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Essentials for a gigging bassist's pedal board?
- Thread starter 4stringfiend
- Start date
I'm also in a band that plays originals mostly- I use a lot of effects, but they're pretty subtle. Other than my wah, which I use just a couple of times a set if I'm not using it to make noise, everything is pretty low-key. Even my distortion is set incredibly mild.
That said, a couple of weeks ago, my pedalboard power supply broke- the daisy chain split in two as I untangled it. Before I might have told you that I needed my pedals to make a gig, but playing without them since has been fine, and actually kind of liberating.
For me personally, there isn't a single "essential" or "necessary" pedal (compression comes close, as my dynamic control is pretty bad without it, but if I wasn't a pansy I could learn to make it and be happy with no compression). I can't wait to have them back, as I adore sounds and making textures with my bass tone, but they are not at all a deal-breaker for my playing.
That said, a couple of weeks ago, my pedalboard power supply broke- the daisy chain split in two as I untangled it. Before I might have told you that I needed my pedals to make a gig, but playing without them since has been fine, and actually kind of liberating.
For me personally, there isn't a single "essential" or "necessary" pedal (compression comes close, as my dynamic control is pretty bad without it, but if I wasn't a pansy I could learn to make it and be happy with no compression). I can't wait to have them back, as I adore sounds and making textures with my bass tone, but they are not at all a deal-breaker for my playing.
This is an age-old issue, and to my way of thinking the correct answer is "you have no other choice".
This whole notion of "your personal tone" is pretty ethereal to start with. Tone isn't a constant, it's a moving target- what works, depends on what's going on with the rest of the mix. Besides, any kind of pre-EQ you apply has about a 50/50 chance of making the sound guy's job either harder, or easier. His system sounds different than your rig, and needs different EQ.
Plus, there's the whole issue that he's back there throughout the performance, working all those knobs and faders. Even if you use a long cord or a wireless to check what it sounds like out on the floor, then make suggestions for tweaks (or push the guy out of the way, and make the adjustments yourself), there's nothing to stop the sound guy from screwing up the sonic landscape 30 seconds after you go back up on stage.
Basically, if you've got PA support, it's trust the sound guy or die...
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
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- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
I think compression is essential for clean sounds. It might not be important for distorted signals, but for clean ones I think it is.
I'm surprised that there isn't more love for volume pedals.
Probably not much use for the OP's metal and hard rock, but for general gigging out, I find it a very useful piece to have with me. I was without one for quite a while, and boy howdy, is it ever nice to have that function back. Especially for bands with a really wide dynamic range.
Interesting sidenote- using a VP gets you thinking about dynamics, and looking for places where it the song would be helped by little micro-changes in level. Once you get interested in levels to that extent, it becomes second nature to monitor your own dynamics, and clean up any sloppy playing habits. At that point, a compressor becomes far less important.
Life's little ironies- I was dissing Chad about not trusting sound men, but I wouldn't part with my Empress ParaEQ for anything. The only difference, is that I use it for personal monitoring and to set up preset tonal changes, rather than to try to do the sound guy's job for him. It also has a built-in clean boost, so if you need one of those as well, it saves a bit of space on your pedalboard.
Love my Turbo Tuner, too. If you have a volume pedal at the end of your signal chain, then you don't need an inline tuner in order to mute for tuning. However, it's so much faster and more accurate than conventional tuners, that I consider it well worth the money.
Probably not much use for the OP's metal and hard rock, but for general gigging out, I find it a very useful piece to have with me. I was without one for quite a while, and boy howdy, is it ever nice to have that function back. Especially for bands with a really wide dynamic range.
Interesting sidenote- using a VP gets you thinking about dynamics, and looking for places where it the song would be helped by little micro-changes in level. Once you get interested in levels to that extent, it becomes second nature to monitor your own dynamics, and clean up any sloppy playing habits. At that point, a compressor becomes far less important.
Life's little ironies- I was dissing Chad about not trusting sound men, but I wouldn't part with my Empress ParaEQ for anything. The only difference, is that I use it for personal monitoring and to set up preset tonal changes, rather than to try to do the sound guy's job for him. It also has a built-in clean boost, so if you need one of those as well, it saves a bit of space on your pedalboard.
Love my Turbo Tuner, too. If you have a volume pedal at the end of your signal chain, then you don't need an inline tuner in order to mute for tuning. However, it's so much faster and more accurate than conventional tuners, that I consider it well worth the money.
You can't go wrong with a tube DI like a Tube MP or even a Sansamp to warm up the signal a bit. DI signal tend to be a bit brittle and PA speakers even more so.
If you're using a Tube MP (or similar) the 40Hz rolloff filter is pure gold. First, it cuts out some stage rumble from your amp.
Second, if you have a sound guy that is hamfisted with a comp your signal will pop the comp a little less. If the sound guy is great he will appreciate it, if he's not, even better because thats about all the help you're going to get.
That said, I wouldn't send any other EQ. You're just going to piss him off.
If you have a good compressor and know how to use it well I'd send that to the board too. I try to avoid giving the sound guy reasons to process me.
IME live sound is all about damage control. It's not going to be anywhere near perfect.....all you can do is knock off the sharpest corners.
If you're using a Tube MP (or similar) the 40Hz rolloff filter is pure gold. First, it cuts out some stage rumble from your amp.
Second, if you have a sound guy that is hamfisted with a comp your signal will pop the comp a little less. If the sound guy is great he will appreciate it, if he's not, even better because thats about all the help you're going to get.
That said, I wouldn't send any other EQ. You're just going to piss him off.
If you have a good compressor and know how to use it well I'd send that to the board too. I try to avoid giving the sound guy reasons to process me.
IME live sound is all about damage control. It's not going to be anywhere near perfect.....all you can do is knock off the sharpest corners.
i don't compress, at all... i also don't DI....
tuner is essential everything else is just fun....
that being said we have some sections that wouldn't work AT ALL without certain effects (ring mod, dirt, wah, delay)
but just experiment. i'd say dirt (fuzz, od or distortion your call) and delay are the two best "kick off" effects
oh and if you aren't playing live with a PA anytime soon ignore 90% of the advice people are giving you today.... i chose to ignore it and i play live at least once a month
A tuner isn't essential either. Neither is having more than one string on your bass or showering or showing up on time.
But at some point you have to consider how professional you want to be.
[QUOTE="Q";12389739]A tuner isn't essential either. Neither is having more than one string on your bass or showering or showing up on time.
But at some point you have to consider how professional you want to be.[/QUOTE]
true, but professional is all a matter of the band, my band is just the two of us playing noise, i don't need to tune but i do. one gig i pulled the G string off my bass, accidentally though.... as long as its fun and everyone is enjoying themselves who gives a ****?
but you make a good point, get a cable, plug your bass in. when you hear it what do you wish you hear? angry dirtyness? get a dirtbox. swirly ambience? reverb! etc etc
But at some point you have to consider how professional you want to be.[/QUOTE]
true, but professional is all a matter of the band, my band is just the two of us playing noise, i don't need to tune but i do. one gig i pulled the G string off my bass, accidentally though.... as long as its fun and everyone is enjoying themselves who gives a ****?
but you make a good point, get a cable, plug your bass in. when you hear it what do you wish you hear? angry dirtyness? get a dirtbox. swirly ambience? reverb! etc etc
You do realize that the OP's question was actually about GIGGING BASSIST's...which might imply playing live. Right? Maybe?
- Nov 24, 2008
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- DroppingAcidPedalEtching.com
I would recommend a Line6 M5. It sounds like you want to experiment a little bit. Why not get a multi and try everything out? Once you know what you like you can get individual pedals.
I look at this a hedging your bets.
I would rather define "my sound" with a pedal board and then plug it into a power amp or PA, knowing that "my sound" will be the same either way. Consistent. With a pedal board, I can pick and choose each piece to my personal satisfaction.
I would rather define "my sound" with a pedal board and then plug it into a power amp or PA, knowing that "my sound" will be the same either way. Consistent. With a pedal board, I can pick and choose each piece to my personal satisfaction.
I play in a working wedding/corporate band. Since I run sound from the stage, I don't use and amp onstage just a powered monitor. Currently using my wireless into a Digitech BP355 running straight to the board. I have about four custom settings that cover what I need to do. I carry a BDDI as backup. This works well for me as it allows me to go with a minimum setup and get the job done. However, I wouldn't recommend this unless you run your own sound!
