I tried !

[Freight Train]

I tried the pedal board thing … Had a zoom B6 and later put together a pedal board with a compressor, effects & preamp pedal … after many months and different approaches end up just keeping the bass preamp as a back up DI Box / Preamp option
anyone outhere with the same experience … Basically a plug in your bass direct guy ? just curious

Haven't been a pedal guy for many moons. You can't beat the sound of a good bass plugged straight into a good amp. When I use my Bassman 100T rig it has a switchable overdrive channel, which I use overdrive on 3 of our 42 songs, and it has a tuner output, so ideal. Full disclosure - when I use my Ampeg PF-50T rig I do run a tuner pedal inline, and I also use an overdrive pedal for the 3 fuzzy songs. But I've gotten so weird about it I take the overdrive out of the chain if I'm not using it during that set. LOL.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

I've never used a wireless on Bass, hardwired only.

 

[LiptonJigglers]

I'm a no pedals kinda guy.
However; I have 2 eq pedals, 1 Overdrive, 1 Noise Suppressor and 1 Boss tuner, which is the only one that gets used regularly as clip on tuners don't seem to last to long around me.
Never even used pedals in the Pink Floyd tribute band, which is where I developed a dislike of pedals thanks to the lead guitarist who had 3 very large pedalboards filled with all kinds of pedals with 10 squillion sound possibilities that completely bamboozled the guy to the point of idiocity.
Totally ludicrous.
It's imperative that one puts the time and effort into knowing the pedals and I just don't have the tenacity or patience to go there.

 

[Joe6Bass]

I got an HX Stomp a few weeks ago. I’ve only just begun exploring it. I started with some “essentials”: Pitch, Envelope filter, OD, comp, chorus, ‘verb, really cool reel2reel effect. The intent was to replace a pedalboard, which I like but I can live without.

My favorite trick with the HX is a high pass / low pass split. I can take an effect, like chorus, and only have it apply to >150hz (or whatever) which preserves the bottom.

Last week, I began experimenting with the 4-cable method. Bass to HX in, HX send to Amp in, Amp send to HX return, and HX out to amp return. I did this on the Subway channel of my MesaBoogie TT800. This configuration gives me several options. I created an HX preset with nothing but FX send and FX return. For both the Boogie and Subway channels, this is effectively bass straight to amp.
Next option is the “essentials” into an HX FX loop. Same options as direct, but with effects. The third option is “essentials” (or not) into an amp model to the amp return. This gives me access to all the amp models (SVT, B-15, Noble DI, SansAmp DI) in the HX while bypassing both TT800 preamps.

Sometimes, I’m the bass+cable+amp guy. Sometimes I like lots of pedals. IMHO, this gives me access to everything with a pretty small footprint, but it’s OK if I forget it home.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

"It's imperative that one puts the time and effort into knowing the pedals and I just don't have the tenacity or patience to go there."

Deep menu diving, scrolling and the absolute need of a computer for basic editing is where it just looses me. I love the way H90 sounds, but not willing to invest the time for a community college degree to run the thing. Same with some Source Audio pedals. The one I have is all analog, not even with midi capabilities.

Two Notes is not too bad. The Opus or CAB M+ are easier than most. But part of my switch to the Orange Bass Butler is it has two great cab sims on the XLR outputs and no cab sim on the blended 1/4" output.

The HX One is more like a "knobs & switches" type of proposition. Midi is easy, at least with the small controller designed for HX1 I found, and updates are the only thing I'm aware of that requires a computer? I can make an update happen without much effort.

 

[himluis1]

Just a tuner and a HPF. If I need dirt i overdrive my amp.

whats HPF ?

 

[XLunacy]

I believe the Effects sub is the only place around here where you can randomly see people create threads about not wanting to have anything to do with the main subject of the sub.

Eagerly waiting for the "I exclusively play my electric bass acoustically" thread on the "Pickups & Electronics" sub.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

whats HPF ?

High Pass Filter

Cuts off sub frequencies for a tighter sound, less drag on your amp and wear and tear on your speaker mechanical moving parts.

 

[Parzival]

I believe the Effects sub is the only place around here where you can randomly see people create threads about not wanting to have anything to do with the main subject of the sub.

Eagerly waiting for the "I exclusively play my electric bass acoustically" thread on the "Pickups & Electronics" sub.

This thread is hilarious.

Should be noted that this was moved to Misc. at some point.

 

[himluis1]

TL/DR Did you try building a pedal board for the sake of having a pedal board? Or was there a specific sound(s) you were after that you weren’t able to achieve?

Depending on the band I may use a big pedal board with lots of effects, or just a tuner pedal.

Started with a Zoom B6 xto get specific sounds for specific projects i was working on at the time , then I started playing with different compressors and stuff and decided to build my own … got my self a mini pedalboard and a tc electronic spectracomp , a zoom b1 four and a mxr bass preamp … but started to notice that my rig was getting noisy like more than before … got a bit disappointed

 

[SLO Surfer]

Started with a Zoom B6 xto get specific sounds for specific projects i was working on at the time , then I started playing with different compressors and stuff and decided to build my own … got my self a mini pedalboard and a tc electronic spectracomp , a zoom b1 four and a mxr bass preamp … but started to notice that my rig was getting noisy like more than before … got a bit disappointed

Hmmm. I use 10 effects pedals on my big board and haven’t come across any extra noise. But I do have a nice isolated power supply to help avoid that.

 

[Hypocrite]

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 understand the point completely, and to a certain extent I agree. It's just what is "subtle" in that context? Like, no, the audience doesn't care what tuning you're in, as long as you're all in the same tuning. Likewise no one will notice if you're using a Metalzone or a RAT, but probably will notice the difference between a thuddy thumpy shortscale with dead flats and a modern high gain pick-played Dingwall.

Also, I can't remember who made this point, but if you're on stage playing through an expensive pedalboard with boutique effects and tonal nuances that only you can hear/you're "convinced it matters", then you'll play better, simple as. Your mindset makes a huge difference when you're on stage, and if "tinkering" with sound only you can hear makes you play better, I guarantee that's a NOT so subtle difference that the audience (a hell of a lot more than 0.9%) definitely will notice.

I don't use a lot of effects, just distortion 99% of the time and chorus for a couple of passages where I get a couple of solos/bass breaks, and I'll be damned if after the gig someone doesn't come up and comment on it, and not even bassists either

 

[himluis1]

I kept my zoom b1 four and I’m currently working on just adding a di box to make a small pedalboard , just need recommendations on what compressor , preamp simulator and overdrive to use with the zoom

 

[HelpImaRock]

User error.

 

[FilterFunk]

There's one thing I always wonder about threads like this: If you're already happy with your sound, and it works in the music you play, why bother with effects at all? Is it pure curiosity? What did you expect to gain from trying them?

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

There's one thing I always wonder about threads like this: If you're already happy with your sound, and it works in the music you play, why bother with effects at all? Is it pure curiosity? What did you expect to gain from trying them?

 

[HelpImaRock]

There's one thing I always wonder about threads like this: If you're already happy with your sound, and it works in the music you play, why bother with effects at all? Is it pure curiosity? What did you expect to gain from trying them?

 

[FilterFunk]

I can understand why that would make someone want to try effects!

But even so...unless you really feel it will work in the music you're playing, why bother? And why bother posting about your foray into effects if it didn't work for you? Why not just consider it a failed experiment and move on?

To be clear...I say all of this as someone who loves effects and synths and use then extensively in my recordings.

 

[shadven]

whats HPF ?

High Pass Filter. Nothing is worse than a boomy stage. A high pass filter gets rid of those unusable sub frequencies.
The HPF is either built into the head (MESA) or it’s a stomp box.

 

[Parzival]

There's one thing I always wonder about threads like this: If you're already happy with your sound, and it works in the music you play, why bother with effects at all? Is it pure curiosity? What did you expect to gain from trying them?

Get some different sounds. I would hate it if I had no pedals.


Right now I have and why:


Tuner - Need that. I'm not trying to spend the time to tune by ear during a show. Plus I can mute everything easy when needed. Plus it has a buffer!

Compressor - Amp has no compressor. Don't need one, but I have always liked the idea of what it could provide in a show for my sound, and I finally found one that works for me.

Drive - Had amps in past that did not have a drive channel. Wanted some drive for certain songs. Have amp now with a good drive channel, but I like my drive pedal too.

Multi - gives me cool stuff like chorus, downtuning, etc. My amp has never had those things.

DI - Don't like to take DI from the amp. Like to be able to adjust amp during show. let FOH do their thing. Plus my DI has tube! Extra something to go with needed DI.


I'd say for about 60% of our setlist, other than DI which is always on, only the compressor is on.

I've tried other stuff out of pure curiosity.