Going no effects

[deepestend]

After being effects obsessed for years, I got a new J bass and decided to just play it in practice on its own for a while to get used to it. Now, I'm finding that I'm going through a phase of not wanting any effects at all. I'm happy just focusing on refining my basic tone. What's happening to me! What do I do with the pile of effects at home?

 

[sloppy_phil]

Save 'em for the day the pendulum swings back the other way! It may be sooner, it may be later, even way later, but it always swings back...

Failing that, I'll keep them safe for you LOL

 

[roccobass]

@sloppy_phil is right. Just put them in box in the closet for now. In a few years, might have a new outlook or outlet for them. Or you might just want to use one or two them. Just don't do anything rash for now. IMO.

Not being a "pedal" person myself, I just know the regrets of sellers remorse.

 

[pingvuiini]

I'm going thru the opposite. After decades of just bass-->cable/wireless-->amp I have started down the dubious path of effects pedals. I just have a Keeley Compressor and MXR Stereo Chorus at the moment, but am looking at a pedal tuner, fuzz/distortion, DI, small pedalboard and power unit in the future. Those power units are $$$!!!

I may just use the pedals at home and keep things ultra simple at rehearsals and gigs.

 

[Parzival]

I'll send you a PM with my address. Just let me know how much the shipping will be.

 

[TaySte_2000]

What's happening to me! What do I do with the pile of effects at home?

If any are by Tone Factor, Mojohand or Boomstick you message me immediately

 

[bassbrad]

When I get a new bass I will always start with no effects until I have it set up for the sound I'm chasing with that particular bass. Once that little exercise is over I will then try different effects to see which ones work best.

We all likely go through phases with effects usage. Stripping back to basics is always a good exercise, especially for discovering new combinations.

 

[tothemax]

Great! My bass pedal board has a tuner, a Mira compressor, and a 10 band EQ (in that order) love it... Every now and then I think about adding something, then nah... why mess with a good thing?

Cheers...

 

[poochiecheeks]

Are compression and HPF considered effects?

 

[SJan3]

After being effects obsessed for years, I got a new J bass and decided to just play it in practice on its own for a while to get used to it. Now, I'm finding that I'm going through a phase of not wanting any effects at all. I'm happy just focusing on refining my basic tone. What's happening to me! What do I do with the pile of effects at home?

Sell all that c*ap.
Go naked and unafraid!

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

After being effects obsessed for years, I got a new J bass and decided to just play it in practice on its own for a while to get used to it. Now, I'm finding that I'm going through a phase of not wanting any effects at all. I'm happy just focusing on refining my basic tone. What's happening to me! What do I do with the pile of effects at home?

It's fine to not use effects and just enjoy the sound of the bass and the amp, and all the variety of tones with that. You'll enjoy the effects some other time. Just not now. And that's ok.

 

[Michedelic]

Are compression and HPF considered effects?

I say no, those(and tuners)are tools; it doesn't matter if they're in pedal form. Distortion, Wah/Filters, Octave, Delay, Reverb, Loopers/Sustain, Modulation, Synth, Ring Modulators, Tremolo…those are effects.

 

[logdrum]

You actually can contribute better to the sound wth effects if you have a guitar layer whose idea of a clean sound is a mild crunch.

I always had chorus though since I started

 

[deepestend]

I'm not cavalier or proud... just kind of surprised myself. I brought my board (not big by the way) to practice on wed and just used the tuner.

 

[Cleezmo]

Cool! I've never been a big pedal person myself, I only use a tuner and HPF 95%+ of the time. I have some built-in effects available on my amp - compressor, OD, distortion, octave - but I find the only one I use on gigs is chorus for a couple songs, and maybe OD or distortion here and there, but that's pretty rare. I'm definitely in the 'just play the thing' camp, but appreciate the rabbit hole of all the random stuff that pedals can do.

My guitarist seems to have at least one new pedal every rehearsal, OTOH. And to be honest it seems like its a bit of a distraction, in the sense that one can get lost in turning knobs and pushing buttons, or when the pedal responds differently to one guitar than it does another and then the tweaking starts, like it's an endless cycle.

But as with most things, I know and understand that what I see as a distraction can be seen by those who do use them as part of the fun, so of course, I'm cool with whichever camp folks are in!

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

After being effects obsessed for years, I got a new J bass and decided to just play it in practice on its own for a while to get used to it. Now, I'm finding that I'm going through a phase of not wanting any effects at all. I'm happy just focusing on refining my basic tone. What's happening to me! What do I do with the pile of effects at home?

Pedals are just tools to get the job done.
They’ll never make you a better player.
I think you already know all this being a TB regular.
I’d go with a tuner only if I could.

Congrats on the new bass.
Woodshed it into the ground!!

 

[Drifter8230]

Cool! I've never been a big pedal person myself, I only use a tuner and HPF 95%+ of the time. I have some built-in effects available on my amp - compressor, OD, distortion, octave - but I find the only one I use on gigs is chorus for a couple songs, and maybe OD or distortion here and there, but that's pretty rare. I'm definitely in the 'just play the thing' camp, but appreciate the rabbit hole of all the random stuff that pedals can do.

My guitarist seems to have at least one new pedal every rehearsal, OTOH. And to be honest it seems like its a bit of a distraction, in the sense that one can get lost in turning knobs and pushing buttons, or when the pedal responds differently to one guitar than it does another and then the tweaking starts, like it's an endless cycle.

But as with most things, I know and understand that what I see as a distraction can be seen by those who do use them as part of the fun, so of course, I'm cool with whichever camp folks are in!

I personally understand how getting focused on the "pedals" or "effects" can suck away playing time. Sometimes I get stuck adjusting the dials "just so" and before I know it, I haven't played a song in like 30 minutes. It is fun to manipulate your sound, but to me, it's always better just to play the darn guitar

 

[Peteyboy]

I say no, those(and tuners)are tools; it doesn't matter if they're in pedal form. Distortion, Wah/Filters, Octave, Delay, Reverb, Loopers/Sustain, Modulation, Synth, Ring Modulators, Tremolo…those are effects.

Agreed. I have HPF, Compression, and Pre-amp always on. I kick in Reverb for one segment of one song. That's my sole "effect".

 

[tothemax]

Are compression and HPF considered effects?

If you are being exact, yes... But with my amp I've found that sending the my best signal lets the amp do it's thing. I play passive PU's, so the compressor adds a bit of punch, and the EQ cleans up the low "thud" tones. As the other response post stated, these effects clean up my tone, they don't really change my sound.

Cheers

 

[Peteyboy]

Bears mentioning that from 1982-1992 I played bass in bands and I didn't even own a tuner.