Playing with one guitar...

[kmon]

Looks like my new project is gonna be a 80s/90s+ rock/pop cover band with ONE guitar.

So what you say? I've never played with only one guitar. I've always had 2 guitars turned up too loud and stepping all over each other... the better to mask my screwups...

Anyway, this is a general question: there's going to be more sonic space here and I've been wondering about effects strategies to fill it a little more thoroughly...

Also interested in general observations or tips on this type of lineup...including the observation that maybe I'm overthinking it...

Further edit: while I've played around with effects I haven't really used them that much in band situations. A strong, basic bass tone did the job well. What I have is always-on: markbass compressore, darkglass vintage ultra pre and a broughton hi-lo pass filter. I'm thinking with a potentially larger role for the bass in this band there would be instances where dirt would genuinely add something, and where some modulation like a chorus could make things sound a little thicker.

 

[stigbeve]

I liked to dial in a powerful tone so that when the guitar plays a solo everything doesn't sound so "thin".
Don't want it too powerful though, it's a fine line.

 

[kmon]

I liked to dial in a powerful tone so that when the guitar plays a solo everything doesn't sound so "thin".
Don't want it too powerful though, it's a fine line.

that's the scenario^^...I'm used to rhythm guitar filling in a lot of the space underneath that solo...now it's just me

 

[HelpImaRock]

As a guitarist who usually plays as the only guitar with a bassist, I have to say, fewer effects are best. I don't say that because I'm anti-effect. I say that because the most common effects, like chorus and dirt, can actually have a thinning effect instead of fattening the sound.

So I keep it very simple on bass. I like a compressor because it keeps everything more even, especially with my unrefined technique. If I do use dirt, I want a pedal that either incorporates a clean blend or has extended bass response. I don't want something with a bass cut at all. And I keep the modulation to a minimum because I do feel it can have a thinning effect, which is counter to what I want.

Another thing I've been working with in my original work is defining the song by the bassline and drums and minimizing the guitar. I think playing strong lines instead of just filling in as a complementary rhythm instrument is probably the best thing you can do.

 

[40Hz]

Play whatever needs playing that serves the song and you’ll be fine. Just because there’s more sonic space doesn’t necessarily mean you need to sprawl all over it.

 

[kmon]

As a guitarist who usually plays as the only guitar with a bassist, I have to say, fewer effects are best. I don't say that because I'm anti-effect. I say that because the most common effects, like chorus and dirt, can actually have a thinning effect instead of fattening the sound.

So I keep it very simple on bass. I like a compressor because it keeps everything more even, especially with my unrefined technique. If I do use dirt, I want a pedal that either incorporates a clean blend or has extended bass response. I don't want something with a bass cut at all. And I keep the modulation to a minimum because I do feel it can have a thinning effect, which is counter to what I want.

Another thing I've been working with in my original work is defining the song by the bassline and drums and minimizing the guitar. I think playing strong lines instead of just filling in as a complementary rhythm instrument is probably the best thing you can do.

Great points...I have compression pretty much always on. I do have a darkglass vintage ultra with a blend, it did seem like some dirt would help on certain tunes, but really only if it was somewhat additive(I don't want low end sucked out while I add overdrive). I was wondering about modulation as you mentioned...maybe some chorus or even some octave to fatten things up.

 

[theunknowndude]

Looks like your using dirt with blend... I’ve never worried... I fill enough space with overdrive with blend as always on and if I need to fatten it up, more dirt or chorus afterwards...
Just focus on what sections need what sort of where the bass sots in the mix and you be fine... I mean RATM always sits fine under a solo!

 

[Real Soon]

The Vintage Ultra's fun to crank up the blend, drive, and lows/low mids to get a thick and chunky driven tone, blending in a bit of clean core. Also it's good at the big clean bass you hear on stuff like Nirvana & Bush tunes.

If you wanna switch on the dirt on the fly, that's where the Grunt switch really comes in handy. I like to save it for when I need it, kind of a secret weapon, and trio work may be perfect for that secret weapon.

 

[Ken Morgan]

99.5% of my bass gigs have one guitarist, frequently with a pianist. I used to work to “fill the spaces” with thickening effects, but since I converted to “simple is king” I’ve found no need for anything other than taste and great tone.

the spaces don’t necessarily need filling...often times they are best left alone.

works for classic country, classic rock, jazz/Western swing anyway.

 

[Zbysek]

Little overdrive/boost might help. And octaver.

I agree that chorus might thin your sound

 

[lz4005]

One guitar means you need more mids.
Don't cut any frequencies. Let your full on spectrum fly. That's all it takes.

 

[thabassmon]

One guitar is the ideal amount for when I have to play with guitar players providing they are good. Leaves a bass player with a lot of room to be great. Many groups have had one guitarists and in those situations, the bass players plays creatively.
Many one guitar bands, have bass players that are integral to the bands sound. RATM, RHCP, Led Zep, the Who, Cream, the Police and so many more.
A lot of bass heroes come from one guitar bands.
Use the situation to your advantage, strong tone, strong lines, great time, all the things we should be working on. Also remember bass has the capability to be polyphonic as well could be useful behind solos.

 

[Riff Ranger]

One guitar means you need more mids.
Don't cut any frequencies. Let your full on spectrum fly. That's all it takes.

This.

I've pretty much always played with just one guitar. A burly tone helps, and depending upon the style of music, double stops and power chords help as well.

 

[lz4005]

A burly tone helps, and depending upon the style of music, double stops and power chords help as well.

Yep. It's more about technique and doing things like that than adding effects.

Figuring out how to not let the middle fall out during guitar solos, but without stepping on the guitar, is always a challenge. Adding a 12th while also playing the root usually works in a rock song.

 

[HelpImaRock]

Great points...I have compression pretty much always on. I do have a darkglass vintage ultra with a blend, it did seem like some dirt would help on certain tunes, but really only if it was somewhat additive(I don't want low end sucked out while I add overdrive). I was wondering about modulation as you mentioned...maybe some chorus or even some octave to fatten things up.

In my last band, which did have two guitars, I used an octaver in a couple of places. I wouldn't use it an analog octaver like an OC-2 in a single guitar band because I do feel like it removes the low end. Albeit replacing that low end with something different. I feel like a lot of the harmonic content I want in the signal gets removed. I'd be more inclined to use a digital octaver.

I greatly dislike chorus for many reasons. And one of them is indeed thinning out the sound. Again, having a blend here does help. But I feel like modulating that signal has more negatives than positives when you're really trying to hold things down.

The most important thing on all of this is opinions differ.

 

[bbh]

You could try doing 4ths and 5ths and surely octaves in some areas that sound too open. I’ve only used effects if the tune required it, which could be jammers as in 3 piece Zappa and Vai jams.

 

[hennessybass]

Give your ears some time to adjust to all that new sonic space. You may really come to like it and not feel a need to fill it up.

The notes you don’t play are just as important as the ones you do play.

“Negative space” is a key ingredient in visual art, and I believe it is in music too.

Anyway, I recommend an octave, dirt, chorus if that’s your thing, and a phaser.

 

[Marc valero]

I use the chorus and some room reverb on my Zoom B-1 during some guitar solos and tc mini octave up. I also play octave double stops and sometimes run my middle finger over my index finger to hammer on the lower fifth on the third beat in the measure while playing octaves with the octave up.
The octave up while playing octaves with the middle fifth in between and chorus sounds good with slow tunes like Knights in White Satin and Ready for Love.
Depends on the song and what works.

 

[Kukulkan61]

I played in a power trio back in the early 90s, it was fun, you can play busy as long as it's not to busy and yes on keeping it simple as far as effects, I never used effects but very recently added an always on mild od pedal to my rig, that's as far as I will go..

 

[dramatwist]

...when I played in bands regularly, they were trios... blues/rock... and, as others have mentioned, the spaces are as important as the playing... only effects I've ever used on bass are slight distortion...