• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

How many of us GIGGING bassists use pedals?

How many effect pedals do you GIG with?

  • Total voters
    661
#141
For gigs, I don't use them. I play upright and fretless, classical and jazz (pretty traditional stuff), so I just don't need them. Even back when I played in rock bands, I think I only ever needed a bit of compression for slapping, and I used distortion for exactly one tune.
 
#146
I take my effects along about 20% of the time. Some gigs I like to have a fuzz, q-tron, oc-2, looper, a whammy and a compressor at my disposal (esp power trio gigs!), but for most of my gigs - usually jazz or funk - i'm plugged straight into the amp, maybe a tuner. If it's an upright gig i'll take my Radial pre, a parametric and a tuner.
 
#150
JimmyM said:
I rotate pedals...I always have distortion, but I'll also use octaver or envelope filter, and sometimes others, though not as often. My main band does 50's-60's music, but I do other stuff as well. If I don't need effects, I don't bring any, but most of the time I at least need distortion.

Tell you what I hate, though...bassists who think they're so great because they don't use effects. "The only effect you should need is your fingers." "Effects are a crutch." "Effects are only for covering up bad playing." Grow up and shut up! I know plenty of bassists who use effects and can smoke you on all levels.

And for God's sake, if you don't like effects, get the hell out of the effects forum with your holier-than-thou blather!
Click to expand...

Indeed. :)
 
#151
JimmyM said:
I rotate pedals...I always have distortion, but I'll also use octaver or envelope filter, and sometimes others, though not as often. My main band does 50's-60's music, but I do other stuff as well. If I don't need effects, I don't bring any, but most of the time I at least need distortion.

Tell you what I hate, though...bassists who think they're so great because they don't use effects. "The only effect you should need is your fingers." "Effects are a crutch." "Effects are only for covering up bad playing." Grow up and shut up! I know plenty of bassists who use effects and can smoke you on all levels.

And for God's sake, if you don't like effects, get the hell out of the effects forum with your holier-than-thou blather!
Click to expand...

I don't know why I didn't see this before jimmy but thank you for saying it!! I think it's bs when people come on like that in the forum. Much less the effects threads. Thanks fret no more for indeeding that, I wouldn't have seen it otherwise. Everyone has his or her own opinions and that's totally fine by me but when you start with the attitude of, "you just suck and that's why you use pedals, it's all in your fingers" I get a tad offended and sometimes heated and I'm glad someone stood up and said what you did. So thanks.
 
#152
I play in a band that plays mostly covers of classic and modern rock, with some RnB scattered in.

I have 12 pedals on my board currently.
I usually bring the full board to a show, though I don't have a problem playing without them.

I really like to do a rough approximation of the tones used in the original recordings, which is why I have octave, modulation, wah, Enevelope filter, and 5-6 different flavors of dirt.

My bandleader is starting to come around on using some higher gain bass tones on the original songs as well, which has been fun.
 
#153
Everyone should run at least 1 pedal, that being the Chromatic Tuner pedal!! No matter what genre, you gotta be in tune, and your tuning will change throughout the night. Also being able to mute your bass easily is a plus.

Along with my tuner I also run a Boss OC-2 Octave into a Q-tron. I don't always use them, but I definitely always bring my board, again mainly for the tuner.
 
#154
Until about two years ago I had experimented with a few pedals but never really made use of them.

Nowadays I have a fully equipped pedal board with all the commonly utilized effects (octave, chorus, filter, overdrive, distortion, comp, etc.), along with two preamps and a programmable EQ, and now that I have a much better sense of how to optimize their use, I feel that I have more control than ever.

With this setup, I'm able to dial in exact sonic replication for my Top 40 dance/party group, all with a completely self-contained setup that could function as a standalone rig without a backline if one wasn't available.

I agree that tone is first and foremost in your hands, but a well-designed effects setup can significantly extend what's possible for the player.

Lonnybass

image_zpsaf32de3e.jpg
 
#155
In my 60's through 2000's vocal acousti'vocal pop band I almost never use pedals beyond a a Radial Bassbone - which probably doesn't count.

In my surf a billy 3 piece, largely origianl thing I use a Zoom B3 in the effects loop of the Radial. I have it setup with a deep sweepy chorus, a nice filter and a dubby bass and volume boost. Great pedal!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back