OCD trigger warning!!!
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The last two are going to be the longest. Board #4. If I had to pick a name, I would call this my "gigging board." This board will see the most "out of house/studio" use by far. It's also the messiest as I had to squeeze a lot into a tiny space.
I had a few requirements for this board:
- Size: Has to fit into a Mono Tick.
- Flexibility: has to be able to handle almost any type of gig, from a music/tone standpoint (i.e. funk, metal, classic rock, jazz, etc.) as well as support multiple styles and basses - fretted and fretless, as well as supporting "easy" slap tone
- Flexibility part 2: it needs to be able to be used for IEMs as well as amps (both mine and rented backline)
So, let's take a look at the requirements 1x1 and how I met them all, before we get into individual pedals.
- Size: I chose the largest board that I could conceivably fit into the Tick as I knew I would need to "jam" a lot of pedals onto the board. I'm no stranger to making mods to things, so I found a candidate and did some modifications - I changed out the feet and set it on a slight slant to accomodate a power supply and also a StageBug mounted underneath - but still accessible.
- Flexibility: Multiple options for a variety of gig, including the right effects. An envelope filter/follower is essential for me, and I need to synth for 80's music, as well as for it's octaver capabilities. Good dirt and a chorus (for fretless) round it out; a mutable tuner is a must as well for switching basses between songs (and staying in tune ... optional of course for fretless) - and let's not forget the parametric EQ!
- Flexibility 2: Compressor and variable HPF/LPF round this out, as does the ability to use a 1/4 or XLR out
To sum it all up, I needed a tuner, compressor, synth, chorus, parametric EQ, envelope filter, tone switching (for fretless and slap), dirt, EQ, LPF/HPF, 1/4 and XLR out, and a power supply - all on a board that measures less than 14" x 7" x 3.5"
Challenge accepted! Of course, one of the requirements was *not* that the cabling be neat and tidy ....
From input to output (note that the wiring in the pic might not reflect this, but I did some slight changes in the order):
TC Electronic Polytune 2. It's just the right size, bright enough to be read in most circumstances, fast, accurate, and I actually do like the poly tune feature. I have a few clip on tuners that I can use in a pinch, but I've grown very accustomed to a "stomp to mute" capability that it's almost essential
Becos Stella Compressor - other than the Cali76, my favorite compressor. It will handle anything I throw at it and then some, it's got tons of sculpting capability, and a nice little tone sweetener/saturation capability built in. I tend to use compressors to highlight the dynamics as opposed to squashing the signal, and the Stella excels at this. I went through a bunch of compressors and this one came out on top for me. As a side note, for many, many years I played without a compressor, and as a result of that I developed a lot of control over my playing style, especially when it comes to dynamics. My finger playing and slap playing are both relatively the same level. I also have a pretty percussive style (at times) and love to use harmonics, the compressor helps evening those out.
Sine Effects NanoPara - this tiny little EQ is fantastic. Fully parametric, essential for spot EQ but also for fretless - a bump around 700-800 really brings out the mwah.
Boss SY-1 Synth - I went through A LOT of synth pedals, more synths than any other type of pedal except perhaps dirt and envelope filters. Size was huge factor, but I also needed a synth with zero latency that is easy to adjust on the fly - meaning knobs instead of patches. Don't get me wrong - I thoroughly enjoyed messing around with the Source Audio C4 (and if i had time to dedicate to it, the C4 would win over the SY-1), but with that and the other more complex pedals I found myself spending a lot of time downloading patches, tweaking, etc. I needed a geat sounding synth with octave capabilities that took up the least amount of space possible - the SY-1 fits the bill perfectly.
Mutron Micro-Tron IV with the red option - I've mentioned before that for envelope filters I've got a three way tie for my favorite - this is one of them. The other two are the 3 Leaf GR-2 and a John K custom Mutron clone. The GR-2 wouldn't fit, so that one was out. It was almost a toss up between the Micro-tron and the John K, and there is a 100% chance that I will swap this one out for the John K at some point, and then later back again. The John K sounds and reacts like an old school Mutron (bonus: I have a voltage regulator that I use to simulate a dying battery); the Micro-Tron, with the red option (fatser response) fits my playing style a little better. Both are excellent pedals, and I really dig the response on the Micro - it's what led me to try out the GR-2 (variable attack settings)
Mr. Black Micro Vintage Chorus - I like this one so much I bought it, sold it, then bought it again. It's the best mini-chorus on the market IMO. Shimmery analog goodness, it has a nice rich vintage tone that is just perfect for my fretless. Very full sounding. And of course it's just the right size!
Origin Effects DCX Bass - this one does dirt, some EQ, and tone sweetening all in one. It's very touch sensitive and sounds phenomenal. I don't know what else I can say about this that's not already been said - it's an all around great pedal.
Markbass MB Mini boost - two things that I have to admit - first, I do really like the Markbass tone, and second, I love to slap. While I was looking for boost pedals I came across this for pretty cheap and I love it. It's small, of course, and I use it for "instant slap tone!" Just a little twist of the VPF knob and bam! I have it set at unity gain, so I don't use it as a true boost, just to drop some mids and boost the highs and lows to make that slappin' sound great!
Broughton HPF & LPF - These two are no brainers. Broughton makes killer pedals, and IMO these are pretty much the industry standard.
Radial StageBug (underneath) - small, made for bass, provides everything I need for a DI. Nothing fancy, it just WORKS.
Already that Hornet is calling my name ...
I've learned alot from him & @el murdoque We've all have different tastes but sometimes, someone's else point of view can lead you to open your mind to different things. I've only been into pedals for 2 years and if I was gigging more I know doubt have various live pedalboards. As it stands today I have 2 pedalboards
