Compressor, tube o/d, a preamp or 2 for eq and more dirt, envelope filters, chorus, phaser, and then fuzz. Of course a tuner too.
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Most practical effect(s)?
- Thread starter rarefish
- Start date
I would love to hear what you guys use your pedals for instead of just listing what you use. I know a compressor compresses and distortion distorts. 
But I'm interested in hearing how everyone uses their most practical effects. For instance, if you're in a cover band what effect really makes a particular song work? Are there certain songs that require a specific effect? If you're in an original band maybe describe how the effect makes your part better.
But I'm interested in hearing how everyone uses their most practical effects. For instance, if you're in a cover band what effect really makes a particular song work? Are there certain songs that require a specific effect? If you're in an original band maybe describe how the effect makes your part better.
I've found it depends on the sound. I have a Digitech BP50, and it provides a slew of customizable effects. Mind you, it's very inconvenient for onstage use (especially if switching effects mid-song) and it took me awhile to get my perfect "standard" sound, but it still has it's uses.
For a standard sound (whether it's rock or jazz, I adjust my tone on my bass accordingly, as well as pick-up selection) I have just a tiny bit of a reverb and a bit of EQ adjustment.
Otherwise, it has a fretless effect which I have found useful for getting a really good "mwah" out of even fretted masses. There's also a chorus effect I use, for a slight fretless sound but it's not really quite as smooth.
Then there's a wah sound, which I'm not particularly happy with, that I haven't been able to use yet, but I plan to once I start writing some songs.
And the pedal also lacks in quality distortion. I'd like a really good overdrive distortion, but the pedal doesn't provide that.
For a standard sound (whether it's rock or jazz, I adjust my tone on my bass accordingly, as well as pick-up selection) I have just a tiny bit of a reverb and a bit of EQ adjustment.
Otherwise, it has a fretless effect which I have found useful for getting a really good "mwah" out of even fretted masses. There's also a chorus effect I use, for a slight fretless sound but it's not really quite as smooth.
Then there's a wah sound, which I'm not particularly happy with, that I haven't been able to use yet, but I plan to once I start writing some songs.
And the pedal also lacks in quality distortion. I'd like a really good overdrive distortion, but the pedal doesn't provide that.
I would love to hear what you guys use your pedals for instead of just listing what you use. I know a compressor compresses and distortion distorts.
i wouldent go so far as "im playing this song by this band, it needs to sound like this." my effects are my own palette of colors, that let me create sounds i want to hear. ive never really tried to replicate anything by using an effect..except for maybe bootsys funk sound, but what good enevlope filter doesent sound similar to that..
I would love to hear what you guys use your pedals for instead of just listing what you use. I know a compressor compresses and distortion distorts.
Mostly I use the sansamp as a buffer for my basses. One has a relatively quiet output, so I boost it a bit, and eq the signal a little. The other bass has a much stronger output (almost too much for the amp), so I'll cut the signal a little and boost some of the lows for that particular bass.
Futureprimitive is on the ball here.
On a side note, going back to spanky and jybyj, that is of course an important point - I don't think that poses an issue for particular single effects though and their worth, if anything it broadens up the possibility to list particular combinations of effects that you enjoy and have use for - it's more just a point of interest than a guide... I think it'd just be nice to see what TBers find useful and interesting for the different types of musical situations they are in
On a side note, going back to spanky and jybyj, that is of course an important point - I don't think that poses an issue for particular single effects though and their worth, if anything it broadens up the possibility to list particular combinations of effects that you enjoy and have use for - it's more just a point of interest than a guide... I think it'd just be nice to see what TBers find useful and interesting for the different types of musical situations they are in
Of course there are the happy accidents when using effects-you know, those unexpected and unforseen sounds one gets when twisting knobs at random.
Last night I was reamping a keyboard track (just the note, C, through a string patch) through my pedalboard. I cranked up my POG and Octave Multiplexer simultaneously and got some excellent and useable noise. BUT THEN, I engaged the feedback on my VFB and slowly creeped up the knob. THAT was magic!
I also found a strange warbling sound when I dimed the rate on the Small Stone that made its way into a track on my solo effort.
Last night I was reamping a keyboard track (just the note, C, through a string patch) through my pedalboard. I cranked up my POG and Octave Multiplexer simultaneously and got some excellent and useable noise. BUT THEN, I engaged the feedback on my VFB and slowly creeped up the knob. THAT was magic!
I also found a strange warbling sound when I dimed the rate on the Small Stone that made its way into a track on my solo effort.
I would love to hear what you guys use your pedals for instead of just listing what you use. I know a compressor compresses and distortion distorts.
I can answer this to a certain extent. One of my gigs is a RHCP tribute band. In that case it's just a matter of trying to cop the effect tones from certain songs. I use an XXLB for the intro to "Around the World", a DOD FX25 for the break in "Power of Equality", my Robotalk (sagging voltage from the PPII) for "Sir Psycho Sexy" and currently I use a SansAmp for the overdrive on "By The Way" though I may eventually pick up a Diesel Dawg for that.
In my other regular gig I back a singer/songwriter/pianist on her original songs. We're a trio with a drummer who will occasionally play acoustic guitar on softer numbers. In this band I use effects sparingly. I will use a tremolo to give a line a bit of movement, a short delay with a fretless for a bit of ambiance, and we had one song where I would use my PS-3 as a chorus though thankfully it's being dropped (I didn't care for it, or the chorus sound, that wasn't my idea). We have one song on record, but two songs live where I use a blended fuzz in a blatant ripoff of Robert Sledge's tone. I can't help it, I dig that mix of fuzzed out bass and piano.
My third project is just now getting started and is very much effects dependent. In fact I'm not sure if I was buying effects to make this kind of music or if I'm making this kind of music because I love effects. Either way, it would be very hard to explain all the different things I use my pedalboard for in this context, partly because all the songs are still in the sketching out phase.
I would love to hear what you guys use your pedals for instead of just listing what you use. I know a compressor compresses and distortion distorts.
I play in two bands, one is very in to Muse and the other NIN. I use my soda meiser as my go to fuzz for both. I also use the chaos mode to get some of the weirder sounds from both bands.
I agree that it really maters what music you are playing....
example:
Funk - Com -> Wah/Envelope -> Octave
Thrash - Distortion -> Reverb (or whatever)
I think that the Comp makes a BIG difference in your sound. So I say that is my chose for the most versital pedal.
example:
Funk - Com -> Wah/Envelope -> Octave
Thrash - Distortion -> Reverb (or whatever)
I think that the Comp makes a BIG difference in your sound. So I say that is my chose for the most versital pedal.
I would love to hear what you guys use your pedals for instead of just listing what you use. I know a compressor compresses and distortion distorts.
Ok, this is probably obvious to most of you but here's how a basic use for compression and eq. I'm able to adjust my touch while recording and practicing to keep consistent levels all over the neck with little or no compression, and the eq is merely set to taste. But a live situation is different. The level sounds smooth from where I'm standing but is very erratic when hearing a recording from the audience's perspective. A compressor helps to smooth it out and the eq compensates for the room characteristics.
Outside of compression, EQ etc which I consider basic tone shaping devices, I would consider overdrive, chorus and octaver to be the most practical. They can e used to subtly adjust your tone mid song in order to give you that bit more presence to fill up some sonic space.
For example, when playing metal. I engage the overdrive channel of my Fulltone in order to beef up my sound a bit when one of the guitars start soloing. When you have 2 rhythm guitars again, turn it off to lose a bit of midrange drive to stop mudding thing things up.
For example, when playing metal. I engage the overdrive channel of my Fulltone in order to beef up my sound a bit when one of the guitars start soloing. When you have 2 rhythm guitars again, turn it off to lose a bit of midrange drive to stop mudding thing things up.
