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Purist considers first pedal

#42
Joe Tully said:
Wow. This is cool. Full disclosure: Upright is my first instrument. No pedals. I liked the tone unadulterated. But, as someone intimated, I am growing in this rock direction. It's old mainstream 70s 80s stuff.
Are there pedals that were in use back then that would help to recreate that sound? The Warwick is pretty versatile on its own. I was using a fretless J bass but this music is not that.
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The fretless J would be THE sound for Smooth Operator! Could you bring it just for that one song?
 
#44
DON'T DO IT! :rollno:

You'll spend hours tweaking the knobs to get it to sound like the record and then the same thing tomorrow 'cos it's 'not quite right'! :rolleyes:
And it may have been some piece of obscure studio gear added to the track afterward that you're trying to recreate! :banghead:


Get a Metalzone instead.
 
#45
Always go with your first hunch. Meaning I stay pure. No tattoos and no pedals. Interesting and helpful dialog. I'll leave the pedalboard to the guitarist. I'll leave both the tats and the little metal boxes to those that "just have to have them".
 
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#48
Joe Tully said:
Always go with your first hunch. Meaning I stay pure. No tattoos and no pedals. Interesting and helpful dialog. I'll leave the pedalboard to the guitarist. I'll leave both the tats and the little metal boxes to those that "just have to have them".
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While I agree that you have to do what's right for you, it should be noted that there's no such thing as "pure" with electric instruments. The tone is always colored in some way. Whether that be the onboard volume and tone knobs on the bass, the properties of the amp and speaker(s), or how you set the amp knobs. Even speaker placement makes a difference. Some will say the cable you use has an impact.

I say just have fun with it and make the sound you want to make. :)
 
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#51
HelpImaRock said:
While I agree that you have to do what's right for you, it should be noted that there's no such thing as "pure" with electric instruments. The tone is always colored in some way. Whether that be the onboard volume and tone knobs on the bass, the properties of the amp and speaker(s), or how you set the amp knobs. Even speaker placement makes a difference. Some will say the cable you use has an impact.

I say just have fun with it and make the sound you want to make. :)
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You make a valid point. It's not an unamplified upright bass and therefore altered to some degree no matter what. It would be more accurate to say that between the characteristics of the electric bass and the amp that these are sufficient sound modifications without the additional modifications achieved through use of little metal boxes.
 
#55
The way I see it, all of my favorite recorded bass tones are processed somehow. It's not just a DI to tape (which in itself would be two things that can color the tone). Everything in the signal path colors/alters the tone. So, it's hard to say that there is a 'pure' P Bass tone on a recording. There may be some overdrive from the amp, coloring from the console, compression on the track, additional dynamic processing during mastering. Maybe a buffer or HPF along the way. Certainly multiple EQ settings. All these things will be subtle, but sometimes subtle is the best we can do.
I would never say someone 'needs' effects/comps/pres. But, there are a lot of situations where they are appropriate. I have a chorus pedal on my board. It is definitely the least used effect. If someone wanted to see if there were benefits to using pedals, I would steer them towards an OD, comp or preamp before something like a chorus or bit crusher.
 
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#56
Good to know. I also love to argue with musicians trying to replicate (ie cover or tribute bands). I say it's nearly impossible, due in part to the same reasons you mentioned. It's a matter of where do you draw the line and admitting that the process involves subjectivity. Anything mixed, engineered, is altering.
 
#57
Joe Tully said:
I'm sure the little metal boxes make you a better player. Have at it.
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They don't make me a better player (although I could use all the help I can get) any more than not using them makes you (or any one else) a better player. There are hacks like me and world class bassists who have monster pedal boards and those in both categories who don't. The 2 are independent variables, and neither has any moral imperative behind it. I don't know whether you intended it or not, but using the term "purist" can have a preachy, moral connotation. That's what I reacted to. Play what makes you happy ;)
 
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#58
lomo said:
They don't make me a better player (although I could use all the help I can get) any more than not using them makes you (or any one else) a better player. There are hacks like me and world class bassists who have monster pedal boards and those in both categories who don't. The 2 are independent variables, and neither has any moral imperative behind it. I don't know whether you intended it or not, but using the term "purist" can have a preachy, moral connotation. That's what I reacted to. Play what makes you happy ;)
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Thank you. No preaching or moral high ground intended whatsoever. You points are intelligent and well taken. Purist in the sense of less adulterated without the judgment that less means better. Those playing in a classical orchestra setting are closest to what I mean by purist. No less valid are the forms that rely on heavy electronics. I appreciate your persistence at meaningful communication
 
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#59
Joe Tully said:
Thank you. No preaching or moral high ground intended whatsoever. You points are intelligent and well taken. Purist in the sense of less adulterated without the judgment that less means better. Those playing in a classical orchestra setting are closest to what I mean by purist. No less valid are the forms that rely on heavy electronics. I appreciate your persistence at meaningful communication
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Whatever. You come here in the “Effects” forum spouting about “purist” and “little metal boxes”. You’re a troll and you know it.
 
#60
Now, now don't get shook. It has been a good faith effort to determine what is right for me. I watched quite a few You Tube videos to see what's what. I have made my decision and my side of the street is clean. Life is too short and I'm no troll. Have a better day. And no, that's not sarcasm.
 

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