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pedal help.

A

Asa Samuel

Apr 9, 2007
3,722
3
33
Cornwall, UK.
#1
ok, i'm looking to get quite a smooth tone, but still with some definition, i can create a muddy sound with EQing on my amp but i just cant seem to get definition without all the fret noises and finger noises on the strings.


is there a pedal out there that can give me a smooth tone without having to EQ lots on my amp, to give me a nice smooth tone but isnt muddy but without loads of finger noises and fretting clanks?

mabey a graphic EQ (if so, can you give me some setting ideas to go with it)

or is there a different pedal that can give me this sound i'm looking for.

i also might be getting a chorus so would i be able to still hear the chorus well with this pedal on or should i just turn the pedal off while using chorus?

EDIT: mabey the EHX soul preacher would help? feedback for this pedal would be great, thanks.

and mabey if you could give me some amp EQ ideas to go with the chosen pedal?

Ok, thanks for any info.
Bass_Junkie.
 
#2
Good clean tone starts with your technique, your strings, your guitar, and your amp. Unfortunately I don't think there's a magic box that will give you the sound you want. Just for grins, what gear are you using?
 
#3
i'm at the moment a westfield jazz bass, straight clean into a GK 400RB-IV/210 combo, i will soon be getting a yamahaBB414 wich is a better quality guitar, do you think this will help?

yes i know it sounds like i'm trying to get gear to make me sound better but i am working on technique aswell.
 
#4
Fret noises and finger noises are pretty much inaudible in a band context, and may even help you cut through a bit. They only annoy when playing at home.

No, there is no pedal that will take away string noise and improve definition; except maybe if it's a pedal that rolls off the highs a bit, and if your definition of definition is OK with less highs. If that's the case, try rolling off the highs a bit on your amp.

Maybe experiment with an EBS MultiComp or a Carl Martin Comp/Limiter, they can provide punch, and roll off a bit of the highs, but I'm not really saying they are "the solution". The solution prob. has more to do with technique and expectations.
 
#8
You'll still have plenty of string/fret noise if the pickup's bright on that BB414.

This is about more than EQ; the problem is, the fret/string noise you aren't satisfied with occupies the same frequency space as your high-end controls on your head, as well as any EQ pedal. So, how do you get around it without losing much of the high end you like?
A few suggestions:

1) Work on your technique.
2) Raise the action on your bass. If it's too low for your playing style, you'll get more fret and string noise than you'd like.
3) Try different strings. There's more to strings than sound - there's fstiffness, flexibility, feel, etc. - and all of these work with your technique to alleviate (or worsen) string noise.
4) Roll back the treble a bit. It may sound perfect now, but turn up your amp, and you might find it's actually too much treble for your tastes, and that contributes to how audible string and fret noise is!
5) Try a warmer pickup (or a bass with warmer pickups). Sometimes, the top-end clarity or scooped nature of modern-style pickups can work against you.
6) If your EQ settings reflect something you saw on the photo of a famous artist's head, chances are it's not going to work well with your own bass and playing style unless you're using the same bass and strings. Even then, you'll need to make some adjustments, because no two basses are going to sound the same and deliver the same input to the head.
7) Try attacking a different area of the strings with your fingers/pick (i.e., if you're playing close to the bridge, play more towards the neck).
 
#9
ahh, mysticboo, you can always count on mysticboo to put things how they are.

so even if i get a 1-million band equaliser theres still no hope of getting a smooth blank-free finger-noise-free sound? :(

i'm off to bed as its 20 past 1 in the morning.

g'night!!
 
#10
1-million band EQ... :D

Well, you could dial out some of the problem frequencies where most of the noise exists, but it's not the perfect solution, because your bass signal doesn't exactly "skip" frequencies. Like I said, there's always some overlap!
 

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