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fingerstyle players - what effects do you use?

project_c

project_c

May 8, 2008
1,592
1,870
London, UK
#1
i play mainly fingerstyle, and most fingerstyle players i know use very few fx if anything at all, apart from maybe a touch of compression. it seems to me that because of the nature of playing with fingers, most fx just end up sounding like mud. the only thing i ever feel good about using is an ebx multi-comp, but everything else either distorts my tone beyond recognition, or just sounds undefined and muddy.

this question doesn't apply to metal players who love a massively over-driven grind tone so much as to people who play other genres, where retaining the original tone of the bass is still important. i am interested in whatever effects you think enhance your sound, AND also what effects you use for experimental/psychedelic/crazy sounds too.

thanks in advance.
 
#2
I've always played finger style and (3 fingers) and I've used lots of different efx. It's all fun but in the end a good compressor limiter and a nice chorus are what I use, nothing else. All the other stuff is fun to play with Flangers, Envelope filters, Delays are the most fun with bass, yeah and a nice fuzz too @ times, but I havent a reason to use them out (in this current band) yet.
 
#3
I play fingerstyle, and have 2 boards. Board one is utility, comp, eq, clean boost, noise red., and DI, but board two has tons of fun stuff, filters, fuzz, octave, phaser, chorus, o/d, etc. Both have a tuner at the front, so I can be prepared either way.
 
#5
You're generalizing an awful lot about "fingerstyle" players...

I play using my fingers 80% of the time, but I use the following effects pretty regularly without muddiness or losing definition:

octaver
overdrive
distortion/fuzz
compression (as an effect, not always on)
envelope filter


On rare occasions I also employ:

chorus
Murf (arpeggiated filter)
delay
flanger


Using effects doesn't have to take away from a solid, supportive bass tone. It does take judicious use & a lot of forethought and experience (trial & error), but while I do use effects often (and a lot of them) I'm not known as an "effects guy". I get hired for solid, song-oriented bass playing.
 
#9
thanks for the replies, it's a relief to see fingerstyle players using fx too. my band requires that i come up with some offkey weirdness as well as solid straight-up basslines, and i was worried that my style of playing will limit what i can do. looks like i may have been wrong about all this, or perhaps just going about things the wrong way.

i guess my next question is going to be fairly obvious - please recommend your favourite:
- octaver
- envelope filter
- delay
- anything else you think is amazing for fingerstyle
 
#11
I play fingerstyle 98% of the time.

Which effect do I use...

...all of them? :\

more precisely, I use synth, fuzz, wah, drive, auto-volume, octaver, and will soon get chorus/flanger and delay.
 
#12
bluesy_92 said:
I'm a little purist about my rig.....I own ONE bass, ONE amp, and a cable between them. I need no more than that.
Click to expand...

Why are you posting in the FX forum then ? :rolleyes:

I'm almost an exclusively fingerstyle player but I use plenty of effects (and intend to add more)

Phaser, flanger, fulltone bass drive, Woolly Mammoth fuzz, envelope filter and sansamp bass drive are all pretty regular for me. Definitely not muddy :D
 
#13
I'm a fingerstyle player that uses FX...at the moment I only have Fuzz, OC2ave and Overdrive on my board (need a better overdrive).

Agreed that OC-2 tracks better fingerstyle.

With the fuzz and distortion I employ fingerstyle on typical root basslines and single note runs but lately I've been playing a lot of two note chords (not technically a chord) with my fuzz and for that I use the pseudo-pickstyle. Basically I'm strumming with my fingernails or doing the Claypool fanned fingers fling.

EDIT: OC2ave = Boss OC-2 Octaver BTW. Just in case you didn't know.
 
#18
a few months ago i bought a digitech guitar effects processor/pre amp. the thing is pretty much aimed at rock. of the 99 presets, about 85 is some form of distortion. its useles in my (bachata: dominican folklore music) band. However, there is this high distortion setting that when i two hand tap on the upper register, you couldn't tell me from Eddie Van Halen. but i would turn the bass eq knob at half whereas i normally have treble and bass all the way up. Frankly with just my amp, i hit a plataeu in my playing ability, i just dont know how to get any better (enroll in school maybe). But with the effects processor with all its noises and settings and gain adjustment, I could very well play a whole set myself and keep everyone "entertained.??
 
#19
to MUDFUZZ: this topic would be silly but I think his problem is more EQ related. as far as wooden spoons are concered, I would read that thread. That thread could moderated by Peter Gabriel's bass play (his name is on the tip of my tongue) ((SORRY I GUESS I SHOULD AT LEAST KNOW HIS NAME)) any he plays with woooden finger adapter thingies.
 
#20
You're goingt to argue with Mr. Blake and the naked model he has slithering over his double bass?

Clearly it is bass + cable + tube amp
Maybe, just maybe, if you're using SS, a compressor could be used to TRY and make it feel like tubes; God wants it this way and so do all the hot chicks

Your honor, the defense rests
 

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