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Going through a minimalist stage
- Thread starter caeman
- Start date
Yep, re-tubed tho (JJ/Tesla EL84 & T.A.D. 12AX7A-C). I use the RB as the pre-amp stage...closest I'm going to get to a Traynor for awhile.
According to my notes, I've now been "minimalized" for a month and I am still happy with my simple setup: High-Pass Filter -> Overdrive/Tone Box -> Low-Pass Filter.
Though, I am thinking of experimenting with a compressor, it would ultimately have to be a 1590A-sized box. But instead of normal compressor, I may investigate a peak limiter, first. My main concern is accidentally thumping a note too LOUD out of context.
And my U-Bass has fit right into this minimalist stage of playing. I throw the bass over my shoulder, pedals in the PT-Nano bag, and go.
I find myself wanting to dump all of my other pedals. Despite assembling the detritous into a functioning noise board, I find I have no interest in that anymore. I'm more concerned about learning the music for the blues band, the tunes for my own band. I've become less interested in new toys, and more interested in just playing better. I was always practicing the essentials before, still do, but I now have so much new music to learn, I am losing interest in the sonic experiments I used to do.
Though, I am thinking of experimenting with a compressor, it would ultimately have to be a 1590A-sized box. But instead of normal compressor, I may investigate a peak limiter, first. My main concern is accidentally thumping a note too LOUD out of context.
And my U-Bass has fit right into this minimalist stage of playing. I throw the bass over my shoulder, pedals in the PT-Nano bag, and go.
I find myself wanting to dump all of my other pedals. Despite assembling the detritous into a functioning noise board, I find I have no interest in that anymore. I'm more concerned about learning the music for the blues band, the tunes for my own band. I've become less interested in new toys, and more interested in just playing better. I was always practicing the essentials before, still do, but I now have so much new music to learn, I am losing interest in the sonic experiments I used to do.
There ya go!
If...IF...you do flip the rest, will you still keep your Mini? I may be interested if it's available.
If...IF...you do flip the rest, will you still keep your Mini? I may be interested if it's available.
A journey that started many months ago has continued and gotten worse. I have found my forgoing even an EQ and just wanting to plug into an active DI. No overdrive, no fuzz, no modulation, no comp.
My latest minimalist move was to pick up another Behringer ADI21 for my Gretsch. One box, no fuss, for not much money. I am getting ready to buy an Orchid Micro DI and go even smaller. My Gretsch needs at the minimum an active DI, from experimentation with various DI boxes at the various churches I have played.
I fear I have lost my love for effects. I'm sorry.
My latest minimalist move was to pick up another Behringer ADI21 for my Gretsch. One box, no fuss, for not much money. I am getting ready to buy an Orchid Micro DI and go even smaller. My Gretsch needs at the minimum an active DI, from experimentation with various DI boxes at the various churches I have played.
I fear I have lost my love for effects. I'm sorry.
Freight Train ..."inviting all kinds of demons" by using effects is a bit over the top don't you think?
By the way just because you been doing something a long time doesn't automatically mean your good at it or know what your talking about.
I guess a bedroom player might hear minute differences in tone & clarity but you certainly wont live with drums & guitar going as well.
DeltaPhoenix nailed it when he said: "The benefits outweigh whatever perceived cost there is"
Bottom line .... I use effects because its "Fun" .
@Caeman how can you resist that woundpaw blender just sitting there mocking you?
By the way just because you been doing something a long time doesn't automatically mean your good at it or know what your talking about.
I guess a bedroom player might hear minute differences in tone & clarity but you certainly wont live with drums & guitar going as well.
DeltaPhoenix nailed it when he said: "The benefits outweigh whatever perceived cost there is"
Bottom line .... I use effects because its "Fun" .
@Caeman how can you resist that woundpaw blender just sitting there mocking you?
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Saturday, I used the Behringer ADI21 at church. The ADI21 has some low-end drop-off, but not in a bad way. It's drop-off is more like what I had been getting from a high-pass filter to tame the low-end of my Gretsch. Through the PA system, the low-end sound was tight and focused, rather than boomy and muddy. I kept the EQ settings at noon, but I did experiment with sweeping the mids frequency while warming up.
I am ignoring the blend knob. I have no need for tube's or emulated tubes mucking up the natural tone of my Gretsch.
My current inventory of Minimalist One-Box DI:
*Passive
Behringer Ultra DI400
Cave G4
*Active
Behringer ADI21
Orchid Micro DI (arriving Monday or Tuesday)
Saturday, I used the Behringer ADI21 at church. The ADI21 has some low-end drop-off, but not in a bad way. It's drop-off is more like what I had been getting from a high-pass filter to tame the low-end of my Gretsch. Through the PA system, the low-end sound was tight and focused, rather than boomy and muddy. I kept the EQ settings at noon, but I did experiment with sweeping the mids frequency while warming up.
I am ignoring the blend knob. I have no need for tube's or emulated tubes mucking up the natural tone of my Gretsch.
My current inventory of Minimalist One-Box DI:
*Passive
Behringer Ultra DI400
Cave G4
*Active
Behringer ADI21
Orchid Micro DI (arriving Monday or Tuesday)
The Orchid Micro DI arrived Monday and it is exactly what one might expect from a simple active DI. Plug it on, phantom power lights it up, plug bass and go.
The Behringer UltraDI400 and Cave G4 have a lower signal to the mixer board, because they are passive, which one would should expect. The Micro DI brings up a bright, clear sound which forced me to back the gain down. The ADI21 is not a fair comparison as it has a boost and EQ feature set, but with level and EQ at noon, the levels were basically the same for the Micro DI and ADI21.
The Behringer UltraDI400 and Cave G4 have a lower signal to the mixer board, because they are passive, which one would should expect. The Micro DI brings up a bright, clear sound which forced me to back the gain down. The ADI21 is not a fair comparison as it has a boost and EQ feature set, but with level and EQ at noon, the levels were basically the same for the Micro DI and ADI21.
A year and two months ago, I began my journey to declutter my effects board. Where does it stand now?
With my Gretsch, my sold effect pedal is the Joyo EQ. I had bought it on a lark and for a song (it is Joyo, after all) but it has proven to be a great pedal for bass. The EQ bands are perfect. I have come to love the natural tone of my fretless Gretsch G2202 and mostly use the EQ to tame the low end. It's humbucker has been known to peg most every board I plug into if I don't.
The Orchid DI is my DI of choice and sometimes use just it with my Gretsch.
With my Kala U-Bass, I continue to use the Behringer ADI21.
I have noticed that my bank account has not suffer nearly as much since I got away from having a big effects board. But, all is not effects free when I am practicing and want to play, I still have my Behringer Bass V-Amp Pro. Since I am now without an amp -- every church I play has me direct -- it is my practice amp.
With my Gretsch, my sold effect pedal is the Joyo EQ. I had bought it on a lark and for a song (it is Joyo, after all) but it has proven to be a great pedal for bass. The EQ bands are perfect. I have come to love the natural tone of my fretless Gretsch G2202 and mostly use the EQ to tame the low end. It's humbucker has been known to peg most every board I plug into if I don't.
The Orchid DI is my DI of choice and sometimes use just it with my Gretsch.
With my Kala U-Bass, I continue to use the Behringer ADI21.
I have noticed that my bank account has not suffer nearly as much since I got away from having a big effects board. But, all is not effects free when I am practicing and want to play, I still have my Behringer Bass V-Amp Pro. Since I am now without an amp -- every church I play has me direct -- it is my practice amp.
There's nothing wrong with minimalism.
Just get yourself a small-ish board maybe big enough for 2 to 4 normal sized pedals and limit it to that.
That way, if you really find yourself gassing for something else you will have to replace one effect for 2 micro effects.
Just get yourself a small-ish board maybe big enough for 2 to 4 normal sized pedals and limit it to that.
That way, if you really find yourself gassing for something else you will have to replace one effect for 2 micro effects.
I have lost all gas.
I looked at that I was doing and made an honest assessment of what I was really doing, rather than what I dreamed of doing. This path worked for me.
But, that doesn't mean effects are not cool! Maybe someday, I will pursue the funk side of the force.
I looked at that I was doing and made an honest assessment of what I was really doing, rather than what I dreamed of doing. This path worked for me.
But, that doesn't mean effects are not cool! Maybe someday, I will pursue the funk side of the force.
