New guy, been playing ten years but honestly am at the level a guy who's only played a couple. Currently using 4-stringit Stingray w/SS Low-Riders, tuned a step down through a tlc into a Nemesis(Eden) 2x10. Pretty pleased with tone and still "learning" the TLC. Play Praise&Worship in the Hillsong/Jesus Culture/Crowder/Redman-Hughes-Hall vein and looking at either chorus or octaver..or pwrhaps an M9. since I've solved the lack of compression. Cutting through the mix well during full band but often times me and the keys are it. I'd like to soften the overall sound without losing all the growl (if that makes since). EQ doesn't get me there and I already play farther from the bridge then most. What would you guys suggest to try first without going to multiple basses?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Newb, next effect?
- Thread starter KingMoose
- Start date
Ooooo....first off, avoid the Captain Obvious bags who come in and say a tuner.
But....I like your M9 idea. I cut my teeth on a Boss GT-10B. It let me know what effects I liked and what I didn't like without having to spend hundreds of dollors going through a lot of pedals. I would recommend the Zoom B3. I've owned a GT-10B, Zoom B3, and an M5 and I think the B3 was the most....bass friendly. Not that the others aren't....I just liked the B3 more.
But....I like your M9 idea. I cut my teeth on a Boss GT-10B. It let me know what effects I liked and what I didn't like without having to spend hundreds of dollors going through a lot of pedals. I would recommend the Zoom B3. I've owned a GT-10B, Zoom B3, and an M5 and I think the B3 was the most....bass friendly. Not that the others aren't....I just liked the B3 more.
I kinda sense that you're asking two questions here, one regarding what cool effect you could add to your signal chain, and another about taming your 'Ray.
I play a Sterling 5 strung with SS FatBeams, and that is about as growly a combo as you can get... but your setup is mighty close. EBMM makes very in-your-face basses! If you want to calm that down a little bit, my best recommendation would be to try a less aggressive set of strings. The DR nickel Sunbeams are wonderful (use them on my Lakland fretless), and walk a nice line between growly and warm, and have the same longevity that I've found with all of DR's products. Other than this solution, you could look at adding some compression to your signal path... everything you need to know about compressors can be learned here: http://www.ovnilab.com/faq.shtml And be sure to check out Bongo's reviews of compressors for bass... the guy will NOT steer you wrong.
As for cool effects, you'll probably get a lot of responses about overdrives/distortions/fuzzes... not sure these are really going to augment your sound given the genre you're playing (I play Americana/alt-country, so I don't use these much either, although I do have a DMB Bumble bass fuzz on my board that I adore, even though it's seldom used).
I've never cared for ocatavers... they sound too inorganic for my tastes. I do like chorus when used tastefully, and there are some great bass choruses out there (I use the EBS UniChorus, and love it). I recently added an Iron Ether Nimbus bass reverb to my board. I've always HATED reverb on bass, because of its tendency to muddy up the fundamentals... but the Nimbus has this slick high-pass filter and separate dry/reverb volume controls, so you can keep your fundamental bass sound front and center. It's a really pretty effect, and I'm still learning to "play" it (it's very touch responsive, especially with fretless).
If you can, try a bunch of stuff at a music store, and see what kind of effects you like. And remember that while SOME guitar effects will work for bass, you're generally better off with pedals that were designed for our instrument.
Have fun!
I play a Sterling 5 strung with SS FatBeams, and that is about as growly a combo as you can get... but your setup is mighty close. EBMM makes very in-your-face basses! If you want to calm that down a little bit, my best recommendation would be to try a less aggressive set of strings. The DR nickel Sunbeams are wonderful (use them on my Lakland fretless), and walk a nice line between growly and warm, and have the same longevity that I've found with all of DR's products. Other than this solution, you could look at adding some compression to your signal path... everything you need to know about compressors can be learned here: http://www.ovnilab.com/faq.shtml And be sure to check out Bongo's reviews of compressors for bass... the guy will NOT steer you wrong.
As for cool effects, you'll probably get a lot of responses about overdrives/distortions/fuzzes... not sure these are really going to augment your sound given the genre you're playing (I play Americana/alt-country, so I don't use these much either, although I do have a DMB Bumble bass fuzz on my board that I adore, even though it's seldom used).
I've never cared for ocatavers... they sound too inorganic for my tastes. I do like chorus when used tastefully, and there are some great bass choruses out there (I use the EBS UniChorus, and love it). I recently added an Iron Ether Nimbus bass reverb to my board. I've always HATED reverb on bass, because of its tendency to muddy up the fundamentals... but the Nimbus has this slick high-pass filter and separate dry/reverb volume controls, so you can keep your fundamental bass sound front and center. It's a really pretty effect, and I'm still learning to "play" it (it's very touch responsive, especially with fretless).
If you can, try a bunch of stuff at a music store, and see what kind of effects you like. And remember that while SOME guitar effects will work for bass, you're generally better off with pedals that were designed for our instrument.
Have fun!
