PS-5 on bass

[Viscera_Eyes]

I'm trying to get an effect that can produce similar sounds to the Whammy IV. I would buy the Whammy IV but I simply have no more room on my pedal board. However, after reading around here it seems like the PS-5 is awful. The reason I'm interested in the pedal is that is has the tremolo arm function; it seems like that might be a substitute for the expression of the whammy. I thought about the PS-3, but I guess I would still need an expression pedal to go with to replicate the whammy IV.

So I guess I'm asking is PS-5 tolerable on bass? (A lot of that is subjective...)I'm not too concerned with tracking or the glitchyness as long as the tremolo function is semi decent.

Any feedback on the pros and cons of this pedal, possible substitutes (that would fit) or useful information would be appreciated.

 

[Din Of Win]

A few months ago i was in the exact same dilemma. I had a Whammy IV but it was too big and i thought the tracking was lousy. I ended up checking out a PS-5 w/Expression pedal.

I liked it, honestly. But it was the same size(board-space wise) as the Whammy was... and it doesn't look as cool. I ended up selling the Whammy and not getting the PS-5 in the end. Pitch shifting was more of a noisy-interludey part of my sound. It was more important to decrease board space than have the pitch shifting.

Check it out. I think it gets more flack than it really deserves around here. Have you considered looking into a pure Tremolo pedal? There have been some threads here recently about them if you search...

 

[Viscera_Eyes]

I have thought about going with just a tremolo pedal but I'm not sure where to start. What are some good tremolo pedals for the price?

I'm not sure how essential pitch shifting is to my sound right now. I've only been playing for a year and a half and have been into effects for just a couple months. I'm also a poor college student so I don't have a lot of cash for expensive pedals.

The main reason I'm interested in the Whammy is that the band I'm in right now covers Schism by Tool. I'm doing the Whammy part with a wah, flanger, chorus and delay and it sounds good, but it just isn't the same sound.

We don't play a lot of Tool, but I feel like I could incorporate pitch shifting into my playing. It probably be best just to try some of these things out.

 

[Taxt]

well if your just trying one out for the first time id suggest finding a really cheap and semi decent shifter just to try it out and see if thats something you really want to spend money on.

 

[gnasher1993]

I use the PS-5 and it's great. I mainly use the harmonist function and the flutter mode. When the tremolo arm mode is selected it does change your tone quite noticeably but the effect is still worth a try.

The harmonist function is great. The pitch shifter is pretty good too, I just don't have a use for it . The detune feature is pretty good too but I don't use it since I have a chorus pedal as well.

Even if you're only going to use the T-arm setting, I would say the PS-5 is definitely worth a look. If you can cope with the slight tone suck, the T-arm mode can be used for quick 5th up leaps or really slow 2 octave dive bombs (which is pretty cool).

I recommend you check it out, it's a great pedal!

 

[rratajski]

I have thought about going with just a tremolo pedal but I'm not sure where to start. What are some good tremolo pedals for the price?

I'm not sure how essential pitch shifting is to my sound right now. I've only been playing for a year and a half and have been into effects for just a couple months. I'm also a poor college student so I don't have a lot of cash for expensive pedals.

The main reason I'm interested in the Whammy is that the band I'm in right now covers Schism by Tool. I'm doing the Whammy part with a wah, flanger, chorus and delay and it sounds good, but it just isn't the same sound.

We don't play a lot of Tool, but I feel like I could incorporate pitch shifting into my playing. It probably be best just to try some of these things out.

This is very off-topic from the OT, but if money's an issue, visit your local SA or GC and go with a Boss Trem or Danelectro Trem. You can get something cheap to feed your needs for the time being.
You could sell all of your pedals and buy Boo's Bass Whammy though...or trade everything to SnakeAnthony for his Bass Whammy.

 

[Din Of Win]

I have thought about going with just a tremolo pedal but I'm not sure where to start. What are some good tremolo pedals for the price?

The go-to cheapy Trems seem to be the EHX Pulsar and the Boss TR-2.

The Boss in peticular is a great pedal, and can be found used fairly cheap. It has a legendary volume drop, but it's a pretty cheap mod to fix and afterwards it's awesome!!

Here's a thread from last week: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=575294&highlight=tremolo

 

[Din Of Win]

This is very off-topic from the OT, but if money's an issue, visit your local SA or GC and go with a Boss Trem or Danelectro Trem. You can get something cheap to feed your needs for the time being.
You could sell all of your pedals and buy Boo's Bass Whammy though...or trade everything to SnakeAnthony for his Bass Whammy.

Why's everyone getting rid of their bass whammys?

 

[Smurf-o-Deth]

Waitaminute waitaminute wait a minute! There is some confusion in this thread: the OP is interested in the "tremolo arm" function of the PS-5, which is pitch bending i.e. a vibrato arm (or "whammy bar"). Suggesting tremolo pedals to him isn't going to get him the effect he is after. An honest mistake, considering the confusing name of the function (for the record, I already know why it is named in such a fashion, so no need to explain it to me).