none here either. not out of some 'tone purist' bent, just because i dont really play music where i feel they would constructively add to the sound and the song. if i happen to find some that really grab my attention though, i'd be all over them.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 use no effects?
- Thread starter Jools4001
- Start date
I played with no effects for about twenty -- the effects I tried always killed my low end. Recently I purchased a few bass specific pedals, and I am loving the sound.
Effects are tools. Having an electric bass guitar and not using effects is like having a power drill and not using the screw-driver attachments -- untapped potential.
For the record, I believe that a modelling pre-amp is an effect.
Effects are tools. Having an electric bass guitar and not using effects is like having a power drill and not using the screw-driver attachments -- untapped potential.
For the record, I believe that a modelling pre-amp is an effect.
I was thinking about forming the Use No Effects Club! 
I have been playing bass for almost 30 years now. I too have tried my share of effects and never really liked them.
My late great friend Scott Palmer was really into effects. Everytime I went over to his house in J.P. he had some kind of new pedal that I got to try. I would always smile and say they were not my thing. For the most part I go straight into the amp. I do like to use chorus once in a while but that's about it.
I have been playing bass for almost 30 years now. I too have tried my share of effects and never really liked them.My late great friend Scott Palmer was really into effects. Everytime I went over to his house in J.P. he had some kind of new pedal that I got to try. I would always smile and say they were not my thing. For the most part I go straight into the amp. I do like to use chorus once in a while but that's about it.
44 years here and no effects. I had a chorus pedal once but I think I only used it a couple of times.I have nothing against them or anyone that uses them.I just don't have a lot of patience to mess with them and I don't like a lot of stuff under my feet.
Good answer. Way to win friends on here. But answer me this...if effects are for people who can't play bass, how come I usually end up being able to blow most bassists off the stage who say that?Bass - Amp - Box
no effects.
Effects are for people how can't play bass
I've been playing for 40 years and up till recently, never used any effects. However, since being asked to do more slapping and popping, I've added compression, either with a pedal, or in my Roland combo. Especially when popping, I like the squished tone it gives me - I've never been able to get that sound " naturally" from just plugging into a bass amp. I guess I don't know how to play bass. 
But just to play devil's advocate here, is'nt using a graphic eq, or dialing up the "boost" on a GK, or dialing up the "countour" knob using effects? How many of you just plug straight into a power amp?
But just to play devil's advocate here, is'nt using a graphic eq, or dialing up the "boost" on a GK, or dialing up the "countour" knob using effects? How many of you just plug straight into a power amp?
I suppose I fall under the category of "No Pedals."
I still consider my bass tone to be heavily "effected." The tone of my amp, the type of stings, my pickups and my fingerstyle all create effects to some degree.
I still consider my bass tone to be heavily "effected." The tone of my amp, the type of stings, my pickups and my fingerstyle all create effects to some degree.
No effects. Ric => cable => SVT-CL. I even find my wireless affects my tone to the point I've stopped using it much. That being said, there is a place for bass effects, but I can probably count on my hand the number of songs where I really think (or noticed!) it added to the mix. Led Zepplin - Heartbreaker is the best example IMHO. But then, I distinguish between effects that make up a bassists signature tone, such as Geddy Lee or Chris Squire, and those that are applied to change the tone.
For me, it's bass of choice --> amp of choice --> cab of choice. I must confess that I blend the FET and Tube channels of my GBE-1200 and ever so slightly OD the tube to give a bit of grit, but it gives it more of a Big Block 750 "rock sound" than any kind of true distortion.
My not wanting to use effects is not out of an snobbery or lack of respect for people that do use effects, but I get fed up with carrying the rack and pedal board around. But that the same reason, I'm now looking for a compact head - laziness!
But hey, when you've just got out of hospital from a hernia op due to lugging PA around every week, that's what seems important!
But hey, when you've just got out of hospital from a hernia op due to lugging PA around every week, that's what seems important!
I go through stages, but for the most part I don't use any effects. I have been using my bass pod xt a little more lately, but more for tone shaping. To me effects can be very useful and expressive on bass when used correctly. I guess it's kinda like using seasoning on your food. The right ones accent the flavors, but the wrong ones or to much can ruin your meal. Peace, love, and applesauce ya'll!!!
I have been playing 4 years, when my band started. Never used a pedal, well...the boss tuner...
Now i'm very picky about my sound, i'm looking for a gain or booster, just to drive my amp a little bit more, but i haven't found one i'm happy with yet. When i do, thats all i'll use, and maybe a reverb. I was looking on the BOSS site, at the multi effects, just too see what the fuss is about, and i actually quite liked the reverb bass sound it had. so i might get a reverb pedal when i can be arsed, but not important. cant beat the sound of a driven valve amp. why spoil it with a pedal?
When i can afford 2 of my amp's (Orange ad200b) 1 clean 1 driven. wont even be thinking about effects!
Now i'm very picky about my sound, i'm looking for a gain or booster, just to drive my amp a little bit more, but i haven't found one i'm happy with yet. When i do, thats all i'll use, and maybe a reverb. I was looking on the BOSS site, at the multi effects, just too see what the fuss is about, and i actually quite liked the reverb bass sound it had. so i might get a reverb pedal when i can be arsed, but not important. cant beat the sound of a driven valve amp. why spoil it with a pedal?
When i can afford 2 of my amp's (Orange ad200b) 1 clean 1 driven. wont even be thinking about effects!
IMO, anyone who uses an amp that colors their bass' tone is using at least 1 effect. I use pedals to do that.
bongomania
Commercial User
Hello! Exactly! Amps and cabs totally color your sound, and you use the EQ onboard to shape the sound further. Effects are no different- they color and shape your sound. People who say "effects are for people who can't play bass" are ignorant on so many levels: they don't understand how their own gear works; they don't know how many of their favorite artists had some processing on their bass signal; they don't know how many world-class bassists happen to also use effects; and they don't realize what a jerk they must be to say something like that in the first place.
I never use pedals on live shows.
I do have the Boss 50B multi effects pedal and use it often when practicing at home... I have never used it in a band setting.
If there was a musical situation that called for a certain type of effect - I would bring the Boss along and give it a shot..
I do have the Boss 50B multi effects pedal and use it often when practicing at home... I have never used it in a band setting.
If there was a musical situation that called for a certain type of effect - I would bring the Boss along and give it a shot..
I'm pretty much a straight into the amp guy, but I have used chorus and the occasional envelope filter. I sometimes use my Sansamp Bass Driver to fatten up things in the preamp, but not for distortion. I'm a fan of having good e.q. control, especially in the mids and I've gone outboard a few times to get it. My gigging amps have onboard auto comp of some type, but I have used outboard compression a few times. I'm not against effects at all, and I even have a Zoom multi effects pedal that has a few nifty patches. By and large I'll
have to say that I prefer just plugging into a good amp rig with one of my basses and going with just that.
I do have one question for all you other players. Have you ever played live and decided to kick on your chorus effect just to enchance a particular passage that you are playing, only to have a 'guitard player' hear you do it, and they start kicking in every single modualtion effect they have on their pedal board too, thus killing your bass part and turning everything into a swirly stew of noise? I hate these guys!:scowl:
have to say that I prefer just plugging into a good amp rig with one of my basses and going with just that.
I do have one question for all you other players. Have you ever played live and decided to kick on your chorus effect just to enchance a particular passage that you are playing, only to have a 'guitard player' hear you do it, and they start kicking in every single modualtion effect they have on their pedal board too, thus killing your bass part and turning everything into a swirly stew of noise? I hate these guys!:scowl:
exactly,
post this question here, and you're gonna get "i've never used effects", while over in the effects lounge, you'll probably get "why not?"
but depends on the gig for me. i'm a guitarist by trade, but never thought of using effects until i met a few cats from berklee, then my eyes were opened to the possibilities! bass was no longer just a rhythmic or harmonic foundation, but could be a whole flippin landscape!
i'm finding effects also depend the genre, too. i'm not gonna stompin' on anything for that anita baker cover, but definitely for the synth bass breaks, or that parliament funk, or to help bolster that metal riff, etc.
if anything, i'm finding working effects to be a whole other valuable skill set.
In the first phase of my musical career I used no effects, straight to the amp. And at the place and time, that seemed normal. I don't recall seeing other bassists back then using pedal; they were for guitarists. For that matter, most guitarists used few pedals, mainly a distortion box of some form. (And then there was the LPB-1 . . .) This time around I have my Digitech board, which I use mainly for amp modeling (which is an effect). Sometimes I'll use chorus for the tonal effects, or delay, but only play with other more far-out effects when goofing around on my own. For now. The board has a lot of options that I'm still learning.
