On Board Effects

[OldWhatsHisFace]

Would it be possible to basically put an effects pedal in a bass?
The way a bass works, obviously is pickup > output > amp
But I thought I could wire a bass to go pickup > output > input > effects > output 2 > amp

Would this be possible at all? I thought it would be a really cool idea.

The reason I wanted two outputs, is just so you have the option to use the onboard effect.

 

[theNecatoR]

Yes. A preamp in an active bass is basically an onboard effect. But you could use anything that fits the cavities.
If you use a bypass switch you don't need an extra output.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

The reason I wanted two outputs, is just so you have the option to use the onboard effect.

Personally, I would prefer a single output, and a bypass switch for the effect.

Would it be possible to basically put an effects pedal in a bass?

I don't see why not, but I can see a couple of disadvantages. One, what if you don't like that effect later? It's much easier to switch out a pedal than rewire a bass.

Two, if you decide to add more effects later via conventional pedals, the on-board effect will always be first in your signal chain, whether that's ideal or not. The only way around it would be to install send/return jacks on the bass, and just how many cables do you want hanging out of this thing when you're trying to play?

Oh, and welcome to TB.

 

[OldWhatsHisFace]

Personally, I would prefer a single output, and a bypass switch for the effect.



I don't see why not, but I can see a couple of disadvantages. One, what if you don't like that effect later? It's much easier to switch out a pedal than rewire a bass.

Two, if you decide to add more effects later via conventional pedals, the on-board effect will always be first in your signal chain, whether that's ideal or not. The only way around it would be to install send/return jacks on the bass, and just how many cables do you want hanging out of this thing when you're trying to play?

Oh, and welcome to TB.

Ah, two good points.
The first one isn't so bad, cause it's all just a dream of building lots of different basses for different occasions, so that could be my, say, distorted bass.

As for the second one, that might be a problems. As it's just a vision, I don't exactly know effect I would use, so maybe that will be a problem. I guess I'll find out!
Well I just thought it would look cool to have a like 15cm or so cable coming out of the front, through into an input on the back, then out of a second output to the amp. So there'd only be one cable hanging off the bass. If I did that, I could just have the cable coming from the first input, so it doesn't even go through the effects. I only wanna over-complicate things cause of how it would look. It'd be unique.

Thanks man

 

[Crater]

Online retailer Guitarfetish (GFS) sells "ModBoards" which are small effects circuitboards made to install onboard in guitars and basses, similar to an on board preamp.

 

[RDUB]

Some of the older Gretsch guitars had on board Heathkit effects put in them. There was an overdrive that was popular way back when.

 

[Cadfael]

This was also done by Italian and some Japanese brands in the late 1970s - early 1980s ...

Imagine why such instruments aren't offered anymore ...

 

[lz4005]

It's been done many times before. Almost always on low price, low quality instruments.

If you know exactly what you want, go for it. On-board effects has always been a failure at a mass market level because not everyone wants the same combination of instrument and effect.

 

[Macch5]

Chris Squire had one in the 80's. It had a few interchangeable effects that you could switch out. It's an interesting concept but it never quite took off.

 

[ddnidd1]

And normally you'll need access to control knobs for the effect, which means drilling add'l holes in your bass and when you decide in the future to dump the effect - the effect goes and the holes stay.

 

[JimmyM]

Electra guitars in the 70's used to have effects built in that you could interchange. They were cool guitars and they sold decently, but the biggest problem with them was there was only one slot for an effect, and to change effects meant pulling out one module and putting another one in. That's why I don't dig it. However, Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo managed to have more than one on-board effect on his guitar:

 

[friendlybass]

Electra guitars in the 70's used to have effects built in that you could interchange. They were cool guitars and they sold decently, but the biggest problem with them was there was only one slot for an effect, and to change effects meant pulling out one module and putting another one in. That's why I don't dig it. However, Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo managed to have more than one on-board effect on his guitar:

I don't have pics but on my old dean I had a Velcro patch for my fuzz and I had a footswitch shaped bruise from punching it in

 

[flameworker]

Sure, you could jam a whole zoom in there if you wanted. Hell, put an Ipad mini in it.

 

[Bill Thompson]

Would it be possible to basically put an effects pedal in a bass?
The way a bass works, obviously is pickup > output > amp
But I thought I could wire a bass to go pickup > output > input > effects > output 2 > amp

Would this be possible at all? I thought it would be a really cool idea.

The reason I wanted two outputs, is just so you have the option to use the onboard effect.

This was done some time ago. A company called Electra did it. They had guitars and basses that you could put modular effects in them. The best example would be to watch the video "Tempus Fugit" by Yes. The bass that Chris Squire is playing is one of those basses made by Electra. Sadly, no one has done it since. Cheers. ;^D.