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Looping bassists...what's your technique
- Thread starter cosmicevan
- Start date
I like using a two track looper for switching between different parts of a song and for doing free-flowing ambient jams. I have the EHX 22500 which also has some useful effects like octave up/down and reverse. I also use looping to go with with spoken word poetry. Here's an example of that.
Super cool groove and concept with nice music. If you want some constructive criticism -- vocals aren't bad, but would benefit from a bit more enthusiasm and energy. As much as I like to pretend that vocals don't matter, it's probably THE most important thing to your average audience member and while the music is interesting and impressive, you lose the listener w weak/timid vocals (even if melodically in key). I watched the whole thing, but instincts told me to move on when you started the vocal track because it was lacking performance worthy confidence and deliberateness, but I stuck with it. Not sure if you are just having some fun or if you plan to perform that tune out, but if you plan to perform it out...beef up the energy on the voice.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
I've been using the Pigtronix Infinity looper for my stuff, although I'll admit I'm not using it anywhere near its full capacity for craziness. My latest tune (I'll post when I get the vid) utilized both loops together (so I could mix them better) and the reverse function.
I finally built a dedicated looping board, having shuffled pedals around previously. It's this:
Rocktron Unity Tuner --> Creation Audio Grizzly Bass --> ProTone Pedals Nectar Chorus -->
Eventide H9 (w/exp pedal) --> Pigtronix Infinity Looper
I have the H9 set up to where the effects can either be routed pre-Infinity or post-Infinity. Just was fiddling with it last night, and also have the expression pedal switch engage the tuner in the H9, so I don't need the Unity on there.
Here's an older tune I did, with the older board...
I finally built a dedicated looping board, having shuffled pedals around previously. It's this:
Rocktron Unity Tuner --> Creation Audio Grizzly Bass --> ProTone Pedals Nectar Chorus -->
Eventide H9 (w/exp pedal) --> Pigtronix Infinity Looper
I have the H9 set up to where the effects can either be routed pre-Infinity or post-Infinity. Just was fiddling with it last night, and also have the expression pedal switch engage the tuner in the H9, so I don't need the Unity on there.
Here's an older tune I did, with the older board...
Thanks for the feedback. Originally, I didn't sing on the song, I played a melodic lick over the chorus changes. I've played that version on stage before. Actually I have batch of songs in this sub-genre of solo bass looping with spoken word poetry on the top. At first it worked out that poetry fit in the verse sections and the choruses were instrumental melodic parts played on the bass. After a while i thought it might be interesting to try and add some vocals. I have to admit don't spend much time on singing and my voice isn't the strongest. So I guess i need to focus on that more.
@cosmicevan - How's the flip-flop working within your looping rig now that you've had some time with it? Worth the price of admission, or something that's useful but not essential?
best pedal purchase possibly ever. the pedal itself could use some contact cleaner or something since every now and then the signal gets a little compromised, but the concept is phenomenal. It's really the only way to layer is to layer into a 2nd looper.
I own more loopers than basses at the moment, and while each uses a slightly different workflow, my basic approach is pretty similar for all of them.
My main companion rig consists of a Boss RC-30 two-track looper with an external footswitch and RV6 Reverb on a cute little Pedaltrain Nano, with a rechargeable 9-volt guy underneath that can sustain it for a short busking session. With only the reverb for effects, it’s mainly meant for an acoustic sound palette, so I use my acoustic parlor bass and a microphone, which I can use to capture all kinds of rhythm or melodic side-instruments, and play while seated on a cajon with pickups plugged into the looper’s second input jack.
The general approach is to lay down (in no particular order) a bass line, a layer of middle/high register chordal playing, and a beat supplied by either the cajon, egg shakers, beatboxing or any combination of the three. Then, I revel in some unlooped melodies from the bass, harmonica, flute, kalimba, glockenspiel, or whatever other piece of tiny wonderment I found in the dumpster that day (I like to think of my acoustic style as “hobo-chic”). The kalimba and glock find their way into the loops a lot, too.
For electric stuff, I’ve got many more options, but I’m especially sweet on my my Zoom B1on. My smallest “rig,” I’ve modified my sweet baby boy with button extenders so can operate him with my feets, and since I’m an egomaniac who refuses to use drum presets, a switchbox lets me supply delicious digibeats through my trusty Game Boy Color. With one track and no undo button, it’s a lot more restrictive, but I’ve found that working under tighter rules has really helped me grow as a player, since I can’t get away with mistakes or switch off a layer that eventually became intrusive. Every part has to really count and add something cherishable, or it should never have existed to begin with.
Unless I plug the B1on INTO the busking looper, in which case I basically rule the universe and can do as I please.
Not even gonna get started on the RC300, or I’ll starve to death before I finish gushing.
--^@
My main companion rig consists of a Boss RC-30 two-track looper with an external footswitch and RV6 Reverb on a cute little Pedaltrain Nano, with a rechargeable 9-volt guy underneath that can sustain it for a short busking session. With only the reverb for effects, it’s mainly meant for an acoustic sound palette, so I use my acoustic parlor bass and a microphone, which I can use to capture all kinds of rhythm or melodic side-instruments, and play while seated on a cajon with pickups plugged into the looper’s second input jack.
The general approach is to lay down (in no particular order) a bass line, a layer of middle/high register chordal playing, and a beat supplied by either the cajon, egg shakers, beatboxing or any combination of the three. Then, I revel in some unlooped melodies from the bass, harmonica, flute, kalimba, glockenspiel, or whatever other piece of tiny wonderment I found in the dumpster that day (I like to think of my acoustic style as “hobo-chic”). The kalimba and glock find their way into the loops a lot, too.
For electric stuff, I’ve got many more options, but I’m especially sweet on my my Zoom B1on. My smallest “rig,” I’ve modified my sweet baby boy with button extenders so can operate him with my feets, and since I’m an egomaniac who refuses to use drum presets, a switchbox lets me supply delicious digibeats through my trusty Game Boy Color. With one track and no undo button, it’s a lot more restrictive, but I’ve found that working under tighter rules has really helped me grow as a player, since I can’t get away with mistakes or switch off a layer that eventually became intrusive. Every part has to really count and add something cherishable, or it should never have existed to begin with.
Unless I plug the B1on INTO the busking looper, in which case I basically rule the universe and can do as I please.
Not even gonna get started on the RC300, or I’ll starve to death before I finish gushing.
--^@
I use a Boomerang III with a Beatbuddy for looping at home. Mainly as a "rough sketch" composition tool. When playing live I have the single Ditto looper that I use to lay down a bass track when I take solos.
Awesome thread, very inspiring and informative. I’ve been looping since the Boss Rx50 was released some ages ago, and until this thread, I thought that was “looping “ 
... one of the hacks I made, was to turn the rx50 into a rack mounted unit, by connecting external switches in parallel with the on-board switches in the unit. Worked well, but not elegant.
Any ideas about a rack mounted, pedal/midi controllable looper?
I also use Mainstage/Logix; does anybody know of a Software plug-in that can be loaded into a DAW’s channel strip that works as a looper?
Thank you!!
... one of the hacks I made, was to turn the rx50 into a rack mounted unit, by connecting external switches in parallel with the on-board switches in the unit. Worked well, but not elegant.Any ideas about a rack mounted, pedal/midi controllable looper?
I also use Mainstage/Logix; does anybody know of a Software plug-in that can be loaded into a DAW’s channel strip that works as a looper?
Thank you!!
I use a Boss RC-50 (midi synced to Korg ES2), and otherwise rely on delays for looping. I'm getting very into one repeat at equal volume for a living loop (great for polyrythm stuff if you tap in 6/8 and play alternating 6 and 5 riffs say). I'm more into floating/unsynced loops and retriggered samples than having a consistent backing track these days.
I see the appeal in that last part. I’m finding a nice middle ground between redundant looping/backing track and some perpetual variation...
I’m using my regular pedalboard in front for general effects (filter, phaser, distortion, octave) with the Nova Repeater Delay after it, and a ditto last in line. My approach is definitely Janek-inspired, with much less talent. Anyway, the progression that works for me is:
1. Lay in some low level atmospheric texture using swells and delay.
2. Tap in a basic kick/snare rhythm on the strings.
3. Create a sparse bass line.
4. Add higher end melody/chords.
With those four tracks in I can improvise over the top playing lead melodies, playing in the gaps, working on bass lines, whatever. Then if I catch onto a new lead melody or chord structure, I’ll undo track 4 on the ditto and re-track the new chords/ideas. So 1-3 is basically permanent once established, but I keep it sparse so the 4th track (plus whatever I play over it in real time) really changes the sound/feel. Rinse and repeat until I’m satisfied, out of ideas, or onto the next thing.
I’m thinking a second ditto would be great, because I can manipulate way more of the layers as the thing progresses (especially if I use a flip-flop). Even without the flip-flop, I could do texture/rhythm on one ditto, chords and melodies on the other, and then I have the option to clear one and really shift the direction of an idea.
Anyway, I love seeing how people are getting creative with their looping setups on here. The Janek vlogs and this thread have made me revisit looping in a much more inspired way...
I'm thinking of the recorded loops and one shots in terms of tracks to trigger and mute along with drums, samples and synth from the ES2. That plus live playing / changing delay lines gives me 20+ independent tracks.
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I use a rc20 xl. It's the 2nd one I've own. Tried an older ehx looper but wasnt a fan.
I'm interested in the new empress zoia for a lot of reasons but it loops as well.
I'm interested in the new empress zoia for a lot of reasons but it loops as well.
As a long time looper (anyone here remember looper's delight?) and recent devotee to Janek Gwizdala's vlogs, during my binge watching I just made it to #103 (embedded below).
Janek has developed a very unique way to progress music using 2 loopers. I recently converted from an Electrix Repeater setup (4 tracks to loop on where every button and slider is MIDI controllable) to a Ditto X4. I'm simplifying from rack gear to just a (humongously stupid) pedal board. After discovering Janek's work, I have decided to add another single Ditto to my chain for dump and clear in my X4. This use case of being able to shift the loop to new music is why I was using the Repeater in the first place and why I chose the Ditto X4 when looking to simplify.
I know @john turner runs a somewhat complex, yet unbelievably flexible, and powerful software looper in his chain and it got me wondering what other crazy mofo's we got on this site doing whacky stuff? If you loop...what is your gear? What is your technique and method? What are your key use cases?
For me, I like to lay down a loop and then paint on top of it. At times I like to really develop a multi-layered loop, others it's the groove and then jump on a solo. I also love using a loop with 0% feedback to jam over yourself with only your last layer present. Even in live situations with other musicians, I love creating a small loop w 0% feedback and kicking it into a recording loop/play sequence, or even to just loop a lightweight drone to fill out the sound or drop a reliable groove or backing that I can expand upon. I'm a huge fan of building and shifting though so having the ability to have multiple canvases is paramount for me so I can fade things out and evolve the overall music.
How do you do it? Would love to hear anything you'd care to share as well.
I love looping but I actually don’t have a looper pedal at the moment. What I’ve been doing lately is using the aux in and headphone out of my Mesa D800 to play along to other people’s loops. YouTube is a goldmine of looping artist. Ill jam along to all kinds of stuff. Here are a few examples
When I had loopers before I actually preferred to loop keyboard parts to play bass to. The digitech jamman is particularly nice for looping keys but wasn’t a big fan of using it for looping bass. Been looking at new looper pedals lately.
As for Janeks stuff. I like his playing. Most of his albums actually don’t use a looper at all. But if you’re into his looping stuff the live last minute world tour album is basically all looping songs. I do use the same delay (tc nova repeater) that he uses for the same type of vibe when I’m playing soloing or intro type stuff.
