I just play bit busier....not a huge difference though.....geddy lee tends to really take off for lifeson solos.....works for rush!
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how to fill the hole left by a soloing guitarist
- Thread starter scottfeldstein
- Start date
Like I said, sometimes what we call a "guitar solo" is really just the entire ensemble kicking it up a crazy-notch or two until the vocals come back in. Many Rush songs are exactly like this. (At least the old ones I'm familiar with.)
Guitarists are simple creatures, much like children. It's your job to be the adult and make sure they don't wander off and hurt themselves.
I don't really use effects to fill the void. I just play more crazy stuff. 
Really, guitar solos for my band are just mega-jams.
Really, guitar solos for my band are just mega-jams.
Geddy once said in a Guitar Player interview, "Moving bass lines fill the void" or something like that.
Assuming your playing in a straight out rock bank, i use my fuzz in conjunction with my ls-2, dig play harder, and sometimes add chorus or flanger (with regen off - so its basically a chorus). The point above about the chorus adding more to the mix is the approach i take as well, and because i use the blender/fuzz during the majority of my bands songs anyway adding the chorus will take up more sonic space without taking attention away from the guitarist.
Sam N said:
I've used a touch of distortion (sansamp), touch of chorus (on my boss me50b), and octaver (micro pog). Not always at the same time. Works pretty well.
Just got the Fission. Gonna experiment with it. I only maybe see it replacing the pog.
Oh and the boss is going. Maybe replace with a dedicated chorus pedal.
This pedal came to mind as soon as I saw this thread. I feel like it could be pretty awesome during solos, especially for 3 piece bands.... There seem to be mixed reviews here on the forum, with tracking problems in the bad reviews. No reviews on Musician's Friend. Does anyone know of comparable pedals to this (with good tracking)?
- Jan 27, 2010
- 4,141
- 471
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Genz Benz Amplification
Pockett said:
The Akai Unibass is what that pedal's based on. I haven't played the Fission, but I own a Unibass, and while it's not always perfect, if you set the levels right it's perfect for what the OP's asking.
I tend to hold back the sound of my 12 string by playing only the bass strings by up-picking. At the guitar solo or a few other tasteful slots, I switch to down-picking to make it sound like a phantom guitar player just showed up to the gig.
...aaaaand, just in case someone's looking for one
:http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f213/fs-ft-fishman-fission-bass-884633/
A few weeks back I was at rehearsal for the Steely Dan tribute band I play with. The keys and 2nd guitar were a no-show (and horns don't come unless it is dress), so we were a power trio with 3 vocalists. A combination of MicroPog, chorus, and distortion (in different combinations) combined with varying technique (palm-damped thumb/fingers with chords, pick, 2-hand tap of bass line and double stops, etc) made for some very cool versions. It helped that when we played Aja (yes, as a trio) the vocalists covered a lot of the piano chords doing 3-part harmony. Was actually really cool, and I certainly had never played those tunes that way.
The MicroPog was the go-to pedal in that situation (and other similar ones).
The MicroPog was the go-to pedal in that situation (and other similar ones).
polyphonic octaver with octave down set to a similar level to the bass in the normal mix, overdrive and chorus. Play 5th chords up an octave for the main harmony.
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I am sticking with my standard answer: If you have to radically change what you're playing when your guitarist takes a solo, the sonic balance in your band is misaligned. The guitarist shouldn't be filling that much space/volume that their change in playing necessitates a complete revision of yours.
depends on what is going on in regards to the context of the music being played. Sometimes I'll do the octave up approach, sometimes I'll do an octave up with the EHX HOG doing a 5th up, -1 and +1oct. doomy fuzz can also fill up sound nicely while leaving the trebly highs for your guitarist to play with.
