Playing naked

[Humbled]

Phase 90 sounds nice on Stranglehold.

I don't dislike pedals. One of my favorite electric bassists ever made dang good use of them, especially when he was playing in a three-piece Classic-Rock cover band, and the extra range of sound was really needed.

It was most impressive.

 

[Humbled]

My buddies the Drummer and KB Player use pedals a lot...

Ignore the last pic. She's indifferent regarding pedals. No Opinion at all.

 

[Humbled]

@Jah Wobble Fan

Seeing a trend ?

It's a professional inquiry.

 

[twinjet]

that's a cool strap, shall I say, epic

I don't use pedals, but in a working band it might be necessary.

I've never "needed" one in ten years of playing. I used a volume pedal to emulate a legato sound Anthony Jackson did, but no working band ever called for one. It was nice not having to blow extra money on pedals for one-off gigs.

 

[ImNotJoel]

Nude for 16 years sure I tried a pedal here and there but with bass I let it all hang out.

 

[twinjet]

Nude for 16 years sure I tried a pedal here and there but with bass I let it all hang out.

I picked up an old volume pedal of mine and started using that, but I don't think it's gonna become a part of my sound like it was years ago.

 

[Space Pickle]

Every once in a while, I get in a zone where I think I should start using this pedal or that pedal, but I'm just not a pedals guy. It's too much hassle for me to bother with I guess.

 

[twinjet]

Every once in a while, I get in a zone where I think I should start using this pedal or that pedal, but I'm just not a pedals guy. It's too much hassle for me to bother with I guess.

Yeah, I was at a jazz GTG yesterday. One guy brought a bunch of pedals. He sounded good, but the host didn't have to use any pedals at all and sounded great. I just think, why bother

 

[Feral Feline]

So with or without pedals you can sound good. That's great!

 

[lfmn16]

Using pedals doesn't make you special. Not using pedals doesn't make you special. Getting the sound you want makes you special.

Outside of TB, in the real world, nobody cares if you use pedals or not.

 

[Funk³]

Instructions not clear, got perma-banned from Talkbass.

 

[twinjet]

Using pedals doesn't make you special. Not using pedals doesn't make you special. Getting the sound you want makes you special.

Outside of TB, in the real world, nobody cares if you use pedals or not.

In the end, they're the ones hauling bags of stuff in and out

 

[lfmn16]

In the end, they're the ones hauling bags of stuff in and out

+1

Exactly, so why all the consternation from the pedal haters??? You don't like them, don't use them. You don't like other people using them, STFU about it.

 

[twinjet]

+1

Exactly, so why all the consternation from the pedal haters??? You don't like them, don't use them. You don't like other people using them, STFU about it.

Hey hey, no hate here. Only naked pride

 

[Frank Tuesday]

How many of you do this?

Before we continue, I should elaborate. When I say naked, I mean no pedals, preamps, DIs -- nothing!

...

Unless you're playing acoustic, nobody is doing this. Everyone is using a preamp. It may be in your bass, it may be in your head, or it may be a stand alone unit, but you've got a preamp somewhere in the signal chain.

 

[s0c9]

If that is your definition of naked, then I am stark at every show.

DITTO

 

[Nephilymbass]

How many of you do this?

Before we continue, I should elaborate. When I say naked, I mean no pedals, preamps, DIs -- nothing!

I have tried incorporating pedals, but found they're not my thing. Modeled my style á la Anthony Jackson and used a volume pedal for a legato sound. Considered buying a flanger, but... Ahhh. Maybe I'm better playing straight into the amp. I always see bassist and guitar players lugging crates of pedals, and I'm like "dude, why ya need all those pedals...?"

Not a club thread, per se, just want to see your naked setups.

Don't wanna see
Pedals
Stompboxes
Preamps
DI Boxes
Stuff between your bass and amp!!
Genitals

View attachment 741137
Who needs pedals? Play naked instead!
Setup:
Fender American Standard Precision bass
Hartke 410XL

Bass --> Amp --> magic

Am I right or am I right?

I did for a long time but not anymore. I like variety of tones. And I like to mix in the full range dry bass signal. Everyone's going to have a different opinion about this depending on their gig. I play originals. And I realize there's more music out their with no bass effects than with. But try playing in a tool or ratm tribute band with no pedals. It's kind of silly.

 

[Paul M]

My buddies the Drummer and KB Player use pedals a lot...

Ignore the last pic. She's indifferent regarding pedals. No Opinion at all.

View attachment 744948

Now, let's not be hasty here. Just because somebody has no opinion on the subject doesn't mean we should ignore their potentially valuable input. ;-)

 

[amusicalperson]

Always have been naked. It's the best way to play, in my opinion!

 

[Paul M]

I have played "naked" for a long time. Lately I have been assembling my first pedal board, trying to keep it small and efficient. Wasted some money on pedals I thought might be cool but then they became redundant when I found similar pedals I liked more, or when I decided that I don't really need them most of the time.

One lesson I learned from dabbling in pedals is that I like to have a good buffer on passive basses; it makes the tone clearer without adding harsh treble and hiss. So I'm not completely naked anymore, just scantily clad with a Mission volume pedal. I use it mainly for its buffer and to occasionally adjust my level. But my new pedal board will stay in its gig bag waiting for the very rare occasion when I need an effect.