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Geezer Butler's crazy ambient effects?

From An interview with Geezer Butler from Bass Frontiers Magazine - Mar 1996
This interview originally conducted Oct 14, 1995

Q:You've always experimented with effects. Can you name some of the units you've used in the past and what you 're using now ?

I don't use anything at all now except for a chorus pedal and a flanger, just in the Ozzy stuff. I used to have this Yamaha pedalboard, I think they only made a few of them. It was like an experimental thing - I don't think they ever went on sale. I used that particularly on the Born Again album. There was lots of stuff on that - all those weird, bloody things that everybody thought were keyboards! It was bass! I tend to sort of try something and then once I've done it I really don' t go back to it - like the wah wah on "NIB," for instance. Unless it works really well I won't bother with it. I just prefer playing straight bass.

Check out the full interview at www.Black-Sabbath.com
 
Another exerpt from an interview I found at Invalid Link Removed

Q: What did you use for effects?


I had two Tycobrahe pedals. With their wah-wah, which was a big blue pedal, you could get a weird sub-bass effect. Combined with their flanger, it created a really ethereal sound. I used that on the beginning of “The Writ” and on “Zero the Hero.” People think it’s a keyboard making those sounds, but it’s bass through the Tycobrahe pedals. On Ozzfest, I’ll be using my old Tycobrahe wah, although it’s a bit worse for wear these days.


I think that it is from his bass player mag Interview
 
They're probably some ambient FX added at the board either live or at mixdown.

Nothing added (over top of pedal in question anyways) You can clearly hear it on the Heaven and Hell Live album on Sign of The Southern Cross (first time at 1:38)

I saw them 2 times on the last tour and it sounded the same as on album. He only had one pedal out on stage. Tycobrahe Pedal (big blue one)
 
Nothing added (over top of pedal in question anyways) You can clearly hear it on the Heaven and Hell Live album on Sign of The Southern Cross (first time at 1:38)

I saw them 2 times on the last tour and it sounded the same as on album. He only had one pedal out on stage. Tycobrahe Pedal (big blue one)

I also forgot to mention that it is not uncommon for a tech to be backstage hitting effects at the right time too! That was just a comment towards one of his effects that he has used in the past!

This tour they had another guy backstage playing second guitar as well!
 
Well i was gonna say before that there was no research needed...... i was basically sitting 20' from him watching him use that pedal, but that isnt usually good enough proof on forums so here!! Great effect
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxDptMxfPBE
@ 1:33

He appears to be making due with the Parapedal (wah), but there's no flanger going on in the video.

OP- the BF-2 and some other flangers can get pretty bendy in deep settings with the resonance up- they might be a good cheap place to start your search.
 
He appears to be making due with the Parapedal (wah), but there's no flanger going on in the video.

OP- the BF-2 and some other flangers can get pretty bendy in deep settings with the resonance up- they might be a good cheap place to start your search.

If you also did some research you would know that this pedal has some oscillation/flanger/wah(ish) type sounds built in. But it technically called a Pedalflanger......... anywhere you see someone describing it as a wah (as you have done in this instance) has done so out of lack of direct knowledge of this pedal and or lack of investigation. The pedal he uses has a manual or auto flange setting on it.

From where i sat it looked vintage and i could easily see the 2 black knobs as you can in the video i posted which means its the Pedlaflanger and NOT the Parapedal which is a wah

So quit trying to advertise your flanger you have for sale

Here is the full (blue line) of Tycobrahe
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

.....Its amazing what people will do/say to sell a pedal.
 
If you also did some research you would know that this pedal has some oscillation/flanger/wah(ish) type sounds built in. But it technically called a Pedalflanger......... anywhere you see someone describing it as a wah (as you have done in this instance) has done so out of lack of direct knowledge of this pedal and or lack of investigation. The pedal he uses has a manual or auto flange setting on it.

From where i sat it looked vintage and i could easily see the 2 black knobs as you can in the video i posted which means its the Pedlaflanger and NOT the Parapedal which is a wah

So quit trying to advertise your flanger you have for sale

Here is the full (blue line) of Tycobrahe
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

.....Its amazing what people will do/say to sell a pedal.

Now first of all, I mentioned the Tycobrahe Parapedal- "Parachute Wah," specifically saying that I don't hear the Pedalflanger which it sounds like he is using in the video the OP posted. Im no expert on tycobrahe stuff, but Im somewhat familiar with them and of the clips ive heard of the wah and the flanger, plus comments Geezer has made about gear he is currently using, made me think that he is just getting by with the wah in the video you posted. Whether or not Im correct, its not too far fetched since at the top of the thread this was posted:


Q: What did you use for effects?


I had two Tycobrahe pedals. With their wah-wah, which was a big blue pedal, you could get a weird sub-bass effect. Combined with their flanger, it created a really ethereal sound. I used that on the beginning of “The Writ” and on “Zero the Hero.” People think it’s a keyboard making those sounds, but it’s bass through the Tycobrahe pedals. On Ozzfest, I’ll be using my old Tycobrahe wah, although it’s a bit worse for wear these days.


I think that it is from his bass player mag Interview
__________________


Now, the person who started this thread asked:

i did some research:



listen to 3:47 and 4:22 ... same "keyboard" sound!

what other flanger would sound like this!?


And you're going to tell him 'no further research is needed' and then accuse me of trying to hawk my pedal?:eyebrow: The 'keyboard' flanging sound, and the sound in the video you posted appear different, to myself and the OP if no one else. (though it appears that in the studio track originally posted, a flanger,wah, and delay may have been used)

Guess what buddy, Im actually trying to help the person who started this thread and actually answer the questions he asked, not make sure everyone knows that im mrcoolbackstagetool. I dont see you making any helpful suggestions as to how to get that sound, and if you were so goddamn smart you wouldnt have had to edit out the bit where you said the flanger and wah were one in the same and post your picture.. but thanks for helping me advertise by putting that in bold letters... now it should sell in no time! Hey, I think a BF-2 might be jussst what you need- then you can really sound like Tool *edit* nevermind, you already have one.. figures :p:smug:

This is a forum where we exchange thoughts and ideas. People ask for advice on many things, including what pedals to try for certain sounds. I post here regularly, and if you read here often, you'd see that I don't go around trying to hawk my wares, despite always having something in the classifieds. Im not going to give dishonest answers or refrain from posting, simply because Im selling a pedal in the classifieds. I'll go so far as to say that I can comfortably recommend things as I see fit, without regards to what I have in the classifieds, because I do so at the discretion of the thread, and in that sense my reputation precedes itself. Out of my whole time here, I get 'called out' by a single Tool.. I'll live.