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Is there a pedal for this?

P

ptooner

Feb 9, 2008
37
32
#1
I don't usually use any effects at all except an occasional compressor pedal. I'm a very simple kinda bass player, mostly country and a bit of bluegrass. I like a low smooth sound that I don't know how to describe exactly but I run my Fender Jazz on the front pickup full up, bridge pickup only a little and the tone almost full bass. That's great for most of my music especially slow tunes. Sometimes I get some really upbeat tunes and for those I need more attack and highs. I turn the bridge pickup up, the neck pickup down most of the way and the tone up quite a bit. That takes a bit more time than I really have so I'm wondering if there is some pedal that I can make these changes with a single button push? I'm a converted keyboard player so I don't have any guitar experience to fall back on. I appreciate any help.
Gerry
 
#3
There are pedals that can boost your highs (eq), and there is also the EHX Steel Leather, which gives you more of a high-mid attack sound. That might be what you are looking for.

However, these pedals can only boost what is there. If the signal you're feeding it is all lows, and there is no high content in your bass tone, there's not much for it to boost. So you might be disappointed in the results.
 
#5
You might want something more sophisticated -- but if you have a Wah-Wah pedal lying around you could experiment leaving it at various "Fixed" positions. You can get dozens of tone combinations through the sweep.

There is a a pedal called the Keeley Nova Wah that is designed for this. Im not sure how many presets it allows, but it sure gives a wide array of tone.

I achieve most of my tonal needs with right Hand Placement and technique. When I play Reggae I often rightHand palm mute --- this gives a Round deep tone,
with a little bite--then quick decay. I think this is a result of the mute deadening the overtone series which would otherwise add brightness to the tone.

To get more of a bite out of your tone play closer to the bridge with fingertips. There is a lot of tonal variation available to you without the expense of a pedal.
Just find your preffered "default" tone and experiment with different articulations and different distances from the pick-ups and bridge.

Enjoy your tone quest....
 
#6
bigchiefbc said:
There are pedals that can boost your highs (eq), and there is also the EHX Steel Leather, which gives you more of a high-mid attack sound. That might be what you are looking for.

However, these pedals can only boost what is there. If the signal you're feeding it is all lows, and there is no high content in your bass tone, there's not much for it to boost. So you might be disappointed in the results.
Click to expand...

Unless the EQ was set to cut the highs, and turn it off for the brighter sound
 
#7
I think the simplest answer is to get an EQ pedal for bass guitar. Leave your pickups where you need them for the brighter attackier sound, then set the EQ to bring them down. Play your slow material with it on and then, when you need some brightness, stomp on it and turn it off.

Bonus: never have to twist a knob on the guitar again. I find that a pain, myself. The only knob I ever reach for is the volume knob. And even that's a bad habit. I should be using my turner pedal to mute the entire rig.

Of course, I'm a big fan of overdrive type pedals to add a little sizzle and grit when you need it. I don't know if it's exactly what you're looking for, given how you've described the issue. But it's a very popular kind of pedal with bassists. The VT Bass or the Aguilar Tone Hammer or the SansAmp Bass Driver DI are all good candidates for what I call "hotting up" your tone. Excellent for rock music. (Of course, I run mine on all the time, so your mileage may vary.)
 
#9
Several folks have suggested eq pedals and it certainly makes sense. I don't know why I didn't think of that.:crying:

I didn't go into detail, but for the mellow sound I pick right up by the base of the neck using the fleshy part of my finger tips and for more attack I move back closer to the bridge and use the very tips or occasionally finger nails.

Anyway thanks for the help. Any particular eq pedal anyone likes? Oh, someone mentioned tuner pedals. I don't use them in part because I usually play fretless and I almost never play open strings. Tuning between sets is more than often enough for me. I do like my Fender Jazz with frets, but it stays in tune anyway.

Gerry
 
#11
My MXR M-108 EQ is my primary tone shaper. I use it a little different than most bassists, I believe. Instead of bumping the mids above +0db, I cut the bass and treble ends a smidge. The result is a "bump" to the mids and helps to tame some of my boomy E string on my fretless.
 
#13
Alternately, you could spend a little more than try the Source Audio Programmable EQ. At $160, that may seem a lot for an EQ pedal, but you 6 presets, allowing you to setup 6 different EQ'd sounds you might normally use, at the press of your foot.
 
#14
I will suggest a different direction. Install a 3 way switch on your bass.
This way you can have your favorite preset tones at each end, that you can access just by flipping the switch.
YOu can even have a 3 way switch with the middle position letting you access your knobs as usual.
 
#15
Jazz Ad said:
I will suggest a different direction. Install a 3 way switch on your bass.
This way you can have your favorite preset tones at each end, that you can access just by flipping the switch.
YOu can even have a 3 way switch with the middle position letting you access your knobs as usual.
Click to expand...

That sounds good but I don't understand it. Can you provide a link or something?
Thanks
 
#16
Man...options!

You could go the switch on the bass route.

You could go eq pedal.

You could use a low pass filter.

You could go dirt pedal...id recommend the microtubes from dark glass...my new fav dirt pedal.

Go to music store and play with em all...except the bass switch of course.
 

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