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I tried !
- Thread starter himluis1
- Start date
A lot of years by alternate pedalboard, then multi-effect machines, then nothing, then pedalboard, then multi-effects, etc..
But arrived at this point when i've found my tone, and don't need anymore than my always "on" Keeley bassist pedal. And all my other variations are coming from my right hand technic using classic fingering, 3 fingers "kind of" Knopfler's technic , pick, thumb only, mute, hand close to the neck, hand close to the bridge, and mixing all of that.
And i don't think it's better or worse than using a big board with a lot of effects. It's simply my way, and I totally respect others way with all that incredible tones a big board or a multi-effect can achieve.
But arrived at this point when i've found my tone, and don't need anymore than my always "on" Keeley bassist pedal. And all my other variations are coming from my right hand technic using classic fingering, 3 fingers "kind of" Knopfler's technic , pick, thumb only, mute, hand close to the neck, hand close to the bridge, and mixing all of that.
And i don't think it's better or worse than using a big board with a lot of effects. It's simply my way, and I totally respect others way with all that incredible tones a big board or a multi-effect can achieve.
I have a boatload of effects. They’re mostly used for guitar or keyboards. The few pieces of outboard gear I do use (when I use anything) with bass are more along the lines of signal shapers rather than “effects.”’ Things like compressors, ODs, EQs, and preamps. But I’ll just as often plug straight into a amp. It all depends on what I’m doing and where I’m doing it.
The smartest strategy is to let your actual goals and needs determine the gear you’re using rather than the other way around. For many years, something like twenty, I was a straight into the amp guy. When I started getting heavily into prog, alt, and experimental, I started incorporating effects into my signal chain. Later on I began doing music that didn’t require anything but a good bass tone. And a good amp and decent technique is all you need to get that. And that’s pretty much where I am today. But that could also just as easily change tomorrow since I never know what I’ll be playing until I’m playing it.
At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. There’s no rules. You just have to go with what works best for you.
The smartest strategy is to let your actual goals and needs determine the gear you’re using rather than the other way around. For many years, something like twenty, I was a straight into the amp guy. When I started getting heavily into prog, alt, and experimental, I started incorporating effects into my signal chain. Later on I began doing music that didn’t require anything but a good bass tone. And a good amp and decent technique is all you need to get that. And that’s pretty much where I am today. But that could also just as easily change tomorrow since I never know what I’ll be playing until I’m playing it.
At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. There’s no rules. You just have to go with what works best for you.
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I’ve told this story before: For years I never went out without a compressor, a BBE Sonic Stomp, a clean boost, and sometimes a chorus pedal. One night, I forgot the pedalboard. End of the first set, our sound guy came up to me and said “ You sound great! What did you do?”
Some sound guys frown when I walk up with a pedalboard (Not me, I try to keep an open mind when I'm on the other end).
But when I break it out and they see my Summit Audio tube DI and a Peterson Strobe-Stomp as the only occupants of the pedalboard, they smile again.
I have absolutely no aversion to pedals nor for anyone to use them. I simply haven't found the need for any, including a compressor. I trained early on to play fairly evenly and then the sounguy can utilize compression on the console if they think it's necessary. Our regular and most excellent soundguy uses a plug-in version of a tube compressor the "Dual Leisure" in an M or X32 and just a touch of it. Our board recordings sound great, so I trust him implicitly.
Experience in auditions. Instruments that looked as if they'd never been played in the hands of guitarists or bassists who had no business showing up for the audition.
A keyboard player in a band I later joined once said to one such bass player at an audition, "What are you even doing here?"
D
OK, whatever, each to his own.
Just seems like a strange 'prejudice'??
I had an audition the other day. Took my brand new bass and sizeable pedal board. The guys were genuine interested in my gear, as well as my playing. Got the gig.
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I've have effects. Lot's of them. My big board hasn't been pulled out in years though.
I have multi's, synths, and various pedals pretty much all collecting dust because I'm too lazy to offload them and "maybe I'll need them someday". Lately it's just compressor, and an EQ (to get in and out of slap mode quickly) on a small board. If I need some grit (rarely) I get it from my amp or DI).
Don't get me wrong, I love effects. But for the type of music I play (rock) they are rarely needed, and certainly not worth the hassle given how much they wash out in a full band mix.
I have multi's, synths, and various pedals pretty much all collecting dust because I'm too lazy to offload them and "maybe I'll need them someday". Lately it's just compressor, and an EQ (to get in and out of slap mode quickly) on a small board. If I need some grit (rarely) I get it from my amp or DI).
Don't get me wrong, I love effects. But for the type of music I play (rock) they are rarely needed, and certainly not worth the hassle given how much they wash out in a full band mix.
I think his point was such that a vast majority can’t hear the “nuances” and the others don’t care . Throw in your favorite beverage and it gets muddier. If tinkering is your thing and you’re convinced it matters. Suit yourself .
I've always kind of been a plug in and play kinda guy... until I decided to tinker with a Line 6 HX Stomp recently. Oof, I went down a HUGE rabbit hole into endless possibilities and creativity. A bit overwhelming but I find it more fun than hoarding a bunch of single pedals which I was never comfortable with when I first started playing bass.
Technically you are correct.
However, here's some food for thought:
1. If you can hear that last 10% you get by using a lot of top notch gear, those last 10% that are lost on the crowd as you say, does that influence your playing? I know that when I have a stellar sound - both through my choice of gear and because the monitoring / IEM situation is great - I can and often will play as if my life depended on the quality of the next note. That translates directly to the drummer who picks up on that and suddenly, the groove section is a fair bit tighter.
So in a way, the crowd gets an audible effect.
2. If you know that you can get away with less than your best because while it sounds a bit inferior to your A game, but that last few percent are lost on the crowd anyway ... and you join a band where every single member follows that line of thought, the drummer will bring the cymbals that sound less bright, keeps the old drum heads for a while longer ... the guitarist, the keys player, all of them bring a little less because that's lost on the crowd anyway.
Would you suppose that all these minute details that are insignificant by themselves stack up to a difference that IS audible to the non musician?
Certainly don't go looking for them. When I hit the App, the new topics come up.
Over the years I flipped many times between playing with and without effects. I started with a Zoom effects processor not long after I started playing and it didn't last long. Played the next 15 or so years direct before experimenting with a Roland GK3B/GR55 setup. Moved from that to an HX Stomp and now using a Quad Cortex. It's safe to say that I don't see myself ever going back to playing direct ever again.
This is my board.
It gets used a lot, but it's never been to a gig (unless I'm doing the pedalboard ambient thing). My normal gigs (funk and jazz), MAYBE an occasional envelope filter or octave, but for the most part and 35 + years of playing, I pretty much play straight up no pedals when I play. Never felt the need. It's like I live in 2 different worlds.
It gets used a lot, but it's never been to a gig (unless I'm doing the pedalboard ambient thing). My normal gigs (funk and jazz), MAYBE an occasional envelope filter or octave, but for the most part and 35 + years of playing, I pretty much play straight up no pedals when I play. Never felt the need. It's like I live in 2 different worlds.
Oh, man, I bought a Helix Stomp recently. Its one purpose in life is to electronically tune my bass down 1/2 step to accommodate the wishes of my current employer (I’ve been down the rabbit hole of all other options, this is the best option for ME!).
I’m really trying to not get into all the other incredible stuff this thing will do. It looks intimidating, but fun. Maybe later…..
Great! But my experience as someone who has auditioned a number of players over the years is bound to differ from yours, unless you've auditioned players for bands, too.
Case in point: I just quit a startup band yesterday. The drummer who put the band together had had trouble finding guitarists and bass players interested in playing in a '60's through '80's cover band. I knew he was a highly experienced drummer and had taught drums for many years, so I agreed to play four rehearsals and then (since the other members were unknowns) decide whether to commit.
The singer was OK, had a tendency to sing a little flat, but passable. Drums were great. Simple, solid.
Guitarist was not very good. He kept screwing up things as simple as figuring out and remembering chords to songs he'd committed to learning.
I could go into great detail. Suffice it to say that if the drummer had auditioned him and I'd been present, it'd have been thumbs down from me.
Edit: just realized that he had expensive, new-looking equipment. I wasn't even thinking of him when I posted earlier.
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I agree, most people listening don’t hear it. I’d say the same thing about pickups, strings, etc… the average listener will never know, the player or other players may hear the subtle differences. And yeah, this opinion runs the risk of being flayed on this forum
