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FAO: metal players...

O

ollybarclay

Dec 14, 2005
177
0
#1
what effects do you deem ESSENTIAL for playing live? (aside from a tuner), distortion? compressor? wireless? phaser? flange? reverb...all that kind of stuff.

if you could state what amp/cab setup you currently run including effects and also the style of metal you play (death metal, metalcore, classic metal etc) just so i can try and get the sound you've got, that would be awesome.

i'm trying to get a really meaty metal sound that is thunderingly loud and ballsy but also fairly distinct and cuts through where it needs to...

my thanks in advance
 
#3
Ashdown Mag300H (midbumped), Mag810, EBS Multicomp (tube sim), ESP/LTD B-2005 [neck pickup, active eq: little bass boost, little mid boost (more than bass though), treble varies with string life].

I think this comes close to what you want.
I play thrash/speed metal!
 
#4
i havent played live yet, but i assume i would use the pedals on my board live heh, the ones i seem to use the most often are:

digitech xp-100
dunlop bass wah 105q
boss odb3/EHX little big muff (sometimes both at the same time in different channels)
line 6 echo park

heh, the leaves 2 pedals i dont use as often wich is flanger and chorus, but i still use them randomly... sometimes i jsut keep them on the entire time im playing lol


and im using a peavy tnt 160 wich has a 15" speaker

(it wasnt my number 1 choice, but funds were limited at the time, but it still does the job very nicely) it gets that rumbeling low end wich is essential for bowl loosening lines
 
#7
I use a G&L L2500 through a Mesa 400+ through a Bergantino NV610- every element seems to add a lot of essential character to my sound- punchy, deep and dirty. The only effect I ever use is my modified Tubescreamer (and I only use it for a couple parts), and I basically only use it as a slightly dirty boost as I already have the gain cranked on my Mesa- the Tubescreamer will change the slight grit that I normally play with into full on saturation...

I am not a big fan of effects for metal bass, or metal guitar for that matter....

Karl
 
#8
Spectors and P-Bass into a GK1001RBII or EBS HD350 heads. Cabs are Bergantino 2-10" and 1-12" stack.
My pedalboard holds a tuner, wireless, EBS Multidrive, EBS BassIQ, and EBS Chorus. I don't use effects on most songs. I play in a classic metal cover band, so effects are just to match songs such as overdrive on "Ace of Spades", overdrive and bassiq on "For Whom the Bell Tolls" into, etc.

Get a good fundamental tone you like and go from there. If you play covers you may need an effect to match a song but otherwise just use what works for you and the songs.
 
#9
You cant put "metal bass" in a box, simply because there isnt any kind of a pattern or gear that u "must" use for a genre. You just find your style, your sound, and you put it in any band u will play. Minor EQ or pedal changes wont hurt.
I mean look at Steve DiGiorgio, he plays fretless at a Deaths record and he sounds awsome! Or maybe Overkill's sound, the guitar has probably more bass on it but the bass sounds killer too! Lets not talk about Fieldy's "hip-hop" sub lows that created Korns signature sound, or Flea who did everything from finger slapping to pick punk rock bass lines and techniques with the chilli peppers.
What I m saying is that bass is bass. You dont need no essential, just personal taste. Thats my personal opinion.
Now... if you look for something specific, then tell us just what it is. If you are looking after a bands or player's tone just point it out, maybe we can help better this way.
 
#12
Great post 'D.

Low D. said:
You cant put "metal bass" in a box, simply because there isnt any kind of a pattern or gear that u "must" use for a genre. You just find your style, your sound, and you put it in any band u will play. Minor EQ or pedal changes wont hurt.
I mean look at Steve DiGiorgio, he plays fretless at a Deaths record and he sounds awsome! Or maybe Overkill's sound, the guitar has probably more bass on it but the bass sounds killer too! Lets not talk about Fieldy's "hip-hop" sub lows that created Korns signature sound, or Flea who did everything from finger slapping to pick punk rock bass lines and techniques with the chilli peppers.
What I m saying is that bass is bass. You dont need no essential, just personal taste. Thats my personal opinion.
Now... if you look for something specific, then tell us just what it is. If you are looking after a bands or player's tone just point it out, maybe we can help better this way.
Click to expand...
 
#13
On classic Metal records the bass is almost always (actually ALWAYS-always, as far as I can think - but I'm not expert on Metal) VERY crushed with compression.

And even if the Live-concert bassist doesn't have any effects on stage, his signal is being Keee-RUSHED! back at the board...

Joe
 
#14
maybe a little delay or reverb to cover your gaps live, other than that, not much needed other than a good agressive playing style that fits within the structure of the group. If you are running though the P.A., you need nothing more than a good soundman
 
#16
I play in a metalcore band (more of the hardcore influence than the metal influence, click on the link in my sig if you want to hear us), and I usually go for a pretty raunchy, rip-your-head-off tone, rather than a super fat, boomy sound. Here's a rundown of my setup:

Bass (TBC AP400M) ->DigiTech Bad Monkey -> Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi (black Russian model) -> Boss ME-50B -> BBE 362 Sonic Maximizer -> Kustom Groove1200 -> one or two Tech21 B410 cabs.

With the ME-50B, I use the SansAmp BassDriver simulation, and the chorus and delay set with a fairly subtle delay that I combine with the Muff for a cool synthy sound. I also throw in some wah from time to time, depending on if I'm feeling it or not.

If I were limited to a single effect for playing live, it would probably be the Bad Monkey. Distortion is key for me.
 
#17
ok, perhaps i phrased my question badly.

i'm currently VERY happy with my sound (plenty of mids with a bit of drive from a sansamp bass driver di in the effects loop), sounds great on it's own and in a band situation, cuts through nicely but still with plenty of low end.

i'm just basically looking for inspiration for anything i could possibly add to my setup

(my current setup is in my profile)
 
#20
I really like playing through my Boss Metal Zone. Not sure if it's a guitar effect but it makes a really good sound. You can crank up the Low end so that you don't lose any bass. Try it. I also have a Morley Pro-Series Wah pedal. That thing is all sorts of fun too.
 

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