedal, which helps....just want to know what other options I might consider.
Any suggestions of pedals I might try?

bass eq pedal and a distortion pedal

 

[Iristone]

A parallel light overdrive might work wonders. Don't need to have audible clipping, aim for just a hint of compression and harmonic saturation and it can go a long way.

 

[cnltb]

light drive can help.
subtle pitch modulation ( I get mine from meet maude or shallow water) does that nicely.
Plucking position can help as well.
...as may other things...