Modern Geddy Lee! (Who uses synths with their rig?)

[Grapevine921]

My band is thinking about adding a synth player, and as an effect junkie with a Moog-friendly pedalboard, I started thinking about taking on bass and synth duties all on my own. Does anyone here have a synth in their rig? how do you use it? please share!

 

[Basshappi]

Mostly synth pedals right now.
But we will be integrating synths very soon,

Current pedals: Dirty Robot, SYB-5, EHX Mono Synth, SA Manta (will add SA Spectrum/C4 once they are available)
Synths: Novation Bass Station II, Roland GAIA, Roland JUNO DS61
Studio: Yamaha PF2000, Yamaha V-50, Alesis QSR, Korg MS2000R

 

[Wasnex]

My band is thinking about adding a synth player, and as an effect junkie with a Moog-friendly pedalboard, I started thinking about taking on bass and synth duties all on my own. Does anyone here have a synth in their rig? how do you use it? please share!

Do you mean playing keyboard bass, using a processor like an EHX POG or HOG, using some sort of optical pickup to trigger a synth module, or totally abandoning bass duties to play a full featured synth?

I used to consider using an analog bass synth as they were once very common in pop music.

 

[Alien8]

Currently using Meris Enzo, a Modded Moog LPF, a Sneak Attack etc. Have a Minibrute at home, and a Fooger collection. For making music, I enjoy the turn my bass into a synth.

 

[Bryce Wiseman]

For my current synth setup I split my direct bass signal and run a line into a SonicSmith Convertor, then use the CV outs into a Behringer Neutron. I also have a Keith McMillen 12 Step that I run into a MIDI Expander and into the MIDI in on the Neutron. And I have an M-Audio MIDI keyboard controller that I can hook in if I have parts to play with my hands.
In the past I've used POGs and various keyboard synths with and without the 12 Step, but I've found this is about as small and versatile as anything else I've considered, and it's been a part of my rig for a couple years now.

 

[lfmn16]

I played in a band not too long ago where I had a couple of keyboards and a McMillan 12 step and either played bass with my foot via the McMillan while I played keys, or Keys with my foot via the McMillan while I played bass. It takes a lot of practice, but it's better than pussing out with backing tracks

 

[JES]

Linnstrument and small Eurorack setup. I use it as a bass tone changeup or for wild sound fx.

 

[theunknowndude]

I like the I do both vote... I use the digitech dirty robot for synth sweep behind a ringing out bass note. If I want to go the whole hog, I currently use a midi keyboard with a few vst to add over the top synth stuff. My band and I decided easier to program it alongside part of the drum tracks than trying to mess with playing with a laptop live.

 

[Bassmike62]

I got into keys a year ago and after a few tryouts, settled on a Roland DS88. Not a true synth, more of jack of all trades sort of thing, which suits me fine. The plan is to play bass lines with my left hand and synth lines or chords with the right for a few songs, bass remaining my main instrument.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I have synth pedals, but my next "bass" will likely be a Moog Subsequent 37. I feel like branching out and I'm currently messing around with an old QS6.1 that I picked up for cheap.

 

[Slade N]

not currently but did the Geddy in a band years ago swapping between keyboard synth and bass...one song actually both at the same time. there was a rest in the bass lick and during that rest i had just enough time to hit the next key for the sustaining note, was tricky but a fun challenge.

have been thinking about adding a keyboard synth for current band too, more fun sounds and textures to be had

 

[DWBass]

I plan to. I play in an R&B band an a lot of the music has synth bass.

 

[cosmicevan]

I play with an experimental electronic music thing and we've got a guy who has a giant table of pre-wired gizmos that includes synths and sequencers, all sorts of fun non-sense. Not to be one who is put in a box, I...too...handle a lot of the synth duties with pedals...plus we have a keyboardist who plays a moog lil' phatty. It's quite fun during a jam when someone does something crazy synth awesome and we all look up and no one is quite sure who made the noise.

The music is improv centered so there is freedom to groove with these as my instrument sound or to use synth tones as quadraphonic topplings. I don't really get the folks who have synth pedals all over their board, and then play classic rock covers exclusively, but I'm all for getting all synthy especially when it is not appropriate.

If you are looking to have a synth player added, and you add synth tones to your aresenal, you really open the doors to do something unique if you are able to compliment each other...just be careful when you start competing for that sonic space and timbre flavor. We've had many times where we've encountered too much synth and as a bassist, you are still expected to...play the bass and keep the pulse/groove.

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

I've done it in the past but not right now.
I have a microKorg and a microMoog, and I used to start and stop patterns on the korg during the songs, and used the moog to do long sweeping waveforms at key points in the songs.
but I always played bass and used them as accessories to the bassline, never the replacement.

 

[SteveC]

I play in a cover band where I am currently using a Korg microKorg synth. 3 octave mini keys. It sounds OK, but not great. I find editing difficult. I have thought about trying something more "professional" and with knobs instead of menus. That would be a Moog Sub 37 according to my research.

However, before I do that I am going to try a friends Future Impact for a while. I only use about 3-4 different sounds for my synth parts. If I can find them in the Future Impact (even within the presets if I'm lucky) I may ditch the keyboard synth all together. I much prefer playing bass and when I've played my synth parts on my bass (even with no effects) my drummer has preferred it. Unfortunately, the band leader is a synth guy (Nord, Yamaha, etc. etc.) and may not appreciate the change if I make it. we'll see. The quality of sound should be better from this pedal than my cheap little synth. It feels like a toy. One less thing to carry around and set up. Free up a mixer channel as well.

Also, pedal would be under $400, Sub 37 would be about $1,400. Wouldn't mid saving $1,000 if I could.

 

[pbass2]

I play in a cover band where I am currently using a Korg microKorg synth. 3 octave mini keys. It sounds OK, but not great. I find editing difficult. I have thought about trying something more "professional" and with knobs instead of menus. That would be a Moog Sub 37 according to my research.

However, before I do that I am going to try a friends Future Impact for a while. I only use about 3-4 different sounds for my synth parts. If I can find them in the Future Impact (even within the presets if I'm lucky) I may ditch the keyboard synth all together. I much prefer playing bass and when I've played my synth parts on my bass (even with no effects) my drummer has preferred it. Unfortunately, the band leader is a synth guy (Nord, Yamaha, etc. etc.) and may not appreciate the change if I make it. we'll see. The quality of sound should be better from this pedal than my cheap little synth. It feels like a toy. One less thing to carry around and set up. Free up a mixer channel as well.

Also, pedal would be under $400, Sub 37 would be about $1,400. Wouldn't mid saving $1,000 if I could.

If you stick with keys for your synth bass (I know for me I prefer it over pedals simply because I play differently than I do on bass with synth SFX) and a monosynth will work, look at the latest Bass Station: Invalid Link Removed
For less than $450 that's a pretty great synth.

 

[somegeezer]

I play a lot of Electronic music, but I've never played synth live. Would be a fun one. My style of synthery [to make up a word] is very much in the realms of modular and old school analogue. I've not had huge love for putting my bass through synth pedals and such.

 

[Pings Bass]

I've got a Korg Volca Bass that I play triggered with a 25-key Alesis controller. But I think it's important to differentiate between playing "synth" and playing "synth bass." When I play the Volca, I'm still playing bass, just on a different instrument. Not the same thing as adding a KB player to the band by any means.

 

[captainofsmooth]

I use a Moog Taurus just like Geddy. It helps when you don't always have a devoted keys/synth player for every show. It took time to learn doing both well, but I enjoy the challenge. Most interaction I have with it is through my feet, so totally different scenario that having a piano manual synth next to you. Editing on stage is almost impossible with my Moog, so there's tons of prep work.

For your situation, if the pedal works you, use the pedal. Especially if the drummer agrees. You guys need to be in sync if nothing else. There are some really great bass synths out there, and many of them aren't that expensive. Shop around and try a few out.

 

[SteveC]

There is the "cool" factor of playing synth AND bass. I think if the Future Impact works I'd rather do that. When I play synth, it is the bass part, not a synth part. We already have a synth/keys player with 3 keyboards and a MacBook Pro to run them.