I need some fx guidance.

[Drop1]

I'd like to accomplish a few different things.

I was playing almost exclusively with a pick.

I'm trying to move away from using a pick and want to use fingers, but my tone is stale with my fingers.

Part of the stale, sterile vibe im getting is I'm just not as good with fingers as I need to be. A big part I suspect.

But there are a couple things I have identified I'd like to address tone wise.

I want a fatter , more round bottom end.

I want a sweeter, more harmonic top end.
But pretty. I'm not looking for distortion here. Some light saturation maybe, but again, "pretty" not harsh or edgy.

I want a better eq. Something where I can adjust the mids without biting into the bass or treble.
I have an east pre, but with the mid control centered, it affects everything from under 100hz to well over 1000hz. That's too wind for what I want.
This is fine for broad tonal changes and the east pre sound excellent, but I want finer control.

I may occasionally want a little drive. Not often, but it's fun to mess with.

Im currently playing mostly funk amd gospel if that helps. Not looking for rock sounds.

If there are "must have " pedals out there for one if these specific task that just dounds amazing, please share them. I'd prefer 1 pedal, but 2 or 3 wouldn't be the end of the world.

Thanks in advance. I just can't play any more funk with this sterile sound. It's sterile on multiple sets of monitors and absolutely TERRIBLE on my practice amp. I do find it interesting my practice amp is actually brighter than any set of my monitors. I'd have thought my white coned Yamaha hs7 monitors would have been the brightest. They are bright by nature, but not near a bright as my single 15 cab with not tweeter some how.


Tldr Short version wish list..............,,.................................
......................................................

Something to fatten the bottom

Something to sweeten the highs/upper mids

Capable eq with variable q if possible for the mids

Hpf.

The kicker, I'd like all that in one pedal If at all possible.

Whatcha think?

 

[Killing Floor]

You can't buy 1 pedal. You need to buy a lot of pedals and keep buying them until you have to simply store them in bins. Then you can start selling 1 or 2 at a time to fund additional pedals.

You could enhance most of your ask with a Source EQ2, maybe a compressor. But really a lot of that is adjusting your amp because the input from your finger is different than the input from your pick.
And I'd bet your fingers pluck at a different location than you strike with a plectrum. Even though it's inarguable fact that tone comes from pedals and not from your fingers a lot of what you are describing is technique.

While there's no substitution for buying pedals of all sorts, especially fuzz and oscillating delays, there is also no substitute for practice and instruction.

 

[Drop1]

You can't buy 1 pedal. You need to buy a lot of pedals and keep buying them until you have to simply store them in bins. Then you can start selling 1 or 2 at a time to fund additional pedals.

You could enhance most of your ask with a Source EQ2, maybe a compressor. But really a lot of that is adjusting your amp because the input from your finger is different than the input from your pick.
And I'd bet your fingers pluck at a different location than you strike with a plectrum. Even though it's inarguable fact that tone comes from pedals and not from your fingers a lot of what you are describing is technique.

While there's no substitution for buying pedals of all sorts, especially fuzz and oscillating delays, there is also no substitute for practice and instruction.

I'm aware that my fingers aren't great but I do use myfingers in almost the identical area I used the pick..there are some finger lines i can play pretty darn well. I use those to check tone.
I dont want plies if pedals I can't afford them. I Have had A CRAXY amount if pedals with I stopped playing out. There are all gone though cause I thought i was quitting and didn't need all that to mix in the box. I have hundreds maybe thousands of fx in the computer and getting a big fat sound in the box is easy as pie. I'd just really prefer not to have to use a computer for processing with my practice amp if I can help it.

 

[blr2]

What's your amp and cab? Looks to me, you may want to start there.

 

[Drop1]

You can't buy 1 pedal. You need to buy a lot of pedals and keep buying them until you have to simply store them in bins. Then you can start selling 1 or 2 at a time to fund additional pedals.

You could enhance most of your ask with a Source EQ2, maybe a compressor. But really a lot of that is adjusting your amp because the input from your finger is different than the input from your pick.
And I'd bet your fingers pluck at a different location than you strike with a plectrum. Even though it's inarguable fact that tone comes from pedals and not from your fingers a lot of what you are describing is technique.

While there's no substitution for buying pedals of all sorts, especially fuzz and oscillating delays, there is also no substitute for practice and instruction.

Oh , and for my practice amp, I don't think I really want a comp.i have a keely pro here, but it's too neutral foe what I want. If I'm going to use w comps I'd want one that can brighten the upper mids_and add some obvious color. Thr keepy is VERY good just cleaner than I'd like and I don't really need a bunch of dynamic control on my practice rig. I much prefer to just play even during solo practice.

Im.sort of thinking a good pre with a light situation, a good eq and maybe a hpf really is most my diires here my battle here. If a pre can fstten the lows, it will do most of what inesmt I'm a single pedal. How good rhe fx on that pre would sound I dokt knowm

 

[Parzival]

Play harder. (This is kind of a just kidding, but kind of not) What style music is it?

I would also try a little more gain and volume when you are playing with your fingers. But your finger attack can produce different things.

I am the opposite of you. I have always played fingerstyle for the most part, but I am working on doing more and more songs with a pick. There are just songs that rock out and sound better with a pick. When I break out the pick, I have to dial things back because it gets a lot louder and breaks up a lot easier.

 

[micguy]

I'm aware that my fingers aren't great but I do use myfingers in almost the identical area I used the pick..there are some finger lines i can play pretty darn well.

That may or may not be a good idea - you may want to try a bunch of different locations - what you get out of your fingers depends on location.

Getting good at fingerstyle playing doesn't happen overnight. What you are after (from your descriptions) is a "less sterile sound". That means, to me, playing "on the edge of clean" - with is probably actually harder than playing completely clean. A hint of fret buzz when you dig in, and a bit of natural dirt from moving the strings a lot are things you want to incorporate - the old adage of "let the amp do the work" doesn't really apply here - there is a non-linearity (natural dirt) from the pickups we use - to maximize that, you want your pickups close to your strings and you want to be making the strings move a lot. If that's tough on your hands, you want lighter strings - they twang more, and they move more for a given amount of effort, so they are part of playing with "less sterility".

Pedals can help with this, but you can get a lot of the way with technique - it will sound more natural if the pedals aren't doing all the work in making things less sterile. I use pedals here and there for even more dirt, the occasional chorus, and such, My always on is a bit of eq (Source Audio EQ2 - it's my eq, my high pass, my low pass/cab sim (ampless gigs), and my tuner).

 

[Drop1]

That may or may not be a good idea - you may want to try a bunch of different locations - what you get out of your fingers depends on location.

Getting good at fingerstyle playing doesn't happen overnight. What you are after (from your descriptions) is a "less sterile sound". That means, to me, playing "on the edge of clean" - with is probably actually harder than playing completely clean. A hint of fret buzz when you dig in, and a bit of natural dirt from moving the strings a lot are things you want to incorporate - the old adage of "let the amp do the work" doesn't really apply here - there is a non-linearity (natural dirt) from the pickups we use - to maximize that, you want your pickups close to your strings and you want to be making the strings move a lot. If that's tough on your hands, you want lighter strings - they twang more, and they move more for a given amount of effort, so they are part of playing with "less sterility".

Pedals can help with this, but you can get a lot of the way with technique - it will sound more natural if the pedals aren't doing all the work in making things less sterile. I use pedals here and there for even more dirt, the occasional chorus, and such, My always on is a bit of eq (Source Audio EQ2 - it's my eq, my high pass, my low pass/cab sim (ampless gigs), and my tuner).

I've been playing "raw" into my practice amp fir while now.. I have explored plucking finger positioning quite extensively in this time. Just under the neck pup is my sweet spot. Eny either towards the bridge brings out too much bridge sound. On top of the neck pup or cmoset to the next takes a lot of the power out the sound. Makes it sound a fair bit deeper, but less focused. Playing nauwhre less is just unacceptable to me sound wise. At home at least. I could see myself altering positions if playing out, but I just want a solid bedroom tone right now..used to play in many different areas live to get more appropriate cover band tones. I don't need that here..just one solid set up for me is plenty these dayz.

 

[lomo]

One pedal that can get you pretty far all on its' own is a powerful EQ. This would allow you to play around and empirically determine which frequencies you want boosted & cut with your own ears. Several also provide an integrated HPF. I suggest either the Source Audio EQ2 or Empress para EQ Dlxe. I'd go there before falling into a generalized pedal rabbit hole. Also, depending on what your practice amp is.......the cab or amp may be so coloured that they prevent you from breaking free, so eq experimentation may be a lot more satisfying with top quality monitors or head phones if a top shelf bass cab isn't available. Exactly what rig, bass and strings are you using?

 

[Chrisk-K]

I was playing almost exclusively with a pick.

I'm trying to move away from using a pick and want to use fingers, but my tone is stale with my fingers.

If the tone is stale with your fingers, why not keep using a pick?

 

[lomo]

It would also be useful if the OP posted a few tracks to let us know what sound he's after.

 

[MattZilla]

It would also be useful if the OP posted a few tracks to let us know what sound he's after.

…and a track or two of him playing so we can hear where he’s starting from.

might be plucking too hard.

 

[Gorilla Monsoon]

The first time i played over an amp, it was a cheap Crate 25 watt, and i couldn’t believe how bad i was. I went back to playing through a Walkman, and then went through an Eden Traveller using the headphones. I fed it with a SansAmp, eventually adding chorus, then went fretless. I ditched the amp altogether and played through phones for 20 years. Stopped altogether for almost five years, and went back to using a little PJ headphone amp until i picked up a PF 50 T and a Bergantino 212. THEN, I went down the pedal rabbit hole. If i were to recommend any pedal that addresses the OP’s desire- i think he wants a fatter low end- i would consider the SansAmp VT. I do not own one, but for $249 new, you could do a lot worse.

 

[Derek Kay]

Like @Parzival I mostly use fingers, and pick occasionally.
My basic sound is primarily EQed for fingers and I adjust for picking. That's the reverse of what you're intending, but possibly easier/simpler.

For picking I get a fatter sound by switching series/parallel on my neck PU, and dialing back the tone a bit or palm muting at he bridge. This is for a passive bass. With an active bass it's easy to change the finger sound for pick sound.

This sound is also useful for slap & pop, and heavy reggae.
Series/parallel is simple on a humbucker with accessable coils, although you can still do it with 2 single coil PUs like a Jazz or a Rick.

 

[klattman]

If you are not looking for dirt the empress para eq mkii can dial in just about anything.

another option is the old ehx “steel leather” pedal. It’s an expander with a narrow band right at the “clank”/“bite” frequency. Not popular because it only does that one trick but at least to me it can make finger style as agrressive as a pick. I wouldn’t play through it with a pick because it would be way overkill. If you do find one use low settings at first.

 

[-Stingray]

Sounds like you might want to try lowering your action and introducing a little fret klank into your sound.

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

What do you use to get the sound you like in the box? If it’s an Ampeg sim then maybe get a pre that has that flavor. You can fine tune eq, add a comp, etc from there but I think being happy with your starting point is important.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

I've found that the only real solution is to practice, practice, practice. I go back and forth all the time and while the tones are different, both sound very good and once finger style becomes second nature, it's much easier to coax the sound you want out of the strings.

OTOH, a nice compressor can help, preferably one with a transformer, such as an API CMP, Niche Devices Humboldt, or the like.

 

[40Hz]

The Dry Bell Unit 67 handles most of my sound sculpting needs these days. TB member Scubaduba has an in depth review if it over on his own site. Find it here.

Another nice tone thickening box I find a lot of use for is the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] which basically gets the sound of an Ampeg B-15 on steroids thanks to the addition of an EQ contour and an input pre-emphasis switch.

 

[Parzival]

I've found that the only real solution is to practice, practice, practice. I go back and forth all the time and while the tones are different, both sound very good and once finger style becomes second nature, it's much easier to coax the sound you want out of the strings.

OTOH, a nice compressor can help, preferably one with a transformer, such as an API CMP, Niche Devices Humboldt, or the like.

When I began playing in high school, I was pick only. Wasn’t that good. Then made a choice to go finger style and made the switch. Now switching back to try pick some is not easy, but I think it’s an easier switch than going from pick to fingers. That’s just me though.

I think easier to go to pick because like was said earlier, little palm and maybe turn tone down. Going to fingers not as easy as OP is learning.